As an avid fan of the Batman Arkham series, I eagerly awaited playing Gotham Knights upon its release last year. This open-world action RPG lets you take control of Batgirl, Nightwing, Red Hood and Robin following Batman‘s apparent death. But what begins as a battle against street criminals eventually unveils a historic conspiracy from the secret society known as the Court of Owls.
In this comprehensive guide, I‘ll be detailing the critical moments in Gotham Knights that uncover clues about the Court‘s plans. Expect some light spoilers as we dive deep into the story, side quests, and locales central to unraveling this mysterious plot threatening Gotham City.
The Court of Owls and Talons – A Historic Threat
For those unfamiliar with the Batman comics, the Court of Owls is an underground organization controlling Gotham City from the shadows for centuries. Using immense wealth and influence, they install agents across civic institutions allowing control over politics, law enforcement, education and more. Their assassins known as Talons operate at night eliminating any who dare challenge the Court‘s authority.
Batman first discovered their existence and roots hidden beneath Gotham early in his career as shown in the comics. But the devious collective had contingencies prepared for such an occasion if their veil of secrecy slipped. As we find early in the game‘s story, the Court has now put sinister plans into motion specifically targeting Batman and his allies.
Investigating the Batcave
Shortly after Bruce Wayne‘s memorial, you take control of his proteges back at the Batcave underneath Wayne Manor. While reminiscing about their lost mentor, several early clues emerge hinting at the Court‘s aggression.
Examining the central Batcomputer reveals news reports of an attack in Old Gotham by an assassin matching descriptions of a Talon. Further proof sits in the cave‘s file cabinet with record #701. This cold case documents an acrobat family called the Flying Graysons falling victim to the Court decades prior following a similar assassin strike under their order.
With these data points suggesting a possible connection between the Court and Batman‘s disappearance, investigating Old Gotham becomes the next logical step. This location‘s centuries-old architecture and the Court‘s historical roots there provide a promising lead on unravelling this conspiracy threatening the city.
Gameplay Tips for Finding Clues
- Fully explore the Batcave and activate detective mode vision to highlight clues
- Examine computers, cabinets, journals and surfaces for files linking to the Court of Owls
- Piecing together dates, locations and evidence begins identifying patterns pointing to the secret society‘s involvement
Exploring Old Gotham‘s History
As one of Gotham‘s oldest districts, Old Gotham contains architecture dating back to the 17th century when European settlers arrived. With early elite families and financiers making residence there, the area unknowingly became a hub for the Court cultivating their influence. Even today, many buildings and tunnels still bear hidden rooms once filled with Court members cryogenically frozen in stasis.
When patrolling Old Gotham with the Batfamily, focusing detective vision on identifying owl iconography proves key. Talon assassins stand guard ready to protect sectors with Court affiliations at a moment‘s notice. Tread carefully across rooftops while examining marked structures often concealing secrets underground relatd to their plans.
Investigating one such guildhall uncovers records mentioning a city planner named Sean Mahoney. He had been spearheading recent renovations on Old Gotham‘s infrastructure per the Court‘s instructions. His efforts notably involved accessing passageways to the ancient catacombs called The Maw spanning beneath the entire neighborhood.
This subterranean locale once housed generations of Court members during periods of hiding. It also possibly served as an execution ground for purge rituals against detractors and failed initiates. With clues pointing to Batman pursuing Mahoney‘s renovations tied to The Maw, exploring this underground maze becomes the next necessary step.
Gameplay Tips for Investigating Old Gotham
- Utilize detective vision and scan for the Court‘s owl symbols on buildings
- Disable patrolling Talon assassins stealthily to avoid alerting more forces
- Search hidden rooms and passages concealing records, plans and relics related to the Court‘s activities
Braving the Labyrinth Beneath Old Gotham
Accessing The Maw requires visiting a central plaza in southern Old Gotham. There you‘ll notice a curious mural with a missing street section revealing stairs leading below into the catacombs.
Layout-wise, this claustrophobic, maze-like passage features multiple spiraling staircases through centuries of constructions and renovations. Scattered throughout remain artifacts, stasis chambers, and maze-like tunnels used in the Court‘s ancient initiation trials.
Surviving initiates underwent physical, mental and emotional torture while navigating this subterranean labyrinth. After stretching the psyche to its limits confronting deepest fears, candidates reaching the end would pledge undying loyalty to the Court. Failure brought a quick demise by the hands of any nearby Talons haunting the darkness.
While navigating this eerie locale, be vigilant of limited visibility and Talon ambushes around corners. Use cover and tool upgrades like smoke pellets to briefly disable threats when outmatched by numbers. Attempting direct standoffs risks becoming overwhelmed by their ranged thrown weapons, dodges, and swift striking critical hits.
Pushing forward eventually leads to the Court’s relic chamber displaying the prized Talon Dagger. Interacting with this starts unlocking elevators to even deeper sections of The Maw. Descend into the former training grounds where Talons once honed their lethal skills through tireless drills and conditioning.
Fight through the barracks, avoiding watchtowers and security gates to reach the command center. There Mahoney‘s records show deeper renovation plans for sub levels 3 and 4 which the Batfamily still needs to locate. However computer notes also reveal Mahoney‘s identity as a former Talon which the Court bent to their will years ago after he survived the Labyrinth‘s cruelty.
Gameplay Tips for The Maw and Labyrinth
- Use detective vision andível to identify hidden switches/doors along critical path routes
- Employ stealth and distractions to isolate stronger Talons before engaging mobs
- Acquire compound XP through undetected takedowns, traversal, and environment analysis for upgrades
- Recommended Gear: Smoke Pellets, Disruptor Stun Gun, Explosive Gel Trap
Investigating the Third Sub-Level
Having confirmed the Court‘s takeover of infrastructure works in Old Gotham, only the mysterious third sublevel remained unexplored at this point. Revisiting the dagger altar chamber uncovers a hidden elevator behind owl effigies linked to this deeper area.
However, while descending expect extreme dangers lurking within. This particular level years ago became makeshift refuge for hundreds of Blackgate Penitentiary convicts following earthquakes that devastated Gotham. Now under anarchists like Bane‘s command, they fiercely guard this grounded settlement awaiting transport to the surface.
When battling Blackgate prisoners, quickly counter shielded foes before devastating unblockable attacks overwhelm your team. Utilize combo finishers like rapid-firing to soften durable Leaders. And don‘t hesitate using ultimate abilities against Brutes charging for mass crowd control strikes.
Fighting through prison gangs while investigating eventually leads to uncovering 19th century mining cart tracks. Following these deeper through century-old tunnels unveils the ruins of an even older Gotham neighborhood buried centuries ago. Here buildings crafted during the city’s darker medieval era still stand marked by the Court’s symbol.
Further studying the striking masonry identifies a battle between knights and the Court‘s forces. Carvings also display figures bowing before a disfigured ruler called the Magistrate. His presence haunts this long-lost borough decaying over generations; a grim remnant from the days when Gotham bore name “Goth’Hamm” meaning “Home of Hammers".
Finding the Magistrate‘s gruesome journal solidifies he exists as the Court‘s demonic idol providing blessings through violent rituals and sacrifice. All while puppeteering Gotham‘s growth above by cursing any defiant to the Court and their campaigns to mollify citizens through whispered words.
And with Batman‘s last known location potentially below Old Gotham, locating this Magistrate‘s lair becomes the next dire step to unmasking plans behind his protege‘s odd disappearance.
Gameplay Tips for the Ruins
- Use teamwork and abilities in tandem to distract and quickly dispatch durable enemies
- Follow the mine cart tracks to enter passageways deeper underground
- Study relics and scan breakable surfaces to reveal hidden items/documents
- Recommended Gear: Disruptor Stun Gun, Batfamily Team-Takedowns, Focus Venom Boost
Storming the Magistrate‘s Stronghold
Pressing forward through the mining tunnels eventually leads to a foreboding antechamber adorned by candles and disturbing owl imagery across stonework. Entering the robed conjurer’s study beyond reveals an altar displaying grisly remains of past victims and talismans utilized in his dark rituals to locate souls.
Attempting to use the only visible transport, an elevator between two owl statues, springs a trap restraining Batgirl. The wicked sorcerer emerges cackling while unveiling plans as the architect behind Batman‘s disappearance and now seeks to ensorcel his proteges towards the same fate.
However before the ritual begins, Batgirl manages to break free with allies’ help. They clash exchanging blows, unfortunately allowing the prime conspirator behind Talon activities to narrowly escape unmasked.
With his fortress now destabilized during the failed summoning ritual, locating an escape becomes paramount with debris filling halls by the minute. Guide everyone safely navigating collapsing architecture back outside into The Maw. And despite main villain fleeing Gotham Knights’ climatic act, unveiling the Magistrate essentially confirms Batman indeed becoming captive somewhere below the city.
Uncovering more about this demonic personality seemingly directing the Court can hopefully unveil whatever fate befell the Caped Crusader after that ill-fated encounter. This allows Oracle and the rest of the Bat team to strategize the best options locating and hopefully still rescuing their long lost mentor.
Gameplay Tips for the Magistrate Showdown
- Avoid initial trap and quickly defeat spectral allies to interrupt ritual
- Employ gadgets like Explosive Gel during second phase stunning the target
- Evade collapsing floor sections when escaping by using grapple points
Theories on the Court and Magistrate‘s Master Plan
Clearly the Court of Owls‘ infrastructure renovations tied to an individual called The Magistrate pose tremendous threats around every corner. Batman seemingly realized this investigation would unveil troubling secrets judging by extensive studies into Gotham‘s history and the Order‘s occult mythos.
My theory is the Magistrate anchored the Court‘s ability resisting Batman‘s interference through centuries. His dark blessing allowed sowing mental manipulation and fear across civic institutions. Annually providing sacrificed residents or transgressors certainly nourished his connection granting members malleability.
However, Batman‘s past sabotage of Court augmentation projects clearly strained the Magistrate‘s powers. Eventually, he would be unable harness mysticism against Batman or the Batfamily completely; only misdirect or inhibit them briefly. This downfall forced the Order to become desperate for alternatives.
First, they recruited people like Mahoney through the Labyrinth for public works projects. His city planning proposals disguised initiatives allowing drilling tunnels and fortifying anchor sites linked to the Magistrate‘s realm. Wayne Enterprises bidding likely would fund the projects too.
Second, enhancements clearly got implemented on new generations of Talons as well. Advanced armor, regenerative capabilities and superior physiology all aim to evolve their assassins resisting even Batman’s formidable skill.
Both these major efforts could buy time while the Magistrate gathers soul forces enough attempting an immense city-wide hex. My assumption is the Order plans invoking it as last resort turning Gotham completely subservient again. But two roadblocks remained for this Armageddon plot – Batman‘s interference and warnings reaching his team about the great danger still lurking.
Abducting Batman provided an immense catalyst spark towards the soul quota needed for his ultimate hex. That earmarked sacrifice of someone inspiring such hope decisively could disable entire generations falling slave once again to inner demons seeded by the Court over the decades. Ironically, it took eliminating the Dark Knight providing the last key towards Gotham’s complete undoing after he valiantly fought guarding citizen free thought for years.
So in the end, the climatic moments meeting the Magistrate in his roost essentially confirm Batman became trapped in the same machine churning Gotham’s karma into turmoil across history. Our heroes must keep struggling to uncover his fate while battling upgraded Talons and the Court’s pawns placed in high offices. Victory requires seeking allies known to combat similar mystic forces harnessing fear like Dr Fate. And they also need unraveling the anchoring sites where the Magistrate channels his cruel hexing spells.
Only with Gotham completely united culturally and spiritually again can this demon remain contained for good; allowing the Batman legacy and optimism required flourishing among civilians he strived protecting over the years. But is Bruce still alive fueling the Magistrate against his will? Can allies successfully coordinate finding the epicenter driving Talon upgrades and unmask public officials secretly enabling Court orders? I for one cannot wait to hopefully defeat this nefarious organization and its vile occult idol while solving what final fate befell our beloved Dark Knight!
In Conclusion…
I hope this extensive 3000 word guide has enhanced your journey greatly while playing Gotham Knights! Pay close attention when exploring Old Gotham and its underground maze for telling signs of the Court of Owls’ influence. Additionally, keep probing into the history of the Magistrate and his mythic role empowering their conspiracy against Batman’s clan. Expect plenty of dangers from Talons and Bane’s followers when disturbing their shadow operative activities across the undercity stretches. But working together using advice listed here regarding combat, gear and leveling will surely unravel the ultimate mystery – if Batman still survives forcibly fueling the Grand Hex rite being channeled! Lastly comment any other questions or theories you have regarding the Court of Owls grand schemes!
