 
 
    Star Trail : Realms of Arkania II       An Unofficial FAQ 
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I have cobbled together this FAQ of info for Star Trail from a 
number of messages posted by people to usenet;  if I've not 
credited you for info in the game please forgive me, it's not 
intentional.   I have rounded off the FAQ with some data at 
the end noted from spells and experience in the game. 
 
The FAQ is split into general questions and questions on  
particular parts of the game. 
 
If you have any additions/corrections, pop them in an e-mail to me. 
This is really a "draft" FAQ;  I'll repost a new version in a week 
or two if I get enough comments (and I finish the game myself ;-) 
 
Credits:   	Garfield (4darkow@informatik.uni-hamburg.de) 
	   	Bobbie (bobbiekat@aol.com) 
		Dirk (Dirk.Bruggemann@durham.ac.uk) 
		Rick (redrick@delphi.com) 
		Lance (pfrench@clark.net) 
		+ others! 
 
Enjoy!					Tim (tjc@ecs.soton.ac.uk) 
 
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  WHAT IS STAR TRAIL? 
 
     Star Trail is touted as a "fantasy role playing simulation", the 
     reason being that there is a lot of attention to detail in the game. 
     The game system is based on the (supposedly) popular German role  
     playing system called "Das Schwarze Auge".   
 
     The game comes with a manual, reference card and a fold-out colour  
     map of the realm.  The map covers about 400 by 300 miles of land,  
     and has over a dozen villages/towns marked on it.  The manual is 
     70+ pages, thoughtfully written and well indexed.  There are no  
     details of monsters or weapons in the manual, but there is enough  
     info to get you going and involved in the game.  A separate clue  
     book (I don't have it) retails for #13.99 or so. 
 
     The game features 3D graphics in towns and dungeons (similar to 
     'Arena: Elder Scrolls', but oddly without the people - encounters 
     either yield pop-up menus or combat).  Combat is isometric and 
     turn-based with good, but not great, graphics.  On the CD version 
     there are combat sounds, including spell chants.  Travel between  
     towns is done on an overhead map, with movement restricted to 
     paths that you find. 
  
     Characters can be from any of 12 races, and have around 50 skills 
     they can develop, and a larger number of spells.  You can skip a 
     lot of the detail by playing in "novice" mode.   There's a fair 
     chance that if you'd like a cross between 'Arena' and 'Betrayal at 
     Krondor', you'd like this game. 
 
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  GAME SPECS 
 
     The reference card says the game needs a 386PC or better (486/33  
     is recommended), 4Mb RAM (though it says only 2Mb on the box!),  
     580k of free base RAM, 670k min EMS and 64k min XMS (which is a  
     bit of a pain, especially on the CD version).  The CD version,  
     which I have, claims to need 31Mb of HD space too.  Sound support  
     looks good.  I played on a DX2/66, 8Mb, SB16 with no trouble.   
     Graphics appear to be regular VGA. 
 
     The game comes on 3.5" disk or CD; I got CD and thus have some  
     extra graphics (though I'm not sure where!) and digitised speech,  
     which seems to pop up in cut scenes.  To install the full game  
     from CD to HD would take over 100Mb, but luckily you only need a  
     fraction of that to play off the CD.  Copy protection is a one 
     word lookup the first time you save in any game session. 
 
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  ADVENTURING 
 
     Star Trail has a relatively free-flowing plot;  there are some 
     linear elements, but you can spend a lot of time wandering 
     rather aimlessly early on!   To start off, save the woman being 
     attacked by Orcs SW of the starting town - this gets you a bonus 
     two levels of experience.   Then make your general way towards  
     the Finsterkamm and the dwarven pit.   The quest in Gashok isn't 
     too hard and can be completed early in the game. 
 
     ** SPOILERS FOLLOW ** 
 
     If you go to sleep in the first inn SW of the starting town 
     you will be visited in the night by someone seeking the missing 
     axe called Star Trail. 
 
 
 General 
 
 (Q) My characters get ill a lot - what can I do? 
     Buy sleeping bags as soon as you can; these cut down on colds  
     and flu-type infections dramatically.  Always carry herbs for 
     healing and curing disease.  Early in the game sell off excess 
     ones as the cash is more useful to you. 
 
 (Q) How much food/water should I carry? 
     It depends where you are exploring; in mountain and desert areas 
     you should carry at least two full water skins each and probably 
     at least 6 ration packs (you can top these up with overnight 
     foraging).   
 
 (Q) Where can I get alchemy recipes? 
     There aren't too many around.  It may be that Realms of Arkania I 
     recipes will work.  You'll find two in the Dwarven Pit. 
       Vomicum:        lamp oil, shurin bulb, mandrake. 
       Hylailian fire: 2 brandies, licorish, 2 lamp oils. 
 
 (Q) The markets seem always shut? 
     No.  The markets arrive one day a week in Kvirasim (Fireday) and 
     Gashok (Praiosday).  Time your visits to the towns accordingly or 
     spend a few nights in an inn. 
 
 
 The Dwarven Pit 
 
     The pit is in the Dwarven town in the Finsterkamm mountains. 
     Herein lies the salamander stone and a few other handy items 
     including a magic waterskin and a number of +5 STR belts. 
 
     It is important NOT to rob anything (the altar, the graves and 
     the axes) else you'll anger the Dwarven god.  You may find 
     a rope, spade, crowbar and more than one lockpick useful for 
     the pit. 
 
 (Q) How do I get in? 
     You can use the back entrance, but better still ask the priest 
     in the temple of Ingerimm (inside the mountain) about the pit  
     three times and he will give you the key. 
 
 (Q) How do I get out? 
     Either go out the back way, or get the key from the gnome and 
     leave by the main entrance.  The back tunnel will collapse the 
     first time you pass through it.  The back exit is at the lowest  
     level.  Just keep climbing down (not using the stairs) till you  
     can go no further.  Or you can leave a character with a key 
     outside the double door entrance. 
 
 (Q) Where is the magical water skin? 
     The skin must be found in the watery level;  if you turn the 
     wheel on the higher level the water (and the skin) drain away. 
     You need to turn the wheel later to get through the trapdoor 
     on that level (and you need a crowbar for that). 
 
 (Q) When does the hammer strike? 
     After getting the stone, go to the altar room with the lit torches 
     and stay there for a day. 
 
 (Q) How do I get across the fire plates? 
     You need the leathers from the chest; wear them and put them back 
     when you are done. 
 
 (Q) What is the answer to the gnome's riddle? 
     MOOSE! 
 
 (Q) What is the Asthenal Ring? 
     It seems to be a fire resistence ring.  It's in the brazier on 
     the first level north and east of the main pit double door. 
     You will take temporary damage retreiving it.  It may be useful 
     in the hot "hole" on a level further down, and possibly entering 
     there with a rope ladder and the ring on may be worth trying. 
 
 (Q) Can I get the sword and the stone? 
     The only way I've found to get both the sword and the Salamander Stone 
     and get out alive is to do things in this order:  Talk to Golem first  
     time. Go to far SE chest and take stone *but* when offered chance to  
     swap or not hit ESCAPE instead of choosing.  Then go back to Golem and 
     when he's done with the sword you'll get it. 
 
 
 Lowangen 
 
     This is the city under seige by an Orc army. 
 
 (Q) Can I sneak into Lowangen? 
     You'll have to give your non-magic items to the orcs first time 
     in, but after that you should find a secret passage in/out. 
     To keep your stuff put it in a warehouse or leave it with another 
     party member outside the town in a temple (you can create just a 
     "dummy" character for this. 
 
 (Q) Where is Black Jandora 
     Four squares west of the eastern wall, about halfway up. 
     Or: 4 paces north of the Rod and Mare brothel in Colorful Flight. 
 
 (Q) Who is Gavron? 
     Usually, a party who enters Lowangen carries the stone with them and  
     get it stolen by Gavron.  To get it back you have to find him (wait 
     in the Orc Death tavern).  You will also find out about the fake  
     stone if you get yours stolen. 
 
 (Q) Where is Vidaria Leechbronn? 
     Her house is located in Eydal...1 pace east and 3 paces south of the 
     Canal Tavern. 
 
 (Q) Where is Vinsalter? 
     Find the Temple of Rahja on your automap, Vinsalter is five steps  
     west and one step south of there. 
 
 (Q) How do I get into the castle? 
     You`ll find out if you find Dragan and ask him about travelling. 
     (This is important to do!). 
 
 
 The Swamp 
 
     The swamp is in the middle of the main map.   
  
 (Q) How do I catch the Rantzy? 
     Equip a character with a net, then use it in combat. 
 
 (Q) What do I do with the Swamp Rantzy wearing the necklace? 
     Catch him with the net.  Then find heather plants W of there.  When  
     you get back near Lowangen use the 18th heather on him.  There are 
     also two documents related to this problem.  (Or: Go to where the  
     heather is. Pluck each bush, until you find the one that makes the  
     rantzy react. Throw away heathers that do not make him react.) 
 
     To transform the character back into a human, have a character with 
     adequate skills hold the rantzy, the dcoument, and the magic heather. 
     Use the document, then use the heather. If you do not have adequate 
     healing skills, wait till you are about to enter Lowengrin. If your 
     party has a healer, you can cure his disease and adventure with him. 
 
 (Q) How do you open the chest in the swamp? 
     Turn stepwise mode off to get into the chest.(!) 
 
 (Q) How do I get into the tower? 
     Talk to the witch.  It seems wise NOT to pull up the witch's herb 
     garden before you try to speak with her. 
 
 (Q) How do you appease the Fire Elemental? 
     Answer with one word at a time...... 
     Love, Mercy, Pity, Justice ... any of these will do. 
 
 
 Tiefhusen 
 
     A port in the NE of the map, Tiefhusen contains the Temple of Phex 
     and is a place to go to find Star Trail. 
 
 (Q) Who do I ask about Star Trail? 
     Try the priest in the Hesinde(?) temple. 
 
 (Q) Where is Hensgen? 
     You should be able to find him sitting by a tree outside the city  
     walls (I think it's in the north, but I'm not sure). 
 
 
 The Phex Dungeon 
 
 (Q) Can I escape the first skeleton trap in the Phex dungeon? 
     There is a way: you should find another scroll in that region.  
     When you pick it up, the barrier vanishes 
 
 (Q) What is the answer to the riddle? 
     NIGHT. 
 
 
 Tjolmar 
 
     Try here for the temple of Nameless. 
 
 
 The Final Dungeon 
 
 (Q) How do I get in? 
     Look at the scroll you get from the Dwarf's house; it has the  
     letters "2L 4R 4L" on it;  you have to push the walls is the right 
     order, ie. 2 Left, 4 Right and 4 Left from that passage. 
 
 (Q) Which four-digit code do I have to enter on one of lowest floors? 
     The code is 1325 and I got the answer from someone else who never 
     explained how *they* got it. 
 
   
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  WEAPONS 
		               Attack  Defense 
	      	      Damage    Bonus   Bonus   Weight   Type 
 
Knife			1-6	-3	-4	 10	pointed 
Obsidian dagger		1-6	-2	-3	 30	pointed 
Kukris mengbilar (*)	2-7	-3	-4	 20	pointed 
Dagger			2-7	-2	-3	 20	pointed 
Kukris dagger (*)	2-7	-2	-3	 30	pointed 
Heavy dagger		3-8	-1	-2	 30	pointed 
Foil			4-9	 0	-1	 30	pointed 
Epee			4-9	 0	-1	 35	pointed 
Rapier			4-9	 0	-1	 35	pointed 
Wolf knife		4-9	 0	-1	 50	pointed 
 
Magic wand (+)		2-7	 0	 0	 70	polearm 
Quarterstaff		2-7	 0	-1	 70	polearm 
 
Grain flail		3-8	-2	-3	100	edged wpn 
Sabre			4-9	 0	 0	 60	edged wpn 
 
Sword			5-10	 0	 0	 80	sword 
Sword of Artherion	6-11	+3	-1	 80	sword 
 
Bastard sword		6-11	-1	-2	140	2-handed 
Two-handed sword	6-16	-2	-3	160	2-handed 
War axe			6-16	-1	-4	150	2-handed 
 
Skraja			4-9	 0	-2	 90	axe 
Hatchet			5-10	 0	-3	120	axe 
Orc hook		6-11	-1	-3	120	axe 
 
Long bow		5-10	 0	 0	 30	missile 
Bow of Artherion	7-12	 0	 0	 30	missile 
Crossbow		7-12	 0	 0	200	missile 
Heavy crossbow		8-13	 0 	 0	220	missile 
 
Cutting tooth		5-10	 0	 0	 50	thrown 
 
(*) weapon carries poison 
(+) can hold special charges 
 
Note certain weapons can only be used by certain character races. 
 
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  ARMOURS 
 
Name           AR      Hind    At       Pa     Weight 
 
Iron shield	2	1	0	-1	200 
Skull girdle    -       -       -        -       10   Necrophobia -4 
 
This section needs expanding :) 
 
 
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  CREATURES 
 
Name		Lvl    At  Pa  AR  MR  Att Dam    LP  AP 
 
Orc		 1      3   0	2 -17	1  3-8	  13   0 
Stag Beetle	 1      8   2	3  10	1  2-7	  30   0 
Frost spider	 1      9   0	1  10	1  2-7	  16   0 
War Ogre	13     17  14	6   0	1  8-18	  60   0 
Goblin		 3      7   3	2   4	1  4-9    18   0 
Lion		 1     11   6	1   4	2  5-10	  40   0 
Elf		 4     12   9	3   4   1  5-10   44  20 
Harpy		 1     15  10	2  10	1  5-10   40   0 
Forest gnome	 1     14   6	6   7   1  7-12   28   0 
Tusk tiger	 1     15   7	1  -2	2  5-20	  52   0 
Robber		 8     15  12   3   5   1  7-12   57   0 
Deregon	(*)	10	8   6   2   6	1  7-12   62   0 
Exholt (*)	10     16  14   3   6   1  7-12   72   0 
Ogre		 1	9   3   3  -2   1  8-18   48   0 
Arkanian	 3	5   3   3  -3   1  5-10   36   0 
Gargoyle	 1     10   5   6  12   1  7-12   60   0 
Dwarf undead	 8	9   5   3   5   1  7-12   40   0 
 
(*) Individual "NPC" in game. 
 
Life Points are LPs observed from healthy opponents via spellcasting; 
these will vary for individual creatures.  It may be that other stats 
vary too. 
 
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That's all - please e-mail additions/corrections to tjc@ecs.soton.ac.uk 
 
