AZTEC
Walkthrough by Gayle Banks
There will be quite a few things that you can find out about the culture of these people. Chose a subject that might interest you while playing this game. Take your time and explore, it is part of the story.
I have laid out things in the order I played the game, there is probably no reason why you can't change direction at certain points from what is below and still wind up at the place you need to be at a certain time for an event.
I do not tell you when to save except at the skull puzzle - the rest of the saves are up to you. I used manual saves and have no idea if the auto-save would be better.
Have a good time playing Aztec!
IN THE BEGINNING
After the opening cut scene you find yourself in your home village with an inventory consisting of a blowpipe, cocoa beans and the necklace that the murdered nobleman gave to you.
Talk to Quilaztli, the elder and healer of your village and exhaust all topics, including his suggestion for you to visit your home and then turn and face your home, the house with the red doorframe. Pick up the digging stick resting against the outside wall and then go inside, look around and pick up the cocoa beans.
NOTE: As you step outside you will notice up ahead a similar house with a yellow doorframe. Quilaztli will mention the house with the yellow doorframe (later you can go out through the path between the yellow-framed house and the hut next door and the game map will appear. However, not this time, as you will soon find out). Go now to the house with the blue doorframe. This belongs to Quilaztli, the village elder/healer you just talked to. Go inside and look around. Go to the area where the statures are and turn left, the elder is standing in the corner. Start a conversation. He will ask you to get some incense as an offering. Turn towards the three statues; see the one at the left? Open the door in its chest and get the incense. Give it to the elder and talk, completing all topics. He will tell you to find your parents and you must go find Tlatli and not to trust anyone else!
Go outside, a Otomi warrior named Mountain Head is there, the one who killed the nobleman. You cannot fight him, nor go forward. Turn right and right again so that you are going down the path, turn left, left and straight.
The river is there with a canoe. Get into the canoe. Now, there are guards and the aim is to find a way out via these river channels called Chinampas. Go down the different channels until you see a canoe parked by a hut. Get out and go down the path to find another canoe. Get in and go until you see the map icon. Click on the icon and chose the Merchants Plaza.
Walk straight down the path either left or right past the red framed house in the center. Talk with the man selling wood (you may a bundle of wood now or you may buy later if needed and save money for now). . He will also tell you that Tlatli the Poet lived behind him (house facing you) with yellow-framed door. Enter house, look around then go through next doorway. Talk with the priest and find out that Tlatli was dead, murdered! Pay the priest the five beans he requires for information and in return also find out that Tlatli's servant is gone and receive another gem necklace exactly like the one the nobleman gave you. Walk forward pass the priest and look down at the mat to your right. Pick up the blood stained parchment and examine.
Then turn slightly more right and go towards the gate in the back of the yard. Hear the water? Turn right once more and face and go towards the divider wall and click. Behind the divider is Tototl "Bird", Tlatli's servant. Exhaust all topics and you will find out that Tlatli had told "Bird" to get Turquoise at Craftsman District at the Feather Dressers. That Tlatli was afraid and would not drink any water, just alcohol and men had come to kill Tlatli and he was afraid they would come back and kill him.
Go back to the body of Tlatli. Facing him, make a turn around to face the wall. Look down at the mat and pull away the mat and pick of the jewel. Examine it.
Then go to the front door to find guards are there and you must find another way out. Go back and talk to "Bird". After you ask if there is another way out he tells you the front door or the gate, but the canal is outside the gate. "Bird" also tells you that the murderer was an Otomi warrior (probably good old Mountain Head). Finish talking with him and go to the back gate.
When a canoe comes by, click on it - cut scene shows your escape and you have once again avoided the guards.
Go to the only path without a guard and go over a bridge, turn right to a second bridge and the map icon will appear. Click on Craftsman area. Talk to woman on your left weaving, she really has not much to say at this time.
By the temple on your right you will meet a friend called Chimalli. He swears to aid you. You ask him of Turquoise and he tells you that it is a woman and to keep going as you were and you find her around the corner.
Turquoise is there and you talk. Show here the jewel you found at Tatli's house when she asks. She says you must talk with Chacoatl but not till tomorrow. He isn't there today and it is getting late and you can stay with her tonight.
The next morning, return to the Craftmen's Quarters and go forward to the stature (urn) in front of the temple, turn around and go slightly left and forward into the house of Chacoatl the Feather Dresser. It is just right of the temple. Talk and pay his servant the two beans in order to go into the backyard and talk with Chacoatl. He will tell you he is getting ready for a journey. Exhaust all topics and show him the bloody parchment. He will ask you for one of necklaces and he will investigate as much as he can before he leaves on his journey.
He also says that you must go and talk to the Lord "Woman Serpent" and perhaps he can help. But how to you get to see him? Chacoatli will tell you that you must finish the feather shield he was doing for "Woman Serpent" and that you must go to the market and buy some dyes to finish and that he will help you.
Turn completely around and examine the shield lying in the corner. Notice that the dye tray to your right has no dyes. Notice the colors of feathers and of shield itself. To your right are undyed beads and feathers. To your left are green feathers - So you do not need to buy any green dye. You will need to buy red, yellow, light blue and dark blue dyes. Return to the Market Place via the bridge/map. Also at this time, you can go back to the poet's house and talk to his slave Bird again only to find that Bird has been permitted to leave and go home by the courts. Now go to the market and buy yellow and light blue from the woman to your left as you first enter the market and then turn right, go into shadows and buy red and dark blue from man and return to the feather dressers home and start on the shield.
Notice the feathers are in a color pattern. Red, Light Blue, Green, and so on. Take a white feather click over correct color and attach. Same with the beads. Check the pattern and use the white beads and complete the pattern. You will now have the shield you need to take to "Woman Serpent". Talk again with the Feather Dresser who will tell you to take it to the place but there many entrances and to be sure to pick right one. He will check on the necklace and for you to return soon.
As you exit the house, your friend appears and gives you more news. Now turn and go back to bridge and map and click on Palace/Temple image and you are now facing the palace complex.
Go forward and talk with the beggar just to your right. When he asks for alms, offer him your beans. He will refuse your offer and instead gives you a gold bracelet.
Then turn a bit right and go down by the river and turn left along the bank. Talk with the boatman and tell him you will see him later. Also, turn and go up the stairs and turn right. There before you is a raised bridge and on the wall some sort of pulley. Remember this spot for later in the game. Now go back to central road where you talked with beggar and continue forward.
Talk to the guard at the steps, no entrance here, go further down and talk to another guard, turn right and talk with the stone mason. Well, guess it is time for a boat ride.
Go back to the boat taxi, pay the two beans and sail to the area where taxes are counted. Talk with the taxman, be sure and say that you are there to help him. He will explain what to do. Now, turn around to your right and click on the Jaguar skins. It is pretty self-explanatory. Jaguar skins count 100 each, cotton is 20 each and jar of shells is 1 each. Yes, I know that the total count will be 885 and there will be 1 jar of shells left over, don't worry. Work it so that the larger part has a total of 442 (one half of goods) and each smaller part has a total each of 221. If done correctly, the taxman will thank you and reward with one jar of shells, which is worth 25 beans.
Now, walk behind the taxman and go downstairs, nothing here but if you talk with a guard you can find out that they are guarding prisoners to be sacrificed.
Go back up and turn right down the open-air hallway, keep going until you are standing between two different patio areas. Turn left and down the stairs. If you turn left you will see a wood cage but you can't use it yet. Talk to the guard who will tell you to go away, walk further and talk with the poet standing there (not very good poet at that), turn around and continue around the garden square. Go up the set of unguarded stairs and follow the passage. You will remark when you see the guard that you can't leave the palace yet. Turn around and go back the way you came.
Now, go to the other patio square. Go up the stairs in the center. Notice two men talking in the corner? One of them is a Jaguar Guard the other is a prince/nobleman named Three Rabbit (be sure and use the ear icon and listen to the conversation about a priestess named Papatzin, the Emperor and the evil that has struck the city. Then continue up stairs and talk to the guard in the center, no luck. Turn right while facing this guard and go forward, you will see an entrance to a room. Go to the entrance and talk with the guard (you can see a few pots, Etc. in the background of the room). Talk with him and show him the feather shield. He will let you enter the room.
Turn left and talk with Woman Serpent, you will get a gift of Amaranth for the feather shield and you will be arrested. (Just isn't your day, don't worry, heroes can overcome this problem).
You are in your cage/cell. Look around below at the matting on floor for a knife and cut the straps of your cage.
Turn right and go to the back of the building and turn right and talk with your parents. Again, exhaust all topics. Your father will tell you to go to your village and at the foot of the altar to the goddess Tahiquetza you will find a treasure. He will also mention one guard has left and for you to create a diversion and escape.
Go to the doorway now empty of a guard. See the cage with the jaguar? Use your blowpipe and hit the cat then turn to your right. The other guard is gone. Go forward and up the stairs to your right (where you did taxes) and a man is waiting there for you. Use all dialogue and find that Woman Serpent is your friend. The man will give you a magic rattle and tell you to find the right person and you will be able to talk with Woman Serpent again.
Go back to the doorway where you first met Woman Serpent and turn right and go forward, then left down the long hallway and again turn left. Show your rattle to the Jaguar guard and he will let you pass.
Go straight to Woman Serpent and exhaust dialogue. You have now promised to find out what evil is behind all of this and in return you and your parents will be spared. To report to him you must present the rattle to the guard at "between two serpents". Woman Serpent will deny ever knowing you if you fail.
After cut scene, go to merchant plaza and talk with your friend, Chimalli and take his suggestion to go talk once more with Chacotti, the feather dresser.
When you get to the patio area of Chacoati, you find that he has gone on his journey. Talk with his slave. Chacoati left a message for you - "Green Serpent - Seven Flint".
WILL THE REAL SEVEN FLINT PLEASE STAND UP
Go outside and talk with your buddy Chimalli again. He suggests that Green Serpent may have something to do with the green necklaces from the dead nobleman and poet (you still have one - Chacoati has the other).
Then turn right and forward then right again and talk to the crabby weaving woman. She knows nothing of "Green Serpent" but Seven Flint is a jeweler who did live near by but moved recently to the next quarter. Go back to the area you previously talked with Turquoise and talk with her again. She also thinks that Green Serpent means the necklaces and tells you to go over the bridge to get to Seven Flint's house. Turquoise also mentions that she is leaving for the clameca (school) now and won't be around.
Go over the bridge ahead of you (back of Turquoise) where you will find Seven Flint the jeweler crouching over a fire. He will not answer your questions until you get him a bundle of wood. If you bought the wood earlier from the man by the poet's house then give to Seven Flint now. If you have not bought any wood, go back over the bridge and go towards the wood fence and buy some wood from the man standing there and then turn around go over the bridge again and give the wood to Seven Flint.
He will ask to see the necklace and tell you that it comes from far away in Olmec country and that he did not make it. He also tells you there is another man, a Pochtecatl also named Seven Flint and that he travels to Olmec country and can be found in the Tlatelolco market place. Walk back over the bridge and talk to the woodman again. This time ask about Seven Flint and he will tell you he thinks he lives over the canal. Go forward to Chimalli and chat and then turn right and go to the bridge and the map and chose the merchant's quarter.
Go forward and left. Past the bridge is a blue-trimmed house with tic-tac-toe markings. Talk to the guard and you will find out this is the palace of Three Rabbit. Turn around; you should be able to see part of a man to your forward right.
Go forward and he will automatically start the conversation. Cover all topics. You will find out the location of the Pochtecatl-Seven Flint's house. You will also find out he is preparing for a journey and is out for now. Turn to your left and go forward (the oven is on your left). The man had said the all white house and there it is right next to a rock-trimmed canal.
Yes, you should knock before entering, but there isn't any door and besides he's out somewhere.
Go into house and head through the open patio area into the shaded room in the back. I suggest when you hear the noise from the bowls sitting in the middle of the patio that you don't touch them, even though you get a fist symbol - at least for now.
Enter the room and head for the left corner on the wall facing you. Now, you should have some bolts of cloth standing in the corner to your left and some strands of cloth hanging down the wall. Run your cursor along the painted design between these two points. A large non-painted hole should be almost in front of you and your cursor turns to a fist. Use your knife and make a hole and inside is another necklace. As soon as this is done, you automatically turn around and Seven Flint is standing there wondering what you think you are doing. Cover all topics. You will find out that in order for him to tell you who he has sold the necklaces to, you will have to pay him 100 times the cost to repair the hole you made in his wall - no, the beans won't do it!
Remember what dad said in jail about a treasure at home at altar. Well, if you ever needed money, now is the time. Retrace your steps to the bridge/map are by going out of house, forward, turn right and turn right again, forward over small bridge, forward once and turn right and forward to bridge/map area.
Chose your village on map. Once there go straightforward to your home (red trimmed) and if you did not pick up at beginning of game, pick up the digging tool resting against the wall by the doorway. Enter and go to the back to the patio area. At the steam bath building you will see a statue of a god. Facing the statue move cursor down to the ground, use the digging tool where it shows fist icon. It will take two hits and then take the treasure mask. Now exit your home and go straightforward towards the yellow trimmed house. You now are free to exit using the path to the left of the yellow trimmed house.
On the map pick Merchants area again and go back to Seven Flint's home. He will be in the back room and after you give him the treasure he will tell you he sold five necklaces to Three Rabbit. As you move forward to leave, you will then hear Mountain Head's voice. Turn and go back and ask Seven Flint what is going on and he will deny everything. Then go forward and out the door into patio. Mountain Head is his old charming self. Now is the time to use the bowl with the rattling sounds in front of you. Click on it (will show fist icon) and it will automatically tip over in front of Mountain Head and you will run away. It is time for you to report in to Woman Serpent. I don't know how many times or when you should report in to him so will suggest times and then you can decide when you should or should not go to him with reports on progress or lack of...
You remember that Woman Serpent said you had to give the rattle to the right person and you would be allowed to past and talk with him. Well, this is as good as time as any to do it.
Pick Tenochititlan Square. Remember where you paid the boatman to row you? Go forward, turn right forward to first set of stairs and go up the stairs and turn right towards the raised drawbridge and turn and face the pulley on the wall that you saw earlier if following this walkthrough. Cut the rope on pulley, turn right. Bridge is now down and go forward to the guard. This is an Eagle Guard and remember what Woman Serpent said "Between two serpents" is way in to see him. Notice there is a coiled serpent on each side of guard. Show him the rattle and you can pass. Follow corridor all the way to the garden patio, turn right, go up to the other patio area and then, as you did before go along the upper passageway to the right of the doorway to Woman Serpent's room. Again show the Jaguar guard your rattle and go in and talk with Woman Serpent. When you tell him about the necklace, he will mention it seems to represent one of the gods. You tell him about Mountain Head (the fellow who has wanted to kill you since the beginning of the game) and Woman Serpent says he needs more proof.
Exit exactly the way you came in, out pass the Eagle Guard, turn right over lowered draw bridge, down steps and forward and left to the main bridge/map and click the Merchants area again.
When you start this part, you will get an automatic message about the poet and nobleman being part of the plot along with Three Rabbit and there has to be two more involved since there were five necklaces in all. You must follow Three Rabbit and find the other two plotters!
Go back to the man at the wall (forward, turn left and over small bridge, then forward) to the man at the wall and see he has any additional information. He will tell you that the blue-framed building is Three Rabbit's palace and there is an old servant who hangs out at the dead end on the side of Rabbit's palace who may have information.
Turn to face Three Rabbit's home and go forward. You have to turn around to make a right turn into the side of the palace. Go to end and talk with old man. He will tell you he is thirsty. Go to the merchant's market. Retrace your steps over the small bridge go forward as far as you can and then turn left and go forward. You should recognize the entrance to the market. Go in and turn right, go forward and turn right. The drink is called Octli and the woman sitting there in the shade will sell it to you. Then go all the way back the way you came to the old man. He thanks you and says he will answer your questions if you win at this strange game which is sort of a short version of the game Sorry and Checkers combined. The idea is to get your pieces around the one side of your track and off the other side opposite of where you have started. You can hit an opponent and send him home so that he will have to start over if he is at the four spots that intersect the middle of the board. Watch your markers and where they will be if moved. The game is kind and it will show you the result of the lighted choices you have if you move to a certain spot. You are supposed to win two in a row but it seems to vary between winning one and several losses and one win, one loss, one win or all losses. He will eventually talk to you.
After you have won your games, he will answer your questions regarding Three Rabbits habits and where he goes. Please make note of this because you will need it. He will say as to habits - My Eye, My Nose, My Mouth in that order, remember it. He will also tell you that Three Rabbit goes quite a bit to the Temple of Tezcatlipoca and it's Annex located at the Center of Ceremonies next to the Tezcatlipoca pyramid. Guess we will be going to the Tenochtitlan Square now and see if we can get in the Center. Turn and retrace your steps over the small bridge and to the large bridge/map.
Go straight down the broad path and at the end is the entrance to the Center. The guard will not let you in. Turn around as you walk by a man standing with a basket on your right. Stop and talk to him, no, you do not want to buy wood but he says he likes you and will be there if he can help.
Now, this is what I call gathering information time. Don't go to the man at the wall, he has nothing to say.
Go to your buddy Chimalli in the Craftsman area. He always knows something. Exhaust all subjects and you find that perhaps Turquoise can help you get in the Center and she is at the Calmeca (school located in Merchants area). Also, you find out that Lord Black Flower has good reason to cause trouble. He hates the Emperor. Black Flower should have succeeded his father, but the Emperor chose another to succeed and told Black Flower to leave.
Go to Woman Serpent - go same way as before. You tell him a little of your suspicions and he tells you in so many words that you are wrong and don't come back until you have something.
Go to the Merchant's area. Turn right as soon as you are there and you will see Turquoise standing in front of the Calameca. Talk to her. She thinks the poet was killed because he wanted out of the intrigue to destroy the emperor. She will also give you a drum, which will get you in to the Center of Ceremonies. You must give it to Cuicani a poetess, known as the Flower of Stone and a good friend of the dead poet.
Go to your village and talk with the elder/healer Quilaztli. He will tell you that Black Flower is near by and is gathering troops for a rebellion against the emperor.
All of the above information gathering can probably done in any order but sometimes you miss a topic and if you are not sure you take the time to check and double check - hope above helps you in where you should go for information.
Now on to Tenochititlan Square the Center of Ceremonies. Go straight down to the end of the broad path as you did before.
SAY, COULD I INTEREST YOU IN A DRUM?
Show the drum to the guard and he will give you very vague directions to get to the House of Song. "House of Song is in the back against the outer wall".
Pass him and stop. If you turn left you will see images, these are guards, they are all over the place. Turn right and go forward once, then left and forward twice and turn left (I automatically went up the steps). Now turn right and go forward twice. So this is the Priestess Papatzin (you might want to learn about her background so click information icon). She will ask where are you going and you must keep it very vague. Tell her you a drum to deliver to the House of Song and to the poetess Cuicani. Do not ask about Three Rabbit (she can't be trusted). Papatzin will tell to you to go left pass Eecatl, then Tzompantli Temple and Wall of Skulls and of course the outer wall. (remember these locations).
Turn left, go forward two times-another guard-turn left and go forward once and turn right make note of location of the ladder-don't do anything now - turn back to the way your were heading (turn left) and go forward two times and then turn right (you have no choice). Go forward one time-These guards are all over! Turn right and forward twice. You will see a man in feathers (slightly to your left). Talk to him and remember him and where he is. He is a good source of information and can help locate places for you.
Go past him and keep going forward. You will see a large long building with broad red stripes and two staircases. Go to the guard and show him the drum, he will let you pass.
Go past the guard and forward. You will see her standing in the corner behind the garden of yellow flowers. Give her the drum when she asks. You talk with her and tell her of the poet's death and the parchment. Give her the parchment when she asks. She tells you it is not a poem so she will need time to interpret it. Ask her how to get to the Temple of Tezcatlipoca. She tells you it is to the right of the great pyramid. You are basically going to retrace your steps to the stop where you talked with the priestess Papatzin.
Go out and forward and forward between the red and blue painted buildings. The man is there and he will also tell you to retrace your steps. Turn left from him and go forward once, then turn left and then left and forward pass the place of the ladder and then turn right. You will see the great pyramid and the lower red and blue building to it's right is your destination.
Talk with the guard. He tells you that Three Rabbit is there but you need to show him a certain object to pass. Show him the necklace of the dead nobleman; he will let you pass him. Go forward into the back room and turn left. Another guard who tells you that you must answer three riddles.
Remember your game playing friend and the message he gave you about habits-My eyes, my nose, and my mouth. Answer the three riddles in that order and he will let you pass.
Go pass the guard and forward to the wall and turn right (you will hear voices) use the ear icon and listen to the conversation of Three Rabbit and Papatzin. Papatzin tells Three Rabbit that the poison in the city supply is working. He asks her if she has hidden the gourd with the poison in a good place. Yes, she replies and the God Tezcatlipoca guards it. After they leave go forward to the small statue. If you use your question icon on it you will find out it is a statue of Tezcatlipoca. At the right of the statue is a box. Pick it up and put in inventory. Now, check the ground just in front of statue. You should have a fist icon. Put the box there and then move the statue. Behind the statue you find and take the gourd of poison. Move the statue back to its original spot. Over to the left is a round object, get it and put it in inventory and see what it is, a mirror. Now exit via the stairs and stop. You will hear muffled voices and your icon should turn to a fist. Three Rabbit and Papatzin are still there. Use your mirror on the spot just in front of you (where the fist icon was). Keep checking the mirror until you see they are gone. In fact, Little Serpent will say they have gone. Now leave quickly and go back to the House of Song.
The guard won't let you by, you don't have the drum any more so use the other set of stairs to your left. Inside turn right, forward and down stairs and you will see Cuicani. Ask her if she has figured out the parchment and says has not had enough time but she has a poet friend Azocuan who can help.
He is at the Palace (remember the fellow with the very bad poem in the garden area?) well, he's the one. Cuicani says that he is trustworthy and that if you give him a secret code, he will know you are from her and he will help. The secret code is a white flower, which can be found in that garden area. It is called Yucca Elefantis. Show him the flower.
Now, exit the Center of Ceremonies. Go back around the red building, then turn right, forward, and left and back by ladder, then right, up stairs just before the Temple of Tezcatlipoca and turn left down stairs, and then right, forward - you should see the entrance by this time and go out. Go forward once and you will be automatically turned left and standing there is your friend Chimalli (good, I thought he was stuck to that one spot). You talk of many things.
WATER, WATER EVERYWHERE AND NOT A DROP TO DRINK
Chimalli is very excited about his news. He found out from a slave that the Priestess Papatzin has her water brought to her from far away and this of course makes sense since you have heard she and Three Rabbit talking of poison. You mention to him that you must find which of the pools of drinking water in the city are being poisoned.
You tell Chimalli that you are on your way to Woman Serpent and he informs you that Woman Serpent is on a war campaign against the Tlalcaxtec and is out of the city.
He also implies that this leaves the city barren because all the good solders are with Woman Serpent and perhaps there might be an alliance between Lord Black Flower and Three Rabbit. (This would certainly be a good time for an overthrow as far as I can tell). Back to the game.........Chimalli says he is going to find out more. You need to go to the palace courtyard and find the poet Lord Azocuan.
Go to the courtyard your usual way via the Eagle Knight (your usual way in) and go into the garden area and talk to the poet you spoke with earlier (he is in white and is the only poet around). You ask him if he knows where Lord Azocuan might be found and he nervously answers that the Lord is not around right now, maybe later.
Well, Lord Azocuan has to be him but to prove it and talk to him we need to find the white flower which is the code message - the Yucca Elefantis and this is the only garden around so let's find the flower and then bring it back to him.
Turn around and go back to the stairs leading to where you have been going in and out of the palace area. Facing the small set of stairs, turn right and right again. Look up, there is the white flower you need, you will hear a gasp! It is beyond your reach. Turn right, forward once and then left down the middle path between the two flower planters (you may hear a very big hint). You are now facing the guard, turn right. See the cage you couldn't use before? Go pick it up and put in your inventory. Now, go back and face the white flower plant again. If you move your cursor down you should get a fist icon on the ledge. Place the cage there. Now there should be a fist icon on the cage. Click on the cage and you will see yourself climbing the cage. Now pick the white flower, put in inventory and get down and go back to the poet and show him the white flower.
Tell him you come from Flower of Stone and must see Lord Ayocuan. He confesses he is Lord Ayocuan (why is he always so nervous?) Tell him of Tlalti's death and you are involved in trying to find the evil that is killing the city. He is shocked and replies that Tlalti had sent him a parchment (not a poem). Ask to see it. Be sure to study it. There is a ladder (we know where to find the ladder, right?) and you will also see the Wall of Skulls-Tzompantli (you might want to make note of the way the skulls are facing). He suggests you either go back to Flower of Song or to the Wall of Skulls. Now leave the area.
Things are heating up. Now, the only person I could find that had anything new to add was Turquoise and she can be found back at her spot in the Craftsman area. She will warn you that guards are looking for you. Have no suggestions about where to find the pool of water that is being poisoned. You mention the plot of Three Rabbit and Papatzin but that you cannot prove very much now. She says she will pray to the rain god for you (big help that is right now).
IF FIRST YOU CAN'T GET IN -TRY, TRY AGAIN
We now have to figure a different way to get back into the Center of Ceremonies since we no longer have the drum, which first allowed us past the guard. Go back to the gate of the Center of Ceremonies (the guard is in front of you) and turn right and go forward to the construction area you visited earlier in the game.
If you turn towards your left you will notice that the water goes through an opening and your cursor points that you can go in. However, it is dark in there so look down and see a pot of burning embers and a stick along side the pot. Pick up the stick and notice it is really a torch. Put the torch in the embers and `let there be light'. Now, turn left and enter water tunnel. You can either go all the way to the end and find that there is no way out, turn around go forward once and to your right you will see a couple of stairs. You can also (upon entering the tunnel) go forward twice and turn left and the stairs will be there. Go up the stairs and forward and then turn right. See that square hole in the wall? Click on it and watch the cut scene. You are now inside the Center of Ceremonies. You should see the way you walked before. Go slightly right and forward. A priest will stop you and he will want to know what right do you have to be here. Carry on the conversation and then show him your magic rattle. He has his doubts but will let you pass. However, he is going to keep your rattle.
Now, pass him, go on as before to the House of Song. On your way there you can pick up the ladder or you can do it on your way to the Wall of Skulls in a bit (I picked it up on my way to House of Song). Go the same way as before and enter the unguarded stairway of the House of Song and go talk with Cuicani.
Give the parchment from Ayocuan. She interprets it to say that you must go to the Wall of Skulls-Tzompantli and there try and find another piece of parchment or an object of some kind. Leave her and go to the Wall of Skulls.
Go forward and stop when the building with the red trim is at your right. If you haven't picked up the ladder, go do so now and the come back to the side of the red trimmed building. Now, if you picked up the ladder, turn to your right and look across the large open area - and if red building at your right turn left and look across. Go forward towards the gray building in front of you that looks like it has spikes showing along the wall. As you get close your cursor will tell you this is Tzompantli. Move your cursor along the wall till it becomes a fist. Take out your ladder and click it on the wall. Since this is a puzzle I will suggest you save now (less steps to do if you have to start over). Click on the ladder and a cut scene will happen showing you climbing the ladder. When that ends you are in the puzzle. See the three poles to your left with the color bands? Now see the six other poles next to the banded poles?
You are to get the five poles next to the three-banded poles to look exactly like the three-banded poles. Not a hard puzzle, basically moving skulls around on the six poles till you have the five identical to the three-banded poles. This clears the pole at the far right or the sixth unbanded pole. This pole when cleared will show a parchment. Take it and you will automatically go down ladder. Examine it, put in inventory and go back to the House of Song.
When you show it to Cuicani and show her the parchment from the Wall of Skulls. She still does not understand but remarks that it looks similar to the other parchment she studied earlier. You both will talk of Ayocuan and Tlati. You warn her of Mountain Head.
Now when this conversation is through, bring up your inventory. The goal here is to make a more complete parchment from the two pieces (both have yellow background). First get the earlier parchment and click it over the eye so it is enlarged. Now while still in that screen click on inventory and bring up the parchment from the Wall of Skulls. Click it on the screen. You should now have two pieces with ragged outer edges.
Move the parchment on the right side so that it matches the row with "Three House" symbol on your left with "Five Serpent" on your right. No, the parchment is not going to be a neat rectangle. The "Five Serpent" side will be higher on the screen if done correctly (clue: the two half circles along the center will now become full circles). Leave screen, check inventory and if done correctly when you show it to Cuicani, she will say she still is confused but from what she does understand you need to go to the Tlachtli Court (Ball Court) and look for the name of a God near the left hand hoop (it will become clear when you see the court). Meanwhile, she will study the parchment while you go play ball. Leave the House of Song and go to the court.
The court is located at the left side of the Wall of Skulls, just below the Wall. Once there turn left and enter the court. Speak to the player. You have a choice be his slave or be tested by getting the ball through a hoop. Accept the test and then do a right turn (half of a full circle). You should see a ball on the ground (don't try and throw from here). Pick up the ball, put in inventory and go forward one time. Now, take the ball and click on the hoop. If you get it in, you will see in the hoop opening a bright star and comment this is a sign of the plumed serpent God Queztalcoti. Go back to Cuicani and tell her your findings.
NOTE: When I tried to go straight back to the House of Song, there was a guard standing in the way. I circled back around the red-bordered building and went through where the helpful man was and went pass him through the opening between the blue and red buildings and it was clear to the House of Song.
Cuicani tells you that the Three House and Five Serpent are dates on the calendar and asks you to go back upstairs to the other room and find the wall paintings of Three House and Five Serpent and get the information.
Go back up the stairs, go straight forward. Both paintings are on the far wall. You will talk at this point when you click on the correct painting. Three House is known as the God Tepeyolloltli "Heart of the Mountain" and Five Serpent is known as the Goddess Chalchiuhtlicue "Goddess of Water". Go back to Cuicani and discuss all this with her and when she says what there are two springs, you ask which one. She will say that because the sign you saw was that of Queztalcoti and he is known to be from the West it has to be the spring at Chapultepec "The Mountain of the Grasshopper".
Cuicani tells you that you have no choice but to go there and get proof that this is the spring which is being poisoned but that you must rest now and leave in the morning for it is getting late. You will then see a movie cut and then when you have control again you will be at Chapultepec.
When you gain control of cursor again and you are a bit turned around, face the direction that your cursor changes to a map. Turn left and forward twice. Then turn slightly to your left and you will see guards ahead go and talk with the guard. The guard will not let you pass and ask what you are doing there. Answer with the line that starts "My own name won't mean anything to you...." He will want to test you to see if you are a true hunter and tells you to kill and bring to him two of the singing birds behind you.
SOMEONE PLEASE QUIET THE BIRDS
Turn around and go forward. At the first bushy tree to your right is a bird. Use your cursor and move along the tree - they are hard to see. Cursor changes to fist, bring up your blowgun and kill the bird. The bird will lie on the ground somewhere between the groups of trees. Go down the path between the two groups of trees and turn left at the bushy tree. This one is easier to see. Pick up the first dead bird and go around the bend and on your left again you will see another bushy tree. Shoot the second bird and it will be laying somewhere on the ground there. Bring them back to guard. He thinks you are great, apologies and let's you pass. Go forward until you get a cut movie. After the cut movie go forward to the shelter. Talk with the guard. He won't let you pass and asks if there are any more poison jars to be put in the shelter. You say a few and he says go get them. Turn right and forward. On the outside right side of the shelter is a parrot in a cage and some jars. Run your cursor along the jars-only one will show fist icon (one on right). Take the jar and go back to the guard. (Oh, you can click on the parrot but will get message he won't talk till he gets something to eat). Give the jar to the guard and he now needs the password. You make of an excuse so you can think for a moment.
Turn right and go to the parrot's cage. You have technically two food items, but the one you need is the Amaranth. Click the bag on the parrot and pay attention to what he says. Go back to the guard and when he asks for the password, use the line "Topco Petacalco" and he will let you go into the shelter.
Go forward twice, turn right and go forward to the jars. You will have the fist icon on the jars. You will say that the jars must be broken so they won't poison my people. Well, what to break them with? Nothing in your inventory is going to work. Turn around and go forward once and turn right.
There is a long stick resting on some wood pilings. Take the stick and go back to the jars. Use the stick on the jars. There is a short cut scene. You have only broken a couple of jars - don't bother to try any more times, that is all you are going to break. Turn around and exit the shelter. There is a cut scene with your friend Mountain Head about to kill you. Chimalli is suddenly there and hits Mountain Head very hard and tells you to run. As soon as you have control of cursor again, go forward two times. You will automatically turn right and there is the famous Lord Black Flower.
He tells you he only wants to destroy Montezuma, not the people. He wants to free the people from their yoke. Got the impression he is not that fond of Three Rabbit either (war makes strange bed fellows). Black Flower will give you choices. One choice is to poison the aqueduct and become one of his lords and follow him. The second choice is to drink the poison yourself. Well, I don't trust him, bet if you make the first choice you are a dead serpent anyhow, so chose the noble path and drink the poison.
Now, this is important. You have to move fast in this part. As soon as you make your choice, drink the poison and the bowl drops to the ground, don't just stand there! Turn around and click on the aqueduct, you will then run and dive in, a movie dream sequence will occur and then you will awaken from your deep sleep and no, this isn't heaven. You awaken in the home of Quailaztli, the elder and healer of your village.
Talk with Quailaztli. He tells you that your friend Chimalli found you and heard you mention his name and that Chimalli brought you to him. He also mentions that because you had the gourd of poison he was able to make an antidote to cure you. When you say you must tell everyone about the poison, he stops you. Qualiaztli says that you are thought dead and if you were to go screaming in the streets, you would surely die.
You ask what can we do? He tells you that he can make a big batch of the antidote for the poison but he is missing some essential herbs and you must go to the Chinampas (he calls them floating gardens) and near a hut you will find the herbs he needs. So you immediately leave to get to the canoe at the water's edge to find the herbs he needs for the antidote.
Leave the hut, turn right, turn right again and go forward. Turn left, forward and then slightly right and forward to the canoes and get in (same way you went at the beginning of the game). Go forward two times, turn right, forward two times and turn left, hop out of canoe, turn left, go forward and turn right. Use your knife on the long stemmed flowers there to get the roots for the antidote. You can only use the knife once. Then get back in the canoe and trace your steps back to Quilaztli and you will find him in the corner of the patio. He asks for the roots and tells you that you must take a gourd of the antidote to Woman Serpent, who is now gravely ill. The gourd is in the hut's main room. Take it and exit the hut and leave the area by going between the hut and yellow trimmed house. Click on Tenochtitlan Square. Here we go!!!!!!!!!
THE FINALE
Once you have arrived, you could go over the Eagle Guard and ask him to let you in, however, you don't have the rattle anymore and it may not be a smart move. Instead, go over to the water taxi man (you used him to get into palace the first time) give him two beans and off you go. Once you have landed, talk with the taxman who also tells you that Woman Serpent is very ill and Three Rabbit will only allow his Ticitl-Doctor in and even the loyal taxman is not allowed in.
Go down the passageway as you did the very first time to see Woman Serpent. Stop when you enter the room you cross to go up the stairs to patio areas. See the large brown color square on your left? Go forward one and turn left. You should be facing the square. Now, I did not get a fist icon but if I had walk further towards the patios there would be a guard, so it has to be there. Use your knife on the brown square, which will tear the fabric and go forward. You are now in the hallway between the Eagle guard and the palace garden patio.
Suggest you turn right and go into the garden patio. Go back to the corner where the poet Ayocuan is and talk with him-don't worry it is safe. The poet warns you that Three Rabbit and his guards are everywhere. You tell him you must see Woman Serpent and need his help. You have antidote for Woman Serpent. He does not want to help until you tell him that Lord Three Rabbit and Lord Black Flower are in the plot together and that Black Flower is not far away. Ayocuan is now frighten and agrees to help you. It seems that he wrote a poem about Black Flower that was less than favorable and if Black Flower gets back into power............so he will help.
Ayocuan suggests that he divert the attention of the guard at Woman Serpent's room and you sneak in and see Woman Serpent. You must go a different way than Ayocuan. Turn around and go forward, turn left and up to the other patio area and then go into Woman Serpent's room (you can see Ayocuan and the guard talking to your right before you enter).
Woman Serpent is on a mat in the back of the room. Turn left, go forward, turn right and go forward to Woman Serpent. Immediately give him the gourd of antidote.
Now, sit and watch your fate unravel before you..........................