Lushmeadow-on-Down is the 5th level in Dungeon Keeper. It is the final tutorial level.
This is the first realm with an enemy Keeper. Lushmeadow trains the player in the art of competing with rivals for gold seams, creatures, and territory. The goal of the match is to destroy the blue Dungeon Heart.
A Prison lies in the middle of a fiery river running end-to-end through the map's equator. The Bile Demon and two Spiders there (all level 2) will join the first Keeper to bring a creature within sight of them. The Prison itself can be claimed once a Bridge is laid to it.
If Red claims the Bile Demon, he gets access to the three extra ones in the Creature Pool. If he claims the Prison, he gains the ability to lay down additional Prison slabs. But if the enemy blue Keeper claims these things, the same thing does not happen for him.
While mining along the river, one should make a point of grabbing the Dungeon Specials, which float in their own tiny neutral dungeons at either end of the map.
Red Versus Blue[]
The first emotion felt by anyone entering this level is disappointment at the lack of gem seams, which were readily-available in the previous realm, Flowerhat. The distribution of gold seams for both Keepers, on their respective northern and southern halves of the map, is somewhat in Blue's favor, but nothing to panic about.
Red can get access to better creatures and hardware. Blue's main asset is probably endurance. Because he does not have much to spend gold on (not even Speed Monster), he will be financially stable for a very long time.
Blue's location is made clear when that Keeper claims his nearby Portal. Remember, Portals that start out unclaimed (the flashing, seizure-inducing pattern on the overhead map) are uniquely visible to all Keepers, and they remain so even after being captured.
After growing to the creature limit of 25, Blue usually issues a taunt over the intercom and attacks by laying down Bridges across the lava. Gather your forces with a Call to Arms, attack his dungeon, beat his creatures into submission, and destroy the enemy Dungeon Heart.
Strangely, despite this being a tutorial level, Blue is able to promote his Demon Spawns to Dragons, yet you are not able to promote yours; if you stay on this level for that long, you're in trouble.
Messages[]
Briefing Text
"Another Keeper controls this underworld realm. His dungeon lies to the north. If you are to entice creatures to work for you instead of him, you will have to build a more magnificent dungeon. Get on with it then."
Player obtains a Bile Demon
"A Bile Demon chooses to side with you. Bile Demons demand large Lairs and ample Hatcheries. These corpulent monstrosities attack somewhat unconventionally."
Player obtains a Spider
"A Spider has joined your dungeon. They are natural enemies of Flies, so endeavour to keep them apart. Overcoming such obstacles will temper your mettle - whatever that means."
Player takes control of a Prison
"You have claimed a Prison. Select imprison from the Information Panel and your creatures subdue their foe, at which point your imps drag the bodies off to a cell. Prisoners who die of starvation may rise again as Skeleton warriors for you to command."
Player researches Sight of Evil
"Your loyal researchers have perfected the Sight of Evil spell. Cast it on an unexplored area and it will be revealed to you for a moment."
Player researches the Guard Post
"Your dedicated librarians have designed a Guard Post. Place a Guard Post in a strategically important area and assign creatures to occupy it by dropping them there."
Player defeats Blue Keeper
"You have slain your rival. His defeat is a testimony to your clever dungeon design. You have the makings of a Dungeon Keeper worthy of the name."
Sound Bytes[]
"Lushmeadow-on-Down. The bloody axes of war and famine have so far bypassed this quiet backwater, leaving the inhabitants totally unaware of the purpose of real agony and loss. Unbearably, most die of old age."
"Knife. The streets run with the blood of the slain. Screams of pain and howls of anguish rip the night air like Vengeful Siren song. This really is somewhere you could take the kids for the weekend."
— Outro
Trivia[]
Ironically, despite the complete absence of any heroes whatsoever, it is in fact possible to access the Torture Dungeon, a scene dedicated to torturing the heroes' leader, and is in fact the first level where it is possible: one can imprison a Knighttransferred from Flowerhat (a Knight is obtainable there by stealing a Thief and training him so he becomes a Knight).
The use of the term 'Vengeful Siren song' in the outro could be a pun; 'siren song' refers to something alluring but dangerous, and 'Vengeful Siren' is an early name for the Dark Mistress.[2] The outro is likely referencing the fact they like pain, though it seems strange that:
1) the line wasn't changed with the name.
2) the player has yet to encounter any Mistresses.
The names for this level in other languages are as follows:
Translations: Lushmeadow-on-Down
Language
Translation
French
Belleplouze Sur Gazonne
Italian
Prato Fiorito Di Sotto
German
Rosenburg Ob Der Zauber
Dutch
Groenoord
Polish
Spokojnowo Niżne
Czech
Swedish
GRÖNSKEÄNG
Russian
Лашмедоу-он-Даун
Japanese
ラッシュメドウ・オン・ダウン
Chinese
繁茂草地 / 富草邦
The 'on-Down' part of the name could be a reference to the fact that the village is situated on a rock that stands on a slope leading to Snuggledell.
Gallery[]
Keeper FX map
Blue- not the world's tidiest keeper
References[]
↑ 1.01.1Prima's Official Guide To Dungeon Keeper Gold Edition. pp. 158-161.
Prima Publishing. (1998).
ISBN 978-0-7615-1581-4.
↑Steve Klett. (February 1996). "Guided Tour: Dungeon Keeper". PC Entertainment.
IDG Communications. February 1996.
pp. 41-43.
Spider
Demon Spawn
