Anvil of The Dawn (Part 1)

                       Author unknown

The purpose of this walk-thru is to help you make it through Anvil
of the Dawn without too many headaches. The game is fairly easy,
but there are a few places that are hard to figure out. I am not
going to list where every item is to be found in the game, but
only tell you what you absolutely need to know. That way, you
won't have the whole game spoiled for you. The game allows a
player to take any course they want, rather than follow a
predestined path. But there is a right order to follow and a wrong
order. Some people have made it into desolation without getting
all the pieces of the chest they will need. Here are the dungeons
one should conquer, in order:  * Gryphon Keep * The Dark Lantern *
The Undersea Maze * The Sunken Ship * The Underground City * The
Land of Roots/Elder Tree * The Barrier * The Temple of the Moon *
The City of the Dead * The Eye of Clay/Sanctuary * Gorge Keep
(optional) * The Reed Plain (optional) * The Iron Titan * The
Quagmire * Fire Mountain * The Warlord's Tower * The Anvil of the
Dawn

We'll detail what you need to do in these places, but first let's
deal with the basics.

STARTING OUT

You can choose from five different characters. Each has an
advantage in the four statistics (Strength, Agility, Stamina,
Power), except the mire lurk, who has even stats across the board.
You can modify any character's stats if you want, so you don't
have to choose Brice (the big hairy guy) for a strong fighter. But
the stats are limited to the amount given and only a modifier like
a talisman or a potion will allow you to increase them later. You
don't get to increase them permanently later in the game. So
choose them well.

CONTAINERS

The inventory screen has an area that shows what you're carrying.
Everything is placed there in a jumble if you right click to add
your items to inventory. In order to keep things organized you
will come across containers in the game. They come in two forms:
Sacks and Chests. I recommend you use sacks to hold rocks and
chests to hold other items.

There are a lot of places in the game where you will need to weigh
down a pressure plate with ten rocks.  You won't always have a
block figurine to spare. Using a bag full of rocks is a lot easier
to deal with because to can pick it back up in a jiffy when you're
ready to leave. Fill each sack with ten big rocks and you will
have perfect tools for dealing with those annoying plates.  Always
test a plate first to see if it can take only one to three rocks,
because you don't want to tie up a whole sack of you only needed
one rock. AND ALWAYS REMEMBER TO TAKE YOUR BAG WHEN YOU LEAVE THE
AREA. You will get three bags in the game.  One in Gryphon Keep,
one in the Dark Lantern, and one in the Sunken Ship.

The Chests are great for storing items. You get three of them
eventually. I recommend putting all pieces of the quest in one
chest, use another for money and temple tokens and a third for
magic items like potions and power-ups. That way you will be able
to access things without sorting through a big mess. Keys should
be left available on the main screen in a neat pile, because you
won't be carrying them around long.

ARTIFACTS

These come in many forms. Most are offensive spells, but there are
also amulets that enhance your stats and potions that enhance them
temporality. There are two potions in the game that enhance your
stats permanently. They are the potion of Mortal Enhancement and
the Potion of Magical Enhancement. When you take these they raise
your maximum health or mana (magic) points permanently. However,
the number they give you is random. Always save before drinking
one, then restore and try again if the new points are low. The max
for health seems to be 10. I never accept less than an 8. The max
mana seems to be 80. I never accept less than 65.

The block figurine is one of the most useful items you come
across. Using one creates a stone block for weighing down a
pressure plate. Use these things sparingly. I will tell you where
you need to use them. You should use rocks whenever possible, and
save these for the places where a block is really needed.

THE MAP

The auto map is very useful in this game because it will not only
show you what areas you missed, it can be used to spot enemies and
see if doors have opened outside of your field of vision. When you
step on a plate or throw a switch you can check the map to see if
it changed anything on the map. This is very useful. Monsters
appear as green squares and those annoying rolling rocks are shown
also in relation to where they are when the map was called up.
When you enter a dungeon or exit a stairway, ALWAYS turn around
and look back the way you came so the map will register it.
Otherwise the exit will show up blank. You should want to know
where the exit is at all times.  You can also make notes on the
map by clicking on the pen box. I recommend this for confusing
areas. Now for the game...

THE CASTLE OF THE LADY

Okay, your character has just awoken and you have to start the
game. Grab what's in the chest in your room, turn the knob on the
wall that opens the door (it's on an artsy pattern next to the
door) and talk to each character on your way down the stairs.  You
don't need to talk to the guards or the servant boy, but you can
if you want to. The first person you need to see is the castle
wizard. He will teach you the spell of healing and an optional
offensive spell. I recommend choosing the water spell "Shackles of
Ice". This spell freezes your opponent temporarily so he can't
fight back. The other spells are okay, but they are slow and don't
give you as much of an advantage. You will get all these spells
later so don't worry about missing them here. But make sure you
talk to the wizard because he's the only source of the heal spell
and you need it to win the game.

Next up is the armorer. I suggest you get a sword (Slashing
weapon). Swords are the best weapon in the game. You will end up
with two really powerful swords later on, so spend your skill
points on slashing before you start to improve any others.  Always
check the damage a weapon does when you get it by bringing it up
to the eye on the inventory screen and clicking on it. The higher
the damage, the more deadly the weapon. Ranged weapons aren't much
use in this game except in a few places. You don't really need
them.  Finally, you meet the old man who tells you what your
mission is. He will direct you to a portal that will take you to
the wine cellar of Gryphon Keep.  Enter and you are on your way.

GRYPHON KEEP

Goal: Find the Spell of Heavenly Mend, Find Exit

This is the easiest dungeon in the game and serves to educate you
on the game mechanics. You start out in a wine cellar. Make your
way to the door opened by a pressure plate on the floor. Stepping
on the plate opens it. Step inside and fight the guard. You may
find it closing on you before you can do that. This is because the
guard stepped on a plate on his side. Step back on your plate and
the door will open again.

The wine cellar/basement level is pretty small. There are a few
guards to kill. Two will drop keys which will open the rooms on
this level. In one room you will find Lord Gryphon, who is dying.
Talk to him and he will give you his signet ring. You will need
this when you finish the keep. The ground floor is pretty straight
forward. In four corners of the keep are stairs that go to four
separate towers. Each has some useful items. There are long halls
on either side of the castle and lots of rooms in between. I will
break down the areas by compass direction on the map.

The South West Tower entrance has no door.  There is a healing
altar nearby. This is where you use the strange looking tokens
that you find to heal yourself. The gold ones heal all your
points, the flesh colored ones heal a random amount of points.
Upstairs in the tower are two pressure plates. You need to weigh
down the one in front of the door first, with three rocks.  Then
step on the other plate. This will open the door to the next room.
A round switch on the wall opens an alcove where two chests are
hidden. There is also a chest on this level with the spell of
"Heavenly Mend of Unseen Artisans". Do not leave the keep without
this spell. It is essential to winning the gam and this is the
only place you find it.

The South Corridor of the Keep has a flying skull spell coming
down the hall like clockwork. Wait for it to pass. You will see a
door with no way to open it. Find a side passage nearby.  At the
end is a switch on the side wall.  Throw the switch. A rock will
roll back and forth, opening the door in the south hall every now
and then. Go to the door and wait for it to open. You may get hit
by a skull spell, so make sure you are healed up. Inside you get
your first shield in the game.

The South East tower entrance is opened by pushing a stone block
onto a nearby plate. You will enter a room with rolling rocks.
Find the stairs. In the tower is a Mana Altar which can only be
accessed by putting a gold coin in the hole in the wall next to
the door. At the East side of the keep is the exit to outside.
Make sure you finish the keep before leaving. You can reach the
exit by pushing a block onto a plate near the door.  This leads to
a hallway with some chests before the true exit.  Across from the
Exit hall is a big Throne room where there are several chests. You
can enter this room by putting one stone on the plate in front of
the door. In this room is a messenger monster.  These guys are
really tough to fight. I suggest using the offensive spells you
find earlier to soften him up first. If he is hurting you badly,
try running away and healing up, then come back and finish him
off.

The North East Tower entrance is opened by entering the room next
door and placing three rocks on each of the two pressure plates
inside.  There are two doors that open periodically due to a
rolling rock.  Wait for them to open. One leads to the tower.
Upstairs you will find two pressure plates next to a switch in the
wall. Move back and forth on the plates until you can throw the
switch. An alcove opens revealing two chests.

The North West Tower entrance is opened by a switch in the wall.
Near this entrance is a room with armor. It doesn't hurt to get it
before you go on.  Upstairs in the tower are two pressure plates
you have to walk over before reaching the chests. Move fast and
then sidestep. These chests activate traps that send Earthen Fists
flying at you from behind.  After you have searched every room, go
outside the castle and turn to face the ruins one step from the
door. You will meet Parselfal, whom Lord Gryphon spoke to you
about. Parselfal will hand you a bag of gold coins which come in
useful later.

Head on straight down the way you were coming to the Dark Lantern,
your next dungeon.

THE DARK LANTERN

Goal: Talk to Wizard, Get Sea Shell of Summoning

When you reach the causeway leading to the Lantern Tower, you will
see it is gone. Use the spell of "Heavenly Mend of Unseen
Artisans" to repair the causeway, then head to the tower. This is
a small place except for the basement. On the first floor you will
have to put three rocks on the pressure plate near the entrance to
make a teleporter vanish. Then, put a rock on the pressure plate
the teleporter was hiding. This will open the door to the rest of
the tower.

In the north is the exit to the pier. You will leave this way when
you finish the tower so make a note of it. There is a block
nearby. Push it onto a plate to open the two doors leading down
and up. Take the down stairs first. You should finish the basement
level before going on to the rest of the tower. Next to the stairs
is a healing altar. A gargoyle guards the entrance to the north
section of the basement. Talk to it and find out you need to
"unsummon" it.  Go south to a long hall, then west. In a north
side passage is a switch. This opens a wall to the south. In this
area are some chests and a clue to unsummoning the gargoyle.

Down the hall, west of there is a side passage to the north. There
are lots of chests in here, guarded by Wyverns. The chests are
hidden behind illusory walls. You can always tell an illusory wall
because it flickers. Pay close attention to each wall. Further
west is a pressure plate that makes a teleporter appear. Enter the
teleporter and find yourself in an area guarded by a juggernaut.
There is better armor in a chest nearby. There is also a section
with two rolling rocks. This section will have a chest with one
part of the unsummon spell. You need to get it then teleport out
and re-enter the hall teleporter. This will take you to another
identical area. Go to the rolling rock spot and get the second
part of the unsummon spell.

At the west end of the long hall is a plate and a wall switch.
Step on the plate and then flip the switch. It opens a door to the
south. This area comes in two parts. Behind an illusory wall is a
big room with four wyverns guarding chests. The middle chest
contains a sea shell. You need this to get to the sunken ship. The
other area has two hidden chests revealed at the far west end by
stepping on a pressure plate.  Unfortunately, the plate also
causes a screaming skull spell to come flying at you. If you avoid
the spell, it goes into a teleporter nearby and comes around
again. Every time you step on the plate, more skulls fly. If you
keep avoiding them you will soon see lots of flying skulls. This
is very dangerous because you will get hit sooner or later, so
take it like a man and empty those chests.

Now you can go back the way you came and unsummon the gargoyle.
You will then find a long hall with a door to the south and a door
to the west. You need a key to go west so enter the south door.
You will find yourself in a large room with rocks neatly laid out.
Walk the length of the room along the north wall and head south
toward the entrance to the next room. There is a spinner going on
in this room that will try to mess up your sense of direction. Try
doing moves in reverse when this happens and make your way into
that room. It takes some effort. You will find a chest with the
key and three teleporters guarded by a juggernaut.

The middle teleporter will take you to the exit of the rock room
so you don't have to deal with the spinner again. Once you unlock
the west door you find yourself in a similar room. The far west
door needs a key, the door to the south is opened by a pressure
plate. There is a stone block you need to destroy to free a
pressure plate. This will open the door to a room with a bunch of
chests. One of the has the key to the third area.  The third area
is the same. You'll need a key to go further west.  Entering the
south door you'll see rolling rocks. Enter their halls and find
the gaps to get across to a room. Throw any switch you see.  Get
the key in a chest. The fourth area is the final area. A door to
the south leads you to a room full of switches.  Throw all the
switches. Doors open revealing chests. One door leads to the final
room.

To get in you have to go to a side passage, kill the juggernaut
and put a block on the pressure plate. The other pressure plates
will then let you in the door.  Now head upstairs to the second
floor of the tower. There are three doors leading to the stairs to
level three. To open them you must do the following: Near the
doors is a switch in a recessed area. It causes a stone to roll
onto a plate. Throw it. Now, there is a pressure plate east of the
stairs. Put three big rocks on it.  Another plate in the south
requires a block. A wall opens and closes periodically. It has the
block, but I'm not sure if you push it into one of the plates in
this area or on the plate to the north. I just made sure there is
a block on the first plate in the hidden area and the one exposed.

The doors will then be open, go on the way to the stairs is a side
passage with an illusory wall.  Throw the switch on the other side
and rob the chest. Head upstairs and you will walk across a plate
that opens a wall.  Inside, behind a illusory wall is a chest with
a key inside. Get it. East of the stairs is a Mana altar. Throw
the switch nearby.  This will cause rocks in another room to roll
which will open the door to the Wizard's lair. You will find that
he's already dead.  Get the yellow globe on the floor and put it
in the fish's mouth.  Go to the nearby chest and read the scroll
inside.  Then click on the globe. The wizard will tell you his
story. In the locked room is a chest with a good sword.

Now that you've cleared the tower, make your way to the pier exit
on the ground floor. You can take the teleporter in the hidden
room where in the key was, but it takes you to the causeway exit.
Use the pier exit. Go to the end of the pier and use the sea
shell. Talk to the elemental, then enter...

@~To be continued next issue