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Pyramid of Shadows

2008-05-09T17:59:19Z

Cryst: typo fix

{{Level Infobox
| Game = [[Keen 4]]
| Level = 12
| Location = [[Shadowlands]]
| Points = 33,000
| Ammo = 7 x [[Neural Stunner]]
| Lives = 7
| Collectibles = [[Council Member]]
| Song = "[[Keen 4 Music|Too Hot]]"
| Required = Yes
}}
[[Image:Ck4lv12.png|thumb|Map of the [[Pyramid of Shadows]]]]

The [[Pyramid of Shadows]] is a level in [[Keen 4]], one of the [[Pyramids of Shadowlands]] located in the jungles of the [[Shadowlands]] of [[Gnosticus IV]]. It is one of the two stepped-pyramids, along with the [[Pyramid of the Moons]]. It has a painting of a sun half in shadows, half bright over its entrance.

The Pyramid of Shadows is a hard level, consisting of thre main sections: the pyramid itself, with lots of winding passages; a first underground cave area; and a second, lower, underground area, containing a traped [[Council Member]].

As in all the pyramids, the most common [[Keen 4 Hazards|hazard]] is the knife shooter. There are also several moving shovels, specially in the main corridor; a big pool of acid; several spikes in the lower cave areas; and a tar pit in the lowest cave. The level is populated by [[Poison Slug]]s, [[Lick]]s and [[Skypest]]s.

The main pyramid area consists of a small maze of tunnels, with several dead-ends which usually contain [[Neural Stunner]]s or point items. The maze has to be entered from the top of the pyramid, which can be reached by climbing the first pole in the main corridor, or through the door near the acid pool later in the same corridor. The objective of the maze is to get to a switch that will activate a bridge over the acid pool. Next to the switch there is a door that leads back to the aforementioned door next to the acid pool. After the bridge, another door leads to the first underground area.

The first cave area consists mainly of several holes filled with spikes, with falling platforms above them, and small pieces of land in-between (the last hole contains no spikes, though). At the end of the spike holes there is a door that leads to the second, lowest cave area. In this area, [[Keen]] has to use a switch to activate a moving platform that will take him over the tar pit, to the stone door to the Council Member area. In this last area, Keen only has to get a blue [[gem]] and open the door to free the [[Gnosticenes|Gnosticene]].

There are several secrets in the level. In order to get the [[Lifewater Flask]] on the right side of the acid pool, Keen has to first activate the bridge and get to the first underground area through the door. Once there, there is another bridge switch, that will reopen it. Then Keen has to go back through the door, and he can carefully fall into the right side of the pool and get the life.

Another secret is right after entering the lowest area by the tar pit. Once Keen gets on the moving platform, he can "duck" (by looking down), and enter a hidden passage. Once the platform hits the hidden wall and starts to return, Keen can drop down to a passage with 5 Lifewater Flasks and a Neural Stunner. There is also another extra life on the way to that passage, but (though it can't be seen) it is under the platform and over the hidden tar, so it can only be obtained by falling off the platform and then dying. However, there is no way to get out of that passage without dying, as the platform passes to close to the ceiling, so Keen can't climb back up. Anyway, getting 5 lives and then dying leaves Keen with 4 extra lifes (and having to restart the level), which is not that bad. The hidden passage continues up and over the blue gem, into the Coucil Member room, but there is no way without cheating to get to the upper part of the passage.

See also [[Pyramids of Shadowlands]] and [[Keen 4 Levels|List of Keen 4 Levels]].

[[Category:Keen 4 levels]]

Commander Keen

2008-05-09T17:58:19Z

Cryst: 314 has to be a pi reference. you just don't arbitrarily choose that number.

[[Image:Keen-r.png|left]]
[[Image:KeenUpClose.png|thumb|right|Keen up close]]

[[Commander Keen]], Billy Blaze by his real name (full name William Joseph Blazkowicz II), is an eight-year old kid genius with an IQ of 314, a reference to pi and one point less than his nemesis [[Mortimer McMire]]. With his extreme intelligence Keen has been able to make several [[:Category:Keen's_invention|inventions]] that he uses to aid himself in his adventures. His inventions are also an important part in each episode's story. Keen is also studying a fast-track college degree.

In his spare time Keen defends the Universe and maintains the order of galatic laws. He travels intergalactic distances in his space ship, the [[Bean-with-Bacon Megarocket]], which he designed and built out of typical house-hold materials. When at home he spends time in his [[Club House]], inventing things and scanning space with his [[Photachyon Transceiver]] (also an invention of his.)

Keen wears blue jeans and a purple T-shirt, has brown hair and is of very pale complexion. He's wearing his older brother's yellow [[Wikipedia:Green Bay Packers|Green Bay Packers]] football helmet. He has the ability to jump quite high, and he can reach even higher since he discovered the [[pogo stick]] on his trip to [[Mars]]. The pogo has since become his trademark move.

Keen has a pet [[Yorp]] called [[Spot]]. He adopted it when he was first on [[Mars]]. He has a [[The Blaze Family|mother and father]], and an older brother and a younger sister. The age of his siblings is actually never revealed, but it can be assumed that the brother is older and the sister younger.

On his trips Keen, while knowing much already, also learns new things, such as [[Omnispeak]] that was taught to him by the [[Vorticon]]s, and the [[Standard Galactic Alphabet]] in [[Vorticon VI]]. Besides [[Earth]], some of the planets Keen has visited on his travels include [[Mars]], [[Vorticon VI]], [[Gnosticus IV]], [[Korath III]] and [[Fribbulus Xax]]. Keen is a friend of several alien races, including the [[Vorticon]]s and the [[Gnosticenes]] (who still owe Keen a favor).

==See also==
* [[The Blaze Family]]
* [[The McMire Family]]

[[Category:Human and humanlike beings]]
[[Category:Keeniverse]]
[[Category:The Blaze Family]]

Gnosticenes

2008-05-07T23:26:08Z

Cryst: typo

[[Image:Council_member.png|left]]
[[Gnosticenes]] are the human-like natives of [[Gnosticus IV]]. They only known Gnosticenes are the eight [[Council Member]]s, their janitor, their [[Council Page]]s, and [[Princess Lindsey]]. It is very likely there are other, regular Gnosticenes. All these Gnosticenes (with the exception of the Princess) seem to live around the [[Oracle]], far to the east of the [[Shadowlands]].

In the games, only the Council Members are refered to as "Gnosticenes". However, due to the fact that they are almost the only Gnosticenes shown in the game, and that the planet itself is called Gnosticus IV, it is very likely that the whole race is called that way.

[[Image:Pyramid of the Gnosticene Ancients.png|thumb|right|The [[Pyramid of the Gnosticene Ancients]]]]
Not much is known about the Gnosticene civilization and lifestyle. There might be a Gnosticene city around the site that the Oracle is located. Princess Lindsey might be the ruler of all the Gnosticenes, or only the Gnosticenes in that city, and may have moved to the Shadowlands to help free the Council Members. Physically, they seem to be a lot like humans. The main difference would seem to be the magical powers some of them seem to possess.

There is a level in the game, the [[Pyramid of the Gnosticene Ancients]], that suggests that there was an ancient Gnosticene civilization (the "Ancients") that built the [[Pyramids of Shadowlands]].

[[Image:StoneHouses.png|thumb|left|Gnosticene architecture?]]
It is not known if the (very crude) stone houses found on several levels ([[Border Village]], [[The Perilous Pit]] and the [[Isle of Tar]]) are Gnosticene homes, though there are no Gnosticenes found nearby. (Even though in the map both [[Slug Village]] and [[Hillville]] seem to have stone houses, there are none found inside). As the Gnosticenes are the only advanced sentient species known to live in Gnosticus IV, it is very likely that they built those houses. It may be possible that they are either very old (like the pyramids), and were abandoned years ago, or that they were recently vacated after the [[Shikadi]] increased the level of danger in the Shadowlands. It is not very probable that the Shikadi built those houses, as they weren't long enough in the Shadowlands to need houses, and as their structural style is quite different.

Other structures found in the Shadowlands, such as the Well at the entrance to the [[Well of Wishes]], the dissapearing city of [[Miragia]], and the [[Sand Yego]] fortress (which seems to be artificial from the map), were probably built by Gnosticenes too. However, they seem to have abandoned all these dwellings. The [[Wetsuit]] is probably of Gnosticene manufacture, too.

An interesting case is a huge sculpture of a [[Poison Slug]] King found under [[Border Village]]. The Poison Slugs don't seem to be advanced enough to have built it, though they may have. If Gnosticenes built it, it may be possible that at one time there was some sort of tribal religion centered on Poison Slugs.

It is worth noting that the word ''[[Wikipedia:Gnosis|gnosis]]'' is Greek for ''knowledge'', so the name of this planet and its inhabitants is probably based on the fact that the Oracle, a "monolith of knowledge", is in the planet.

[[Category:Races]]
[[Category:Keen 4]]

Mimrock

2008-05-07T23:17:44Z

Cryst: Mimrocks are usually placed weirdly. especially after they move.

{{Creature Infobox
| Shots = 1
| Harmful = Yes
| Appears = [[Keen 4]]
}}

A [[Mimrock]] is a rock-like creature living in the [[Shadowlands]].

[[Image:Mimrock-ingame.png|frame|Some [[Mimrock]]s in [[Keen 4]]]]

As a form of camouflage they resemble a large grey stone and are almost indistinguishable from these, except for the fact that while normal stones tend to be in the background, Mimrocks are closer to the screen (further into the foreground.) Furthermore, if a stone is hanging over a ledge or in a similarly unusual spot, it is likely a Mimrock.

Mimrocks are protected by tough rock armored skin rather like extra tough leather. They have no external appendages or features save two eyes and feet. The eyes are only open when the Mimrock is hunting, and the feet are on the soft underside. If upended, Mimrocks can easily right themselves.

Mimrocks only move when [[Keen]] has his back turned to them as they are very cautious. When they are close enough to Keen (usually about 2-3 tiles away), they will launch themselves into the air and attempt to land their pointy end on Keen, killing him with their weight and sharpness.

Mimrocks can only be [[Neural Stunner|stunned]] while moving. When a Mimrock jumps, Keen can jump out of the way of these attacks, or walk off a cliff so the Mimrock jumps over him. This will allow Keen to shoot the moving Mimrock and stun it. A Mimrock can also be stunned if Keen stands not too close to one but facing it, shoots, and quickly turns around. This way Keen has his back towards the Mimrock, which will move and, if timed correctly, receive the shot.

It is not known how many of the rocks littering the [[Shadowlands]] are dead or sleeping Mimrocks, possibly all of them as gray rock formations are only seen in mountainous areas. It is possible then that they evolved their forms in the mountains, then used the dead bodies of their compatriots on the plains as additional camouflage, allowing them to extend their range.

See also [[Keen 4 Creatures|List of Keen 4 Creatures]].

[[Category:Keen 4 enemies]]
[[Category:Enemies]]

Sand Yego

2008-05-07T22:12:54Z

Cryst: pun in name

{{Level Infobox
| Game = [[Keen 4]]
| Level = 8
| Location = [[Shadowlands]] desert
| Ammo = 8 x [[Neural Stunner]]
| Lives = 1
| Collectibles = None
| Points = 51,900
| Ammo = 10 x [[Neural Stunner]]
| Lives = 1
| Song = "[[Keen 4 Music|You've Got To Eat Your Vegetables!]]"
| Required = No
}}
[[Image:Ck4lv08.png|thumb|Map of [[Sand Yego]]]]

'''Sand Yego''' is a level in [[Keen 4: Secret of the Oracle|Keen 4]]. It is located in the desert of the [[Shadowlands]] of [[Gnosticus IV]]. The name is a pun on "San Diego."

Sand Yego consists of some kind of fortress made out of earth and rocks. Though in the world map thumbnail it appears to be a more complex building, inside the level it can be seen that the fortress is merged with its environment. It has two "sides" (a front and a back), consisting of two earth towers, with several tunnels between them. There is also an underwater pool which can't be reached.

[[Keen]] has to find his way through the tunnels, getting the green [[gem]] and turning on some moving platforms and bridges, to eventually reach the exit. The level is hazardous in that it has a lot of [[Mimrock]]s and [[Arachnut]]s. There are also [[Poison Slug]]s, [[Mad Mushroom]]s and [[Skypest]]s.

Sand Yego contains a small secret area in the first side, on a floating chunk of earth, which contains an [[Lifewater Flask|extra life]]. To reach it, [[Keen]] must find some small invisible bricks, which can only be seen flashing from time to time.

See also [[Keen 4 Levels|List of Keen 4 Levels]].

[[Category:Keen 4 levels]]