How to Cross the Flaming Chasm of ZLORK (Part Two of Three)

A few weeks ago I posted some teaser images for my Rube Goldberg-esque sprite comic entitled How to Cross the Flaming Chasm of Zlork. Here’s a more detailed look at the artwork, with captions explaining the simple method by which one crosses the first half of the Chasm. I’ll post the artwork for the second half of the Chasm in a couple weeks.

The Flaming Chasm of Zlork receives brief mention in my novel Tattered Faces Volume One: The Alchemist, which I’ll be done with any day now.

Zlork contains images ripped from various Super Mario Brothers™ and Final Fantasy™ video games. Credit for the original sprites goes to the talented artists at Nintendo and Capcom. Please support the hard work of game designers by purchasing authentic games. Beholder is a copyright of Wizards of the Coast. Human Torch is a Marvel character, yo.

For more of the Perilous Adventures of Jack the Dragonslayer, click here.

Hero (1) leaps and grabs Steel Ring (2).

Weight of Hero pulls Chain (3), opening Valve (4). Water (5) is released from Reservoir (6).

Water douses Human Torch (7). Human Torch’s pet Phoenix (8) flies off, crying in despair. Flaming wing of Phoenix singes tentacle of Beholder (9).

Ill-tempered Beholder shoots Ray of Stupefaction (10) at harmless Quivering Ooze (11). Stunned Ooze falls onto Counterbalanced Platform (12), causing platform to descend.

Ascending Platform (13) rises, alarming dozing Luridan (14), who flashes dome light, upsetting Giant Vampire Bats (15).

Giant Vampire Bats flutter in confusion around head of Ninja (16), who slashes in wild abandon, accidentally flinging her Sword. Ninja Sword severs the Chain to which Hero still clings by Steel Ring, dropping Hero into magical Teleportation Field (17) emanating from pipe below. Ninja Sword falls into Teleportation Field right after Hero.

Hero is teleported to Platform (18) near center of Chasm. Cosmic Horror (19), disturbed by fluctuations in spactime continuum caused by Teleportation Field, lashes out with tentacles, breaking Water Pipe (20) and causing water to drip onto beanstalk seeds.

Beanstalk (21) grows, allowing Hero to climb and leap over to Platform (22). Platform begins to descend toward inevitable drop into Flaming Chasm.

Meanwhile Descending Platform (23), weighted by Quivering Ooze, dislodges Flame Vane #1(24), which swings around, dislodging Flame Vanes #2 and #3. Fire from Flame Vane #3 ignites Bullet Launcher (25), sending Bullet Bill (26) sailing across the Chasm.

Bullet Bill (26) bites head off of Zombie (27). Disgusted by rotten taste, Bullet Bill spits Zombie Head out. Zombie Head (28) strikes Launchpad (29) and sails upward.

Zombie Head upsets Giant Fly (30) from Swivel Platform (31).

Giant Fly buzzes away, crossing in front of Giant Frog. Giant Frog (32) shoots out tongue, trying to capture Giant Fly, but misses, snagging Hero (33) instead and reeling him in just before Descending Platform (34) releases from Unsecured Guide Chain (35) and plunges into Flaming Chasm. Hero uses Ninja Sword obtained at (17) to cut way out of Giant Frog.

Congratulations! You’re half way there! Check back in two weeks for the thrilling conclusion!