TOMB RAIDER 2013 Quick Guide to All Documents

Updated: 8/13/13()

Collectibles Intro | Relics | GPS Caches | Treasure Maps | Challenges

WARNING: This page contains spoilers. No major plot points are revealed, but you will learn more about the various levels and Yamatai's backstory if you read ahead.

There are 54 documents in the game. These are divided into 8 sets. Unlike relic sets, which are all found in the same area or level, the document sets are scattered around the island. The list below follows the same order as the Documents screen in the game, not the order in which they are found while playing. This guide is designed to help you find any documents you may have missed. Additional details can be found in the complete walkthroughs for each area.


Ancient Scrolls (10)

These documents tell the tale of the early days of Yamatai from the points of view of a visiting ambassador, the Sun Queen's general, and one of her priestesses.

AMBASSADOR: FIRST IMPRESSIONS
Mountain Village

This is document #1 on the first visit map. It's located on the first floor of the three-story building near the Village Plateau Base Camp. It's sitting on the floor in the northwest corner of the house, near the rope-wrapped door. See here for details. (Click screenshot to enlarge.)

Ancient Scrolls - Ambassador: First Impressions
Ancient Scrolls - Ambassador: Discoveries

AMBASSADOR: DISCOVERIES
Mountain Village

This is document #2 on the first visit map. It's in the area at the top of the waterfall north of the village. It is accessible on the first visit to Mountain Village but only after obtaining the climbing axe. See here for details. Once there, jump over the stream to the smaller hut on the right to find the document. (Click screenshot to enlarge.)

HOSHI: ANSWERING THE CALL
Mountain Village

This is document #3 on the second visit map. It is only accessible on the second and subsequent visits to the Mountain Village and can be found on one of the ledges in the canyon to the east of the village. See here for details. (Click screenshot to enlarge.)

Ancient Scrolls - Hoshi: Answering the Call
Ancient Scrolls - Ambassador: Dark Tidings

AMBASSADOR: DARK TIDINGS
Mountain Village

This is document #4 on the  second visit map. It is located in the same general area as the one above: the canyon to the east of the village. This one is on the last rock column just before you cross the canyon to the smoke beacon. See here for details. (Click screenshot to enlarge.)

HOSHI: AT HER SIDE
Mountain Village

This is document #5 on the third visit map. It is only accessible after returning to the Mountain Village level from the Chasm Monastery. It can be found on the upper level of the hut with the big bell, where Lara talks to Sam by radio. See here for details. (Click screenshot to enlarge.)

Ancient Scrolls - Hoshi: At Her Side
Ancient Scrolls - General: The Oath

GENERAL: THE OATH
Mountain Village

This document is inside the wooden house below the Village Overlook Base Camp. It can only be retrieved once you've obtained the shotgun, so after returning from the Chasm Monastery. I've marked it as #7 on the third visit map. See here for details. (Click screenshot to enlarge.)

GENERAL: THE CONQUERORS
Summit Forest

This is document #2 on the level map. It is located inside the hunting lodge, near the aptly named Hunting Lodge Base Camp. See here for details. (Click screenshot to enlarge.)

Ancient Scrolls - General: The Conquerors
Ancient Scrolls - Hoshi: In Her Image

HOSHI: IN HER IMAGE
Shipwreck Beach

This document is found in the southeastern most corner of Shipwreck Beach, near the tunnel leading to the Cliffside Bunker. It's document #3 on the first visit map. See here for details. If you missed it the first time and need help getting back there from the Survivors' Camp, see here. (Click screenshot to enlarge.)

GENERAL: FAILURE OF DUTY
Research Base

Unlike most documents, this one is not actually discovered in book form; rather, you receive it automatically during the cut scene in the ancient tomb. See here for details. You can't miss it, but for the sake of completion, I've noted it as document #3 on the level map. (Click screenshot to enlarge.)

Ancient Scrolls - General: Failure of Duty
Ancient Scrolls - Hoshi: An End

HOSHI: AN END
Chasm Shrine

This is document #3 on the level map. It is found in an alcove in Himiko's shrine. It reveals the final pieces in the mystery of the queen's succession. See here for details. (Click screenshot to enlarge.)

ENDURANCE OFFICERS (7)

This set includes various letters and journal entries written by Roth, Reyes and Dr. Whitman.

WHITMAN: DON'T LEAVE ME
Coastal Forest

This is document #5 on the level map. For some reason the in-game map shows it a bit to the right (south) of where it actually is, but you'll find it near the large gate at the level exit, just to the left of where Dr. Whitman is standing. See here for details. (Click screenshot to enlarge.)

Endurance Officers - Whitman: Don't Leave Me
Endurance Officers - Reyes: Dear Roth

REYES: DEAR ROTH
Mountain Village

This document is sitting on the ground next to the Village Plateau Base Camp but only after Roth has left. So you'll need to return here on the second or third visit to this level. It is marked as document #6 on my third visit map. See here for details. (Click screenshot to enlarge.)

REYES: DEAR ALISHA
Geothermal Caverns

Reyes apparently left this note behind as she passed through the caverns. You'll find it sitting on the floor near the checkerboard just below the Catacombs Base Camp. It's document #2 on the level map. See here for details. (Click screenshot to enlarge.)

Endurance Officers - Reyes: Dear Alisha
Endurance Officers - Whitman: My Great Discovery

WHITMAN: MY GREAT DISCOVERY
Shipwreck Beach

This is document #4 on the second visit map. It is located in the area leading up to the Research Base. You can't access that area until you return from the Endurance wreck. See here for details. (Click screenshot to enlarge.)

ROTH: AN APOLOGY
Summit Forest

This is document #1 on the level map. It is a letter from Roth to Lara, and can be found lying on a rock near the level's starting point. See here for details. (Click screenshot to enlarge.)

Endurance Officers - Roth: An Apology
Endurance Officers - Reyes: About Lara

REYES: ABOUT LARA
Shipwreck Beach

This is document #1 on the first visit map. It is located inside one of the cement buildings near the Survivors' Camp. See here for details. (Click screenshot to enlarge.)

WHITMAN: CROSSING THE LINE
Chasm Shrine

This is document #2 on the level map. It is located in the room with the round grate and dangling cage. It's sitting on the ledge on the left near the crank. See here for details. (Click screenshot to enlarge.)

Endurance Officers - Crossing the Line

Lara's Journals (10)

Unlike the other documents which appear in the game world as physical books which must be picked up and examined, Lara makes entries in her journal when she rests at various base camps. When she sits down at a camp, you'll hear her talking about what's going on. Afterward, these musings are stored in the Documents screen so you can review them. Lara's journals are not marked on the level maps and are not counted in the total number of documents on each level's map key.

Don't worry if you miss a camp or two. Lara should make up the lost entries at subsequent camps, since there are many more camps than there are journal entries. The exception is the entry "Don't Think, Don't Feel" in Summit Forest. Please see the IMPORTANT BUG NOTE about this entry below.

Lara makes a journal entry when she visits a base camp

SHIPWRECKED – Unlocked at or after the Forest Ruins camp in the Coastal Forest.

NIGHTMARES – Unlocked at or after the Mountain Temple Base Camp.

PREPARED FOR THE WORST – Unlocked at or after the Village Plateau Base Camp in the Mountain Village.

UNNATURAL STORMS – Unlocked at or after the Cliffside Vista Day Camp in the Cliffside Village.

ANCIENT GUARDIANS – Unlocked at or after the Mountain Descent Day Camp, upon returning to the Mountain Village from the Chasm Monastery.

NO ESCAPE – Unlocked at or after The Pit Day Camp in the Geothermal Caverns.

DON'T THINK, DON'T FEEL – Unlocked at the Summit Marsh Day Camp at the start of Summit Forest.

NOTE: It's important to use the camp at the beginning of Summit Forest. If you skip it, you may encounter a bug in which Lara's 7th journal entry repeats on every visit to any camp after this point. For more info, check the walkthrough.

THE PROMISE – Unlocked after you return from the Endurance wreck to the Survivors' Camp on Shipwreck Beach.

THE MONASTERY – Unlocked at or after the Sheltered Hallway Day Camp in the Chasm Stronghold.

THE TRUTH – Unlocked when you beat the game.

Confessions of a Solarii (5)

These documents comprise the diary of Nikolai, one of Mathias's trusted henchmen.

SALVATION
Mountain Temple

This is document #2 on the level map. It is located near where you land after riding the zip line out of the burning building. It's just to the right of the path leading up to the level exit. See here for details. (Click screenshot to enlarge.)

Confessions of a Solarii: Salvation
Confessions of a Solarii: The Best Job

THE BEST JOB
Mountain Base

This is document #1 on the level map. It is found just inside the base. As soon as you climb out of the nasty water, look for it on the desk straight ahead. See here for details. (Click screenshot to enlarge.)

SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST
Shantytown

This document can be found in the tall, traditional Japanese-style building east of Helicopter Hill. It's on the top level, so you'll need to go around back and climb up. It is marked as document #3 on the part 1 map. See here for details. (Click screenshot to enlarge.)

Confessions of a Solarii: Survival of the Fittest
Confessions of a Solarii: Toil and Distraction

TOIL AND DISTRACTION
Shantytown

This is document #2 on the part 1 map. It's located in one of the shacks near the middle of the first area, below Helicopter Hill. If you enter the building shown in the screenshot and blast through the wooden barrier, you'll find this document in the next room on the upper level. See here for details. (Click screenshot to enlarge.)

IN HER HONOR
Geothermal Caverns

Nikolai's final journal entry can be found lying beside the campfire at the first campsite in the caverns. It is document #1 on the level map. See here for details. (Click screenshot to enlarge.)

Confessions of a Solarii: In Her Honor

Diaries of a Madman (7)

These are the journals of Mathias, another castaway who has become the leader of the Solarii.

STRANDED
Mountain Temple

This is document #1 on the level map. It is located in the little cave beside the waterfall near the Mountain Temple Base Camp. See here for details. (Click screenshot to enlarge.)

Diaries of a Madman: Stranded
Diaries of a Madman: Alone

ALONE
Mountain Base

This is document #3 on the level map. It can be found in the control room near the end of the level. It's sitting on a desk opposite the large console. See here for details. (Click screenshot to enlarge.)

RESEARCH
Base Exterior

This is document #2 on the level map. It is sitting on the floor next to the Radio Tower Base Camp, which is inside the building from which the Solarii with the big, metal shield emerges. See here for details. (Click screenshot to enlarge.)

Diaries of a Madman: Research
Diaries of a Madman: The Solarii

THE SOLARII
Base Exterior

This is document #1 on the level map. It can be found in the bombed-out building at the top of the hill. After defeating all the men there, scramble up into the building to find it. See here for details. (Click screenshot to enlarge.)

BELIEF
Shantytown

This is document #4 on the part 2 map. It is located in the area just beyond the Ancient Gate. On the wooden ledge above the stagnant pool, head to the left and blow out the wooden barrier with the shotgun to find the document. See here for details. (Click screenshot to enlarge.)

Diaries of a Madman: Belief
Diaries of a Madman: Obsession

OBSESSION
Shantytown

This is document #5 on the part 2 map. It is in the big building with the windmill and cargo-hauling machinery. It's in the basement level under the stairs. See here for details. (Click screenshot to enlarge.)

LOST
Geothermal Caverns

This is document #3 on the level map. It is located in the ritual chamber, lying on the ground to the left of the altar. See here for details. (Click screenshot to enlarge.)

Diaries of a Madman: Lost

Wartime Intelligence (6)

This series of documents chronicles the experiences of a soldier and a scientist who visited the island during World War II.

SCIENTIST: SECRET PROJECT
Mountain Base

This is document #2 on the level map. It is sitting on the desk in the room just after the one where you obtain the SMG and before you step into the spotlight ambush. See here for details. (Click screenshot to enlarge.)

Wartime Intelligence - Scientist: Secret Project
Wartime Intelligence - Soldier: Oni Stalkers

SOLDIER: ONI STALKERS
Coastal Forest

This is document #1 on the level map. It is found in the area where you first learn to hunt deer. It's inside the junked truck beside the stream, just below where you found the makeshift longbow. Go around the back of the truck to climb inside. See here for details. (Click screenshot to enlarge.)

SCIENTIST: SECRET OF THE ISLAND
Cliffside Bunker

Unlike most documents, you don't find this one in book form. Instead you receive it automatically during the cut scene when you re-enter the bunker after returning from the Endurance. See here for details. For the sake of completion, it's marked as document #4 on the level map. (Click screenshot to enlarge.)

Wartime Intelligence - Scientist: Secret of the Island
Wartime Intelligence - Soldier: Awakening

SOLDIER: AWAKENING
Research Base

This is document #1 on the level map. It is sitting on a desk in the room with the Research Lab Day Camp. See here for details. (Click screenshot to enlarge.)

SCIENTIST: IN SEARCH OF THE STAR
Cliffside Bunker

This is document #1 on the level map. It can be found inside the bunker, at the top of the low steps just beyond the grassy area where you fight the Solarii lifting the generator. See here for details. (Click screenshot to enlarge.)

Wartime Intelligence - Scientist: In Search of the Star
Wartime Intelligence - Soldier: Last Stand

SOLDIER: LAST STAND
Chasm Shrine

This is document #1 on the level map. It is located in the entrance hall with the Sacred Hall Base Camp. You'll find the document lying on the floor to the right of the big, wooden doors. See here for details. (Click screenshot to enlarge.)

Endurance Crew (7)

Most of the documents in this series are notes left behind by Lara's friend Samantha. There are also a few from the other crew members.

SAM: FEELINGS OF UNEASE
Coastal Forest

This is document #3 on the level map. It can be found on the rock ledge near the wooden bridge in the southeast corner of the second forested area. See here for details. (Click screenshot to enlarge.)

Endurance Crew - Sam:  Feelings of Unease
Endurance Crew - Sam: Filmmaker

SAM: FILMMAKER
Coastal Forest

This is document #4 on the level map. It is at the shrine with the blossoming cherry trees in the northwest corner of the second forested area. It's lying on the ground at the top of the stairs. See here for details. (Click screenshot to enlarge.)

SAM: FAMILY STORY
Coastal Forest

This is document #2 on the level map. It is sitting on the table near the Forest Ruins Campsite. See here for details. (Click screenshot to enlarge.)

Endurance Crew - Sam: Family Story
Endurance Crew - Sam: Adventures with Lara

SAM: ADVENTURES WITH LARA
Cliffside Bunker

This is document #3 on the level map. It is located inside the Endurance wreck, on the floor of the cabin Lara and Sam shared. See here for details. (Click screenshot to enlarge.)

GRIM: THE GOOD OLD DAYS
Shantytown

This is document #1 on the part 1 map. It is located in one of the shacks near the middle of the first area, below Helicopter Hill. If you enter the building shown in the screenshot and blast through the wooden barrier, you'll find this document in the next room on the lower level. See here for details. (Click screenshot to enlarge.)

Endurance Crew - Grim: The Good Old Days
Endurance Crew - Alex: Over His Head

ALEX: OVER HIS HEAD
Cliffside Bunker

This is document #2 on the level map. It is lying on the ground near the Endurance Overlook Base Camp. See here for details. (Click screenshot to enlarge.)

JONAH: RECOGNIZING THE TRUTH
Shipwreck Beach

This is document #2 on the first visit map. It is located inside one of the cement buildings near the Survivors' Camp. If you head through the alley between the buildings toward the PT boat, this document is behind the door on the right. See here for details. (Click screenshot to enlarge.)

Endurance Crew - Jonah: Recognizing the Truth

GPS Secrets (2)

These two documents offer clues to a mysterious organization which also appears to be interested in the happenings on the island.

UNKNOWN: MYSTERIOUS ORDERS
Research Base

This is document #2 on the level map. It is found in the elevator shaft on the 3rd floor landing. See here for details. (Click screenshot to enlarge.)

GPS Secrets: Mysterious Orders
GPS Secrets: Failed Mission

UNKNOWN: FAILED MISSION
Variable

Unlike most documents, this one is not actually discovered in book form; rather, you receive it automatically when you pick up final GPS cache (75/75). This may be the third cache in the Research Base (shown here), but it could be elsewhere if you missed a cache and have to go back to find it. See here for details. (Click screenshot to enlarge.)


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UPDATE HISTORY: 8/13/13 - Page first posted online.


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