The Fortress

**The Fortress** is the second chapter of *Chants of Sennaar*.

## Walkthrough

First, the player must navigate the Abbey successfully and come across a detour. Upon descending the lower-level exit stairs, they will find themselves on transitional screens with minimal noteworthy content.

Next, as they approach the entrance to the Fortress, Guardians will be visible, marching and responding to specific Glyphs with stops and continuations. These Glyphs, although unidentified, signify 'Guardian,' 'Stop,' and 'Continue.'

To gain access to the Fortress and avoid the vigilant guards at the entrance, the player should follow the lower screen's edge until they locate a hole in the wall. Once inside, they will encounter a Portal, as well as a shield and spear adorned with Guardian Glyphs, reinforcing their understanding of the language.

Within a room featuring a broken pillar, the player should create a bridge using a spear as a fulcrum to gain access to the Fortress.

Inside the Fortress, they will find a room where Guardians pause and resume their march, providing an opportunity for further language decoding. As they explore the lower levels, interacting with a statue will yield additional Glyphs. The player should also manipulate a mechanism with a lever and a "hamster wheel" to reveal more Glyphs and unlock pages in their Journal.

In the plaza patrolled by two Guardians, the player should employ stealth to reach the left-side exit without being detected. In a narrow corridor, they should follow a group of Guardians and cross a gap in the wall.

To overcome a second gap, synchronization with the Guardians' movements and the use of a gong to distract them is crucial. Subsequently, the player should enter a room containing Guardian equipment, including a disguise comprising a sword, bracers, and a large helmet.

After leaving the armory, they should return to the plaza area to collect Glyphs from an Armory sign. Proceeding to an "item loading" area, they should observe the actions of Guardians loading items onto a trolley, which will unlock pages in their Journal.

Returning to the plaza, the player should advance to a guarded area, where they must use stealth, environmental elements, and precise timing to avoid detection.

In a heavily guarded area, the player should employ strategies involving the environment and timing to evade detection. This will lead to the discovery of an armory filled with valuable items and the collection of Glyphs from an Armory sign. Inside, they will find the missing piece of a telescope.

Subsequently, they should venture into a room featuring a closed door, where murals and Glyphs should be explored and additional Glyphs collected. These Glyphs will provide valuable insights.

Upon reaching a hub room housing a sword monument, the player should collect more Glyphs and proceed through a gate to a room where Guardians engage in discussions about various concepts.

Passing through the gate, the Observatory will be reached, where the player should repair the telescope and identify constellations representing items seen in the Treasury.

Progressing to the Bells' Room, they should discover a mechanism controlling a set of bells. By solving a puzzle, they can trigger "The Call for Duty."

To complete the level, a visit to the last room with statues should ensure the collection of the final Glyphs, and a mechanism should be used to access the Gardens.