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FAQ/Walkthrough
>>==================
For Microsoft X-BOX
Version 1.1
By Chris Zawada
User: antseezee
E-mail: antseezee@epix.net
Created: 01/09/04
Last Update: 01/26/04
Copyright 2004 Chris Zawada
----------------------------------
Author's Note
----------------------------
I'd just like to say that this is my first official Walkthrough ever, so please
bear with me. I'll do my best to guide you on one of my favorite RPGs to grace
the X-BOX in quite some time. Hopefully you'll be able to find a secret item
that was lost to your knowledge, or yearn on a secret rune spell that only the
elite know. Either way, have fun, that's the bottom line. Be warned that
spoilers are present everywhere in the FAQ, so it's your own fault if you read
any further.
Contributing/Feedback
----------------------------
If you have any contributions, feedback, or strategies you'd like to have added
to the guide, contact me via e-mail or on GameFAQs. I'll be more than content
to add your segment of information, and will also provide credit. If you have
any questions you'd like added to the Common Questions section, ask. I simply
don't have the time to sit around thinking of questions. Provide me with what
you want to know!
Updates
----------------------------
=01/26/04= *NEW VERSION* v1.1
Made a few grammar corrections. Fixed up two parts of the walkthrough that were
partially incorrect (dragon eggs, security room in temple). Also fixed up a few
formatting problems.
=01/17/04= v1.0
Completed the walkthrough, and all the sections in the guide. I'm still missing
a few hidden spells in the game, but I'm sure they'll be discovered. I'll be
uploading the guide today. Feel free to make any suggestions, or additions and
your name will be credited.
=01/09/04= v1.0
Started the basic layout of the FAQ. Also integrating the traditional
walkthrough step-by-step. Aiming for an early February release.
============================
-    Table of Contents     -
============================
1) Introduction
2) Game Basics
> Controls
> Inventory/Interaction
3) Walkthrough
> The Escape
> Arx
> The Trolls Quest
> The Temple
> Krahoz and Zohark
> The Ultimate Weapon
> Time to die, Akbaa
4) Side Quests
5) Items
> Weapons
> Armor
> Accessories
6) Magic
> Runes
> Spells
> Scrolls
7) Secrets
> Tips, Hints, Hidden
> Lord Inut's Potion, Hero Ring, etc...
8) Races/Enemies/NPCs
9) Common Questions
10) Copyright/Distribution/Reproduction Guidelines
11) Proper Credits
----------------------------------
============================
- 1) Introduction          -
============================
Arx Fatalis is yet another stunning single player RPG to hit the Microsoft
X-BOX and PC systems in the past two years. Originally developed by Arkane
Studios, and published by Dreamcatcher Interactive, one would question the
ethics behind purchasing such a game. However, Arx Fatalis is more than an
altered Morrowind, or blasting adventure like Diablo. It combines the necessary
elements of a vast RPG with the interaction we look forward to with the actual
environments. While most gamers would compare it to Elder Scrolls III:
Morrowind, Arx Fatalis contains more of the closed-in dungeon environments with
plenty to discover. Using your wits, you must figure out ways to solve puzzles
while facing the difficulty of everyday combat.
Here's a brief excerpt from the official instruction manual (credit to
Dreamweaver):
-------------------------
Tales of an Old Man
-------------------------
The children, eyes glittering and bubbling with anticipation, drew closer to
the couch where sat an old, gray-haired man in dirty clothing. While some of
hte children were mumbling and giggling at the sight of the trembling old man,
all grew silent as, in a harsh voice, he began to tell his tale.
"Well, children...," the old man paused, coughing. "Our world was not always as
you know it today. A long time ago, according to legend, everyone lived in the
fortress, aboveground. Over their heads, there was what they called a blue sky,
where smoke, which went by the name of clouds, floated."
The excited murmurs of the children forced the man to pause in his story.
"You'd better believe me! High above, we had a radiant sun, which warmed us
with its magical rays. Wheat grew, without the help of magic, needing only the
earth and the sun. Of course, there were also goblins, trolls, dragons and
demons, but we lived so far away from one another that we rarely crossed paths.
What truly shook our civilization was when the sun suddenly disappeared. In a
mere few hours, it was gone. Night fell, for all of eternity. Since that
dratted day, the cold hand of death rules the earth's surface. All living
things either died, froze to the surface, or retreated to the very heart of the
same mother earth, as our people did in the past. An ancient dwarves mine
became the only hope for these many refugees. The dark age had begun..."
Throughout the old man's tale, the children kept letting out cries of amazement
and surprise. Again, he paused, this time to allow the children to assimilate
what he had said, then he continued.
"Since this dratted day, the only ones daring enough to climb to the surface,
in search of other refugees, are the members of the Travellers' Guild. Below,
where we are, each race has taken over a section of the mine. Today, magic is
all we have to feed ourselves. Without it, we could not have survived until
now. Several levels below us are the goblins and rat-men, who have managed to
survive by either stealing from us, or eating what we throw away. Everyone has
finally found his place in this world.
Lunshire the Fair is a good and just king, who protects us from the demons
lying in ambush at our fortress doors. You're happy with your lives because you
grew up here and don't know of anything else. Listen to my tale, and imagine
how wonderful life would be in a world with no limits, no tunnels, and no
caves. A world where blinding light shines forth from a radiant sun, and not
from some miserable wavering torches or because of magic spells!"
As if replying to a command, the torches begin to flicker violently, and their
flames suddenly shoot up to the ceiling. The scared children huddle together
and raise their eyes to this strange sky.
"There is a way to bring an end to all this suffering," cried out the old man,
"A mighty God, one who has the power to end the misery of our existence by
bringing back the Sun..." He sighed, and his voice died away. "But this is
another story. I'm tired now. Leave me alone, you brats..." the old man coughed
violently.
----------------------------
Basically, all the races of the world use to live happily ever after on the
surface of the Earth. It was an expansive place, full of beautiful sights, and
things that could be taken in like sweetening views. Then one day, the sun
vanished away forcing all of the living creatures to retreat underground, where
it was warmer. Unfortunately, the sun never rose again, and from this day on,
the races continued to thrive for their own survival UNDERGROUND. This is where
the story takes place, so expect a lot of tight navigating.
----------------------------------
============================
- 2) Game Basics           -
============================
In the simplest fashion, Arx Fatalis is your basic single player RPG
(role-playing game). You take place of a sole person who goes on a perilous
adventure which somehow affects a storyline. Most RPGs feature battles with
enemies, constant discovery in various levels, and most of all a key plot to
follow. However, Arx Fatalis is fairly unique as it combines certain elements
of interaction that one would not find in another game. Thus, you'll be forced
to eat when starvation comes in, toss objects on panels to affect another
event, and even "spell" spells literally in a real-time fashion.
______________
/Game Controls/
----------------------------
Left Joystick - moves Am Shaegar
Right Joystick - looks around
Up Control Pad - drops item
Down Control Pad - closes quick-inventory
Left/Right Control Pad - selects items in quick-inventory
A - interaction
B - draws weapon (combat mode)
Y - precast a spell
X - draws hands (magic mode)
Start - main menu
Back - opens inventory/spellbook/journal log/character development
X + control pad directions - spells a rune out, press X again to cast
L trigger - jumps
R trigger - charges swing/attacks
Right Joystick Button - crawl (click once)
Left Joystick Button - crouches (hold)
Black/White Buttons - can be assigned via the inventory menu as shortcut
keys
Interface
----------------------------
The Arx Fatalis interface is simple, yet refreshing to a certain aspect. Most
elementary principles of the games are captured to great length. However, since
this is a role-playing game, characters often have specified amounts of health,
magic abilities, and what you can do. The interface notifies you of pretty much
your entire status.
[1] Health Gauge: - red meter in lower left corner that displays current HP
- when it reaches 0, game over
- turns green when poisoned
- regenerates at a specific rate based on your stats
[2] Mana Gauge: - blue meter below health gauge that displays current MP
- regenerates at a specific rate based on your stats
[3] Stealth Status: - white/black meter that displays how visible you are
- determines how noisy you are
[4] Power Gem: - shows the amount of power in your physical attack
- shines a gleaming white when you're fully charged
- only pops up during combat mode
[5] Precast Spells: - shows amount of spells memorized in your list (max 5)
[6] Equipment Status: - located in lower left corner above HP bar
- shows the durability of all equipment on character
- green = mint/good, yellow = average, red = damaged
[7] Inventory Ring: - pops up a horizontal bar when control pad is selected
- let's you navigate one-by-one through inventory
- also used to combine certain items
[8] Active Spells: - located in upper right corner
- displays all current spells and auras casted on you
[9] Torch: - located in mid-left side of view
- appears on when you have a torch equipped (increases lighting)
[10] Crosshair: - used for interaction/attacking/talking/selecting
- located in center of screen
[11] Description of Object: - pops up when you select an item
- usually occurs when reading books/papers/letters
[12] Map: - located in upper right corner
- displays zoomed in view of where you are on the current level
_____________________
/Special Interactions/
----------------------------
+++                                 +++
>
+++                                 +++
Press A on any body, chest, barrel, or random storage device. An image will pop
up showing the inventory in the object you selected, and your current
inventory. Select items from the inventory of the storage device, and press A
to swatch them over to your own inventory. Many items you find in Arx Fatalis
will come through checking chests and bodies - so get use to it.
+++                    +++
>
+++                    +++
Once you get 50 stealth points (skill category) in the game, you can start to
pickpocket people. To do so, sneak behind them (preferably in dark/hidden
settings), and a purse will appear on the bottom of the screen. Then, press the
BACK button on the controller, and you can snatch things out of their inventory
into yours. Stealth is a key to this manuever, but you also don't have to deal
with attacking or killing the person.
+++                  +++
>
+++                  +++
To purchase items and things of the sorty, walk up to a chest and press A.
You'll enter a special Buy/Sell mode in which items are automatically traded
for gold pieces. If you want to buy something, put your cursor over the
seller's inventory, and a price will appear at the bottom of the screen. It
will appear green (if you can afford it), or red (if you cannot). You may also
place the cursor over your own inventory. If you do so, items of your own
property will get prices from the sellers (at a much lower value though).
Simply press A in either manner, and the item will be exchanged with gold
coins. You cannot steal items out of a chest, unless you sneak in, pick the
lock, and take them without anyone noticing.
+++                           +++
>
+++                           +++
Throughout the caves, you'll find many traps, secret passages, and hidden
buttons. By increasing your "Intuition" skill, it enables you to see traps
(object turns a reddish tint), hidden panels (they appear a shallow gray), and
various passageways. Traps can be defused with special kits, scrolls, or spells.
+++             +++
>
+++             +++
When you come across a locked door in the game, you have a few options of
getting past them. One involves attempting to find the correct key, and then
using it on it. Or, you can be the thrifty person, and simply pick the lock. In
order to pick a lock, you need a toolkit (an item), and a high "Technical"
skill to make it past complex locks. Nearly all locks in the game can be
picked, it's just a matter of having tool kits and extremely high Technical
skills.
+++                    +++
>
+++                    +++
This is a fairly complex process that is learned later in the game. To enchant
items, you need an item that can be combined (usually a mashed ingredient, rare
artifact, or something of that type), and a normal item that can be enchanted.
Basically, you drop that weapon or armor on the ground, then from your quick
inventory, select an ingredient. Combine it with the item on the ground by
pressing A, and the item will be ready to be enchanted. All you need to do is
cast the spell "Enchant Object", and make sure it's on the ground when you do
so.
+++                           +++
>
+++                           +++
Arx Fatalis is very, VERY different when it comes to identifying items. Rather
than simply buying an identify scroll, you must raise a special skill category
called "Object Knowledge." The higher this skill rating is, the more advanced
items you can identify. This is the only way to identify items in the game. So
make sure you pump a ton of points into object knowledge (at least 70).
+++                          +++
>
+++                          +++
Most equipment items in the game have durability points. Basically, the more
you use them, the less fit they become for use. Items can break, or not be used
when their durability reaches 0. To prevent this, you can repair certain items
by taking them to the blacksmith. All you have to do is take the item,
highlight it in your inventory, then combine it with the blacksmith (for a fee
of gold of course). You may also repair items yourself by taking them to an
anvil, and combining them with that instead. A higher object knowledge skill
improves your ability to repair items. Most items will lose maximum durability
points if you try to repair them yourself.
+++                 +++
>
+++                 +++
When the going gets tough, many RPG players can call upon the scientifical
powers of potions to cure the most ailing diseases. Potions, while fairly
uncommon in Arx Fatalis, do help you in many different situations. To create or
concoct your own potion, you must first gather an empty bottle. This can be
accomplished by finding, purchasing one, or simply drinking a wine/water
bottle. Once you have an empty flask, use a Mortar & Pestle on a raw ingredient
to grind it down to a simpler form. For example, you can grind down garlic into
garlic powder, then combine it in the empty bottle. Once this is accomplished,
find a distiller, and combine it (press A from the quick inventory). Your
powder-filled flask will turn into a potion. In many cases, the ingredients
determine which type of potion you will get. Also, a high object knowledge
skill benefits you during this process.
+++                   +++
>
+++                   +++
Hunger is a hidden factor when you enter the world of Arx Fatalis. It's
necessary to eat on a regular basis, otherwise you become hungry, and lose
energy as time progresses. You can die of starvation. In order to prevent this,
eat food by selecting a food item out of your inventory, and pressing A to
consume it. It's necessary to cook certain items so that they are not raw. To
cook an item, simply drop it near or on a fire. After a few seconds, the item
will be cooked, and can be picked back into your inventory. Some common items
that must be cooked are uncooked ribs, fish, chicken drumsticks, and raw apple
pies. Also, each food holds a certain "redemption" as to how much more full you
are. Eating a mushroom won't really fill the belly, while consuming a loaf of
bread shall.
+++                 +++
>
+++                 +++
There are many instances in the game where you have to change between levels
and places. To enter the next level, press A when the Stairs (A) icon pops up
on your screen. Basically, you press A, and a brief loading screen will take
place.
+++          +++
>
+++          +++
The key ring is a special item you can purchase early on in the game that
organizes all keys you collect in the game. You can get your first key ring
from the woman shopkeeper in the city of Arx. Basically, whenever you find a
key, go to your inventory menu (press BACK). Then, select the key, and press
the R trigger. Now, move it to where your key ring is in your inventory, and
press R again. The key will be added to the ring. It's a way for organizing all
your keys into one inventory block. I'd highly recommend you assign a shortcut
to the key ring (black or white button).
----------------------------------
============================
- 3) Walkthrough           -
============================
The following is a complete step-by-step walkthrough for Arx Fatalis. Be
prepared to read about S P O I L E R S in both the plot, and for solving the
various quests in the game. I'll also try to briefly explain the plot in a few
sentences in case you're confused of your current status.
Creating your Character
----------------------------
When you first create your player in the world of Arx Fatalis, there are four
key stats, and about 9 key categories that come into mind. You start off with
16 points to spread out for stats, and 18 points to designate for each of the
skills. Based on how you distribute these points, it can greatly affect the
outcome of the game. First of all, setting the points depends on how you want
your character to play the game. A warrior should have more points pumped into
strength and close combat, while a thief may prefer higher dexterity, and an
increased technical skill. Build according to how you enjoy executing your
gameplan.
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
^^^^\\\\ STAT CATEGORIES ////^^^^
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
= STRENGTH =
{ Determines the damage bonus on physical attacks
{ Ability to use heavy weapons (mostly two handed)
[ Affects Object Knowledge & Combat Skills
= MENTAL =
{ Determines amount in mana pool, and resistance to magic
[ Affects Ethereal Link, magic power, Technical, Intuition, and Object Knowledge
Skills
= DEXTERITY =
{ Determines precision in combat plus a chance of critical strike (twice damage)
[ Affects Technical, Stealth, Close Combat, and Object Knowledge Skills
= CONSTITUTION =
{ Determines amount in health pool, poison resistance
{ Ability to wear heavy armor
[ Affects Defense skill
- When you first start off, I'd recommend pumping your ST to at least 8. Later
in the game, ST becomes important, so you can pump it later. If you're a
warrior, get at least 14 ST to use most weapons in the game.
- Mental should only be pumped if you're going to be a spellcaster. When I say
spellcaster, I mean purely a mage. Most of its effects have nothing to do with
combat.
- Dexterity should be up to at least 10 near the end of the game. It makes a
huge difference on critical strikes, plus is necessary if you want to be a
thief.
- Constitution increases your HP, so it's best to pump this skill near the
middle of the game. Defense is important to staying alive, even if you don't
use a shield.
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
^^^^\\\\ SKILL CATEGORIES ////^^^^
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
= STEALTH =
- Makes your footsteps softer, and allows for better disguise in the dark
- Increases damage from attacking behind the enemy
- If greater than 50 points, allows you to pickpocket people
"Personally, I don't pump any points into stealth unless your sole intent is to
become a thief. If you have no intention on stealing in the game, you're better
off leaving this alone. Pickpocketing is fun, but also makes the game more
challenging."
= TECHNICAL =
- Increases chance of picking complex locks
- Increases chance of disabling complex traps
"Again, technical is a skill that you either love or hate. As a warrior, I
found it entirely useless. However, this is brilliant for anyone who wants to
explore the world of Arx Fatalis in its entirety. With a maxed out stealth
and/or technical, you can be the greatest thief."
= INTUITION =
- Sort of like a sixth sense, let's you see hidden passages/traps
- Better purchase/selling prices with traders
"Probably the most useless skill of them all. Once you acquire the Poxsellis
Helmet in the crypt, all hidden buttons/walls are automatically revealed. Even
with better selling prices, you only receive a 5% bonus for every 10 points
pumped in. Helps early on, worthless in the late game."
= ETHEREAL LINK =
- gives you a presence of hostile enemies
- increases mana regain rate
- shows enemy stats during battle
"This is an average skill that can help, but isn't entirely necessary.
Basically designed for mages or weaker players that want a better way around
the game. Don't pump too many points into this (25 or less)."
= OBJECT KNOWLEDGE =
- allows for better repairs on items, easier creation of potions, and poisoning
- NECESSARY to identify items
"MOST important secondary skill in the game. Get at LEAST 70 points into the
object knowledge skill if you want to complete the game. Object knowledge is
the only known way in Arx Fatalis to identify items. You cannot buy scrolls, or
cast an identification spell. If an item is unidentified, you DO NOT utilize
its benefits. You may need at least 75 points in order to identify the Chicken
Lord Inut's weapons."
= CASTING =
- permits for casting of high level spells
- increases magic resistance
"Great for magic users, and even useful for warriors. Get this skill at least
to 30 points, so you may use spells like HARM and FIREBALL with effectiveness.
Pump it to the high 60-70s as a spellcaster for maximum efficiency. Puts great
bonuses on your spells as well."
= CLOSE COMBAT =
- increases damage for striking or inflicting damage upon an enemy
- only works for close ranged weapons
"Ideal skill for the warrior. Get this up to the 70s if you want to do extreme
physical damage."
= PROJECTILE =
- increases damage for striking or inflicting damage with a ranged weapon
"Useless skill. There are only two different bows in the game, and refilling
arrows is a pesky process. You will never use a bow during the game, trust me."
= DEFENSE =
- allows for better use of a shield
- increases Armor Class (AC) which decreases damage taken
"Prime skill for a warrior as it allows them to take a beating. At least get
this matched with your close combat skill, or just use heavy armor to boost its
rating."
- After you create your character, the game officially begins.
*Arx Fatalis begins with a cutscene briefly showing a man getting shocked,
knocked unconscious, and then dragged off by a goblin. He is eventually tossed
into a cell, and you end up being this poor wretched man. Oh, the drama.*
___________
/The Escape/
----------------------------
=Find a way out of the Goblin prison.=
Once you wake up, look around to get a feel of the sensitivity of the
controller. In case you didn't notice, the right thumbstick is automatically
set to default controls. If you enjoy looking around with inverted controls
(down=up, up=down), go to the Options menu and change them now. Otherwise, look
to the right, and walk up to the bars. Press A to talk to the man.
*Once you start talking to the man, you seem to have lost all memory that
existed in your head. The fellow prisoner asks for you to search for a way out
of your cell.*
Turn around, and head straight back to the other bars opposite of your cell. A
small stone on the ground will be surrounded in a blue aura. Press A to pick it
up, and then press A on the bars to stretch them out. Now you have a way out of
your cell. Head straight through the new opening that awaits you, and look
under the bed on the floor. You should see a white lengthy object that
resembles a bone. Guess what? It's a bone! Press A to pick it up, then navigate
with the control pad (left and right), and press A to equip it once it's
selected.
Now you're armed to the teeth with a bone, literally. Peek around the new
corner, and you'll see a gobling walking back and forth by a table. Hide in the
darkness for a bit, enter combat mode (press B), and then charge up your attack
by holding down the R trigger. Once you have a full swing charged (a gem at the
bottom of the screen will turn bright white), run towards the goblin and swing
at him. Keep attacking him until he dies. Search his corpse by pressing A, and
take whatever you feel needy. Also look around the table, and pick up any
potions, food, or ingredients that you'd like to indulge on. You've just broke
out of prison; you deserve something for your hard work. The fellow prisoner
will start to yell to you to let him out. Walk over to the lever in front of
his cell and switch it on.
*A cutscene will show you and the man conversing. He gives you a name, Am
Shaegar, which means the "one without a name." Serves you right in this case.
He also tells you his name is Kultar. Unfortunately, he has a limping leg and
can't make it far, so he'll stay behind.*
- Follow the tutorial, and crouch down by the trapdoor on the floor. Smash it
with your fists (or hefty bone), and then walk over it to fall to the next
level.
In the new room, search around a bit and you'll find a dead corpse against a
left inlet. Search it, take the Leather Loggings, Aam/Tok runes, and whatever
you can get your hands on. The tutorial mode will pop up to have you test out
the new runes you've discovered. Follow what the game says, and spell out Aam
Tok to form the spell "Ignite."
All spells are initiated by pressing X, and then using the control pad to
represent the runes. So in this case, you would press right (you'll see a quick
flashy image appear), then down right up, and finally press X. You'll be doing
it correctly if you see the flashy image appear after each combo series (refer
to the Spellbook in your menu for more help). If the spell works correctly, you
should ignite a torch closest to you. This is how you cast spells in Arx
Fatalis. If that's too complex, simply go to the game's options menu, and
switch Magic to "Arcade Mode." If you want more descriptions on how to cast
spells, please check out the Magic Section.
-- Anyhow, continue onward to the next room. Pick up the torch on the ground,
and equip it to get an extra boost of lighting. Make the first right and you'll
enter a room with an elevator. Walk up near the elevator and a panel in the
wall will become highlighted. Check it out and you'll see that a ROPE is
missing from the mechanism.
Head back to the hall you were just in, and make sure you have the torch
equipped. Walk through the spider web, and you'll encounter your first spider
enemy in the game. Don't forget that you'll be encountering creatures of all
sorts throughout the game, so become handy with entering combat mode and
casting spells quickly.
- Make a left after passing through the spider, and you'll find a few neat
things in this room. Walk up to the smothering fire, and try casting the Ignite
spell. It should catch the fire back on full throttle. Then try tossing a spare
piece of wood in the fire ring. Finally, place any type of food (by dropping it
on the fire) you have near the food to cook it. Any sort of uncooked food that
becomes cooked can now be eaten to satisfy your hunger. Make sure to do this on
a regular basis, you must EAT to survive.
Jump in the nearby stream, and walk downstream until you see some stairs on the
right. Head down and search the dead body on the ground. You'll find your first
scroll in the game. Scrolls are similar to quick versions of runes, except
they're instantaneous, and don't cost mana. Unfortunately, scrolls can only be
used once, so make sure you're using them for the right cause. Follow the
tutorial, and equip the 'Magic Missle' scroll as requested.
Head back out of the stairs, and back to the fireplace room. Go along the left
wall and walk through the spider web. Deal with the 2 spiders in a similar
fashion to the previous one, and search the nearby barrels. MAKE SURE you pick
up the rope inside the barrel as it is a quest-necessary item. Run all the way
back to the elevator room, and combine the rope with the elevator mechanism
(select the rope in your inventory, highlight the mechanism, and press A).
You've just solved your first puzzle ever! You really deserve a cookie, or some
uncooked ribs in this case. Step on the elevator, and press the lever to go up.
Let's Kick some Goblin @$$
----------------------------
Head out to the right side, and make a left at the Y intersection. In here
you'll see a gigantic Goblin Lord who notices your presence. This enemy is a
little bit tougher than your previous foes, but you should prevail. Keep
striking, retreating a bit, and then charge in for the fatal blow. Thankfully,
Kultar will lay a few hits on the Goblin as well to make it an easy kill. Once
the deed is done, search his corpse, and take the Piece of Wood (quest item).
Walk over towards the fireplace, and along the wall is an empty lever base.
Combine the piece of wood with the lever to open the door. Use the lever, and
go upstairs to the next level.
- Now it's time for some munchy Goblin stew. Go to the first right, and you'll
hear 2 Goblins talking to each other. You can do what the game does, by using
"stealth", and tossing an item across the room to catch their attention. Or you
can be like me, and charge in like Rambo. Both of them are two weak Goblins, so
attack them respectively. Once they're dead, take the wooden club off of the
one, and use it as your new weapon. Search the chest across the room for a
gemstone, and then head back out to the hallway. Go straight up past the door
to your right (it leads you back to where you were before). Then, enter along
the right side near the end of the hall.
>> You'll soon discover a guard walking back and forth between some cells. Kill
him and then take any leftover belongings. You'll notice a Goblin prisoner
inside one of the cells. Let him free because it's necessary for his help to
continue the main quest. If you talk with him, there will be a short humorous
cutscene.
*The goblin tells you that his name is Polsius, and he wants to be let out. Of
course, your character wonders why he's on the other side of the bars. Polsius
says he would be very "thankful", and that it would be honorable for him to be
let free. It's not like he can do any harm. If and AFTER you let him go, he'll
tell you to ask for him in the Tavern upstairs.*
After Polsius wanders off, head back out to the 3-way hall. This time, take the
center path up and you'll meet a Goblin Lord armed with a short sword. Make
quick work of him, and then attack the other Goblin nearby. Take the tools on
the table, equip the newly found sword, and head back to the 3-way. Finally,
take the left route, and this is where it starts to get interesting. If you
peek around the corner, you'll notice a Goblin standing guard. Toss something
on the ground as a distraction, and then violently attack the Goblin till he
dies. Whatever you do, DON'T let him run away screaming for help. Cut off his
escape route.
After he's dead, ignore the stairs on the left, and continue straight until you
see a closed door on the left. You'll hear someone sleeping (with an awfully
loud snore). Open the door, and quietly SNEAK in his room (press the right
thumbstick down once to initiate a crawl). Try to sneak past the Goblin Lord to
one of the night stands. Pluck the Goblin Fortress key, and Written
Authorization Papers. If you performed it correctly, you should be able to
sneak in, steal the papers, and get out without him noticing. If he does
recognize you, just kill him, and take the stuff anyway. Now, head back out,
and make a left up the stairs.
- On a side note, you can go up the stairs BEFORE stealing the papers, and
there will be a sleeping goblin. If you can sneak up and successfully kill him
without him asking for help, a quest log will be added to your journal. On the
second floor past the sleeping goblin is a gate sealed by 3 Goblin Lords. If
you talk to them, the one asks for Gem Dealer Papers and Written (Signed)
Authorization in order to pass. This is what the next part of the walkthrough
deals with.
_____________
/What a mess!/
----------------------------
=Investigate the wrecked fortress, and send message to King Lunshire.=
- You'll start out in a gloomy cavern. Head straight and you'll notice a few
dead human guards on the ground. This is a Human Outpost which was attacked by
an outside force. Before you go in to check out what happened, look to your
right in the actual water. Along the right wall (in the stream of water) is a
skeletal corpse. Search the body and you'll find an unidentified ring. Head
back to where the two dead guards are on the ground (before the fortress), and
then make a left along the cavern walls. There should be a destroyed teleport
(crumbled mass of black pillars). If you leap over the broken pillars, there
should be a small red ring on the far side. Pick up this identified ring as
well. They'll come in handy once you have the object knowledge to recognize
them.
Anyway, cross the bridge and start to check out the fortress. Around the back
of the entrance is a wounded guard kneeling against a stone wall. Talk to him,
and he'll tell you to go see the Captain upstairs. Go inside the fortress and
plunder whatever you can get your hands on. In a room with a fireplace in the
center, there are several ingredients and key items including a Mortar &
Pestle, Blacksmith's Hammer, Blacksmith's Club (very useful weapon for now if
you can equip), and an Anvil which can be used to repair your weapons.
Personally, I'd equip the Blacksmith's Club (if you have 14 STR), since it does
tremendous damage and has great range. Head upstairs past the barnyard animals
in the back, and enter the top floor. Talk to the wounded Captain against the
wall.
*This new cutscene will reveal that the Human fortress was actually attacked by
some strange warriors. The Captain thought you were a Mercenary, and introduces
himself to be Ortiern. The foreign attack decimated their entire fortress, and
a recent earthquake blocked the path from the establishment to Arx. The Captain
wants you to go tell the King that Ortiern has been attacked, and needs
reinforcements immediately. Since the path is blocked between the fortress and
city, you must go back to the Goblin Kingdom, and find a way around it. Ortiern
also hands you some Gem Dealer papers which should give you permission through
the Goblin Kingdom.*
After Ortiern is finished babbling, check the chest to the right of him. Inside
you'll find a Logbook which is useful for reading up on what happened (for any
of you history gurus). Anyhow, run all the way back downstairs and outside of
the fortress. This time, head to the far right side of the caverns, and you
should see a golden-lit area with a dog. Open the door and you'll enter the
tavern. Immediately, you should see Polsius, the goblin you freed from before.
Talk to him.
*Polsius will delightfully sign your authorization papers, which will give you
permission to enter the Goblin Kingdom. Make sure you combine them with him.*
Afterwards, you can get a beer from the local tavern madame by giving her 2
gold coins, and I recommend you check the upstairs of the establishment. One of
the doors in the tavern requires that you have a "password." You can't enter
this place yet, so ignore it. Head upstairs and talk to the man sitting by a
table. A short cutscene will briefly sum up the history of the world, and Am
Shaegar pondering who he truly is.
-- Now that you have all of your papers fit and signed (authorization papers
signed & gem dealer license), head all the way back down to the Goblin level.
This time, take the stairs on your right. If any goblins stop you along the
way, show them your papers. This will prove that you're just "another" gem
dealer, and not some escaped human prisoner.
Meet the 3 Goblin Lords standing by the closed door, and show the lead guard
your signed papers. He SHOULD let you through. If nothing happens, show them
again. You'll know you've been accepted if the papers are removed from your
inventory. Head through the doorway, and go downstairs to enter "Goblin"
territory.
- I recommend you explore these caves for a bit as you can find some treasures
if you look in the correct places. First off, take a right, and then a left at
the Y-split. You should start to travel down a narrow passageway. Fight off and
kill the living spiders ahead, and keep moving forward until you reach a dead
end. There should be a pile of 4 skeletal corpses stacked on each other. Check
EACH of the corpses, and make sure you check the 4th one (hidden with only a
head popping out). The unidentified ring is hidden on his body. Next, head back
up the passageway, and take a right at the Y-split.
You should now see a troll and goblin standing by some doorways. The Goblin
refuses to let you enter because the Gem traders are supposedly "on strike."
Cross the bridge, and the trolls will also refuse to let you by. After you
cross the bridge, go left, and proceed down a few steps. You should find some
stairs curled around the back side of the encliffment. Go up the stairs. You're
now in a Gemstone/Spider Cave.
Explore the caves with the help of torches. Once you take a few steps in the
cave, one bat is going to fly out of nowhere and surprise you. Try to avoid
being hit by it, or dodge it at least. Go on to explore the caves, and kill any
creatures you encounter (most of them are small spiders/rats). You can light a
few fires along the way to toast some food to be eaten. There are also
gemstones which cannot be harvested yet, until you get the right equipment.
Eventually, you're going to find some stairs near the right side of the map. Do
NOT go up them yet. Instead, continue farther into the cave until you find a
GIGANTIC Poisonous Spider. I must warn you that this creature is strong, but
the results are rewarding. Use the Hit-N-Run tactic until he dies (takes 4-5
blows from the Blacksmith's Club). Now, enter the place where he was, and
you'll discover an emerald lieing on the ground under some ferns. Pick it up as
it'll become useful to boost your income once you reach the city of Arx.
- Go up the flight of stairs you passed before. You're now officially in the
city of Arx.
__________________________
/The wonderful city of Arx/
----------------------------
=Explore the town. Refill your supplies. Visit the King.=
Walk up to the double wide door, and open it. A guard will welcome you to the
City of Arx as a traveler, and says you should see Carlo the Guards' Captain
immediately.
- First things first though, start off by exploring Arx. It's going to be the
main station of traveling throughout the game. Go towards the right and across
the bridge. There's a Gem Salesman in one of the shanties (who will purchase
gemstones for gold, and sell gems as well). Since the trolls are on strike, any
gemstones will make him happy. There's also a few shops throughout all of Arx
including a woman named Maria. She has a nice little establishment on the right
side of the city opposite of the Gems' Salesman.
-- I highly recommend you purchase the Pickaxe off of Maria as it can be used
greatly in the future. It costs about 150 gold (or slightly different based on
your Intuition rating), and you should roughly have above 100 gold at this
point in the game. Remember those gemstones from before that were too hard to
break off? Well, you can use the trusty pickaxe to knock them off, and then
sell them to the Gem Salesman! The pickaxe is also used for knocking down
unstable walls, which are seen at certain points in the game.
Once you're done exploring the right side of the city, there should be a small
girl named Shany walking around. Talk to her along the way since she'll play an
important part in the future. Now, head back to where the starting door to the
city is, and go to the left side. Look for a building with a red/blue insignia
above it showing swords/shields. This is where Carlo the Captain is. Talk to
him for your request to the King, and he'll tell you to go to the Main Palace.
Follow his directions and go to the castle (large structure with a moat for an
entrance). Once you're inside, go straight ahead, enter the throne room, and
proceed to walk to the King.
*After telling King Lunshire of the terrible deed that occurred at Ortiern, he
wants you to send a message to the King of Trolls. It will take much time to
dig a clear path to the destroyed fortress (since the earthquake blocked it),
and Lunshire feels that the trolls may be able to help. You soon learn that the
trolls are mining experts, which would help clear the path quicker. They also
have friendly relations with the Human Kingdom, and would most likely help with
the scenario. Thus, Lunshire wants you to take a written message to Pog, King
of Trolls. Of course, his only reward is that of gold, and this furiates you.
You'd rather know who you are than have some measly gold! Insolent fool.
Anyhow, time to do some adventuring.*
***King Lunshire rewards you with 500 gold coins to assist on your journey. He
also gives you the written note to King Pog of the Trolls.***
- Before leaving town to head back to where the trolls were, check out some of
the local shops, and the actual castle. In the castle, you can find a Quest
Item Goblin's Cook Book on the far left end in a store room near the kitchen.
There's also a library with one of the Sister Snakes (part woman/part snake)
that has several books on the history of Arx. For any of the cutscene lovers of
the game, there's an observatory in the upper-right corner of the castle that
shows a brief scene of what the actual planet earth looks like frozen over.
Also, look for a barracks with sleeping soldiers. Blow out one of the nearby
torches, and look on one of the tabels for a Plated Helmet. The helmet offers
decent Armor stats, magic protection, and has decent selling value if you're
not interested.*
--> Once you're finished in the castle, make sure you visit Miguel the
Blacksmith in the southern part of town. He actually sells several different
armors, weapons, and a few new items you haven't seen. Consider buying a bow if
you want to start a ranged character, and/or some upper body armor to cover
your hairy chest. You must be prepared for the utmost situations! Also, you can
have him repair any damaged weapons by selecing them from the inventory ring,
and combining the items with him. Just make sure you have a hefty bag of gold
ready to waste.
After you're done dilly dallying throughout the city, head back in the starting
entrance that got you there. Run back the same way through the spider cave and
back to where the 2 Trolls, and Goblin Gate was.
__________________
/The Troll's Quest/
----------------------------
=Ask the trolls for help. Rescue their idol to gain their assistance.=
First things first, walk up to the giant Troll standing by two bright torches.
Show him the message from the King, and he should let you in. Next, take the
left route and start to look for gemstones hanging on the walls. If you see
one, walk up to it, highlight the Pick in your inventory, and combine it (press
A on the gemstone) to harvest a gemstone. Congratulations, you're becoming rich
due to the Trolls' lazy strike! Don't wander off too far. Head back to the
center balcony right before entering the mines, and you should see a fireplace
lit. Talk to the troll wearing the fancy necklaces.
*King Pog reads the message of King Lunshire, and is willing to help, but
currently has a problem. Pog and the Trolls will only help you if you're
willing to get their stolen idol back. Apparently, a few days ago, an idol
adored by the Trolls was stolen. Since then, they've stopped working since they
believe the Goblins stole it, plus the Goblins cheat them out on gemstone sales
by only leavin a small commission. Thus, you have clever goblins who reap in
profit based on the Trolls' hard work. So, in exchange for clearing the tunnel,
you must first find this stolen idol.*
Once Pog is finished blathering, go outside the mine and talk to the only
Goblin standing next to the fireplace. Izak the Foreman will tell you he has
heard "rumors" of goblins who have stolen the Trolls' idol. He tells you to
follow him. Do so, speak to him again when he stops at the entrance to the
Goblin Kingdom.
*The Foreman and the Goblin Gatekeeper will have a quick discussion to let you
in. You must search for the idol somewhere in Goblin territory.*
Start off by walking straight and then taking a left. Take the first left you
see down the hallway, and you should see 2 rats. Kill them both, then pick up
the shovel stashed vertically in the corner. You can now dig for artifacts!
Anyway, head back out, and continue down the hall you were previously on. You
should come to a wide open room with two stairwells up to the King's room, and
a side off entry to the other parts of the Goblin Kingdom. Start off by taking
the side off path, and go straight into the Goblins' Barracks. Several soldiers
will moan and groan about a human in their territory. Keep going through the
rooms until you see a lone Goblin standing in his room on the left. Speak with
him.
- You'll soon find out that this lone Goblin was actually a leading candidate
to be king of the Goblins. Unfortunately, his opponent cheated during the
election and somehow won. Now, all he does as King is eats pies. When you're
finished talking, wait until this Goblin leaves his room. Once nobody is in the
room (or is looking in the hallway), look under his pillow for a secret key.
You will need THIS key to open a chest to find the idol. Just make sure he's
not in the room when you pluck the key, otherwise you'll be discovered and
attacked. After you snatch the key, head back to the main room.
Next, go up the stairs and you'll notice that the King's entryway is locked.
The Goblin King wants no visitors, he only wants pie! Go past this double
doorway all the way up to his room in the far corner. You should see a bed, and
a tall chest drawer in the two respective corners. Walk up to the bed, and
SLOWLY scan your cursor across it until you see a PAPER signal lock on. Pick up