QUEST 120 · MEMBERS

Tower of Life

The construction of a mysterious tower is almost complete, but the builders working on it have gone on strike. Losing patience, the alchemists that hired them are looking for anybody to help them. When the world of magic and the world of logic combine you can expect dangerous results, but a true adventurer would cherish such things... wouldn't they?

Tower of Life — OSRS Wiki quest image
OSRS Wiki image for Tower of Life. OSRS WikiGame image © Jagex Ltd
Difficulty
Novice
Length
Medium
Quest points
2
Released
19 February 2007
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Before you start

Where to start

Talk to Effigy at the Tower of Life just east of the Ardougne Monastery.

Requirements

Enemies to defeat

None

STEP BY STEP

Walkthrough

Follow the chapters below. Click any screenshot or diagram to view it at full size.

Obtaining the builder's costume

Begin the quest by heading to the Tower of Life south of East Ardougne, just south-west of the Necromancer Tower (south-west of fairy ring DJP, or Ardougne cloak teleport to the monastery and go east).

  • Talk to Effigy. He will tell you speak to Bonafido if you want to help.
  • Talk to Bonafido. He can be found lying around the boxes just north of the entrance to the Tower of Life - if you can convince him you're a builder by getting the outfit, he will let you into the tower. You need a hard hat, some scruffy trousers, a good top, and some hard boots. Talk to the other builders to get them.
  • Talk to 'Black-eye' to get a hard hat, and answer his three questions. Here are the questions and answers:
  1. How many nails does it take to make a rocking chair? - Three.
  2. What takes 3 planks, 3 cloths and 3 nails to make, and helps remove light from a room? - Torn curtains.
  3. I like fish and I want to put some in my garden, but I need a special water feature. What materials would I require? - 10 clay pieces.
  1. 1 Location
Location of Trousers . Open interactive map ↗Map data and tiles: OSRS Wiki · Game imagery © Jagex Ltd
  • Talk to 'Gummy' and ask for trousers. He says he lost a pair around the tower - just search the plants south-east of the tower to find the Builder's trousers.
  • Talk to 'The Guns', who wants a beer. Go and buy a beer for 2 coins at The Flying Horse pub in north-west East Ardougne or the pub at the Fight Arena or Yanille and return, give him the beer, and he will give you his shirt.
  • Finally, talk to 'No fingers' and pickpocket him when he refuses to give you the boots.
  • Once you've acquired all the items, you must answer some questions from Bonafido for him to grant you entry to the tower. The answers are:
  1. You've plenty of work to do, but you need a drink fast - what do you go for? - Tea.
  2. Now, let's hear you whistle! - Whistle for attention.
  3. What's a good sign that you need to replace your trousers? - Your legs are getting a bit cold.
  4. What do you do if you cut your finger? - Carry on, it'll fix itself.

After answering these questions, you are allowed to enter the tower. Please note that you need to wear the outfit if you want to enter the tower at any time during the quest, although it is not needed after.

Fixing up the tower

Repair Supplies Location
Repair Supplies Location Image source ↗
  • All the required items are on the ground floor (UK) in crates. Search these as required. Each crate gives the same item; search again to get more or if you get nothing the first time.
  • A pressure machine, a pipe system, and a strange cage at the top need to be finished. A hammer and a saw (or crystal saw) are needed to fix these machines.
Item Machine Amount
Valve wheel Pressure 4
Metal sheet Pressure 3
Coloured ball Pressure 4
Pipe Pipe 4
Pipe ring Pipe 5
Rivets Pipe 6
Metal bar Cage 5
Binding fluid Cage 4

Pressure machine

Items needed:

The pressure machine fixed.
The pressure machine fixed. Image source ↗

On the 1st floor (UK), once the pressure machine is built, follow these instructions to fix the pressure machine:

Wheels labelled from the leftmost (1) to the rightmost (4)

  1. Turn wheel 1 to the left until the ball plugs the hole.
  2. Turn wheel 1 to the right until the pipe fills.
  3. Pull the left lever.
  4. Turn wheel 2 to the left until the ball plugs the hole.
  5. Turn wheel 2 to the right until the pipe fills.
  6. Turn wheel 3 to the right until the water starts dripping.
  7. Turn wheel 3 left once to plug the hole.
  8. Turn wheel 3 to the right until the pipe fills.
  9. Pull the right lever.
  10. Turn wheel 4 to the right until the water starts dripping.
  11. Turn wheel 4 left once to plug the hole.
  12. Turn wheel 4 to the right until the pipe fills.

You will receive a message saying the machine is working.

Pipe machine

The completed puzzle
The completed puzzle Image source ↗

Items needed:

On the 2nd floor (UK), you will need to solve a rather simple puzzle similar to a jigsaw (solution on the right). As soon as you put a pipe in the correct location, it will lock in place. You only have to rotate the largest piece; the rest are the correct orientation when you start. Select a piece and use the arrow and rotation controls at the bottom to move it to the correct location.

Caged area (Top floor)

The broken Cage
The broken Cage Image source ↗

Items needed:

Clicking the horizontal or vertical button will make a bar appear. It can increase in size by using the + sign. The bars start off at size one once selected. Click "place bar" and it will go in. If it disappears, redo the steps with the next size up.

It is helpful to remember each "square" of the cage is composed of 2-length pipes. So a missing pipe spanning 1½ squares would need a pipe of length 3.

Quick guide:

Repairing The Cage
Repairing The Cage Image source ↗

When each side is finished, turn the cage with the right arrow.

Side One

  1. Horizontal: Size 2
  2. Horizontal: Size 3
  3. Vertical: Size 2

This side of the cage is now complete

Side Two

  1. Horizontal: Size 2
  2. Vertical: Size 4
  3. Vertical: Size 2

This side of the cage is now complete

Side Three

  1. Horizontal: Size 4
  2. Vertical: Size 2
  3. Vertical: Size 3

This side of the cage is now complete.

Side Four

  1. Horizontal: Size 2
  2. Horizontal: Size 2
  3. Vertical: Size 2

The cage should now be complete!

The Alchemists' Secret

  • Once all three machines are properly fixed, go outside and talk to Effigy. He will be delighted that you've finished and asks you to join him at the top of the tower with the other alchemists.
The alchemists begin to create a homunculus.
The alchemists begin to create a homunculus. Image source ↗
  • Go back up to the top of the tower to start a long cutscene where the Homunculus is brought to life.
  • Go back to the base of the tower and talk to Effigy - then, return back to the top of the tower to confront the Homunculus.

You now need to push the Homunculus's mind towards magic or logic. All multiple-choice answers are either magical, logical, or neither. You need to push the bar at the top of the screen either to fully magical or fully logical; once done, the Homunculus will be okay. It does not matter if you push the Homunculus's mind towards magic or logic - the outcome will be the same.

There are 14 questions. Choosing a magical answer moves the arrow to the left, a logical answer moves the arrow to the right, and a neither answer does not move the arrow. If you don't move the arrow all the way to one end, then the questions repeat. Likewise, you could finish before all the questions are asked.

Helping Homunculus with magic or logic
Helping Homunculus with magic or logic Image source ↗
  • How can I make fire appear at my fingertips?
    • Logic - Get some logs and a tinderbox.
    • Magic - With the aid of 5 fire runes.
    • Neither - That's impossible! No one can do that!
  • How do dragons breathe fire?
    • Neither - Not too sure, I've never seen it happen.
    • Magic - With the help of the magical dragonstones!
    • Logic - By ignition of gas in their belly as they exhale.
  • What do people do, day-in, day-out?
    • Magic - Runecraft, enchant jewellery, perform alchemy.
    • Neither - Eat, sleep, nothing that exciting.
    • Logic - Fletching, Crafting, Smithing.
  • What could I do with unwanted bones?
    • Logic - Bury them.
    • Neither - I'd like to think you wouldn't be carrying bones around.
    • Magic - Turn them into bananas or peaches!
  • What's the best way to travel?
    • Neither - I'm not really much of a traveller, sorry.
    • Logic - Run, run as fast as you can.
    • Magic - Depends where you are headed, but teleport spells are a safe bet.
  • I hear people whisper of potions...
    • Magic - Yes, you can make magic potions to boost your skills.
    • Logic - People mix together ingredients in vials. The nutrients will help you.
    • Neither - Yes, liquid-filled vials. Big deal.
  • How are runes created?
    • Magic - By harnessing the power of the gods!
    • Neither - Never seen one personally.
    • Logic - Take some essence to an altar and use a talisman.
  • Can people move things with the power of the mind?
    • Neither - Perhaps. I've never seen it myself, though.
    • Magic - Yep, you can use the Telekinetic Grab spell.
    • Logic - Sure. Use your brain to tell someone to move it!
  • How can I possibly exist?
    • Magic - Through the power of alchemy.
    • Neither - It's beyond me!
    • Logic - It's a simple case of combining materials.
  • Explain those flashing sparks that scared the alchemists.
    • Magic - You have special powers - no surprise seeing how you were created.
    • Logic - Coincidence - there is a lot of loose metal around.
    • Neither - Yeah, they were cool! Nice one.
  • I want to learn more - what should I study?
    • Logic - Try some Mining followed by Smithing.
    • Magic - How about Magic and Runecrafting?
    • Neither - That's up to you; depends on what you find interesting.
  • If I reach out far enough I can grab the sun.
    • Neither - Don't be silly! You'd get burnt!
    • Magic - Can't see why not, anything is possible.
    • Logic - Well the sun is not actually there, it's where it used to be!
  • Am I a creature of magic or a creature of logic?
    • Logic - Everything has a reason, even if you don't know what it is.
    • Neither - Probably a bit of both.
    • Magic - Your very existence speaks of mystical forces.
  • Which do you believe in?
    • Magic - Magic.
    • Neither - I'm too laid back to really care, mate.
    • Logic - Logic.
The Homunculus scares off the alchemists
The Homunculus scares off the alchemists Image source ↗

Once more, return to the ground floor (UK), talk to Effigy and the Homunculus will appear and scare off the alchemists. The Homunculus will speak with you again and tell you to meet him in the basement of the tower.

You will be granted access to the dungeon. Go into the dungeon and talk to the Homunculus north of where you enter the dungeon once more to complete the quest.

Congratulations, quest complete!

Quick checklist 64 instructions

Use this when you already know the route. The full walkthrough above includes explanations and diagrams.

Walkthrough

  1. Talk to Effigy south of East Ardougne (south-west of fairy ring DJP, Ardougne cloak monastery teleport and walk east, or minigame teleport to Fishing Trawler and walk north) to begin the quest.

    Say: Sure, why not.

  2. Talk to Bonafido at the tower's entrance. He will ask to get a builder's costume.

    • Hat: talk to 'Black-eye' and answer his questions.

      Say: Three → Torn curtains → 10 clay pieces

    • Shirt: Give a beer to 'The Guns'.

    • Trousers: Search the plants to the south-east of the tower. (If none found, search plants in south-west as well.)

    • Boots: Talk to and then pickpocket 'No fingers'.

  3. Wear the full costume. Talk to Bonafido and answer his questions.

    Say: Tea → Whistle for attention → Your legs are getting a bit cold → Carry on, it'll fix itself

  4. Enter the tower while still wearing the full costume

Fix the pressure machine

  1. Take the following supplies (by searching the crates inside the tower):

    • 4 Valve wheels

    • 3 Metal sheets

    • 4 Coloured balls

  2. Head up the first staircase on the west side of the tower.

  3. Fix the pressure machine on the north side of the room.

  4. Complete the puzzle (turn the valves until all holes are plugged, pull the levers when necessary).

    • Pipe 2: Pull down the left lever, and then turn the 2nd valve left twice. Turn it right until the pipe is filled with water.

    • Pipe 4: Pull down the right lever and turn the 4th valve right three times, then left once. Turn it right until the pipe is filled with water.

    • Pipe 3: Lift the right lever back up, and turn the 3rd valve right twice and then left once. Turn it right until the pipe is filled with water.

    • Pipe 1: Lift up the left lever and turn the 1st valve left twice. Turn it right until the pipe is filled with water.

  5. Once all the holes are plugged, make sure to turn the valves until all of the pipes are filled with water. You should see a message that says "The machine is working!" when you have completed the puzzle.

Fix the pipe machine

  1. Take the following supplies:

    • 4 Pipes

    • 5 Pipe rings

    • 6 Rivets (these are stackable)

  2. Head up two floors.

  3. Fix the pipe machine on the south side of the room. You should see a message that says "The machine is working!" when you have completed the puzzle.

Fix the cage

  1. Take the following supplies:

    • 5 Metal bars

    • 4 Binding fluids

  2. Head up to the top floor of the tower.

  3. Fix the cage.

  4. Complete the puzzle. You should see a message that says "The cage is complete!" when you have completed the puzzle.

    • First side

      • Horizontal: Size 2

      • Horizontal: Size 3

      • Vertical: Size 2

    • Second side

      • Horizontal: Size 2

      • Vertical: Size 2

      • Vertical: Size 4

    • Third side

      • Horizontal: Size 4

      • Vertical: Size 2

      • Vertical: Size 3

    • Fourth side

      • Horizontal: Size 2

      • Horizontal: Size 2

      • Vertical: Size 2

Finishing up

  1. Talk to Effigy.

  2. Go to the top floor for a cutscene involving the alchemists and the Homunculus.

  3. Go outside to talk to Effigy.

  4. Return to the top floor and answer the Homunculus' questions until the bar is filled with either 'Logic' or 'Magic'.

    • Say: to solve with 'Logic'.

    • Say: Runecraft, enchant jewellery, perform alchemy. → Turn them into bananas or peaches! → Depends where you are headed, but teleport spells are a safe bet. → Yes, you can make magic potions to boost your skills. → By harnessing the power of the gods! to solve with 'Magic'.

  5. Talk to Effigy again.

  6. Go to the dungeon floor inside the tower via the trapdoor to the south and talk to the Homunculus to the north.

  7. Optional: Medium Ardougne Diary task - kill a "swordchick" (requires 1 raw swordfish and 1 raw chicken.

    • Talk to Homunculus again about creating monsters.

    • Run south-south-west to the "Symbol of life" altar.

      • Use a raw chicken on the altar.

      • Use a raw swordfish on the altar.

      • Activate the altar.

      • Kill the swordchick.

  8. Congratulations, quest complete!

QUEST COMPLETE

Rewards

  • 1,000 Construction Construction experience
  • 500 Crafting Crafting experience
  • 500 Thieving Thieving experience
  • Access to Creature Creation
  • Builder's costume

OSRS WIKI CONTRIBUTORS

Sources & credits

Walkthrough text and preparation lists are adapted from Old School RuneScape Wiki contributors under CC BY-NC-SA 3.0. Game imagery © Jagex Ltd; individual image sources are linked in their captions. This page is fan-made and not affiliated with Jagex.

Game icons © Jagex Ltd, via the OSRS Wiki. Interface icons by Lucide.