Loadstar 128 #18/q18.d81/t.totem boot

Text File | 1990-01-01 | 5.5 KB | 105 lines

                                   T O T E M

                               by Rick Ferreira


     According to legend, the first Native American tribe to use totem poles
were the Choppalottas of northern Louisiana.  They mainly used them to hang
their headdresses and furs on, but they soon developed an intricate
spiritual mythology concerning totems.  Recent evidence shows that this
mythology arose because fur theft at pemmican cafes was rampant, and nothing
short of the revenge of the gods would stop it.

     The Choppalottas were experts with tomahawks and could chop so hard
that a head from one totem pole could actually be chopped loose and sent
flying to another pole, where it would dislodge yet another head.  One
Choppalotta, a brave by the name of Tommy Hawk, was so strong he could
affect three totem poles by chopping a head loose from a fourth, unfinished
pole.

     The heads carved in Choppalotta totem poles were imbued with magical
properties that manifested themselves in color changes.  All heads were
either red, blue or yellow.  If a head of one color dislodged a head of
another color, the dislodging head miraculously changed into the third
color!  For instance, if a red head dislodged a blue head on a pole, the red
head turned into yellow.  A blue head dislodging a yellow head would turn
into red.

     The Choppalottas came up with a test for young braves to prove their
manhood.  Four totem poles were erected, one of which (the one on the left)
was unfinished.  Tommy Hawk was told by the young brave which of the five
heads on the unfinished pole to chop, and how hard.  The head chopped from
the unfinished pole flew to the other poles, replacing heads on that level.
Tommy had three "strengths" with which he could hit the head.  Strength 1
send the head flying to the first finished pole where it replaces a head.
The replaced head falls to the ground.  At Strength 2, the the replaced head
in the first finished pole would fly to the second pole where it would
replace the head at that level.  That head would fall to the ground.  At
Strength 3, the replaced head from the second pole would fly over to the
third pole and replace a head.

      If you're as confused reading the preceding paragraph as I am writing
it, try a game for fun and you'll see how it works.  You may use the
keyboard or a joystick in port 2 to play the game.  CRSR UP/DOWN moves the
tomahawk up and down the unfinished pole on the left.  CRSR RIGHT/LEFT pulls
the tomahawk back to the three different strengths.  The joystick works as
you would expect it.  RETURN or FIRE causes Tommy Hawk to chop and the heads
start flying.  A test consists of 20 separate chops, which are counted by
the program for you.

NOTE: A mouse in port 1 works (sort of) as well as the number keypad.  8 is
up, 2 is down, 4 and 6 set the strength of the chop, and ENTER performs it.

     But what are we trying to do?  We are trying to get as high a score as
possible.  Each finished pole (the ones with the gold wings on top) has five
heads.  A point is given for each head of the color that has the most heads
in that pole.  If a pole has three red heads and two blues, that pole merits
three points.  Points are only awarded for the color that has the most
heads.  A pole that has two reds, two yellows and a blue will merit two
points.

     Obviously, a pole can have a maximum of five points.  Once a pole has
five heads of the same color, the program asks you if you want to cash in on
that pole.  Press Y for Yes or N for No.  If you say Yes, you get five
points and a new pole is erected in its place with randomly colored heads.
The reason you may want to say No is that if you can manage to get all three
poles to be worth five points at the same time, you get thirty points.  This
is something only the most worthy brave can do.  Note that the poles can be
of different colors, but each individual pole must have its heads be the
same in order to get a 30-point TOTEM.

     Your score is kept current at all times.  The high score for a session
is kept so you may take the test over and over trying to get the best score
for the day.  You're not asked to enter your name because it is considered
bad form for a brave to brag.  The tribe knows who's first in line for the
chief's daughter, the winsome Pillotok.

     You may quit at any time by pressing Q.  All messages are shown in the
cloud above the totem poles.  Answering N at the "Play again? (y/n)" prompt
will reset the computer.  If you have a LOADSTAR 128 in drive 8, it will be
booted.

     During the latter part of the 18th century a young maiden named Hilla
Ree challenged the braves and defeated them so soundly that the sexist
nature of the tests was removed and squaws were allowed to take them.  The
highest scoring maiden would have a front row seat for the Chopping Dales
ceremony, where squaws would stuff wampum down the breechcloths of dancing
warriors.  So ladies, feel free to try your hand at TOTEM.

     Rick Ferreira, the historian who unearthed this interesting bit of
Americana, suggests that you pay more attention to the third totem since it
is the farthest away from Tommy Hawk, and therefore the hardest to change.
Also, note that new faces on the unfinished pole come up from the bottom.

     Rick says the Choppalottas used the following scoring system:

        51 or more points  --  Master Carver
        41 to 50 points    --  Top Chopper
        21 to 40 points    --  Atlanta Brave
        0 to 20 points     --  Toothpick Whittler

FT

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