This is a curious little part of the game. Most people who play it without a walkthrough get locked here. Funny, because considering the game lore, this is the easiest and most obvious part of the game. The player has to fall to death... as long as he avoids the spikes down there all will be well.
It does require a bit of trial and error though. On one of the planks there is a dagger(last part of the statue puzzle). I pick it up before jumping.
Okay now, here comes the leap of faith:
To die and to rise again, like a glorious phoenix!(no homo) Only problem is that the ms7 rifle broke in the fall... the raptor is now defenseless against whatever faces him.
Ok, now that must be the grail.
It is! Finally!
Knowing this place though, the raptor takes a deep breath before picking it up. It does activate a trap and you must scram pronto.
At last! The grail is at hand. But as expected, part of the floor gives in turning this into a mess of a maze.
And then the roof starts coming down, ready to smash the raptor. The solution is to run as fast as possible and to make handy use of the map provided by Geffrye.
There is an opening on the roof that is descending. The raptor has to navigate the maze quickly, without falling, and stand right beneath the opening.
Success!
Follwing the door to the north lands the raptor on a stone platform that slowly starts to rise...
And lands right inside the ziggurat.
The raptor opens the door to the northwest, the one that leads to the cathedra. Well, it is almost time to leave this God forsaken place! But before that, I will head down to the crypt and solve the statue puzzle(which is completely optional). Since we already have all the parts, why not? This is supposed to be a complete LP after all.
A hidden compartment with messages appear:
Special order 1047:
We have decided upon your code names which are to be used in all future communications. Malik is to be known as Spider; Philip is to be known as Cobweb. You will also distance yourselves within the brotherhood in case one of you is uncovered. We recommend you destroy this notice after reading.(priory symbol)
Special Order 1597
Highly Classified
Cobweb - As stated in Orders 1210 we must concede the authenticity of Tobias Vision - a calamity will befall humanity of such a scale that only the Grail can save us. This time aproaches rapidly, for the first of four signs has already occurred.
We within the Priuré have decided to assist the Vision in its realisation by ensuring that the foreseen one, the Holy Thief, is punctual in his arrival. To this end we have carefully and slowly fed information to such a thief so that he will discover Aeternis at the appointed time.(Priory symbol)
We will also issue false letters in his name to instigate action amongst his rivals - to safeguard against his failure. Whichever thief succeeds, we will be waiting. The Grail and Mankind's future will be in our hands. Your role is therefore to assist the thieves in their work and in their escape(we realise you are no longer able to aproach the Grail yourself). We will do the rest.
Special Order 1048
Agent Spider, congratulations to you and Cobweb on your succesful integration into the brotherhood and the Aeternis project. Also congratulations on the establishment of a courier route between us; we know this was both difficult and dangerous for you.
We continue to monitor the Templar High Command and will advise you of any relevant developments as they occur. We wish you continuing good fortune.(Priory symbol)
Special Order 1103
As you may already be aware, the templar Order has fallen. This was sudden and unforeseen and has thrown all into disarray. All our plans have now changed. Several Templar ships are presently en route to you carrying final supplies and sensitive records. Our agents are aboard one of these ships. They have been instructed to attempt to take the Grail and bring it back into our protection. They must fail. This attempt is intended to force your colleagues into sealing Aeternis from the outer world. It is currently the safest place for the Grail.
We shall retrieve it when all has settled. In the meantime we shall disentangle ourselves from our fallen brothers and try to recover from the chaos. New order will be dispatched to you in due course. Remain confident, the destruction of the Templars may yet work to our advantage.
Special Order 1172
Agent Spider, your consignment of Grailstone arrived safely. We are of course conducting our own experiments on the material, including saturated exposure of human subjects. Our hope is to create our own prophet/seer/Tobias puppet. We will keep you informed of our progress in future reports. We realise that your task is more dangerous now you are enclosed, but your work and Cobweb's is now crucial to our plans.
As ever
good fortune(Priory symbol)
Time to move on. This ellaborate door with the 4 shields carved is now opened(it required the placement of the all 4 shields in the alcove at the orrery)
It leads to another maze/labyrinth room. Oh shit, Tallum is there. Guarding the passage against thieves no doubt.
Where is the elephant gun when it is needed? The poor raptor doesn't even have the standard MS7 handrifle anymore! Luckily, as the raptor proceeds down, an old acquaintance of Tallum shows up...
No, not you Claude... as God is my witness, I am contrite. No! Keep back! Do not force me to fight you!
And they struggle, until both of them fall in the depths of Aeternis.
Now the path is clear. Too bad for the two tortured knights I guess.
Moving on to the north eventually Geffrye appears.
Ah, you have succeeded! I too! I have successfully stolen Tobias hidden piece of Grailstone. Come, follow me, I long to see the stars once more!
The raptor follows him.
Come with me!
MS2 is detecting two people in the room, sure enough, Tobias appears and ends the party.
He just gives the raptor a mean stare and leaves. Has he conceded defeat? Anyway, the raptor aproaches the dying architect to hear his last words.
Oh God! I feel the centuries pouring into my soul! It hurts! Oh God... it hurts! The stars... the pain of not seeling them after all this time... they were so bright! You must go now, holy thief... Tobias may have fallen prey to insanity, but the prophecy was truth...your aspect is right... go on... take the Grail to mankind... take it...
And the poor guy turns into dust. A thousand years in a few moments is a tough break.
Good night sweet prince.
The door unlocks with the grail.
Holy shit, 3 years have passed outside? Fucking Grailstone. Crazy stuff.
Mission accomplished! Free at last! Enjoy the ending:
What can I say. Anti-climatic, isn't it?