Treasure Room 1 is where the game launches.  it comprises 4 exits, 2 trapdoors, 1 secret room and 4 altar tables.

Find the secret room which is next to the Altar Table containing a sword. 

Placing items onto, or removing items from altar tables are Critical actions, particularly in the first couple of minutes of the game. 

NORMAL AVERAGE START MODE: take ONE ITEM from an altar table and exit via nearest door! 

CHALLENGING START MODE:  this is the same as Normal except all 4 doors open for you + gameplay harder. To start Challenging mode, quickly get an item from secret room and place it onto altar containing the Sword, game then starts in "Challenging Mode"  

EXTRA EARLY MISSIONS MODE:   To start Extra Mission mode, quickly get an item from secret room and place it onto altar not containing the Sword, after a few moments a teleporter will become visible in Treasure Room 1, enter Teleporter to begin extra mission

EARLY START MISSIONS :  To select an Early Mission take one item e.g. Sword and move to Secret Room. or E.G  take frozen arrow and quickly exit via Southern gate, explore, you find an early mission trapdoor has opened