To unlock these quests you must be Liked with AAE’s Archaeological Department. You join this faction when you meet Frank Einstein in Dino Valley and have learned how to dig for archaeological treasures. You can build your reputation by finding dinosaur bones and bringing them to Professor Jura in Firgrove.
Archaeology in Epona
Good day to you, Rita, do you have a spare moment?
Let me begin by saying that your contributions to AAE’s collection of prehistoric artifacts has been remarkably distinguished. I should rather wish to be of assistance to you in the development of your archaeological capabilities, but I fear I’m not able to teach you more than you already know.
I’ve thought long and hard about this, and I think you need to become acquainted with – at the earliest opportunity – the incredibly prominent archaeologist Hawaii Jones. You may have heard of her?
No? Ah, well that isn’t so strange. It’s been a long time since she was here for a visit to her home island of Jorvik, but right now she’s actually here. In New Hillcrest, as it happens. I’ve written a letter to her in which I bring attention to your talent and perseverance along with a recommendation that she should take you under her wing.
If you’re interested in this rather special opportunity to expand your knowledge, take this letter and present it to Hawaii herself. But be quick, she won’t be in New Hillcrest for long.
Until next time, Rita!
Objectives: Ride to Hawaii Jones in New Hillcrest with Professor Jura’s letter of recommendation.
Rewards: 25 Jorvik Shillings, 25 XP
Reputation: 15 with AAE’s Archaeological Department
Hawaii Jones can be found in the new part of New Hillcrest, on the other side of the block from Ricky Winterwell.
Hello there! Who are you?
Lovely to meet you, Rita. I’m Hawaii Jones.
So, is there something I can help you with? You have a letter for me, you say?
Exciting!
Quest completed
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Terraced Houses in New Hillcrest
Wow, that letter of recommendation from Professor Jura was quite something, Rita! Not bad at all! Haha!
Well, well, well! Hawaii Jones can most certainly teach you a thing or two about archaeology Rita, but you see I’ve suffered something of a setback.
A little accident, if you will. Nothing more than just a broken leg, nothing terrible. How did it happen, you ask?
Well, it happened just as I was about to crack the riddle of where the Horn of Araxa is hidden. As soon as it’s healed, I’ll be out of here, and back out onto the adventure trail so if you want to learn more about archaeology, you’ll probably have to wait until I get back. Hmm? No no, I’ll only be gone a few years.
You want to help me find the Horn of Araxa?! Goodness me, how marvelous! Thanks!
Ha! This’ll be terrific! Fantastic! Actually, no! Perfect! I’d thought about leaving the old adventuring to one side while my leg was on the mend but then of course you just hop in and take over at once! Wonderful.
There’s a safe at the back of this house and in it I keep the diary of Mississippi Jones, my great ancestor! Have you heard of him?
Ah of course, he’s rather famous here in Jorvik, isn’t he? Mississippi was also looking for the Horn of Araxa and there’s a journal of all his findings in his diary. Sadly, there’s rather a lot of it missing. The very last part described how he came to New Hillcrest – although the town didn’t exist back then – but those final pages seem to have been ripped out.
If you fetch the diary from the safe, we can take a look at the last pages together. There’s a clue there which should help us find out where he went next, I’m sure of it! Would you mind going to get the diary, Rita?
Lovely, thanks! You’ll need to be able to unlock the safe. The code is… Actually, hold on! Ha! Think of this as a little test. If you can get the safe open, you can join my hunt for the Horn of Araxa. Deal?
Here’s a clue: the townhouse in New Hillcrest are red, green, blue, brown. You understand? In that order, the right number of each color. Ha! Now you get to figure it out for yourself!
Objectives: Open Hawaii Jone’s safe and get the diary. Give the diary to Hawaii Jones.
To be able to open the safe, you need to figure out the code. Talk to Hawaii Jones again if you need help.
Rewards: 15 Jorvik Shillings, 25 XP
Reputation: 10 with AAE’s Archaeological Department
Ride around the new development and count the colors of all the houses.
You figure out the code is 6455. Ride behind Hawaii’s house and use the code to open the safe, then return to her with the diary.
Ha! You figured out the code! Good work. Isn’t it fun to have a little riddle every now and again, Rita?
Now let’s see what’s in that diary.
Quest completed
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Roman Ruins
Now let’s see here… Ha! Here’s the last thing Mississippi wrote in the diary. I’ll read it out loud:
“May 20th.
Mr Winterwell has told many incredible and exciting tales of Epona and I do believe I’m back on the trail of the Horn of Araxa. A short distance from here lie the Sunny Islets, a little collection of tiny islands where the Winterwell’s sheep graze during the summer. Mr Winterwell tells me that on one of the islands, there are Roman ruins and I rather suspect there may be remains of a laboratory that came under the learned use of Nova Alexandria. With any luck, I’ll be able to find something that leads me further.
The island I’m looking for is special in another way as well. Nothing grows there. Cornelia and I have visited South Hoof and saw the tree there, so I realized right away which island was the one in question.”
Hmm… What do you think Rita? Do you know which island he’s talking about? You think you do? Haha! Outstanding!
You know something? If you can find the Horn of Araxa, or even a good clue that takes us closer to it, I’ll teach you absolutely everything I know about archaeology in Epona. Does that sound good?
Great! I like you, Rita! Just follow Mississippi’s footsteps! Good luck!
Objectives: Find the spot Mississippi Jones was describing in his diary. Look there for anything that might give you a clue to where the Horn of Araxa might be hidden.
Rewards: 30 Jorvik Shillings, 15 XP
Reputation: 15 with AAE’s Archaeological Department
Make sure you have Old Betty, your trusty pickaxe, with you!
Ride down towards the New Hillcrest stable, and out onto the islands. There’s a small island near South Hoof with dead trees and no grass on it. Dismount your horse and use your pickaxe to break apart the amphoras until you find a clue.
In the antique amphora, you find a brass tube with a cap of some kind. You unscrew the cap and find a page from Mississippi Jones’ diary inside!
Quest completed
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In the Ruins of the Old Dynamite Factory
You take out the rolled up page from the brass tube and begin to read…
“May 21st
Dearest Cornelia, my loyal apprentice. I sincerely hope you don’t read this. I’m being followed. I’ve suspected it for some time now, but I’m finally certain. I just don’t know who it is… If you’re now reading my words, I truly hope you’ll follow after me, finding me should I not return. I doubt it would be necessary, but something I never failed to learn on my adventures is that one can never be too careful. Haha! In any case, allow me to tell you a little of my pursuit of the Horn of Araxa.
The horn is not here, but then I never expected it to be. This is the place where Jorvikius the Younger – an alchemist from Nova Alexandria – did most of his work. He dedicated his life to trying to solve the mystery of the dead primeval tree at South Hoof, and if he had managed to understand why it had died, then Jorvik’s history could have looked very different… The power the Romans could have gained from the… No, now I’m rambling.
What I came across gave me, in any case, an idea. Perhaps the horn was in the barracks outside Nova Alexandria? It’s the most valuable artifact so perhaps it needed protection of the legionnaires stationed there? It was worth a try, even if it would be most difficult to find anything at all after the dynamite factory – built on exactly the same spot – was blown sky high. If there’s anything to be found, I have no doubt it rests at the bottom of The Great Thunder.”
You’re pretty sure you know where Mississippi Jones went after he was here. You decide to follow in his footsteps and see if you can find any more clues there.
Objectives: Find the spot Mississippi Jones was describing in his diary. Look there for anything that might give you a clue to where the Horn of Araxa might be hidden.
Rewards: 15 Jorvik Shillings, 20 XP
Reputation: 20 with AAE’s Archaeological Department
The easiest way to get to the bottom of The Great Thunder is to enter from the southeast side of the Mirror Marshes.
Ride through The Great Thunder until you are close to being under the bridge across from Butterhill. Dismount your horse to break open amphoras to look for the next clue.
In the antique amphora, you find a brass tube with a cap of some kind. You unscrew the cap and find another page from Mississippi Jones’ diary inside!
Quest completed
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The Road to Nova Alexandria
You take out the rolled up page from the brass tube and begin to read…
“May 22nd
My dearest Cornelia, my pursuer has tried to keep up with my progress, but he must have mistaken me for a simple nitwit! I have of course swept away all of the traces I’ve left behind me, and not even a bloodhound could have followed me here! Ha! In any case, don’t allow me to worry you. I’ll continue my story of the Horn of Araxa.
Almost everything at this archaeological site was destroyed in The Great Thunder, as I’m sure you understand. There is no new information to be found here. However, I did manage to shake off my pursuer which was of course my main reason for coming here.
Now it’s finally time to journey to Epona’s most mystical place. It’s time to look for the Horn of Araxa within Nova Alexandria itself. There, in the library once filled with Roman alchemist and philosophers, is where it quite simply must be. If you’re reading this letter, follow in my footsteps dear Cornelia. They lead south, to Nova Alexandria, or at least to the fort which was constructed around it.”
You’re pretty sure you know where Mississippi Jones went after he was here. You decide to follow in his footsteps and see if you can find any more clues there.
Objectives: Find the spot Mississippi Jones was describing in his diary. Look there for anything that might give you a clue to where the Horn of Araxa might be hidden.
Rewards: 15 Jorvik Shillings, 25 XP
Reputation: 15 with AAE’s Archaeological Department
Leave The Great Thunder and ride up the road towards Fort Maria. You’ll find more amphoras on the ground about halfway towards the top.
In the antique amphora, you find a brass tube with a cap of some kind. You unscrew the cap and find another page from Mississippi Jones’ diary inside!
Quest completed
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X Marks the Spot!
You take out the rolled up page from the brass tube and begin to read…
“May 23rd.
Curses! I’m still being followed. Who is this inescapable shadow? Nobody has ever succeeded in following me like this, my pursuer must be blessed by Fortuna herself.
Dearest Cornelia. I have been into the library of Nova Alexandria, the very first person to do so since the Romans left Jorvik. I’ve seen fantastical, unfathomable and horrendous things. Things that would make any other man silver-haired overnight, but that’s a story for another time. The Horn of Araxa was not there, but now… Now I finally know for sure where it is!
I must first do away with my pursuer once and for all. I thought of climbing down the cliffs and down to the sea. Nobody could follow me that way; there are very few in the world who could take themselves down such a precipice without the very finest mountaineering equipment.
I doubt it will be necessary, but I shall leave the next page in a place I’ve already seen from here. Ha! It’s quite perfect! If you look out over the Sunny Islets from the edge here, you’ll understand. X marks the spot, just like a good old treasure map! Ha!”
X marks the spot? What did Mississippi mean? You look out over the cliff edge, down over the small islands. X marks the spot…
Objectives: Find the spot Mississippi Jones was describing in his diary. Look for anything that might give you a clue to where the Horn of Araxa might be hidden.
Rewards: 40 Jorvik Shillings, 40 XP
Reputation: 30 with AAE’s Archaeological Department
Look out over the cliff and see the smaller island closest to the cliff.
Ride down to New Hillcrest and down to the Sunny Islets to reach the tiny island. You will have to run the long way along all of the larger islands to be able to cross through the shallow water areas.
Dismount your horse and break open the amphoras to find the next clue.
In the antique amphora, you find a brass tube with a cap of some kind. You unscrew the cap and find another page from Mississippi Jones’ diary inside!
Quest completed
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In the Aqueduct’s Remains
You take out the rolled up page from the brass tube and begin to read…
“May 24th.
Dearest Cornelia, my pursuer is finally away! Nobody could have followed me down those cliffs. Ha! Nobody gets the better of Mississippi Jones!
In Nova Alexandria I found a scripture that described the exact location of the Horn of Araxa. The Romans understood the power of the horn and hid it in a place far away down where the source gives water to Epona’s two rivers. I myself have seen the remains of the aqueduct the Romans built to provide Nova Alexandria with hot spring water, but now I know that it was built only to deceive their enemies. A secret vault was built into the mountainside. A vault in which they protected all their very most valuable treasures.
I shall make my way to the water source now. If you’re still following me, you’ll find the next page there.”
You’re pretty sure you know where Mississippi Jones went after he was here. You decide to follow in his footsteps and see if you can find any more clues there.
Objectives: Find the spot Mississippi Jones was describing in his diary. Look for anything that might give you a clue to where the Horn of Araxa might be hidden.
Rewards: 10 Jorvik Shillings, 15 XP
Reputation: 25 with AAE’s Archaeological Department
The next clue is located at the Moon Spring.
Ride along the northeast edge of the Mirror Marshes. You’ll find a trail that leads to a bridge and a dark cave. Break open the amphoras that are scattered on the ground on either side of the bridge.
In the antique amphora, you find a brass tube with a cap of some kind. You unscrew the cap and find another page from Mississippi Jones’ diary inside!
Quest completed
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Out of the Fire, Down in the Cauldron
You take out the rolled up page from the brass tube and begin to read…
May 25th.
Finally a little peace, dear Cornelia. My pursuer still has yet to be seen, and I do say even I myself would’ve found it difficult to follow me here. It would seem I have plenty of time to calmly and methodically look through these Roman ruins, but the Horn of Araxa is calling.
The secret vault built by the Romans in the mountainside is in the crater in the middle of this mountain. I’d thought to follow the aqueduct through the mountain to the other side, but it has collapsed completely. It’ll be quite the long climb, but a silly little mountain has never stopped Mississippi Jones before! Ha!”
You’re pretty sure you know where Mississippi Jones went after he was here. You decide to follow in his footsteps and see if you can find any more clues there.
Objectives: Find the spot Mississippi Jones was describing in his diary. Look there for anything that might give you a clue to where the Horn of Araxa might be hidden.
Rewards: 25 Jorvik Shillings, 20 XP
Reputation: 15 with AAE’s Archaeological Department
The Cauldron can be reached by riding off the road to Crescent Moon Village or from down behind the observatory.
The ground spirals down like a ramp. Ride all the way to the bottom and find an amphora there with another note inside it.
In the antique amphora, you find a brass tube with a cap of some kind. You unscrew the cap and find another page from Mississippi Jones’ diary inside!
Quest completed
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A Roman Puzzle
You take out the rolled up page from the brass tube and begin to read…
“May 26th.
Dearest Cornelia, it’s quite unbelievable. My pursuer is still on my tail. He came after me – stealthy as a panther – right the way up the mountain. I think I recognized him at one point, but the man he reminds me of is dead… My eyes were playing tricks on me, no doubt.
I’ve found the gateway to the secret vault. Everybody thought it was a piece of art or part of an ancient temple, but it’s actually a part of the door mechanism. I think I understand exactly how to open the gateway: there are buttons on the pillars all around the place and if you press them in the right combination, the way opens up as if by magic. The pattern on the gateway shows which three are the right ones to press.
I still have a head start on pursuer, and if I’m quick I should be able to get into the vault before he catches me up.”
You don’t see anything obvious around that matches what Mississippi was talking about. No artwork or parts of an old temple, but it was a long time since he was here. A lot must have changed since then. You decide to take a look around to see if you can find anything.
Objectives: Look around the bottom of The Cauldron for what Mississippi Jones called a work of art or part of an old temple.
Rewards: 20 Jorvik Shillings, 10 XP
Reputation: 15 with AAE’s Archaeological Department
Explore the bottom of The Cauldron until you find a large pile of brush. Clear away the branches and expose a large stone with the image of a spider carved into it.
This must be the gateway to the secret vault. You found it!
Quest completed
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A Secret Key to a Secret Door
What was it Mississippi Jones wrote? You take out the diary page and read it again…
“I think I understand exactly how to open the gateway: there are buttons on the pillars around the place and if you press them in the right combination, the way opens up as if by magic. The pattern on the gateway shows which three are right ones to press.”
The pillars must be part of some kind of code which opens the gateway Mississippi was writing about. You decide to investigate the pillars to see if you can solve the puzzle as well!
Objectives: Solve the puzzle of the pillars to open the door to the secret vault.
Rewards: 50 Jorvik Shillings, 40 XP
Reputation: 40 with AAE’s Archaeological Department
It does not matter which order you press the buttons, only that you press the correct ones. If you press an incorrect button, the mechanism will reset and you will have to restart the quest. The pillars can be found along the side slopes of The Cauldron.
The spider depiction on the door is your clue. All the buttons you press should relate to spiders; a baby spider, a spider web, and the Roman numeral for 8: “VIII”
Once you have activated the correct three buttons, return to the doorway.
You’ve unlocked the gateway to the secret vault, but it doesn’t want to open. Something must be wrong…
Quest completed
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A Fix Frank Einstein Would Be Proud Of!
The rumbling carries on. You decided to take a closer look to see if there’s anything you can do to fix it. Seems as though a load of gravel and other junk has gotten into the mechanism.
“If you don’t have a little look over your secret doors at least once a millennium, then you’ll find it works out this way,” you think to yourself and sigh.
Hmm… This is a problem that needs a fix Frank Einstein would be proud of! Time to grab the pickaxe!
Objectives: Use your pickaxe to “fix” the broken gateway.
Rewards: 50 Jorvik Shillings, 15 XP
Reputation: 35 with AAE’s Archaeological Department
Time to break out Old Betty!
With one last whack, you manage to loosen all of whatever was blocking the door’s mechanism, and a couple of bits of the machinery go flying along with it. Seems not to matter too much though, because the door opens!
Quest completed
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A Worrying Creak…
You notice that the ground suddenly begins to shake, and a dull rumble can be heard from within the mountain. The secret gateway creaks worryingly at its joints. It feels like the whole thing could come crashing down at any second. You decide to head in anyway, you haven’t come this far just to give up.
Objectives: Go into the secret passageway.
Rewards: 15 Jorvik Shillings, 10 XP
Reputation: 15 with AAE’s Archaeological Department
Enter the darkness of the gateway to discover what is inside…
There’s a book lying on the ground. You decide to take a closer look.
Quest completed
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A Diary on the Ground
“What kind of book is this? It’s the rest of Mississippi Jones’ diary! He must have dropped it for some reason, but why didn’t he pick it back up again?”
Your thoughts are interrupted by a new kind of noise… It’s creaking, crashing and rumbling like crazy now…
You know what that sound means. The secret passageway is starting to collapse. Now every second is more precious than ever!
“Quick! Out!”
You shove the diary into your backpack and run for the exit.
Objectives: Hurry out before the secret passageway collapses.
Rewards: 50 Jorvik Shillings, 15 XP
Reputation: 35 with AAE’s Archaeological Department
Escape the passageway before the timer runs out. Avoid the falling rubble and run for safety!
The secret passageway has collapsed completely. It’s impossible to get back into…
Quest completed
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A Diary for Hawaii
You read the last entry in the diary…
“May 26th.
The passageway is open but my pursuer is near. Darling Cornelia, I’ve underestimated my pursuer. He’s close now, and I finally know who he is. He’s the most dangerous man I’ve ever known. I simply must get to the Horn of Araxa before he does. I must get there before Mr Sandman.
My love for you will know no limit either now, nor in any echo of eternity.
Your Mississippi.”
You haven’t found the Horn of Araxa, but at least you found the rest of Mississippi Jones’ diary. It’s time to return to Hawaii Jones and tell your story.
Objectives: Ride back to Hawaii Jones with the other half of Mississippi Jones’ diary.
Rewards: 25 Jorvik Shillings, 50 XP, Jones Jacket
Reputation: 50 with AAE’s Archaeological Department
Ride back up the sides of The Cauldron and return to Hawaii Jones in New Hillcrest.
Hello! How did it go?
You didn’t find the Horn of Araxa, you say?
Ha!
Welcome to the club!
That’s the life of an adventurer for you. We risk our lives for treasures and relics that simply vanish from our hands at the last second.
Haha!
But it’s the hunt that’s the most fun, as we usually say in my family. The treasure itself is never as exciting as the adventure you go on to find it. Wasn’t it fun though, Rita?
Ha! You’re a girl after my own heart Rita!
Now I’ve got the rest of Mississippi’s diary in any case, so I must give you a huge thanks Rita. It means a lot to me that you risked so much to find it.
If you’re still interested in learning about archaeology in Epona, I can try to teach you all I can!
Quest completed
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All Books and Maps
So! Archaeology in Epona is the order of the day!
While you were out looking for the Horn of Araxa, I’ve gone through all my old books and maps in Epona. I’ve spoken to the people of New Hillcrest and picked up a few tips on where we might uncover some great finds.
I hope you’ve got time, we’ve got a lot to get through…
Objectives: Learn from Hawaii Jones all about where to find sites for an archaeological dig in Epona.
Rewards: 50 Jorvik Shillings, 50 XP
Reputation: 50 with AAE’s Archaeological Department
Archaeology in Epona works exactly as dino digging in Dino Valley. Small special stones are scattered around certain areas and light up periodically with treasures (or junk) to find. Collect all in a set, as well as be on the look for extra special items.
Hawaii will tell you which areas to search around and introduce you to the people you will need to bring your treasures to for a reward.
There we go! Now you know just as much as I do about archaeology in Epona. Now you won’t have a single problem in finding dig sites you can use your old pickaxe on.
There are four areas in which you can hunt for archaeological treasures.
Around Butter Hill you can look for remnants from the Roman barracks, and in the Mirror Marshes you can find evidence of it being a hiding place for victims of shipwrecks. There are always exciting finds along the Shipwreck Shores, and people have lived on the Eastern Slopes throughout history, which makes it a great place to dig.
It’s been lovely to meet you Rita! Come back whenever you’ve got any questions, I’m sure I’ll be around New Hillcrest for a while later.
See you around!
Quest completed
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Meet Professor Chiron
Oh, just one more thing. If you find anything good, I happen to know Professor Chiron here in New Hillcrest will trade them with you for nice items. You should ride over and talk to him.
Seeya!
Objectives: Talk to Professor Chiron in New Hillcrest.
Rewards: 30 Jorvik Shillings, 20 XP
Reputation: 25 with AAE’s Archaeological Department
Professor Chiron can be found a few houses down the street from Hawaii Jones.
Good day to you! Trade archaeological objects, you say? Hmm…
That sounds interesting. Very interesting indeed. I’m actually from AAE, they’ve sent me here to Epona to go on some digs, but I haven’t actually managed to get started just yet. The wilderness around here feels a little too treacherous for my liking, so I’ve been trying to start digging here in my garden. Hasn’t been too fruitful so far…
Trading with you sounds like a very interesting idea! If you’re out there looking for objects in that dangerous wilderness, I won’t have to do anything as reckless as risking my own life when you’re doing it instead! We’ll make a great team!
Quest completed
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Meet Walter Winterwell
Now I’m honestly not interested in absolutely everything you find, most archaeological stuff is usually rubbish. Some things, though. Some things can be especially valuable to someone.
Walter Winterwell is a man of really odd taste, so it could be worth your while to talk to him. You’ll find him up at the Winterwell family’s big house here in New Hillcrest.
Bye for now!
Objectives: Talk to Walter Winterwell in New Hillcrest.
Rewards: 25 Jorvik Shillings, 15 XP
Reputation: 25 with AAE’s Archaeological Department
Remember, trading with Walter is -extremely- lucrative. Keep track of those extra special finds to bring to him!
Good day to you! Trade archaeological objects?
I’d love to! Only the interesting stuff though! What have you got?
Quest completed
You are now a full-fledged archaeologist! Go out and find some treasure!!
