Reaching the Mountain Fortress is a major milestone during Chapter 3 of the colony adventure, where you search for the critical focus stones alongside Lester. While the fortress is packed with hostile scavengers and harpies, its real challenges lie in two specific environmental puzzles: a locked library bookshelf door and a broken stone bridge hiding the strongest ranged weapon in the game.
Solving the Library Bookshelf Puzzle
Once you make your way into the library area of the fortress, you will notice a hidden door that seals off the path to the Focus Stone. Rather than wasting time and lockpicks trying to force your way through, you need to trigger the bookshelf mechanism in a precise order.
The clue to this puzzle is located in the dining room you passed through before entering the library. Inspect the dining room thoroughly to find the parchment containing the interaction sequence. Returning to the library and interacting with the bookshelves in this sequence will slide the hidden door open without triggering any traps.
Crossing the Broken Bridge for the Crossbow of War
Further into the fortress, a wide gap separates you from a lone stone platform containing a heavy chest. In the 2001 classic version of the game, players could easily cross this chasm by using the Acrobatics skill or simply timing a running jump. Alkimia Interactive has modified this encounter in the remake: attempting to jump across the broken bridge normally will result in a fatal fall.
To cross the gap safely, you must utilize a transformation spell scroll. Transforming into a Bloodfly allows you to float across the chasm effortlessly.
Once on the other side, return to human form and approach the chest. You will need to use your lockpicking skills to bypass the lock mechanism. Opening this chest rewards you with the Crossbow of War, which stands as the most powerful crossbow in the game. Boasting massive base damage, it serves as the ultimate gear upgrade for ranged builds. Make sure you carry at least one transformation scroll before heading out to the fortress to avoid missing this weapon.