@ the Shadowvale CSR
from TrueSite or Spiderweb
Before the Dorin Hills were settled, they were inhabited by Vahnatai. When the Empire came, they took no hesitation in killing everyone who dared oppose them. There was a dreadful battle in which more than ten thousand Vahnatai and humans fought against each other. All the Vahnatai were slaughtered, save for a precious few led by Radzak-Ihrno. They sealed themselves in a deep cavern.
Then the slithzerikai came.
They built their villages and settlements, and even part of a new city called Thasakrass, until finally Radzak-Ihrno decided enough was enough and massacred most of the slith population. Few were left alive, and two of the three slith-controlled caves were overrun by undead.
Thasakrass was left with a skeleton crew, and the settlement in the tunnel that led to the caves was armed and armored. Radzak-Ihrno withdrew back to his cave.
And so, for the Empire population, things remained relatively calm.
Radzak-Ihrno grew gradually crazier over the years, eventually degrading to the point where he unleashed hordes of monsters upon the land. Goblins and nephil, mainly, but still enough to destroy some of the less heavily-fortified Empire settlements.
You were hired to eliminate this menace.
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Item Abilities
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How to Win
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- Yes, I know it's called "Archmage's Scrolls". Ignore that. I changed the scenario name later on.
- Many of the dungeons are EXTREMELY DIFFICULT. It's not rated levels 50-75 for nothing. An example of this is the Bugcombs and the drake. More on this in the Various Hints section.
- DO NOT try to edit the scripts to suit your own needs, as it is very easy to irreversibly damage the plot and/or events. Do not attempt to change the SDFs. You do not know which flags do what.
- The scenario is much easier if you know the Magic Map spell. If you don't, you'll miss a lot of useful items and important encounters. On the other hand, using the spell will spoil a lot of the adventure.
- Make every effort to acquire rare items. Many have extremely useful magical abilities. See Item Abilities if you absolutely need to know what a certain object does.
Various Hints
- When visiting Gharnon, do not sit in front of the altar. Bad things will happen that can easily kill a low-level player.
- If you see a big, friendly, powerful creature, don't attack it unless it attacks you first. A prime example: Chathras in Dragon's Keep. He has a number of extremely dangeorus abilities, such as striking the entire party, healing himself, and restoring his spell energy. Also, when he dies, he summons a lot of vicious wyrms and nagas. Assuming you survive the ordeal, your conscience will be forever tarnished.
The exception to the retaliation-only rule is Qurshakk, the drake in the Bugcombs. He won't attack you unless you inquire about his hoard, in which case he goes berzerk. Some hints for fighting him:
- Don't get up close unless you have a lot of health and armor. Instead, use missile weapons and spells. Qurshakk's long-range offensive special ability doesn't do nearly as much damage as his physical attack.
- If you do try to fight at close quarters, remember to support the attacking PC with all the beneficial magic you have. It helps if you can find a Restoration Crystal or the Restoration Ring. Also, you need a good weapon. I recommend a greatsword or the Spiritstone.
- It REALLY helps to have the Mass Healing/Curing spells. Otherwise it can take a long time to restore your party during or after a vicious monster attack.
- You can find a good combat in Stoneford, assuming the two sides don't annihilate each other first. Just talk to Mayor Radson.
- Don't even try attacking Lord Sam. In the unlikely event that you do kill him, he will retaliate with deadly energy bolts. You will die. There is no way of avoiding this.
- Expect to die one or more times during the scenario.
- It's hard, but remember that you don't have to go everywhere in order to win.
- You will be strongly tempted to edit the scenario files. Don't do it. The repercussions can be devastating.
- Try not to fight spawning monsters until you're reasonably powerful. Two examples of spawners are Abominations and Night Phantasms. Also, Infernal Skeletons split into lesser monsters when they're killed.
- When talking to Vathnass in Level B of Gulch, don't say "Die, alien scum!" It makes him mad, and while he doesn't seem tough, he'll summon Flame Hydras and cut you up into very small pieces. In that order.
- Do NOT activate the quickfire compartment in Gulch unless you've already activated the exit and have a death wish.
- All the "bosses" (in Gamespeak) have special powers, the most common being throwing energy bolts and healing themselves. Some can also restore their spell energy.
- Wither Wand: Strikes a single target with negative energy bolts, inflicting damage and draining life.
- Restoration Crystal: Restores health and energy to the party.
- Dissolving Crystal: Destroys nearby Power Fields.
- Coalescing Crystal: Uses the power from nearby runes to form a Power Field on that spot, destroying the rune.
- Freddy's Cure-All Tonic: Heals and cures several harmful conditions.
- Blaze Ruby: Strikes one target with a powerful firebolt.
- Spiritstone: Before you give it to Jonas, it's just an interesting artifact. Afterward, it's a powerful weapon.
- Transmodifier: Arguably the most powerful item in the game. There is only one in existence. It can capture a creature's life essence, killing the creature in the process. Then you can transform a different creature, replacing its own essence with that in the Transmodifier. When you transform a creature, the Transmodifier becomes empty. To recharge it, you must capture more life essence.
Sorry, a walkthrough would be too much of a spoiler. So instead, you get to know how to defeat the final boss. Remember, reading this should be a last resort.
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Okay. To defeat Radzak-Ihrno, destroy the skull-topped pylon at the back of the raised floor. Simply walk into it, then choose "Yes". It will fall apart. Now Radzak-Ihrno can't use any of his special powers (teleporting away when injured and teleporting party members, as well as a one-time demon summon) or reincarnate when you kill him. This is because the pylon is the source of his powers, but that's just background information.
To actually go about killing Radzak-Ihrno, you need a really good weapon (or two). I highly recommend the Spiritstone.
Good luck! And have fun.