Jean, this is preparing you for a big fight at the end of the Act..

I think at this point of the game-don't remember stats-but I had Lolthar the Giant, Me the Ranger,
Taar-nature maze and Chilly my ice element pet.

This is in the desert area right? If so, I mainly used water spells on anything..had as much protection and juice as I could get..kept my fingers on the keys for health and mana...and fired away..
We got him.

If too tough for your group..I suggest backing out
and seeing if you have other quest you can complete. Wish I could remember our levels..
You'll nail him now that you asked!!!

Ingie

I had to back out of it and come back when my stats were higher, around 27 I believe, and then it was a breeze. I had a similar party to Ingie, except I was playing as a death mage.

Thanks, nickie & Ingie. I went back and got killed again, so I guess I'll wait. I'm a fire mage, Taar is a nature mage, Deru is a ranger with some nature mage capabilities, and Lothar is a knight. They are all levels 20-21.

Does anyone know the way to Windstone Fortress? I've done the Azunite Shrine and have the map to the weapon, but can't find that either. I'm assuming everything lies to the Northeast, but I can't get to the northeast. Any ideas?

Jean

Hi Jean, <img border="0" alt="[santa]" title="" src="graemlins/santa.gif" />
Actually you're at a good level for where you're at; according to the SG..

For Windstone Fortress..
"Retrace your steps up the spiral staircase and find the Ancestor waiting for you on the northern side of the chamber. Speak with him again, and he'll open a northern passage..go through it, after that head east to activate the teleporter you'll be at the cliffs of Azunai".

Ingie <img border="0" alt="[grinch]" title="" src="graemlins/grinch.gif" />

Hi Ingie:

I don't remember ever seeing a spiral staircase. Where is it? I've been all over the shrine and through the caves, and haven't seen an ancestor either.

I've got to go out in a few minutes so I'll check back in to see if any of you can lead a trail-blind person out!

Jean

Jean

Ingie <img border="0" alt="[grinch]" title="" src="graemlins/grinch.gif" />

Hi Jean Ingie, we posted at the same time, but you were a bit faster.

Hi Ingie and Nickie:

I just got home, and thanks for your replies. I've been through the caves that lead to the Azunite Shrine, and been through the Shrine. I have the mirror and map, but haven't heard anything about a lost vault I just looked at the description of the mirror and it mentions finding the lost vault with it. Hmmm.

I don't have any idea where the vault is, though. Is it in the Shrine somewhere? And the only puzzles I solved in this area is the riddle in the crypt, where the mage keeps killing me, but that's a secondary quest.

I'm missing something somewhere, and it's probably very simple. Heeellpppp!!!!!

Jean

Ah-ha..

This puzzle makes you place the mirror in the statue that it will go..then you turn the different statues to make a continual beam of light that will then activate the lost vault..took a little time to figure out how many turns for each statue, but fiddling with it will get you what you need..

If you need help, I still have my trusty SG and we can give you better directions.

Ingie <img border="0" alt="[grinch]" title="" src="graemlins/grinch.gif" />

Hi Ingie:

Thanks! Where is it, though? Is it still in the Shrine? I made it out of that area and am wandering around the Lost Azunite Valley, is it near there?

You know, I have a strategy guide, too, but my brains have turned to mush, and I can't figure out where to go.

Jean

Jean, I can't tell exactly where you are, and I don't remember much of this from when I played, but the Gamespot guide may help, click here for the specific quest info:

DS2 LOST AZUNITE ARTIFACT

Jean, <img border="0" alt="[santa]" title="" src="graemlins/santa.gif" />

Yep, when you do the mirror puzzle correctly; a doorway to the north of you should open up..that is where you can talk to the ancient one

Great maps there, this game really needs to look into how to make a map..even the SG is not very good at mapping

Ingie <img border="0" alt="[grinch]" title="" src="graemlins/grinch.gif" />

Thanks Schwab and Ingie! That helped, and I'm on my way there. You're right, the maps in the game and SG are really bad, and since I can't read maps well in the first place I'm continually lost!

Jean

ARrrghhhh!!! I have the light puzzle done exactly like the screenshot and nothing's happening! No vault or door opened.

Edited to say: Duh! It always works. I had one statue turned slightly to the left.

Jean

Okay this is what the SG states..

"The completed mirror puzzle opens a new passage.
Descend the sprial staircase..looks like face East and descend down..at the bottom of the staircase there will be the vault to the bottom. Approach the pedestal in the valult's cent and Pick up the Azunite Artifact. Speak with the Elven spirit. The Ancestor of the Azunties appears and provides your next quest. Open the big chest for your reward. You need to find a hidden vault in the Windstone Fortress to power the artifact."

You may be like me, and looking for something more obvious, remember you're in a cavern, so it will be rocky..not a wooden spiral..hope that helps a bit..
I'm lost tonight too.

Ingie <img border="0" alt="[grinch]" title="" src="graemlins/grinch.gif" />

Thanks, Ingie! I got through that patch and am now on my way to the Fortress. I'm done for the night, so I'll leave that discovery for tomorrow.

Jean

I got to Windstone Fortress, cleared it out and did all that stuff there. I decided to take on Sartan, so now I have two melee fighters, a combat mage and a nature mage. I dropped my ranger off at the inn, and I'll get her back later, but right now I need more muscle, I think!

I finally went back and retrieved the family heirloom from the crypt. I didn't actually kill the mage there. I saw the heirloom laying on the floor, and while we were fighting had someone run and pick it up. That way, once we were all killed I still had it! Quest complete, even though in a sneaky way. Maybe at some point I'll go back and get that mage when my levels are much higher.

Jean

Oh you clever girl...love it...


Ingie

Heellppp!!! I'm stuck in Istheru's caverns. I'm doing the quest for the parts of Arinth's staff. I'm supposed to go down into a dungeon to get the focusing stone. I'm definitely in the right place -- I've turned on both water levers and gotten to the treasure room. But, I can't find the button to the lift so I can get to the ghost. Does anyone remember where it is?

Jean

Found it! As usual, as soon as I posted it magically appeared. This one was really hard to find, as it was a stone set in a step.

Jean

Works like magic, doesn't it? I had a hard time finding that tricky little lever too.

I've just met up with Evangalina. What a little snob! Unfortunately I have to take her with me to Snowbrook Haven. I didn't want to give up my nature mage, so had to give up Finalia, who've I've made into a really strong death mage.

Evangelina keeps jumping in where she shouldn't, and I have to keep pumping her full of potions. I can't wait to get Finalia back.

I'm having a lot of fun collecting the special sets. I have so many different things now that it's hard to decide which to use!

Has anyone played a second time around past the mercenary stage? I think I'll give that a try once I've been through it once.

Jean

Nope on the play again, well that's not right I did try just a piece of it..have it still on board Jean, so let me know and I'll try with you..irght now, I'm so in love with M&M that it's hard to pry myself from it.

Santa did bring me 2 games this Christmas..Bard's Tale and Simon the Sorcerer..loaded and on board!

Eva is a good fighter, I think when I took her, I left Lothlar at the Inn, and kept my mages ( I was a ranger)..

Remember to take her back to the location of the burned out caravan.

Ingie <img border="0" alt="[newyear]" title="" src="graemlins/newyear.gif" />

Thanks, Ingie! Lothar is at 31 now, so I hate to give him up. Plus, his armor is up really high. I have Eva doing dual wield, so she doesn't have a shield, and her armor is lower yet. Hopefully I'll find something for her soon.

I haven't been to the burned out cavern yet, so thanks for the tip.

Jean

Jean,

That's where the main story kicks in again.

I understand about Lothlar, but I really wanted my magic folks to level up..
Eva is a really good fighter, and you'll soon be glad you have her around..just use her as you will..she's strong and wins most fights for you..
I think I used her as a Knight with shield and long sword, hard to remember..but I think she'll be great with 2 weapons..tough lady, I liked her.

Ingie <img border="0" alt="[newyear]" title="" src="graemlins/newyear.gif" />