This guide covers a part of the Castle Cormanthor section of Pool of Radiance: Ruins of Myth Drannor. The guide consists of a list of enemy types you might encounter, along with a walkthrough that has its steps numbered.
Possible Encounters
Walkthrough
1 – STARTING POINT
You are teleported here to the castle passage from a portal in Miroden’s secret lair down to the Prisons of the Catacombs. This is the only way you can reach the castle passage the first time.
2 – STAIRCASE TO NIGHTINGALE COURT
The stairs in this room take you up to Nightingale Court at area #7. From now on you can also use the door there to come back down as well. There is also a Tavern Barrel here that boosts your HP by 8 points (HP +8).
3 – SKELETON LORD & STONE OF FATES
A skeleton Lord will talk to you as soon as you get near to this area. He will say something about the Stone of Fates which it’s able restore the ancient defenses of the castle and leave. You will find the Stone later on your way to the castle.
4 – GLYPH OF MOON & DEMON RIVENER
When you were venturing down to the Prisons you came upon a great sword, the Baneblade Faervian and talked with the ghost of Hachaam Selorn. He then informed you that you could keep the sword but you might as well return it to his tomb which was located at the Halls of Light. If you returned the sword to him, Hachaam should have informed you about another great weapon, the Baneblade Morvian and of how you could acquire it. He would also teach you the Rivening Word that you need to open the door marked with the Glyph of Moon.
The door is located here and the room beyond is the lair of the Demon Rivener. Defeat the Demon Rivener and you will gain one of the most powerful weapons in the game, the Baneblade Morvian.
5 – KEG OF ELVEN TONIC
In this room you can find a Keg of Elven Tonic. Drinking from it will provide some healing.
6 – MAGIC ITEMS
Search this room for a Longsword +4, a Chainmail +4, a Quiver of Arrows +3 and a Shortbow +4.
7 – ATHAN’S CELL
A few Dragon-kin can be found in this room with the two cells. Dispatch them to gain the Iron Cell Key. The key opens the cell to the right where Athan is held prisoner. Free him and Athan will talk to you as well as offer to join your party. He is a Level 16 fighter (See the NPCs section for more details). He will also give you same vital information about your upcoming battles. If you refuse to let him join your party, you can find him later at Mystra Temple in Nightingale Court.
8 – ANOTHER CELL
A similar room like the one you found in area #7 is located here. Once again some Dragon-kin are guarding the place. Defeat them and you will find two more prisoners in the cells nearby, an ormyrr and an Orog Hoodoo. Having been here for a long time the 2 prisoners cannot thing straight anymore and they will attack you as soon as you open their cells.
9 – PRISONERS LIST
Inside a chest in this small room you will find the Prisoners List. The list shows information for each prisoner that is locked within the cells in the Castle Passage. The interesting part is that Athan and Nathlilik are registered on the list. You have found Athan so you must also look for the drow Nathlilik as well.
10 – MAJOR CULT FIGHT
When you get near to this area the Cult will be waiting for you. Several cult elite soldiers will come out to fight you from the nearby rooms along with some Cult Archmages, Brigadiers and other cult members. It is wise to charm a few enemies when you are fight large numbers of opponents.
11 – MAGIC ITEMS
Some Cult Elite Soldiers led by a Cult Brigadiers occupy this room. Defeat them and search the room for a Quiver of Arrows +4, a Dagger +3 and a Potion of Full Heal.
In this room you will find some nice items including a Scroll of Repulsion and the Ring of Hashing. You must first kill the Cult Archmage and a few Enthralled Drow though.
13 – LIZARDFOLK PRISONER
A lizardfolk and follower of the human sorcerer Malgi Hi will talk to you as soon as you open his sell here. You can either set him free or attack him for obeying Malgi Hi.
14 – NATHLILIK’S CELL
One of the cells in this room is Nathlilik’s Cell, Defeat the Dragon-kin there and take the Heavy Prison Key you need to open her cell. Once you free her, Nathlilik will ask for your help one more time. She wants you to find the Great Urn of Souls (Soul Vessel) and destroy it to free the souls of her people form the Cult (enthralled Drow). The Soul Vessel can be found later on when you reach the castle.
15 – GREATSWORD +4
Fight some Cult Elite Soldiers and take a Greatsword +4 from one of the chests in this room.
16 – AASIRAK’S BRAIN
A zombie had his head smashed by a rock here. Break the rock to free him and he will leave behind a nice magical item, Aasirak’s Brain.
17 – PASSAGE TO STILLWATER
The door here takes once again up to the surface and Stillwater.
18 – ARCHLICH
Fight an Archlich lurking around this area. You will find his phylactery in area #19, so be sure to destroy it too to vanquish him forever.
19 – MAGIC ITEMS & PHYLACTERY
This room is where the Archlich, you fought at area #18, keeps this phylactery. It is also protected by several Mohrgs. Put them to rest and destroy the phylactery that lies in the middle of the room. Be sure to search the chests and get yourself the Hammer of Veneficus and Sylmovirir – The Shield of Power.
20 – TRAPPED BARRELS
Beware of the trapped barrels in this area. Do not try to break them. This will result in causing the barrels to explode damaging your party heavily. You can however disarm them for a nice amount of experience since there are many.
21 – ARRACCAT MOTHER
Some arraccats (guard & black) along with an Arraccat mother will try to stop you from reaching area #22 where you’ll find the Stone of Fate.
22 – STONE OF FATE
On the floor near the canyon in this area you will find the Stone of Fates along with a Sorcerer Scroll of Fireball. You will need the Stone in order to activate the Ancient defenses in area #24.
23 – MYSTERIOUS SPIRIT
A spirit here will ignore you if you don’t have the Stone of Fates in your possessions, but if you do it will disappear to the west where the Well of Fates can be found saying something about the Ancient Defenses and that all are not lost yet.
24 – ANCIENT DEFENCES
In this area you will find the Well of Fates. If you place the Stone of Fates into the well the Dwarven Statues around this area will rise, thus restoring the ancient defenses, and fight by your side the Cult forces that prevent you from reaching the castle. With the addition of 4 Dwarven Statues by your site you should not have any problems destroying the forces of the cult. The cult forces consist from several cult elite soldiers, quartermaster, lieutenants, brigadiers, some enthralled Drow, a few Dragon-kin Captains and 3 Cult Archmages. When you finally defeat them continue to area #25 where you can reach the castle by using the stairs there.
25 – STAIRS TO CASTLE CORMANTHOR
Use the stairs here to get up to the surface and Castle Cormanthor where your final battle against the Cult will take place.
Warcraft Tavern
Warcraft DB
Diablo Tavern
