From LIFE Wiki

Area 1 - Babylonia Empire

Contents 1 Prologue 2 Area 1 – Babylonia Empire 2.1 Mansion Area Overview 2.2 Phantom Area Overview 2.3 Notable Characters 2.4 Walkthrough 2.4.1 Area 1 Initial Room – Front Hall 2.4.2 World within the Flowers – Public Gardens 2.4.3 World within the Painting – Public Baths 2.4.4 Area 1 Blue Sigil – The Greeting Room 2.4.5 World within the Bar – Feast Hall 2.4.6 World within the Tea Set – Consortium 2.4.7 Area 1 Yellow Sigil – The Drawing Room 2.4.8 World within the Portrait – Shen Ryu’s Home 2.4.9 World within the Art Book – Public Library 2.4.10 Area 1 Yellow Sigil – The Lounge 2.4.11 World within the Box Phonograph – The Presses 2.4.12 World within the Telephone – Marduk’s Palace 2.4.12.1 Miniboss: Mystery Man I 2.4.13 Area 1 Red Sigil – The Landing 2.4.14 World within the Candlestick – Hanging Gardens 2.4.15 World within the Armor – Marduk’s Dungeon 2.4.16 Area 1 Red Sigil – Study 2.4.17 World within the Writing Desk – Shen Long’s Home 2.4.18 World within the Bust - Babel Tower 2.4.18.1 Area Boss: Marduk Memoria (Anime's memory of Marduk) 2.4.19 Completing Area 1 2.5 Equipment Guide 2.6 Animus Guide 2.7 Treasure Chest Guide

Prologue

Anime starts his journey in a void of blackness, all alone and confused, unable to remember anything about himself. Suddenly he hears a voice, gauging him, questioning him, pushing him as to who he is and where he comes from. Upon entering the door that this mysterious voice points him toward, Anime finds himself seeing visions of people, perhaps people that he should know, but all turn into mysterious phantoms with no clues as to whom or what they are. Thus the journey begins.

Anime is then transported to the foyer of a mysterious mansion, Threshold Manor. The door is locked with no escape route in sight. Go ahead and read the two books that pop up on the tables on either side of Anime. These will explain a bit more about the mansion.

After reading the two books, a guest ledger up at the top will appear. Go sign your name in it, and the suits of armor disappear, allowing you to enter the first area of the mansion.

Area 1 – Babylonia Empire

Area 1, the Babylonia Empire, focuses on Anime regaining his short-term memories, the memories lost at the conclusion of Animania: Thy Kingdom Come. As it is described by Incognito, the Phantom in this area of the Mansion is generated by the memories of the last Phantom the person portaling remembers. In this instance, Area 1 takes the form of the Babylon Empire spoken of in the backstory to Thy Kingdom Come.

Anyone who has played Thy Kingdom Come will know this story already. This time, however, we experience the events in the Babylon Empire as they occur, instead of through a series of journal entries and flashbacks.

Mansion Area Overview

Threshold Mansion - Area 1

(For a full description of Area 1 of the Threshold Mansion, go to this part of the article on the Mansion.)

Area 1 encompasses the front area of the first floor, including the Foyer and the Front Doors. Also included are the Front Hall, the Greeting Room, the Drawing Room, the Lounge, the Study, and the Second Floor Landing. Four other areas are available from Area 1: Area 2 (via the Lounge - Quartz Key needed), Area 3 (via the Front Hall - Ruby Key needed), Area 4 (via the Second Floor Landing - Emerald Key needed), and Area 7 (via the Study - Jade Key needed).

The Front Hall can be accessed without any Sigils. The Blue Sigil is needed to access the Greeting Room, the Yellow Sigil is needed to access the Drawing Room and Lounge, the Red Sigil is needed to access the Second Floor Landing and the Study, and the Black Sigil is needed to access the World within the Bust.

Basic level Quipploths can be found here: The Q-Stalker, the Q-Serpent, and the Q-Skull.

Phantom Area Overview

The Babylonia Empire is a descent into the madness of its king and the complacency of its people. As the current conquering nation of the known world, the citizens of Babylon enjoy an unparalleled and constant life of physical and sexual debauchery. Everyone from the children to the elderly participate in all manner of carnal activities, from decadent banquets to perverse orgies. Cruel games are played with the lives of the slaves, who are no better than cattle for the slaughter, and torture is used as a form of amusement and excitement. The servants live in squalid conditions, living off of the crap that the citizens discard, while captives from military campaigns are slaughtered to the Babylonian Gods.

At the helm of this den of darkness is the God-King Marduk, who is the Sun and Life to his people, and is the Devil himself to everyone else. Marduk has obtained immortality through the slaying of the Lord of Chaos Tiamat, and reigns with near godlike power, crushing all who oppose him in blood and terror. A tyrant like no other, Marduk's only fear is that a force within his ranks will be his undoing.

Notable Characters

Marduk: The God-King of Babylon and the primary antagonist of this story, Marduk obtained the powers of a god when he slew Tiamat in an epic battle. The battle left the man's soul scarred and corrupted, though, and over the past several hundred years, he's become a monster that feeds off of the pain and misery of his victims. He now conquers the world, one country at a time, and murders the captives of war. His monument to his and Babylon's greatness is the fabled Babel Tower, a tower that is being built, piece by piece, to reach the heavens. In every cutscene, he is shown as cruel, merciless, and sadistic. And yet the people love him for the debauchery he bestows upon them and turn a blind eye to his evil.	God-King Marduk		Shen Ryu: A General of Marduk's armies, a foreigner who achieved a great rank within a short period of time due to being a peerless strategist and an unequaled fighter. He perfected Marduk's martial art techniques, creating the invincible art of Kokon-Do, and taught it to Marduk's troops. He is not a passive man, outwardly speaking his mind and decisively choosing action over inaction. He dearly loves his wife Beltia and his two children, and values the wisdom and temperance of his twin brother. However, something has been bothering Shen Ryu lately, and he's starting to question his role in things.	General Shen Ryu
Mordecai: Another General of Marduk's armies, a Babylonian native who is fiercely loyal to Emperor Marduk. He is also Shen Ryu's best friend, and the two are often together when off duty and away from their wives. Mordecai, like Shen Ryu, does not readily participate in the decadence that has befallen the citizens of Babylon, except when presence at a feast or orgy is compulsory. Mordecai's reasons are different, though. He finds such debauchery a waste of time and would rather be in the field fighting. He is a true warrior, a true soldier, and a true loyalist.	General Mordecai		Shen Long: A Judge for the Consortium of Babylon and a Magistrate for the Kingdom, Shen Long is Shen Ryu's twin brother. He does not share his twin's feelings of action, preferring to sit by and allow things to happen as they are meant to happen. Like Shen Ryu, Shen Long has mastered the art of Kokon-Do, although he is more of a teacher, while his brother is more of a warrior. Shen Long prefers to spend his days reading or tutoring Shen Ryu's children - especially his daughter. However, underneath that calmness lay a powerful sense of Justice, and with the right motivation, Shen Long would become the quintessential judge and executioner.	Magistrate Shen Long
Beltia: The wife of Shen Ryu, who hails, like her husband, children, and brother-in-law, from the Egyptian city of Alexandria. Aristocratic in nature, Beltia prefers to live a solitary life, uninterested in the carnal lifestyle of the Babylonians. Her days consist of wandering about the Hanging Gardens, reading in the parks and libraries, and raising and tutoring her son and daughter. Her beauty is quite renown, and she has passed it on to her two children. Unlike her husband, she is not a fighter, but her determination to keep her two children safe is stronger than both Shen Ryu's passion and Shen Long's wisdom combined.	Lady Beltia

Walkthrough

Head on out into the next room, the front hall, and here Anime comes face to face with his first Quipploth. Follow this battle strategy for every enemy: start this fight by defending; the Quipploth will attack but because you are defending you’ll only take ¼ of the damage; on Anime’s next turn attack it. The Quipploth will probably still get a hit in on Anime before he’s able to defend the first time, but still make sure to defend yourself on the first turn. It might seem like the fights are difficult, but I promise the fights will get more manageable as Anime levels up and gets equipment!

• Tip – While Anime doesn’t have many powers yet, he does have one called Force Strike that can be very helpful! Don’t be afraid to use it, particularly for bosses and mini bosses at this point!

Area 1 Initial Room – Front Hall

Make sure you read the two books on either side of the hall; these will give you more battle tips and explain elemental powers, weapon types, and Crisis Mode. Feel free to go back into the foyer as well and use the refresh pad as needed and to save your game. Also make sure to grab the two little sparklies; those are potions.

Now walk around the room fighting the rest of the Quipploths until the meter is green or blue. Fighting until it is blue will guarantee that Anime raises to Level 2.

Once the meter is green or blue, two yellow circles will appear, one on the left on a bunch of flowers and one in a painting at the top. These are portals, and are instrumental in navigating this world. Go into the world with the flowers first.

World within the Flowers – Public Gardens

Public Gardens

You can go ahead and talk to the people around you to learn a little more about where you are.

What you are looking for here is to press little gray switches that open up ways for you to get to other switches and finally to your goal: the little ‘island’ in the water with the blue haired girl.

The first switch is over near the bottom left corner. After pressing it, a bridge in the middle will appear. Cross that and you’ll see another switch. Press that one and cross that bridge again and head down to the right. You’ll see yet another bridge, and crossing that will lead to the next switch. After pressing it, head back and cross that first bridge again and now you’ll see a ladder at the top. Climb it, find and hit the 4th switch, this one makes the bushes over on the left side of the main area disappear so you can go all the way up until you see a set of stairs and then a door. Go through the door and press the last switch.

That switch made a bridge appear so you can now go talk to the blue haired little girl outside! Go talk to her, and then use the black circle to transport back to the mansion.

World within the Painting – Public Baths

Public Baths

Now you are in what appears to be a bath house, head on in and talk to the people if you want. Then head to the door on the upper left, where you will encounter a boy who needs a serious attitude adjustment!

To find this boy’s nanny, go into the room on the right and talk to the woman there. She sends you back with a message that sends the boy running away! Now you can go through the door and talk to the little blue haired boy.

After coming to a very important realization, Anime is transported back to the mansion and he now has the blue sigil! Woo!

Go and use the blue sigil on the door in the bottom right corner.

Area 1 Blue Sigil – The Greeting Room

Clear the room of Quipploths and you’ll see two more portals appear, one in the bar and another in the tea set. Head into the one in the bar.

World within the Bar – Feast Hall

Feast Hall

Now you are in a Feast Hall! Yum! As always talk to the people to get some idea of how things work here, and make your way to the southern room (go either left or right and just keep going room to room until you see a room with a black door at the top).

Go through the door and you’ll overhear what seems to be a very serious conversation. Listen carefully to what they are saying. You now have your first little mission! You'll be doing a lot of little errands for this family during Area 1, so get used to being considered their 'servant'.

There’s one thing you need to do before leaving though! See that green plant in the bottom right corner? Hmm looks like there is something behind it! And now you’ve found your first equipment chest! This one is a bracer. Don’t forget to equip whatever bracer you got.

Head back to the first room where you started and then go straight out onto the balcony and head back to the mansion.

World within the Tea Set – Consortium

Consortium

Your task here is to deliver the battle plans, so head on into the Consortium

Make your way down the hall, and talk to the two guards at the door, who let you through when you tell them what you have.

After placing the battle plans down, go to the other side of the table and read the letter...and get some bad information! You’re then transported back to the mansion and now you have the yellow sigil!

Area 1 Yellow Sigil – The Drawing Room

There are two Yellow Sigil rooms this time, first go to the room that is directly across from the Blue Sigil room. Clear the room of Quipploths again. You might notice your speed went up a little since getting the bracer – now you should be able to defend first without them getting the first hit (Told you it would get a bit easier!)

There are now portals in a portrait and an art book. Head into the world within the painting.

World within the Portrait – Shen Ryu’s Home

Shen Ryu's Home

Before you go into the house, you probably spotted the yellow chest on the bell tower! To get that, go behind the house until you are directly behind the bell tower. Hit enter to right the bell and the vibrations move the chest so you can reach it when you climb the stairs. Inside is your first headband!

Go inside the house and when you get closer to Shen Ryu and his wife you’ll overhear their conversation. When Beltia walks away you can go talk to Shen Ryu. The nice thing about working for a General is that they can pay you in advance for your services!

After speaking with Shen Ryu, who gives you another important task, go talk to Beltia who also gives you a task in exchange for her information. You have two tasks to perform at the same time, but Beltia's task can be preformed from the same room in the Mansion, so we're going to do that one first.

Go upstairs and talk to little Anime if you want and then back outside and back to the mansion.

World within the Art Book – Public Library

Public Library

Now you are on a search for Beltia’s book! Go into the library and up one of the stairs at the top (they both lead to the same place). You can get some very interesting information from the scholars here on how Babylon views its 'brains'.

Go through the shelves until you see the sparkle; this is Beltia’s book. But a certain little girl is blocking the way! Try talking to her to see if you can get her to move.

Now that you have the book, leave the library and go back to Shen Ryu’s house and give it to Beltia, who in return will share a secret about the castle you are about to visit.

Go back to the mansion and head to the second yellow sigil door.

Area 1 Yellow Sigil – The Lounge

You know the drill now! Clear the room of those Quipploths and then enter the world within the Box Phonograph.

World within the Box Phonograph – The Presses

Presses

Okay, this is something new. This is your first 'Hostile Area', pay close attention to what the game is telling you. You can try to avoid the enemies if you want, though I suggest you don’t because fighting them is how you level up, gain keys, and money. The cover/counter strategy works really well here.

Fight your way up to the top (you can stop in the cave to get a treasure chest) and go up the stairs to the top of the presses. Here you will see what is really going on behind the scenes.

Go back to the mansion and head into the world in the telephone. .

• Tip: The Presses are a really good place to earn some money and collect a bunch of keys. Even later in the game, I’ve found myself coming back to this spot when I’m low on money or keys. You will need to ‘key farm’ as there are many locked doors in the game and this place is good because there are a lot of enemies.

• Note: For the remainder of the game, when a 'World Within' goes from friendly to Hostile, the Hostile Alarm will sound. Keep that in mind, that even if you are in a sinister area, so long as the alarm doesn't sound, random enemies will not start to attack Anime!

World within the Telephone – Marduk’s Palace

Marduk's Castle

Before you even go into the palace, I highly suggest that you have about seven to eight normal keys. You can get them either by repeatedly fighting the two guards at the gate or from the presses.

When you go into the palace, you’ll see the doors you need to open but first you have to pull the switch on the second floor. Go either left or right, both lead to the same place, and go through the locked door and up the stairs. On the second floor you’ll see a red chest, finally some armor! Unlock the door just below the red chest and follow the path (again both ways lead to the same place). Keep following the halls and stairs and you’ll see that angel statue in the middle. Go over to it, hit enter, and voila! The doors downstairs are open!

Head back downstairs to the doors you saw when you first entered the palace. Before walking through them, I suggest you heal yourself with some potions.

Listen in on this conversation between Emperor Marduk and this Mystery Man, and you learn some pretty horrible things! Once Marduk leaves, the Mystery Man calls Anime out and says some pretty messed up things. Does he know something that everyone else does not know?! Either way, you then get to fight your first mini boss, Mystery Man! Dun dun dun!

After beating him, you are whisked back to the mansion, get a new weapon, the Leather Glove, and get the Area 1 Red Sigil!

Back in the front hall you’ll see there are three Red Sigil doors. The two at the top lead to the same place, so pick one of them for now.

Area 1 Red Sigil – The Landing

Make sure you go into the world in the candlestick; you can’t do anything in the other world yet.

World within the Candlestick – Hanging Gardens

Hanging Gardens

The famous Hanging Gardens of Bablyon! They're a lot smaller than they were thought to be...

There isn’t really much to do here but talk to the people and make your way up until you find Beltia.

During the conversation with Beltia, a major clue about the way Space-Time functions in the Mansion is dropped, one that will haunt Anime for the majority of the adventure. It's not uncommon, in Threshold, for small clues about the nature of the universe to be dropped in seemingly random conversation bits. It's to your advantage to pay attention.

Anyway, Beltia's pretty peeved, but Anime's sincerity strikes a chord with her, prompting her to give him one more chance at redemption.

After speaking with her and gaining the dungeon key, you can leave and head into the next world.

World within the Armor – Marduk’s Dungeon

Marduk's Dungeon

Now you find yourself in a rather creepy dungeon; you need to find Shen Ryu. You can explore a bit and get any chests you find, but make your way down to the bottom and over to the left until you come across a barred door and unlock it.

This is a great place to level up Anime, if you didn't bother to do it in the Press or Marduk's Palace. Watch out for the Tortured Souls, though, as their attacks can quickly kill Anime if he doesn't Defend himself. Remember to Cover & Counter!

In the next room, you need to go and activate the four switch-like things around the room. Once you do that, a bridge will appear on the upper right to another set of stairs. Go down the stairs and then make your way over to the right, where you will find Shen Ryu locked up in his cell. After talking with him and getting his shirt, make your way back out and back to the mansion. Now it’s time to head into the other Red Sigil room to find Shen Long!

Area 1 Red Sigil – Study

This room has two worlds, one in the writing desk and another in the bust, but you need to get the black sigil before you can enter. Also take note of the journal lying on the table. It’s empty for now, but keep it in mind, it will come into play in a bit. So for now go into the world in the writing desk.

World within the Writing Desk – Shen Long’s Home

Shen Long's Home

You can come in here before completing Marduk's Dungeon for some curious dialogue, but ultimately nothing of use will happen until after you finish the aforementioned dungeon.

Head into Shen Long’s house (you can go through the side door to the backyard to get the chest too) and go downstairs. Talk to Shen Long and after a heated conversation, he agrees to meet you at the Presses. Fans of Lost Legacy will definitely benefit from the exchange between Anime and Shen Long. Who is the Master now??

Go back upstairs, but it seems Marduk’s soldiers are invading! Watch out for them, and make your way back to the mansion. Even though Anime mentions that the soldiers will kill Shen Long if allowed to get to him, there is no danger of that happening. Just kill as many soldiers as you like and return to the mansion.

Now you need to go back to the Presses (in the second Yellow Sigil room, the Lounge) and go meet Shen Long at the very top. After he agrees to help, you gain your first Black Sigil! Head back into the study where you can break the seal on the bust and enter the Black Sigil dungeon.

World within the Bust - Babel Tower

Babel Tower

This is the Black Sigil Dungeon for Area 1. Completing this dungeon will end Area 1's story!

Before you go into Babel Tower, I suggest you make sure you’ve collected around oh maybe seven to eight normal keys. Also, you should be at least at level five before you try to finish this area.

Babel Tower is pretty straightforward. The first room has four colored pads on the floor and four colored rocks scattered around. You need to kick each rock onto the corresponding colored circle to make the door to the stairs appear. You know you got each rock right when they turn into crystals.

For most of the floors, you just need to unlock the doors and defeat the enemies and keep going until you get to the next set of stairs. The third floor you’ll see a bunch of moving flames, you need to run by them and try not to get hit, each flame that hits you will take away five of your life force. The 5th floor has small purple flames that circle the center of the room. See that little break in there? You need to try to run through that break or you’ll lose five of your life force for each flame you hit. On the sixth floor, make sure you unlock the door which will make all the enemies come attack you; however they reveal that they are hiding the chest that contains an accessory!

The seventh floor has red flashing tiles on the ground. However if you look closely you’ll see a path of red tiles that are not flashing. This is the path you want to take. If you go on a flashing tile you lose five Life Force per tile.

Finally you make it to the ninth floor! Make sure you refresh on the blue pad, buy any supplies you might need, save your game, and then have a little conversation with Mordecai! Then, you come face to face with the man himself...Marduk! Get ready to fight your first boss battle!

Completing Area 1

After defeating Marduk Memoria, you get some important information on Anime’s past, with that mysterious voice urging him to dig even deeper. Finally, you get the chance to meet this mystery person. Hmm things are sure getting interesting aren’t they? After he leaves, you get the Nameless Sword! Make sure you also pick up the journal entry in the Study.

Now you can make your way to Area 2! Area 2 is behind the Quartz door, which is in the Lounge. As you walk through the lounge, you hear another mysterious voice...this time, however, it’s warm and friendly. Listen very very carefully to what she has to say, as she will explain a power that you can’t complete this game without.

As much as you are probably itching to go into Area 2, I strongly suggest listening to the game and heading back into Area 1 to collect your powers. Here is an Animus guide that lists the enemy name and what power you get for Area 1. There will be an Animus guide at the end of each Area’s walkthrough, though I suggest not reading it too far ahead or you might be spoiled a bit.