Reaching the labyrinth's centre in The Labyrinth on Burrow Hill culminates not in a boss fight or a treasure hoard, but in a profound choice within the Resonance Chamber. Here, you confront the hill's ancient consciousness and must decide its fate and your own. You can either Sever your connection to the hill to save the nearby village of Oakhaven (triggering the Severance Ending), or Bind with the entity to become its new, eternal guardian (the Guardian Ending). Getting there requires completing the Warden's Gauntlet, a final, intricate sequence of puzzles that tests everything you've learned.
This guide breaks down the exact steps to navigate the final corridors, solve the Resonance Chamber puzzle, and understand the consequences of the two possible endings. There is no turning back once you begin the Gauntlet, so ensure you are prepared.
What Are the Prerequisites for the Final Area?
Before you can even approach the labyrinth's heart, you must prove your worthiness by gathering three key artifacts, known as the Three Echoes. These items are not just keys; they hold resonant memories of the hill and are required to attune the final locking mechanism. Attempting to enter the Warden's Gauntlet without all three will result in the path remaining sealed. Furthermore, each Echo is tied to a specific musical tone, which together form the melody needed to open the very first gate of the final sequence.
These items can be found in the game's three other major regions and are often the reward for completing that area's central puzzle. If you've been thorough in your exploration, you likely have them already. If not, you must backtrack before proceeding.
Here are the Three Echoes and their associated locations and tones:
| Echo Artifact | Location | Chime Stone Tone |
|---|---|---|
| Gilded Locket | Sunken Chapel of the Mire | A high, clear bell tone (Do) |
| Petrified Crow's Feather | Elderwood Ossuary | A low, resonant wood tone (Sol) |
| Scholar's Compass | The Whispering Archives | A sharp, metallic striking tone (Mi) |
Crucially, you must have all three Echoes in your inventory before you can interact with the Chime Stones at the entrance to the Warden's Gauntlet. The game offers no hints if you are missing one; the puzzle will simply be unsolvable.
The Labyrinth on Burrow Hill in-game screenshot
Solving the Warden's Gauntlet: A Step-by-Step Guide
The Warden's Gauntlet is the final stretch of the labyrinth before the center. It is less a maze of twisting paths and more a linear series of three distinct environmental puzzles designed to test your observation and memory. The area is marked by a large, ornate stone door covered in moss, just past the Chamber of Echoes where you fought the Apparition of the First Warden.
Step 1: Activating the Chime Stones
Directly before the Gauntlet's main door is a small antechamber containing five large, weathered stones—the Chime Stones. You can strike them to produce different tones. To open the door, you must strike three of them in the correct order, using the knowledge gleaned from the Three Echoes.
- Recall the Tones: Remember the tones associated with each Echo: Locket (Do), Feather (Sol), Compass (Mi).
- Find the Sequence: The correct sequence is hinted at in the Warden's final inscription, found just outside the chamber: "Her love, his flight, their knowledge combined..." This refers to the history of the Echoes. The Gilded Locket belonged to the Warden's love, the Crow's Feather to a sky-worshipping hermit, and the Compass to the scholar who first mapped the hill.
- The Solution: The sequence is based on the order they were lost: Scholar, Locket, Feather. Therefore, the correct sequence to strike is: Compass (Mi), Locket (Do), Feather (Sol).
Striking the stones in this order will cause a deep rumbling, and the stone door will grind open, revealing the Shifting Corridors.
Step 2: Navigating the Shifting Corridors
This next section appears to be a disorienting maze, but its layout is an illusion. The walls subtly change and corridors loop back on themselves if you try to navigate by sight alone. The key is to follow a non-visual cue.
Throughout the game, the Warden's spirit has guided you with a faint, ethereal blue light. Here, that light is your only reliable guide. Stand still for a moment and look for faint blue motes of light coalescing in the air. They will appear briefly, indicating the correct doorway or path to take. Moving too quickly will cause you to miss them. Patience is the solution here. Follow the Warden's light through three successive chamber-corridors to reach the final door.
Step 3: Opening the Door to the Resonance Chamber
The final obstacle is a massive circular door with three intricate locks. This is where the Echoes themselves are used. Approach the door, and you will be prompted to interact with it. You must place each of the Three Echoes into its corresponding recess.
- The Gilded Locket fits into the lock depicting a weeping woman.
- The Petrified Crow's Feather fits into the lock showing a bird in flight towards a star.
- The Scholar's Compass fits into the lock carved with an open book and celestial charts.
Once all three are placed, the locks will retract, and the door to the Labyrinth's Centre will finally open.
Inside the Resonance Chamber: The Final Puzzle
The Resonance Chamber is a vast, cavernous space. In the center of the room is a colossal, dormant crystal suspended over a beam of pale light. Your goal is to awaken it by focusing the light. This is done by solving one last puzzle using a set of three large, concentric rings on the floor around the crystal.
Each ring can be rotated independently and is marked with various celestial symbols you've seen throughout Oakhaven and the labyrinth. To solve the puzzle, you must align the correct symbols on all three rings with a pointer on the floor.
The Labyrinth on Burrow Hill in-game screenshot
The solution is tied to the most prominent celestial body associated with the lore of the hill: the local constellation known as the Weeping Magpie. You've seen it depicted in the Archives, the Chapel, and even on the Warden's tomb.
- Outer Ring (The Sun): Rotate this ring until the symbol for the Midday Sun (a full circle with twelve rays) is aligned with the pointer.
- Middle Ring (The Moon): Rotate this ring to align the symbol of the Waning Gibbous Moon. This specific phase is mentioned in Elara's journal as the night the first Warden entered the hill.
- Inner Ring (The Constellation): Rotate this ring to align the symbol of the Weeping Magpie itself (a pattern of five stars with a 'tail').
Aligning all three correctly will cause the rings to lock into place. The beam of light will intensify, striking the crystal and causing it to hum with immense energy. The Burrower, the consciousness of the hill, will manifest before you as a formless being of light and woven roots, and present you with your final choice.
The Two Endings Explained: Severance or Guardian?
There is no right or wrong answer here. The choice is a reflection of your journey and your interpretation of the hill's nature. Do you see it as a prison to be broken or a sanctuary to be protected? Your decision permanently locks you into one of two endings.
The Labyrinth on Burrow Hill in-game screenshot
The Severance Ending
If you choose to Sever the connection, you are prioritizing the human world over the ancient one. The player character will use the crystal's energy to collapse the resonant link between the labyrinth and Oakhaven. The creeping blight that has been slowly sickening the village vanishes, the skies clear, and the labyrinth itself becomes dormant, just an ordinary cave system under a hill.
- Consequence: The game fades to white. You awaken in your room at the Oakhaven inn, with no memory of the labyrinth, the Warden, or the Burrower. Elara greets you as a stranger. On your bedside table sits the Gilded Locket, now empty and mundane. You saved the town, but your sacrifice was your memory of the feat itself. You are free, but ignorant.
The Guardian Ending
If you choose to Bind with the Burrower, you accept the responsibility of becoming the hill's new Warden. You see the labyrinth not as a threat, but as a delicate ecosystem that needs a protector to maintain its balance and keep its power contained.
- Consequence: The player character steps into the light and merges with the Burrower. The final cutscene is a series of time-lapses viewed from a fixed, unmoving perspective high up on Burrow Hill. You watch the seasons change, see Oakhaven thrive below, and feel the slow, deep consciousness of the earth. You have sacrificed your humanity to protect the hill's ancient magic. You are trapped, but all-seeing.
Here is a direct comparison of the outcomes:
| Aspect | Severance Ending | Guardian Ending |
|---|---|---|
| Oakhaven's Fate | The blight is permanently cured. | The blight is held in check, but not gone. |
| The Labyrinth's Fate | Becomes a normal, non-magical cave. | Remains active, with you as its new Warden. |
| Player's Fate | Loses all memories of the journey. | Becomes an immortal, non-corporeal guardian. |
| Final Item | The Gilded Locket is empty. | N/A (You no longer have an inventory). |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Is there a secret third ending? No. Datamining and developer comments have confirmed that there are only two possible outcomes: Severance and Guardian. The choice you make in the Resonance Chamber is final.
What happens if I enter the wrong sequence on the Chime Stones? A loud, discordant tone will sound, and the screen will flash white. You will be transported back to the entrance of the antechamber, unharmed, and can try again immediately. There is no penalty for failure.
Can I miss the Three Echoes and get locked out of the ending? Yes. The Three Echoes are missable. If you proceed to the Warden's Gauntlet without all three, the Chime Stone puzzle will be unsolvable, and you will have to backtrack to the Sunken Chapel, Elderwood Ossuary, or Whispering Archives to find the one you missed.
The Final Choice is Yours
Ultimately, The Labyrinth on Burrow Hill isn't about winning or losing. It's about confronting a power far older than yourself and deciding what sacrifice is worth making. Whether you choose to save the present by erasing the past or preserve the past by sacrificing your future, the decision in the labyrinth's centre will stay with you long after the credits roll. Both endings provide a fitting, bittersweet conclusion to a haunting journey.