Solving the Wine Mural Puzzle in Indiana Jones DLC

The Order of Giants expansion for Indiana Jones and the Great Circle brings thrilling new challenges, including the captivating A Tale of Wine Making mystery. This puzzle, hidden in the ancient sewers, requires players to reconstruct a mural depicting the winemaking process using specific tiles and a clever vine-tracing mechanic. Successfully completing it rewards the rare Perses Artifact and 100 Adventure Points (AP), advancing your collection of Mithraic relics.

Navigating to the Wine Mural Chamber

Embark on this side quest in the Cloaca Maxima section of the DLC. As you progress through the main story, you’ll reach a sewer area with a fork in the path. Instead of heading left to continue the primary mission, veer right into the submerged tunnels. Swim through until you spot a fragile wall on your right, marked by cracks and debris.

Look for a nearby crate containing a heavy object perfect for a charge attack. Smash the wall to reveal a hidden basement room guarded by two enemies. Dispatch them quickly—use Indy’s whip for crowd control or stealth takedowns to conserve health. Inside, you’ll find the centerpiece: a grand mural on the west wall with six slots, two of which are pre-filled, and a mysterious note hinting at the vine-guided order.

• Key Tip: Picking up any tile or the note automatically activates the quest.
• Reward Preview: Perses Artifact (Mithraic #3) and potential achievement unlock like “Symbol of Initiation.”

Locating All Five Essential Tiles

Scattered throughout the chamber are five movable tiles, each illustrating a stage of ancient winemaking. Collecting them is straightforward but requires thorough exploration to avoid missing any. Access your inventory via the D-Pad (Left on consoles) to equip and place them later.

Pro Tip: The tiles often appear in your inventory in a logical sequence after collection, which can hint at the placement order. Double-check each corner, as dim lighting might obscure them.

Deciphering the Vine Path Mechanic

The puzzle’s genius lies not in simple left-to-right chronology but in following the organic paths of three vines emerging from the soil at the mural’s base. These vines loop and branch unpredictably, dictating the true sequence. Ignore assumptions of linear placement; the note explicitly emphasizes the vines’ significance.

1. First Vine (Leftmost): Curves to the bottom-left slot (Plant) and top-left slot (Harvest).
2. Second Vine (Middle): Branches to the top-center (Grow) and middle-center (Ferment).
3. Third Vine (Rightmost): Leads to the far-right (Process) and the fixed sixth slot (pre-placed Grow or similar).

Trace each vine from its root outward, assigning stages in chronological order: Plant → Grow → Harvest → Process → Ferment, adapting to the fixed tile. This creates a narrative flow along the natural vine progression rather than mural positions.

Exact Placement for Puzzle Completion

With tiles in hand and vines mapped, position them as follows for left-to-right mural view:

• Slot 1 (Bottom-Left): Plant – Depicts an empty vine ready for growth.
• Slot 2 (Top-Left): Harvest – Shows a figure gathering ripe grapes.
• Slot 3 (Top-Center): Grow – Vine laden with clusters of grapes.
• Slot 4 (Middle-Center): Ferment – Worker handling amphoras for aging.
• Slot 5 (Far-Right): Process – Grapes being crushed underfoot.
• Slot 6 (Fixed): Pre-installed, completes the cycle.

Once aligned correctly, Indy comments on the mural’s completion, and a secret compartment springs open at the base, revealing the gleaming Perses Artifact. Collect it for 20 AP plus the quest’s 100 AP total.

Common Pitfalls and Troubleshooting

Players often stumble by placing tiles in strict process order (Plant, Grow, Harvest, Process, Ferment) from left to right, ignoring vine paths. This locks the puzzle. Other issues:

• Missing Tiles: Recheck behind pallets or high shelves—use Indy’s flashlight.
• Inventory Glitch: Reload a save if tiles won’t equip; rare but reported.
• Guard Respawn: Clear enemies before puzzling to avoid interruptions.
• Vine Confusion: Crouch low to better view base roots; vines glow subtly when highlighted.

If stuck, rotate the camera slowly around the mural’s bottom to visualize branches clearly.

Historical Context: Winemaking in Ancient Rome

This puzzle draws from real ancient Roman viticulture, where winemaking was a revered art. Vines were planted in trellised rows, grapes harvested by hand, trodden in foot-presses, and fermented in amphorae buried for cooling. The mural evokes Mithraic rituals, tying into the DLC’s cult theme—winemaking symbolized life’s cycle in mystery religions.

Machine Learning Note: Modern AI analyses of Roman texts confirm this sequence, with amphorae fermentation lasting months for optimal flavor.

Integration with Order of Giants Progression

A Tale of Wine Making is one of three mysteries in the DLC, alongside Collegial Debate and Serpent puzzles. Solving it contributes to 100% completion, unlocking achievements and full Mithraic artifact sets. The Perses piece slots into your collection, hinting at larger lore connections to giants and ancient orders.

Post-puzzle, backtrack to main path or tackle nearby collectibles like additional notes for lore depth.

Platform-Specific Tips

FAQs

How do I start A Tale of Wine Making?

Swim right in Cloaca Maxima sewers, smash the crumbly wall, defeat guards, and grab a tile or note.

What’s the exact left-to-right order?

Plant, Harvest, Grow, Ferment, Process (with fixed sixth).

What if the puzzle doesn’t solve?

Verify vine paths from roots; ensure all tiles are collected and placed per branches.

Is this required for the main story?

No, it’s optional but essential for achievements and full artifact collection.

Any achievements tied to it?

Yes, likely “Symbol of Initiation” for first artifact.

Why This Puzzle Captures Indiana Jones Spirit

Blending archaeology, history, and clever environmental puzzles, this challenge embodies Indy’s essence—deciphering ancient clues amid danger. It rewards observation over brute force, perfect for fans craving intellectual triumphs.