Back to the Dawn Guide | How To Get the Sun Achievement

The Sun achievement is a particular escape plan achievement that requires careful preparation, strategic planning, and specific interactions with various characters and items throughout your playthrough.

Pre-Escape Preparations

Before trying to achieve this goal, consider completing several tasks that will make your escape attempt easier in Back to the Dawn.

These preparations are not mandatory, but they will significantly assist you.

You should build a relationship with Hakuna the Warthog, as this bond will be important later in the quest line. Additionally, getting to know either Max the Honey Badger or Pickman the Lizard will allow you to purchase essential tools.

Reading the DIY Maestro book from the library will help you bypass certain puzzles, and having The Moon achievement already completed will give you valuable experience with sewer navigation.

Essential Setup Requirements

All setup tasks should be finished by Day 9 (Tuesday); however, you can still achieve the goal if you fall behind schedule. The following requirements are essential for successful completion.

Main Quest Progression

You need to move through the main storyline until you reach the mail room. While you can finish the entire main quest if you wish, getting access to the mail room is the only requirement for this escape route.

Staff Block Employment

After you finish Act 1 in Back to the Dawn, you need to get the staff block job. This job is essential for both the escape sequence and for moving through the sewer. To secure this job, first speak with Alex and accept the lipstick quest.

During your visit, you can attempt a charisma roll to save 300 credits. Next, pay Tony 200 credits, though successful haggling through a charisma roll can reduce this to 100. 

Finally, talk to either Sam or Richard to learn plumbing repair techniques. Once you finish these tasks, Bruce will offer you the job for zero good conduct credits.

The Hammer (Recommended)

While this tool is technically optional, the Hammer is very useful for building the sewer bridge efficiently. You can buy it from Max or Pickman after building a good relationship with either of them. You can also find it on the table in the roof site room.

Scissors (Essential)

Scissors are necessary for completing quest objectives. You can find this tool in the top-left area of the art room in the general building.  

Character Relationships  (Maggie)

Although not technically required, repairing your relationship with Maggie is highly recommended, as it provides the easiest escape route in Back to the Dawn.

You can rebuild this relationship by calling her for casual conversations and writing letters using the crafting bench in your room before mailing them. Once you reach 60 rapport with Maggie, you can attempt a Charisma check to repair the relationship fully. 

However, success rates improve significantly at 80 to 100 rapport levels. If you decide not to pursue this relationship, you'll need around 1,000 credits saved for other options.

Character Relationships  (Hakuna)

Building a bond with Hakuna is essential for quest progression. The best way to do this is by giving him Jewel Scarabs. You can find these by foraging during free time.

If you're unlucky with foraging, his preferred gift is beer, which can be easily acquired through roof site work. You can also build rapport by sharing lunch with him when you have adjacent seating available.

Sewer Navigation

The sewer sequence requires specific actions to be taken in a particular order. If you've previously completed The Moon achievement, this section will feel familiar and manageable.

Your first task involves entering the first door to the right of the ladder to activate the electricity system. If you've read the DIY Maestro book, you can skip the associated puzzle entirely. 

Next, you must either lockpick or break into the septic tank room (the first door to the left of the ladder) to retrieve the worn socket from the top-right corner.

The sluice gate puzzle must be solved to progress further. After completing this, dismantle the wooden boards blocking the large door and construct a bridge extending to the ladder's right side. With the Hammer, bridge construction becomes instantaneous.

To access the broken bridge's opposite side, you'll need to navigate through the staff block during your work shift in Back to the Dawn.

Move the shelf blocking the vent, proceed upstairs through the window into the ventilation system, and emerge on the bridge's far side. 

Once there, open the sluice gates to drain the sewage water. Return the following day to collect the Rusty Crank from the now-accessible bridge area.

The Poopy Pendant Quest Line

On Day 9 (Tuesday), visit the barbershop to receive The Poopy Pendant quest. Accepting this quest enables interaction with the top-right septic tanks in the sewer system. 

While searching these tanks, you'll discover an antelope's remains, which triggers a new quest line with two primary objectives. 

Note that the actual pendant for the barbershop quest is located in other septic tanks. Still, you don't need to complete the barbershop quest entirely—only accept it to unlock septic tank interactions.

Identifying the Remains

If you've bonded with Hakuna, Thomas will immediately identify the remains as Lisa the antelope upon discovery. Without this bond, the identification occurs automatically once you establish the relationship with Hakuna. 

Alternative identification methods exist. You could eavesdrop on specific conversations between Tim and Bob on Monday (Day 1) or between Caesar and Tim on Friday (Day 5). However, building a connection with Hakuna is still the recommended approach in Back to the Dawn.

Investigating TC-13

The second part of the quest involves deciphering the meaning of TC-13. Go to the mailroom and check the work log. It mentions Billy and TC-13, so you should also look at Billy's items.

You can get into Billy's belongings by going to the staff room at night, which you can do once you reach this stage of the quest.

Find his locker and use a lockpick to open it. Please read all the papers and letters carefully. After that, you'll need to cut the tarp from the remains with your scissors.

Following this, you must create a collage at the general building's crafting table, then write a letter at your room's crafting bench to disguise the tarp with the collage. 

Once both items are complete, mail the package and prepare to confront Billy the next day in Back to the Dawn.

Arranging the Conjugal Visit

After confronting Billy, he'll explain that escape requires arranging a conjugal visit while he handles the remaining logistics. You have two options: Maggie or Barbara (Alex's courier from the lipstick mission).

Maggie Route

If you've repaired your relationship with Maggie, simply call her to request a conjugal visit and inform her of your escape plans. 

No additional payment is required, and this call essentially guarantees your successful escape, as the game confirms this as your final escape step in Back to the Dawn.

Barbara Route

Without Maggie's cooperation, you can pursue Barbara for the conjugal visit, though this proves more expensive and complex. 

Purchase Barbara's contact information from Alex for 150 credits. When you call her, she'll demand a wire transfer payment covering both the visit costs and any money stolen during the lipstick quest (500 credits plus the amount stolen). 

Request Billy to wire the money on your behalf, potentially using charisma rolls to convince him to cover partial or full costs. 

Call Barbara the following day to confirm receipt of payment and secure the conjugal visit agreement. During your actual escape, you'll need an additional 300 credits for Barbara, so maintain adequate funds in Back to the Dawn.

Also, check our Back to the Dawn Review and other guides below:

• Back to the Dawn Guide | Beginner Tips and Tricks
• Back to the Dawn Guide | How The Stats Work
• Back to the Dawn Guide | How The Specialties Work
• Back to the Dawn Guide | How The Combat Traits Work
• Back to the Dawn Guide | How The Combat Actions Work
• Back to the Dawn Guide | How To Use Combat Items
• Back to the Dawn Guide | How The Combat Moves Work