Broken Paradise is the twenty-fifth chapter of Among Thieves. After fleeing from Lazarević and his army, Nate and his allies resolved to explore Shambhala and find the Cintamani Stone.
Story[]
Thanks to the distraction from the guardians, Nate, Elena, and Chloe were able to break free from Lazarević and his men. As they fled, several of Zoran's soldiers caught up to them. One wielding an RPG - 7 was prepared to finish them off, when a guardian pounced on him at the same time he fired. This destabilized the large stone platform Nate and his allies had leaped onto.
As the structure crumbled and slid down the path ahead, Nate and his allies barely held on while also dealing with a few soldiers still intent on killing them all. Within seconds, the platform crashed into a wall, knocking Nate and his allies down, and leaving one of the soldiers pierced by a tree branch. Once they got up, Nate insisted they keep moving.
Off to Save the World[]
Nate acquires an AK-47.
The three realized they were not the first ones to make it into the city, as they entered a courtyard where they spotted some dead bodies, presumably sixty or seventy years old. Chloe found a P08-9mm off of one of the corpses and gave it to Elena, while Nate armed himself with an AK-47. Chloe then insisted they return to the entrance since Lazarević and his army were in the city. Nate and Elena argued that they needed to stop Lazarević from getting his hands on the Cintamani Stone.
"C'mon. Whaddya say?"
Being against the idea, Chloe explained that Lazarević was just fulfilling some prophecy that the stone would make him invincible somehow, claiming it to be supernatural nonsense. Nate, however, warned how strong the guardians were and that something strange was going on in the city, which Chloe used as a reason for why they should leave while it was safe. However, Nate and Elena were determined to set things right and possibly save the world. Chloe argued that the world would show no concern over this and that there would be consequences if they were to stick their necks out. Nate reminded her that she wanted to take down Lazarević, which she agreed with. Chloe realized, however, that it would not end that way, but would end with the three of them dead. Nate assured her that would not happen. Thinking they are crazy for doing this, Chloe reluctantly gave in to their persuasions and decided to join them.
The three ventured into the city and eventually came across a field, from which Nate was able to spot the temple that held the Cintamani Stone. While Elena was amazed by the beautiful surroundings, Chloe pointed out how quiet it was. This quickly proved true when they spotted several of Zoran's soldiers searching around the area. After clearing them all out, the three continued along their path to the temple, while fighting many more soldiers in an impromptu rain shower. After some more climbing, the three followed a huge flight of stairs that led into the temple. Once inside, they entered a large room where they saw a firefight between Zoran's soldiers and the guardians. The three of them intervened to clear a safe path to the stone.
The Cintamani Stone[]
Nate finds out what the stone really is.
After climbing a series of stairs, the three reached the final room where the stone was. Chloe picked up a blunt object and was prepared to smash the stone so that they could leave, but Nate halted her when he noticed something strange. After taking a closer look at the stone, he realized that Marco Polo was wrong all along, as it was actually the tree sap from the Tree of Life, which was located right below them. As they stared down at it, they spotted Lazarević heading towards it. Nate then recalled the black teeth from the guardians, and the bodies they saw in Borneo, realizing that they ate the resin and it somehow changed them, and that it could be what Zoran was planning to do.
Nate and Chloe help a severely wounded Elena.
At this point Flynn revealed himself, mortally wounded from being brutally beaten by Lazarević, who found no further use for him. He warned that Zoran was cleverer than he looked. Elena expressed a certain degree of sympathy for him and assured him they could still stop Lazarević. However, Flynn explained that it was not that simple. Before Nate tried to reason with him, Flynn pulled out a grenade without a pin, given to him by Zoran as a parting gift. It exploded seconds after he dropped it, killing him and severely wounding Elena. Once Nate and Chloe helped her up, they walked her out of the temple. Unfortunately, they had to battle their way through more of Lazarević's men. Using a Dragon Sniper, Nate worked to clear a safe path for his allies.
Get Away From This Place[]
Chloe tries to convince Nate not to confront Zoran.
After making it past all the soldiers, Nate and Chloe sat Elena down as she continued to suffer tremendously from the pain. Nate then told Chloe to take Elena and head for the gate as quickly as possible, for he was determined to put an end to Zoran's scheme. Despite Chloe's desperate attempts to talk him out of it, Nate knew that the possibility of the resin transforming Lazarević and his army would be too great to ignore. Before heading for the tree, he advised Chloe one last time to get herself and Elena as far away from the city as possible.
Walkthrough[]
Running away[]
Nate leaps towards a large stone platform.
Once gameplay resumes, run forward and jump the gap. The guardians will be attacking you and your allies from different directions. Proceed up the cliff and over some gaps until you reach the sunny area. Leap to the large stone platform to trigger a short scene in which it gets destroyed by an RPG-wielding soldier. As the platform crumbles down the path, you will still be attacked by some enemies. You can either fight them off or do nothing and wait until you crash into the wall. After Nate and his allies get up, leap to the dark platform ahead, then to the next one. Move forward towards the courtyard to trigger a cutscene. You can pick up an AK-47 as you do this, but regardless, Nate will be completely armed after the cutscene.
First courtyard[]
Nate uses a Crossbow against a sling-wielding guardian.
Once gameplay resumes, stock up on additional ammo (Ak-47 and 92FS - 9mm), as you will be attacked by a pair of guardians as soon as you approach the area with all of the columns and debris. Your current arsenal of weapons will not be as helpful, other than the several grenades lying around. They will initially attack from the higher platforms, but if you defeat one on ground level, you will be able to acquire his Crossbow, which functions like those found in the Tibetan village. Meanwhile, in their hands the crossbows deal a lot of damage, are fairly accurate, and only fire in small bursts before they need to reload. After their defeat a third one show up, wielding a sling, which it effectively uses to throw explosives. It is alone however, making it manageable.
Nate discovers more resin while hanging from a bar.
Climb the columns at the end of the courtyard to make your way to where the guardians came from. Head onwards to find some resin on some tree roots; shoot it to clear a path forward. From now on any large batches of resin you encounter will be treated as an explosive when shot, which makes them useful to kill nearby enemies. Continue until you reach another dead end, where you must use a rope, some brick handholds, and a swinging bar to be able to shoot another piece of resin. Leap forward once it is clear. Approach the next opening ahead, and you will see a window with some more roots. You will find the resin in between. After shooting it and clearing the roots, drop down to regroup with your allies and head through the newly open passageway.
Second courtyard[]
Nate hides before making a move against his foes.
Upon reaching the top of the stairs, you will reach a wide-open courtyard, from which you can see the temple where the Cintamani Stone is. Drop down and make your way toward the center structure. Look for an opening inside, and you should spot a crank here. You may operate it, but Chloe will warn you about the soldiers entering the area. They will be unaware of you, so there is an opportunity for stealth kills, especially if you still have the crossbow, if not you desperately need to acquire an M4. The biggest threat by far is the giant with the GAU - 19, and it is best to hurl at your grenades at him, and to use the terrain to take him out from afar or by using blindspots.
Upon his death, and enough of the accompanying generic soldiers, a small batch of reinforcements will arrive, including soldiers with a Dragon Sniper and RPG - 7. These are then quickly followed by another pair of guardians. Use the GAU - 19 minigun, or the other two aforementioned weapons if you can reach them, to easily eliminate them both, otherwise you will have to run around and use the M4. You cannot take the minigun with you into the next area, although the guardian's crossbows will remain useful.
Once you clear out all of the threats, return to your allies at the crank. After a failed attempt to get the door open, you will notice that the counterweight on the right has been torn off. What you will need to do now is climb your way up to the chain the holds it so that Nate can act as a second counterweight while Chloe operates the crank. Elena will then prop the door open so that you and Chloe can pass through before it shuts. Once accomplished, press forward and then drop down into the water.
The waterway[]
Nate fights more soldiers in a canal.
Take cover right away, as you will spot a bunch of soldiers up ahead. If you have not been detected yet, this is your opportunity to score some silent kills with the Crossbow, especially on the two armored soldiers with the M4 and SAS - 12. The rest should be easily dispatched, but watch out for the guy with the M32 - Hammer on the bridge, as well as the second pair of armored men right around the bend in the path.
Climb the nearby stairs to be able to grab another M32 - Hammer, which also puts you close to another sniper. Reaching said sniper's position will then trigger another batch of reinforcements, including several armored men and another sniper. The Hammer and Dragon Sniper are both easily capable of killing them all. As you approach the slope at the end of the canal, climb up the mossy stones, then drop down and exit. Several more soldiers will ambush you here, but you only need to watch out for the man with the SAS - 12. Afterwards you need to help Elena push a cart up against a wall, which will allow you to reach the upper level, from which you will find a winding staircase that leads up into the temple.
Inside the temple[]
Nate takes cover from sling-throwing guardians.
As you peer through the halls, you will enter into a large room where a gunfight breaks out between the guardians and Zoran's soldiers. Both parties will also be gunning for you the second you and your allies intervene. You will have a variety of strong weapons to choose from, such as Crossbows, RPG - 7s, Hammers, M4s, and SAS - 12s. The former three will be your best defense against all of the enemies, but you can also shoot the resin placed around the room in pots and underneath some roots. If possible you can rush the GAU - 19 soldier and then use his minigun to eliminate everyone else, although you likely will run out of ammo at the end.
You should also consider saving the Crossbow for just the guardians, as any of the other weapons can fend off the soldiers with ease. Once you finish off all of the lower-level enemies, a few more guardians will appear, coming in from the hall above. Some will have explosive slings. Act quickly and fire the Crossbow, and you can possibly take them out before they can even toss their slings.
Once they are down, climb one of the two conjoining staircases and pass through the doorway at the top. While it is a seemingly long trek, all you have left is a fairly simple path up a series of staircases, which will eventually lead you to the final room where the Cintamani Stone is. After the cutscene, your final task for this chapter is to clear a safe path for Chloe and Elena.
Approach the stone cover ahead and grab the Dragon Sniper on top. Pick off as many enemies as you can, then move forward to acquire some additional ammo or a new weapon. Take time to recover if you sustain too much damage, but do not conceal yourself too long, as you may get grenades tossed toward you. Continue moving forward until you encounter some heavy armor soldiers, which will pose as the last resistance for this fight. Move forward to trigger the cutscene that ends this chapter, continuing into the final chapter: "Tree of Life".