Tangled Tales/Violet Valley

Current quest

Talk to Eldritch, then teleport to Violet Valley. Go west, enter the farm and talk to Logan.

Screenshot map of Violet valley.
You access the area from the cave near the center of the map above.

"Time Distortion", "Omnivision", and "Gnihton" spells

Time Distortion is found in the cobwebs near the teleporter.

Omnivision is found in the Shao Lung monastery, north (slightly west) of the starting cave.

Gnihton can be purchased by Zilch, who lives north-east of the starting cave, that is south-east from the Shao Lung monastery.

References to Realms of Darkness

The Gnihton spell was introduced already in the previous game, and it had the same effect.

"Force field" spell

Gather companions

• Gnu Gnu, the Gnome mechanic is typically wandering outside the farm. You will need him soon to solve some puzzles.
• Sif Nina, the schizophrenic duelist/pacifist, is typically wandering in the north of the valley.
• Jenny, the Elven minstrel, resides in the Wildwood Inn; in order to reach her, you have to pay and stay one night at the inn.
• Bruce Leon, the human martial artist, lives in the Shao Lung monastery; he will join you for a fee depending on your charisma. You will need him later to solve some puzzles.
• Maxwell, the old human warrior, can be reached by swinging from a vine east of the monastery. You will need him later to solve some puzzles.

Note that enemy parties scale up with the size of your party: it would be better to select few but powerful companions.

BEWARE! Avoid the imp on the flying carpet: it will drop your charisma to zero, and some party members could then decide to leave. [R]est to bring your attribute back to normal.

References to Realms of Darkness

Gnu Gnu talks and behaves identical to the gnome encountered in the previous game (Scenario II). They might be two separate characters: Gnu Gnu is the nickname of an Origin Systems employee, but Realms of Darkness was produced by Strategic Simulations instead.

Actually, they both correspond to the characterization of the gnomes in Advanced Dungeons & Dragons: Dragonlance. This is the second reference to Dragonlance, the first one being the mention of the magician Raistlin ("Niltsiar" backwards).

Pirates!

First of all, Joshua asks the circus tickets you received in the previous chapter. Then, you can enter the barn and mmet Blade Jones (as Logan told you), but you need a specific companion to free him. Sail with him to an island where you can find a special item to go back, as well as the fountain of youth. Another recruitable character is an obvious candidate for rejuvenation.

The magic carpet

Recruit Gnu Gnu the gnome, and let him build a sand castle. Perform an [A]ction of the item he finds, and listen to Maxwell's suggestion. Keep Bruce Leon in your party, and also remember what farmer Logan told you.

When you obtain the magic carpet, fly on it and enter the sky castle. Examine the room where you get imprisoned. When you manage to get out, you will find a teleporting-trap, that sends you to four different locations in order. Explore all possibilities before leaving the castle, and that you will get a temporary party member and an item.

The dragon

Back on the mainland, first of all fulfill the request of Veronica, your temporary character. You will obtain a key.

Then, if you examine ([L]ook) the other items you found in the castle, one of them gives an obvious clue about your next move. Go to the gray cave near the chapter entrance, and use that item on the dragon. Once you get past the enemy, you can put your hands on its hoard: the "Force field" spell, two items and a piece of equipment.

"Awaken" spell

Brother Jenkins of the Shao Lung monastery tells you that something had been stolen. That item was in the dragon's cave. As a reward for returning it, the healer will teach you the "Awaken" spell.

"Recall" spell

In the Shao Lung monastery, [G]et the holy symbol. You also need to have at least Gnu Gnu the Gnome in your party.

Enter the mine shaft in the far east, near the mountain. Inside, go north first. Read carefully the text and find the solution to the first puzzle. Explore deeper, until Imrahz, the human demon hunter, will join you.

Backtrack and go south. The next puzzle will be solved by Gnu Gnu. When you meet Myron the Demon, the battle can only be won by Imrahz with the holy symbol. Explore deeper, and you will find the Recall spell.

Ask Eldritch about the spell, but also remember a book in the Shao Lung monastery.

"Detect monster" spell

First of all, talk to Idunn the dryad, who dwells in the eastern part of the valley. She will relay to a character in the monastery, who will give you an item.

Then, explore the stinky cave in the north-east. You will find another necessary object. Yes, your way out will be blocked, but there is a one-way secret passage that allows to get out.

Cast the Recall spell, and teleport to the destination of the thimble.

Before you can open the door, you should examine all the tombstones.

In the underground catacomb, it is advisable to start by following the corridor to the north-west, so that you uncover a shortcut to Violet Valley. On the same floor of this dungeon, you can find and learn the Detect Monster spell.

Climb the ladder to the next floor. There, two puzzles require the ginger roots and the scarlet sword. In the crypt you can meet Pierre the French vampire, who will gladly join you.

Walking dead scenario
and how to cheat it away

The scarlet statue is always faster than the player character. If the latter is slow, a swift companion can defeat this enemy. Otherwise, you can end up in a walking dead scenario.

There is a way to avoid the fight with the scarlet statue! Refuse to give it the scarlet sword, walk two tiles past it, and drop a mystic anchor (thimble or feather). Then, take one further step, so that the scarlet statue drags you back. Now, cast Recall and rest straight away, and you should be free to get past the obstacle.

Final steps

Thanks to Pierre the vampire, you can get past a locked door in Jeb's castle.

Still in order to make him cry (instead of eating you), you need a book of poetry and a true poet: Jenny the elven minstrel.

Optional areas:

• The well north of the farm: just flavor; visit it before and after solving the quest.
• Mrs. Logan inside the farm: she is invisible, and she will prevent you from exploring the building.
• The blue knight in the south-east: the Force Field might give you the upper hand, provided your speed is high enough to hit him. The reward is two strong pieces of equipment.