Vault of Shadows, The - RuneScape Guide (2024)

Time Served Mystery

58 Archaeology (107 to repair all of the scrolls)
60 Divination

1. "Loaned" versions will be obtained from Dr. Nabanik if you do not already unlocked the dial.
2. Alternatively you can have claimed Sliske's gift to see the Shadow Realm (requires completion of Fate of the Gods).

*Which of these you receive depends upon if any of the dials have been activated before the Miniquest has been started.

Kharid-et Dig Site

Note that the dials can be accessed in any order, however, we will be addressing them in the order based on the level required to repair the scroll used. The guide is written assuming you will complete the puzzle once the dial is unlocked, but it is possible to unlock them all and then go back to solve the associated puzzle. Note that it is also possible to unlock the dials before beginning the Miniquest (due to it also being a Mystery).

1. To begin, speak to Dr. Nabanik and he will request your assistance with his top priority. Accept the miniquest and he will give you "loaned" scrolls you may require to complete to miniquest as he won't have time to wait for you to reach 107 Archaeology. Note that you will only receive loaner scrolls for dials which are not yet unlocked regardless of if you have the level to restore them or not.

   

2. Once you have the scrolls (either from Dr. Nabanik or restored on your own), enter the dig site and head to the first dial.
   • Ice button - Level 58 for 'Incite Fear' spell scroll
   • Blood button - Level 86 for 'Exsanguinate' spell scroll
   • Smoke button - Level 100 for 'Smoke Cloud' spell scroll
   • Shadow button - Level 107 for 'Animate Dead' spell scroll
   

3. Ice Button

   Click image below for view of button location.
   
   

   Requires:

   'Incite Fear' spell scroll and Legatus pendant (toolbelt, inventory, or worn)

   
   

   Instructions:

   1. Enter the Vault via the door on the Eastern side of the Prison block. Once inside, walk South to the dial on the West wall, between the Southern room and the ruined door.
   2. Cast the 'Incite Fear' spell scroll (click the scroll) then click the dial to teleport to the puzzle area. Within the room you will find a set of 9 dials and the Praetor's log page 1 (located on the center dial) on the floor. Set your camera to face North then activate the dials as follows.

      Note: to move a dial backwards, you will need to right click and select "Dial back".

      If you turn the dial the wrong direction or hit the wrong dial, it is possible to correct it and continue by turning the dial the correct direction the same number of times you went the wrong way, then moving it farther the correct direction as needed. For example: if you turned it forward once instead of backwards, turn it backwards once to negate the wrong direction then turn it backwards once more to input the correct combination step. If you mess up or get confused and need to reset, this can be done by leaving the room and re-entering by pressing the Ice button (the dial where you read the spell scroll).

      Dial	Direction	Number of Rotations
      North East	Forward	1
      East	Forward	1
      North East	Backward	1
      South West	Backward	1
      South	Forward	2
      South East	Forward	2
      Center	Forward	1
      North	Backward	1
      South	Backward	1
      West	Forward	1
      North West	Forward	1

   3. Once the puzzle has been solved, the door will open and you will obtain Praetor's log page 2 as well as 2,500 Archaeology experience if you used your own restored 'Incite Fear' spell scroll. You can now leave the area and progress to the next dial. Be sure to transcribe the page.
   
   

4. Blood Button

   Click image below for view of button location.
   
   

   Requires:

   'Exsanguinate' spell scroll and Pontifex signet ring (toolbelt, inventory, or worn)

   
   

   Instructions:

   1. Enter the Main Fortress area and enter the chapel to the South East. On the North wall, to the East of the broken stairs, is the next dial.
   2. Cast the 'Exsanguinate' spell scroll (click the scroll) then click the dial to teleport to the puzzle area. Within the room you will find a set of 5 dials on the floor. Set your camera to face North then activate the dials as follows.

      Note: to move a dial backwards, you will need to right click and select "Dial back".

      If you turn the dial the wrong direction or hit the wrong dial, it is possible to correct it and continue by turning the dial the correct direction the same number of times you went the wrong way, then moving it farther the correct direction as needed. For example: if you turned it forward once instead of backwards, turn it backwards once to negate the wrong direction then turn it backwards once more to input the correct combination step. If you mess up or get confused and need to reset, this can be done by leaving the room and re-entering by pressing the Blood button (the dial where you read the spell scroll).

      Dial	Direction	Number of Rotations
      South West	Backward	1
      Center	Forward	1
      North West	Forward	2
      South West	Backward	1
      Center	Backward	2
      North East	Forward	1
      South East	Forward	1
      Center	Backward	1
      North East	Backward	2
      Center	Backward	2
      North East	Backward	1
      Center	Backward	1
      South West	Backward	1
      South East	Forward	1
      Center	Forward	1
      South East	Forward	1
      Center	Forward	1
      South East	Forward	1
      South West	Forward	1
      Center	Forward	1
      South West	Backward	1
      Center	Forward	2

   3. Once the puzzle has been solved, the door will open and you will obtain Praetor's log page 3 as well as 5,000 Archaeology experience if you used your own restored 'Exsanguinate' spell scroll. You can now leave the area and progress to the next dial.
      • Leaving via the boat will take you out to the bank of the river located near the Dominion Tower and will complete the Aquatic Escape Achievement.
   
   

5. Smoke Button

   Click image below for view of button location.
   
   

   Requires:

   'Smoke Cloud' spell scroll

   
   

   Instructions:

   1. Enter the Main Fortress area and walk to the room North of the chapel, where the oven is found. On the Western wall, South of the crates, is the next dial.
   2. Cast the 'Smoke Cloud' spell scroll spell (click the scroll) then click the dial to teleport to the puzzle area. Within the room you will find a set of 8 dials on the floor. Set your camera to face North then activate the dials as follows.

      Note: For this puzzle, you will only be moving the dials forward, however, it may be necessary to reverse one if you have clicked the wrong dial by accident. To move a dial backwards, you will need to right click and select "Dial back".

      If you turn the dial the wrong direction or hit the wrong dial, it is possible to correct it and continue by turning the dial the correct direction the same number of times you went the wrong way, then moving it farther the correct direction as needed. For example: if you turned it forward once instead of backwards, turn it backwards once to negate the wrong direction then turn it backwards once more to input the correct combination step. If you mess up or get confused and need to reset, this can be done by leaving the room and re-entering by pressing the Smoke button (the dial where you read the spell scroll).

      This puzzle has been broken down into a series of steps within each step. This is because there is a total of 46 times you will be pressing buttons

      Group	First	Second	Third	Fouth	Fifth	Sixth	Seventh
      One	C	D	4	4	2	1	1
      Two	1	D	C	D	D	4	4
      Three	D	D	D	4	4	2	2
      Four	D	2	2	3	1	C	C
      Five	C	D	1	D	D	D	3
      Six	3	3	1	1	1	D	D
      Seven	D	1	1	1

   3. Once the puzzle has been solved, the door will open and you will obtain Praetor's log page 4 as well as 7,500 Archaeology experience if you used your own restored 'Smoke Cloud' spell scroll. You can now leave the area and progress to the next dial.
   
   

6. Shadow Button

   Click image below for view of button location.
   
   

   Requires:

   'Animate Dead' spell scroll and the ability to enter the War room*

   * To enter the War room, you must either be wearing a Ring of visibility or have claimed Sliske's gift to see the Shadow Realm (requires completion of Fate of the Gods) AND the Pylons must be active or you must have activated all 8 Anchors.

   
   

   Instructions:

   1. Enter the War room via the Praetorium war table found within the Main Fortress. On the West wall, in the Western most room, is the next dial.
   2. Cast the 'Animate dead' spell (click the scroll) then click the dial to teleport to the puzzle area. Within the room you will find a set of 5 dials on the floor. Set your camera to face North then activate the dials as follows.

      Note: to move a dial backwards, you will need to right click and select "Dial back".

      If you turn the dial the wrong direction or hit the wrong dial, it is possible to correct it and continue by turning the dial the correct direction the same number of times you went the wrong way, then moving it farther the correct direction as needed. For example: if you turned it forward once instead of backwards, turn it backwards once to negate the wrong direction then turn it backwards once more to input the correct combination step. If you mess up or get confused and need to reset, this can be done by leaving the room and re-entering by pressing the Shadow button (the dial where you read the spell scroll).

      Dial	Direction	Number of Rotations
      C	Forward	2
      E	Backward	1
      C	Backward	2
      E	Backward	1
      A	Backward	1
      D	Forward	2
      B	Forward	1
      E	Backward	1
      C	Backward	1
      E	Forward	1
      A	Backward	1
      C	Forward	2
      A	Forward	1
      D	Backward	1
      C	Backward	1
      D	Backward	1
      C	Forward	2
      B	Forward	2
      C	Forward	2

   3. Once the puzzle has been solved, the door will open and you will obtain 10,000 Archaeology experience if you used your own restored 'Animate Dead' spell scroll.
   
   
7. You will now be able to obtain the Shadow engrammeter (depleted) found within the center of the Vault. Grab it from the open vault then collect 500 of any of the following memory types (level 60+) to fill it:
   • Vibrant
   • Lustrous
   • Elder
   • Brilliant
   • Radiant
   • Luminous
   • Incandescent
   Note that you will need to click the Shadow engrammeter (depleted) with memories in your inventory to charge it and that you can use more than 1 type of memory to fill it.

   

8. When the Shadow engrammeter is full, return to the center of the Vault via any of the dials. Once here, operate it to obtain Trindine's memory. Note that you must be at least standing on one of the golden doors as in the image below, though you can also stand in the very center of the Vault.

   

9. Visit Dr. Nabanik and talk to him about the Vault of Shadows mystery. He will then give you the memory in book form as well as 25,000 Divination experience.

   

10. Ensure that you have your Ring of visibility equipped, have obtained Sliske's gift, have activated all of the Anchors, OR that the Pylons are active, then return once more to the center of the Vault. Here you should find Trindine, speak with her and at first she will assume you are Sliske. Not long after you begin talking, Azzanadra will appear and ask that you wait outside so that they can speak in private. You will agree to wait out side (thus completing the Mystery) and will have to exit on your own. Stepping back in just after leaving you will only find a rejuvinated Trindine.

    

11. Whether you choose to step back in or not is irrelevant, return for the final time to Dr. Nabanik. He will tell you that he wishes to discuss Trindine with you then go into a brief discourse about how he was unable to make it to her sooner. His speech will culminate in the completion of the Miniquest and any unused loaner scrolls will be reclaimed.

    

Post Quest

In order to complete the Mystery/earn experience, you must return restored scrolls to Dr. Nabanik in exchange for the ones he loaned you. Simply speak to Dr. Nabanik with a restored spell scroll in your inventory and he will ask if you have any which you would like to hand in for a reward. Choosing yes will take the scroll from you and reward you with the associated experience listed below:

• 2,500 Archaeology experience ('Incite Fear' spell scroll)
• 5,000 Archaeology experience ('Exsanguinate' spell scroll)
• 7,500 Archaeology experience ('Smoke Cloud' spell scroll)
• 10,000 Archaeology experience ('Animate Dead' spell scroll)