Egypt

LEVEL 12: SANCTUARY OF THE SCION

• Kills: 15
• Items: 29, including a key, 2 ankhs, the Uzis, a scarab and a piece of the Scion
• Secrets: 1

(Note that the regular pick-ups here will include the MAGNUMS if you didn't get them earlier.)

Objectives: First get into the area near the sphinx. Then locate 2 ankhs to unlock the door at the base of the sphinx. Enter and find the way back to the top of the area to get a scarab. Use this to open the final gate of the level. Inside, confront Natla's goon Larson and get the third and final piece of the Scion.

Walk-through: Go down the stairs. The doors close behind you. Pick up 2 sets of magnum clips at the base of the stairs. (NOTE: If you didn't find the MAGNUMS earlier, you'll get them here instead of one of these sets of clips.) Notice the closed gates. You'll be returning later. Advance up the stairs and 2 mummies will start down. Back flip shooting, and continue to side flip if necessary to avoid their attacks. When they explode, go to the room at the top of the stairs. Pick up more magnum clips in the dark on the right. Climb up the blocks and through the opening in the ceiling to emerge on the back of a sphinx.

Cross over the left shoulder to the front and hop down to the ledge there (the sphinx's collarbone). An Atlantean mutant will be running around on the sand below so don't go all the way down yet. (You'll be seeing more of these shortly. Some throw fireballs, others spit dangerous goop of unknown origin. You need to avoid both.) Use the ledge for cover and shoot the mutant until it explodes. If you're low on health, climb back up onto the sphinx's back and pick up the large med-pack on the raised path at the rear. Then slide down the side of the sphinx to the ground. Otherwise, just jump down onto the paw and from there to the ground. (You can get the med-pack later.)

Between the sphinx's paws are some magnum clips and a closed door. On the cave wall opposite the sphinx's left paw is a light-colored block just the right height for climbing. Get on top of it then take a standing jump to the angled block to the right. Take a running jump to grab the next block and pull up. Now climb up onto the flat block directly opposite the sphinx. Face the wall, then turn to the left and take a standing jump to grab the next block. Pull up and then climb onto the next higher block.

Take the magnum clips off the block to the right. Turn to the left and make your way toward the switch: First, climb onto the angled block and then jump the gap to land on the next flat block. Do the same again and continue down and to the right. Pull the switch to open a door down below, turn and ready weapons. A winged mutant flies in from the far side of the sphinx. Try and kill it before it gets to Lara, or it may knock her off the ledge. If necessary, you can head for the corner to the right of the switch. There isn't much room to maneuver there, but it's more difficult for the mutant to push Lara. Also, be sure to begin with at least half health. If the mutant explodes close to Lara, she'll take some damage.

When the coast is clear, face the switch, then take a running jump to the ledge beyond and to the left. Pick up the shotgun shells. Take a running jump to grab the next high, jutting ledge for more shells. Take another running jump to the next ledge. You can see the gold door above and a bit to the left. You'll need to open it next. Now, drop down to the ledge below and from there climb carefully down to the ground.

Go to the far side of the sphinx (the left side when facing it), where you'll find a sandy area with several square blocks of various heights. Climb onto the only one that you can. Take a running jump to the next low block near the cave wall. Pull up onto the ledge above. Stand so the tallest pillar is on Lara's left and take a running jump to the second tallest pillar, then another running jump to the tallest. Pull up onto the jutting ledge. Walk forward and turn left--go slowly as there is a metal jaw trap just around the corner. Time a jump through it, pick up the small med-pack and follow the walkway around to the right toward the switch. Be careful to jump the gap in the path just before the switch.

Throw the switch to open the gold door you saw earlier. Ready weapons and again shoot the flying mutant as it approaches. When it's dead, take a standing jump down to the ledge with the large med-pack. Safety drop from the opposite side of the ledge, then slide down the rocks to the ground.

Now go to the door at the left side of the sphinx. Pick up some magnum clips on the ground near the door and enter. Walk forward to a slope above a pool. Turn around and slide down backwards, grabbing the end of the slope. Traverse to the left and drop onto a ledge. Pick up the magnum clips and climb into the opening above.

Climb the blocks, go to the right, climb down some more blocks and jump into a second pool. On the bottom you'll find a SAPPHIRE KEY. Climb back up the block steps, turn left and continue up to the ramp. (Save your game if you can.) This time slide facing forward and jump at the very last moment to grab the bridge ahead. If you fall into the water, reload your saved game or climb back up and try again.

Once on the bridge, use the key in the lock to open the door at the opposite end. A centaur mutant stands guard inside. You'll need to avoid its fireball attack, but try not to hop around too much or you'll fall off the bridge. Instead get a lock on it then back toward the wall with the keyhole. Keep shooting as it runs past the door and it will eventually explode. When it does, go into the room and pick up a small med-pack from the floor and the ANKH from the pedestal. Jump into the water, climb out on the landing, climb the block steps, turn right and go down more steps and into the other pool. Climb out of the water on the other side, go up the steps and turn left toward the exit.

Return to the cave wall opposite the sphinx and climb onto the same light-colored block you did before. Jump and grab the next block to the right. Pull up, turn around and take a standing jump to grab the ledge ahead. Pull up. Now go forward along the sandy ledges, turn left and pick up the magnum clips. (You're now below the first switch you pulled earlier.)

Take a standing jump diagonally to the left over the gap to continue. Keep going to the next gap and take another standing jump to the left. Continue toward the back wall of the cave (behind the sphinx). Jump the gap then climb up the low blocks on the right. From here you can see the open gold door above and to the left. Take a standing jump into the dark opening ahead. Enter the dark passageway, turn left and climb two low blocks. (You're now facing the side of the sphinx.) Take a diagonal standing jump to the right. Climb the rocks to the gold door.

Enter and go to the right. Push the movable block through to the other side of the wall. Go around the wall, climb up on the block and pull up onto the ledge. There's another fireball-launching centaur in the room beyond. Approach the door with weapons drawn, get a lock on it, then move back and toward the left edge. If you give Lara a narrow opening to shoot through, you'll be able to kill the centaur without being toasted by the fireballs. When the mutant explodes, enter and pick up another small med-pack and ANKH.

Climb down from the wall, exit through the gold door and slide down the ramp on the right. Another mutant lurks on the back of the sphinx. This one shoots caustic red spew. Use the pointy block for cover and kill it as quickly as possible. (If you didn't pick up the large med-pack on the path earlier, get it now.) Hop down onto the sphinx's back.

Get up on the low angled block on the right and from there take a running jump to grab the ledge at the back of the sphinx's head. Pull up and climb to the top of the head. Place one of the ANKHs in the receptacle here. Go around to the other side of the head, hop down and put the second ANKH in place. This opens the door between the sphinx's paws.

Climb back to the top of the head and walk to the right (the sphinx's left). Take a look around. Lovely view, isn't it? Notice the blackish object floating in the air between the sphinx and the rock wall where you were climbing earlier? That's the first and only SECRET in this level: the UZIS, floating on an invisible platform. To get them, position Lara at front left corner of the head (the sphinx's left) facing the invisible platform. Hop back and take a running jump to land there. (See the diagram sanctpic.gif, also online at http://tombraiders.net/stella/images/sanctpic.gif. If you need more help, check out the screenshots at http://tombraiders.net/stella/TR1walk/uzis.html.) Pick up the guns and some clips for them and, while you're at it, load 'em up. Two more winged mutants fly in from the other side of the sphinx. If you use the Uzis, you should be able to kill both before they get close enough to push Lara off the platform.

Face the rock wall and take a running jump from the invisible platform to grab the right (higher) side of the yellow ledge that juts out from the wall. If you miss grabbing the edge, Lara will land on the flat spot just below, taking a minor amount of damage. If you do grab the ledge, drop down to that flat spot, then drop/slide to the ground.

Head for the door between the sphinx's paws, which is now open. Enter and fall into a small underground lake. Here you'll find 2 submerged statues of what looks like the Egyptian god Anubis (jackal head, human body). Swim down between the two statues and pick up some Uzi clips on a ledge. Also get the box of shotgun shells on the lap of the statue on the left. Note the doors below each statue and the switch on the arm of the statue on the right. This is one of those switches that doesn't work underwater. The lever you're looking for is down in the tunnel between the feet of the statue on the right. Pull it to partially drain the lake. In the process, Lara will be sucked through the door and whisked along to a room where you can surface.

Get out of the water. Climb up onto the lowest square pillar. Take a standing jump to grab the next pillar (to the left diagonally). Pull up. Take a running jump to grab the bottom of the stairs. Pull up, climb the stairs and follow the ledge to the end. You'll hear and see a winged mutant rise up in the area beyond the doorway. Don't slide down the slope yet. Instead, shoot the mutant from the safety of the doorway. After it explodes, slide down the slope.

You're now on a ledge above the two Anubises. Go to the left of the ledge and drop down to the small, square ledge below. Turn around and take a running jump to grab the head of the statue on the right. Climb up to the top of the head and pick up a large med-pack. The quickest way to the bottom is to jump into the water; however, the programmers have made this a bit difficult. (It's impossible to jump onto the statue's nose but worth trying since the results--Lara springing back to the head--looks so goofy.) Instead, taking a running jump straight down the statue's nose. Lara will bang into an invisible wall then drop into the water between the statue's legs without taking any damage. Alternately, drop/climb down between the two statues and circle around to the lap of the statue on the right.

Climb up to the right statue's arm and use that switch now. This opens the door at the base of the left statue. Swim down and through it. Surface and follow the long passageway all the way up to the top. On the way pick up 2 sets of magnum clips.

At the top is a SCARAB. Remember you saw it behind the closed gate at the beginning of the level? In the stairway beyond the gate are 2 "regular" mutants and a centaur. Pick up the scarab and the gate opens. Back flip or reverse and run down the hallway to the bend. The mutants will approach first. Wait for them to come down the hallway, then back (or side flip) down the ramp about a third of the way. They won't follow Lara beyond this point and you can kill them from here, though you may have to go up into the hallway a few times to draw them closer. When both are dead, advance toward the doorway to attract the centaur's attention. Get a lock on it then back down the hallway about halfway. Its fireballs won't reach this far, and you can shoot it as it runs past. Again, you may need to advance into the room a couple of times to draw the centaur down the stairs.

When all the mutants are dead, cross the room at the base of the stairs and use the scarab to open the other gate. Pick up the large med-pack and magnum clips, then slide down the ramp. Climb through the window opening and prepare to take on Larson once again. (Remember him from the Lost Valley? Apparently Lara only stunned him.) He is lurking behind the pillars on the right but emerges spouting threats and lead as soon as you hit the ground. Keep moving and shooting, and try not to let him get behind Lara, and you'll be done quickly. Go to the top of the stairs and take the third PIECE OF THE SCION to end the level.

A movie follows: Lara emerges from the caves into bright sunshine. As her eyes adjust to the light, we see two figures approach--a cowboy and skate punk. Another, tall, bald and burly, grabs Lara from behind. They disarm Lara and hold her as Jacqueline Natla emerges from her white Caddy. Natla demands that Lara hand over the Scion. One of the thugs pulls the artifact from Lara's knapsack and gives it to his boss. Natla admires her treasure for a moment then impatiently shouts, "Well, kill her!" Lara shoves the cowboy to one side and sprints toward the edge of the cliff. She does a swan dive into the water below. When she doesn't surface after a moment, Natla and her minions drive off.

Lara crawls out of the water, finds her motorcycle and takes off after the bad guys. She speeds along a twisting canyon road then out onto a spit above Natla's parked car and the yacht anchored nearby. In true action-hero style, she guns the bike, takes off into the air, and splashes down near the boat. As the baddies try to figure out what caused the big splash, Lara surfaces on the far side of the boat, climbs aboard and sneaks below deck. She collapses and some time later awakens to the sound of a motor. Natla and one of the men take a small boat to land. Lara emerges from her hiding place and dives into the sea to follow.