- Septemburg is a major Mina the Hollower dungeon-like area.
- Rescue three lost kids for a valuable Trinket.
- The Carving Man boss is invulnerable until the final chase.
- Utilize sub-weapons like the Recall Disc and Beckoning Collar for combat and evasion.
- Master environmental hazards like wind movement and lightning strikes.
Septemburg Overview and Initial Exploration
Septemburg is a crucial region in Mina the Hollower, functioning as a sprawling dungeon filled with unique challenges, enemies, and secrets. This agricultural region is locked in perpetual autumn, with crops merging with wildlife to create aggressive monstrosities. Expect howling winds and discordant lightning as you guide Mina through this harvest-themed area.
Video Highlights:
- Preview of the Septemburg A musical theme.
- Sets the atmospheric tone for the region.
- Offers a glimpse into the game's sound design.
Upon entering Septemburg, you'll find an Underlab for saving your progress. From there, head left to encounter a Crow warning you about the "Corvidden" and Crow Town. Proceeding further, you'll face "Red Panda" enemies that hop around and are challenging to hit. These enemies have relatively low health, making them manageable with quick attacks. Utilize "Air Paddles" to traverse gaps and reach hidden areas, often containing Bones. A new enemy, the "Pumpkin Shooter," emerges from "Light Pumpkins," requiring multiple whips to defeat and collect all bones.
Always be on the lookout for hidden air paddles or destructible stumps. These often lead to secret screens with valuable Bonestone chests or other collectibles. For instance, destroying a stump to the far south after the Pumpkin Shooters can reveal a hidden path with rotating air paddles, leading to a chest containing 500 Bonestone.
As you advance, you'll encounter various Crow Enemies: pitchfork-wielding crows that stab like spears and torch crows that shoot fire. Remember that you can burrow under sickles and pitchforks to pick them up and throw them back at enemies, a highly effective combat strategy.
Initial Enemy Encounters and Tactics
| Enemy Type | Key Characteristic | Effective Tactic | Notable Drop |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red Panda | Hops erratically, low health | Quick whip attacks | Bones |
| Pumpkin Shooter | Emerges from "Light Pumpkins" | Multiple whip strikes (whip, whip, jump whip) | Bones |
| Pitchfork Crow | Stabs with pitchfork | Burrow under attacks, throw pitchforks | Pebbles |
| Torch Crow | Shoots fire | Use thrown sickles, rapid attacks | Vial |
Septemburg: The Relentless Chase and Kid Rescue
A significant portion of Septemburg involves a thrilling chase sequence with the Carving Man, an invulnerable entity that will relentlessly pursue you. During this chase, your primary objective (besides survival) is to rescue three lost school kids, which will reward you with a valuable Trinket. Missing a kid means you'll have to purchase the Trinket from the black market later for a hefty sum of Bone.
Do not attempt to fight the Carving Man during the chase sequences. He is completely invulnerable. Focus solely on evasion and objectives. Using sub-weapons like the Recall Disc can aid in escaping tight situations by warping past him.
The environment during the chase is fraught with hazards. Mandragora enemies, resembling grass bulbs, pop up and scream, dealing area damage. Burrowing under them allows you to pick them up and throw them. Hedges require multiple hits to destroy, and you cannot burrow under them, forcing you to find alternative paths or spend time clearing them.
Kid Rescue Checklist
Lost Kids Location:
- Kid #1: North from the initial chase area, found on a screen with moving platforms. Talk to him immediately.
- Kid #2: In the Rotten Barn, go right from the entrance, break dirt, and go up a log tunnel. Found after collecting bones and a chest.
- Kid #3: In Tangled Woods, navigate to the far southwestern corner using log tunnels, then head left on a wind-affected screen. Talk to the Turkey to save him.
Navigating these chase segments requires quick reflexes and strategic use of Mina's abilities. For instance, after saving Kid #1, the Carving Man will burst out of the central area. Instead of fleeing immediately, consider grabbing the 800 Bonestone from the chest he was guarding, even if it means taking some spike damage.
Crow Town and Environmental Challenges
After the intense chase sequences, you'll find temporary respite in Crow Town. This area introduces new environmental mechanics, particularly Lightning Screens. These screens are periodically struck by lightning. While being caught in the open inflicts moderate damage, standing near metal swords will redirect the lightning to them, potentially harming enemies.
Lightning strikes on metal swords can damage you, but more importantly, they can instantly kill enemies. Use this to your advantage to clear paths or take down tougher foes. If you have the Lightning Guard trinket, equip it to make these sections easier.
Crow Town also features various sub-areas with unique challenges. The "Tangled Woods" area, for example, combines wind effects with the Carving Man's pursuit, requiring careful navigation. Here, red Mandragora enemies will leap and explode, adding another layer of danger.
Septemburg Sub-Areas and Key Features
| Sub-Area | Primary Challenge | Notable Features | Important Item/NPC |
|---|---|---|---|
| Withered Farms | Red Pandas, Pumpkin Shooters | Air Paddles, Hidden Paths | 500 Bonestone Chest |
| Rotten Barn | Red Slimes, Carving Man Chase | Log Tunnels, Breakable Walls | School Kid #2 |
| Crow Town | Lightning Screens, Crow Enemies | Metal Swords, Scarecrow Merchant | Guardian Casket |
| Tangled Woods | Wind Effects, Red Mandragora | Movable Lightning Rods | School Kid #3, Kear |
| Stormwatch Way | Wind Movement, Threshers | Air Paddles, Underlabs | Recall Disc, Beckoning Collar |
In Crow Town itself, you can free scarecrows, with one being a friendly NPC merchant selling items like a Mandragora Trinket and a Kear Key. Exploring the town involves clearing out numerous crows and finding hidden passages, such as a house that leads to the Guardian Casket, a powerful weapon that auto-equips and allows for enhanced parries and shield bashes.
The Carving Man Boss Fight and Tower Minigame
The culmination of your journey through Septemburg is the boss battle against the Carving Man. This fight takes place in a dynamic arena with concrete blocks that the boss can destroy or knock down. Lightning also plays a role, occasionally striking the boss if you're nearby.
Carving Man Attack Patterns
| Attack Name | Description | Evasion/Counter Strategy |
|---|---|---|
| Forward Punch | Lunge with a pumpkin-like "hand mouth," 3-4 hits. | Watch mouth direction for warning, dodge or burrow. |
| Charge | Straight-up charge across the screen. | Dodge, can clear concrete blocks. |
| Grab and Throw | Grabs Mina and throws her, breaking concrete. | Good opportunity to heal after the throw. |
| Detachable Hands | Hands detach and chase Mina. | Whip them to destroy them (jump whip is effective). |
| Electric Rings/Pulses | Full circle or pulsating spark rings. | Get in the gaps of pulsating rings, move with rotating line. |
| Rotating Lightning Line | A line of lightning that rotates across the arena. | Move with the rotation to avoid damage. |
The Beckoning Collar sub-weapon is excellent for consistent damage, while the Recall Disc provides crucial escape options. Focus on landing 3-ish hits after the Carving Man jumps or at the end of his punch combos. Burrowing is vital for avoiding corner traps and the rotating lightning attacks.
After defeating the Carving Man, you'll receive a Health Rose for an HP buff and proceed to another Tower Minigame. This minigame offers infinite tries and features Mandragora enemies, air paddles, pumpkin shooters, and electricity. Thorne will appear at the top, performing fly-bys with his spear, which you can burrow to ignore. Your goal here is to collect buried bones and reach the top to fix the tower, earning a substantial bone reward.
Essential Septemburg Trinkets and Sub-Weapons
Throughout Septemburg, Mina can acquire various trinkets and sub-weapons that significantly impact gameplay. These items can turn the tide in challenging encounters and provide unique utilities for exploration.
Key Trinkets and Sub-Weapons
| Item Name | Type | Acquisition | Effect | Strategic Use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Recall Disc | Sub-Weapon | Found in Septemburg | Throw, then warp to its location, damaging foes. | Evasion, quick repositioning, surprise attacks. |
| Beckoning Collar | Sub-Weapon | Found in Septemburg | Summons a pet that attacks, can be exploded. | Constant damage, area-of-effect burst (at cost of charge). |
| Guardian Casket | Weapon | Crow Town house chest | Auto-equips, allows blocking, enhanced parries. | Defensive play, parry-focused combat against aggressive foes. |
| Lightning Guard | Trinket | (Acquired earlier) | Reduces damage from lightning. | Essential for Crow Town's Lightning Screens. |
| Kear | Currency | Found in hidden areas, chests | Used at Kear Boxes for Bonestone. | Collect for financial boosts, especially 1,000 Bonestone from a Kear Box. |
Rescuing all three lost kids in Septemburg will grant you a unique Trinket. This is a highly recommended objective to complete during your initial playthrough to avoid purchasing it later at a higher cost.
The choice of sub-weapon can greatly influence your approach to combat. For the Carving Man boss fight, the Beckoning Collar offers a consistent damage source, while the Recall Disc provides unparalleled mobility and evasion, making it easier to avoid his powerful attacks and reposition for your own. Experiment with different combinations to find what suits your playstyle best.
Q: What is Septemburg in Mina the Hollower?
Septemburg is a major dungeon-like region in Mina the Hollower, characterized by an autumnal agricultural theme, aggressive plant-wildlife hybrids, and environmental hazards like strong winds and lightning. It features a relentless chase sequence with the Carving Man and opportunities to rescue lost kids.
Q: How do I defeat the Carving Man in Septemburg?
The Carving Man is invulnerable during chase sequences. You can only defeat him in the final boss fight. During the boss fight, focus on dodging his various attacks (punches, charges, hand throws, electric attacks) and landing hits after he jumps or finishes a combo. Sub-weapons like the Beckoning Collar or Recall Disc are highly effective.
Q: Where can I find the three lost kids in Septemburg?
The three lost kids are found in specific sub-areas: Kid #1 is north of the initial chase, on a moving platform screen. Kid #2 is in the Rotten Barn, accessed by going right and up a log tunnel. Kid #3 is in the Tangled Woods, in the far southwestern corner after using log tunnels and heading left on a wind-affected screen.
Q: What are the main environmental challenges in Mina the Hollower's Septemburg?
Septemburg presents several environmental challenges, including areas with strong wind movement that affect your jumps and air paddles, and Lightning Screens in Crow Town where lightning strikes periodically. Learning to utilize or avoid these mechanics is crucial for progression.