style="font-family: tahoma;">Zone Guide: The Searing Heights

By
Darkgolem




The Searing Heights is a beautiful
but very dangerous outdoor zone found in the Stormreach
Marketplace. 
Enter the gate located along the city wall north of the harbor exit and
south of the entrance to "The Twelve".  It is composed of two
general
sections, which are divided by a north/south river.  Once section
is the
ruins, located east of the river.  This area is replete with
quickfoot
gang members and wolves.  To the west of the river is the other
section,
which contains mainly Sulatar href="http://ddo.tentonhammer.com/index.php?module=ContentExpress&func=display&ceid=265">Drow
and fire subtype creatures such as
hell hounds, fire elementals and mephits.  The western section is
by
far more dangerous than the east.  There is also a large wooded
area in
the center-west of the zone which is not reachable by any means.



In the ruins (eastern) area of the zone, the quickfoot gang members and
the wolves are mainly hidden.  They cast some cold and acid
spells,
plus magic missile.  Appropriate resistances and combat ability is
sufficient to fight them, though one is in danger of being rushed by
multiple foes, since they are hard to find and one can accidentally
pull larger groups.



href="http://ddo.tentonhammer.com/modules.php?full=1&set_albumName=album108&id=Searing_Heights_Final&op=modload&name=Gallery&file=index&include=view_photo.php"> alt="Searing Heights Map"
src="http://ddo.tentonhammer.com/files/gallery/albums/album108/Searing_Heights_Final.jpg"
style="border: 2px solid ; width: 250px; height: 166px;" align="right">The
Sulatar (western) area is very dangerous.  Frankly, I believe it
is
too dangerous for soloing, and the experience rewards given for this
zone.  One should always have fire resistance up, and healing
available.  There are large numbers of casters, who not only have
spells which ignore resistances (the clerics cast smite damage spells),
but also use aoe crowd control spells; href="http://ddo.tentonhammer.com/index.php?module=ContentExpress&func=display&ceid=75">web
and sound burst.  It is very
easy for a party to be, as a group, completely helpless from web and
crowd control, and slaughtered by massive amounts of minor damage
spells and melee attacks, aside from fire damage from the fire subtype
creatures found here.  Luckily, experience penalties for dying in
the
levels of this zone are minor, so often one can come out with positive
experience gain in this zone, if one is at least moderately successful
in staying alive.



Note that the level rewards for this zone are levels 2-7.   I
strongly
recommend doing this zone (if you intend to reach all rewards) at the
level 6 and 7 range, and that you do so in a group of three or more.
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Experience
Rewards:

The following are
the experience rewards for each of the zone quests:

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border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2">
style="vertical-align: top; font-family: tahoma; font-weight: bold; background-color: rgb(212, 201, 125);"> size="-1">Slayer Quests

style="vertical-align: top; font-family: tahoma; font-weight: bold; background-color: rgb(212, 201, 125);"> size="-1">Explorer Quests

style="vertical-align: top; font-family: tahoma; font-weight: bold; background-color: rgb(212, 201, 125);"> size="-1">Rare Encounters

style="vertical-align: top; font-family: tahoma; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> size="-1">Slay 25 denizens of Searing Heights: 187 XP style="vertical-align: top; font-family: tahoma; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> size="-1">Find the Harbor River: 175 XP awarded

style="vertical-align: top; font-family: tahoma; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> size="-1">Slay Itharn Ushu, Sulatar Consecrator: 350 XP awarded

style="vertical-align: top; font-family: tahoma; background-color: rgb(212, 201, 125);"> size="-1">Slay 50 denizens of Searing Heights: 315 XP style="vertical-align: top; font-family: tahoma; background-color: rgb(212, 201, 125);"> size="-1">Find the ominous cave: 175 XP awarded

style="vertical-align: top; font-family: tahoma; background-color: rgb(212, 201, 125);"> size="-1">Slay Giallo Shadow Warrior: 350 XP awarded style="vertical-align: top; font-family: tahoma; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> size="-1">Slay 100 denizens of Searing Heights: 582 XP awarded style="vertical-align: top; font-family: tahoma; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> size="-1">Find the southern gate: 175 XP awarded

style="vertical-align: top; font-family: tahoma; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> size="-1">Slay Guck, Muck's Cousin: 350 XP awarded

style="vertical-align: top; font-family: tahoma; background-color: rgb(212, 201, 125);"> size="-1">Slay 200 denizens of Searing Heights: 1,110 XP awarded style="vertical-align: top; font-family: tahoma; background-color: rgb(212, 201, 125);"> size="-1">Discover the lava fall cave: 175 XP awarded

style="vertical-align: top; font-family: tahoma; background-color: rgb(212, 201, 125);"> size="-1">Slay Calcine, Fire Mephit Idol: 350 XP  style="vertical-align: top; font-family: tahoma; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> size="-1">Slay 400 denizens of Searing Heights: 2,190XP awarded style="vertical-align: top; font-family: tahoma; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> size="-1">Find the scenic overlook: 175 XP awarded

style="vertical-align: top; font-family: tahoma; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> size="-1">Slay Cruor Rosso, Blackbone Soldier: 350 XP awarded

style="vertical-align: top; font-family: tahoma; background-color: rgb(212, 201, 125);"> size="-1">Slay 750 denizens of Searing Heights: 3,919XP awarded style="vertical-align: top; font-family: tahoma; background-color: rgb(212, 201, 125);"> size="-1">Find the corridor of lava: 175 XP awarded

style="vertical-align: top; font-family: tahoma; background-color: rgb(212, 201, 125);"> size="-1">Slay Hazia Hatha, Sulatar Conjurer: 350 XP awarded

style="vertical-align: top; font-family: tahoma; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> size="-1">

style="vertical-align: top; font-family: tahoma; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> size="-1">Find the water cave: 175 XP awarded style="vertical-align: top; font-family: tahoma; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> size="-1">Slay Ghamzee, Black Wolf Leader: 350 XP awarded style="vertical-align: top; font-family: tahoma; background-color: rgb(212, 201, 125);"> size="-1">

style="vertical-align: top; font-family: tahoma; background-color: rgb(212, 201, 125);"> size="-1">Discover the distant view: 175 XP awarded

style="vertical-align: top; font-family: tahoma; background-color: rgb(212, 201, 125);"> size="-1">Slay Shute Ruggzen, Scorrow Infiltrator: 350 XP awarded

style="vertical-align: top; font-family: tahoma; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> size="-1">

style="vertical-align: top; font-family: tahoma; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> size="-1">Find the eastern gate: 175 XP awarded

style="vertical-align: top; font-family: tahoma; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> size="-1">Slay Smolder, Fire Elemental Idol: 350 XP awarded

style="vertical-align: top; font-family: tahoma; background-color: rgb(212, 201, 125);"> size="-1">

style="vertical-align: top; font-family: tahoma; background-color: rgb(212, 201, 125);"> size="-1">Find the ruined stage: 175 XP awarded

style="vertical-align: top; font-family: tahoma; background-color: rgb(212, 201, 125);"> size="-1">Bonus xp for solving all encounters: 1575 xp

style="vertical-align: top; font-family: tahoma; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> size="-1">

style="vertical-align: top; font-family: tahoma; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> size="-1">Find the pillar bridge: 175 XP awarded

style="vertical-align: top; font-family: tahoma; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> size="-1">

style="vertical-align: top; font-family: tahoma; background-color: rgb(212, 201, 125);"> size="-1">

style="vertical-align: top; font-family: tahoma; background-color: rgb(212, 201, 125);"> size="-1">Find the crumbled archway: 175 XP awarded

style="vertical-align: top; font-family: tahoma; background-color: rgb(212, 201, 125);"> size="-1">

style="vertical-align: top; font-family: tahoma; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> size="-1">

style="vertical-align: top; font-family: tahoma; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> size="-1">Find the pillar bridge: 175 XP awarded

style="vertical-align: top; font-family: tahoma; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> size="-1">

style="vertical-align: top; font-family: tahoma; background-color: rgb(212, 201, 125);"> size="-1">

style="vertical-align: top; font-family: tahoma; background-color: rgb(212, 201, 125);"> size="-1">Discover the lava shrine: 175 XP awarded

style="vertical-align: top; font-family: tahoma; background-color: rgb(212, 201, 125);"> size="-1">

style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">
style="vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> style="font-family: tahoma;" size="-1">Bonus XP for discovering all
explorer quests: 656 xp
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Explorer Quests

style="font-weight: bold;">Find the Harbor River: 175 XP
awarded.

"This river flows through Searing Heights and into Stormreach
Harbor." 
Located to the south of the entrance to the zone, at the east end of
the river.



Discover the cooled lava fall: 175
XP awarded

"The ground here recently cooled, the lava flow beneath your feet dried
and cracked"  Located along the south west portion of the map, the
terrain appears like grey rock in the form of a road.   Note
there are
plenty of enemies along the road her, mostly hell hounds and Sulatar
drow.



Find the ominous cave: 175 XP
awarded

"Nestled in the southern portion of Searing Heights lies an ominous
cave entrance, a low hum emits from its mouth."  This cave is in
the
south west corner of the map, past the lava flow.



(Monsters in Ominous cave:

3 fire mephits (cr 3, fire breath)

1 Large Fire Elemental (cr 5 fiery aura, fireball) or Cruor Rosa (cr 6
blackbone skeleton)



Find the southern gate: 175 XP
awarded

"This is the southern entrance that leads into the heart of Sulatar
territory."  Easily found by following the wall of the Sulatar
Drow
enclave in the west portion of the map.  Not so easy are the many
enemies around in this area.



style="text-decoration: underline;"> href="http://ddo.tentonhammer.com/modules.php?full=1&set_albumName=album108&id=Fire_Cave&op=modload&name=Gallery&file=index&include=view_photo.php"> alt="The Fire Cave"
src="http://ddo.tentonhammer.com/files/gallery/albums/album108/Fire_Cave.jpg"
style="border: 2px solid ; width: 250px; height: 172px;" align="left">
Discover
the lava fall cave: 175 XP awarded

"Lava cascades down the falls, flowing around a small cave
entrance." 
The most difficult area to reach, in the north central heart of the
Sulatar compound.  Assume you will meet many melee and caster
Sulatar
to reach this, along with some fire elementals and mephits.



Contains 1 mephit Cr 3 or Smoulder.



Find the scenic overlook: 175
XP awarded

"High above Searing Heights you see all its dangerous beauty." 
Found
by keeping to the north portion of the map, climbing upwards.  It
can
be reached by exploring that area, or dropping down once exiting the
corridor area.  Also located above the "Lone Tree" area.



Find the corridor of lava: 175
XP awarded

"This lava tunnel leads upward to the apex of the volcano." 
Reached by
crossing the north portion of the river and always going up and north,
as one travels west.

Contains 4 Sulatar rangers, 1 mephit, and Itharn Ushu



Find the water cave: 175 XP
awarded

"A wretched smell emanates from the cave before you."  Located in
the
north end of the river in the center of the zone, behind a waterfall.

Guck, Mucks Cousin – Cr 6 Grey Ooze



Discover the distant view: 175
XP awarded

"Lightning flashes and crackles from the mysterious towers that
comprise The Twelve."  Located by traveling along the trails on
the
north portion of the map found east of the Sulatar complex.  There
are
many Sulatar drow here, including some casters in groups. 
Dropping
from here with feather fall enables one to reach the "Lone Tree"
explorer location.



Find the eastern gate: 175 XP
awarded

"This is the eastern entrance that leads into the heart of Sulatar
territory."  This takes some navigation to reach, multiple trails
heading west from the north portion of the river approach this area,
but
only one really leads to this.  However, a couple tries finds the
correct trail .  The trail is the same that heads toward the
"Corridor
of Lava" cave, but instead of heading into the cave, continue west.



Find the ruined stage: 175 XP
awarded

"This area was once a stage for entertainers before it fell into
disrepair."  Found in the center of the ruins in the eastern
portion of
the map, near some tall columns.



Find the pillar bridge: 175 XP
awarded

"This fallen pillar makes an effective, yet unconventional
bridge." 
This is simply one of the stone ruins that has fallen across the river
in the center of the map.  A little jump skill is necessary to
climb
onto the bridge.



Find the crumbled archway: 175
XP awarded

"From atop this crumbled archway you see the road to Cerulean
Hills." 
This is a ruined archway just west of the river, in the southern
portion of the map.  You must actually climb onto the top of the
archway to reach this explorer location, passing near or underneath it
does not reach the point.



Find the pillar bridge: 175 XP
awarded

"This tree stands as a lone symbol of life struggling to thrive in
Searing Heights."  This location cannot be reached without feather
fall.  Locate the scenic view and then jump with feather fall to
reach
this point.



Discover the lava shrine: 175
XP awarded

"This area is a sacrificial shrine to the fire giants that the Sulatar
worship."  Located in the very center of the Sulatar compound, on
a
platform (the shrine) over the river of lava.  While not hard to
find,
there are all sorts of Sulatar drow around it, and one can easily be
overwhelmed by the various opponents here.  It is best to have
friends,
plenty of healing, saving throw bonuses and href="http://ddo.tentonhammer.com/index.php?module=ContentExpress&func=display&ceid=424">fire
resistance, and pull
groups from outlying edges of this area, until you have removed the
various enemies here.

Enemies:

The following
enemies are
found in the Searing Heights.  Rare encounters are shown further
in
the guide:



Sulatar Wizard – Cr 4, Shocking Grasp, Mage Armor, Web, Scorching Ray,
Burning Hands, Invisibility, Magic Resistance

Sulatar Cleric – Cr 4, Nimbus of Light, Soundburst, Deific Vengeance,
Magic Resistance

Sulatar Fighter – Cr 4 Flaming attack (as paladin smite evil, but fire
damage), see invisibility (automatic), Magic Resistance

Hell Hound – Cr 3, Fire Breath

Sulatar Ranger – Cr 4, Magic Resistance

Quickfoot Fighter – Cr 4

Quickfoot Caster – Cr 4 Magic Missile, Melf's Acid Arrow, Otto's
Resistable Dance, Cat's Grace, Scare, Niac's Cold Ray, False Life

Black Wolf – Cr 5, Trip

Fire Elemental - Cr 4, Feiry Aura, Fireball, Dr/5 magic

Rare Encounters:

The
following are
the rare encounters here and where they are found.  All rare
encounters give chests.



href="http://ddo.tentonhammer.com/modules.php?full=1&set_albumName=album108&id=The_12&op=modload&name=Gallery&file=index&include=view_photo.php"> alt="The Twelve In the Distance"
src="http://ddo.tentonhammer.com/files/gallery/albums/album108/The_12.jpg"
style="border: 2px solid ; width: 250px; height: 172px;" align="right">Slay
Giallo Shadow Warrior:
350
XP awarded (Cr 6), (remember blocking prevents str drain while block is
active) Stregnth Drain, Incorporeality, creates spawn.  Giallo can
be
found south of the south gate of the Sulatar compound, but he moves
around that area somewhat, so you might find him in a different place
in that general location if the zone is reset.   Note that he has
many
allies with him, and this is a very dangerous encounter.  Once he
is
seperated from his fellows, a combination of blocking (when he is about
to attack, and healing/restoring when he is incorporeal, plus attacking
when possible, can defeat him.



Slay Itharn Ushu, Sulatar Consecrator:
350 XP awarded, (Cr6), ranger (uses fire arrows) ranger, magic
Resistance.  Itharn is
found in the corridor of lava (north part of map) and has other archer
allies.  with a good armor class and healing he is not too tough,
but
him and his friends can wear you down quickly.



Slay Guck, Muck's Cousin: 350
XP awarded, (Cr 6), grey ooze (damage equipment, splits with
sharp/peircing attacks).   Guck is no challenge, just a
slightly harder
to kill ooze.  He is found in the water cave on the north middle
edge
of the zone.



Slay Calcine, Fire Mephit Idol:
350 XP awarded, (Cr 6), fire mephit (fire breath).  Calcine is not
particularly tough, though fire resistance is obviously
necessary.  He
has allies with him, who can complicate things (mainly warrior and
caster types, sometimes you will have fire elementals join in. 
Calcine
is found at the end of the lava river, outside the Sulatar compound.



Slay Cruor Rosso, Blackbone Soldier:
350 XP awarded, (Cr 6), blackbone skeleton (Dr/10 good), fire
immunity.  Cruor is difficult, but not particularly so, make sure
to be
able to do enough damage to penetrate his DR.  Cruor is found in
the
ominous cave.



Slay Hazia Hatha, Solatar Conjurer:
350 XP awarded, (Cr 6), flaming sphere, searing ray, magic
Resistance.  Hazie himself is
formidable, but more dangerous than he is his location.  Near many
allies of both elemental and classed drow type, especially
casters. 
One can be easily overwhelmed by the combined fire and untyped damage
spells.  Hazia is in the heart of the Sulatar compound on a style="font-weight: bold;">platform with a pavilion.
style="font-weight: bold;">


Slay Ghamzee, Black Wolf Leader:
350 XP awarded, (Cr 6), Trip.  Ghamzee is not particularly
difficult
for a wolf enemy, but has allies (both worg and classed drow) around
him which make things harder.  Found  south east of the
compound, past
the river.



Slay Shute Ruggzen, Scorrow
Infilitrator:

350 XP awarded, (Cr 6), poison, shocking grasp, magic resistance. 
Shute is located in a
narrow ravine leading to the west gate of the Sulatar compound, west of
the river.  He is not particulary difficult to a competant melee
type
with healing and appropriate protections to defeat



Slay Smolder, Fire Elemental Idol:
350 XP awarded, (Cr 6), Fiery Aura, Fireball.  Probably the
hardest of
the rare encounters to find, located in the fire cave at the mouth of
the lava river on the map, at the hardest portion of the Sulatar
compound to reach.  One must fight many dangerous melee and caster
(divine and arcane) Sulatar drow to reach the cave, through one or the
other parts of the compound.  Needless to say, one needs fire
resistance and plenty of healing to reach here.  To reach Smolder
and
collect this rare, it is wise to do so with a competant group of
friends.  In the cave itself, it is necessary to jump and climb to
the
top rear portion of the cave to find Smoulder.










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Last Updated: Mar 13, 2016

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