In the gripping world of Hell Is Us, one of the prominent missions revolves around the quest for the Keystone of Ecstasy. This Keystone is one of four essential items needed to unlock the massive door within the Lymbic Forge, which paves the way to the game’s climactic final act.
Navigating through Hell Is Us can be quite challenging due to its lack of clear directions. Players often find themselves without guidance, making the expansive semi-open world a source of frustration as they frequently become disoriented.
But don’t worry! This comprehensive walkthrough is designed to assist you on your journey.
Locating Abbot Jaffer
Your initial mission in the search for the Keystone of Ecstasy involves locating and conversing with Abbot Jaffer, who can be found at Panthem Abbey in the Acasa Marshes. While Panthem Abbey may have been inaccessible earlier in your adventure, its doors will open after you conquer Lake Cynon.
To enter the Abbey, make your way through the mountain opening on the east side, and journey through the building until you find Abbot Jaffer in the hallway.
Engage in conversation with him and make sure to fully exhaust his dialogue to gain access to the National Library of Lethe.
This library holds vital clues regarding the Keystone of Ecstasy’s location. Head back to your APC and choose the fast-travel option to reach the library.
Exploring the National Library of Lethe
Within the National Library of Lethe, you’ll discover numerous items helpful for Good Deeds, but your primary objective is to gain access to the Book Restoration Room, located on the first floor. To enter, you’ll need a specific keycode.
Locating the Book Restoration Room Code
For the code, proceed to the third floor and locate a large hole in Computer Room D. Drop down through it to discover a room filled with various books.
As you explore this room, you’ll find two books with lengthy descriptions. Pay close attention to the numbers embedded in these descriptions, which provide valuable hints about the Book Restoration door code.
By arranging the details of these books chronologically, you’ll conclude that the code is 537734.
Once you unlock the Book Restoration Room, you’ll obtain the Twin-Headed Serpent and the Gospel of Teaar. The Twin-Headed Serpent is essential for reaching a secret area in Vyssa Hills, allowing you to unlock a chest containing the Token of the Serpent.
Navigating Vyssa Hills
Now equipped with the Twin-Headed Serpent, your next stop is Vyssa Hills, where you’ll work to gather three critical tokens essential for your investigation.
Acquiring the Token of the Serpent
Upon arrival in Vyssa Hills, begin by heading north until you find the mine entrance, located near the Timeloop at the lower section of the hillside.
Explore the mine until you come across a large ladder.Climb the ladder to access a treasure chest with a slot designed for a token.
Interact with the chest and select the option to use the Twin-Headed Serpent token to unlock it. Inside, you’ll find the Token of the Serpent, which is essential for advancing in your investigation.
This token allows you to open the door adjacent to the colossal serpent in Vyssa Hills, located on the west side of the map, close to the Timeloop and mine entrance.
If you’re struggling to find the door, start from the serpent’s massive head and trace along its body until you reach it.
Using the Token of the Serpent on the door will unveil a new area of Vyssa Hills, bringing you closer to the Keystone of Ecstasy.
Finding the Token of the Moon
Upon entering the serpent’s body and reaching the new area in Vyssa Hills, you’ll face another door that requires a moon-shaped token to open.
To obtain the Token of the Moon, re-enter the mine and grab the Mine Key, which is located to the left of the locked gate—this key is crucial for accessing an underground door.
Return to your parked APC and head northwest to locate a ladder. After climbing the ladder, take a right to find a pit with another ladder leading downward.
Proceed through the mine area, utilizing the Mine Key for any locked doors. Follow the white-painted rats on the walls, directing you to a ladder that leads back above ground.
After climbing this ladder, you’ll emerge at the location of the moon-shaped token door, and find the Token of the Moon a short distance away.
With the Token of the Moon secured, return to the earlier locked door and insert the token into its slot to unlock the pathway. Proceed through to advance further into Vyssa Hills.
Acquiring the Token of the Palm
For the final token needed, the Token of the Palm, search around the area that you entered through the moon door.
With some exploration, you’ll discover a large stone structure adorned with a palm symbol that features an opening in its center.
Venture through this opening, where you’ll encounter an enemy and a lootable box on the ground. Loot this box to secure the Token of the Palm, and then retrace your steps to your previous location.
To use the Token of the Palm, re-enter the nearby Serpent’s head and interact with the door inside. This will allow you to access a small crypt.
Inside the crypt, you’ll discover the “Letter-Land Grant” usable item. Once you read this document, a new area known as the Plains of Mist will become accessible for travel. Now, head back to your APC and fast travel to the Plains of Mist to continue your search for the Keystone of Ecstasy.
Plains of Mist Overview
The Plains of Mist is where the Keystone of Ecstasy resides, but before you can claim it, you must first conquer several puzzles and dismantle the Timeloop within the dungeon. Before delving into the dungeon, let’s unlock the main door.
Unlocking the Door in the Plains of Mist
As you start in the Plains of Mist, you’ll encounter a large gate that presents a two-part puzzle. First, interact with the door and insert the Twin-Headed Serpent, the item you previously acquired from the Book Restoration Room.
Once you’ve placed the Twin-Headed Serpent into the door, a new puzzle featuring various symbols will emerge. Your goal is to orient these tiles to display the correct symbol sequence.
While exploring the Plains of Mist, you’ll notice symbols engraved on the surrounding walls, and matching them to the tiles on the expansive door is the key to unlocking it.
Enter the solution to this puzzle in the following order:
- Pentagon: Sword
- Square: Diamond
- Circle: Sun
- Diamond: Eye
Once you complete the puzzle correctly, the door will open, granting you access to the dungeon known as the Temple of the Fallen. Here lies the Keystone of Ecstasy, but the journey to obtain it is not yet complete, as you will face a series of intricate puzzles along the way.
Traversing the Temple of the Fallen
The main objective within the Temple of the Fallen is to reach the end and defeat the Ecstasy boss. This dungeon features a mostly linear design, yet the puzzles serve as formidable challenges. We will detail how to solve them below.
Solving the Pit of Gods Puzzle
The first major puzzle you will encounter in the Temple of the Fallen is the Pit of Gods puzzle. This puzzle entails standing on pressure plates in the correct sequence; stepping on an incorrect plate will cause you to fall.
Upon finding the large room with these pressure plates, nearby inscriptions will provide hints for the solution. However, we’ve distilled the answer for your convenience:
- Moon and Star – Left Plate
- Tree – Left Plate
- Star – Right Plate
Remember that it takes a moment for the pressure plates to register, so remain on each one long enough for the mechanisms to respond. Successfully completing this puzzle will allow you to progress through the Temple of the Fallen.
Solving the Pit of the Sacraments Puzzle
The monoliths you encounter will provide clues about the order of the sacraments necessary to solve the subsequent puzzle. One monolith featuring the Hands and Hourglass symbol states, “First Sacrament: Preparation for the sacred day of reckoning is our ultimate duty.”
Once you’ve read all the monolith messages, you’ll find that the correct order for the symbols is as follows: Hands and Hourglass, Dagger Eye, Backstab, and Twin-Head Snake.
To unlock the large door, step on the pressure plates in this specified sequence, thus allowing you to continue your journey to confront the Ecstasy boss.
Defeating the Ecstasy Boss
Confronting the Ecstasy boss is notably easier than battling the Terror boss. While it’s crucial to monitor your health and dodge incoming projectiles, this fight primarily relies on mobility rather than complexity.
Your main task is to chase the Ecstasy boss throughout the arena, maximizing damage while sidestepping projectiles launched by the red enemies.
With each hit delivered to the Ecstasy boss, time accelerates, which affects the movements of your character, the boss, and the projectiles, adding to the frantic atmosphere as the fight escalates in tempo. But don’t be alarmed—though fast-paced, the battle remains manageable.
After landing the final blow on the Ecstasy boss, it will drop the coveted Keystone of Ecstasy. Congratulations, you have successfully completed this thrilling investigation!
Utilizing the Keystone of Ecstasy
Similar to the other keystones within Hell Is Us, your next step is to bring the Keystone of Ecstasy to the altar and the enormous door located in the Lymbic Forge dungeon of Lake Cynon. This Keystone should be placed in the yellow slot.
Players must gather a total of four keystones—Grief, Terror, Rage, and Ecstasy—to unlock the door leading to the game’s final level. Collecting these keystones will enable you to face the ultimate challenges ahead.
Bear in mind that you have the option to hold on to the Keystone of Ecstasy until all other keystones have been found, allowing you to postpone your journey back to Lake Cynon until fully prepared.
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