Character/Contact Screen:
When you are not fighting, you and your companions will appear here. The moving background represent your character's point of view in the Five Lands. When you do battle, your foe will be seen here. Messages will also appear in this screen.

Ica:
The magical fairy who makes sure messages are seen by all.

Map/Menu Screen:
The red/white square is where you are in the Five Lands. Use your game map as a reference. One move of the red/white square equals one square on your game map. 

Experience/Strength Meters:
The upper blue bar is your experience meter. As you battle evil creatures, your experience will grow...and your experience meter will become white. When your experience meter becomes fully white, you will gain in strength.

Your strength meter starts out white. As you suffer damage, the white will decrease. If your strength meter turns fully blue, you will die. Remember...as you gain in experience, you will gain in strength.

$: Shows the amount of Guilders your party has. Guilders are the monetary unit of hte Five Lands. You need them to purchase weapons, healing herbs and special items.
 

POT: Herbs. Use herbs to heal yourself and your party after combat.
 

FANG: Fangs are valuable in the Five Lands. They can be sold for guilders...or traded for certain items!
 

C: Character points are evidence of your worthiness in combat. Some villages will not admit you if you don't have enough character. And be careful who you slay, or your fame could decrease! If you lose too many of these in battle, your hired blacksmith may leave as well!

At different points in the game, you can access menus which give you options. At points in the game where you must make decisions, the menus will appear automatically.

Heal:   When you and your companion's strength has been depeleted in combat, you may use this command...if you have herbs...to regain strength.  You can buy more herbs from the healer in town.

Status:   Shows the strength value of you and your companions as well as the weapon types and uses left in the weapons.

S:  Attack Strength - the higher the number, the more damage done to your foes.

D:  Defense Strength - the higher the number, the less damage done to by enemies.

Weapons:   If the number in the column next to weapons reaches 0, the weapons will break and you have to find a new one. A visit to the swordsmith before this happens will put new life in your steel! There may even be a blacksmith who will travel with you and fix your weapons after each battle!

Items:   Selecting ITEM will allow you to see and count the various special items you win or buy in the course of the game.

Quit:   This will allow you to save a game, by selecting SAVE in the subscreen, or will let you end the game permanently by selecting the QUIT option again.

This menu will automatically be displayed when you come in contact with a friend or foe.  A message will identify what you see. Then you must select an option.

Attack:   Use this option to attack. A subscreen will appear in which you must select the member of your party to attack.

Retreat:   This option allows you to escape. Remember that some creatures will trap you, forcing you to fight for your life! If you are unable to escape, the enemy will get one attack on EACH member of your party. Use this command only in dire need.

Talk:   Use this option to listen to some of the people and creatures you meet in your quest. They could give you valuable hints and knowledge.

Magical:   If you have magical items, this option will let you use them. Some magic items don't work against all enemies!

Spell:   This option will show you a list of all the spells you have learned.