FAQ development and a request to people past the Temple (SPOILERS!)

Hey --

I'm writing a FAQ/walkthrough that I'm planning on sending to the Ironworks site as well as www.gamefaqs.com. As of this moment, I'm almost done with the Serpent Temple, and I've gotten the FAQ written such that I've got the quests thus far, how to complete them (including guild/advancement quests) and a general simplified storyline/main quest walkthrough.

I've got two requests:

(1) I'm posting the main walkthrough here (it's mercifully brief) and see what ya'll think. I make some comments on what I think the storyline's doing and how it might go.

[note that references to 'see below' point the reader to the more indepth walkthrough section.]

(2) I'm planning on posting it incrementally. If either Ironworks or gamefaqs agrees to post them (and I hope they will), I'd like to ask all of you to send in information I might have missed or clarifications. But PLEASE don't send information from further on than the posting. I'd like to solve the game on my own.

Anyway, here's the walkthrough thus far. Please tell me what you think.

-- d


AGAIN -- SPOILER WARNING. DO NOT READ THIS IF YOU HAVEN'T GOTTEN TO AND/OR BEATEN THE SERPENT TEMPLE.


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THE GAME

The game (thus far) is made up of the main storyline/quest involving the Mavin
Sword and the reawakening of the Dark Lord and various subquests involving the
people of the Gael Serran and their own, personal, problems.

THE MAIN QUEST WALKTHROUGH (******SPOILER ALERT*******)

This quick walkthrough simply leads you through the steps required to win the
game. It does not go into detail on how each step is achieved. For that,
look up the particular section further on. As you can see, the path itself is
fairly simple and straightforward. As always, the devil's in the details.

Optional steps (either those giving further information on the quest or which
somehow help but are not required) are marked with an asterix. I've tried to
include plot points that are connected to the main storyline.

(1) Meet the Town Elder in Valeia by simply leaving the Inn. He will tell you
to find the Mavin Sword in the Cemetary Crypt in the Tomb of Nivius
(as if it were that easy...). His dream also included the Oracles of Ishad N'ha
and an ancient dragon.

*(2) Meet a snakeman wanderer on the road to the Cemetary. He'll ask you where
he can find the Elder. I lied, but I don't think it makes much difference. This
exchange will make much more sense later on.

*(3) Continue toward the Crypt. Just before the gates of the cemetary, there's a
path leading off to the east. Find the small house of a Stout. Talk to him about
his brother and agree to take a rat pie (ick) to him in exchange for the Secret
of opening the crypt.

(4) Enter the crypt. Find the Tomb of Nivius (see below). Talk to his spirit.
This is the first mention that the Mavin isn't all it's cracked up to be
(it has eventually killed every bearer thus far). Agree to take the Oath.
Take the ring from his corpse. Head back to Valeia and learn that the Elder
has died, suddenly.

*(5) Head south-east of Valeia to the Ruins of Bersault. Meet the members of the
Circle and agree to go on a quest for them. Recieve a special set of lockpicks.
Leave, and hear them being attack. Return, kill the thieves, and find a letter
from Elyssia telling the Black Hand to destroy the Circle.

*(6) Head to the Old Millhouse and meet the young woman there. Talk to her,
and agree to find a necklace back in the Crypts. You've probably already done
so -- it's in a chest. It's green and curved, vaguely Egyptian looking, and
gives you +1 AC. Give it to her and she'll give you a potion for use in the
Temple of the Serpent Cult.

*(7) Travel to the Toad Village. Talk to the shaman and help them restore their
ancient toadem (UGH -- BAD pun). Talk to the shaman about everything, including
Kerah. Learn that Kerah was the FIRST Ukubu -- possibly the first bearer of
the Mavin?

*(8] If you've got a mage in the party you might be asked to find the Orb of
Clarity. Go ask the Gypsy Fortuneteller about it (the same one, who, by the
way, sent H'Thark running off to the Temple of the Serpent Cult). Ask her
about the Orb (you might have to type this in). She'll send you off to the
Temple to find the Serpent Wand, an item you'll be needing anyway. You'll
learn that the Temple Wizard has it.

(9) Enter the Caves of Ishad N'ha. They're at the extreme north-western end of
the river leading out of Nymph Lake. Travel straight ahead until you meet the
Oracle. Talk to them about everything you can. They'll open a western passage
that will lead you through the caves. The Oracle will identify your ring and
tell you that you are the Mortal Hope. They will mention the Face of Death
found in the Temple of the Serpent as well as the third keeper: D'Soto -- whose
spirit is to be found in the Ruins of Castle Shurugeon. They'll mention you'll
have to free D'Soto from the Spell he's under.

*(10) Head directly west of Ishad N'ha through the far gate and then north to the
Burned-Out House (it's marked on the map that came with the game). Meet the
Black Hand. Ask them about Elyssia (you'll probably have to type it in) to learn
that the High Priestess of Temple of the Serpent not only had the Circle wiped out,
but also had the Elder back in Valeia assassinated. Hmmm...

(11) Head to the Temple of the Serpent. On the way, you may meet Kol, the Heretic.
Speak to him about everything. You'll learn about the Back Entrance and the
hidden statue of Kerah. Recieve the Heretic's Key from him. Learn that Kerah
is apparently telling anyone who runs into her they're chosen to stand against
the Dark Lord. Hmmm... South-east around the temple, swim through two small
ponds, then enter by swimming under the grating.

[NOTE: Realize that by this point you have met not one, but two individuals
(H'Thark and Kol) who have been told to go seek their Destinies only to have
been obviously mislead. I have a feeling this might be one of the main themes
of the game and might make the 'Kill the Foozle' storyline more interesting...]

(12) Enter the temple. Do various things (see below) that will eventually lead
you to the High Priestess and the great Naga -- the Snake Goddess. Items necessary
to complete the area include the materials for the Ceremony of Spirit Summoning
and various keys.

*(13) On the way, near the too-narrow-to-enter pit where you're attacked by temple
monkies if you pull the lever, you'll find a keyhole next to a darkened stretch of
wall. Unlock the lock with the Heretic's Key. Inside, you'll find a Statue of
Kerah which will tell you some history behind the Pharaoh, Anephas, the Battle,
the Rain of Blood, the Black Fire, and why the Mavin tends to destroy its bearers.

*(14) Also on the way, you might possibly free H'Thark and give him back his
lockpicks. He'll give you the low-down on the temple monkies, the Naga, the
Lizard Wizard, and the Ceremony of Spirit Summoning (very useful, that). He'll
also tell you of the Masque -- which is, apparently, what the Oracles call the
Face of Death.