Totem on prison island

[Steve]

I completed Riven, but for the life of me I didn't know the last totem wasn't on jungle island. I found five of them and the symbols associated with the totems, but I searched high and low for the sixth one. By process of elimination I knew the order of my symbols and just made a educated guess at the sixth symbol. It only took 2 tries and I solved that puzzle. My question is there any information in the game that gives you a clue that the totem is off of jungle island?

[Just Chill]

There wasn't even a clue about the whereabouts of the ripped out code wheel on the Jungle island regarding the Sunners. You find it in Gehn's lab, but have to use your own imagination about turning it into the right direction to get the code.

And I neither found any clue about the Totem on the prison island. I just found it by accident, since that destroyed part of the fence looked quite suspicious.

[Henry]

I also guessed a bit. Most puzzles with a sequence you can try a missing one and brute force it.
But, you can see that painted symbol (big!) if you look from the beach where you found the lens, can guess which one it is ;)
I even guessed from the game design there would be a telescope on prison island before I got there… but almost missed it, it’s so hidden.

[jwsstuff1]

There are 2 subtle clues and the order of finding then depends on what you do first.

1) When you enter the Starry Expanse from Temple island for the first time the only other island you can go to at the beginning is Prison island. This leads you to the totem. When you find the telescope and look into it without the Moeity glass you will see a flash on Jungle island.

2) When you find the Moeity glass on Jungle island and look up you can see something painted on the cliff but can't quite make out the entire image. When you turn around and look out to sea you can see Prison island in the distance. Maybe I can get a better view from there? That leads you to the totem.

[Hellish Fiend]

Indeed, I completed my first playthrough without ever finding that area. That means I missed out on the initial conversation with Catherine, as well as the ordering for that animal symbol. I worry that this may happen to a lot of players, actually....

[Henry]

Also, maybe the reason the game’s LOGO and menu contains the symbol might be a clue ;)

[Steve]

Thanks. i didn't even see the symbol painted on the side of the cliff when I found the glass.
I also visited prison island but was clueless about venturing off the path. I completely missed it on my first visit to prison island. After I solved the puzzle did I find the path by accident on my second visit to prison island where I meet Catherine.

[jwsstuff1]

Originally posted by Steve:

Thanks. i didn't even see the symbol painted on the side of the cliff when I found the glass. I also visited prison island but was clueless about venturing off the path.

I've heard a lot of people say they missed the broken railing or think they could walk off the path. In all my gaming experience I've always looked for things that are different or ways to go places off the beaten path to explore so when I saw a broken railing it immediately got my attention. The path on jungle island to the mine cart is similar or the other side where the rip in space to the Starry Expanse is located although I didn't find anything to do over there.

Even finding the Moeity glass is in an area you wouldn't normally go unless you are just trying to explore the islands. That is part of Cyan's charm in environmental world building instead of fast paced 1st person shoot-em-ups. People that know Cyan wander at a slower pace to explore the world.

[BeeftankFootball]

Originally posted by Just Chill:

There wasn't even a clue about the whereabouts of the ripped out code wheel on the Jungle island regarding the Sunners. You find it in Gehn's lab, but have to use your own imagination about turning it into the right direction to get the code.

I would definitely count a certain part of Gehn's journal as a clue here. If you've been to both relevant locations you have enough information to connect the two.