Hidden Cave

CoC Xianxia Version 0.8t. If you encounter a bug with this dungeon, please ensure you are running the latest version of the game. If this bug exists in the latest version, it is recommended that you join the dedicated Xianxia Discord Server.

## Introduction

The Hidden Cave is a dungeon found while exploring the Wasteland after purchasing a torch from Giacomo. The entrance to this cave is decorated by a number of flaming torches.

* Encountered at Level 6 (might be able to find at earlier levels, feel free to update.)

## Layout

### First Floor

 2
 3
 4
 Key:

### Second Floor

 2
 3
 Key:

## Progress

After first entering the dungeon, the Champion only has access to the underground passage portion of the cave. To advance you must defeat the four bat golems in this area, which will unlock access to the small storage room.

### Small Storage Room

Here, you fight a group of guardian golems. Once they have been dispatched, you can open one of the storage crates and retrieve five low-grade soulforce recovery pills. With this group of guardian golems defeated, you can now venture into the narrow tunnel portion of this level.

### Narrow Tunnels

After encountering another bat golem at the first bend in this narrow tunnel, you enter the western end of a large store room and attract the ire of a group of guardian golems. Defeating them, you can now crack open one of the many storage crates to find a strange weapon called an eldritch ribbon, a perfect diamond, and a flawless amethyst necklace.

Progressing to the eastern part of the large store room, you are attacked by another group of guardian golems. When the dust has settled, you find the store room contains several crates of transformative items. There are crates containing:

* 5 tigershark teeth;
* 5 golden seeds;
* 5 mara fruits; and
* 5 bottles of salamander firewater.

With the underground passage, small storage room, and both parts of the large storage room cleared of enemies, the stairs to the second floor are now accessible.

### Tunnel

At the last turn of this tunnel, you run into a group of guardian golems. These are the last line of defense before you reach Ted's Lair. A number of secret passageways lead away from this tunnel, none of which are accessible at this point.

### Ted's Lair

A large chamber centered around an imposing throne; here, you are attacked by the mysterious dragon-boy. After defeating him, you find a lever in the room, which can be pulled to open a secret passageway back down the tunnel.

### Caves

After pulling the lever, you now have access to the caves. You can safely proceed to the central chamber without the need to fight. Something sinister is embedded in some sort of translucent resin at the center. Each one of the small caves leading from this central chamber contains a group of guardian golems, however they can only be encountered in a specific order: west, east, then north. Visiting the small caves out of order simply means you aren't attacked until you do follow this order.

With the clearing of each small cave, the Champion discovers a small cache of storage crates. Cracking one open allows you to retrieve mid-grade soulforce recovery pills. If the Champion retrieves all of these pills, upon plundering the last crate and returning to the central chamber you will be met by a group of horrifying quasi-gargoyles bursting from the resin.

### Hidden Chamber

The final secret of the dungeon, this chamber only becomes accessible once the dragon-boy has been encountered for the second time elsewhere in Mareth. Upon his second defeat, he drops a key-item called the Jade Talisman. With this, the Champion can return to the hidden cave and gain access to this hidden chamber to discover Aurora.

## Encounters

### Loli Bat Golem

These tiny golems have an identical moveset to the other golem variants, with a slow-moving slash and a vicious strike attack; *however,* there is one key difference when fighting these enemies: if you lose to them, they will continue to pummel you into a bloody pulp, causing a game over to occur. This enemy drops a golem core upon defeat.

### Mysterious Dragon-boy

Carrying a large hammer, the dragon-boy only uses physical damage by wildly swinging it at you. The dragon-boy has the diehard ability. No interactions available after defeat. Drops a bag of cosmos (A1) following defeat. Once defeated, the dragon-boy will continue to harass you as you explore other parts of Mareth until you finally defeat him once and for all.

### Guardian Golems

Functionally identical to dummy golems, these guardians have lots of health and are slow and clumsy. Like the bat golems, should you be unfortunate enough to lose to them, you will also receive a game over.

### Guardian Quasi Gargoyles

A group of quasi gargoyles, this boss encounter deals high damage and their combined health is substantial. In this group of gargoyles are two different types: mace-tailed gargoyles and axe-tailed gargoyles. Mace-tailed gargoyles deal large amounts of crushing damage, potentially stunning you. The axe-tailed gargoyles can use a slice attack that inflicts bleed damage over time. You can be attacked up to four times per turn, so be prepared with some sort of stun ability.