Serpentine Tower: A New Perspective on the Vertical Labyrinth

Introduction:

Serpentine Tower is one of those enigmas without a definitive resolution or conclusion, which over almost two decades since its creation, has led to speculation about whether it’s a hidden mission or, according to the more skeptical, an incomplete quest.

This last assumption is completely understandable since after countless failed attempts by hundreds of players, there has been no progress whatsoever in relation to what is already publicly known.

However, for the members of TibiaSecrets and the hundreds of explorers and followers of our fansite, this fact does not discourage us in the slightest. We are aware that every mystery remains unsolved… until someone solves it ;).

If you are curious about this enigmatic place and wish to join us to seek a possible solution to one of the greatest mysteries still kept by our loved game, I invite you to accompany me on this long adventure.

Put on your Sherlock Holmes-style hat, grab your pipe and your notes, and prepare to analyze the „crime scene” thoroughly, from a logical approach and based exclusively on the information provided by the game.

Chapter 1. Context

For years, I’ve studied and researched how missions are solved without having to resort to spoilers, and I’ve realized that all of them always possess a logic that allows progress in their resolution.

I am convinced that Serpentine Tower is no exception to this rule, and most likely also has a logic that guides us along the correct path. However, the problem lies in the fact that most players visit the tower simply to do the obvious, what has been done for years, repeating the same random processes over and over again. Or in other words, applying „brute force” to see if they can advance using less interesting methods and devoid of that „magic” to discover something, at least from my personal point of view.

For this reason, I decided to adopt a different approach, assuming the role of my character, immersing myself in the environment, observing the tower as if I were the one traversing its enigmatic corridors, and believe me, it has not been disappointing at all. In fact, in this way, I discovered practically a new game and have come to understand that nothing is there by chance.

Chapter 2. The first riddle

As we delve into Serpentine Tower, we find Tothdral, an undead NPC, who defines himself as the guardian beyond the graves. In addition to being an astrologer, he is in charge of the tower’s library. In this place, we find various books and documents that help us understand the context in which we find ourselves.

On one hand, in the library we find 6 research papers that tell us about magical experimentation and research carried out by scientists in Ankrahmun. In general, these documents cover topics such as the study of spells, enchantments, and rituals. One of these research papers mentions a spell forbidden by the pharaoh, suggesting that these investigations took place during the time of humans. In fact, it’s very likely that this research paper refers to a spell related to the undead.

Based on my research over the years, I’ve understood that the time of the undead is considered a sort of plague unleashed in a specific period of humanity. This „plague” originates in Ankrahmun and is referred to as the time of the „Corpse War”.

For example, a book in Oramond tells us about the exile of a princess named Ramora and we know that the title of „princess” comes from Ankrahmun and, before the plague of the undead, this title belonged to the daughters of the pharaohs.

In this text, it’s explained that Ramora flees from Ankrahmun due to events related to the undead that were unleashed in the city, which leads to her arrival in Oramond (where, by the way, we find another pharaoh: The Ravager).

On the other hand, a book called „The Shadows of the Vampires” teaches us about the origin of vampires. The text mentions that certain researchers began to feel attracted to necromancy and conducted experiments related to the undead. They were the first to be infected by these experiments, becoming the first undead humans.

Without intending to delve into the lore of the game, I mention these events only to support the ideas that I will present below.

The Research Paper „88 – 04 F”, located in the library of the Serpentine Tower, tells us about a spell forbidden by the pharaoh, which says the following:

What’s really interesting about this particular research paper is that the name of the spell is crossed out: „XXXXXX spell”.

If we follow the previous information from the books, which tells us that certain researchers experimented with the undead, and that this plague started in Ankrahmun, we can easily deduce that this word can be replaced by the word UNDEAD, which would give us the phrase: UNDEAD SPELL.

Now it sounds more logical why this spell was forbidden, as by then, it would be an imminent danger to experiment with this type of magic.

Thanks to the other research papers we find, like „Controlled Demon Summoning Spell” or „Stoneskin spell”, we know that the researchers’ intentions lay in protection and attack spells, which places us in a time of constant wars, forms of attack and defense, where the undead state would be a totally valid strategy to face these wars, since they basically became immortal.

Now, following the logic of this information, we have two more crossed-out words to discover:

At this point, the research we are conducting becomes quite entertaining and challenging, which positions us in a context of riddles that we must develop logically.

That phrase in the research paper has a little trick, which consists of, within English grammar, the first crossed-out word must be a verb, contain 5 letters, and, in addition, this verb must end in „ing„.

Verbs that have 5 letters and end in „ing” are quite scarce:

-Being, Bring, Using, Tying, Going, Doing, Swing, and Aging.

There may be a few more, but for this case, only a couple of them make sense within the context of the document: Using and Aging.

On the other hand, the last crossed-out word also contains 6 letters, but it is not necessarily a verb, so the previous logic is not applicable in this case. However, further on in the same sentence, we are given the context in which the document was written, so that we can find the word we must replace. In this case, the context is about a „plasma leak”.

At this point, we have two options to determine the theme of the text, knowing that there are 2 meanings for the word „plasma”: Blood plasma or energy plasma.

Following the information available in the game, in the book „Shadows of the vampires” that I quoted earlier, we are given to understand the importance and use of blood for this type of experimentation.

On the other hand, in Drefia, city of necromancers, we find various texts related to proteins that we find in the blood which serve for studies in necromancy. It doesn’t take a genius to know that necromancers experiment with the undead, where we can learn that the use of blood is an important process for such transformation.

Therefore, the „plasma leak” described in the research paper, refers to the situation in which plasma, which is the liquid portion of the blood that contains proteins and other components, escapes from the blood vessels and accumulates in the surrounding tissues.

In this way, we know that the word BLOOD is the indicated word to replace in the last crossed-out word, since it matches the number of Xs in the text and also fits in the context in which it unfolds. Therefore, the text would be as follows:

Now our text makes sense and is not struck through. The word “using” fits perfectly with respect to the grammar rules and gives coherence to the experiment. In any case, I leave it to your discretion if it’s possible to replace it with another word with the same conditions that I proposed.

But how does this help us? How can we use this information to progress in the quest?

The truth is that this is just the beginning, such information by itself can be totally useless if we do not understand the totality of the situation.

On the other hand, I think that this research paper is the key point of the quest, or rather, the starting point of the quest.

Chapter 3. The crime scene

Now, if we go to level 1, we find the experimentation room, which I will call „the crime scene”. There we will find a messy room with various objects and quite peculiar furniture and 2 more research papers.

In the center of the room, there is a table with one of the research papers, which is called „divination spell”, while in one of the corners of the room, we find a drawer where the second research paper is located, called „cat-eye spell”.

In this case, it’s essential to notice the specific position of the research papers within the tower, as the fact that these two research papers are not publicly in the library, but rather in the experimentation room, is key to understanding the riddle and its importance.

On one hand, a research paper is on the table, which indicates to us that, probably, said document was used in the final part of the experimentation.

On the other hand, we have the other research paper HIDDEN in a drawer, which makes us understand that it was placed there to hide its information, since this research paper, (cat-eye spell), tells us about how the researchers are looking for a spell to see in the dark so as not to attract „unwanted attention”.

If we follow the logic of the research paper with the spell forbidden by the pharaoh, we can conclude that the „cat-eye spell” was used to experiment in the dark without being caught by the pharaoh, and for that reason, the document explains that they intend to go unnoticed in the dark “without attracting unwanted attention”.

Meanwhile, the research paper „divination spell”, which is found on the table in the room, makes us understand that it was used after the „cat-eye spell” and corresponds to the last experimentation done, and for that reason, the room is messy, with liquids scattered and objects out of place.

Also, another important detail that we should not overlook, is the fact that this research paper located on the table is on a blood stain.

Given the way graphics can be presented in Tibia, it’s often necessary to use imagination to understand what this type of graphic information is about. In this case, this graphic information is trying to convey that the research paper is soaked in blood.

Therefore, if we go back to the research paper forbidden by the pharaoh, which describes the use of blood in certain experiments, it begins to make sense that these researchers used blood for experimentation, and that would be the reason why the document on the table is stained with blood. Likewise, that would explain why there is an empty vial next to the research paper on the table, as the blood was poured from there.

On the other hand, it’s already publicly known that, in this room, by positioning the pot of water on the fireplace, we can access a secret room. Similarly, I believe that this fact is also not random, rather I think that this room is where the forbidden experimentation was done and that’s why there are hidden mechanisms, which only the researchers knew and that gave them the exclusive possibility of entering this secret room, which, if you look closely, is the only dark room in the tower.

The hidden room serves as a sort of storeroom with the necessary supplies to carry out the experiments. That’s why we find different types of objects related to death (skulls and bones) and life (branches and leaves). The food items were probably used as proteins or similar substances for the blood, although I must admit that these particular food items could have a better explanation.

The amphora could be an object for the transport of liquids or for the storage of the ashes of a deceased person. In this case, I lean more towards the second option, as we can see that liquids are stored in vials or pots. Also, it is known that amphorae were used for funeral rituals to accompany the deceased to the „other life” in certain rites.

On the other hand, the four pieces of iron and the White Pearl explain the experimentation through alchemy, where the White Pearl would be the resource obtained based on the 4 pieces of iron and, in addition, it would also be one of the necessary resources to carry out the ritual of experimentation, which would explain why it’s obtained as a quest, making us understand the importance of keeping the White Pearl for the next step.

Finally, it is also known that by pulling the extinguished torch, we open the wall of the Fire Elemental on level -2. This mechanism is another hidden mechanism, probably known only by the researchers at that time, and that’s why the torch is hidden behind a barrel. In theory, we wouldn’t see this torch at first glance and we should remove the furniture to be able to reach it.

That situation would be somewhat similar to what happens in some movies, where a character removes a book from a shelf and a secret passage opens.

The mechanisms of the tower that we activate are based on this logic, on discovering hidden mechanisms, one after another, or put another way, what we are essentially doing is following in the footsteps of the tower’s investigators.

We are reproducing what they once did in secret, following the clues described in the documents and their context. This is why I like to say that we are playing the role of „Sherlock Holmes” at a crime scene.

Chapter 4. The logic behind the Serpentine Tower

As I suggested earlier, the need to use imagination and observe the environment from the perspective of our character also makes sense when releasing the Fire Elemental on the lower floor.

If we don’t remove the wall separating the creatures from us, we wouldn’t theoretically know they are there, as we would only see a room with walls. Thus, by opening this compartment, a Fire Elemental appears, perhaps as a guardian or protector against intruders. This creature protects the next mechanism for the next step: Releasing the Djinn.

On the tower’s last level, we find another creature enclosed, but now with magic walls.

I find this detail exquisite and it’s what really excites me when discovering these kinds of things.

The Djinn is an entirely magical creature, capable of sleeping in a lamp. Therefore, perhaps it’s not enough to simply lock it in a common wall, but rather it’s necessary to confine it behind four magic walls, surrounded by lava and energy fields to ensure it cannot escape.

In this room, there are also 4 basins, which are used as a base for sacrifice to traverse portals, as in the case of the Ankrahmun tombs when sacrificing a scarab coin.

I know that the most logical thing in this place is to sacrifice 4 objects and pull the lever, but it’s something that we already know for sure will not yield any result.

Without wanting to discuss this particular fact, I consider it important to mention another fact that is rarely given the importance it deserves, which corresponds to the room behind the doors next to the 3 enclosed creatures.

On that level, we can see a closed door that leads to a shelf and a hallway that directs us to another room which appears to be a bedroom.

This room contains a sarcophagus, which indicates that someone sleeps there. On the sarcophagus is a Necrotic Rod, which hints at a relationship with the undead, and to one side there is a chair, a desk with a Crystal Ball and a drawer with a Mind Stone.

I am surprised to see the brilliance and simplicity of these details which are normally overlooked… Let me explain:

– The Crystal Ball is an object used for predicting the future and coincidentally on the table in the experimentation room we find a document named „Divination Spell”, which also serves to predict the future.

– The Mind Stone is known to be used for storing knowledge, like a backup book for a scholar.

– On the other hand, in the Serpentine Tower there is a book called „Suns and the Stars”, which tells us specific times to perform rituals if you know the positioning of the stars, that is, ideal for an astrologer.

Coincidentally, Tothdral is an astrologer, undead, librarian, and guardian of the tower.

Therefore, this room most likely belongs to Tothdral, and he would be one of the researchers who experimented on the tower, and his current undead state is the result of said experimentation.

Therefore, it’s likely that our mission as a player is to reproduce this experimentation and become undead, perhaps with the help of Tothdral, in order to serve the Pharaoh, who will give us the necessary missions to finish the quest.

Now, unfortunately, the problem remains the same: how to continue the quest?

I would be lying if I told you that I have an exact theory of what to do at this point. But I do have some interesting theories and conclusions that I would like to share with you before finishing the article.

Chapter 5. Conclusions and Theories

Studying many quests by completing them without spoilers, I have noticed that many missions combine textual information with graphic information as a form of riddles. That is, some clues are in books, others in the graphic context of the game, and some texts also contain keywords as riddles.

An example of a graphic riddle would be the theory that Djinn’s room takes the shape of an „hourglass”, suggesting that when the magic wall is opened, a necessary amount of time begins to run to perform another action. In fact, in the library of the Ankrahmun temple, the only book in Tibia with the word „Hourglass” can be found, which might contain some clue about what to actually do in this place.

On the other hand, an already known example that could contain a riddle in a phrase, is the theory that the title of the research paper „Cat-Eye spell” is actually a clear reference to the Ankrahmun Arena, as this building, when viewed through the „minimap”, has the shape of a cat with two big eyes. It’s also known that within this Arena, and specifically in the „cat’s eyes”, there are inaccessible levers that could trigger another action.

Ask yourselves: The fighting arenas you see in movies or series are generally round. Why does the Ankrahmun Arena have this particular shape?

Following this logic, we know that the Serpentine Tower is a tower for Sorcerers, as Tothdral is a Sorcerer and sells spells only for that vocation, therefore, it’s likely that the last mechanism, or perhaps all the mechanisms, must be executed by a Sorcerer.

On the other hand, the Ankrahmun temple is a place for Druids, as they sell spells for this vocation there. And curiously, in this place is where we find a mysterious teleport at its highest point, which can take you inside the same temple. This particular teleport makes me suspect that it can be redirected with certain actions, as in no other temple in Tibia can we see something similar.

While at the Ankrahmun Arena, they sell spells for Knight and Paladin, and coincidentally we have 2 spaces „in the cat’s eyes”, designed for both vocations to fight in each of the rooms, perhaps against creatures that could appear by performing certain actions.

In this way, we will release our Rah, Akh, and Uthun in these three places: Serpentine Tower, Temple, and Arena.

Therefore, I deeply believe that the quest can be completed only with 4 vocations, not only in the Serpentine Tower, but in the specific points that I named earlier with their respective vocations.

And finally, I would like to share a very curious piece of information that I noticed just a few months ago.

While it’s well known that some unobtainable items from Serpentine Tower, such as Boots of Waterwalking or Ring of Wishes, have „certain charges”, the truth is that none of these items actually have any charge. I will explain this in detail below.

For example, when we look up the Boots of Waterwalking in the Cyclopedia, we see the familiar message that says the following: „This item has 5 charges left”.

However, the important detail of this fact is that this phrase is found in the „DESCRIPTION” category.

If we compare this information with another known object that contains charges, for example, the Stone Skin Amulet, we will realize that it has 5 charges, but this information is in the „CHARGES” category, not in DESCRIPTION.

The „description” category is simply that, the description of an object. For example, the Demon Helmet has a description category that says the following: „You can hear an evil whispering from inside”.

This implies that both the Boots of Waterwalking and the Ring of Wishes, HAVE NO CHARGES AT ALL. It’s simply a description of the item, therefore, in the hypothetical case that we could use any of these items, we wouldn’t use its charges!

This leads me to think that none of these objects are relevant to the current mission we are stuck on and, most likely later on, we will have the chance to interact with these items, as it would be necessary to know their description to solve a part of the riddle. Besides, we know that these objects have had their description since their implementation, but we could only read it with the update which included the Cyclopedia.

In conclusion, I consider it necessary to mention that I have ignored other information available in the tower so as not to extend this article too much.

Also, these are personal ideas and theories, which may be erroneous or forced to justify the exposed conclusion, and do not necessarily represent the opinion or stance of the entire Tibia Secrets team.

Perhaps, in the end, the real challenge doesn’t lie in the complexity of the quest, but in our ability to see beyond the obvious. Let’s remember that sometimes, the most meaningful answers are found in the subtlest details. So, what if the solution to this mystery is nothing more than a simple detail that we’ve overlooked?

Only time and perseverance will tell.