This is ALL SPOILERS, no spoiler tags! Turn back now, ye who are brave enough to discover without help!

Look for the ? on the map. Here's the sequence:

1. <Glider Stand> Emerald Isles (starting island)
   
2. <Helm> Emerald Isles (stone tower island)
   
3. <Research Lab> Emerald Isles (2nd sector)
   
4. <Loom> Emerald Isles (3rd sector)
   
5. <Windmill> Fallen Heights (bottom of inner circle) -- this one is optional
   
6. <Sawmill> Fallen Heights (top of inner circle)
   
7. <Pottery Station> Red Cliffs

See below for details.

• Several steps include what examples of blueprints I will learn along the way (complete list here), with critical <Fresco discoveries> encased in angled brackets
  
• Those Frescoes are found on large, intricate islands. Any step that consists of exploring one of these islands will be marked with an Asterisk *
  
• I also name each Fresco Island. These names are my own device.
  
• No, I do not need to turn every island in the Emerald Isles green (but I like to, anyway)
  
• I decided to write this walk-through in the first-person voice rather than second-person -- because it amuses me.

In the first archipelago, I must:

1. do the tutorial, stopping at every Learning Stone (Workbench, Home Kite)
   
2. to head up to the very first Fresco (<Glider Stand>)
   
3. to explore within the archipelago (Wooden Wall, Millstone, Table-map)
   
4. to find the next big island -- notable for its stone tower lighthouse that I can sketch and all the free Rope laying around (it's replenishing; I should come back here should I ever run out of rope)
   
5. to learn necessary recipes from Stones, Anchors, and Frescos (Rudder, Leaf Floater, Leaf Square Sail, <Helm>)
   
6. to sail my very own island! (Oh, how I love this game)

(I gloss over this step because I think the tutorial's sufficient; in fact, I'm rather impressed with it)

I spent a bit of time documenting each island in the starting archipelago (island cluster):
https://gtm.steamproxy.vip/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3519777262

Then, I must build a Table-map (probably right next to my helm):

1. to place a waypoint at the island marked by a ? in the second sector (I call this island "Funnel Quarry" due to it's shape and function: a mine drilled straight down the center, like a funnel)
   
2. to stop at some unexplored islands that I pass (learning some blueprints along the way -- see "Biome 1 Knowledge Progression" way, way below) and grab all their loot (see Step IV)
   
3. to get to that ? island and remove the Corruption/restore the ecosystem (see below)
   
4. to find my way into the heart of the island (see below)
   
5. to enter the chamber using a Lost Key (see below)
   
6. to defeat both corruption cores + enemies, ignoring the Mykter Cages (see below)
   
7. to find the crucial fresco there (<Research Lab>), and on to Step III.

It's relatively straight-forward to clear the Corruption here: all Mykter Trees are sitting out in the open, around the periphery. I'll start with the lowest one, then work my way (generally) counter-clockwise on foot, defeating all the Mykter Trees on the way to the top. Or vice-versa, whatever works.

Once I get into the Fresco Chamber (see next note), I can learn the blueprint from the Fresco without restoring the ecosystem! It may be tempting to leave the island in this unhealthy state, but I would be missing out on a number of learning stones, an anchor, and all that loot.

To get to the Fresco chamber, I need to enter the island via one of two ways:

• I could go to the top and work my way down, defeating the corruption core along the way

~ ~ ~ OORRR ~ ~ ~

• I could circle the island by glider, looking for a lost key; there I will also find a small crevice that I can mine away into a passageway (this is the sneaky method, but I will have to "backtrack" up the stairs to get one of the corruption cores)

I must be sure to bring 5 (five) Lost Keys to this chamber (one for the door and four for the Intricate Chests -- I mustn't forget the three behind the fresco). Also, I'll need one more key...

Oh no! There are two large Mykter Cages blocking parts of the Fresco room! Does this mean that I can't get the blueprint...?

Nope! I can simply walk around them to get the Fresco. Besides, it would be circular: I need the Fresco to get the blueprint to build the Research Station to learn the Coating Station to coat my weapon to remove the Mykter Cages.
I will need to revisit this island with a sword coated in fungicide (after I've done Step III, below) to remove those cages blocking off precious resources -- including one more Intricate Chest requiring a sixth key (found on the outer rim of the island). But first: get the fresco's blueprint for a Research Lab.

[0.3.3.18 EDIT] Check out the in-game version of Fallen's Rest nearby!

Then, I must go to the workbench and make 6 Carved Wood (3 wood + 1 hardstone + 1 sharp stone = 3 carved wood):

1. to build the Research Lab
   
2. to invest 50 Mykter Fiber to reach Tiear 1 research (Coating Station & Upgrade Station Frame)
   
3. to build the Upgrade Station (10 Stones + 10 Wood) with the Coating Station add-on (5 Mykter Fiber + 5 Carved Wood)
   
4. to coat a weapon with the Fungicide I have found in various chests (particularly those Lost Chests that I dug up with my Dorkip wherever the stones formed an X or an O)
   
5. to slay a whole bunch of malicious mushroom monsters for their Mykter (both samples when the sword's coated, and fibre when it's not)
   
6. to collect 100 Intact Mykter Samples (ought to be enough for now)
   
7. to fuel my research until I get to Tier 2, which unlocks the Mycosis Terrarium* which lets me grow my own Intact Mykter Samples to fuel more research

* While the Mycosis Terrarium isn't strictly necessary for progression, it is a Really Good Idea™. This allows me to avoid excessive combat interrupted by repeated trips back to my coating station. Plus, I'll have to research all the tiers eventually, so I may as well do Tier 2 now.
(200 Intact Mykter Samples are needed for Tier 3, which unlocks the Fungicide Brewing Still, but I can't build that until Biome #3)
...
Now that I can coat my weapon, I can go back to loot that previous Fresco Island, where I learned the Research Lab blueprint. Shouldn't be a problem, since my island-ship is still parked nearby.

While adventuring, I must:

• learn a lot at Stones and Anchors (I'll get things like Sewing Table, and Square Wool Sail, which I need but can't craft yet) [see below -- Biome 1 Knowledge Progression]
  
• collect lots of Mykter Fibre from fighting on corrupted islands
  
• collect as much Fungicide as I can find
  
• collect/make lots of Rope to make lots of Hay to befriend Sheep and/or Alpacas by feeding them the Hay, and move them to my home island
  
• collect Charcoal and collect/make lots of Paper to use my Sketchbook to get blueprints for many building parts
  
• collect Lost Keys, which I need to open doors to Fresco rooms (and Intricate Chests that hold valuable loot)
  
• collect Windstone Crystals, Salt Crystals, Brightsun Flowers, and Golden Feathers (all of which will be very useful, if not necessary)
  
• collect lots of Hardstone
  
• (NEW) Solve Pyrologic puzzles of varying difficulty.

to get some essential resources/tools/intermediates:

• 1 Hardstone + 3 Wood + 1 Sharp Stone = 3 Carved Wood. (Sharpened Stone now required as of 0.3.1.10)
  
• Grind 1 Mykter Fibre at the Millstone to get 1 Mykter Grease
  
• 2 Carved Wood + 3 Mykter Grease = 1 Wooden Cog
  
• 1 Carved Wood + 2 Hardstone = 1 Shears
  
• to use the Shears to collect copious amounts of Wool from my sheep, feeding them hay each time (this will take some time)
  
• to craft 2 Wool = 2 Wool Thread, which I will need in bulk once I get the Loom

Then, I must:

1. set a course for the ? on the third sector of the map (getting distracted by unexplored islands along the way -- see Step IV)
   
2. to restore that island's ecosystem by chopping down corrupted trees and destroying Corruption Cores (see Corruption Cores note, below)
   
3. to explore that huge island with much to offer (see Secrets note, below)
   
4. to use a Lost Key to open the big brass door at the "front" of the island (see Lost Keys note, below)
   
5. to find the last fresco on the Emerald Isles (<Loom>)

Some of the corruption cores can be out-of-sight:

• there's a modestly tricky glider puzzle on the bottom of the island
  
• I will need a fungicide-coated sword to break down a barrier or two found inside a dark cave
  
• I'll hold my Field Guide and look for anything that turns bright red

I must bring enough Lost Keys to open the Fresco room and the (one?) Intricate Chest inside.

(EDIT v0.3.3.22) There used to be more Intricate Chests in the Fresco room; now, I only found one.

I wonder if I can find all the secret goodies stashed out of sight (especially Windstone Crystals way high up)? I think I hear a learning stone somewhere above the fresco room...

Finally, I need to build that elusive Loom:

1. to craft Wool Cloth (yields 3 per wool thread; I'll need A LOT for what's to come)
   
2. to finally replace these flimsy Leaf Sails with those Wool Sails that I've known about for a long time
   
3. to brave the first storm barrier, marked on the map as a cyan line at the top of these first three sectors (see Pesky's famous guide for tips on how to do this daunting task)

... to get the next biome, Fallen Heights!

The Loom was holding up the blueprints for the Sewing station and the Pigment Pool; I learned these a long time ago, but can now finally make them (once I create sufficient Wool Cloth) to customize my clothes. I can also use these pigments to make some Beacons, should I wish to mark islands I want to return to.

Note that although the Customization Station does require pigments to build, it needs blue and the ultra-rare purple pigment, both of which are only produced from flowers found in the next biome.

I must sail around and utilize this biome's new resources:

• collect Flax until I get enough Flax Seeds (look for tiny purple flowers; if you have trouble distinguishing one type of flower from another, I made this image for comparison)
  
• and start growing Flax in large quantities (see the Farming section of the Cooking Guide)

• collect Wax from beehives
  
• to make Waxed Rope, which will help me make the mid-tier recipes and blueprints

Although I don't need them to progress, this biome offers many more new resources:

• Pheasants who drop Eggs and Feathers (perhaps I'll make a Bow & Arrows)
  
• (Edit for 0.3.2.12) New small animals -- descriptions coming once I get my current play-through this far
  
• New foods like Eggs, Tomatoes, and Pumpkins -- now I can make Pumpkin Loaf!
  
• Honey for making Wool bandages (or store it up for making Yoghurt, once you can)

(EDIT 0.3.3.22: Glider puzzle added)
Now I want to progress towards the "bottom" ? in this inner ring of the map, collecting loot & knowledge along the way. When I get to this island, I must glide over to it

• to get the top, where the waters fall down the center
  
• to drop down, landing on the room holding the fresco
  
• to go towards the wooden ruins and find the marble gateway leading downwards*
  
• to use one of my Lost Keys on the door (if I don't have any spares, I'm sure I can find one on the island itself)
  
• to go get the first fresco in this biome (<Windmill>)

*I can take one of at least two alternate paths to the locked door, if I'm willing to mine rocks.

I want to bring Lost Keys for the Intricate chests around the island:

• one at the top of the island, inside the base of the overflowing water tower that's closest to the edge of the island's rim
  
• one just after the locked door, up & to the left (before the tunnel to the fresco chamber)

The three learning stones I can find are each tricky, in their own way:

• Well below the decrepit remains of the mansion are the ruins of a port and work space; if I crawl under a collapsed roof, I can get to a learning stone
  
• Accessible either by glider or from a path to the left of an elaborate staircase, this learning stone is somewhat close to the fresco chamber, nestled into the side of the island, towards the bottom
  
• (NEW!) There's a moderately tricky glider puzzle winding upward and clockwise around the periphery; I must practice boosting and braking with the glider to get the timing right

This step is technically optional, since I don't actually need a Windmill! However, it's a brief stop along the way, and the Windmill unlocks automation, which will allow certain crafting machines to continue running while I do other things. Also, this is a pretty fun island to explore, with no corruption!

Then I need to start heading towards the "top" ? in this inner ring of the map (collecting loot & knowledge along the way, as usual), which is 3 sectors away from the "bottom" ?, clockwise.


THIS IS A LONG JOURNEY, so if I plan on going straight there, I need to either be AFK (returning periodically to turn right a little) or else occupy myself with base-building and farming. How are my Flax crops doing, I wonder...?

(EDIT v0.3.3.22 - I am certain these islands have changed yet again, though I have yet to progress this far)
(UPDATE: v0.3.1.13 changed this island dramatically!)
Once I arrive at the island, I'll see a few obvious things:

• the large, multi-level sea vessel that's made of stone and wood, somehow lodged into this island, and cloven in twain
  
• the bow is mostly exposed, the stern is more solidly encased in rock, and they are separate islands
  
• attached to the bow island (and thus considered the same island) is an alabaster temple with a large, locked door (I bet the Fresco's in there)
  
• that they're totally corrupted with fungal grossness!

OK, now I must:

1. cleanse the bow island of the Mykter Tree(s); this is a bit tricky to find:
   
   • First I must glide around to find a hole in the side of the ship, through which I may enter
     
   • Then I need to wind my way down one deck, hearing the sounds of enemies as I approach
     
   • I will need to hack away some overgrown mushrooms to get through a blocked doorway
     
   • I'll need to drop down to a level beneath the ship's hull, to fight off enemies (I know this was mere hours ago, but I forget if there was a Mykter Tree here or not)
     
   • I must progress further downward into a dark chamber to destroy all corruption therein
2. to unlock the alabaster temple door with a Lost Key*, preferably at night (because of the Moonbloom Blossoms)
   
3. to get the fresco (<Sawmill>)

* I should also bring 5 extra Lost Keys for the Intricate Chests:

• there's one on top of the Alabaster Temple, towards the back
  
• two are slightly hidden inside what looks like planters, just after I enter the temple
  
• two are sitting boldly on either side of the fresco

(Above: this image is outdated, from version 0.3.1.10)
After the corruption clears and I nab the long-overdue Sawmill blueprint, I may want to rush home to build all that stuff I've been yearning for (but never had a means to make planks). Of course, there's so much on this island to sketch, and so many chests to loot... decisions, decisions... Hey, beehives!

I must finally build that Sawmill everyone keeps talking about

1. to make Wooden Planks
   
2. to make a Flax Break
   
3. to turn Flax into Fiber
   
4. to weave into Linen Cloth
   
5. to make Linen Sails

At last, I must use these fancy linen sails to get through the second barrier and progress to the third biome. I better stock up on Linen Cloth!

• I can charge straight ahead, leave the helm, and frantically glide around my island repairing sails (the Brute Force approach -- it works!)
  -OR-
  
• I can thread the needle like a leaf on the wind, keeping all my sails clustered right next to the helm for quick repairs (as Pesky does -- much more elegant and less linen-consuming).

This step is tempting to do as soon as possible, as indicated on the maps I drew for Biomes 2 and 3. However, if I can muster the patience, I want to stay in the inner ring for another sector or so before crossing over the barrier. This will allow me to use the more favorable clockwise winds to get close to the next destination (the only Fresco site in Biome 3) with less travel time.

(Apologies to any literature nerds out there: I know I got the Henry V quote wrong, and it really doesn't have anything to do with this game. I just made a random reference; I'll have to find a better name for this section)

... with a recap of the full progression.

Before I do anything in Red Cliffs, I need to figure out how to deal with the heat! I'm susceptible to getting the Parched debuff that will drastically slow down my attacks/resource gathering. To avoid this, I want to:

• make and wear Linen Clothing at the Sewing Table (provides the Heat Protection buff for a few minutes)
  
• stay Hydrated (see the Food Guide)
  
• get Wet (another debuff; -1 Momentum)
  
• stay indoors during the day, going out only at night (day/night part needs to be verified/refuted)
  
• ? Possibly staying in Adobe buildings (needs to be verified or refuted)
  
• ? Possibly gliding around (needs to be verified or refuted)

There are periodic heat waves that will make me Parched even if I wear Linen and wade in the pond. When they get really bad, a threatening bar appears, building up towards a menacing red flame icon (instant respawn!) For each of the above measures I have taken (except staying indoors), an additional segment appears on this threatening bar, delaying the respawn (flame).
At some point (when?) the Parched debuff will apply a limited amount of damage, if I'm at full health.
I hope my home base has a water source, because my crops get mighty thirsty in this heat, and most of these desert islands are bone dry.

I need to obtain:

• the blueprint for Antidote Brewing Still via the Research station (Tier 4)
  
• the blueprint for the Kiln from a Learning Stone

• scarce Darkwood (that is not dark on the outside, but rather pale); this can be further refined for more crafting options:
  
  • 1 Darkwood => 1 Darkwood Plank (at the Sawmill)
    
  • 3 Darkwood Planks + 1 Hardstone + 1 Sharpened Stone = 3 Carved Darkwood

• common Clay using a Dorkip (it looks a little different from the surrounding rocks); this is necessary once I get the Pottery Wheel and the Kiln, but it's also useful for building Adobe structures (assuming I have enough Darkwood)

• Whistling Cores from tall rocks with circular holes in them (the description says that they are only available during heat waves; this is inaccurate); these will let me build the Antidote Brewing Still, as well as crafting a trinket and other uses (see below)

• (the real sticky part) Acacia Gum, which can be found on Lone Acacia trees (I should farm these trees, since the gum doesn't spawn very often); this will be necessary to form Uncooked Pottery (with Clay) at the Pottery Wheel; I can also make a bunch of new colors at the Sewing Station and Glider Stand by combining multiple base dyes with Acacia Gum as a bonding agent

• Bones aren't technically required for progression (currently) but if I can combine them with Carved Darkwood and Waxed Rope, I can make tools/weapons that are far superior to the basic stone tools.

• Very rarely, I may find Aloe Vera; this will let me craft Tier-3 Linen bandages
  
• I can find Potatoes, Carrots, Watermelon, and Peas to increase my culinary repertoire
  
• I can find purple Horned Beetles (different from Blue Beetles) on stumps and logs, to help me restore ecosystems
  
• (Edit for 0.3.2.12) New small animals -- descriptions coming once I get my current play-through this far
  
• Also: now there are Goats to befriend and milk!

Then I must get to the final ? on the map

1. to sketch every part of the impressive adobe city*
   
2. collecting loot, resources, and crops
   
3. and be sure to get the learning stones & the fresco (<Pottery Station>)

* When I run out of paper to sketch, I can make more (Glasswort required; good thing I've been hoarding it up til now).

I want to bring enough Lost Keys for the door to the Fresco room, as well as the Intricate Chests I will find:

• one is sitting out in the open on the upper level
  
• one is inside a small house, behind a couch that's tilted at an odd angle
  
• two are in a hidden alcove up and to the left of the fresco
  
• two are behind the Fresco itself

Once I make the Kiln and Pottery Station, I can

1. make Uncooked Pottery (requires Clay, Acacia gum, Dirty Water) at the Pottery Wheel
   
2. to make Clay Flasks in the Kiln (requires Charcoal, Salt, and Uncooked Pottery)
   
3. to make an Antidote Brewing Still (requires 10 Clay Flasks, 5 Whistling Cores, 10 Stones, 3 Charcoal, 3 Dirty Water)
   
4. to brew the Antidote (requires Fungicide & Reishi Mushroom) that will cure Leviathan.

Note: This was originally written in a "journal" style; I intend to rewrite it to better match the tone & style of the previous sections of the guide. For now, here's this...

I'm going to use the Stormchaser to direct me to the final "level": Leviathan (remember her from the tutorial?) This doesn't cost much, but each use only lasts about five minutes.

I hope this works...

• Not sure how many times I'll have to use this Stormchaser before I find Leviathan.
  
• So far, I was pointed directly at the center of the storm*, making me cross the barrier again -- my poor sails!
  
• Upon getting back to the inner ring, I found islands, but they weren't Fallen Heights biome; they were Emerald Isle biome!
  
• A second use of the Stormchaser led me to the impassable barrier around the center of the maelstrom.* Maybe Leviathan's on the opposite side of the storm? Going around...
  
• Nope. I went around, back to the start of Fallen Heights, but I'm still getting pointed into the barrier.* Hmmm...
  
• Broke down, looked it up on the forums. Thanks for the answer, Pesky!

* EDIT: This log was written wwaaaayyy back in January, when the Stormchaser malfunctioned. Since then (0.3.1.15), it appears to work properly. They must've fixed it without a word (or I just missed it in the change logs).

If I were to find Leviathan flying higher than my island's 1000 meter limit, I could consult this forum post for guidance.

Turns out the Stormchaser was totally lying (but it works now). Leviathan isn't in the center of the storm, she's cruisin around the last sector of the third biome. I'll just keep heading counter-clockwise/anti-clockwise/widdershins until I can't no more.

Wait, what's that whale-call all around me? Is it...? It is!

The first thing I notice is that Leviathan is composed of several linked islands, all corrupted. All but the last have cages that can only be removed by an antidote-coated weapon.

It looks like I must start at the tail, since this is the only "island" that has a Mykter tree that I can fight. When I destroy it, the next section's tree(s) will appear, and so forth. When the last section has the corruption removed, Leviathan will be cured.

Originally posted by xitooner:

When I did the leviathan, I went in with 2 sharpened/coated weapons; bone sword and dorkip. (plus a bow with lots of arrows for those high nodes). Turns out I needed both coatings to make it through all the cages and creatures easily. I think building the coater/sharpener on the tail island is probably the way to go (that and resting up to get your HP back when you need to).

These fights may serve as a "final level", but they aren't much harder than what I've already faced. I will make a point to follow all the tactics I've accumulated, bring at least one backup tool coated in Antidote, and prepare 4-8 of my finest gourmet meals (plus coffee!).

Once I have cleansed all "islands" of Leviathan, I'll get a very brief "cutscene" of her restoration, with some music. And that's it! No story, no endgame, not even credits. The game is still very Early Access; what can you expect?

I notice there are a bunch of resources available after cleansing Leviathan. Bright blue Windstone Crystals are everywhere (some of them out of reach -- good thing I can build platforms). I also notice a new resource: bright purple Wisteria draped here and there. Although there is no sickle symbol when I look at it, I can nonetheless harvest the Wisteria with a sickle. The first time I do this, I'll learn a recipe for Wisteria Tea (cold-brewed at a workbench, not on a cooking plate) and a decorative Teapot. If I'm interested in continuing the fight against the Mykter Corruption, this rare tea will grant me substantial benefits (the Enthusiastic and At Peace buffs, both for 10 minutes).

I posted the map I made for Biome #3 under the Artwork section, and got a fun comment.

Originally posted by Wookie:

I'm in Red Cliffs now and funny thing is, we have both taken the same path to get there... Lol

I want to copy-paste my reply here, in case it interests anybody else.

Originally posted by me:

@Wookie: I really hesitated to reply this way, because I hate sounding dismissive: The map highly encourages this path. The winds blow counter-clockwise on the outer ring, and clockwise on the inner ring. Combine that with the need to hit up each fresco in sequence (and the rock barriers), you get a fairly linear path, even though it feels like an open world.

One could stay in their current biome after upgrading their sails, or fly against the wind. But in general, very few players have that kind of patience. Even the "sprint to the sawmill" section in biome #2 is encouraged by the fact that recipes for items needing planks have been unlocked long before you get the Windmill. The common experience is to jump into Biome 2/Fresco 1 island hoping to find the Sawmill, only to get let down by a blueprint for optional tech (the Windmill). This emotionally stimulates players to rush past all the islands in the next three sectors, just to get to Biome 2/Fresco 2 for that long-awaited lumber machine. When we finally get the sawmill, we realize that we can now upgrade our sails to linen, so we do that and make a beeline for the next barrier to test them out.

The only real place where I see the game no longer guiding the player in the correct direction is the final stretch: the search for Leviathan. I did what I thought I was supposed to do: use the Stormchaser. Alas, be it a bug or sneaky misdirection, the Stormchaser does not accurately point to the final "boss," so one is left to either "follow the wind" (the correct choice) or else cheat by asking others (what I did).

Sorry for the long-winded book, but I wanted to thoroughly explain why I consider this to be "THE" path of progression. Again, I'm sorry if I come across as dismissive. I think it's awesome that we took the same path! I just think this is also the case for most players who get to the final biome.

If you have any thoughts (especially if you disagree), please leave a comment below.

Thank you so much for reading my lengthy guide! I spent a lot of time on it, and hope that it can help someone, or interest someone, or amuse or even bemuse. Let me know if I got anything wrong, or I missed anything, or if you have any other comments.

I've made several other guides for Aloft:
https://gtm.steamproxy.vip/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3411688526
https://gtm.steamproxy.vip/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3414785166
https://gtm.steamproxy.vip/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3422274125
https://gtm.steamproxy.vip/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3430188769
https://gtm.steamproxy.vip/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3518595767
https://gtm.steamproxy.vip/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3519777262
https://gtm.steamproxy.vip/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3555428518