
TUNIC Narrative Guide - Part 6: Loose Ends, New Beginning
Summary: Join the Ruin Seeker (that's our protagonist fox!) on his journey through a strange and vaguely familiar land. His inner thoughts are laid bare as we explore the unknown. Each step brings new mysteries to solve, new challenges to face. - This story is intended as a companion piece to the video game TUNIC, but can also function as a guide if you are stuck or a teaser to get you interested.
I resume my search by heading north, where I descend a few ladders before reaching a dead end, raised drawbridge taunting me from the other side. Ah, but wait... As I ponder my next path, my ears are drawn to the nearby waterfall. As is common in this place, a secret is hidden behind it. Inside, I find some shinies, but nothing else stands out to me.
Looking closer on the second level, I find a place to go that's out of sight. It leads to a lever, granting me a new path and shortcut. I return to the goddess statue to rest and contemplate where I should go. I want to look into the obelisk I found when exploring the old well, I want to experiment with what page 20 said about the Golden Coins, and I want to look around the beach for a little while.
Heading west, I reach the ladder for the old well, and navigate my way through the multiple shortcuts I previously unlocked. I eventually reach the room of purple, and I walk up to the obelisk with caution. Well, let's give this a try. I kneel and focus my thoughts, and after a few seconds, light begins to swirl around me. The obelisk glows bright, reacting similarly to the golden door. It stretches itself out, before sinking into the ground with a screech.
Behind me, the conduit I passed across is now illuminated in the same manner as the others of the room. Are these a source of power for the area? If so, what have I activated? My curiosity pulls me back along my path, tracing the glow under my feet.
Discovery: Holding A next to obelisks will activate them, providing power to nearby objects.
Stepping past some tentacled skulls and a treasure previously looted, the glow extends into the corner. The conduit reaches the wall and disappears, leaving me scratching my head. However, the closed chest nearby tells me that this path was not previously available to me. There's no chance I looted the other chest and not this one. Inside, I find another Golden Coin. Adding it to the others in my pockets, I now have four.
Checking my map, I note the room on the other side of the wall. Before I leave, I check to see if the conduit continues. No, nothing. It must have simply opened the path to that chest. This certainly won't lead me to any hexagon keys. Crossing the item off my list, I return to the surface and look around for a normal well.
With a look through the spyglass atop the Old House, I spot a well within short walking distance. Fighting through the Rudelings, I check the well. My mind fuzzes a bit, but nothing happens. The thought then crosses my mind to simply throw them in. Hoping for the best, I take one into my paws and then flick it into the depths. As it splashes at the bottom, a pillar of light erupts. I repeat the process, emptying my pockets. Two coins. Three coins.
With a bit of fanfare, something mysterious happens, and I seem to have been awarded something almost ethereal. Checking my inventory, it seems to be another augmentation spot for a new card. I can either put on the ring with the sword, or the ring with the shield. I decide to go with the ring with the shield, increasing my defense when in peril.
Discovery: When enough golden coins are thrown into the well, new card slots are obtained.
Tossing in the last coin in my possession, nothing happens beyond the beam of light. With another item crossed off, I set out to look around the beach. In my earlier haste to claim the shield, I neglected any real exploration. Passing through the opened gate, I descend the stairs and fight my way through a horde of Rudelings.
Tossing my ethereal Boom Bomb, I shatter the Envoy's shield and then finish him off from a distance with the Fire Rod. Before I go down the ladder, I check around a bit more on my current level. To the west, I defeat an Autobolt and lay claim to a chest hiding behind it. Within, a new card, one depicting a large heart. This one is depicted on page 20. It's called the Lucky Cup, and has a 15% chance for... something. For enemies to drop a heart, I guess. Hearts are good. Sure, let's equip that instead of the ring.
Sand squishes between my toes as I drop to the bottom level and look around. To the east, a funny looking island with some shinies in a chest. To the north, a waterfall - that means secrets! I trace a path behind it and make it to the other side of the river's mouth, where I find a new page of the booklet.
A new map page, dotted with obelisks and trees. It connects to the previous page, where the words Fortress of the Eastern Vault are visible. In the upper corner, it details some new enemies. Custodians, caretakers of the area, magic users, a note to put out their candles. Spyrite and Sappharach, a set of spider enemies that seem to be impersonating the shinies I've been accumulating. I think I remember fighting some in the East Forest.
I see a few shops in the area, and there's a path connecting to "Beneath the Earth" on page 30, likely the portion that is covered in more spiders. I note the obelisk within the area. However, as important as that seems, there's something even more important. A reference to the golden squares, along with the Hero's Graves. A single word is emphasized twice, and it points to page 24. That is the page where I learned to kneel in front of the obelisks. Could that also be the method to interact with these other two objects?
New Goal: Try holding A at a golden square.
It seems this area can be reached to the east. Perhaps that is what lies beyond that shortcut I recently opened by the main temple.
New Goal: Explore the Fortress of the Eastern Vault.
This page is short and decorative. It adjoins the beach map, and is likely the name of that area. There's also a note by an image of an obelisk, with the number 4 standing out. On the next page, the map for Ruined Atoll, I note that there are four numbered obelisks.
New Goal: Activate the four obelisks in The Ruined Atoll.
Resuming my exploration of the nearby beachfront, I note the presence of something out of place. Shifting my view, I see it is a chest, and within, another Golden Coin. At the end of the path, a dead end, but I do make a small note that there's another piece of broken golden monument. Perhaps it's from the same one, or perhaps there were many.
As I head back, I remember something important. Secrets are everywhere. Everywhere. On a hunch, I check underneath the pathway above, and find myself in a dark cave. Surging ahead, I get a sudden wave of vertigo as I discover I'm floating on emptiness. A chest is before me, and I continue towards it. I then run smack into an unseen wall, falling on my bushy tail. Rubbing my muzzle, I extend my paws around me and realize that there's more than one wall. They're all around me.
Using the maze trick, I place my hand to the left side wall and follow it around the room. Slowly, my path encircles the chest, and I make it to the center. Inside, an incredible 255 shinybits. A worthwhile detour! Not only did I discover some new goals, but I got a hefty sum of funds to spend in the shop.
Leaving the room in the same way I entered it, I decide to explore some to the south before tackling a new goal. I fight off an Autobolt and obtain a new packet of crystal powder. On the other side, I find a waterlogged cave with a very imposing sign. Within the room are several Autobolts, and with the water denying me the ability to move quickly, and myself in a somewhat weakened state from reckless exploration, I decide to return here at another time
Revised Goal: Explore the dangerous cave on the beach.
Following a sandy path, I enter the area of the Ruined Atoll. It isn't my intended destination, but it can't hurt to look around some. I see a little birdie, who runs from me when I try to approach it. To my surprise, it disappears under the large bridge, yielding a secret path in an otherwise pathless area. At its end is a new card, a bracer or vest, it's hard to say. It's not listed on page 20.
As I exit, my eyes are drawn to the golden square at the top of the bridge above me. A conduit of purple energy flows from it. I look around for a way to reach it, and come up empty. For now, I press on with my beach exploration. Further south, the path continues to a pair of Autobolts. One chest can be reached, containing a decoy, but the other seems to require something that I lack.
A ladder leads me to a new conduit. Following it further, I exit to yet another secret path I overlooked, at the back of the windmill. Stopping inside to visit the skeletal shopkeep, I find myself short of funds to purchase either the Potion or the Golden Coin. Disappointed, my ears and tail droop as I exit back into the sun.
Outside, a golden square. I should try kneeling on it and seeing what happens. With a shiver down my spine, my vision flashes and I find myself once again in the ghostly, mystical realm where I met the goddess. Around me, several squares. Some are white, and some are black. The one I entered at is white, illuminated. That means that of the eight I can see, four are activated. There's also a large staircase, which beckons to me.
Discovery: Holding A activates the prayer action, allowing me to interact with my surroundings in new ways.
Discovery: Golden squares are teleporters that allow me to travel between locations.
Climbing it, I find a copy of the temple entrance. The door is open, and the sword-carrying goddess statues lie dormant at its sides. The path behind it is invisible, as it always seems to be in this place. Just beyond it, I see the goddess in her prison. Around her, I see the many items I have offered to her.
Upon my approach, she regards me with curiosity. I kneel before her in prayer, as I have been doing elsewhere, and she nods at me with a kind smile. Perhaps this, too, is some fragment of her power that has been granted to me.
With a nod and a wave, I bid her farewell to resume my quest. I decide to check the center teleporter. Inside, I find an ominous room, with the emblem of three hexagons and a gigantic sword. It looks to be the same sword as the one carried by the goddess statues. This must be her's, but why would she need such a powerful sword? I try praying to the sword, but nothing happens. With a touch of concern, I leave the room and try another teleporter.
The one underneath the stairs leads me to a claustrophobic room made of alloy. It has no exit, leaving me with no choice but to teleport away again. With only one other teleporter left to try, I activate it and find myself in the Ruined Atoll. That's strange, I was expecting to be taken to the one on the small island I washed ashore on.
Regardless, I have found a way to enter The Ruined Atoll. I take a moment to refresh myself at the nearby goddess statue. Looking through the spyglass, I see a decayed land, with some fox statues in the distance. I'm now faced with a choice. Should I continue to explore here, or return and seek entrance to the Eastern Vault? There's also that other teleporter that calls to me.
It's settled, I will return to where I arrived and check that teleporter, then decide between the two locations. Beelining there, grateful for the interwoven pathways, I kneel and pray at the early teleporter. Within, I find myself unable to progress anywhere, but I also find a new page.
This is the front index page of this booklet. There appear to be at least 52 total pages. I've collected quite a few, at this point. On the back is...
Also known as "The Story" according to the Table of Contents. I can only make out a few portions of it. A civilization. Something called the Holy Cross. And the mythical Power to Defy Death. I see foxes worshiping the three-hexagon symbol. I see them worshiping the goddess, who holds a purple gem. In the background, an obelisk with the same purple color. How are the two related?
With nothing left to glean from the new page, I close the manual and consider where to go next. The Maps section of the Table of Contents listed the Eastern Vault before the Ruined Atoll. That's as good of a reason as any to explore it first. I return to the main goddess statue and then head east. The sign before me says "Forest Fortress."
Before following it, I check the other path where I find a shortcut drawbridge to lower. Checking my map one last time, I find myself grateful to have found that page at the beach. This place may have been much harder to locate had I not taken the time to explore.
Current Goals
✔Experiment at the obelisk under the Western Belltower.
✔Throw three Golden Coins into a well.
✔Try holding A at a golden square.
★ Explore the Fortress of the Eastern Vault.
★ Activate the four obelisks in The Ruined Atoll.
★ Find the three colored hexagons to open the seal in the temple.
★ Break the seal that imprisons the goddess and/or obtain the great treasure.
★ Explore the dangerous cave on the beach.
Author's Notes: This properly concludes the first act of the game. The bells are rung, the temple is open, and the hunt for the Questagon keys begins. Technically, this part could fall on either side, but since we haven't truly entered any of the new areas, I feel like it works better on this side of the fence.
Posting this today to celebrate the news that TUNIC will finally be coming to the Nintendo Switch. I'm hoping to complete Act 2 in its entirety before the game comes out so that this can be a functional guide. I also plan on making single page versions of the acts so that it can be more easily searched. We'll see!
Thumbnail created using the press kit's wallpaper and logo. The custom text contains a secret.
Search Tags: Zelda Link mystery mysteries explore exploring exploration gameguide walkthrough help steam psychology psychological island ruin ruins "the heir" vixen foxy foxes offering offerings secret secrets quest adventure
|| >> Start Here << || <<< Previous Part | Next Part >>> ||
TUNIC: A Narrative Guide
Part 6 - Loose Ends, New Beginnings
I resume my search by heading north, where I descend a few ladders before reaching a dead end, raised drawbridge taunting me from the other side. Ah, but wait... As I ponder my next path, my ears are drawn to the nearby waterfall. As is common in this place, a secret is hidden behind it. Inside, I find some shinies, but nothing else stands out to me.
Looking closer on the second level, I find a place to go that's out of sight. It leads to a lever, granting me a new path and shortcut. I return to the goddess statue to rest and contemplate where I should go. I want to look into the obelisk I found when exploring the old well, I want to experiment with what page 20 said about the Golden Coins, and I want to look around the beach for a little while.
Heading west, I reach the ladder for the old well, and navigate my way through the multiple shortcuts I previously unlocked. I eventually reach the room of purple, and I walk up to the obelisk with caution. Well, let's give this a try. I kneel and focus my thoughts, and after a few seconds, light begins to swirl around me. The obelisk glows bright, reacting similarly to the golden door. It stretches itself out, before sinking into the ground with a screech.
Behind me, the conduit I passed across is now illuminated in the same manner as the others of the room. Are these a source of power for the area? If so, what have I activated? My curiosity pulls me back along my path, tracing the glow under my feet.
Discovery: Holding A next to obelisks will activate them, providing power to nearby objects.
Stepping past some tentacled skulls and a treasure previously looted, the glow extends into the corner. The conduit reaches the wall and disappears, leaving me scratching my head. However, the closed chest nearby tells me that this path was not previously available to me. There's no chance I looted the other chest and not this one. Inside, I find another Golden Coin. Adding it to the others in my pockets, I now have four.
New Item: Golden Coin #4
Checking my map, I note the room on the other side of the wall. Before I leave, I check to see if the conduit continues. No, nothing. It must have simply opened the path to that chest. This certainly won't lead me to any hexagon keys. Crossing the item off my list, I return to the surface and look around for a normal well.
With a look through the spyglass atop the Old House, I spot a well within short walking distance. Fighting through the Rudelings, I check the well. My mind fuzzes a bit, but nothing happens. The thought then crosses my mind to simply throw them in. Hoping for the best, I take one into my paws and then flick it into the depths. As it splashes at the bottom, a pillar of light erupts. I repeat the process, emptying my pockets. Two coins. Three coins.
With a bit of fanfare, something mysterious happens, and I seem to have been awarded something almost ethereal. Checking my inventory, it seems to be another augmentation spot for a new card. I can either put on the ring with the sword, or the ring with the shield. I decide to go with the ring with the shield, increasing my defense when in peril.
Discovery: When enough golden coins are thrown into the well, new card slots are obtained.
Tossing in the last coin in my possession, nothing happens beyond the beam of light. With another item crossed off, I set out to look around the beach. In my earlier haste to claim the shield, I neglected any real exploration. Passing through the opened gate, I descend the stairs and fight my way through a horde of Rudelings.
Tossing my ethereal Boom Bomb, I shatter the Envoy's shield and then finish him off from a distance with the Fire Rod. Before I go down the ladder, I check around a bit more on my current level. To the west, I defeat an Autobolt and lay claim to a chest hiding behind it. Within, a new card, one depicting a large heart. This one is depicted on page 20. It's called the Lucky Cup, and has a 15% chance for... something. For enemies to drop a heart, I guess. Hearts are good. Sure, let's equip that instead of the ring.
New Item: Card #4 - Lucky Cup
Sand squishes between my toes as I drop to the bottom level and look around. To the east, a funny looking island with some shinies in a chest. To the north, a waterfall - that means secrets! I trace a path behind it and make it to the other side of the river's mouth, where I find a new page of the booklet.
New Item: Page 32/33
Page Analysis: #32 - "Fortress of the Eastern Vault Map"
A new map page, dotted with obelisks and trees. It connects to the previous page, where the words Fortress of the Eastern Vault are visible. In the upper corner, it details some new enemies. Custodians, caretakers of the area, magic users, a note to put out their candles. Spyrite and Sappharach, a set of spider enemies that seem to be impersonating the shinies I've been accumulating. I think I remember fighting some in the East Forest.
I see a few shops in the area, and there's a path connecting to "Beneath the Earth" on page 30, likely the portion that is covered in more spiders. I note the obelisk within the area. However, as important as that seems, there's something even more important. A reference to the golden squares, along with the Hero's Graves. A single word is emphasized twice, and it points to page 24. That is the page where I learned to kneel in front of the obelisks. Could that also be the method to interact with these other two objects?
New Goal: Try holding A at a golden square.
It seems this area can be reached to the east. Perhaps that is what lies beyond that shortcut I recently opened by the main temple.
New Goal: Explore the Fortress of the Eastern Vault.
Page Analysis: #33 - "The Ruined Atoll"
This page is short and decorative. It adjoins the beach map, and is likely the name of that area. There's also a note by an image of an obelisk, with the number 4 standing out. On the next page, the map for Ruined Atoll, I note that there are four numbered obelisks.
New Goal: Activate the four obelisks in The Ruined Atoll.
Resuming my exploration of the nearby beachfront, I note the presence of something out of place. Shifting my view, I see it is a chest, and within, another Golden Coin. At the end of the path, a dead end, but I do make a small note that there's another piece of broken golden monument. Perhaps it's from the same one, or perhaps there were many.
New Item: Golden Coin #5
As I head back, I remember something important. Secrets are everywhere. Everywhere. On a hunch, I check underneath the pathway above, and find myself in a dark cave. Surging ahead, I get a sudden wave of vertigo as I discover I'm floating on emptiness. A chest is before me, and I continue towards it. I then run smack into an unseen wall, falling on my bushy tail. Rubbing my muzzle, I extend my paws around me and realize that there's more than one wall. They're all around me.
Using the maze trick, I place my hand to the left side wall and follow it around the room. Slowly, my path encircles the chest, and I make it to the center. Inside, an incredible 255 shinybits. A worthwhile detour! Not only did I discover some new goals, but I got a hefty sum of funds to spend in the shop.
Leaving the room in the same way I entered it, I decide to explore some to the south before tackling a new goal. I fight off an Autobolt and obtain a new packet of crystal powder. On the other side, I find a waterlogged cave with a very imposing sign. Within the room are several Autobolts, and with the water denying me the ability to move quickly, and myself in a somewhat weakened state from reckless exploration, I decide to return here at another time
New Item: Potion Upgrade #3
Revised Goal: Explore the dangerous cave on the beach.
Following a sandy path, I enter the area of the Ruined Atoll. It isn't my intended destination, but it can't hurt to look around some. I see a little birdie, who runs from me when I try to approach it. To my surprise, it disappears under the large bridge, yielding a secret path in an otherwise pathless area. At its end is a new card, a bracer or vest, it's hard to say. It's not listed on page 20.
New Item: Card #5 - "Bracer/Vest"
As I exit, my eyes are drawn to the golden square at the top of the bridge above me. A conduit of purple energy flows from it. I look around for a way to reach it, and come up empty. For now, I press on with my beach exploration. Further south, the path continues to a pair of Autobolts. One chest can be reached, containing a decoy, but the other seems to require something that I lack.
A ladder leads me to a new conduit. Following it further, I exit to yet another secret path I overlooked, at the back of the windmill. Stopping inside to visit the skeletal shopkeep, I find myself short of funds to purchase either the Potion or the Golden Coin. Disappointed, my ears and tail droop as I exit back into the sun.
Outside, a golden square. I should try kneeling on it and seeing what happens. With a shiver down my spine, my vision flashes and I find myself once again in the ghostly, mystical realm where I met the goddess. Around me, several squares. Some are white, and some are black. The one I entered at is white, illuminated. That means that of the eight I can see, four are activated. There's also a large staircase, which beckons to me.
Discovery: Holding A activates the prayer action, allowing me to interact with my surroundings in new ways.
Discovery: Golden squares are teleporters that allow me to travel between locations.
Climbing it, I find a copy of the temple entrance. The door is open, and the sword-carrying goddess statues lie dormant at its sides. The path behind it is invisible, as it always seems to be in this place. Just beyond it, I see the goddess in her prison. Around her, I see the many items I have offered to her.
Upon my approach, she regards me with curiosity. I kneel before her in prayer, as I have been doing elsewhere, and she nods at me with a kind smile. Perhaps this, too, is some fragment of her power that has been granted to me.
With a nod and a wave, I bid her farewell to resume my quest. I decide to check the center teleporter. Inside, I find an ominous room, with the emblem of three hexagons and a gigantic sword. It looks to be the same sword as the one carried by the goddess statues. This must be her's, but why would she need such a powerful sword? I try praying to the sword, but nothing happens. With a touch of concern, I leave the room and try another teleporter.
The one underneath the stairs leads me to a claustrophobic room made of alloy. It has no exit, leaving me with no choice but to teleport away again. With only one other teleporter left to try, I activate it and find myself in the Ruined Atoll. That's strange, I was expecting to be taken to the one on the small island I washed ashore on.
Regardless, I have found a way to enter The Ruined Atoll. I take a moment to refresh myself at the nearby goddess statue. Looking through the spyglass, I see a decayed land, with some fox statues in the distance. I'm now faced with a choice. Should I continue to explore here, or return and seek entrance to the Eastern Vault? There's also that other teleporter that calls to me.
It's settled, I will return to where I arrived and check that teleporter, then decide between the two locations. Beelining there, grateful for the interwoven pathways, I kneel and pray at the early teleporter. Within, I find myself unable to progress anywhere, but I also find a new page.
New Item: Page 2/3
Page Analysis: #2 - "Table of Contents"
This is the front index page of this booklet. There appear to be at least 52 total pages. I've collected quite a few, at this point. On the back is...
Page Analysis: #3 - "A long, long time ago..."
Also known as "The Story" according to the Table of Contents. I can only make out a few portions of it. A civilization. Something called the Holy Cross. And the mythical Power to Defy Death. I see foxes worshiping the three-hexagon symbol. I see them worshiping the goddess, who holds a purple gem. In the background, an obelisk with the same purple color. How are the two related?
With nothing left to glean from the new page, I close the manual and consider where to go next. The Maps section of the Table of Contents listed the Eastern Vault before the Ruined Atoll. That's as good of a reason as any to explore it first. I return to the main goddess statue and then head east. The sign before me says "Forest Fortress."
Before following it, I check the other path where I find a shortcut drawbridge to lower. Checking my map one last time, I find myself grateful to have found that page at the beach. This place may have been much harder to locate had I not taken the time to explore.
Current Goals
✔
✔
✔
★ Explore the Fortress of the Eastern Vault.
★ Activate the four obelisks in The Ruined Atoll.
★ Find the three colored hexagons to open the seal in the temple.
★ Break the seal that imprisons the goddess and/or obtain the great treasure.
★ Explore the dangerous cave on the beach.
|| >> Start Here << || <<< Previous Part | Next Part >>> ||
Author's Notes: This properly concludes the first act of the game. The bells are rung, the temple is open, and the hunt for the Questagon keys begins. Technically, this part could fall on either side, but since we haven't truly entered any of the new areas, I feel like it works better on this side of the fence.
Posting this today to celebrate the news that TUNIC will finally be coming to the Nintendo Switch. I'm hoping to complete Act 2 in its entirety before the game comes out so that this can be a functional guide. I also plan on making single page versions of the acts so that it can be more easily searched. We'll see!
Thumbnail created using the press kit's wallpaper and logo. The custom text contains a secret.
Search Tags: Zelda Link mystery mysteries explore exploring exploration gameguide walkthrough help steam psychology psychological island ruin ruins "the heir" vixen foxy foxes offering offerings secret secrets quest adventure
Category Story / Tutorials
Species Red Fox
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