Part 1: Introduction

Besides an animated introduction, the manual comes with some fairly cliché backstory that helps explain some of the things that happened before the beginning of the game. Much of it is fluff, but the important parts can be summarized thusly: In the realm of Kyrandia, all magic originates from a magical artifact called the Kyragem, kept in Castle Kyrandia and tended by wise King William the Generous and his royal mystics. Things go badly when Malcolm, court jester and friend to the royal family, murders the king and queen and takes the Kyragem for himself. Kallak, chief among the royal mystics and father of the late queen, sealed Malcolm within the castle and fled with the royal heir, Brandon, hiding his heritage from him. Over the years, now without access to the Kyragem, the royal mystics' spells have dwindled in power, until...

Video: Opening Cinematic (Youtube)

Music: Opening Cinematic

Watch the video if you can. The game looks a lot better in motion. You might notice that the video appears to stutter strangely after Malcolm talks, and some of his lines don't appear to sync properly to what he's doing. The game always does that for some reason, and as I remember it used to do so in the original, native DOS version too.



As the narrator speaks, explosions of magic energy and dying trees appear across the map.

Narrator: Malcolm the Jester has broken free. He now controls the Kyragem, source of all the magic in Kyrandia. Once a favorite of the court, he killed the king and seized the gem. Imprisoned by the royal mystics, Malcolm was held for eighteen years. But now, the mystics' spell has slipped, and vengeful Malcolm enjoys free reign...



Music: Malcolm vs the Forest

Malcolm enters and wilts a tree for no apparent reason, then laughs. Jerk. Karma is swift, however.



You dare trip me!? But no. Something special for you.



...
But I shall give fair warning. Don't jump on that tree!
...
Boo!
!



'tis funnier that way, is it not?

So here's where we get our first feel for what Malcolm the jester is like: true to his title, he's your stereotypical "mad clown" villain; clownish, sadistic, only cares about others in terms of entertainment value - and what's funnier than people (and random squirrels) dying? Aside from his backstory though, so far he's really only engaged in slightly wanton destruction of the local flora and fauna. He's more clown than killer, and this is something that doesn't really change throughout the game.



Music: Kallak's Letter

(writing) Dear Brynn, Malcolm has broken free. Soon, he will come for me. Please help Brandon.

Don't worry about it, I'm sure he's forgotten all about y--



Oh. Hey.



Music: Malcolm vs Kallak

Powerful leader of the Royal Mystics. Did I frighten you?
Malcolm. I heard yesterday of your escape, and have expected you before now.
Why would I rush? I rule this land! Your puny curse restrains me naught!
So, slay me now! I have little magic left.
I mean to harm you, have no doubt.




... yet I leave your eyes. I shed no tears for Kyrandia, but cannot deny you yours!




Meet our protagonist and avatar: Brandon, grandson of Kallak and heir to the throne of Kyrandia, though he doesn't know it yet. He also dresses like a dork, talks like a dork, and is about to have his day suddenly get a lot more complicated. You might also recognize his voice from another Westwood Studios game: he is voiced by Joe Kucan, who played Kane in the Command & Conquer live action cutscenes.



What happened to you!?

And thus, we receive control of Brandon for the first time. Next time, we'll have a look at our surroundings, engage in some good old-fashioned adventurer's kleptomania, and see if we can't figure out a way to get gramps back to normal.