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 LOWER KEEP
The first time you get down to the Prisons of the Catacombs is by using this staircase. You can also use it to travel back to the Lower Keep of the Catacombs.
2 – IRON SPIDER LOCK
To enter this room you must first get the Iron Spider Key from area #6. Once inside fight a Freth Drow Commander that resides there.
3 – ARCHLICH
When you exit the tomb to the south you will be ambush be 3 Master Shadows and an Archlich. The phylactery of this Archlich can be found in area #5, so don’t forget to destroy it too.
4 – THE DRAEDSWEORD DEAMONIAC
In order to enter this tomb you must first disarm and lockpick the two gates. Be careful because the traps are very nasty. When you enter the tomb you will immediately be attacked by an Archlich, 2 Liches and several Mohrgs. When they are all down open the sarcophagus nearby and take the best weapon of the game from inside, The Draedsweord Daemoniac.
5 – PHYLACTERY
Inside this room you will find a Lich’s Phylactery, maybe it is the one for the Lich you fought in area #3.
6 – SPIDER IRON KEY
A Freth Drow Robber and a Revenant hold the Iron Spider key here. Defeat them and take the key to open the door in area #2.
7 – GAUNTLETS OF DESTRUCTION
Some Freth Drow Priests along with a Freth Drow Commander reside in this room behind a secret door to the south. Search the room and you will find the Gauntlets of Destruction and Bernard’s Unforgivable Boots.
8 – FRETH DROW
After unlocking the door in area #7 you will come to this hallway. Once here you will be attacked by several Freth Drow including a Priest and some Arraccats. Don’t forget to test the Sacret Staff of Light on the Drow to see how good it is.
9 – RING OF CONFUSION
Fight a few Freth Drow Warriors and search the room for a Drow Shortsword +4, the Drow Map of the Catacombs Level 4 and a Ring of Confusion.
10 – DROW SHORTBOW +5
Some Freth Drow Warriors led by a Freth Drow Commander lurk in this room. Dispatch them and you will find a Shortbow +5 in the chest nearby.
11 – MAGIC WEAPONS
Two chests here contain a Drow Longsword +3 and a Drow Shortsword +4.
12 – WELL OF WISHES
In the middle of this area you will find the Well of Wishes, drinking from it however casts Daze.
13 – DROW & ARRACCATS
These rooms are the places where the Drow breed Arraccats, they keep the arraccats in cages and usually these cages are protected by a few Freth Drow Warriors. Clear the rooms from the Drow and the Arraccats to gain a nice amount of experience.
14 – MORE MAGIC WEAPONS
Another barrack-like room of the Freth Drow is located here. Defeat a few Freth Drow that reside within and take a Shortsword +4 and a Drow Mace +4 from the chests nearby.
15 – DROW QUIVERS OF ARROWS
A chest in this room contains 2 Drow Quivers of Arrows. You will have to fight some Freth Drow Warriors first to get them.
16 – WRAITHMAEL OF DRENOFIEND
Search the south wall to fight a secret door that leads within this room. Once inside disarm the nasty trap from the chest in the middle and pick up a nice piece of armor, the Wraithmael of Drenofiend.
Inside the chests and the bookcases of this room you will find several nice potions and scrolls.
18 – BIG FIGHT AGAINST THE DROW
Once in this area you will be attacked from both sides from several Freth Drow including some Freth Drow Guards, Assassins and High Priests. With the addition of the Draedsweord Deamoniac and the Sacret Staff of Light in your arsenal you won’t have much trouble dispatching this large group of Freth Drow. There is also a secret door to the south wall that connects the two part of the map.
19 – DAGGER OF MAGUS & OTHER MAGIC ITEMS
A group of Freth Drow Priests along with a Freth Drow Commander can be found in this room. Defeat them and they will leave behind a Wand of Melf’s Acid Arrows and the Necklace of Spiritual Weapon. You will also find another Dagger of Magus in the bookcase.
20 – MORE DROW
Again fight a group of Freth Drow but this time with the addition of a few Guard Arraccats. Search the shelf for a Potion of Full Healing.
21 – HEADSPLITTER & PIGSTICKER
Two nice weapons can be obtained from this room, but first defeat a few Freth Drow Warriors led by a Freth Drow Commander that guard it.
Fight a few more Drow of the House of Freth that stand in your way in this room. Once they are down take a Scroll of Full Heal from the bookcase and a Scroll of Firestorm and a Staff of Harm from the chests.
23 – DROW ARMORY
This room must be the armory of the Freth Drow. Inside you will find several items including 2 Drow Quivers of Arrows, some Longspears +4, a Drow Longsword +5, a few Drow Shortswords +3, 2 Drow Shortbows +5, a Drow Mace +5, 4 Drow Dagger +4 and some potions.
Search the shelves in this room and you will find a Cleric Scroll of Raise Dead and A Sorcerer Scroll of Circle of Death.
25 – FRETH DROW INQUISITOR
Two groups of Freth Drow are fighting each other in this area. Either interfere and kill them all or let continue their battle. The group that is leaded by a Freth Drow Inquisitor will always win this fight and attack your party afterwards.
26 – SECRET DOOR
Inside this small room you will find a secret door to the north that connects the Tomb Area with the Freth Drow territory.
27 – FRETH DROW ASSASSINS
When you get near to this area you will be ambushed by several Freth Drow Assassins.
28 – SMALL SHIELD +4
A chest in this room contains a Small Shield +4, nothing more.
29 – SPELLFOIL
Another group of Freth Drow resides in this room. Inside the chest you will find a nice Large Shield called Spellfoil.
30 – DREUDRE & SPIDERSILK ARMOR
A difficult fight takes place here. You will be put up against several Freth Drow including some Freth Drow Guards along with Dreudre, a very powerful Drow. Dreudre drops an excellent dagger called Venom. You will also find the Medallion of Lolth and one of the best armour of the game, the Drow Spidersilk Armor. There is also a secret door to the east wall of the room.
31 – RING OF CURSING
Inside this room you will find a trapped chest which contains the Ring of Cursing. You will also find a secret door on the south wall.
32 – HEAVY SPIDER KEY
Another tough fight with the Freth Drow inside this room, you will have to face a few Freth Drow Master Guards along with some Black Arraccats not to mention the other lesser Freth Drow. The Heavy Spider Key which unlocks the gate to the north of the room is located in the bookcase nearby.
NOTE: Areas #33 – #38 is where the Freth Drow keep their most precious items.
33 – ARCHIVE ROOM
This area is the Drow Archive Room and you will find a few powerful scrolls, a Drow Quiver of Assassin’s Arrows and a Quiver of Arrows +5 amongst some other items.
34 – MAGIC ITEMS ROOM
This is the Magic Items Room of the Drow. Some of the most powerful items of the game can be found here, like Lystan’s Excoriata and the Beacon of Grigori (Gems).
35 – WEAPONS AND ARMOR ROOM
Inside the Weapons and Armor room you will find the scimitar Drakulwyng, Seethre’s Tongue (longbow) and a pike called The Ilrazor of Sholg’Gliath.
Like the rooms above this one contains some of the most powerful scrolls of the game. You will find a Cleric Scroll of Destruction, A cleric Scroll of Slay Living, a Sorcerer Scroll of Control Undead and a Sorcerer Scroll of Finger of Death.
37 – GREAT MAGIC ITEMS
In this area you will have to fight a large number of Freth Drow led by a Freth Drow High Priest and a Freth Drow Master Guard. Once you defeat them search the entire area and you will find some unique and very powerful items. See a list below:
- Potion of Insect Plaque – Alfa Version
- Eye of the Witch (Amulet)
- Morolith (Great Warhammer +6!)
- Ravenskin (Chainmail)
- The Daemonclaws of Gr’Zak (Gauntlets)
- The Ring of Azular
38 – BANEBLADE FAERVIAN
Inside the northern chest of area #37 you will find the Baneblade Faervian or the “Sword of Eye”. The Ghost of Hachaam Selorn will appear as soon as you open the chest and talk to you. He will inform you that you can keep the sword if you like but if you return to his tomb in the Halls of Light he will help you find another more powerful Baneblade, the Baneblade Morvian. Remember to pay a visit to his tomb later in order to learn how you can obtain the Baneblade Morvian.
39 – SAMIGEL’S DEAD SLAYER
Search the room here and you will find another great weapon, Samigel’s Dead Slayer. As you might have guessed from the name of this club, this weapon is excellent against undead creatures.
40 – PASSAGE TO STILLWATER
Once again use the passage here to travel back entrance of the cave up to Stillwater.
41 – MARGOYLES VS THE CULT
Some Margoyles are fighting against several Enthralled Drow led by a Cult Archmage in this area. From now on you will have to face the Cult forces and not the Freth Drow.
42 – PATH TO NIGHTINGALE COURT
Follow the path in this room and you will get back to Nightingale Court at area #3 thus unlocking the door there too. You may use it from now one to also travel back to the Prisons.
43 – CULT STRONGHOLD
As soon as you get near to the door here you will see a cut-scene of Kya Mordrayn coming through a portal here. She will then kill her follower and Leader of the cult forces down here for been incompetent (not been able to kill your party) and give the place to another Cult member. When the cut-scene finishes the door will be unlocked and the Cult will be waiting for you. Prepare you party for a major battle against the Cult. Once inside be ready to face all kinds of cult members, Elite Soldiers, Lieutenants, Quartermasters, Brigadiers, Dragon-kin, Dragon-kin Captains, Soulless Orogs, Enthralled Drow, etc. Remember that mass damage and charm spells make thing easier in situations like that.
44 – CULT RECRUIT CENTER
This area is where the Cult recruits its members. You will find several soldier recruiters and mage recruiters along with theirs masters and also teachers. You can find some healing potions around these rooms too.
45 – BLACKENED KEY
A cult Elite Soldier, a Cult Lieutenant and a Cult Brigadier occupy the room here. When you defeat them they drop the Blackened Key that unlocks the door to the north of the room. There is nothing there though.
46 – MAJOR CULT FIGHT
Once again you will be put up against a large number of cult members. This time however only the best will attack you. You will have to face several Cult Brigadiers and Cult Archmages along with a Cult Field Marshal and a Cult Overseer.
47 – SMALL SHIELD +4
Search the room here and you will find a Small Shield +4.
48 – QUIVER OF ARROWS +5
Inside this small room you will find a Quiver of Arrows +5 and a Potion of Full Heal.
49 – FULL PLATE +4
A Cult Lieutenant can be found in this room. A trapped chest contains a Full Plate +4 and a Drow Dagger +5 is located on the table. Inside this room you will also find some healing potions.
50 – THOGGUA’S TOOTH
Fight some Enthralled Drow led by a Cult Archmage and search the room for Thoggua’s Tooth and for a Potion of Full Heal.
51 – CULT OVERSEER & MAGIC ITEMS
Once inside this room, dispatch a Cult Overseer and 2 Enthralled Drow. They drop a very good staff, The Guulstar of M’Raelhorrid. Search the room and you will find a Scroll of Raise Dead, a Scroll of Resurrection, the Cult Map of the Catacombs Level 4 and a note. The note says something about the cult’s plans to destroy the two houses of Drow (Freth and Kilsek) by keeping them fight each other. There is also a trapped chest here that contains an Idolon, a Ring of Searing Light and a Wand of Mass Suggestion.
52 – SIMPLE IRON KEY
On the table in this room you will find the Simple Iron Key that opens the door to the North. One of the chests contains Ravensong (longsword). There is also a note here. It says that an old Elf is held captive in the Catacombs. The prisoner in no one else than Beriand, the Elf you’ve met up to the tree-house at Stillwater. Returning to his house you will indeed find out that the Cult took him. Fortunately there a portal there that takes you to the place where he is imprisoned and you will be able to free him.
53 – WAND OF STINKING CLOUD
Before you enter this room you will be attacked by several Enthralled Drows along with a Dragon-kin and a Cult Archmage. Once inside dispatch another Cult Archmage and 2 more Enthralled Drow and you will gain a Wand of Stinking Cloud. A trapped chest contains some powerful scrolls too.
54 – CULT FIELD MARSHAL & BLACKSTEEL KEY
A cult field Marshal is leading a group of Elite Soldiers in this area. Defeat them and take a note and the Blacksteel Key from the ground. The note mentions the Ancient Defenses of the Castle but you will find more about them later and the Key unlocks the door to area #56.
55 – WRAITHMAEL SHIELD
This room is behind a secret door to the east. Once inside be ready to face a horde a Shadows and Master Shadows. Shadows can easily be turned, so if you have a cleric or a paladin in your party you should try to turn them. This will save you from unpleasant stat drains. Put them to rest in one way or another and take one of the best shields of the game, the Wraithmael Shield from the Square Well in the middle of the room.
56 – MIRODEN SILVERBLADE
At last, you finally made it to the last area where Miroden Silverblade is imprisoned. Use the Blacksteel key (area #54) to unlock the door. Once the door is open be ready for another major fight against the cult. This battle can be tricky since there are several spellcaster to be fought and they keep casting area effect spells. But once you have taken out the Archmages and Overseer you should not have any problems defeating the remaining Enthralled Drow, Brigadiers and Elite soldiers. When you emerge victorious from the battle approach the Bealnorn Miroden Silverblade and after a brief talk he will teleport you and your party to his secret Lair in area #57 where you will continue your chat about your quest.
57 – MIRODEN’S SECRET LAIR
This small room in the middle of the map is Miroden’s Secret Lair. When you arrive here Miroden will talk to you again and inform you that for fear that the Gem of the Weave could get into the wrong hands he destroyed it and you will have to find another one. He will also ask you to convince Annorrweyn to be the communicant of the Mythal because he is too old to carry on as the current communicant. He will then let you have his treasures to help you in your quest. See a list below:
- Full Plate +5
- Greatsword +5
- Greataxe +5
- Chainmail +5
- Light Mace +5
- Shortsword +5
- Leather Armor +5
- Club +5
- Pike +5
- Several Healing Potions
- 2 Potions of Restoration
When you are done use the portal there to get to Nightingale Court at area #15, and go talk to Annorrweyn to see what you have to do next.
When you have the new Gem of the Weave, Annorrweyn will teleport you back to Miroden’s Lair to have another talk with him and he will eventually open another portal that leads to the Castle passage.
Warcraft Tavern
Warcraft DB
Diablo Tavern
