CFILE.DAT — Starter Item Bundle

Small static file shipped with the game. Contains exactly four item records using the same 6-byte structure found in save files. The file’s consumer and exact gameplay purpose are not yet identified.

Extension: CFILE.DAT
Location: DARKLAND\
Byte order: Little-endian (16-bit)
Size: 24 B fixed — 4 × 6-byte item structs, no header
Compression: None
Magic: None — no header; first word is item code 0x0073 (Essence o'Grace)
Status: Partial
Source: RE — direct byte inspection + cross-reference with DARKLAND.LST (2026-04-19)

Partial. The 4-item structural decode is confirmed (all type/weight bytes match DARKLAND.LST). The consumer routine and gameplay purpose are unresolved — the exact 24-byte sequence was not found in save files or cache files during the decode pass. It may be a starter inventory template, trade-helper bundle, or tool artifact.

Reverse-engineered by direct byte inspection and cross-reference with darkland.lst and save-file structures (2026-04-19).

Item struct (6 bytes)

Offset	Size	Field	Description
`+0x00`	2	`code`	Item index into `DARKLAND.LST` item_definitions
`+0x02`	1	`type`	Item type byte (mirrors the type stored in `darkland.lst`)
`+0x03`	1	`quality`	Item quality (1–99)
`+0x04`	1	`quantity`	Stack count
`+0x05`	1	`weight`	Item weight

This is the same item struct used in save files and CHARACTR.TMP.

Decoded Contents

Record	Raw bytes	Code	Quality	Qty	Weight	Identified item
0	`73 00 98 2D 03 01`	`0x0073`	45	3	1	Essence o’Grace
1	`70 00 95 2D 02 01`	`0x0070`	45	2	1	New-wind
2	`66 00 8B 2D 01 02`	`0x0066`	45	1	2	Thunderbolt
3	`9B 00 9F 23 01 08`	`0x009B`	35	1	8	S.George GreatSwrd

Records 0–2 are alchemical potions; record 3 is a relic weapon (St. George’s Great Sword). type and weight values for all four entries match the corresponding definitions in DARKLAND.LST.

Validation Notes

type and weight bytes agree with DARKLAND.LST for all four entries.
The exact 24-byte sequence was not found verbatim in save files, DEFAULT, or temporary cache files during the decode pass — ruling out a straightforward save-data fragment.
The file does not match any known palette, text, map, or image format.

Open Questions

Which executable routine opens CFILE.DAT?
Is this a fixed starter inventory template, a trade helper bundle, or a tool artifact?
Is the file ever written at runtime, or is it read-only?

Confidence

High for the 4× item-record structural decode.

Medium for the higher-level purpose — the consumer and gameplay role are unresolved.