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The translation of the Japanese name is unofficial, so it may contain errors.
The Ruldo Forest (ルルドの森, ルルドのもり, Rurudo no Mori [lit. "Lourdes Forest"]) is a location in Lost Kingdoms II found within the region of Kendaria. It is the seventh location visited in the main story.
Ruldo Forest is where Tara meets Gurd, and where she can find the first of the Strangers. Additionally, if the forest is returned to after the first mission for it has been completed, the optional level known as Sacred Battle Arena 1 can be unlocked.
Appearance
Ruldo Forest is a forest growing in a mountainous area. The level itself takes place during rainy weather.
The trees of Ruldo Forest are incredibly large. Most of these trees grow on rocky ground that can't be explored, but some can be found growing along the paths of the forest. A few trees have fallen over and are blocking some of the paths, but they can be destroyed.
The entrance of Ruldo Forest is paved with stone that grass and moss has started growing over. At the back of this area is the side of a mountain and the exit leading to the Lower Chambers of the Runestone Caverns. This exit is decorated with a stone statue on both the left and right side.
Summary
Thanks to Sol's help, Tara escaped the Lower Chambers of the Runestone Caverns and ended up in Ruldo Forest. A grave was made for Victor with a large stone bearing an inscription, and the daggers of the two bandits who died with him were placed into the earth in front of it.
– Victor's grave, Ruldo Forest
Tara went began to explore Ruldo Forest and found an odd mechanical device, probably made by the Kendarie. She touched it, and the device suddenly changed shape. It started sending power to the Magic Boosters, strange pads that would power up Tara if she stepped on them while using the power of a Transform type card.
Tara went farther into Ruldo Forest and found an odd man. Not knowing what he was doing, she approached him cautiously, but he noticed her. He turned around, said something to her in a mysterious language, and then attacked her using the power of his Runestone, the Eno Runestone. She battled him won, and he was absorbed into his Runestone upon his defeat. Tara picked it up and continued to explore.
Tara went down another path, but stopped when she heard mysterious voice telling her to wait a moment. An old woman suddenly appeared, telling Tara she had an interesting bauble, and asked if she knew what it was. Tara didn't respond, so the old woman explained to her that it was the one True Runestone, The Runestone of Queens. Then the old woman asked if she could see it, but Tara refused to let her. The old woman then told Tara she must have reasons for not trusting others and introduced herself, telling Tara she was called Gurd.
Gurd could see that Tara was troubled by something, so the old woman offered to listen. Tara accepted this, so she explained who she was and what had happened to her.
Once Tara had finished talking, Gurd understood why Tara didn't want her to touch the Runestone: it was given to her by her mother on the day she was abandoned. Gurd then told Tara that she should go to Alanjeh to meet the Queen, as this Runestone was the Queen's, and that Tara might learn more about her family there.
However, Gurd also warned Tara that she needed to hurry, as the Kendarie were preparing to attack Alanjeh Castle. Tara began to walk out of the forest, but Gurd stopped her for a moment and gave her some advice:
– Gurd, Ruldo Forest
If Tara were to return to Ruldo Forest, she could go past where she met Gurd and find three Cockatrices. By defeating these monsters, Tara could take another path out of the forest and find the home of Gurd. Gurd's home, the Sacred Battle Arena, is where Tara could find another one of the Strangers, obtain the Mysterious Key, hone her abilities as a Runestone Master, and collect the cards of powerful guardian creatures.
Layout
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Area Progression
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The Strange Device and the Magic Boosters
A strange device found in Ruldo Forest will start a cutscene when it is interacted with, showing it suddenly change shape. After this cutscene, all of the Magic Boosters in the game will be activated.
Magic Boosters will power up Tara when she steps on them while using Transform type cards. However, this powered up state will not last for long.
Magic Boosters will allow Power Transformers like Stone Golem to break large obstacles, such as the massive crystals in the Upper Chambers of the Runestone Caverns and the fallen trees in Ruldo Forest. However, some obstacles, like the frozen waterfall of Obenoix Gorge, can only be broken by the Stone Golem.
Magic Boosters will also give all Power Transformers and Fliers the ability to damage enemies just by touching them, and make all Jumpers, such as the Hell Hound, able to traverse high ledges, like those in the next main level: Fossil Boneyard.
Fallen Trees (all optional in Lost Kingdoms II, one mandatory in RUNE II)
Once the device in Ruldo Forest has been activated, Tara can break the fallen trees with the Stone Golem. While not necessary to complete the level in Lost Kingdoms II, breaking the log next to the device will create a shortcut to the Stranger. If the level is revisited, these fallen trees will return to their original states.
In the Japanese release known as RUNE II, two more fallen trees were added: one blocks the way to Gurd, and the other blocks the second path to the Stranger. This makes it so that at least one fallen tree must be broken to finish the first mission of Ruldo Forest, and at least two must be destroyed to unlock the good ending. Additionally, the tree closest to the level's entrance now has an Elf card hidden underneath it.
The fallen trees also function differently in RUNE II. Once they have been destroyed, they will stay broken even after exiting and reentering the level.
Stranger (optional)
Tara can find and battle the first of the mysterious Strangers on the other side of the first reachable fallen tree. Defeating him will give Tara the Eno Runestone.
Meeting Gurd
Tara will meet Gurd in a cutscene close to the end of Ruldo Forest. Gurd will block a part of the level once the cutscene ends, but she will leave once the first mission has been cleared. To clear the mission, Tara must leave through the first available level exit.
Unlocking Sacred Battle Arena 1 (optional)
After clearing the stage for the first time, Tara can unlock Sacred Battle Arena 1 by entering the area Gurd blocked previously. There she can fight three Cockatrices in an optional boss fight.
Defeating these Cockatrices will end in the second and final Level Bonus of Ruldo Forest and allow Tara to go to the first of the Sacred Battle Arena stages. The Cockatrices will not return once they have all been defeated.
Enemies Encountered
Monsters
Other Opponents
Bosses
- x3 Cockatrice - Found by approaching the way to the Sacred Battle Arena. Only possible to fight after the completing the first mission of Ruldo Forest. They cannot be fought again once defeated.
Collectibles
Cards
Cards in Chests
- Mandragora - Found in the right chest in a row of 2 in the dead end by the level's entrance
- Dryad - Found by the corner before where Tara meets Gurd
- Demon Hound - In a row of 2 chests in the area with the boss fight, in the chest closest to the entrance. Can be obtained after the first mission is cleared.
- Raflesia - In a row of 2 chests in the area with the boss fight, in the chest farthest from the entrance. Can be obtained after the first mission is cleared.
- Night Mare - Found on the bank on other side of a pond. Requires a jumping Transform type card with a long jump, or a flying Transform type card. If using a Jumper, the mission will have to be aborted to leave.
- Elf LK2 / Riz and Gurd RUNE II - Found in the chest on the top of the high ledge close to the Stranger. Requires a jumping Transform type card used with an activated Magic Booster.
Hidden Cards
Note: RUNE II exclusive.
- Elf - Under a fallen tree close to the entrance of the level
Rewarded Cards
- There are no cards rewarded in this level.
Magic Stones
- 150 Magic Stones - Found in the left chest in a row of 2 in the dead end by the level's entrance
Items
- Eno Runestone - Automatically obtained once the Stranger has been defeated
Red Fairies
Ruldo Forest has 5 Red Fairies. The first is near the level's entrance, the second is by the first fallen tree, the third is hidden in the tree before the switch, the fourth is on the path to the right, and the fifth is hidden in the tree close to the exit in the area with the boss fight.
Level Bonus
In Lost Kingdoms II
- x3 Myconid
- x2 Elf
- Cockatrice
In RUNE II
- This Level Bonus is the same in all versions of Lost Kingdoms II.
Glitches
- ?
Trivia
- In Lost Kingdoms II, the Myconid is an Earth attribute creature. However, in the Japanese release known as RUNE II, this monster has the Wood attribute. This makes the RUNE II version of Ruldo Forest a place with only Wood creatures.
Cutscenes
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Gallery
