This is the song that plays at the cathedral. By far my favorite one from the game
When we last left the raptor was about to explore the estatue of Jacques de Molay.
Touching it sets off another message from Baphomet:
You have been guided thus far with a charmed life, friend. The shield before you will open your eyes so that you may look down upon great Aeternis as if through the sight of God on high! But beware the resting place of the dead that never sleep!
A metal hand stands out from old Jaques statue with an ornate key.
But what about the damn shield?
Geffrye appears after the raptor picks it up.
Greetings to you again, friend. No doubt you are disappointed to see the shield is not with the statue, but it had to be removed to be in a safer place. I have gathered a lot of information within Aeternis over the years, being its architect gives me... advantages. You may have heard I am part of a certain faction, but each guardian has his own individual responsability to the grail that comes before all else. I have to be certain that the shield, and through it the grail, don't fall in the wrong hands. In my haste, I hid the shield in a carcass in the meat locker that is beneath my studio. I suggest you find your way there quickly if you wish to retrieve it.
What is this guy up to? Ok... Time to pick up that shield then. After Geffrye leaves the raptor heads back to the winch lift.
And heads back to the abbatoir(there is a door in geffrye's studio that offers a shortcut).
Aha, inside on of the carcasses is the shield hidden by geffrye.
Reshape the world to your will and fear not, for Azrael's scythe shall not fall upon you.
Time to head back to the zigurat and explore the areas of it left unchecked. This time the raptor climbs this stairway on the side of the tower.
On top it there is a carving identic to the shield we picked up.
Placing it there the whole thing turns and takes the raptor into a secret passage!
Whoa, we are back at that area were the velociraptor was smashed. Time to pick up the shield and head to the orrery. There is a slot in the alcove there waiting for it.
Placing the 3rd shield in the alcove unlocks this door to the west.
The raptor is now in some kind of map/control room. This carving seems compatible with the ornate key we got from the statue. Time to use it.
Something clicks and now there miniature models of Aeternis across the floor.
Just like Baphomet said.. a "God's eye" view of the place. This part is kind of tricky, there are controls for all the rooms and clicking some of them screws things up terribly(filling them with water or activating traps, for instance.). There is a note on one of the miniature rooms:
Thief,
Once you have the Grail go to the Cathedral and take the north door. Pass through the next chamber, and when you reach the tunnel beyond take the right hand path. I shall meet you on the aquedut beyond and guide you out of the Temple.
Trust no one else. I am the only one who truly wishes to be rid of the Grail.(Cobweb drawing)
Choices, choices... we now know that "Cobweb" is in fact Philip, an agent of the Priory amongst the Templars. Can the raptor trust him? I wonder if he really wants to be rid of the grail, being that his masters attempted to steal it...
Anyway, the raptor uses the models to unlock several doors. To the east there is another shield alcove:
Clicking on it spins the room again and the raptor is back at the ziggurat, this time on the other side.
There is this door that was not explored yet.
It leads to another long corridor.
Heading east the raptor reaches a large metal door. Whoa, lots of info on MS2 here... Not only is there a gigantic dinosaur in there, but the raptor is also receiving a distress signal from Colin Scott! Remember him? He is the guy who sent the letter telling about this place, the one transcribed in the OP. He is our main man's rival.
The awesome song I linked starts playing now, and the ground is shaking with loud thuds. We finally come face to face with the "Mantichora".
Well, why not open the door and take a peak?
Unholy crap!
Luckily he can't get past the tiny door. Okay, so we are dealing with a mutant T-rex here... the "manticore". Emptying the handrifle on him doesn't even leave a scratch, so the trick is to evade him. The raptor has to wait for the right moment and run to the vestry in the middle of the Cathedral. There he can take shelter. The thing seems to be circling the vestry so there is ample opportunity.
Here goes nothing...
Survival! We will deal with the creature later. Now it is time to explore this. Maybe find Colin and see what he has to say...
There is a chain next to the strange organ with the masonic "all-seeing eye". Unlatching the pin under it seems to release the organ pipes at the Cathedral. There is a huge noise going on outside... the Manticore doesn't sound too happy about it. The raptor goes outside to check out:
The thing is trapped behind the huge brass pipes now. It won't be a threat no more... at least for the moment. The Raptor heads back to the vestry and picks up a document lying on top of a wooden table.
Year of our Lord septermber 1307
This may be the last communiqué you receive from us. As you know, we are under treacherous attack. All Templar property is being sequestered and our brotherhood is being arrested and tortured en masse. The ship that delivered this missive was part of a small fleet that will attempt to establish the Order again in Scotland. They, and you are our only hopes for the future. They have been ordered to infiltrate the clan system and the Scottish Freemasons. If successful, they will contact you. Until then you will be alone. I bid you good luck and forward to you the last order from our Grand Master Jacques de Molay before his capture:"Protect and hide the Grail; forever if necessary. One day we will return and we will have need of it."
The box on the left of the document opens to reveal a key.
The raptor takes it. But wait... clicking on the box again reveals a false bottom containing a brooch!
There is a stairway in the vestry, but before exploring it the raptor heads back to the cathedral. There is a large Mosaic on the floor:
With an accurate medieval depiction of two raptors holding the grail. But how? So Tobias could actually see the future? Maybe he isn't that crazy? Maybe this "holy thief" business isn't complete bull?
(tired)Honestly, I don't even care any more. Get me out of this mess!
Ms2 detects a hidden passage behind the wall with the shields:
Humm. On top of a locked double door there is another Mosaic depicting 4 knights sharing communion wafers:
It is an obvious hint for that puzzle that is already solved. There is an ornate lever lying next to the pipes:
The raptor takes it and leaves the Cathedral. We will explore it again later. Hope Colin hangs tough till then. Now it is time to head on to the other end of that long hallway that we followed here... to the crypt where as Baphomet exposed, there are "dead that never sleep".