by Darkgolem on Feb 09, 2007
style="color: rgb(51, 0, 51);">By
Darkgolem
These are the final quests of the Catacombs series of
quests. In it, you defeat the remainder of the undead
that have been raised from the Silver Flame catacombs, stop Marguerite,
and defeat to final and true foe who is using the Duality to control
the dead.
Aside from the "administrative" quest, Seeking Dryden's Counsel, these
quests are a little more intense, marked by large combats with little
break in between. While not particularly hard for a competent
party of adventurers of the appropriate levels, a party that is not at
least somewhat organized can be overcome by the undead here.
However, a moderate level of organization can win the day without too
much effort.
As mentioned,
this is a administrative quest, in that no fighting occurs.
Simply speak with Archbishop Dryden, where he relates that while
Marguerite's power has been much reduced by the adventurer's actions of
href="http://ddo.tentonhammer.com/index.php?module=ContentExpress&func=display&ceid=426">warding
the patriarch's crypts in the lower catacombs, she still is at
large. Evidently, she has a large army of undead which soon will
burst forward from the eastern catacombs, a portion of area that the
adventurer's have not yet entered. The Archbiship charges the
adventurers with entering this area and defeating her for good.
He says that because her power has been so reduced, she will be
defeatable.
Having taking the
Bishop's orders, and entered the eastern catacombs,
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alt="A Long Climb"
src="http://ddo.tentonhammer.com/files/gallery/albums/album39/Long_Way_UP.jpg"
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at the very bottom of the catacombs area, the hero's must make their
way to the top of the catacombs, and consecrate an altar there.
At the very bottom of the catacombs, upon entering, the adventurer's
see Marguerite waiting for them. She is still a wraith, but is
not attacking. Speak with her, you find out that she has
been manipulated by her father, the archbishop, into learning to use
the secrets of the Duality and bring forth the undead. She says
that her father was too cowardly to do so, but by using his mad
daughter for this, he could do so without risk, since no one would
believe her if she said otherwise. At this point, you can offer
to allow her to flee to her uncle, who might find some way of returning
her to (relative to this crazy family) normality, or you can say you
must destroy her. There is no benefit from instigating a fight
with her, though if you wish you can.. she is basically a normal wraith.
After defeating her (and a few skeletons who will appear upon ending
your conversation with her) you are faced with the task of climbing the
catacombs. There are 7 levels to the catacombs, each blocked by a
force field. To lower the forcefields, you must defeat the undead
at each level of the catacomb that you are in presently. The
first level (where Marguerite is spoken to) has skeletons, skeletal
swordsman (and if you chose to fight her) Marguerite. The
following is the makeup of the enemies in the later levels:
Level 2: Zombie, Skeletal Swordsman, Zombies
Level 3: Zombies, Skeletal Archers, Ghouls
Level 4: Ghouls, Ghasts, Skeletal Archers, Halfling Zombies, Elf
Zombies, Skeletal Knights, Skeletal Swordsmen
Level 5:Ghouls, Ghasts, Skeletal Skirmishers, Zombies, Grey Oozes,
Skeletal Archers (Shrine here)
Level 6: Skeletal Knights, Ghouls, Ghasts, Skeletal Swordsman
Level 7:
Arcane Skeleton, Skeleton Archers.
Each level has small
groups, coming in waves,
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href="http://ddo.tentonhammer.com/modules.php?full=1&set_albumName=album39&id=Altar&op=modload&name=Gallery&file=index&include=view_photo.php">
alt="The Unholy Altar"
src="http://ddo.tentonhammer.com/files/gallery/albums/album39/Altar.jpg"
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style="font-family: tahoma;" size="-1"> until all enemies are defeated.
Once these groups are defeated, simply go to the altar and consecrate
it. A way opens to escape behind it. Now you must go to the
Archbiship and confront him with the accusations that Marguerite has
layed upon him.
Before you enter
this quest, make sure to be
href="http://ddo.tentonhammer.com/index.php?module=ContentExpress&func=display&ceid=252">prepared.
Unlike the previous times you have spoken to the archbishop, this quest
has a moderately difficult (for it's level) fight, and you need to be
prepared. Once ready, buff up with spells and speak with the
archbishop. You will be facing a wraith, an arcane skeleton,
skeletal archers and two
href="http://ddo.tentonhammer.com/index.php?module=ContentExpress&func=display&ceid=36">iron
guardians.
When you speak with the Archbishop, you confirm that in fact he did
manipulate his mad daughter to learn to use the duality to raise the
dead. Once he had learned his secrets from her, he planned to
have the adventurer's kill her, and then kill the adventurers.
However, upon further conversation, the archbishop, it urn's out, is in
fact possessed by the ghost of his uncle, Arkasis Dryden, who is the
evil behind this whole mess. The (true) archbishop forces the
ghost out of his body (fainting in the process) and the heroes must
defeat several undead and the iron guardians. The makeup of
foes makes this combat somewhat dangerous.
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alt="Speaking with the Archbishop"
src="http://ddo.tentonhammer.com/files/gallery/albums/album39/Speaking_with_the_Archbishop.jpg"
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The wraith that is Arkasis Dryden is dangerous, the 4 skeletal archers
who rise pick away the opponents, and the arcane skeleton does damage
using the negative energy field around it. At the same time, the
adventurers are standing upon the grease of the iron guardians.
After defeating this group of enemies, you are done. Simply exit
and go to Friar Renau outside the catacombs. He explains
(regardless of the adventurer's actions) that Marguerite had just come
there and in turn been sent away by the Friar to (hopefully) be
returned to normal. In addition the Archbishop is being cared
for, and retaining his position, though he is being watched to assure
no more of his evil uncle Arkasis's influence is prevalent.
Note there seems to be an error here. In previous quests, the
archbishop's evil uncle is Gerard Dryden. Furthermore, the Friar
refers to Arkasis Dryden as the Archbishop's brother.
Either way, you have completed the quest series, and gain a reward,
some of which are unique rewards, from the Friar.
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