I have made it to the Castle.  I also (before) got what the Water Mages needed to open the portal.  And we all went through.  And I got to the pirates and did some stuff.   And then I decided I should go back and clean up loose ends -- like getting to the castle to finish ch 1.  But as far as I can tell,  I am still in chapter one.  

I am not happy about what the commander of the castle wants me to do.  I think I may once again be over my head.  I am still just in chapter 1.  I have no idea what I have to do to trigger chapter 2.   But if it is get to these three mines in the Valley,  I am way over my head.   I am thinking I should get out of the Valley and work some more on other stuff.  But I am not sure what other stuff I should work on.  And I am not even sure I can get my sorry ass out of the Valley of Mines.

Is there an event that triggers Chapter 2 - whatever that might be.

I have built myself up.  I have fairly good weapons.  But I am at a loss as to what to do next.

Any suggestions or scorn would be welcome at this point. 

Kay

Pokey said:

Kay, you do have a quest given to you by an officer in the Paladine guard back in town, don't you? Just do what he asked and get out of there. The area is pretty difficult with all the orcs around. Go back to town and then return later when you have other quests. I think when you report back to town you will be in Chap 2.

 The two people this makes me think of are Andre (the Paladine at the militia headquarters) and Lord Hagan (the head of the Paladines in the upper quarter).  I have done everything that Andre has asked except kill all the thieves. From looking at a walkthrough, I didn't think that was necessary but maybe it is.   Hagan asked me to bring him proof of trouble in the Valley of Mines.   I am not sure of what that might be except the letter the Commander at the castle will give me if I visit the three mines and report back to him.

So I went back to an earlier save with Jergen near the River in the Valley of Mines and retraced my path back out and returned to town.   I told Andre I had seen orcs in the Valley of Mines.  He said I should tell Lord Hagan.   When I go to Hagan I don't get that option.  All I get is "I want to become a Paladine". And then he gives me a little speech.  So I am just going to go on playing and hope that I will trigger the necessary event.

Kay

Pokey said:

Kay, this is what I found on starting Chap 2…

The Chapter change doesn't happen before you
specifically ask Hagen how to get past the door locking the pass, at wich point
you get the key and Chapter 2 will start.

I also found that you do need to visit the mines as requested before you can get the letter for Hagen. 

I do remember visiting the mines before returning to the city. Try to avoid the orcs.

Hey, hey Pokey

That is what I was beginnning to wonder about -- if entry into a new chapter was announced. Hagan did give me the key to the pass so perhaps I am in Ch 2,   Earlier today I looked through some walkthroughs that I have bookmarked and it does seem that some of the quests I am working on are Ch 2 quests.  So maybe I am still on track.

I am back at the Castle after being in the city trying to figure out what to do to trigger Ch 2.   I now have a fairly good idea of how to get in and out of Castle and Valley of Mines.  So I guess my next decision is should I stay here and try to get to the three mines or go back out and build myself up more.  Well either of those options is preferable to wondering and wandering trying to get to Ch 2.   I will now decide I am in it and keep going.

So Pokey, as usual, thanks for your help.   Kay

Thanks Scout

I have been in and out of the valley.  Now out.  I am back at the Water Mages across the mountain (throught the portal) to build myself up some before I again take on Valley of the Mines.   I have been hanging around with Pirates and doing quests and digging up Greg's buried treasure.  I now have  some Bandit  clothes and will go and look in on them.   Killing stuff where I go and staking up points. 

I am not sure where I am in the game but decided I am still enjoying and will keep moving forward.

I have gotten four great pieces of advice about this game:

1. Run away (Pokey)

2. Run towards someone who can kill it (Pokey)

3. Use Speed potions (Scout)

4. Save often (Anon)  -- whenever I forget this one it is a disaster.

As I play this Gothic type game, I am building up in my mind a comparison with the Oblivion type game.    I am more and more intrigued by how the balance is going in the scales.  Not what I expected.

Thanks so much Pokey and Scout for your continued support in getting me through games that are a challenge to me.

Kay

I am in the "new world" with the Water Mages, pirates, and bandits.  I have been wandering around digging up Greg's buried loot all over the place.  In the swamp area I came upon a ladder up to an area that seems to be marked with an X (dig here) on my map.  This is the first ladder I have encountered in this game and I can't for the life of me figure out how to climb it.  I have tried walk , jump and various combinations with the left mouse key but I can't end up on the ladder.  Anyone remember how to do this.   Kay

Thanks for responding Scout.   It is one of those things that is so simple that I always complicate it into a complete mystery.  Walk up to ladder, click left mouse button, and then walk up ladder.   I am now at the top and very happy.   Probably there will be next to mothing under the big red cross.  Gregg seemed to spend at lot of time burying very little in a lot of places.  But it is always fun to find them all.  Kay