Combat Tips

It is very important to have at least one flank or the rear against a wall. If you are surrounded, you will easily be taken down, even by weak enemies. The best fights (in your favor) take place while you stand in a doorway, a hallway, or a cul-de-sac where they cannot get around you even to your flank. This way, your casters can pound the enemies with spells without fear of melee attacks, and your fighters will take the blows (because they have the most hp). Additionally, you limit the number that can attack you (unless they have ranged attacks — which run the risk of hitting their own allies) and you can concentrate your firepower on one or 2 monsters.

Status effects are very important. Direct damage spells in this game by and far are worthless. Why cast a L6 Fireball which will probably fizzle and do 6–36 damage to a group of creatures with 200hp each when you can make them nauseous (easier to hit that way), unconscious (really easy to hit) or blind (they run and you can pick them off piecemeal later)? Additionally, you will do more damage when an enemy is suffering from certain effects, like nausea, KO, or sleep.

Cheap Trick: If no enemies are in sight (all your weapons show red), choose a move action. Most everyone will move before you do, and all your actions will be delayed; saved until it is your turn to move. Then, simply click the end move 'x' and you get all of your actions. This can also work if you would rather have the monster get to you so you can melee it, rather than hitting it with less damaging missile weapons.

Character & Party

A sample party composition:

• Liz Fighter
• Hum Valkyrie
• Fel Samurai
• Raw Priest
• Hum Bard
• Elf Mage

Bard Notes

Having a female bard allows use of the Endurance Necklace (available from shops or found in the temple in Arnika), which lets her regain stamina continuously so running never depletes it before battle. Bard-only gear includes:

• Ariel's Slippers — AC +5, Senses +10, 10% vs. Air
• Oberon's Greaves (bought from Antone in Arnika) — AC +7, Speed +10, 5% vs. Mental, 5% vs. Divine
• Mercucio's Blade — To Hit +2, Initiative +2, Damage 4–11, Close Combat +15, 15% vs. Fire

Items usable by bards and a few other classes:

• Filcher's Band — AC +1, Pickpocket +15
• Thieves' Buckler — AC +1, Speed +10, Locks & Traps +10

Saxx is a bard NPC who can join your party. He carries a Soulful Sax, a musical instrument that casts Soul Shield. He is male and cannot use the Endurance Necklace.

Bloodlust is a cursed longsword that allows any user (not just a Fighter) to berserk up to 3 times per round, dealing 2×–3× damage per strike. Enable verbose combat text to see this in action. It cannot be unequipped without help and prevents weapon-switching in combat.

Equip characters not in the front row with extended-range weapons — pikes, halberds, or staves — so they can attack enemies in front even from the second rank. Good magical versions appear later in the game.

Damaging spells are useful in mass encounters. Magic Missile hits all enemies in front; Fireball has no range limit and is excellent for eliminating distant casters like Siges. The bard's Piercing Pipes works similarly to the Shrill spell. Against hordes of Twilight Bats, Acidvines, and sprites, three characters using these spells can clear most of them in a single turn.

Bard Instruments

* Soulful Sax is carried by Saxx.

Gadgets

Walkthrough

1.0 Lower Monastery

You are on a beach. In the distance, you can see pieces of a crashed ship and a treasure chest. Go open up that chest, select all the pieces, and take them. You might have got some useful items, so equip them or stick them in the inventory of someone that can use them.

Note: The contents of the chest can vary — hope you get a bomb, as it makes the first miniboss easier.

Head towards the ship and your first fight — just a couple of crabs. Head out into the water, skirting it with the cliff on your left side. You will come to a ramp. If you look down, you can see some stones which you can take; they are bullets for slings. Go up the ramp and find some more crabs.

At the top of the ramp, in the gazebo, is a battleax, a cherry bomb, and a sling. The cherry bomb is a portable fireball — give that to someone in the back.

Head back to the beach and up to the Monastery door, lit with orange light. Open up the door and head down the corridor with green moss on the ceiling. It will head up a ramp and take several turns along the way. You may find slimes along the way.

Dome Room and Passages

You will come into a large room with a dome ceiling and 4 electrical lights. Continue straight and up the ramp. At the end is a room with a spellbook and a book on the table. Turn on search.

Head back down to the dome room. Note the passage above the ramp you came up (west on the map). Grab the arrows on the right side and head down this new passage. It splits right (N) and left (S). Head right (N). Continue NW into a room of barrels and boxes — search for quarrels. Head out the doorway to the left (SW), continuing straight (SW). You will come to a larger blue-tinged room with a lamp on a table and a potion.

Follow the passage and take the right turn (S). It will split again — take the left, towards the room with green slimy water (harmless). Go into the corner to find a chest with a bow and some other equipment.

Turn around and head back west. You'll find a room with a table, some darts, and a candle. Head south into a green-lit corridor. Further down is a room with a table and a poseur cap. Search for a spellbook.

Eastern Cells

Further down, you'll pass a banner on the wall and find a 3-way split with bones at the apex. Take a right and go SE; the passage will turn north and you will find a door on the east wall. Go in, take the note, and search for boots and a ring of protection. Continue north to find another cell — locked, with enemies inside. Use the "stand in a doorway" trick. Once done, take the cure poison potion inside and some sling bullets.

Continue along this passage and find one heading right (NW). On the floor are knock picks. Head up this passage to a locked door. Inside is a big crab with extended reach — get into melee range. Once he's down, search for a potion and a bow. You can find arrows by the table as well.

Bridge Room and Waterfall

Unbar the door here into the domed room that leads down to the entrance, then continue east. You will find yourself in a room with a large metal bridge and a pool full of enemy fish. Do not use the button to go up the bridge yet — you can't get down the same way, and must fight a boss-type enemy to return.

If you jump into the water, you can head out of a cave onto the waterfall, outside. A rock in the middle of the waterfall has some resurrection powder — expensive and very useful. It is easily worth the time, especially because you unbarred that door.

Back in the bridge room: cross the bridge and head right (S) and down a ramp. It terminates in a room full of ale kegs with potions (including ale, which refills stamina) and a trapped chest on the table.

This is a dead end, so head back to the bridge room, past the alcove, and up the ramp (S). Hope you are about level 3–4, because here you must fight Gregor and a number of roaches. If you are lucky, Gregor won't engage immediately — pick off his friends first. Use your bomb and cherry bomb if things get tough. If it proves too hard, go up the bridge and engage Gregor by himself — but then you are trapped until he is dead.

Temple Room and Safe

Assuming you came up the ramp, you are now in a large hall. Take a right and go into the first passage on the right. It opens into a large temple room with 6 coffins along the sides — all lootable; some are trapped with monsters. The fountain in this room has limited restorative properties.

Leave and cross the large room to the passage heading south. Skip the right-hand turn and go to the room at the end of the hall, on the left side. Do not touch the statue — a trap door will open and you will fall to the blue rooms below. Instead, touch the skull. This opens a panel behind the statue revealing the Safe Key, which opens the safe described below.

Go back to the passage you just skipped. Go up the ramp and hit the button, then go back down. This opens the door on the west side, allowing you to reach the Upper Monastery.

Before going up, explore the rest of this level:

• To the SE is a morgue full of roaches.
• Head east and then north to find a potion in the wall and a kitchen with a safe and a Cleaver. Use the Safe Key to open the safe.
• Go east to the bridge room to find another locked door (opened by the Wheel Key, found in Arnika) and a path leading outside to a talkative Trynnie — your first NPC. Grab sling stones by the cliff edge and open the chest. You can also buy things from Burz here. Ask him about 'ship', 'monastery', 'messenger'. Sell what you don't need.

Opening the Wheel Key door gives you access to a room with a coffin, 2 chests, and a pair of screaming heads (enemies). Loot includes a demon-slaying sword and a demon-slaying bow.

Don't miss the bullets on the floor right before you zone to the Upper Monastery.

1.1 Upper Monastery

You walk up into a largish room filled with crates. Go up the stairs over the ramp and you will find yourself in a control room of sorts — you will return here soon. Head back down and open the locks on the crates with handles.

East Wing — Library and Bedroom

Take the left (E) passage. Open up the door in the bedroom you find, go down the stairs, and down to a devotional room with a table and some bandits. Loot them and return to the bedroom. Head left (S). Down a long ramp is the library — search all the bookshelves. There is a locked door you will open later. Continue into the next room, which has a microwave. Turn the dial up all the way and hit the red button to blow it up and get a microwave chip. Search the bedroom on your way back up.

West Wing — Great Hall and Garden

Head back to the crate room and take the right-hand passage this time. You are in a bedroom — search the beds, then take the left-hand (S) passage. It twists and opens up into a large hall filled with bandits. Don't get surrounded — stay near the door or against the wall.

When done, cross the hall and take a left (E) through the closed door into the garden. Then take a right (S) into the main temple area and approach the man there. A second man will appear and threaten you with the power of the Dark Savant. Go up onto the platform at the south end with the 3 banners and take the potions there.

Bells, Library Key, and Loot

Return to the great hall (the one with the statue of Phoonzang) and head down the stairs (S). You will find a room where you can get a bard horn that casts Bless and samurai armor (once you set off the Bells). Open up the chest and go back to the great hall. Head west into the purple-lit section. To the south there is an open doorway. Go through it and up the ramp. There is loot here and a chest with an Old Iron Key. This opens the door in the library. There is also a chamber behind glass — which you will break in a moment — containing the Bells.

Return to the library and open up the door with the Old Iron Key. Kill the bats within and turn left to find a machine. 'Use' the dial all the way to the right and press the red button. This rings the Bells and blows out all the glass in the building.

Head up the stairs to find a chest there.

Control Room Jump and Hunter's Cape

Head back up to the control room (right at the beginning of the zone, up the stairs by the crates). Get up on the controls near the open window, look down, aim for the highest crate, and jump. Then jump down into the middle of the crates. Open the crate with handles (the only one you couldn't open from outside) to get the Hunter's Cape — a +2 AC cloak with +5 Senses. Walk up the plank to get out.

Samurai Armor and Fellowship Pass

Return to the room with the armor in the center (S of the great hall with Phoonzang's statue) to get the samurai armor.

Go up the ramp where you found the Old Iron Key and through the broken glass portal on your left. You should get a shillelagh and a Fellowship Pass.

Go back down to the purple-lit room. Camp, save, and zone.

2.0 Arnika Road

Now you find the nasty part of the game — encounters scale to you, and often exceed you. It is absolutely critical that you use good cover procedures: always have your back or side to a wall and use lots of protection and status spells. If you find yourself overwhelmed, you will have to reload (and it will happen often). On the other hand, it's easy to level out here.

Start heading forward (W). The hardshell crabs have extended reach, so take care of the little venom crabs before advancing on them.

The area will narrow into a pass. Soon, the path will split. Go left and run into bandits guarding a treasure chest. Head back and come out into a green area with a fort on your right (N) and a road heading out (W).

There is usually an enemy group at the crossroads — use walls and cul-de-sacs to your advantage. The road splits right after it begins. Head left (S) towards Arnika. Heading right (N) goes to Mt. Gigas where the Umpani dwell.

Head along the south border of the hills to find an amulet of static. Going along the south edge of the hills towards Mt. Gigas, you can find some gloves (beware of the Hogar there). There is a cave on the north side near the Hogar with weak enemies but several useful items.

Piercer Modais can be found roaming the road — they drop a Piercer Modai Claw, useful for one of Antone's item quests.

2.1 Arnika-Trynton Road

Stay along the left side if you want to get into Arnika. You'll find a potion near the wall.

Heading south along the road leads you to Trynton or the graveyard. You may run into Rattus Rattus along the road — a Rattkin who wants you to rob a bank in Arnika for him. Agree to do it and he'll give you a gun.

Graveyard

The graveyard is in this area. Circle around it first to find a treasure chest against the graveyard wall. Getting inside forces you to confront a group of spirits — one is a spellcaster; try to move around the corner where she cannot see you, forcing her to come to you.

The graveyard consists of a large group of graves around a tomb. Inside the tomb is a spectre upon which you must sprinkle holy water. You can find holy water by searching at the southeast corner of the intersection where the road to the graveyard meets the main road, by a tree. Doing so gains 1K xp.

To use the holy water: open your inventory and click on it to stick it to your cursor. Exit inventory with it still on your cursor. Face the spirit, move to melee distance, and click on the spirit. This gains 1K xp.

You can also find 6 blue runes on 6 gravestones. Find them in order, then head to the southeast pillar of the graveyard. Use a plain dagger (not a thieves', poison, or throwing dagger — just a regular dagger) on the pillar. It will stick there. Exit the graveyard and go around the southeast side, following the cliff wall. You'll see a ring of mushrooms. Step into the ring to enter the first secret dungeon.

A mummy stalks the area — it drops Mummy Dust, needed for one of Antone's item quests. You can also find a Skull here (needed for another quest) and next to it, in the tomb, the Siren's Wail bard instrument which casts Insanity. Search by the skeleton for more items.

Picuses may also roam the road — they carry Giant Picus Eggs for Antone's quests. Piercer Modais carry Piercer Modai Claws.

2.1.5 Secret Dungeon 1

These dungeons are set up like the classic Wizardries — a block dungeon full of random encounters and a few items. This one is fairly low level (8–12). The layout maps poorly and is too much of a maze to describe accurately. The only exit is to find Baron Englund, kill him, and take the mushroom circle behind him. He is a L13 caster with 3 specters helping him — consider your party's level carefully before entering.

2.2 Arnika

Watch out for rogues and Savant troopers. If you want to engage them, try to do it near a Higardi Patrol or some Brotherhood Monks — they will help you, and you will get all the xp and gold for anything they kill.

Myles — First NPC

Advance past the fountain and pick up your first NPC, a rogue named Myles. Talk to him, then 'recruit' him. Ask him about 'Marten', 'Trynton', 'Arnika', 'Antone', and anything else on your list.

He'Li's Inn

Head up the street past the building with 2 unicorn statues (that's the HLL — you can't get in yet). At the next intersection, take a right towards the statue. Go into He'Li's inn (on the left), talk to her, and pay Myles' tab first for xp. Buy stuff here, but save money for the weapon shop.

Go through the only closed door and immediately into the first room on the left. Take the viola and open the chest for He'Li's Keycard (used in the bank later). Go into the 2nd door on the left for a chest with potions. Go upstairs and kill the rogues. You can sleep here safely after that.

Antone's Weapon Shop

Cross the road west to get to the weapon shop (between 2 blue banners, same block as the police station). Talk to the Rapax inside — ask about 'custom' to hear about his custom pieces. Buy a crossbow if you don't have one. Turn around from the counter and go into his personal quarters. Open the chest to get Antone's Keycard and any nifty equipment in there.

Antone has some of the best equipment in the game to pickpocket if your skill is high enough. The Filcher's Band (+15 Pickpocket) is a great starting point. Practice on the Trynnies, Crock, and Arnika residents to build up quickly.

Arnika Temple and Wheel Key

Cross the road south to find the temple. Go down the ramp into the basement. At the bottom, touch the blue statue to recover magic, then unlock the door behind the tapestry. At the end of a marble corridor is a metal door, behind which are a number of spirits and the Wheel Key. Stay in the doorway and fight them one at a time.

Go through the open doorway in the marble room and open the door with the beige eye (the priests' quarters). Contains several potions — search near all the beds for magic items.

Head upstairs and talk to Braffit in the top room. He'll give you background information and you can buy potions and spellbooks from him. Use the pool for healing.

Anna's Keycard

Go to the northeast corner of town, near the docks. Talk to Anna and go into the back to open her chest and get Anna's Keycard.

The Bank

The bank is near the statue at the center of town. Look at the sign — it will fall off and give you treasure. Walk in and say 'withdrawal'. She'll say she needs a card. Exit 'talk', open inventory, pick up one of the 3 keycards, exit inventory with it on the pointer, and click it on her. She opens the elevator in the next room. Go in and down (hit the button by the door).

Take a left out of the elevator and use Antone's Keycard on the slider to open his vault. Inside is Bloodlust, a longsword. It is cursed (cannot be unequipped without help, prevents weapon-switching in combat) but allows any user to berserk.

Use Anna's Keycard and He'Li's Keycard for their respective vaults. Then pick the locks on the doors around the corner — the first on the right has 2 chests, the one on the left has 1, and the one at the end of the hall has a golem. To defeat the golem, try blinding him with the gleaming sword from the monastery coffin room or a blinding spell — he does not respond to paralysis. Get the 2 chests behind him.

Police Station and Underground Passage

The police station is on the same block as Antone's weapon shop; entrance is on the east side of the street. Inside, look at the bulletin board to find Marten. Pick open the lockers to get the Marten ID Tag (needed to enter the HLL) and miscellaneous loot.

Go into the prison area and open all 3 cells. Kill the rogues in the first one and hit the panel on the floor of the second one. Fall into the passage and follow it all the way — there may be a slime on the way. At the end you get a diamond epee, an oilskin cloak, and an amulet of stillness (casts Paralyze). Hit the big button to teleport to the inn.

Note: The door at the end of the underground passage is very hard to pick but not impossible — it opens into one of the bank vaults, which has an elevator back to the bank lobby. A lock pick opens about 6 of the 10 tumblers.

Vi Domina — Second NPC

Head north from the town square towards the burning ship. Go in, grab the copper gloves and the damaged black box. Go up to the door on the left and open it. Fight the Troopers before they kill Vi. Talk to her, and grab the box in the corner (used in a gadget later for gadgeteers). You get 7K xp for saving her. Ask her about 'Rapax Rift' and 'Al-Sedexus'. Take her to He'Li (200 xp + ale) and Braffit (500 xp).

HLL (Higardi Liberation League)

As long as you have the Marten ID Tag, you can get into the HLL — the scanner will detect it. Go to the end of the hall, take a right, go through the room with officers to the elevator room. Take it up to meet Tramain. Ask him about 'Destinae Dominus' to get 'Phoonzang' added to the conversation list. Go around the other way to find lockers with potions.

Mook Building

There is a Mook building you cannot get into without the Mook Alliance Offer (provided by either the Umpani or the T'Rang). Give this to the hologram out front and the door will open. Talk to Screg — he'll give you the Mook Alliance Acceptance. Ask him about 'Chaos Moliri', 'discovery', 'theory'. Then go into the back room to look at the Chaos Moliri. You can take it, but then the Mook will hate and attack you, and the Umpani might be upset too. A better idea is to take it, and then put the Astral Dominae (Fake) back in its place — you get this after having the Rattkin steal the real Astral Dominae (see the Rattkin Tree section). Go upstairs (elevator near Screg) and take the potion and scanner. The scanner can be merged with an X-Ray Chip to make an X-Ray Scanner if you have a gadgeteer. Talk to Urq in the corner for various topics.

Note: If you have a Mook in your party, he can enter the building independently and return with information after you camp.

Spaceport

Go into the spaceport on the south side of town. The first building has a flight recorder analysis slot — you can insert the damaged black box found where Vi was, but it won't be readable yet. The next building (up an elevator) has an X-Ray Chip and a slot for the Shiny Metal Ball found in Trynton in the Hogar's cage. The hangars have misc items. There is a hidden cursed item in the SW corner — the 'beanie'. Once the Shiny Metal Ball has been installed, you can track and calculate ships in orbit using X Y Z coordinates.

If you install the Black Box from Bayjin, it will tell you the X Y Z coordinates of the ship, and the orbital tracker will tell you its location (enter coordinates as 1X 1Y 2Z exactly). Bring this location back to the T'Rang for your reward (the T'Rang Black Ship quest).

2.3 Northern Wilderness

This area is accessible from Arnika Road by going past the Hogar towards Mt. Gigas.

Head along the southern hills to eventually find a cave with a Hogar stuffed with items — including (at minimum) a bard instrument that casts Hex.

Along the road is a small camp of rogues carrying a large amount of loot including a diamond. There is also a shallow pond with an island in the middle — items on the island, but the pond is filled with slimes.

A bridge heading west over the water is guarded by a marble golem. He is immune to most things except Insanity — try that to keep him from hitting you. This bridge leads to the Mountain Wilderness. The north bridge leads to the Umpani Base Camp. Myles refuses to go to the Base Camp.

2.4 Umpani Base Camp

Head up to the main gate to talk to Private Panrack. To get in, say YES to hazardous materials, NO to convictions, and NO to the T'Rang empire.

Bar and Commissary

Head into the bar (first building on your right). Saxx won't talk to you unless you've allied with the Umpani, and neither will Sgt. Bildublu. The other half is the Commissary — you can't buy anything unless you've allied, but you can talk to the merchant. Ask about 'Umpani'. Buy the Umpani Flag from the merchant (Sergeant Kunar), especially if you intend to ally with the T'Rang.

Sergeant Kunar has a key you can pickpocket that opens a door behind the counter. Behind it is a spider symbol under a rug — Kunar is the informant you must talk to if given the T'Rang quest to destroy the Umpani. Tell him the phrase given by Z'Ant (in your 'misc' list). He also has an IUF Top Security Pass (Fake) and Gunpowder.

IUF Recruitment and Training

To ally with the Umpani, go into the IUF recruitment center. Sgt. Balbrak will offer to recruit you — say 'yes' and get a pass to the obstacle course. Head up the road to the left to find Sgt. Rubble at the Recruit Training course. Complete the obstacle course, attack some training dummies (rated L6, all single), pick a locked door, and exit. Reward: 5K xp, a potion, and the IUF Level 2 Security Pass. Use the pass on the door to exit.

Return to Balbrak — he'll send you on a mission to Marten's Bluff to find a T'Rang item: the T'Rang Arm. Bringing it back earns 40K xp and the IUF Level 3 Security Pass. You also get a 2500g credit at the store.

After completing training in Mt. Gigas, return to Balbrak. He will give the Mook Alliance Offer — take it to Arnika. When you return, you get 160K xp and the Level 5 Security Pass. Go back to the Mt. Gigas entrance and log into the EWAXX computer using the login in your journal. Then return to the MT Gigas Upper Caves to meet the general.

Also in the recruitment center is Sparkle, an incredibly cute Trynnie ranger who will join up with you.

Barracks and Other Areas

Loot all the lockers and footlockers in the barracks for ammunition and misc items. Hidden behind the bar building are items you can search for.

2.5 Mt. Gigas Caves

You can only enter here with the IUF Level 3 Security Pass, after being authorized by the recruiter sergeant.

Head through the doors into the Alpha Hub — a large area filled with crates. Search for items. Take a right (W) to the storage area, twist through the corridor, take the right turn (S), and loot the room. Return to the main corridor.

Explore freely from here — no monsters in the safe area, with signs pointing to everywhere. Notable locations:

• SE corner dead-end corridor: a treasure chest.
• NE corner: a pressure panel that opens an alcove along the west side of the eastern-most passage. Drop an unneeded item (arrow, scroll) on the panel to keep it depressed so you can access the alcove. Search the crate there and open the treasure chest inside.
• E of Charlie Hub: a power station (no obvious use yet).

Restricted Area and Frigid Fiddle

Head to the southeast area into a large open cavern. Fight the golem blocking access to the training area. The cavern ends in a T — go left first, then right at the split to find a treasure chest in a dead end.

Go back left. Search every body you come across. Keep taking lefts through the restricted area (swarming with monsters) to eventually find a treasure chest in a dead end.

Turn around from this chest and head east, then south. Skip the passage to the left (E) and follow this until you find a right turn. Take a right (S), then a quick left (E), skipping the left, until you find a skeleton against a cliff. Next to him is the Frigid Fiddle — a bard instrument that casts Freeze Flesh (group). This is excellent: keep casting Stamina on the bard and he can continuously paralyze foes.

From the Frigid Fiddle location: take your first left (E), turn north, then take the first right (E) into a little alcove with a suspicious wall. 'Use' the wall to collapse it, revealing a mummy and a treasure chest.

Head back to the fiddle's location and go south. At the T, take a right to find a pit with 2 ropes. Fall in and get the flak vest and flashlight.

Underground Lake

Head up the west rope and follow the trail NW until you find where the restricted area started. From there, go north, left (north), right (east), left (east) to find a pit with no ropes. Fall down into a small area with a large lake and short corridors. Find 2 chests: one south of where you fall in, and another in the sand near one of the hills by the lake. Head up the rope ladder on one of the hills and open the trap door to return to the top level. Head generally west to get back to the non-restricted area.

When done, head west to the elevator and use your ID to activate it.

2.6 Mt. Gigas Upper Caves

Press the button to the left of the door to open it, proceed past guards, and open the next door (no ID needed).

Training Console

Take the right at the intersection and follow signs to the training center. You'll find an arcade-console. Use the IUF Security Pass on it. If the wiring is broken, carefully touch the broken ends of the wires to move them to the right holes — there are 3 wires. Do all 3 to fix it, then use your ID again to open the gunnery doors. The console repair opens the locked doors in the 4-way hub beyond.

Gunnery Training

Go in the east (gunnery) door and talk to Sgt. Rubble. He gives you a rocket launcher and 5K xp. Destroy the dummies with the rocket launcher. Do NOT camp near Rubble — there is a serious bug that will prevent you from advancing. There are extra rockets at the end of the hall.

Cover Ops Training — 5 Flags

Once the dummies are destroyed, Rubble moves to the Cover Ops door (north side). Go here next. Find 5 flags while dealing with 5 tough monsters:

1. Bear right to kill a Morax — flag right behind him, plus a potion.
2. Keep bearing right past a hill (tough to get over) past an Apus — flag and potion in a pool of water in the dead end.
3. Bear right/straight at the first T (W), then take your first left — flag here.
4. Go back to the main passage, take a left, then bear right at the large pool of water — 4th flag.
5. Head south to find the hardest monster (a Djinn) and the last flag.

Head north, then take your first right to find a door and items. Press the blue light button to open it and return to Rubble. Reward: IUF Level 4 Pass and 50K xp. Return to Sgt. Balbrak at the base camp.

SCUBA Gear and Bayjin Access

Return here after the General's orders. Use the Level 6 Pass on the console to open the south door. Talk to Rubble, then go up into the small building to get the SCUBA Gear. You must wear it in your misc slot when underwater, or your stamina drops until you die. You can go into Bayjin from here, but neither Madras nor Vi will accompany you.

Other Features

• North end: a barracks room full of chests, with a healing fountain behind. West of it is a tunnel ending in a 'use'-able wall with monsters behind it. Search for rockets by the crate.
• SE corner: a small supply room with 3 locked lockers.
• NW corner: a lone Umpani guards a door. Pull the lever on the floor inside to open a teleporter to the fort on Arnika Road. In that fort: a musket, musket balls, and the Dulcimer of Healing bard instrument. Open the door so you have a quick way back.
• Straight north from the entrance elevator: a door requiring the Level 5 Security Pass. Beyond a second door to the left (S) is General Yamir, who gives you the Level 6 Pass and orders you to the UTU door in the training area. Search the crate room near him for items.

General Yamir — Rewards

• Return Glumph (found in Bayjin) to Yamir: 300K + 100K xp. Then receive a mission to destroy the T'Rang transporter in Marten's Bluff, plus a Pulse Pick (used to open certain doors; you may already have one from Marten's Bluff).
• Return with Drazic and Rodan (ideally with the Z'Ant Alliance): receive the IUF Top Security Pass and 400K xp.

2.7 Mt. Gigas Peak

Find a rocket and use the T'Rang Tracking Device on it. You'll shoot down the Dark Savant's ship and gain 400K xp. Return to Yamir downstairs.

3.0 Trynton

You'll start across the river and must cross a bridge to find the tree that is Trynton. A large variety of difficult status-causing plants live here, as well as a Hogar which causes enormous damage despite being level 7. Hit it with as many status effects as you can to keep it from hitting you.

Items you can get from this area: Hogar Tusk, Iron Weed Thorns, Venom Sac, and Giant Picus Egg.

Tip: After crossing the bridge, take a right and follow the river up to a waterfall. Enter the water — there is a ring in the water. Swim downstream and jump off the little waterfall (taking 2–3 damage). Down here you can kill fish for 200–300 xp and pick up some items. Climb a fishing pole with its line in the water to get back up.

The Great Tree — Lower Levels

Follow the road over the bridge, past some trees, and past a pair of torch-lit pillars carved into faces. The large tree on your right is your destination. Circle around it to the right and find the main doorway. Agree to help the chief and you can go in.

Follow the green passage to a ladder and climb. In the small room with an archway and a ladder down, take that ladder and fight the roaches — earn a magic ring and a magic drum. Go back up and through the green-lit archway to find another ladder down.

Grab the ale on the table and proceed to the next ladder down. You'll find a passage turning left into a small room filled with spiders — there is a suit of mail and a ranger cloak. Go back up the ladder and take the one going up. The next room has an evil plant to dispose of. Search for 2 potions; you'll see 3 ladders.

• Right ladder: a small room with another plant. Search for magic 'stix'.
• Center ladder: a dung beetle to defeat. Search for a sword by the crates.
• Left (last) ladder: find arrows and a rope to climb.

Go out onto the wooden platform and take the ladder on the left side. 'Use' the pool for healing. Head back down and south to a platform with a small table/brazier that can be 'used' (use unknown). Go up the ramp into the building, take the purple potion and search for arrows, a potion, and greaves. Leave and head left up to the circular platform, go around it to find another route out on the right side. Pass a sign that says 'Marten's Pagoda' on the left, then use the elevator (pull on the hanging rock) to zone up to the higher levels.

3.1 Trynton Upper Branches

Go up the ramp — you're headed for the Second Bough. The ramp ends in a T: right goes to a building (find a bomb on the table), left goes further in.

Take the left, curving right through a cave in a large tree lit by a green lantern. You'll reach a crossroads by a fountain — go straight to get into the sanctuary, a safe place to rest. Take a Vine from each of the pillars and combine them in your inventory to make a Gooda Vine Rope. Then move behind the ash pit up to the dragon head and search it for items.

Tip: The fountain at the crossroads asks you a question. The answer is likely 'mind' or 'memory'. One character (probably with the highest intelligence) gets their Intelligence set to 100, and all members get ~1K xp.

Fuzzfazz's Potion Palace

Head left (S) towards the building — Fuzzfazz's Potion Palace. Tell him 'He'Li says hello' and you'll get a pile of potions. Ask him about 'Seventh Bough', 'Marten', and 'Shaman'. Trade for magic items if you like. Buy a Mysterious Potion for the Seventh Bough quest. If you have the Blue Feather from the swamp, give it to him — he'll make you an explosive potion. Head out and straight (N).

Go through another tree to a T. Take a left up to the building there, grab the book off the table, and head back out. Take the left and go around the spiral platform down the tree. Go into the building to grab an empty bottle and search for a potion on the table. Proceed into the next room to fight monsters if you like (only exit is the way you came in). Past the right side of the building, find an alley on your left with a plant guarding an awl pike.

Third Bough — The Zoo

A sign on the right notes the Third Bough ahead. Go up the ramp and through the tree. You'll end up in a zoo area. Each monster has items in its cage — open the cages and kill the monsters within.

• Bobo the Hogar: Open his cage and wait for a Trynnie patrol to come by, then go in, make him hostile, and run so the patrol kills him. Alternatively, combine meat with fairy dust (find some in the fairies' cage) to make drugged meat, then use it in Bobo's food bin (500 xp per character). Bobo falls asleep for a few minutes — hurry in and out. His cage contains the Shiny Metal Ball and silver sollerets.
• Croc cage: Contains the Shiny Chrome Plate.

Fourth and Seventh Boughs

Head up northeast towards the large orange pavilion with plants out front — 'The Rising Elms'. Inside is a plant that gives you Zuzu Petals, needed for the Seventh Bough quest.

Leave and take a right (N), then another quick right (E). Go straight into the house. Kill the monsters and take the Blue Marble on the table. Search the back corner for a sliding panel wall with a locked chest behind it.

Leave and take a right (N) to the 4-way intersection. Right is the Fifth Bough, left is the Fourth Bough, straight ahead is unmarked. Go left first — the door has a blue indentation. Use the Blue Marble on it to open it.

You enter a large open area where magic does not work, possibly with monsters. In the center is a large stump surrounded by 4 trees, water, and 4 floating ember dishes. Use incense (purchasable at Fuzzfazz's Potion Palace) on each floating dish to make the place safe again.

Take a left to find the Seventh Bough — a garden with a sign. Eat the Zuzu Petal, then drink the Mysterious Potion (use both, one after the other). The Shaman will appear. Talk to him — he will give quests and 25K xp.

Ruined House and Sacred Tome

Head back to the main courtyard and take the left (N). You'll find a ruined house with 2 scrolls (one hidden by the broken lantern). In the back, a group of Rapax are fighting some Trynnies. Kill them and get the Sacred Tome. Be careful not to fall through the hole — you will fall out of the tree and hit the ground, likely killing anyone except Valkyries. You can also find the Set Portal spellbook in this room.

Oak Saplings Room — Safe and Chests

Take a left (E) from the courtyard to find Oak Saplings guarding a room full of loot. There are chests on the table and a large safe with 2 chests inside (5-tumbler door). Use a knock pick or cast Knock Knock to help your thief.

Madras — Gadgeteer NPC

Return to the main room and crossroads. Head up the unmarked ramp winding up around the tree to find the workshop of Madras, the Trynnie. He will quest you to kill the Ratts — accept and get several items. Ask him about 'Mook', 'Dominus', 'Mt Gigas' (this adds Sparkle), and 'Destinae Dominus'. He will join you if asked and makes a capable gadgeteer. Grab the bottle on his table and search downstairs for potions and/or bombs.

Fifth Bough

Head toward the Fifth Bough (the remaining unexplored direction from the crossroads). Go down a passage into a tree and up a ladder. Take a left first and head down toward a building there. There is a small dais where you can place the Stone Idol (the Idol of Marten) from the secret area in Marten's Bluff.