"Return the Heart" readme...

Map Titles:  The Divine Annex, Pit of Chizra, Karkuth Monastery, DM-Relinquished (included just for fun)

Author:  Rob 'Doublez-Down' Collins (email rmcollins3@yahoo.com)

Gametype:  Unreal/Unreal Tournament (Single Player, supports but not meant for coop play)

Release Date:  July 12th, 2010

Requirements:  Unreal Tournament, Oldskool Amp'd Mutator, which can be found here:(http://www.filefront.com/3788372/oldskool230full.zip), suspense.umx, hyperbore.umx (included).

Installation Instructions:  Unzip .unr files to your maps directory, .umx files to your music directory, .u and .int files into your UT system directory.

Play Instructions:  Select 'New Single Player Game' from the menu, then select 'Return the Heart' and your difficulty setting.


Tools Used:  UnrealED 2.0, Photoshop 6

Difficulty levels:  All levels supported.  Thanks to Waff for his excellent tutorial on filtering.

Other Titles by Author:  DM-Relinquished (UT99), DM-1on1Amunra (UT99), DM-AthosMonastery (UT99), CTF-Kebechet (UT2k4), Mines of Draglir Pur (Unreal/In Progress), Entry Flyby Map (Unreal, untitled as of yet) for Shamuquest.

*****************************************************************************************************

Story behind the pack:  "For more than a decade after the events that took place in the original Unreal series, scientists have been studying Na Pali and its surrounding moons for evidence of past cultures and religions.  Similar to Archealogists and Anthropologists on Earth studying the past tombs and pyramids of ancient Egypt, our scientists hope to learn all they can about the ancient culture of the Na Pali inhabitants.  While concentrating on the area surrounding the Valora Temple, they have discovered several other tombs, catacombs, and annexes.  

One of these annexes has been loosely called "The Divine Annex", given its name since it apparently contains glyphs and paintings that give worship to both Vandora and Chizra.  The annex is also rumored to be a resting place for the workers that actually built Chizra's Temple, although this is not yet confirmed.  Many of these workers worshiped both divinities, and it is said to be these worshipers who concentrated on a room labeled as "The Divine Water Chamber", a small chamber whose power is unknown, if it contains any at all.  But at least it explains the water.

Since Vandora and Chizra's temples were both inundated with alien life forms, there is reason to believe those same alien forms may have taken up residence in this set of temples as well.  Of course there is only one way to be sure.  One other note, a two person team was sent to investigate  approximately one month ago, but they have not been heard from for a week.  As head of security for the Science and Research division, you are being sent in to investigate.  Unfortunately, due to our extreme research budget, we have no arsenal of weapons to send with you.  The last team took our main weapons (they were a testy bunch!), so hopefully some of them are still around.  One of them even tried to sneak a Flak Cannon, but there just wasn't enough room.

There is another rumor that the Nali race offered a huge gem to Chizra in the hopes that the god would help rid their race of its oppression by the Skaarj.  If you happen to come across this jewel, use your best judgment in your decision on what to do with it, as we will not be able to contact you.  However, as scientists, we are NOT tomb robbers, so bringing it back with you isn't an option.  If the Nali give any hint on what to do with it, then follow their lead.


One word of warning:  these annexes are rumored to have been raided in antiquity, and Vandora herself has apparently cursed the place for this, if you believe in that sort of thing.  But just to be safe, I'd refrain from destroying or stealing any offerings left for her or Chizra.  And of course, be sure to show the greatest respect for any renditions of the divinities themselves.

One week later...

You naturally accept the mission, gather your small amount of gear, and head to the annex.  Once you step inside, a small pressure plate activates a stone beam that locks you inside.  Nothing to do now but your job!  Make your way through the temple and beyond.

****************************************************************************************************

Author's Notes:  This is a small map pack that was started as a single map that grew into the 3 map pack, finished in an approximately two-month timeframe as a break from the Shamuquest expansion.  For more information on that project, see the Shamuquest thread on Unrealsp.org.  There is also a map by Raven called "Heart of Chizra".  The diamond in this map pack's name is very similar (and was actually changed so it wouldn't be the exact same).  No infringement is intented by this similarity in names.

Although the maps are meant to be played as a pack, they are also able to be played as stand alone maps, although you will have to assume you already have Chizra's Heart at the start of Karkuth Monastery.  Weapons/powerups and enemy placement was done in order to facilitate either method of play. Of course the 2nd or 3rd maps may be a touch easier when played in order due to having more ammo/health acquired in the earlier levels.

The levers that the player pulls in Pit of Chizra and Karkuth Monastery were copied from Bluff Eversmoking in the original Unreal.  Credit goes to whomever made them, as they are in several Unreal levels.  This was done for authenticity sake...and simply because I was lazy and didn't see the need to improve upon them.  The graves and casket in Karkuth Monastery are very similar to those in Bluff as well, but those aren't ripped, even though I did use the ones in Bluff as obvious inspiration.  That being said, there are several areas in these maps that may look similar to those in the original Unreal.  This is done on purpose, as I wanted this pack to be kind of a "throwback", and because I had taken a 10-year hiatus from mapping and since played through Unreal again.  So this of course gave me a lot of inspiration and ideas.

DM-Relinquished uses textures from Wheel of Time.  The first two rooms in Divine Annex are taken from that map as well, although they are my own work.  Thanks to Nachimir for his help on Relinquished, as he connected the z-axis portion of the map and made the bridge across the main room (this is already mentioned in the readme for that map in other places).  The music for Relinquished uses Hyperbore.umx, which if I'm not mistaken is by Rich Eastwood and first heard in his excellent DM-Hyperboreal.  It has been included in the zip file but shouldn't be needed as it's in the mylevel package for that map.

Other inspiration for this map pack came from a book entitled "Dance of Death" by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child (all of their books are excellent btw).  In that book, there is a diamond that is stolen called "Lucifer's Heart", which helped with the name of the diamond in this map pack, as I was reading that book at the time.   

******SPOILERS FOLLOW*******

Divine Annex Hints:  

Some monsters have to be killed to advance through the maps.  These should be fairly obvious when you see them.  Be sure to read the glyphs, as they help tell the story and may be necessary to touch in order to proceed.  While the enemies don't like you, some of them also don't like each other.  Use this to your advantage if you're having trouble in some spots.  

After completing the Divine Annex, you may want to go back through it again, as the Skaarj have a habit of sending in reinforcements...just in case you need to do some more killing.

The Pit of Chizra Hints:  

This map contains a few "puzzles" that you must complete in order to proceed.  While I recommend you figure these out for yourself, the solutions are given below if you are having an especially hard time figuring them out...

 - To open the green door:  Press the four "head statues" in the following order, as if you are facing the green door - right closest, right furthest, left closest, left furthest (furthest meaning furthest from the green door).

 - To open the gold door:  Pull the switches in the following order, as if you're standing at the far end of the bridge facing the gold door - right furthest, right closest, left furthest, left closest.  Be sure to make it through the door before it closes.  If it does close, just pull the last trigger again.

 - To jump into the water in the room past the crushing movers - look for a small block on the floor with your flashlight or flare.  Use it to jump to the bigger block, then jump onto the ledge and into the water (you can also just rocket jump as well).

 - To make it past the trap door puzzle (last room) - pull the right switch, turning the head and activating the left one.  Position yourself so you can pull the left switch and run to the door at the same time.  Make sure you don't get hung up on the switch while running or you won't make it.  Jump when you are about halfway across the trap door.  

Karkuth Monastery Hints:

Entering the two Nali huts in Karkuth Monastery causes a Skaarj and a Gasbag to ambush you (although not always).  If you don't need the automag or flashlight, then these huts can be avoided, thereby avoiding the fight.  There is a Stinger located in the first one on Easy Difficulty, and neither will ambush you.

Killing the Titan in Karkuth Monastery is probably a matter of fighting style preference, and he's easy enough to defeat without using any "tricks", but there are a couple that can be done to make it a touch easier if needed (particularly on Unreal difficulty).  Stepping through the gate causes him to ambush you relentlessly.  You can go through the gate, run to the right to get the RL (if you don't already have it) then sprint back through the gate.  There is only one window you can shoot through; lure him to that window and he's easy pickens.  Secondly, you can use the casket as a shield of sorts and pick him off while staying behind the casket (particularly by bouncing blades off the mountain) - this may be more difficult than just fighting him in the open though.

Secret area containing a DP power up in Karkuth Monastery - use the bed to jump through the red wall decoration inside the Skaarj's room.

Super Health - use a rocket jump (or let the Titan bounce you) to obtain the SH inside the casket.

Have Fun and Enjoy.

Thanks to Delacroix and Jetv435 for their help in beta testing.

Other mappers may use ideas or portions of this map for help in their own work, but please make an attempt to ask for permission first, and give credit where it's due.

And I've been asked before where my nickname came from, so here goes for those that give a damn.  I used to play a LOT of Blackjack in the California indian casinos.  Doubling down is a play made in Blackjack, particulary with any two cards that equal 11 (and sometimes 10).





