9. The Forgotten City Story Walkthrough: Time Loop 3 (Plaques)

Time Loop 3: The Plaques

Take a few steps forward to complete Run! and talk to Galerius like normal.

• "...and I need you to take care of some things urgently."
• "Iulia's dying but Lucretia can't help her without this silphium. Take some of it and go, quickly."
• "Rufius has been threatening Vergil, but if you give him some of this willow bark, it will treat his rheumatism and he'll settle down."
• "I need you to stop Fabia from entering the empty shrine, and tell the new arrival he'll find what he's looking for in there."
• "Tell Malleolus you know his real name is Quinctius, thanks to Claudia, and that Nero sends his regards. Tell him to withdraw from the election and release his debt bondsmen."
• "That's it! Now go, as fast as you can!"

While you're waiting for Galerius to finish setting everything up for you, it's time to begin collecting the plaques.

The Roman Plaque

Head to the amphitheatre, then enter the caves where you followed Octavia using the bow or gun/flashlight to light your way. I prefer the bow because, while dimmer, you see more of the area than with the flashlight. Go through the tunnel passing the descending stairs on the left until you reach the gate Octavia led you to during the first loop, and unlock it. Go through and take the Roman plaque. This resolves The Roman Plaque.

Now, return to the Forum. Before doing anything further, make sure Galerius is done. Then, while the election should be wrapped up in Galerius's favor, if you have 3,000 denarii handy, talk to Desius.

• "You'd never believe me if I told you."
• "It's not for sale."
• "Who are you going to vote for?"
• "I'd like you to vote for Galerius."
• "Would a gift change your mind?"
• "Fine, here's three thousand denarii."
• "I'll be going now."

Sure, buying his vote is a little pricey, but it's not like you need the money anymore. And besides, it helps to have an insurance vote in your pocket.

The Egyptian Plaque

Return to Georgius.

• "I know, I know, you want to know where I'm from, but I really want to ask you some questions.
• "I'm looking for Khabash, and I heard you were one of the last people to see him..."
• "You can trust me. We foreigners have to stick together, remember?
• "How is that a problem?"
• "Someone who had been drinking?"
• "Where is the Temple of Demeter?"
• "I'm off to the Temple of Demeter, then."

Updated Lead:

The Egyptian Plaque

Search the Greek temple for clues to Khabash's whereabouts

Just so we don't have to come back, talk to him again.

• "Not yet."
• "Do you know where I might find a Greek plaque?"
• "I'll be going now."

Head towards the baths, making a right at the statue just past where you met Fabia, and go through the door to enter the Temple of Demeter. Around to the right is a hole you can crouch through.

Updated Lead:

The Egyptian Plaque

Search the tunnels for Khabash

Follow along the path down the slope, and you'll eventually come to a huge cavern. You should unlock:

• Archaeologist

  Discover what lies beneath the city

  
  

Updated Lead:

The Egyptian Plaque

Ask the old man if he's seen Khabash

Head down the walkway and talk to the The Hermit Philosopher (Missing Person 2/4).

NOTE: Whatever you do, do NOT answer "Yes" or "No" for ANY philosophical question. Since the conversation would be too one-sided, it would just piss him off.

• "You first."
• "I'm looking for Khabash."
• "Pluto, god of the Underworld."
• "Sounds easy enough."
• "Yes."
• "In most situations."
• "Of course."
• "There's more than one."
• "The correct moral code depends on the laws and customs of whichever society you're in."
• "Yes."
• "No, I suppose not."
• "What's your point?"
• "I'm not sure about that. What about 'do not kill'?"
• "I agree."
• "What's your story?"
• "I'm listening."
• "Hades? You mean Pluto?"
• "Why can't you return to the surface?"
• "Why can't you tell me your name?"
• "Where is everyone else?"
• "How have you survived down here?"
• "Let's talk about something else."
• "Do you know a way out of here?"
• "What do you think about The Golden Rule?"
• "Do you know where I can find a plaque that was removed from the obelisk?"
• "That's the one."
• "Alright, then tell me where Khabash is."
• "I'm with you so far."
• "What did it say?"
• "What's in there?"

Take the Key to the Catacombs.

• "I'll be going now."
• "Alright, I will."

Updated Lead:

The Egyptian Plaque

Enter the Catacombs

Make a right (or turn around if you have to) down the descending walkway, continuing until you reach the door, then unlock it and push through. Continue along the path until you reach what looks like a sewer system, then make a right. More peeled golden statues to put out of their misery here. Continue straight until you can descend a staircase, then push through the door. Continue through straight ahead, either turning Peeled statues into regular statues (and kicking them into other peeling statues if you still need the achievement) or ignoring them. Jump over the rubble when you have to. Continue until you run into Khabash (Missing Person 3/4).

• "...Who are you?"
• "I'm just looking for an Egyptian plaque."
• "I want to return it to the obelisk."

Take the Egyptian plaque.

This resolves The Egyptian Plaque.

• "That was a little too easy..."
• "The fourth plaque? You know about that?"
• "May I have it?"
• "Why?"
• "How so?"
• "The Egyptian Underworld?"
• "So what's the problem with this plaque?"
• "What does the inscription say?"
• "Please, don't!"
• "Now I'm going to have to go in after it..."
• "We'll see. First, I have some questions for you."
• "What's your story?"
• "Do you know a way out of here?"
• "What do you think about The Golden Rule?"
• "What do you think is down there?"
• "That just makes me want to go down there even more."
• "I'll be going now."
• "Definitely"
• "I'll find a way back up."

Updated Lead:

The Mystery Plaque

Venture beneath the Egyptian Underworld

The Mystery Plaque

Swim to shore (there are steps) and push forward. Take a left when you can, then straight after a right, then another right, continuing to follow the path until you come to a circular platform that looks like a pressure plate. Step on it, then sidestep the boulder as it comes at you (Boulder 1/3). They're not that hard to dodge. Continue ahead, following the path until you reach the second pressure plate. Sidestep the boulder that comes up behind you (Boulder 2/3). Make a right, and Khabash stops you just before the third pressure plate. You must answer correctly here.

• "There's no need for this to end in violence."
• "Just hear me out..."
• "If something can be destroyed by the truth, it deserves to be destroyed by the truth."
• "Isn't being a good person a worthwhile pursuit, in and of itself?"
• "Even if your beliefs about the afterlife weren't quite accurate, isn't the important thing they motivated you to live good lives?"
• "Are you going to abandon a lifetime of good character, now that it matters most, just because you found out you were misled?"

Credit for posting the correct dialogue options: DiegoTan (Confrontation 2/3).

Step on the third and final pressure plate (Boulder 3/3). If you successfully dodged all three boulders, you should unlock:

• Nimble

  Dodge 3 boulders

  
  

After the third boulder, the area gets flooded. Run up the ramp, then follow the only path up the hill to a ladder you can climb up. Go forward to a second ladder, then right through a door. Cross the bridge, then make a right when you can, followed by a left when there's an opening (stay on the left of the area while walking to see it). Follow the path back to the Hermit Philosopher. Then, leave the way you came in, crouching under the door, and exit the temple.

The Greek Plaque

Talk to Duli.

• "About the Greek plaque in your cell..."
• "May I please have it?
• "I need it for something really important."
• "Alright, what's it going to take for you to give it to me?"
• "There's no way Sentius will release you. But if we had a new magistrate..."
• "So all I need to do is persuade everyone to vote for Galerius?"
• "I'll be going now."

Election

It's time to call the election. Talk to Equitia.

"What's the status of the election?"

• "Who's allowed to vote?"
• "The women can't vote?
• "Such as?"
• "What's your role in the election?"
• "Can we start the election now?"
• "I just want to get it over and done with."
• "Holding it early may prevent conflict between the voters."
• "You're welcome."

This completes The Virtuous Man. After helping Galarius win the election 5-1, return to Duli in his cell. Watch the scene play out, then Duli automatically talks to you.

• "Yes, that's me."
• "You're welcome."
• "What was it?"
• "Alright, I'll help you."

Take the Key to the Upper Cistern.

You should unlock:

• Liberator

  Have Duli released from his cell

  
  

Quickly run into his cell and grab take the Greek plaque. This completes The Greek Plaque.

Updated Main Goal:

A Herculean Task

Return all four plaques to the obelisk

New Lead:

Heart of Gold

Unlock the door to the upper cistern with Duli's key

Because Duli can't help himself, he steals something, which breaks The Golden Rule. When he does, return to the portal since we still haven't done Endings 2 and 3, and I wanted his key. This concludes Time Loop 3. Next up are Endings 2 and 3. Still to come is Ending 4, the Epilogue, and the conclusion of the game.