Full walkthrough of the storyline of the long-awaited fourth part
The Bard’s Tale 4: Barrows Deep is a continuation of the classic trilogy from the 80s. Like its predecessors, which have recently been re-released on Steam, it is a first-person dungeon clearing game. If you have any difficulties during the passage, you can use our guide.
Hard Times in Scara Brae
The first task is to go to the meeting of the Adventurers Guild. Move to the marker and talk to Rabby. After that, explore the territory in search of valuable things in chests and barrels. Take the note near the entrance to the Guild building and go in.
A Home in the Dark
Walk forward until you come across a group of thugs. Kill them and be sure to take the dragon bile grenade. Throw it on the obstacle to go further. Destroy another enemy squad. Walk forward until you see paladins. Here you need to lift the wall to the left and go to the green door of the Guild (red marker on the map). On your way will be Fashan, whom you have to kill.
Move on until you get to friendly NPCs. You can talk to them, and then go into the Guild building. There, chat with Rabby and receive a reward for the first quest.
Bad reputation
Exit the Guild building and head back. In the area where you saw paladins, they are now gone, in their place is a giant to avoid. Get to the gate and solve the puzzle. It is quite simple – first move one spinning gear, and then – remove the gears with squares, and then put those that can spin in their place. Come on in.
Talk to Rabby’s friend named Sheekrut (Wringneck), after which he will join the squad. Move north when Shekroot teaches you a new song, sing it right away, and then a cache of valuable loot will open. Then move to the west, search all the chests in search of a “cat”. When you find it, use it to get to the stairs. The sewer will take you back to Skara Bray.
Go to the marker, defeat opponents and search them.
The Doppleganger
Go west from Skara Bray, defeat opponents and talk to Dalglish, he will join your team and teach you new techniques. Further move east, find Tavish’s house. There will be Dunglish’s double along with the minions, kill them all and take the book from the table. Now head northwest, find the cracked wall and smash it with the Gufain Hammer that Danglish taught you. There will be a lot of valuable loot there.
Best of us
Head north to the tower of Kailaran, use Algin’s Key on the gate near the Adventurers Guild. Go forward until you see Stoney, talk to her to learn a new song. Then turn back to find Crookes, who will join your team. He will teach you a song that affects the placement of stones. With her help, restore the bridge in the tower of Kailaran and enter it.
First floor
Here you will be greeted by a statue that will offer you to solve the puzzle. Find the handle from the broken statue on the bottom floor and place it in the bowl. Sing Hidey Bide in front of the symbol on the main staircase to acquire the Mercenary badge.
Enter the newly opened west wing and click on the block. Come into the room. Click the second block in the west corner next to the other gate. Activate the switch on the adjacent wall to reveal a secret room. Walk down the corridor, insert the block into the niche and take the Silver Square. Return to the main hall and insert the Silver Square into the left statue by the central door, and then head into the newly opened east wing. Carefully climb the spiked floor and pull the three levers. The thorns will disappear, and you can pick up the Silver Triangle.
Then head south to the room with the glowing treasure chest. Be careful with pendulums. Get to the chest and you will get a new skill. Place the Silver Triangle on the third statue. Go through the main door and you will fall to the second floor.
Second floor
The first room you enter has two locked doors. The southern one can be unlocked from the other side. The pendulum trap is activated when you descend from the second floor. It can be disabled by inserting the red gear in the puzzle.
Slide both blocks along with the door, a secret door will open in the south. After passing through it, you will find yourself in the central room. From there you can go east or south. If you go South: To the east, the gear mechanism controls the pendulum trap and the door leading to the push block. The wall can be smashed by Gufain’s Hammer, allowing the treasure to be collected. If you go east, pendulums will be waiting for you, you will have to run them to get to the next puzzle.
Activate the visible pressure plates and the door will open. Clicking on the hidden plates will open a secret door at the back of the room that will allow you to bypass the pendulums. After that, you will find several puzzles.
- Hold the red gear and the pendulum in the corridor will stop. Activating the second golden gear opens the door leading to the second puzzle
- Activate all four pressure plates and the door at the top of the room will open. Make sure you are not standing on thorns when completing this puzzle
- Using the push blocks, you need to create a path to get to the northeast corner of the 3rd floor
Return from there with the help of the “cat”.
Third floor
This is where you first come across rune blocks. They act like combination locks.
- You need to rotate all the blocks in the column in accordance with the rune block above the next door. All four runes must match the rune above the door
- Place the runes on the columns so that they match the rune located above each corresponding column
You can now enter the corridor and take the Heart of Stone. After you open the door, you will have access to the corridor, where there is a hatch into which you have already fallen. To prevent this from happening again, pull the lever. Next, you need to move the blocks to form bridges and get to the keys or the other side of the room. The blocks will move in the direction that the lever pulls them. They cannot move through other blocks, wooden platforms, or walls. First, cross the bridge and take the key. Open the door with it and enter. Pull the lever three times. Only one block will move, others will bounce off the wall. Pull the lever one more time, the blocks will align and create a bridge to cross.
There are two levers here. One will move blocks up and down, and the other will move left and right. Correct sequence: up, right, up, left, up, right, down, down. Now you can take the key. Then move the blocks up. Cross the bridge. Here you need to reset the blocks to their original position in order to go further. Use the Stone Remember feature.
In the next room you will be greeted by blocks with fire traps. They can be moved using wheels. They rotate clockwise and counterclockwise. You need to rotate so that the path through the fire opens.
Turn the first wheel clockwise once, then turn the second wheel counterclockwise, also once. Access to the third wheel will open, which must be rotated clockwise. This puzzle is solved, go ahead. Take the stone head. Place the heart on the first statue and the head on the second and the door at the end of the hallway will open. In it, in addition to the statue, you will see fountains in which you need to pour ink. You need red, blue and yellow ink colors for the next door to open. In the new room, study the recipes. Use the crafting menu to create black, red and purple ink and pour it into the fountains to go further. Get into the elevator and get down.
Third floor
A serious battle awaits you here. Kill everyone and get to Mangar. To defeat him, use Algin’s special ability. While he is casting the spell, protect him, because this is the only way to kill Mangar. After that, talk to Algin and return to the old Guild.
Low friends in low places
From the old Guild, go to the Duke of Kingston’s Lair. Defeat opponents and enter. Go downstairs, talk to the Duke and exit the tower. On the street you will meet Sibel. Follow the markers to find the thieves. Find mining equipment and return to the Duke of Kingston. He will give you the item you need to enter Baidsky Vale. The path to it lies through the sewers. This completes the quest.
Keeper of the Old Ways
When you get to Baidsky Vale, head through Fetterkire to reach Fiona’s house. You can fight with enemies, or you can bypass them. The only exceptions are groups of paladins. Fighting them is certain death. Find Gerund at the top of the mountain. Get down and head north towards the exit of Fetterkire. Defeat enemies.
Next, you need to force the fairy to activate the magic stones and open the way forward for you. To do this, you need to line up the totems in the correct order. Turn one of the totems so that the parrot looks towards the magic stones with its beak. After that, the gate will open. Next, set the totems so that the parrot’s beak looks to the left. You can now teleport to Fiona’s hideout. Talk to the ghost, the door will open and you can leave the cave. Go to the tunnel that leads to the Inshriah Forest. Come in. Here is a puzzle – you must step on each crystal only once. Once all the crystals are burning, the door at the far end of the tunnel will open.
Defeat Gafrua and talk to the ghost. Enter the door that leads to the Inshriah Forest. Follow the markers to Fichti Tor Fion village. Sing a new song next to the bones.
Into the Wood
When you enter the forest, go to the destroyed fort. Take the key on the north side, it will be needed to then get out. Climb the stairs, watch the cutscene and pick up another key to your left. New puzzles await you on the way to Fiona. You need to rotate the wheels clockwise so that the green parts are connected together. After that, you will receive the key that is needed to enter Fiona’s hideout. Go into it and talk to Mother Nane.
Sacred Grove
Talk to Lyoslight. She will join your team. After that follow the markers to the puzzle. You will need to place the stones on the corresponding pressure plates. The drawbridge will then lower. When you enter Skyhenge, head right to the door. Enter it and exit through the door on the left.
You will see a key in the back. Open the sealed door, go further and climb the stairs. Here you will find a puzzle similar to the ones in the tower of Kailaran. You need to correctly place the monoliths using the lever. The correct combination is left, down, right, down, left, down, right, down, left, down, right, right. Come forward.
At the top of Skyhenge, take the Monolith Book and Silver Key. Climb back down into the forest and head east towards Matan’s dwelling. With the help of the book of monoliths, you will see a constellation in the jewel on the door. Get his sketch, it will come in handy later. Return to the top of Skyhenge on foot or with the teleportation monolith. There, apply the sketch of the constellation and enter the teleport.
Lower the bridge and take the key. You will have a talk with Nuna, she will ask you to clear the totems with the help of tears. Defeat enemies and interact with each of the four totems. After this, speaks to Nuna and go to Matan’s cave to receive his Blessing. Return to Mother Nane.
Mangar’s bones
You need to clear all totems and activate all monoliths throughout the Forest. After that, you will be able to use different sketches of constellations, which you will find during your journey to Inshriah Forest.
Return to Skyhenge and clean up any tainted totems. After that, go to the top of Skyhange and activate the Boar constellation. After that, the door will open, go into it and teleport. Your goal is to go through all the obstacles to get to the Mangar relics. Take them out of the cage and talk to the ghost of Tanbarin.
The Secret of Cialmar
Use the Mangara relics to destroy the illusion. Go to the Elves Portal. After the teleport, kill Mangar himself and continue on the path to the elf portal teleporter and talk to Queen Faenwit. Return to Rabby at the Old Adventurers Guild and speak with him.
Bones in the Fog
Return to the lair of the Duke of Kingston and talk to him. After the conversation, head to the Scar Bray Docks and talk to Hattie. Use the stairs to get to the boat that will take you to Stronsey Island. After docking, walk to the pier and talk to Linnaeus. Clara will be added to your team. Approach the large statue on the beach and climb its arm to reach the top of the cliffs, then follow to the village of Vire. Enter Selkie and speak with High Jarl Edovast. After the conversation, Father Loanyar will give you the key of the Wildswyn Temple. Exit the tavern and follow to the Temple of the Boar. Unlock the gate and follow the markers. Sing “What the River Takes” and talk to Brakka’s ghost. Use the key to enter the Boar Temple. Talk to Priestess Hessa.
Ominous Island
Exit the Temple and return to the beach. Talk to two fishermen. The Selkie Sisters will appear behind you. Take the quest from them and find Horst. Buy a cloak or take it by force. The sisters will give you a mouthpiece. After that, go to the village of Vire and find a horn. Attach the mouthpiece and interact with the horn to summon the Orcan Hand.
The Lost Rookery
Go across the bridge. The cultist will see you and run into the cave, screaming for help. Use Stone Remembers to rebuild the bridge and cross the water. To open the door, find the key that lies on the corpse in the southern part of the cave. Climb up the stairs. Exit the caves and head towards the monastery. Enter it, ring the bell and enter the next room.
There are three bells on the wall that must be installed in the correct order to open the adjacent doors. The correct order is high, high, low, medium, medium, low. Go to the basement of the monastery. Go to the portal. Your goal is to find the Zant Reliquary, which is located on the third floor. She will open the gate and get to the local boss. Kill him and take the key from his body. After that, return to the village.
Take Zant’s Reliquary. This will activate the gate behind you and open the adjacent door. Enter and return to the top of the dungeon. After killing the boss in front of you, you will open the adjacent door and add the Ulstrom Woods key to your inventory. Leave Midden Maw and head back through the Orkan Rookery to Wyre Village after completing the quest.
Throne of Castle Langscaal (Siege of Castle Langscaal)
There are many traps on the way from the Sewerage to Langskaal Castle. Keep in mind that if they are controlled by rune blocks, they cannot be turned off completely, just change the speed and direction. You will encounter fire traps, darts, spikes and pendulums. Difficulty can arise only with an obstacle in front of the stairs. To overcome it, you need to place one apple, two cans of honey, three bottles of whiskey and four bottles of water in the panel next to it. A secret door will open. Go up the stairs to the castle.
Approach the large doors and enter the castle foyer. Climb the stairs and enter the throne room. You will be thrown into a dungeon. Use Gaufain’s hammer to break the wall in the prison and then make your way to the barracks to find the key. Return to the dungeon and follow the markers to the torture chamber where you will find Prince Suxulf.
Solve the puzzle on the back of the Steel Maiden. Solution – symbols “M”, “X”, “I”, “F”.
Get the key from the servant and return to the first floor. Enter his room. Walk down the first corridor and go to the end of the hall. Take the key and follow the markers to the dining room.
There you will see five statues. They need to be placed in the correct order. The answer is KING, QUEEN, BOAR, BEAR, BULL. A secret door will open. Enter, follow the markers to the end of the hall and press the button on the wall. This will open another secret door and you will receive the royal key. Go to the King’s Room.
There you will find five bells. The order of ringing of the bells (if 1 is the smallest and 5 is the largest) – 3, 1, 5, 4, 2, 1, 5, 3. Another secret door will open. Press the button at the end of the room and enter the throne room. Kill Zant and talk to the ghost. Return to Seal and Selkie, speak with High Jarl, and then return to the Old Adventurer’s Guild and speak with the Rabbi.
The Hungering Blade
Return to Inshriah Forest. Talk to Nane’s mother at the Fort. She will give a crystal. Insert it into a special niche at the top of Skyhenge to see the owl constellation and open the way to the burning village of Bren. Move through it to the Red Vault. Come into it. Go along the corridor past the pits and approach the broken staircase. Use The Stone Remembers to restore the staircase and climb it. Down the hallway straight to the end. Open the nearest cell and take the key. Open the door at the end of the room.
When you try to leave the Red Vault, Tarjan will attack you. Defeat him and return to Rabby.
The Blessed Lady and The Song of the Maiden
Talk to Priestess Clementia and follow the markers to the Temple of the Blessed Lady. Kill Henred’s father. After that, you won’t be able to go back, so buy everything you need from the seller. Go forward. After breaking the floor, use the “cat” to climb up. Here you will also find a collapse of the floor, climb the stairs to get to the Grave Hill of the Virgin. Come into it. There you will find some familiar puzzle with bridges and gears, as well as a fight with the final boss named Yadis.
