Get to the rotunda - description | Chapter 7: The Hidden City Thief Guide
Last update: 11 May 2016
Go through the several narrow corridors. When you get to the Graven Lair, a cut-scene will display. You'll be informed about the necessity of getting into the Rotunda. But before you do anything, turn left, west, and find a shaft on the left side (you need to use the key). This shaft takes you to the trader where you can buy things. Trader doesn't offer the Rope Arrow, but you can buy other types and food. Pick up Poppy and use the shaft again.
At the beginning, I recommend getting close to the first square and put out the torch in its middle. Vicinity is patrolled by two enemies. Two more enemies sits on the upper balconies and as they have a big range of sight, you have to avoid lit places. It's not an end of bad news. While traveling through the Graven Lair, you'll often run into broken glass and cages with birds. As you probably know, you can't make any sudden moves next to the a birds (especially running or sliding).
Entrance to the Rotunda is placed in the northern-east part of this area and you can get there using several ways. I don't recommend stairs on north from the beginning place, because using this path you'll have to pass at least one guard in a very small distance and still remember about those on the upper balconies. Better idea is to go through the eastern building. Wait until nearby enemies stop talking: one will leave the area, the other will go to sleep.
Before you leave the first part of the Graven Lair, you can look around. On the lower level you find two Spoons - 2x6G, Urn - 35G, Pile of Coins - 5+20G, Broadhead Arrows, Syringe - 10G, Letter Opener - 3G, two Ancient Armlet - 2x32G, Sawtooth Arrows, two Ancient Ingots - 2x17G, Poppy, Bracelet - 8Gand a Coin Purse - 18G. You can get on the upper footbridges by climbing on right from the beginning place or choosing the stairs inside the eastern building. Here you can find Letter Opener - 3G, Ink Bottle - 3G, Scroll Holder - 12G, two Coin Purses - 17+19G and an Ancient Ingot - 17G. You can also rob guards from purses( 5+2+12+2+9+15+7+32G).
Independently on your decision about choosing the path, get closer carefully to the new courtyard, on south from the apparently unreachable entrance to the Rotunda. Here you find three new enemies, so be careful. First guard should sleep through this action (if you don't wake him up). One of his friends doesn't move from his place and only an enemy with the crossbow requires more attention, because he patrols the whole area. If you want to make things easier, you can for example put out the nearby torches. It isn't necessary and you'll need Water Arrow will be useful later on.
To the Rotunda entrance on the upper level, you can get in three particular ways. First one concerns of climbing onto chests on west from the mission goal, thanks to what you get to the latches (shown on the screen above). One of lines is already unwound, but on the other latch you have to use a Rope Arrow. Jump to the first rope, jump on the other side and then jump to the northern footbridge. Begin walking and collect an Ancient Vessel - 48G on your way.
Second option includes using the upper balcony on south from your goal. Also here you should begin from climbing onto the chests mentioned before. Jump to the only hanging rope and jump to the southern balcony. Collect two items from the balcony: Memories of the Dead - Elder's Memory and Ancient Vessel - 48G. Now you can head to the Rotunda entrance.
The last way to do it is to use the chest hung on the south from your goal, to unlock the access to the Rotunda entrance. Aim at the crane's part shown on the screen above - the chest will fall down. This will probably alarm the guards so wait it in some safe place. Approach the chest only when enemies return to their places. Climb on the chest and get onto the southern balcony (mentioned in the previous possible path).
All three described ways allow you get close to the hole in the southern wall of Rotunda. Use the claw to get there and enter The Hidden City - Rotunda. Begin from picking up Candlestick - 15G, Ancient Vessel - 48G and Pile of Coins - 20G). Now use the switch. When the way is unlocked, head for the central Rotunda hall. Game will display a cut-scene with Orion. After that, you'll get into a vision. Follow the linear path, picking up poppies and another parts of the artifact. At the very end try to take the item kept by Orion. After a moment, another cut-scene launches. This time it's a surprising meeting with the Thief-Taker General.