Fire Vellumental Cave

Fire Vellumental Cave
Not-Bottomless Holes	10
Collectible Treasures	1
? Blocks	16
Enemies	Paper Macho Shy Guys Koopa Paratroopas Fire Bros Buzzy Beetles Fire Vellumental

“Perhaps I should have taken my chances... No, no. A fiery temple filled with pitfalls is no place for a professor like me.”

—Professor Toad, Paper Mario: The Origami King

Fire Vellumental Cave is a location in Paper Mario: The Origami King, a cave buried and hidden beneath Scorching Sandpaper Desert, home to the Fire Vellumental, who is fought at the very end. There are a good number of fiery obstacles, puzzles, and enemies Mario encounters along the way. There are no Toads to be found or rescued here.

History

There are a few steps Mario must take to unearth and unlock the Fire Vellumental Cave. After having rescued Professor Toad, finding Luigi and acquiring the Suite Key, he must enter the master suite in the Snif City hotel and examine the images on the wall. This prompts Professor Toad to teach Olivia a new song which must be performed to attract the Fire Vellumental. From here, they must return to Scorching Sandpaper Desert and locate the circle of bird statues in the southeast region - south of the Sun Altar and west of the ruins. Mario must hit each statue with his hammer a certain number of times to get them to face toward the center, thus opening up a mic. Mario must have Olivia perform "My Heart's a-Burnin'" in front of the mic to unearth the Fire Vellumental Cave just behind the statues.

Professor Toad is astonished by this and eager to enter. However, once they do, he asks to sit out on exploring the cave, most likely afraid of the fire. Olivia understands this, telling him he can wait at the entrance while they explore. After passing through puzzles requiring them to memorize patterns of glowing tiles, long sections with Fire Bars and various fire-themed enemies and obstacles, Mario and Olivia make it through to the end of the cave. Here, they encounter the Fire Vellumental, corrupted in its origami form. Once it is defeated, it surrenders a Bibliofold, giving Olivia the power to transform into and harness the Fire Vellumental's abilities. After learning how to use this newfound power, Olivia reveals a staircase allowing them to board a lift taking them back to the entrance. Professor Toad is seen contemplating whether or not he should have followed before the lift strikes the back of a statue, nearly crushing him. They describe their experiences to each other before exiting the cave.

Layout

The actual location of the Fire Vellumental Cave is not on ground level - rather, it is buried in the southeast region of Scorching Sandpaper Desert. It is between the Sun Altar and bird statue circle, requiring various story missions to unlock, including finding Professor Toad and entering the master suite in the hotel. As soon as it is unearthed, Mario, Olivia and Professor Toad may enter. The entrance room itself is intimidating, featuring a pool of lava and several bird statues representing the Fire Vellumental. Professor Toad stays here, allowing Mario and Olivia to explore the rest of this area on their own. The following room features several tiles and requires the player to remember which tiles light up and in what order, then have Mario go along that route. If Mario steps on an incorrect tile, he loses HP and must restart. If the player fails more than once, the tiles stay lit up until the path is finished. At the end of this room is a Not-Bottomless Hole and a Save Block.

The next room is very small, with two vases containing confetti, two Not-Bottomless Holes in the wall and a Koopa Paratroopa surveying the area. When Mario enters the room to the right, both doors slam shut, trapping him in. Here, he must battle a number of small Paper Macho Shy Guys carrying buckets of fire, which they use to attack Mario by emptying them out onto the floor. They then run to a nearby burning statue and replenish. Once they are all defeated, both doors reopen, allowing Mario to advance to the next room.

Here, Mario is faced with a long, horizontal section. Mario must cross several intersecting paths while avoiding the sliding bird statues which spew fire at intervals. If Mario is hit by a beam or falls into the lava below, he loses a good amount of HP. Fortunately, there is a convenient bench halfway through this section Mario allowing Mario to fully restore his HP. After taking a few more paths, Mario and Olivia make it to the end of the section. The next room is small, with a Save Block and vases containing confetti and a Mushroom.

The second group of Paper Macho Shy Guys

After that is another room in which Mario must battle numerous Paper Macho Shy Guys with buckets of fire to defend themselves. Once there are five remaining, they slowly form a line on one side of the room and run toward Mario, dropping the buckets in unison. The next room has a few items and enemies along the way, including Fire Bros. As Mario crosses over to the right side of the room, the bird statues behind him peck in a manner to Conkdors, destroying the platforms Mario walks across acting as Donut Blocks. The room following is the final room of the cave, containing a Save Block and the arena in which the Fire Vellumental is fought. After it is defeated, a lift is unlocked which takes them back to the starting area.

Collectibles

Not-Bottomless Holes

Description	Image
10 Holes
In the ground on the north end of the second room, near a Save Block.
Two on the wall of the third room.
In the ground at the end of the first path in the sixth room.
In the ground near the middle of this section, below a ? Block containing a Shiny Mushroom.
Two on the wall at the end of this room.
On the wall in the seventh room.
Two are seen right away in the ground near the start of the tenth room.

Collectible Treasures

Treasure	Description	Image
1 treasure
Fire Flower	Found in a treasure chest in the tenth room, guarded by a Fire Bro on top.

? Blocks

Hidden	Item	Description	Image
16 blocks
	4 Coins	Before reaching the bench in the sixth room there is a weathered patch of ground, indicating a set of four Hidden Blocks that allow Mario to reach a sack of coins.
	Ice Flower	There is another block at the end of the upper path just beyond the bench.
	8 Coins	A set of eight Hidden Blocks extend out from another weathered patch of ground, on the lower path beyond the bench.
	Flashy Iron Boots	The previous set of Hidden Blocks create a platform over the fiery oil to reach this ? Block.
	Shiny Mushroom	Continuing on the lower path beyond the bench, there is a block floating above a Not-Bottomless Hole.
	100-Coin	At the beginning of the tenth room there is a block above a platform, surrounded by flaming oil and guarded closely by a Koopa Paratroopa.

Names in other languages

Language	Name	Meaning
Japanese	火ガミどうくつ Higami dōkutsu	Fire God Cave
Chinese	火神祇洞窟 Huǒshénqí Dòngkū	Fire God Cave
Dutch	Grot van de Vuur-Origant	Cave of the Fire Vellumental
French	Crypte du Feu	Fire Crypt
German	Tempel des Feuer-Pergamenton	Temple of the Fire Vellumental
Italian	Covo delle fiamme	Flames lair
Korean	불의 동굴 Burui Donggul	Fire Cave
Spanish	Cueva del Fuego	Fire Cave