This guide covers a part of the Drow Catacombs 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 from the magic portal at Ualair’s Circle up to the Speculum. This is the only way to reach the catacombs the first time. After you get here you will be able to get to the city heights from different locations.
2 – LICH
This room lies beyond a secret door to the south. Upon entering the room you will be attacked by a Lich. Defeating the lich however is not enough to totally destroy him. You will also have to destroy his phylactery, usually an ornate wooden box that can be found near the rooms where you found the Lich. In this case his phylactery is found in area #5. Destroy the box to send him to oblivion. The lich also drops a Greataxe +2 and a Large Shield +4. A chest there contains a potion of full heal.
3 – STAFF OF FLAME
A Mohrg here guards a coffin that contains the Staff of Flame. Put him to rest and take the staff.
4 – GREENISH COPPER KEY
This corridor leads to 2 more rooms. The room to the right contains some Gemstones & Jewels and a few healing potions guarded by a couple of Margoyles. The room to the left is locked and you need the Greenish Copper key to open the door. The key can by found in area #5 if you decide to attack the Orogs there. In this room you will find a Well of Restoration.
5 – OROGS AND OLD ELVEN KEY
The area here is occupied by several Orog. The strange thing is that the orogs will not attack you unless you attack them first and they oppose the Cult as well. You can search the area for some goodies without been attacked. Amongst the things you find is the Old Elven Key you need for area #8. If you decide to attack the Orogs, they also drop the Greenish Copper Key for the door in area #4. The phylactery of the Lich from area #2 is also located in this area on one of the tables, so be sure to destroy it once you get here.
6 – STAIRCASE TO THE SPECULUM GROUNDS
First you have to deal with 2 master wraiths in order to reach the staircase that leads up to the Speculum Grounds. Once you use the stairs here the door in area #14 of the Speculum can be used to get back to the Catacombs as well.
7 – WAND OF SLAY LIVING
A large number of Ancient Zombies led by a Zombie Lord dwell here. Vanquish them and get yourself a Wand of Slay Living.
8 – OLD ELVEN LOCK
In order to unlock the door here you need the Old Elven Key. The key can be found in area #5.
9 – STAIRS TO THE SECOND CELLAR
Follow the stairs to get down to the Second Cellar of the Catacombs.
10 – RUSTY ELVEN KEY
Two chests can be found in this room. One of them contains the Rusty Elven Key you need to open the door in area #49. There is also a note here which informs you that the Orogs are causing problems to the Cult.
11 – FOUNTAINS
Several fountains with different properties are located here but have limited uses. See below for more information.
- Fountain of Restoration – Casts Restoration
- Fountain of Faith – Casts Shield of Faith
- Wall Fountain of Warding – Casts Protection from Evil
- Wall Fountain of Healing – Casts Cure Moderate Wounds
12 – OROGS VS THE CULT
A cult mage is cornered here by some Orog Marauders including an Orog Marauder Boss and an Orog Marauder Big Boss. If you choose to help the Orogs some of them will leave after the fight but a few will attack you instead. If you choose to help the Cult Archmage he will disappear afterwards. It is your call what to do here.
13 – MAGIC ITEMS
Three of the chests in this room which are trapped contain some nice magical items. Inside you will find the Boots of Stalking and the Ring of Dodging. You can also get the Ring of Teeth from the fire pit nearby. The character that reaches to get the ring from the pit will suffer some damage though.
14 – TUDO & NOTTLE
Tudo and Nottle can be found in this area. Tudo can join your party if you wish. He is a level 12 rogue (see NPCs sections for more details). Nottle will trade with you so it’s a nice opportunity to get rid of some equipment you don’t need. They will not stay for long here, however you can find them both back to Nottle’s Shop up to Stillwater, if you haven’t recruit Tudo that is.
15 – DAGGER +3
On the table you will find a note that mentions the Orog Raids again. It seems that the Cult is having enough problems with the Orogs in this Level of the Catacombs. There is a dagger +1 with the note too. A chest also contains a dagger +3. Search the north-western wall to find a secret door that leads to area #16.
16 – CRYPT CLEANSER
This room beyond the secret door is full of some useful items. One of them is a mace called the Crypt Cleanser. This weapon is excellent against the undead.
17 – CULT FIGHT
Upon entering this room you will be attacked by a group of Cult members. This group might provide a challenge since it is composed from a Cult Archmage, a Cult Lieutenant and several Cult Soldiers.
18 – ELVEN KEGS
This room contains 2 Kegs of Elven Nectar and a Keg of Elven wine. The 2 Kegs of Elven Nectar cast Restoration and Bull’s Strength and the Keg of Elven Wine casts Heal.
19 – KEG OF ELVEN WINE
Another Keg of Elven Wine provides some healing here. You will also have to dispatch a cult mage and 2 Soulless Orogs.
20 – LONGBOW +2
Search the coffins in this area to find a Longbow +2.
21 – BRONZE KEY
A chest in this room contains a bronze key and a rusty key. I haven’t found any use for the rusty key but you will need 2 bronze keys for area #25, one for the door and one for the chest. The other bronze key can be found in area #24.
22 – MAJOR FIGHT WITH THE CULT
At some point you will have to fight a large number of cult members in this area but not the first time you pass though here. You will be put up against several cult elite soldiers, some Cult Quartermasters and Lieutenants, Soulless Orogs and a Cult Archmage.
23 – SARCOPHAGUS AND MAGIC ITEMS
Inside this room you will find 6 sarcophagi each one contains a magical weapon. See below what they contain:
- Magister Luther : Ring of the Protected
- Arianna the Archer : Bloodbow
- Eric Sliphord : Armor of Shadows
- Sindor : Scimitar of Slaying
- Bannoc : Hammer of Justice
- Shyla : Shield of Purity
After you exit the room you will face the spirits of the persons that were buried in the sarcophagi but there are nothing more that wraiths.
24 – SECOND BRONZE KEY
Fight a Cult mage and 2 Soulless Orogs for another bronze key and rusty key. Use the two Bronze keys to unlock the door and the chest in area #25:
25 – WALL FOUNTAIN OF POWER
Unlock the room with one of the Bronze keys you found earlier and search it for some Gemstones and Jewels and a scroll of Halt Undead. Use the second bronze key to unlock the trapped chest and get a potion of Neutralize poison from inside. There is also a Wall Fountain of Power here that casts Bull’s Strength.
26 – CULT FIGHT
Fight a few Cult Soldiers led by a Cult Quartermaster in this area to clear the way to the stairs at area #27. The left room here contains an Elven Royal Necklace and a handful of Gemstones & Jewels. The right one contains a dagger +2 and a Cult Map of the Catacombs Level 1. You will find several maps like this one, but it’s not actually a map, you just read it to see how many exits are located in each level of the Catacombs.
27 – STAIRS TO THE SECOND CELLAR
This set of stairs leads down to the Second Cellar of the Catacombs.
28 – WALL FOUNTAIN OF HEALING
A Wall Fountain of Healing can be found in this room. Also a locked chest needs the Old Iron key to be opened. The key can be taken from area #29. The chest however contains nothing more than a handful of Gemstones & Jewels.
29 – OLD IRON KEY
Defeat the Cult Mage in this room to gain a Wand of Halt Undead and a Shield of Purity. On the table you will find the Old Iron key for the chest in area #28. There is also a trapped chest that contains one more Idolon and 2 potions of Remove Fear.
30 – BRASS KEY
Two Soulless Orogs lurk here. Dispatch them and take the Brass key you need to open the gate to the south of the room.
31 – ARROW OF FLATULENCE
Beyond a secret door on the east wall you will find a Leather Armour +3 and an Arrow of Flatulence.
32 – MOHRGS
Five Mohrgs resides in this small room. Remember that Mohrgs are immune to turning and when they are many they can cause problems.
33 – OROG AMBUSH
If you run through this area here you will be ambushed from a large number of Orog Marauders led by an Orog Marauder Boss.
34 – NECKLACE OF THE PRAYER BEADS
Fight a Master Spectre that dwells here and take the Necklace of the Prayer Beads.
NOTE: Areas #35-38 are actually the Naga’s Lair.
35 – SECRET DOOR AND OROGS
These series of rooms here is actually the Entrance to the Naga’s Lair so be prepared to fight a few tough battles.
Upon entering this area a large number of Orog Marauders led by an Orog Marauder Boss will attack you from behind a secret door to the west. If you go slowly you might be able to spot them first. They drop a Halberd +2.
36 – POWERFUL TOMES
Continue from area #35 to this area and fight another group of Orog Marauders and Orog Marauder Brutes with the addition of a Dark Naga. They drop the Ring of Equilibrium and a Scroll of Improved Invisibility. A strange round well is located here too. There is something inside it but the fishes won’t let you get it. You need to pour some Naga poison into the well to get what’s inside. A potion of Naga Poison can be found in area #37. Each time you place a potion of Naga Poison (you can find more than one) inside the well you will be rewarded with a nice small shield called Nightshade. You will also find 2 powerful tomes in the bookcases nearby, the Cleric’s Book of Truth and the Sorcerer’s Cyclopedia Illuminati. Keep in mind that the character that keeps any book with special enchantments to his inventory will automatically add the bonuses or penalty the book gives to his stats.
37 – POTION OF NAGA POISON
More Orog Marauders, a Dark Naga and some Soulless Orogs must be fought in this room. They drop the Ring of Mothers. A bookcase contains a Potion of Naga Poison. The potion is to be used in the round well at area #36 in order to get the Nightshade from it.
38 – ORRERY PLANET
The final room of the Dark Naga’s Lair lies here. A cage in the middle of the room holds the last Orrery Planet. Release the Orrery planet, (you will be informed from the DM if you already freed the other missing planets, that the Orrery is restored), to restore the magic of the Spinning Spires and also gain a nice amount of experience too. You will then be able to use the spinning spires to teleport around Myth Drannor The chests here contain Terrilan’s Grimson Wand, an Idolon, Kluusar’s Chain of Warding and a Full Plate +3. There is also a door here that takes you back to the surface and Stillwater.
NOTE: Once you get to areas #39 and #40 the doors at the hallway in the middle will close and be trapped with lighting bolts so be sure to disarm them before you exit the hallway as mentioned on the signs above the doors.
39 – RING OF ELECTRA
Ten Skeleton Lords guard the chest in the middle of this room. Once you take the Ring of Electra from it the Skeleton Lords will attack you so be prepared.
40 – WAND OF ELECTRA
Same as area #39 but this time the chest contains the Wand of Electra instead.
41 – GHOSTS OF THE ELVEN KNIGHTS
This area is full of the bodies of the elven knights that defended the staircase in area #42 from the forces of evil ages ago. Once inside the ghosts will tell you about how the defended this place. On the ground you will find a Longsword +3 and a Greataxe +3.
42 – STAIRCASE TO THE SECOND CELLAR
In this room lays the staircase ,the Ghosts mentioned in area #41, that takes you down to the second cellar in a different location of the map. You will also find a Longspear +3 on the ground.
43 – FOUNTAIN OF DESPAIR
When you enter this room you will be attacked by several undead from all sides, more specific by 4 Mohrgs and 8 Wights. In the middle lays the Fountain of Despair that provides healing to your party.
44 – HANDAXE +4
A coffin contains a Handaxe +4 but you have to dispatch 4 Skeleton Lords and a Master Wraith first, to get it.
45 – SECRET DOOR AND SHORTBOW +4
Search for a secret door to the west to access this room. Once inside you will be attacked by 2 Mohrgs and a Spectre. Defeat them and loot the Sarcophagus for a scroll of remove Paralysis, a shortbow +4 and some healing potions & salves.
46 – PRISON KEY RING
On the table in this area you will find the Prison Key Ring you need, to open the gate in area #47.
47 – REVENANT AND SECRET DOOR
Enter the room and unlock the gate with the Prison Key Ring (area #46). Fight the Revenant that dwells here and take a note from the ground. The note says something about a secret door nearby. Search the eastern wall and you will find it. Keep in mind that Revenants and Mohrg are the only undead creatures that cannot be turned no matter how high your ability to Turn Undead is.
48 – SECRET DOOR AND STRANGE POTIONS
The south wall of this room is actually a secret door. Once you find it, enter the room and you will find some strange potions and scrolls inside with unknown effects. Here is what you get:
- Contaminated Potion of Mage Armour – casts Invisibility
- Partial Scroll of Teleportation – casts Blink
- Undiluted Potion of Cure Light Wounds – casts Cure Critical Wounds.
49 – RUSTY ELVEN LOCK
To unlock the door here you need the Rusty Elven Key. The key can be found in area #10.
50 – RING OF STAMINA
The square well here contains the Ring of Stamina and a Wand of Stinking Cloud.
NOTE: Areas #51- #69 are occupied by the Drow of the House of Freth. There are some very difficult battles to be fought there so it might be a good idea to leave them last and gain as much experience as you can before venturing through.
51 – BERGOS
Be prepared for this one. This battle against the Drow is very difficult. You will have to face Bergos, several Freth Drow Commandos, Freth Drow Priests and 2 Guard Arraccats. They also cast Darkness when the fight starts making things harder than they already are. Use any means possible to raise the AC of your party members (Shield of Faith, Protection from Evil, Aid, Player, etc) and haste your melee fighters. Use mass damage spells (Flame Strike, Fireball, Cone of Cold, etc). Also Searing light works great against the Drow. You can try to charm the 2 Arraccats to help you, too. When you finally beat them they drop the Silver Spider Key you need for area #56, a Drow Chainmail +1 and a Drow Shortsword +1.
52 – NECKLACE OF CONFIDENCE
Dispatch some Wights led by a master Wight and take the Necklace of Confidence from the Round Well in this room.
53 – LICH & SECRET DOORS
In this room you will find 3 Skeleton Knights. Search the wall to the north to find a secret door. Upon entering the secret area you will be attacked by a Wraith and a Lich. Put them to rest and search for another secret door to the north again that leads to area #54.
54 – STRANGE ITEMS
Behind a secret door lays this room. First of all destroy the phylactery of the Lich you found in area #53 to vanquish him forever (the ornate wooden box to the north-east corner of the room). This room also holds many strange potions and scroll. You will find a Potion of the Spider Climbing Revision IV (Haste), 2 Mislabeled bottles of Dark Naga Venom (Poison) and a Barely Readable Scroll of Enchant Item (Dispel Magic). Aasirak’s Book of Dancing Dead can also be found here.
55 – MARGOYLE QUEEN
Fight your way through several Margoyles to get to this room. Here you will have to face some more Margoyles along with their Queen. Defeat them and take from the ground a handful of Gemstones & Jewels, a sling +4 and some healing potions.
56 – FRETH DROW ASSASSINS
Unlock the door with the Silver Spider Key taken from Bergos in area #51. Once you get to the middle of the room you will be ambushed by 4 Freth Drow Commandos and 2 Freth Drow Assassins so be prepared. Keep in mind that Drow concentrate their attacks against any Elf party members so use this for your advantage.
57 – STAFF OF DARKNESS
Again you will have to fight some more Freth Drow, this time 2 Freth Drow Warriors and a Freth Drow Priest. Once you’ve bested them take the Staff of Darkness from the ground, a Drow Dagger +3 and the Cult Map of Catacombs Level 2 from the table nearby.
58 – DROW WEAPONS
Four Freth Drow Warriors and a Freth Drow Commander occupy this area. When you defeat them they drop a Drow Quiver of Arrows. You will also find a Drow Shortsword +2 on the ground. There is a Drow Map of the Catacombs Level 1 on the table too.
59 – SACRIFICIAL ALTAR
The Great Hall here is full of Drow. You will have to fight some Freth Drow Warriors, a Freth Drow High Priest and a Freth Drow Inquisitor along with 2 arraccats. They drop some nice cleric scrolls, a Cleric Scroll of Destruction and a Cleric Scroll of Fire Storm. Search the room for some healing potions. Touching the Spider Idol here will result in opening the Sacrificial Altar. Inside it you will find a Drow Ceremonial Dagger and the Drow Spinnan Trisagion. There is also a Wall Fountains of Drow Elixir but does nothing more that to poison you if you drink from it.
60 – DROW ASSASSIN’S DAGGER
Some Freth Drow Warriors and 2 Freth Drow Commanders have to be dealt with in this room. Search the chests to find a Wand of Cure Serious Wounds and a Drow Assassin’s Dagger.
61 – AMULET OF PERFECT HEALTH
Search the room and you will find the Amulet of Perfect Health (casts resurrection) the Cult Map of the Catacombs Level 2 and the Drow Map of the Catacombs Level 1.
62 – DROW AND ARRACCATS
Four Arraccats, 2 Freth Drow Warriors and a guard arraccat are found here. When you go deeper into to catacombs you will see that the Drow actually breed arraccats to help them with their battles.
63 – BOOTS OF DISPLACEMENT
One of the chests in this room contains the Boots of Displacement but you have to fight another group of Freth Drow to get them. There is also an Ancient City Records Book on the shelf there.
64 – FRETH DROW GUARDS
The Freth Drow Guards are some nasty hard-to-hit opponents and you will have to face 4 of them here along with a Freth Drow Master Guard in order to reach area #65.
65 – GREYANNA
If you have made it so far then you have a chance to defeat Greyanna in this area. This is one of the toughest battles of the game and you will need any help you can get. Once again use the strategies you used at area #51 when you came up against Bergos. Only this time there are a lot more Freth Drow here including some Freth Drow Guards and some Guard Arraccats, one of them has a name of its one, Kallannar. You can also use the Scroll of Fire Storm you found in area #59 if a character has high enough wisdom to make things easier. Upon entering this room you will be greeted from Greyanna, a high ranked member of the House of Freth, surrounded by Freurdyn and Foluben. No matter what you say to her she will eventually attack you along with her army of Freth drow that will come up from the secret rooms around this area. When you eventually defeat her you will get the skull of Annorrweyn Eversong for your efforts, so be sure to return to the Nightingale Court and place the skull into her tomb. You will also find several items here including a Drow Shortsword +1, the Drow Lamp of Darkness, a Necklace of Magic Resistance, a Ring of Precision, some scrolls, a Drow Chainmail +5 and a Drow Shortsword +5.
66 – WAND OF COMMAND
Two chests in this area contain a Wand of Command and 3 Potions of Sleep.
67 – MAGIC ITEMS
You can find some very nice items in this area. You will find Quimbee’s Armour of the Many Pockets (weights -100!!), the great Knife of Shyde, an Idolon, a Drow Chainmail +2 and a Drow Shortbow +3.
????: Areas #68 – #69 are only accessible from the Lower Keep of the Catacombs the first time.
68 – ADAMANTINE KEY
The Adamantine Key that opens the gate at area #69 in lying on the ground in this room. You will have to ascend from the Lower Keep to get it though.
69 – STAIRS TO THE LOWER KEEP
A gate is blocking the way to the stairs here. To open the gate you need the Adamantine key from area #68. You can get the key after you get here from the Lower Keep o the Catacombs.
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