The Story was a prologue summary story for King's Quest VIII: Mask of Eternity on the original website (www.sierra.com/mask)
Background[]
It is not known if any legible archive or transcription of the website exists anywhere (though there is one possible site[1]). All that is known to still exist is an image in Fall 1997 issue of InterAction magazine.
What little can me made out from the image is that it was called “The Story”. The magazine described the webpage as “A summary of the story behind the Mask of Eternity as well as how it evolved from the King’s Quest saga.”
See also[]
Behind the scenes[]
Any help confirming the above text or recovering or transcribing it, or at least including a better scan of the original magazine image would be appreciated.
The first sentence appears to begin with an “R” (or is just an image of a rune) perhaps for “Return” or realm, and contains the phrase “Kingdom of Daventry”, or something with similar length and syllables. It possibly says something similar to “Return to the magical Kingrom of Daventry”.
A number of KQ8 summaries do share similar phrasing beginning with or mention variations “Return to the Kingdom of Daventry” including the KQ8 Product Description (World of Krondor) for example. Though that version is split into 3-4 paragraphs.
- 1998/1999 Buyer's Guides
- Return to the Kingdom of Daventry where a destructive magical force has turned all of the inhabitants to stone. Assume the role of Connor, a resourceful young man who has mysteriously been spared. Muster all your strength, bravery and intelligence as you travel across seven amazing lands seeking to shatter this evil spell and understand the astonishing power behind the Mask of Eternity.
- 1998 Sierra Catalog
- Mask of Eternity returns you to the Kingdom of Daventry, where a destructive magical storm has turned the inhabitants to stone. In the role of Connor, players will need all their courage and skill to recover the five scattered pieces of the ancient Mask of Eternity destroyed by en evil sorcerer’s greed for absolute power. The searchers straddle seven amazing lands as they unravel the mysterious power of the Mask and undertake the greatest quest of all.
- 1998 Product Description (World of Krondor Promo CD)
- King's Quest: Mask of Eternity™ returns players to the Kingdom of Daventry, the majestic setting of the King's Quest series, where myths and legends are the stuff of daily life, and magic is both a ticket to survival and a passage to death. A destructive magical storm overtakes the kingdom of Daventry and turns its habitants, including King Graham, Queen Valanica and every farmer, merchant, scribe, smith, and handmaiden to stone. Assuming the role of Connor Mac Lyrr, a young resident of Daventry, players must muster their strength, bravery and aptitude and set out on the grandest quest of his life.
Though a version as recovered on old Geocities site doesn’t start with an “R”. The version on the site does seem to be split into three sections and have about that same amount of words and syllables roughly.
'Note: This may or may not be a original transcription of the the story. However, it may be edited and paraphrased from the original 1997 website. The site was maintained by one of original game testers of Mask of Eternity.
Setting: The Kingdom of Daventry.
There was a sacred mask located in the far away Realm of the Sun. The mask posessed mystical powers and it had a profound effect on the entire world. It was meant to remain in it's holy santuary and not to be disturbed. There was also an old prophecy, known by every resident of Daventry. Even the peasants were aware of it! This prophecy stated that an evil being would gain control of the mask, resulting in a terrible curse. Only one man, the "champion eternal" would be saved. He would be the world's only hope.
Sure enough, this prophecy came true. A man dressed in a white robe (presumably, a priest of some sort) approached the altar where the mask lay. This "priest" was named Lucreto, and he was really a dark, evil being who then transformed himself into his true form. Suddenly, lightning struck the altar, causing the mask to explode. The shattered pieces were dispersed across the world and doom became inevitable. Meanwhile, in Daventry, the good monarch, King Graham, was looking into his magic mirror, and in horror, he watched his fate unfold before his very eyes. Outside the castle walls, in Daventry's peasant village, a piece of the sacred Mask of Eternity landed in front of a young peasant, who then picked it up. As he did so, a storm swept over the land. When it cleared, the long foretold curse had become a reality. Only the peasant was left unharmed, marking him as the "champion eternal", the only one who could save the world and make things right again.
The peasant's name was Connor Mac Lyrr and he was just a common man, who would soon learn of his strange destiny. Connor found that he was the only man who was not turned to stone. Even his ruler, King Graham, was now only a statue. In addition, he noticed the evil, bloodthirsty monsters that suddenly roamed the land. Something had to be done! Reluctantly, Connor vowed to embark on a great quest, to find the other lost pieces of the Mask of Eternity (he already carried one), and to restore the balance between good and evil. The game begins here. Armed with just your bare fists, you set off on a long and perilous journey...and the odds are against you!