In this Tomb Raider I-III Remastered lore feature, we'll explore the significance of the five meteorite artifacts and how they shaped Lara’s third adventure. 

Millions of years ago a meteor survived its plunge through the Earth's atmosphere, impacting the then-warm climes of Antarctica. The meteor remained untouched for millennia until Polynesian explorers uncovered it. Despite the freezing conditions in Antarctica, there was an abnormal abundance of life and the explorers settled, worshipping the meteorite crater for the powers it appeared to hold. They established the city of Tinnos as tribute to this power.

From the meteorite stone they created four powerful artifacts: The Infada Stone, Ora Dagger, Element 115, and the Eye of Isis. Exposure to the meteorite began causing mutations among the inhabitants, however. Fierce storms also began, forcing them to flee from the island and leave the artifacts behind. 

On August 14th, 1834, the HMS Beagle crew - consisting of Stephen Barr, Paul Caulfield, Smythe, Henderson, and Jonson - docked on an Antarctic Island. Employed by Charles Darwin and instructed to travel the world and collect specimen samples, the crew disembarked in search of food, as they had gone a long time without eating anything other than vegetable broth.  

Having spotted large tracks of animal footprints in the snow, they entered a small underground passageway and arrived in the Lost City of Tinnos. They discovered four strange glowing artifacts and took them, believing they could be sold for a substantial sum of money. Disaster struck and Caulfield lost his life trying to escape from the cavern. The remaining sailors buried his body and left the place behind, continuing their search for new samples. With one crew member gone, they divided the artifacts, each member claiming one for themselves. 

Continuing their exploration, the HMS Beagle crew reached the village of Kuro in an undisclosed location of the South Pacific. The villagers were descendants of the original Polynesian explorers who founded Tinnos.  

Having recognized the stolen artifacts, a conflict ensued and all but Smythe managed to escape. Smythe's artifact, the Ora Dagger, was left behind. The Ora Dagger grants its user the power of protection by creating an energy barrier. It can also be used to fire lightning bolts and summon creatures. A villager named Puna reclaimed the Ora Dagger and used it to take power.  

Pressing forward with the surviving crew, the HMS Beagle continued its doomed journey. All but one remaining crew members were eventually killed, their artifacts either lost or stolen. 

Element 115 found its way to Nevada, housed within Area 51, where it was used to power an unidentified flying object hidden away by the United States government. The Infada Stone ended up in a temple deep within the jungles of Northern India, likely placed there by the Infada tribe. Eventually, the Infada Stone was discovered by an R.X. Tech scientist called Tony, who went mad after spending too much time in the vicinity of the artifact. Tony plunged the Infada Stone into his chest, which granted him the ability to levitate and shoot energy blasts. 

The only surviving member of the HMS Beagle crew, Stephen Barr, returned to London and superstitiously sold off the Eye of Isis, having seen all his crewmates murdered or killed. The artifact fell into the hands of Sophia Leigh, a businesswoman and the owner of a cosmetic company called SLinc. She conducted experiments on her workers, aiming to unlock eternal beauty and immortality using the artifact.

The mysterious meteorite caught the attention of Lara Croft and set her off on her global journey in Tomb Raider III. While pursuing the Infada Stone, Lara encountered Dr. Willard, a scientist seeking the same prize. Willard shared his knowledge, revealing the existence of three more artifacts scattered around the globe. He didn't tell Lara that the original meteorite cavern in Antarctica triggers genetic mutations due to the powerful radiation. Dr. Willard believed that the four artifacts were key to unlocking instant evolution.

After the events of Tomb Raider III, Lara learned about the existence of a fifth meteorite artifact called the Hand of Rathmore, hidden in the Scottish Highlands. Willard believed that the fifth artifact seems to be the key to unlocking the final secret of the ancient meteor's powers. The artifact created a dangerous byproduct; glowing radioactive goo, deadly to the touch. It causes mutation to anyone who comes into contact with it. Other than that, little is known about the history behind the Hand of Rathmore. 

Adventure with Lara Croft to collect the five meteorite artifacts in Tomb Raider I-III Remastered, available now! 

• Steam 

• Nintendo Switch 

• PlayStation 

• Xbox 

• Epic Games Store 

• GOG 

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