Palace of Shadow

Palace of Shadow
Location Info
Game
Region	Rogueport
Important Buildings	N/A
Leader	Shadow Queen
Species	Swoop Demon X-Naut Wizzerd Chain Chomp Dry Bones Lava Bubble Shadow Siren Dragon Duplighost Koopa Troopa Bullet Bill
Enemies	Bombshell Bill Bombshell Bill Blaster Bowser Kammy Koopa Chain Chomp Dark Bones Dark Wizzerd Dry Bones Dull Bones Dark Bones Gloomtail Grodus X Sir Grodus Red Bones Phantom Ember Beldam Marilyn Doopliss Shadow Queen Swoopula
Tattle	See Tattle Section

The Palace of Shadow is the final story location in the video game Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door. As the name implies, it is a palace. which is home to the final boss in the game, the Shadow Queen. Chapter 8 takes place entirely in the Palace of Shadow, but it does not contain a Crystal Star.

Summary

Only accessible through the the Thousand-Year Door after collecting all seven of the Crystal Stars, the palace consists of the remains of the city destroyed by the cataclysm long ago. It's divided into three sections, each one containing a plethora of puzzles and enemies. Each section has its own remix of the Super Mario Bros. Underground Theme.

First Stage

The first stage takes place in a palace-like building contains a maze and several reused puzzles and enemies from earlier chapters and a mini-boss with a Dry Bones called Dark Bones.

Second Stage

The second stage takes place in a cave that has a garden-like area that contains a large tower called the Riddle Tower that is filled with puzzles and the boss, Gloomtail.

Final Stage

The lower section and the third /final stage takes place in what appears to be machines and contains unique puzzles and the Shadow Queen's chamber, as well as plant life.

Tattles

• This is the entrance to the Palace of Shadow. It's seen no visitors for 1,000 years... It's so big... It kind of overwhelms you, doesn't it? And that treasure is here... Treasure or no, I don't like the vibe from this place... Maybe it's just my nerves...

• There's a long stairway connected to this underground lake. Those lights floating in the darkness are really pretty... but also pretty spooky.

• We're inside the Palace of Shadow. There's a long corridor leading down. This palace sure is big and super-rich-looking, huh? I wonder what kind of people lived here before the place slept for 1,000 years?

• We're inside the Palace of Shadow. This is a corridor, I think... Looks like spike traps... Forget the enemies... Just take it one step at a time!

• We're inside the Palace of Shadow. There's a large bridge over the lake here. Those fire bars in the middle are kind of a problem, huh? We'd better avoid them. If you're all sketched out trying to jump them, just use Vivian's Veil ability!

• What a humongous room... I'd say it was pretty, but even this place feels weird... It's like the whole palace got cursed or something. Did you just say "duh" to me?

• We're inside the Palace of Shadow. There's a long hall leading down from here. It kinda feels like the earth is slowly swallowing us as we progress down. Yuck.

• We're inside the Palace of Shadow. There doesn't seem to be anything special here. Still, it has that same gross feeling... even though it's so nice and spacious...

• We're inside the Palace of Shadow. Seems normal... but I bet there's a secret here... We should check EVERYTHING to make sure there's nothing amiss, don'tcha think? You know... Look for anything out of the ordinary...

• This is the palace garden... but it feels so cold and icky. It's like time stopped here... We gotta do something about those Chain-Chomps in the middle if we wanna move on. Yeah, that's right... I don't just mean the moving ones...

• We're inside the Palace of Shadow. This seems to be a corridor. I'm observant, huh? Listen, Mario... I know I've said this before, but don't forget that you're not in this alone. You should rely on your partners' abilities if you ever get stuck or anything.

• This is another corridor. I wonder how long these things go on? I'm sure we'll need all of your special skills, AND those of your partners. Don't forget to use your strongest muscle, too... Your noggin! Hee hee!

• We're inside of the Palace of Shadow. This is another corridor. Big surprise. We'd better watch below our feet as well as above our heads, know what I mean? But, uh, don't forget the area above your head, too! Does that make any sense?

• We're inside the Palace of Shadow. There don't seem to be any big puzzles here. We just need to go open that door on the right. That's all. Whee. Exciting.

• This is Gloomtail's room. I wonder if he was here for all 1,000 years? Dragons do live a long time, I heard, but dang... Without him in it, there doesn't seem to be anything special about the room.

• How could there be such a huge tower underground? And why was it built...? There seem to be a lot of rooms here... and every one contains a riddle...

• There's something written on the wall. Based on that message, I'd say... That word "beyond" probably refers to away from the door. So that means the left block. So then the word "before" must refer to the right block. Are you with me, Mario? Still, the way they repeat those words must have some meaning too, don'tcha think?

• There's something written on the wall. Based on that message, I'd say... Maybe if we break a block here, it'll do something to a block in another room?

• There's something written on the wall. Based on that message, I'd say... There's something fishy about the wall here? Uh, maybe? We oughta investigate...

• There's something written on the wall. Based on that message, I'd say... ...There's definitely something in the center of the room, don'tcha think? But what are we supposed to do with something we can't see? This is insanity!

• There's something written on the wall. Based on that message, I'd say... We're supposed to defeat these guys in order, from weakest to strongest? Uh... Well, I know the weakest is the Dull Bones in the green shoes there... That help?

• There's something written on the wall. Based on that message, I'd say... I guess we just have to go straight in from the entrance. And then when we get to the wall, we have to do something... Yeah... something.

• There's something written on the wall. Based on that message, I'd say... That if we can be seen, then there won't be anything to see in this room? ...Huh?

• The gears in the back of this room started moving when we unlocked that planetarium... Listen, Mario... We're gonna have to rely on everything we've learned to get through this. Just think about what we've been through, and I'm sure you'll find a way, OK?

• We're inside the Palace of Shadow. This place is all about kooky puzzles, huh? You see those marks in the middle of the corridor? They've GOTTA be important.
• We're inside the Palace of Shadow. We must be WAY underground by now. I'm totally running out of advice at this point, sorry. I have advisor's block. Hey, but don't worry! Have faith in yourself and your friends, and we'll win!

• What is this weird room? It's quiet... A little TOO... Well, let's just say it's quiet. There's a Save Block over there, and I'm thinking it would be smart to use it.

• This must be the main hall or something. It sure is a humongous space... This must've been where the most important person in the palace stayed... But standing here makes me totally uneasy... Why is that?

• There's a long, long staircase leading down. And I get a REALLY nasty feeling about what's waiting down there. But we've come this far, so we gotta soldier on. Let's go, Mario.

• We're in the deepest room in the Palace of Shadow. ...The Shadow Queen's crypt. I gotta be honest... I totally thought we were goners at the time. Seriously. I was secretly wigging out, but then I saw how you wouldn't give up... Awesome. Anyway, enough reminiscing. There's nothing here now, Mario. Let's go back.

Trivia

• Chapter 8 contains the most bosses of any Chapter in Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, and the most bosses out of any Chapter in a Paper Mario game as a whole, with a total of five bosses, two of which are fought in the second segment, and three being fought in the third/final segment, with the first two being fought back-to-back. The boss selection being compromised of in order, Gloomtail, a trio battle with the Shadow Sirens and Doopliss, Sir Grodus, a duo battle agents Kammy Koopa and Bowser, and finally, the Shadow Queen.
• The Palace of Shadows is the only level in Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door to not include Shine Sprites.
• The Palace of Shadows is the first and (so far) only final level in the Paper Mario series to take place entirely underground, Bowser's Castle in the first game takes place in space, Count Bleck's Castle Bleck in Super Paper Mario takes place on land in a dark area, Sticker Star Bowser(also known as Shiny Bowser)'s Sky Castle in Paper Mario: Sticker Star takes place in the sky, as does Black Bowser's Castle in Paper Mario: Color Splash which also takes place in the sky, and Prince Olly's Origami Castle in Paper Mario: The Origami King takes place on top of a mountain.