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 – STAIRS TO THE FIRST CELLAR
The stairs in this area lead to the First Cellar of the Catacombs. The first time you get down here you will be attacked by several soulless orogs led by a cult Archmage.
2 – RING OF RESTORATION
Fight 4 enthralled Drow and a Cult Archmage in this room for a Ring of Restoration. Search the room to find a Scroll of Searing Light and a note. The note mentions something about a big thing that lurks around the Dungeon.
3 – FRETH DROW
Seven Freth Drow Warriors with a Freth Drow Priest occupy this area. Defeat them and you will gain a Wand of Cure Serious Wounds and a Shortsword +3.
4 – ARRACCATS
Some arraccats including a Black Arraccats dwell here. Dispatch them and take from the floor some healing potions and a handful of Gemstones & Jewels.
5 – OILY IRON KEY
A dark Naga is the owner of this room here behind a secret door to the east. When you defeat it, he drops a Quiver of Arrows +5 and the Oily Iron Key. The key unlocks the door in area #12.
6 – POISONOUS FOUNTAIN
To the north of the room with the Dark Naga (area #5) you will find a fountain. The fountain however does nothing more that poison your party members if they drink from it.
7 – TAVERN BARREL
In this room you will find a strange tavern Barrel. The character that drinks from the Barrel will increase his strength by 1 point.
8 – MARGOYLE QUEEN
Several Margoyles with their Queen reside in this room. Defeat them to gain a couple of Healing Potions and 2 handfuls of Gemstones & Jewels.
9 – LICH
Beyond a secret door to the east lies the room of a Lich. A spectre will also attack you along with the Lich. After you defeat the Lich destroy his phylactery that if found in the same room to the north-west corner. You will find 2 bottles of Congealing Extract of Daemon Liver (Haste) in a trapped chest and the Dagger of Warding on the table.
10 – DULL BRASS KEY
Fight some Cult soldiers in this room to gain the Dull Brass key. The key opens the door to the south of the room. You will also find an Elven Royal Knife on the table.
11 – KEG OF ELVEN WINE
Search the boxes in this area and you will find 2 pairs of Ancient Holey Leather Boots and the Cult Map of the Catacombs Level 3. There is also a Keg of Elven wine here that can offer some minor Healing.
12 – OILY BRASS LOCK
The door here requires the Oily Brass Key taken from area #5 to be opened.
13 – RING OF SOULS
On the floor in this room you will find the Ring of Souls.
14 – PASSAGE TO STILLWATER
One more passage that takes you back to surface is located here.
15 – POTION OF DARK NAGA BLOOD
The room here contains several items. Search it for a Potion of Protection from Poison, some Healing Potions and some sorcerer scrolls. A Potion of Dark Naga Poison is also found here. You can always go back to Naga’s Lair up to the First Cellar and pour the Poison into the well there for another Nightshade (shield). You must however defeat some Enthralled Drow and a Cult Archmage first.
16 – LOCKED GATE
Fight a group of Cult soldiers led by a Cult Lieutenant in this room. The gate to the north is locked and you need the Large Metal Key to open it. The key is behind the gate in the hands of another cult group but you will get there when you have to free Beriand. So continue forth for now.
17 – MAGIC WEAPONS
Dispatch some Cult Soldiers in this room and search it for a Chainmail +2, a Longsword +2, a Sling +2 and a Longspear +2.
18 – MAJOR CULT FIGHT
The room here is protected by a large number of Cult forces since in there you will find the staircase that takes you down to the Lower Keep of the Catacombs. You must fight defeat the cult though to get through. Keep in mind that this is a difficult fight. If things are not going well you can always try to charm a few enemies to fight by your side, and remember to concentrate your attacks on the spellcasters first.
19 – LONGSPEAR +4
Fight a group of Cult Elite Soldiers led by a Cult Brigadier here. There is a note on the table that mentions the Sisters of the Silver Fire along with a Cult Map of the Catacombs Level 2. The chest also contains a Longspear +4.
20 -STAIRS TO THE LOWER KEEP
After you defeat the cult in area #18 you can use these stairs to get down to the third level of the Catacombs, the Lower Keep.
NOTE: You can not move further into this dungeon from this side. You have to return to the First cellar and get down from another location of the map.
21 – STAIRS TO THE FIRST CELLAR
Follow this set of stairs to get back to the First Cellar of the Catacombs and to area #27.
22 – CULT WELCOME
As soon as you open the door in area #21 you will be attacked by several Cult soldiers and an archmage. Defeat them and continue forth to area #23.
23 – NEW IRON KEY
In these rooms you will find the New Iron Key you need to open the door in area #26. You will also find a Light Hammer +2, a Full Plate +1, a potion of Displacement and a Cult Map of the Catacombs Level 1. But first you will have to fight a few Cult soldiers.
Two Cult Soldiers can be found in this small room. They hold the Dull Metal key that opens the door in area #25. Dispatch them and take the key.
25 – TAVERN BARREL
Use the Dull Metal Key you obtained from area #24 to open the door here. Inside the room you will find a Keg of Elven Mead that provides some healing and another tavern barrel which raises the dexterity of the character that drinks from it by one point.
26 – DISAPPOINTED CULT MEMBERS
Another group of Cult soldiers resides here. When you defeat them they drop a note. The note informs you that these soldiers were disappointed with the way the Cult was treading them. The door to the north needs the New Iron Key from area #23 to be opened.
27 – SHORTSWORD +2
Several Wights and a Master Wight dwell in this room. Put them to rest and search the sarcophagus for a Shortsword +2 and some healing potions.
28 – PIKE +3
Defeat 3 shadows that guard the well in this room and take a Pike +3 from inside.
29 – FOUNTAIN OF SACTUS
The Fountain of Sactus is located here. Drinking from it casts Protection from Evil.
30 – SPINNING SPIRE
The spinning spire is protected by all kinds of undead. Once you get near it you will have to fight them in order to be able to use the Spire, if you restored the Orrery that is.
31 – WORN ELVEN KEY
Some Orog Marauders reside in this room. If you attack them from the east side you might be able not to alert the other Orogs lurking around the area. If you manage not to alert the other Orogs the fight will be much easier. But this is not likely the case. In most cases all the orogs will be alerted and you will have to fight a large number of them including some Orog Marauders Brutes, Bosses and Big Bosses. When you finally beat them you will gain the Worn Elven Key. There is also a tavern barrel here that raises the intelligence of the character that drinks from it by 2 points.
32 – STAIRS TO THE FIRST CELLAR
This set of stairs leads to the first Cellar of the Catacombs.
33 – AASIRAK’S EBONY TWIN RING OF POWER
A master spectre guards the Well of Dreams here. Inside the Well you will find a very powerful but also very heavy ring, Aasirak’s Ebony Twin Ring of Power. This is ring is very strange because it has some huge penalties along with his bonuses. It will make a powerful combination though if you find Aasirak’s Ivory Twin Ring of Power also.
34 – SHRINE OF THE SILVER FIRE
This room holds the Shrine of the Silver Fire. You will meet with Bronwyn and Kellan two of the remaining sister of the Order of the Silver Fire. They will ask you to find and bring back the Guardians of the Shrine, because the Shrine is now unprotected and they cannot defeat the cult if they found them there. You will find two Guardian Nagas down to the Lower Keep of the Catacombs later on.
When you free the Guardians you will be able to recruit the two sisters to your party if you wish. Bronwyn is a Level 12 Ranger and Kellan is a Level 7 Fighter and level 6 Sorcerer (see more details in the NPCs section).
35 – WORN ELVEN LOCK
You will need the Worn Elven Key to open the gate to the south in this room. The key can be taken from area #31 after you defeat the Orog Marauders there.
36 – BLACKENED ELVEN KEY
Once inside this room you will have to face a Mohrg and some Cult Soldiers. When you defeat them they drop the Blackened Elven Key you need to open the door in area #49. Search the room and you will also find a Small Shield +3 and a Shortbow +3, along with a handful of Gemstones and Jewels.
37 – FRETH DROW
Dispatch a few Freth Drow Commandos and a Freth Drow Commanders that lurk around this area.
38 – ARRACCATS
Fight several Arraccats that dwell in this room and take some haling potions and a handful of Gemstones and Jewels from the ground.
39 – TAVERN BARREL
This room is full of undead creatures. Put them to rest and search the area for another of these strange Tavern barrels. This one raises your charisma by 2 points.
40 – MORE ARRACCATS
Once again you will have to vanquish a few arraccats. When you are done with them take some healing potions and another handful of Gemstones and Jewels from the ground nearby.
41 – STAFF OF DARKNESS
Fight a band of Freth drow led be a Freth Drow Commander to gain the Staff of Darkness. Also search the bookcase nearby for some more Healing Potions.
42 – MARGOYLES
A similar room like the ones you found before. This time dispatch a few Margoyles to take some more Healing Potions and Gemstones from the ground.
43 – MARGOYLE BRIDGE
The bridge in this area near the chasm is guarded by a few Margoyles. As soon as you get near the Margoyles will talk to you. You have to lure them to think that they will have some fun hunting you down and get them to lower bridge. In order to do so you must say to them that you are badly injured and in need help. After you say that to them they will lower the bridge and attack you. Defeat them and you will have access to their lair where you can find some nice items. Keep in mind that if don’t manage to convince them to lower the bridge you will not have a second chance thus you will not be able to travel to their lair.
44 – PASSAGE TO SURFACE
After you finally made it to the Margoyle Lair you will find another door that takes you back to the surface, near the cave at Stillwater.
45 – MARGOYLE TREASURES
This room is where the Margoyles keep their treasures. There is a metal chest in the middle of the room but in order to get what’s inside you must first defeat the Margoyles and the Margoyle Queen that guard it. Once you are victorious open the chest and you will find a Battleaxe +5, a Quarterstaff +5, a Light Hammer +5 a Shortsword +5 an Idolon and a Salve of Light Healing.
46 – ARCHLICH’S PHYLACTERY
Inside this room you will find another of these strange Ornate Wooden Boxes that represent the phylactery of a lich, which means that you will find one somewhere near here. There is indeed an Archlich to be found in area #48. Destroy his phylactery to prevent him from coming back. Doing so will alert a large number of undead, mostly Mohrgs. Defeat them and head to area #47.
47 – BLACK ARRACCATS
Defeat the 3 black arraccats that dwell here and take from the ground a few Healing potions and a handful of Gemstones and Jewels.
48 – ARCHLICH & AASIRAK’S IVORY TWIN RING OF POWER
These rooms down to the south-east corner of the map are full of undead. First you’ll have to fight 4 Mohrg in order the reach the Archlich at the last room. But when you also defeat the Archlich you will be ambushed by an army of all kinds of elite Undead. After the fight claim your reward from the chest and sarcophagus that are found there. You will find Elhrain’s Lantern and Aasirak’s Ivory Twin Ring of Power. Wearing the 2 Aasirak’s twin rings will balance the bonuses and penalties of the rings along with the weight since the Ivory ring weights the opposite of the Ebony. A character that wears the 2 rings will have the power to cast Finger of Death and Heal at the same time. Don’t forget to drink from the tavern barrel that is also located here. This one raises the Constitution of the character that drinks from it by 2 points.
49 – BLACKENED ELVEN LOCK
In order to continue forward from the room you must first unlock the door with the Blackened Elven Key which can be found in area #36. You will also have to fight a few Margoyles here. A few items can be found on the ground too.
50 – TAVERN BARREL
The tavern Barrel in this room can raise the Wisdom of the character that drinks from it by 2 points.
51 – ARRACCATS
A couple of areas here are just the nests of several Arraccats. Passing through here you will have to fight them but nothing more than that can be done here.
52 – SCARRED ELVEN KEY
Enter this room and fight the Orog Marauders that reside here for the Scarred Elven Key. The key unlocks the door in area #54. They also drop a Warhammer +4 and a Chainmail +4.
53 – MAGIC WEAPONS
Search the chest here and you will find the Orog Map of Catacombs Level 2 along with a Battleaxe +4 and a Chainmail +5.
54 – SCARRED ELVEN LOCK
Use the Scarred Elven Key you have taken from the Orog in area #52 to unlock the door here. This will also connect the two parts of the Second Cellar map and you will no longer have to travel back to the First cellar to reach a different area of the map.
NOTE: Areas #55 – #61 are only accessible after you get down to the Second Cellar from Beriand’s Tree House up to Stillwater. A portal will take you here but not until the Cult kidnaps Beriand.
55 – HELP BERIAND
At a later stage of the game usually after you free the Bealnorn Miroden Silverblade, coming back to the tree-house of Beriand at Stillwater you will only find a cult group there. Defeat them and use the portal that is now located there to get down to the Second Cellar to a different location and free him. As soon as you get down here you will be attacked by another group of Cult members. Defeat them and they leave behind the Flat Brass key that unlocks the 2 doors to the south. Another Flat Brass key can be found down to the Lower keep in area #13. The South-west room is the one that Beriand is held captive. Free him and after his thanks you he will return to his house through the portal. There is also a tavern Barrel here that raises you Hit Points by 8. After Beriand if free continue to area #56.
56 – WAND OF CLOUDKILL
Dispatch some Cult elite soldiers here and take a Wand of Cloudkill for your efforts.
Once again fight the Cult members that reside in this hall and you will gain a Greatsword +4, a Chainmail +3 and the Large Metal Key that opens the gate to the south and to area #16.
58 – FRAGILE IRON KEY
Inside the chests here you will find a Longbow +3, a Small Shield +2, a Mace +4 and the Fragile Iron Key. Use the key to open the gate in area #61.
59 – MORE TREASURES
Search the room and you will find a Greataxe +2 and some nice potions.
60 – MAGIC ITEMS & A CULT OVERSEER
Fight the Cult overseer and his 2 Enthralled Drow in this room and you will gain the Spectre of Leoguns and Druul’s Kiss (dagger). The room is also full of potions and scrolls. Inside the chest nearby you will find another Idolon, a Sling +4 and the Boots of Grace.
61 – ARMORY
In order to access this room you must first get the Fragile Iron Key from the chest in area #58. This room looks like the Armory Room of the Cult and you will find several weapons here, amongst them a Warhammer +3 and a Small Shield +2.
Warcraft Tavern
Warcraft DB
Diablo Tavern
