- The Journey Begins

Fable 2 Guide - The Journey Begins

Now follow the trail out of the camp and back to the spot on Bowerstone Road where the blockade was previously in place (about halfway along there is a treasure chest by some ruins on the right.) Move through after listening to the acclaim of the guard if you want to and you will be transported to the luxurious city of Bowerstone.

The Bard introduces himself as you enter, someone you should learn to exploit to boost your renown later in the game. He will be your guide for the day. As you cross Bowerstone Bridge follow your dog down the steps and to the treasure underneath (behind the crates at the bottom of the stairs) before returning up top and moving into the circle in the centre of the town square. You need to amuse yourself for five real minutes before Theresa arrives. Head to the tavern and sleep in the beds upstairs (for free), get used to the pub games or explore the town, shops and jobs on offer. At this stage the Blacksmith job is the only one open, and it's also the least rewarding.

With five minutes up, wander back to the centre and meet Theresa. When she asks whether you 'feel the weight of responsibility' for slaying Thag and his men, use either the thumbs up or thumbs down expression mapped to the up and down buttons of the d-pad respectively to convey your view. There is no punishment for either selection, just a different response from Theresa. Follow her through the town and down to the gypsy caravan where she gives you a talk on the history and background to the game, as well as some Fate Cards to pore over.

To find the location of the first hero, we must initially pay a visit to the abbot at Oakfield, which also gives a perfect opportunity to explore the second of the game's four towns.

Take some more time to generate some cash from the items you've already acquired on your travels and to stock up on potions and equipment if you feel the need. You can always do this once you get to Oakfield however. To get there, follow the trail, turning left before the bridge out of Bowerstone and heading to the Old Town Road. The Old Town looks different depending on what you did while as a child, but head down to the warehouse from long ago and left down the steps, through the arch and out of the town.

Travel through Roookridge Road, the small area full of dig-spots and onto Rookridge itself. This area is crawling with bandits, and as you follow the track you will be introduced to a hijacker who has attacked a carriage. You can pillage the remains of the vehicle and its owners for 10 corruption points, or leave it alone for 10 purity points. Incidentally the items on offer include 50 gold, apple pie, and milk chocolate, so not worth writing home about.

Continue on past the horse statue and uphill. As it turns downwards follow the trail until you come to a varied area featuring high cliffs and a flat expanse beneath them. All around, perched on top of said peaks are bandits, and the only way to Oakfield is to fight through them. They are armed with pistols and rifles, which you may well not have encountered yet. Your crossbow (or equivalent ranged weapon) can do just as good a job, though you may want to spend any spare skill points you have currently on upgrading your Accuracy.

Use a ranged weapon to pick off the bandits up high. Doing this will enrage the others, who will doubtless come streaming down the cliffside to engage you close-quarters. Use your sword and Will attacks to see the lower enemies off before moving up the precipice and taking on the musketeers up high. They will number around ten, so don't be afraid to use potions if necessary. With them vanquished, move on cautiously – the area is still littered with bandits – as you proceed up the winding hill-path.

You will often have very similar fights to this while traveling through Rookridge

You'll know you're going the right way when you go under a ruined aqueduct, complete with treasure chest underneath one of the arches – plus you should have met more bandits by now. At the bottom of this hill is another bandit camp. Generally though they're ability is pretty limited and once you take them on up close you should just be able to treat this as a XP gathering exercise. After moving past the camp you should come to a ruined bridge with bandits guarding it. Despite their cajoling, the only way forwards is to dive into the swollen river below and swim to the bank.

You will come across a man whose little boy has been carried off by Hobbes into the depths of a nearby cave – helping him provides some much needed XP and good points. Going through this cave is the only way to proceed, but killing Hobbes is fun, even for the good and pure hero, so it's not too bad. The boy's father is a bit of a coward, but nonetheless he wants to follow you in, and will regale you with stories of Hobbes eating little boys and how they all once were lovely, naïve children. Lead him into the cave and the truth will out.

Once inside, swim out in the pool to the dive spot to collect the booty beneath, before leading the father along the path and deeper into the cave. You'll be introduced to the Hobbes before they attack you, so don't feel the need to rush or be too cautious in exploring the early section. Once you emerge into the mining section of the cave, complete with tracks and carts, the first Hobbes will attack. These early versions really provide little resistance, so use whichever weaponry you wish, though they can take a lot of punishment.

Head up the winding wooden path going high into the roof of the mine. There are numerous side rooms sporting treasure and items and you can see where these locations are in the latter section of this guide. Soon the father will, sensibly, run off into unknown territory and rooms full of Hobbes. Don't feel the need to keep up with him, but once you get there you need to follow your dog to find a way past the blocked path. After which you will see father and son reunited, but not in a particularly happy-ending sort of way. Get out of the cave at this point, following the route to the other exit emerging behind those taunting bandits from earlier. It's a hectic path, with dozens of Hobbes, but it should be a XP gathering exercise rather than a particular threat to your health.

See the bandits off to the right when you surface. Then double back and head up the middle path going uphill along the trail to Oakfield. Get the treasure by the mine at the top of the hill (in between the two large crates to the left of the shaft) and continue on. Take the right hand fork underneath the arch and you'll arrive in pleasant Oakfield.

To proceed we must find the Temple of Light and the abbot within. Explore the town, but follow the main path past the farm and woodcutter job, turning right into the next field and off the beaten track. Head right again once you emerge from the other side of the field, following this route over the bridge and past the pub, keeping it on your left hand side. Staying on this path (don't take any grassy routes leading off it) you will eventually come to a pool and waterfall. Keep on and you will move up a hill to the Temple.