The Lich-King by Craig Dutton

The Lich-King has plagued the kingdom of Krahn for many years. It has been rumoured he CAN be stopped. If the fabled treasures, scattered around Krahn, can be found and gathered in the dungeon's repository he will be trapped in his lair forever. You are going to undertake this quest and save the kingdom.

Play online

Comment DavyB

30 Sep 2025

*** spoiler alert ***
@gorgona, have you tried warming it up?

Comment gorgona

30 Sep 2025

@DavyB yeah, the pearl. I scouted the beach and found a pretty large member of the order Pteriida, if you mean that as a source. but it doesn't want to part with its treasure, even if I have the tools (hammer) to force it to do so.

Comment DavyB

29 Sep 2025

*** spoiler alert ***
So, you must be missing the pearl? Check out the beach for a source!

Comment gorgona

29 Sep 2025

@DavyB I robbed the magpie and took the pretty green thing, so something else is missing. I think the portraits have something to say, but cannot for the life of me find out what.

Comment DavyB

29 Sep 2025

*** spoiler alert ***
Still two items to go: one from the magpie (up the tree) and one from the Lich-King!

Comment gorgona

29 Sep 2025

@DavyB just 70 points missing. so close to the end...

Comment DavyB

29 Sep 2025

How many points are you short of 500 (may identify what you are missing)?

Comment gorgona

29 Sep 2025

the one involving arthropods of unusual size? then yes, and found the treasure it was guarding. only one treasure remains, and I have no clue where it could be.

Comment DavyB

29 Sep 2025

*** spoiler alert ***
The clue for the tumbler code is in the stables...but you have found a bug in game, as the door to the tower should only be unlocked using the tumblers.

You must be getting close to finding the 12 treasures. Did you sort out the lighthouse puzzle?

Comment gorgona

29 Sep 2025

thank you @DavyB. sent the king to check his wardrobe, took the sphere from the secret tower. really sorry to bothering you, but how to learn the combination for the tumblers?

Comment DavyB

29 Sep 2025

*** spoiler alert ***
1. if you have used the bell everywhere then you may have missed it turning from brass to silver and becoming another treasure?
2. if you go back to the stable you should find something that wasn't there before you rode the horse (not a treasure, just a clue!)
3. have you tried throwing the bucket of water on anyone else?

Comment gorgona

29 Sep 2025

♦DavyB 1. yes, a thousand times. at first I thought its used to call a dragon or something, but alas, it doesn't always work that way... in fact, it doesnt work at all.
2. why? because he is a cowered. and no, I didn't find a use for that bucket. even tried to extinguish the firebird, but nothing worked. I don't think the river needs more water?

Comment DavyB

29 Sep 2025

That's a relief @gorgona! In answer to your questions:
*** spoiler alert ***
1. have you tried the bell in different locations?
2. no need to chase the horse...but why did it take you away from the stables?

Have you found a use for the bucket of water?

Comment gorgona

29 Sep 2025

@Davyb not at all. had little time to play though, and now found a gap in my schedule to try again. found a couple of unexpected treasures by accident, and am stuck once again. question: does the bell play any role (no pun intended) except of making a beautiful sound? and is there any way to make the horse return?

Comment DavyB

29 Sep 2025

...hope my nudges didn't put you off @gorgona? Still here to help.

Comment DavyB

21 Sep 2025

Okay @gorgona, I think answering your queries will work best. I'm going to be cryptic to avoid giving too much away too quickly!
***spoiler alert***
1. what exactly does the lighthouse do?
It's not in operation but after getting inside can you provide an alternative source?
2. how to unlock the wooden box?
No key, just muscle (odd mechanics, make sure you are holding the box)
3. is the bear guarding something, or is it just another way to die?
no...yes!

Comment gorgona

21 Sep 2025

@Davyb Unfortunately I remain stuck with the same treasures and no clue what to do next. I have visited all the possible spots, including (yes, with saving beforehand) the cave, took and dropped anything and everything a thousand times, and put the obvious treasures into repository. now just a few questions remain:
1. what exactly does the lighthouse do? I mean, except of not having helped that unfortunate ship in the west?
2. how to unlock the wooden box?
3. is the bear guarding something, or is it just another way to die?
thanks.

Comment DavyB

20 Sep 2025

Sorry for the delay @gorgona. It's taken a while to draw out the map and work through the puzzles. I'm not a fan of hand-drawing maps when Quest provides such a simple facility for creating one as the player moves around. I'm also not keen on sudden deaths, though after a few at the beginning in this game they seemed to disappear. Finally, though keeping with the traditional theme, I'm also not a fan of restricting the number of items a player can hold, especially when it takes quite a while to find the location where 'treasures' can be deposited. I'm now ready to provide hints, though perhaps you have made further progress?

Comment DavyB

16 Sep 2025

This is where I have to admit that I've not played this game through to completion! I'll try it over the next few days and give clues to anything I think you are missing as I go along.

*** spoiler alert ***
The description of the portrait of the king in the gallery mentions a crown. Can you find a way to get it off him?

Comment gorgona

16 Sep 2025

@DavyB not yet but halfway there. have no idea if there are other treasures, and how to find them. been to all locations available, got the ingot, the sceptre, the egg, the diamond, the ring and that box I cannot for the life of me open. have I missed something?

Comment DavyB

16 Sep 2025

...to finish you need a score of 500. Are you close to that @corona?

Comment DavyB

15 Sep 2025

Sorry @corona now away from my computer for a couple of days. Will reply then if the author hasn't jumped in by then.

Comment gorgona

15 Sep 2025

@DavyB ok... just thought that the bear was maybe guarding the key to the wooden box... I found all the obvious treasures there are, but the king doesn't agree. is there something I missed, except the bear I mean?

Comment DavyB

15 Sep 2025

I think you can complete the game without going near the bear @gorgona...i.e. it's an extremely red herring!

Comment gorgona

14 Sep 2025

Excellent game! I think I'm so close to the end, but one thing or, more precisely, animal keeps bothering me. the bear in the cave, is it guarding something? and if so, how to get rid of it?

Review hsh

02 Apr 2025

Quite hard but fun.

Review jimbrock

04 Feb 2025

A classic text adventure. I got stuck a few times (as you can see in the comments) and it required some random (IMO) combinations of characters and objects to complete. There are a few red herrings as well just to catch you out.

All in all, I really enjoyed this game and would recommend it.

Comment jimbrock

03 Feb 2025

Ok, I've managed to cross the river. I'm definitely loosing my touch!

Comment jimbrock

02 Feb 2025

I'm still stuck! I can't get past the tripwire. I keep getting killed by the bear, I cant seem to do anything with the king. I've got the wooden box, the melon, the axe and an iron key (which I've used)

Some help please

Comment jimbrock

02 Feb 2025

Found the key! Thanks for the hint DavyB! I haven't played a text adventure for a while and I think I've lost my touch.

Comment DavyB

02 Feb 2025

I had a quick wander around this game when it first appeared but haven't yet had the time to work through it methodically. What I do remember, however, was finding a key early on in the graveyard. Hope that helps Jim.

Comment jimbrock

02 Feb 2025

I struggling. I can't get very far. I've got the wooden box, the axe, a watermelon. I've ridden the stallion, keep getting killed by the bear, can't find any keys, can't unlock anything. There's nothing in the kitchen and I have not lamp or similar for the cellar.

A hint or two please!

Comment Craig Dutton

27 Jan 2025

Since Unlock and Open have specified programming functionality then use UNLOCK object (with the right Key*) then OPEN object. Therefore having USE KEY WITH DOOR seems redundant and I never use it. All my games do this.
Talking to anyone is redundant in this game. Didn't realise this until now. Characters are therefore part of the puzzle not for conversation.
Interaction with objects and scenery objects which give a 'rejection' response aren't used in the game.
* When I mean KEY it's not necessarily the usual metal object with teeth. i.e. to open the cupboard in the wizard's chamber. FOLD PARCHMENT then UNLOCK CUPBOARD. OPEN CUPBOARD.

Comment Scout 167

26 Jan 2025

I am enjoying it so far. Imagery is good and I am interested in the plot. Some of the controls are a bit clunky- saying "unlock __" works but not "use key on ___", and after unlocking I still have to say "open ___" before I go. I am a bit stuck at the moment because all the logical things I try come back to me as "it doesn't work" or other rejection methods. Question for creator- does talking to characters every bring anything helpful? Mostly it just says that the character does not reply. I am having a lot of fun and would love to keep playing, so I will keep poking around and try to find something that works!