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In case anyone else gets stuck in the first level, I've written a walkthrough for the first level, step by step:

in regard to the directions I'm using: I'll refer to the top left corner of the screen as north, etc.

IMPORTANT: Ancient Evil will hang up if you switch windows (alt+tab) during the game, so either print these instructions or write them down... This seems to be always the case, regardless of which software you're using.

1) Arm yourself with the sword you're carrying
2) East: there's a door, pass through it -> pickup rune stone, gold, RED KEY
3) Door further south, pass through it -> kill boogers, take the loot from them (always move the mouse cursor over their remains to be sure you've seen everything; sometimes you won't see it on the screen until you move the mouse cursor over it, causing the cursor to change to a hand holding something)
East: there's a lever (you'll see it as a column with a handle). move mouse cursor over it until it changes to that hand holding something. then left-click, which will switch the handle. you'll be notified that "a door has opened"
Further east: there's a door, pass through it; pickup bandages, food, gold; pickup and equip yourself with the shield
West-Southwest: here's the door that opened, pass through it -> elixar of healing, and another switch similar to the previous one.
West (in the same wall as the last door): another door; use the red key to open it -> boogers to kill -> rune stone
4) South: another door; pass through it -> boogers. There will be 2 rune stones (at least as far as I know there isn't a randomizer at work, so the gains should be the same each game) to be found among their remains once you've killed them.
Southeast corner: a door, leading to an empty room: nothing to be found, not even a secret door.
East: a short corridor leading to a door; kill the boogers there, then you'll find gold and bandages
South: a door that's already open; pass through it (use the keyboard arrows if it's too hard getting through using the mouse). you'll see a ladder. move the mouse cursor over it until the cursor changes -> left-clicking will bring you to level 2.

Good luck!