Sigh of the Abyss Shadow Bonds Walkthrough 100% (All Achievements/Routes/CGs/Codexes)

Here are some things to consider before you get started:

• So far, I have not found any of the skills make a difference in the story yet, other than how you resolve a situation. Therefore, for the purpose of this guide, I’ve gone with whatever suits the character/route.
• Do not use the scroll wheel. Unlike other dating sim games, this one does not show the log. It fast forwards/skips dialogue and scenes. Use the specific log button when you want to reread sentences.
• It makes no difference how you treat Ornell (As of right now, at least. That may change in future). You can be mean, or nice, and still make contrasting choices. ie, you can be nice to him and still kill him, or be mean, and still send him off on the ship. (However, people might like you more if you’re nicer to him, and don’t do things that upset him, generally.)
• There are many different ways to romance people. I found multiple personality types worked on the same love interest. However, for the interest of this guide, the achievements, and the CGs/Codexes, I will not be looking at every way. Just the “main” one that works, and is different from the other interests.
• I recommend always using Sylas’ plan of you fainting as a distraction. This interaction and the way you faint changes based on your personality at that point, and each is quite unique and worth a look.
• The Codex guide is not complete, but you will achieve them all by following the guide for each route.

There are certain achievements you cannot miss. Therefore, they will not be included in any route’s achievement section, because they’re obtainable in all of them:

“Bond of Shadows”
You met a renegade mage.

“Bond of Coin”
You met the crafty rascal.

“Bond of Flowers”
You met the scarred artist.

“Bond of Light”
Ambushed by the Warden, who distorts shadows into light.

“It’s time to do what I do best, and no, it’s not singing.”

Alpheon, the languid minstrel. Wooing him is fairly simple: visit him whenever possible on the map. His route has 3 CGs, all of which are obtainable without romancing him if you so wish. (#1, #4 and #5)

For my playthrough, I went for Mind Control 5 and Strength 2 and always pressed the Phlegmatic (or teardrop) option when prompted with that choice system. I was also nice to Ornell, because he is also a mage. I cooperated with Alpheon and Malec, and their research on the phenomenon every time. – I’m unsure how much of this guide is actually needed, but it created nice dialogue with Alpheon this way.

You will unlock the achievements:

“Bond of wine”
You met the languid minstrel.

“Bond that questions”
You celebrated with Alpheon.

“Death Avoided”
You found another way to break the odious spell cast on you.

Choices outside the dialogue wheel options are:

• At the first map screen, visit Alpheon instead of the hooded woman Atri
• Disarm the man
• Tell us what you were doing
• Intervene
• Threaten them
• Ask Him – unlocks the achievement “Bond of wine“
• Don’t say that
• I should not be hurt by Abyssal magic
• Let him touch you
• Are you going to see underneath?
• Accept
• It chains Ornell to me, and vice verse
• He would die
• I don’t know what to do
• What would you do?
• At the second map screen, visit Alpheon again instead of Ornell.
• Add your coin to the pile.
• Accept the wine
• Am I? – CG unlock (#5)
• I’ll take the beef
• Accept his offer of an escort
• Let him kiss it
• It is not unwelcome
• I can’t destroy it if I can’t see it
• Endure it
• One second
• Alright
• Wait for Sylas’ plan
• Let’s go through with the fainting maiden
• I think he’s more interested in your arm
• How is it possible?
• You can try.
• Explain it to him
• Tell him that you do
• At the third map screen – Alpheon should be there. Click him
• I’d like to see him
• Perhaps
• Rough Night?
• Thank you
• I was tested and I think I succeeded
• Will Ornell feel anything?
• Yes
• What kind?
• You can do this
• Focus on the details of the scabs
• You heed Alpheon’s words and steel yourself
• The careful picking at a scab
• Destroy the spell – unlocks the achievement “Death Avoided“
• For the better?
• We broke the spell
  May you sheperd the herd. Justly. -dreamflag
• Thank you
• Will Ornell be safe?
• Let’s
• Listen to the sailors – CG unlock (#4)
• At the fourth map screen – visit Alpheon
• What do we both need?
• Count me in
• Do you go there often?
• Like you mind
• Are we taking the northern or the southern one?
• Why a natural pool instead of a bath house?
• You wish you were
• It’s beautiful
• Look
• Will you not look? – CG unlock (#1) and unlocks the achievement “Bond that questions“
• Is this your way to feel human?
• Why are you telling me this?
• It’s a very human look
• Clap
• I liked the singing, not the song
• Humour him
• I’d like to do this again sometime
• Approach it slowly

I don’t wish for you to simply haunt my dreams, no- I want you to infest my every waking thought.”

Malec, the scarred artist. Malec is our resident emo boy. He probably prefers the term empath.

For this route, I had Mind Control 5, Strength 2 and picked all Melancholic choices. I was nice to Ornell (we can be mean to him all we like on Sylas’ route) and cooperated with Malec’s research.

This route unlocks 1 CG (#2).

This route unlocks the following achievements:

“Bond of Blood”
You met the fallen admiral.

“Bond of Silk”
You met the bewitching mage.

“Death at his hands”
You forced Ornell to extinguish your spark.

“Bond that assures”
You celebrated with Malec.

Choices outside the dialogue wheel options are:

• At the first map menu: visit Atri, the hooded figure.
• Disarm the man
• Tell me the reason you’re bothering us
• Don’t say anything
• Don’t say anything – unlocks the achievement “Bond of Blood“
• See you around
• At the second map menu: visit Marane – unlocks the achievement “Bond of Silk“
• At the third map menu: visit Marane
• Prepare the drink for her
• It’s not your fault.
• Thank you for confiding in me
• I don’t want to be hurt
• One Second
• Alright
• Wait for Sylas’ plan
• Let’s go through with the fainting maiden
• … not
• Ornell’s counting, let him talk
• How many times have you given her an extension?
• What does it look like?
• You can try
• Explain it to him
• Tell him that you do
• I will force him to kill me
• Extend your hand
• At the fourth map menu: click yourself. “Death at his hands”
• I won’t die
• Kill me – unlocks the achievement “Death at his hands“
• What you are saying is that you didn’t really kill me
• Call him over please
• Please ask him
• Why does he not want to?!
  Eradicate their worries, not their lives -deathflag
• At the fifth map menu: click Malec
• What are you doing here?
• Let him comfort you
• Don’t be
• Don’t mention him
• What’s wrong?
• Let him kiss you – unlocks a CG (#2) and the achievement “Bond that assures“
• You are
• Approach it slowly

If it’s not too much of a bother, I need to borrow you for a few hours. It’ll be a win-win, trust me!”

Sylas, the crafty rascal. For her route, we’re going full tilt. I used Strength 5, Shadow Magic 2, and answered everything Choleric (or fire) option when prompted with that choice system. I was also mean as heck to Ornell. Heck, I was mean to everyone.

Her route has 1 CG (#6).

You will unlock the achievements:

“Bond of wine”
You met the languid minstrel.

“Bond that comforts”
You celebrated with Sylas.

“Death by your hands”
You extinguished Ornell’s flame.

“Bond of Travel”
You met one of the Four Winds of Banu Javidyar.

Choices outside the dialogue wheel options are (And this will be a LOT more vague than Alpheon or Malec’s routes, because you really don’t have to be nice to many people):

• At the first map screen, visit Alpheon instead of the hooded woman Atri
• Don’t be nice to Alpheon, and don’t let him study or touch you.
• At the second map screen, there will only be Atri. Visit her.
• You don’t have to be nice to Atri, either.
• At the third map screen, visit Marane
• You can also be mean to Marane.
• At the fourth map screen, visit Marane.
• In the dream state: I can’t destroy it if I can’t see it
• Let it sear your nerves so you can be unfeeling.
• Knock back
• She knows the Halls best
• Alright
• Wait for Sylas’ plan
• Let’s go through with the fainting maiden
• For the purpose of this guide, be nice to Malec. It’s not needed, but it is for an achievement only obtainable from killing Ornell. Be honest with him about your intentions.
• … Not.
• Let Ornell count
• Don’t mention the extension
• What does it look like?
• You can try
• Let Ornell do the talking
• Tell him that you do.
• At the fifth map screen: click Ornell (Alpheon will be there, but don’t choose him). “His blood on your hands”
• Kill him
• What are you doing here?
• I didn’t want to do this
• What should we do?
  Save here for the achievement “Bond of Travel”
• Let her

  Always be Wary -deathflag

  Deviate from Sylas’ route here for “Bond of Travel”
  At the fifth map screen: visit Malec, with the books from Ornell. You can say wait, but you will be kicked out. Unlocks the achievement “Bond of Travel“.

  Reload the previous save

• At the fifth map screen: click Sylas
• I’ve been better
• Do you want something herbal to drink?
• Should I ask?
• You look very pretty
• Alright, I will – unlocks CG (#6) and the achievement “Bond that Comforts“
• You don’t.
• Of course I do

“There is untold power in the dirt we pretend not to see.”

Marane, the bewitching mage. Wooing her is fairly simple: visit her whenever possible on the map. Their route has 1 CG (#3).

For my playthrough, I went for Shadow Magic 5 and Mind Control 2 and always pressed the Sanguine (or Tornado) option when prompted with that choice system. I was also nice to Ornell, because he is also a mage. I cooperated with everyone, and played nicely.

You will unlock the achievements:

“Bond of blood”
You met the fallen admiral.

“Bond of Silk”
You met the bewitching mage.

“Death Avoided”
You found another way to break the odious spell cast on you.

“Bond that beckons”
You celebrated with Marane.

Choices outside the dialogue wheel options are:

• At the first map screen, visit Arti – unlocks the achievement “Bond of Blood“
• At the second map screen, visit Marane – unlocks the achievement “Bond of Silk“
• You can actually be mean or nice to Ornell here. I chose to be nice.
• At the third map screen, visit Marane
• Prepare the drink for her
• It’s not your fault
• You’re too hard on yourself
• In the dream: “I can’t destroy it if I can’t see it”
• Merge with the pain
• Go with Sylas’ fainting maiden plan.
• Be nice to Malec.
• At the fourth map screen, click Marane. “Roaring destruction” – unlocks the achievement “Death Avoided“
• Thank you, Sylas.
• You worry for nothing
• I changed.
• Lend me your strength
• Have them focus on your neck
• Strangle the chain
  May you sheperd the herd, justly. -deathflag
• Thank you
• Will Ornell be safe?”
  
• Let’s.
• Ask Malec about Banu Javidyar – CG unlock (#4)
• At the fifth map screen, click Marane
• It’s beautiful in here
• Compliment her
• I accept your apology – unlocks CG (#3) and the achievement “Bond that beckons“
• I would
• Just friends?
• You have shown me a new, precious side of yourself.

There are 18 codexes:

• 1. Controls – Automatically unlockable playing the game
• 2. The Four Humors – Automatically unlockable playing the game
• 3. Carolise – Automatically unlockable playing the game
• 4. The Triune Goddess – Automatically unlockable playing the game
• 5. The Halls of Elevation – Talk to Ornell
• 6. The Solstice Festival – Talk to Ornell
• 7. Banu Javidyar – Ask Ornell “Do you wish to see your family?”
• 8. Languages of Carolise – Visit Alpheon once in the tavern.
• 9. Songs of Carolise –
• 10. The Four Winds –
• 11. Coffee Houses – Celebrate with Malec
• 12. The Forester’s Hide – Celebrate with Alpheon
• 13. Alpheon – Talk to Ornell about someone that can help
• 14. Atri – Talk to Ornell about someone that can help
• 15. Malec – Automatically unlocks when you meet Malec
• 16. Marane – Automatically unlocks when you meet Marane
• 17. Ornell – Automatically unlocks when you meet Ornell
• 18. Sylas – Automatically unlocks when you meet Sylas