>1.18: The Forbidden Mine - Part 1
You may have escaped the Luna Guard, but the Bears are back and they're looking for you. Or are they looking for the treasure? But she no longer has her treasure. Or are they looking for her? Or maybe something else in town? Whatever it is, you can't take the chance to waiting around to find out. Time to go. The townsfolk head to the mines for sanctuary, you follow, and you find yourself inside a mine with a very suspicious looking throne in the middle of the room...
>The Forbidden Mine[A] Now would be a good time to stock up on Lesser Heal Potions, Cure Potions and Night Sight Potions. By now, you have probably ammased a good amount of gold. Heal Potions are cheap, just stock up on 100 Heal Potions from now on out at every opportunity. Poison spells will be flying at you, but not that often. Definitely not as often as in the Unholy Swamp. If you're running low, 10 or so should do. Night Sight Potions are a little more pricey than the others. 10-15 should be fine -- even if you get a little lost. But you will definitely be needing them for this leg of your journey. Remember, right now your party only consists of a thief and a smith. There is no mage. Get ready to start chugging potions down. If you haven't yet bought the The Runic Alphabet, do so now.
[B] After talking to this old man, you a little more info about the throne. It's from the ruins? Good thing you now know how to decipher the language.
[C] If you look to the north wall, you'll notice a message. It reads: "Today is the day I die. But before I go, I pass on my knowledge on to the world. Sit on the throne and speak the magical word "RECFU" and you shall pass."
[D] After you're done shopping, sit on the throne and teleport right into the heart of The Forbidden Mine.
Did You Know?: At no point in the game will you be required to actually sit down and decipher any Britannian Runic message (or any other language). There will always be options for you to pick randomly, and you will eventually pick the correct option. What you will miss, are extra information about the area, hints at hidden treasure, hints at hidden secrets, and hints at what to do next. And you might trigger something with by picking the wrong option and missing your opporunity at something special by picking randomly. But you can play from start to finish without decoding a single word.
[A] After you teleport in, on the the wall above you, you'll notice a section boarded up. If you inspect the wall and have any Explosion Potions on you, you'll have the option of blowing a hole through to get to the secret room. Inside you'll find a Save Point.
[B] Take the mine cart on the north edge, it'll take you across to the other side.
[C] Circle around to the left and you'll find a lever.
[D] Now that the lever is pulled, the track for the other cart will be altered and Instead of going around in a circle, it'll stop and you can get off on the right side.
[E] When you're ready, head off to the right to go to the next area.
[F] A chest with 7 Shurikens.
[G] A chest with a Resurrection Scroll.
[H] After taking the 2nd cart, if you look closely on the right side, you'll notice just enough walking room. Take this narrow path up and all the way over. At the end of the path, you can see the bottom half of another boarded entrance. If you have a spare Explosion Potion, blow your way through and find a Soulstone Fragment in a chest.
Strategy: This area shouldn't give you much trouble. You may only be a thief and a smith, but the orcs will come at you one at a time. Make sure you have a Repond Slayer equip.
Strategy: If you took the time the train your Mining Skill and have access to Bronze Ingots (and you've already picked up a Power Crystal & Clockwork Assembly from the Treasure Map areas, now would be a good time to craft a Golem to aid you. This area may be easy, but you won't be switching parties until you get out of the mine. There will be more orcs, and you will have to take down the Dragon to get out of here.
Tip: If you're not interested in fighting any orcs (and their very puny amount of gold & experience points) feel free to use the Hiding Skill and skip them altogether.