After uncovering the secrets of Runes for Matthias, the Freelancer may be curious to find out what it all means. Maybe the Arcanist will have an answer.
Hints and Suggestions
- Make sure to read the text pop ups that show around the memorials. This can be easily done with the help of a Sniper Rifle. Zoom and aim at the pop up marker that looks like
for the best view. - The Puzzle:
- To solve the puzzle inside the Vault, simply interact with the mechanism to rotate it until the symbol on the mechanism facing your javelin matches the one on the wall in the distance.
- Repeat the process for the other mechanisms around the barriered manuscript cache.
- Fauna can be easily defeated with any attack. Fauna hordes and Anrisaurs are better dealt with using Blast Damage.
- Ash Titans have armored health. They don’t do much damage. Using armor buster, acid or fire type damage is the best way to deal with them.
Objectives
Hidden Depths
Find the Secret Arcanist Runes
Launch Expedition
Travel to Location
Travel to Correct Location
Runes Collected
Travel to Next Location
Runes Collected
Travel to Location
Follow Clues in the Runes to the Manuscript
Activate Arcanist Marker
Reading
Find the Manuscript Chamber
Explore Area
Destroy the Safeguards around the Manuscript
Activate Locked Door
Explore Area
Destroy the Safeguard Around the Manuscript
Defeat Titan
Disable Barrier
Bring the Elysian Manuscript to Matthias
Retrieve Manuscript
Talk to Matthias about the Manuscript
Meet with Matthias
These are the locations where the Freelancer begins the expedition, has to perform tasks to advance, and conclude the expedition.
Cortex Entry
The Cortex Entry shows the description and the outcome of the expedition.
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Outcome: The Elysian Manuscript was retrieved successfully. Matthias should be pleased. |
For a Collection of similar Cortex Entries, See: Agent Quest (Journal) |
Quest Chain
This expedition is a part of the The Search for Knowledge Storyline. When the storyline is completed, an appropriate challenge is also completed, which will reward the Freelancer. The following are the related quests in order for this storyline:
Trivia (May Contain Spoilers)
- One of the Anrisaurs encountered in the Dawn Gates is legendary.
- Some of the frost wolven encountered in Shadowmark are legendary.
- The Cataclysm that Matti references is the Heart of Rage, because of which the once populated city of Shadowmark had to be abandoned, only a few years before the current year of 468 LV.
- The text pop up on the Arcanist Marker reads:
- Designed to detect energy.
- This mission utilizes a Hidden Place called The Vault.
- One legendary Soldier, Worker, and Digester scorpions are encountered inside the Vault.
- The Titan encountered is of elite rarity. Even though it is an Ash Titan, it is simply named as Titan.
- The barrier around the manuscript makes a high-pitched tingling noise.
Below is the Script and Walkthrough for Hidden Depths (Mission):
Briefing
The Freelancer goes to meet Matthias in his lab.
- Matthias: "I have it. I finally have it."
- The Freelancer: "What’s going on?"
- Matthias: "The runes were indeed the key! Madness to think they were there all the time, waiting."
- The Freelancer: "You found something?"
- Matthias: " An excellent question, to which I have an excellent answer. The final resting place of the Elysian Manuscript."
- The Freelancer: " Sounds like I'm going on an expedition."
- Matthias: " The runes speak of a special vault in a high tower, built on a mountaintop. Objects of power were brought there. Shaper relics, artifacts from beyond the Hesperian Tide..."
- The Freelancer: "And a manuscript?"
- Matthias: " Indeed! A very special manuscript."
- The Freelancer: " Okay, tower on a mountaintop. Shouldn't be too hard to find, right?"
Find the Secret Arcanist Runes
The Freelancer prepares for the mission.
Launch Expedition
The Freelancer ventures outside the fort.
Briefing Gallery
In Expedition
The Freelancer comes out of the strider in Giant's Crossroads
Find the Secret Arcanist Runes
- Matthias: " The day has finally come! We have all we need to find the manuscript. This is extraordinary. I can't stop pacing."
- The Freelancer: " Let's find this tower you mentioned."
- Matthias: "Yes! The tower. This is amazing."
Travel to Location
The Freelancer flies into the Ruins of Shadowmark sub-region.
- Matthias: "The tower should be in view now. The records describe it as a marvel of architecture that touched the clouds."
- The Freelancer: "Okay, ooking for a very big tower…"
When the Freelancer reaches the Tracks of Midderon
- The Freelancer: "Uh… Matthias?"
- Matthias: " There's nothing here! Where's the tower?"
- The Freelancer: " Well, it's been a long time..."
- Matthias: " This can't be—this is impossi—oh. Oh. My bad. I misread the numbers. At least the correct location isn't far?"
- The Freelancer: "(Groans.)"
Travel to Correct Location
The Freelancer reaches the Dawn Gates
- Matthias: "Arcanist runes. That’s a very good sign. They could help point the way."
- The Freelancer: "But still no tower."
Runes Collected
The Freelancer must collect 6 runes for Matthias while not getting pounced upon by anrisaurs. When a few runes are collected,
- The Freelancer: " So where's the tower?"
- Matthias: " I don't know. Our only hope is to find those runes. Find them and I'll see if they contain clues to a location."
When the last rune is collected
- Matthias: " Wait! Yes, this rune—it mentions a tower! And this looks like… a map fragment. Hm. Unexpected."
- The Freelancer: " Okay, I'll look for more pieces."
Travel to Next Location
The Freelancer flies to a new location into the ruined city of Shadowmark and this time finds Wolven among the runes
- The Freelancer: "Ugh. Wolven."
Runes Collected
The Freelancer collects 5 runes while evading wolven attacks. While some runes are collected,
- Matthias: " More map pieces. Half of this is missing."
- The Freelancer: " So will this map point us to the tower?"
- Matthias: " I don't know. I'll keep working on it."
When all the runes are collected
- Matthias: " There's part of map here, but most of it is wrong... Some landmarks are the same. Some are different."
- The Freelancer: " Only one thing causes that kind of change."
- Matthias: " A Cataclysm. Why didn’t I see it? I think I've worked out a location, though."
- The Freelancer: "On my way."
Follow Clues in the Runes to the Manuscript
The Freelancer must travel to a new location to find the manuscript.
Travel to Location
The Freelancer travels to the new location in Helena's Walk
- The Freelancer: " Still no tower."
- Matthias: " I'm as confused as you."
There is a strange tepee-shaped structure in this new location.
- The Freelancer: " Okay, the runes got us here. Now what?"
- Matthias: " It's an Arcanist marker."
Activate Arcanist Marker
Several Skorpion have nested in this old ruin
- The Freelancer: " Matthias, there's a lot of skorpions."
- Matthias: " Yes, uh, this marker is old. Very old."
- The Freelancer: "Can you open it?"
- Matthias: "Yes—I need more time."
- The Freelancer: " Did I mention the skorpions?"
The Freelancer activates the Arcanist Marker. A green cypher projectied circle shows up to keep the transmission within range.
- Matthias: " A-ha. I bet this contains the other half of the map."
- The Freelancer: " Can you open it?"
- Matthias: " Not yet. Stay close."
Reading
The Freelancer remans inside the circle while the data is being read, while trying to defeat the skorpions. Once the data is read,
- Matthias: " Done. I'm done. I know where to go. The message is clear if you know what you're looking for."
- The Freelancer: "What does it say?"
- Matthias: " It points to a hidden chamber. Deep underground."
- The Freelancer: " So... an underground chamber, found only by invisible runes, written in a secret language."
There is atext pop up that shows up n the Arcanist marker after the green circle disappears.
- Matthias: " Can't be too careful."
Find the Manuscript Chamber
The Freelancer flies to the underground chamber, but first they have to dive through a lake in the middle of Shadowmark.
- The Freelancer: " Time for a swim. You sure about this?"
When the Freelancer is under Helena’s Walk
- Matthias: " It's here, I'm certain. Just... be careful. This has all proven that very powerful people wanted to keep this secret."
- The Freelancer: "Understood."
- Matthias: " This would have been impossible without your help. The animals, this water—all of it. Impossible."
- The Freelancer: " Let's see what we can find."
When the Freelancer reaches a place between North Rock and Crescent Lake
- The Freelancer: " There never was a tower on a mountaintop, was there? All that stuff..."
- Matthias: " Was to hide something important."
- The Freelancer: " Well, you can't be too careful."
The Freelancer comes out of the water, they see Anzu ruins
- The Freelancer: " Whoa. This is... Matthias, do you see this?"
- Matthias: "Freelancer. I think we found it."
There are notes and several Arcanist equipment all around the ruins. The Freelancer enters The Vault
Explore Area
The Freelancer looks around the ancient ruin.
- Matthias: " It's close. I can feel it!"
- The Freelancer: " What made you start hunting for the manuscript? "
- Matthias: " Somebody said it was impossible. I wanted to prove them wrong."
- Matthias: "Look out!"
- The Freelancer: "I see ‘em!"
Skorpions have nested here
Eliminate Skorpions
The freelancer fights and defeats the scorpion horde.
- The Freelancer: "Finally. What's next, now that those things are out of the way?"
- Matthias: " The Manuscript must be further in. You have to push on."
Destroy the Safeguards Around the Manuscript
The Freelancer must find a way to remove the barrier around the cache.
Activate Locked Door
There is a door on the side of the ruins and a puzzle to unlock it.
- The Freelancer: " Matthias. Found a door. And some kind of strange mechanism..."
- Matthias: " It's all arranged in a calculated fashion. The sequence is important. Obviously. There must be some clue as to the order around here somewhere."
The Freelancer figures out the problem and unlocks the door.
- The Freelancer: " What's that?"
- Matthias: " I don't know. Take it slow..."
- The Freelancer: " I know: can't be too careful."
Explore Area
The Freelancer goes through the door
- Matthias: " It has to be up here. This has to be it. I've been searching for this manuscript for years. Never doubted it existed. Never gave up."
When the Freelancer goes deep inside, there is a cache surrounded by a barrier.
- Matthias: "That must be it! The final resting place of the Elysian Manuscript!"
- The Freelancer: " There's some kind of energy barrier here!"
- Matthias: " A final measure of protection. Blast."
- The Freelancer: " And... ah, I think I've provoked something. Something real big!"
Destroy the Safeguard around the Manuscript
The Freelancer must find a way to remove the barrier around the cache
Defeat Titan
A titan spawns when the Freelancer goes near the shielded cache.
- The Freelancer: " What is this thing doing here?"
- Matthias: " A guardian of some kind? Maybe it's drawn to the power of the manuscript?"
Several Frost Elementals can spawn at this point
- The Freelancer: " Elementals!"
- The Freelancer: " Got to get out of the way!"
- Matthias: " You have to hit it where it's vulnerable!"
- The Freelancer: " I know that!"
- Matthias: "Please be careful."
- The Freelancer: "Not the time for careful."
The Freelancer finally defeats the titan
- Matthias: " You all right?"
- The Freelancer: " I'm fine. Let's get this figured out."
- Matthias: " I could not agree with you more."
Disable Barrier
The Freelancer solves the puzzle to disable the barrier.
- Matthias: " You've done it! You've opened it!"
- The Freelancer: " Let's see what we can find."
Bring the Elysian Manuscript to Matthias
The barrier is removed, and the manuscript available to collect.
Retrieve Manuscript
The Freelancer opens the cache to retrieve the Manuscript.
- The Freelancer: " I don't know much about ancient manuscripts, but this sure looks right. Matthias? You there?"
- Matthias: " Yes, yes, thank you. I'm just... I'm so rarely at a loss for words. This means so much to me. An end to one chapter of my life—and the beginning of another."
The Freelancer then returns to Fort Tarsis
Post Expedition
The Freelancer gets out of their javelin in the Forge and goes to see Matthias in his lab.
Talk to Matthias about the Manuscript
Matthias is waiting for the Freelancer in his lab
Meet with Matthias
- The Freelancer: " Looks like you found a place for your new book."
- Matthias: " I've barely taken my eyes off it since you brought it back. It hints at so many possibilities—new runes, lost relics, forgotten inventions. It's amazing."
- The Freelancer: " Just don't blow your lab up."
- Matthias: "No promises."
- The Freelancer: " What's next for you?"
- Matthias: " Study. I spent so much time looking for the Elysian Manuscript, but not a moment on what to do after finding it."
- The Freelancer: " That's a good kind of problem."
- Matthias: " Very much! But I'll still need your help on a thousand things outside the wall."
- The Freelancer: " Of course."
- Matthias: " Excellent. Now if you'll excuse me. I'm reading about how my forebears used hidden resonance layers to embed information."
- The Freelancer: "I’ll let you get back to it, then."
- Matthias: " Thank you. And Freelancer—thank you."
Notes and Remarks
- This expedition has a conversational cut scene during briefing.
- This expedition has a conversational de-briefing post mission.
- The dialogs mentioned in the script can vary across different play-throughs and different repetition of the game modes. The dialog will be taken from a pool that get rotated in-game. The script mentioned here is from one such instance.
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