Reunion is the twenty-third chapter of Among Thieves. Nate and Elena managed to infiltrate deeper into the monastery while looking for Karl Schäfer, alongside the Phurba, both held by Zoran Lazarević.
Story[]
You Were Right[]
After surviving an ambush Nate and Elena stumble upon a wounded Schäfer, who immediately pointed out that Nate was right about everything he touches turning to shit. He refused Elena's attempt to help him get up, and instead asked if Nate had found his expedition, and if he understood why he killed his fellow expeditionists. Nate affirmed that he did, whereupon Schäfer continued, telling them that Lazarević took the dagger and went to the tower, and that the monastery hid the secret path to Shambhala. He again warned them about the Cintamani Stone, and that it had to be destroyed before Lazarević could acquire it, after which he breathed his last breath.
Although they did not want to just leave his body there, Nate noted that they did not have a choice and had to rush to stop Lazarević. Elena asked him if he thought it was all true, to which Nate replied that Schäfer's belief was enough for him. Elena then suggested they split up, where she would look for the secret entrance, and Nate would head for the tower and try to get the Phurba back.
While heading towards the tower Nate encountered soldiers under attack by two guardians, who were ultimately chased away. He continued seeing glimpses of them, and also spotted a large force of soldiers who were worried and disturbed by the continuous attacks.
That Belongs to Me[]
At the tower Nate became witness to Lazarević angrily berating Flynn, with Chloe passively watching beside them. Flynn tried to appease Lazarević with the knowledge that the clue to the entrance to Shambhala had to be somewhere within the tower, although Lazarević remained unhappy with the knowledge that Nate was close to catching up, and that he would not be delayed by Flynn's incompetence, further emphasizing his mood by stabbing the Phurba into a post next to Flynn's head.
After he left Chloe called him a prick, and was asked by Flynn to investigate the room, while he would try and smooth things over. After he left as well Nate revealed himself, whereupon Chloe tried to warn him that they would return quickly, although Nate kept insisting to give him the dagger. She worried about explaining its disappearance to Lazarević and Flynn, although Nate remained confident she would figure something out. She relented, then expressed her desire to Nate for him to take Lazarević down.
With everyone else gone Nate used his journal to solve the puzzle inside the tower, which revealed a pedestal with a three-sided indentation fit for the Phurba. This then unlocked a door high up in the tower, which gave a direct line of sight over a distant plaza with several statues. Nate radioed Elena and told her that he thought he had found the secret entrance, and explained to her where.
Upon arriving he spotted soldiers tearing apart one of the statues while looking for the secret entrance. He and Elena swiftly dispatched them all, then Nate used the Phurba again to raise another pedestal, this time with four handlebars sticking out. They rotated it, which unlocked a source of water, flooding some of the waterways, and simultaneously lowering a distant staircase that revealed a passage into the monastery's underground. Nate and Elena used a zip line to make their way back down, and after another firefight descended into the depths below in search for the way to Shambhala.
Walkthrough[]
Ambushed[]
You will immediately be ambushed at the start of the chapter, so quickly get into cover and shoot the handful of soldiers out of cover that are heading towards you. Focus on the Desert - 5 sniper flanking you on your left next, followed by the slower armored shotgunner with the SAS - 12 that enters the room last. The second wave enters right after the first has been eliminated, except they will appear on the second floor, and also include two soldiers with RPG - 7s. One will be atop the staircase on your right, the other in the opposite corner. Snipe them both, then rush the staircase to cancel out their height advantage.
The third and final wave will come through the doorways on the other side of the room, so focus your fire on then, especially the armored shotgunner, although you do need to watch out for the lone gunman that spawns on the ground floor. Once everyone has been killed you can finally stock up on ammo and Mk-NDI grenades, possibly switching weapons as you can also find a somewhat uncommon Pistole and possibly a remaining RPG - 7 still lying around. Head to the top of the building for a cutscene, after which you will have to go without Elena for a while. Use the rope to swing to the building's exit, then leap onto the nearby rooftop.
Splitting up[]
The four soldiers camping in the small room up ahead should pose no issue to you at this point, so clear them out, then drop down on the right side. Climb the ladder in front of you, killing the next soldier that appears, then use the brick handholds to continue climbing and moving along the right side of the complex. Eventually you will hear shooting and shouting, and spot a small group of soldiers being chased by more of the guardians, which will quickly run off. You can either quickly kill them all while they are still bunched up, or wait for the group to disperse and hunt them down one by one while still in stealth.
Upon their demise a rather dangerous group will appear at the top of the large staircase away from the center area, including two soldiers with an RPG - 7 and an M32 - Hammer, as well as four armored men carrying SAS - 12's and M4s. The one with the rocket launcher will be easiest to take out, followed by the one with the grenade launchers. Conveniently you can find your own versions of each launchers atop the red blocks of cover in the middle, with which you can finish the armored squad coming down the stairs. Stock up again afterwards and head up the stairs yourself, then take the gate on the right.
You will now be in a small area with two heavily armored brutes carrying GAU - 19s, supported by a lone RPG soldier at a balcony on the other side of the open space. As you are in stealth you can freely climb around the first floor and eliminate aforementioned RPG soldier, granting you easier access to the many of RPGs lying around, as well as the GAU - 19 on the steps below you. Use these to kill the two brutes, as nothing else will stun them, then kill the reinforcements consisting of Desert - 5 snipers and armored shotgunners, as none will fare long under continuous minigun fire. Sadly you need to leave the GAU - 19s behind as you head into the next area, through the newly opened windows above you.
The tower[]
From here you will need to make your way back outside again and shimmy across the structure's exterior as the soldiers run by below you. Once you reach safe ground you only need to make your way up, eventually entering the tower and starting another cutscene. Afterwards you need to solve a series of simple puzzles; place the conical object on the switch in front of the avian creature, the hemisphere goes with the tiger, the sphere with the dragon, and the cube with the lion. After the cutscene open your journal again and copy each colored symbol with the right colored creature. The avian creature will require the fifth, the tiger the second, the dragon first, and the lion the third, leaving fourth (blue) and sixth (black) unused.
Reuniting[]
With the puzzle solved approach the pedestal, then climb the ladder underneath the opened window. Take the zip line and make your way through the structure until you reach the area you saw from afar. You will be able to kill at least a few soldiers in stealth, although you will likely alert them sooner or later. Once they have noticed you focus on the soldier with the RPG on the platform on your right, then pin down the group of men coming to rush your position. The sole armored soldier with the M4 is the most dangerous by far in this group.
Watch out for the lone Desert - 5 sniper that will flank you from the top of the terrain on your right as you advance past the statue into the next section. An armored shotgunner will await you here, although the turret on the right side is more of a threat. The RPG - 7 from earlier will prove useful in removing both, after which you can run for the M32 - Hammer next to the second statue. Use the grenade launcher to kill the last pockets of resistance, including another sniper on the ridge above you, then meet up with Elena to trigger a short cutscene. Push the handlebars extending out from the platform to trigger another cutscene, then use the nearby zip line to leave the area.
Watch the guardians after you land and then descend to the ground to trigger a small wave of soldiers to come running down the stairs. The one with the riot shield is the only real concern, next to the sniper at the top. As you make your way up yourself another group will rappel down the nearby ropes, including an armored shotgunner and another sniper. After they are dead you will have a clear line to the newly revealed passage, and after going down the stairs can approach a large gate to start the next chapter "The Road to Shambhala".