CHAPTER 29: SHOWDOWN IN THE OLD WEST
Here you are, still in 529 R.R., in the times of the old Iron Kingdom. Your journey into the past continues, as you approach the end-game with those who have been plotting to conquer the decaying kingdom. Since this was never recorded historically, it looks like you will have to do away with these nefarious, power-hungry manipulators!
[Note #1: remember you have roughly eight months before Primus/Maximus arrives and takes possession of Kith's obelisk-tower. If you go there too soon, you'll notice that the only way to enter is to have a keryndhoryan with you to put his/her hand in a hand-shaped depression that serves as an opening mechanism to enter the obelisk (this mechanism is similar to what you encountered way back in TiSL, inside Kith's crypt). Thus, you can't enter Kith's obelisk unless Primus/Maximus has already done so.]
[Note #2: remember to take the time to read Oberon's lexicon that he gave you, if you haven't done so already. It contains very important background information that will allow you to understand how things are going in the Iron Kingdom at this time period.]
Feature #1: remember not to worry if you are reminded of Primus/Maximus' arrival while you are already well set on one of the side-quests available in this part of the story. From your end of the timeline, you have all the time in the world. Tackle Primus/Maximus at your first opportunity (see Chapter 30), then simply continue on your other quest(s). You need activate Oberon's orb of return only once you feel you have done everything that you could in the past.
Feature #2: most of everything described in this chapter (and Chapters 27 and 28) can be done out of order instead of as explained here, should you wish.
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having well rested and recuperated, it is now time to investigate
the location on the map that Ayed Al'Rabin gave you under
seemingly false pretenses.
- without further due, head west to the Western
Province and to the city of Mountedge.
Key
to the Western Province of the Iron Kingdom:
x42y35 - Crypt of the Narosian Dynasty
x37y21; x39y23; x32y29 - Gates of Fort Hillside
x66y3; x72y3 - Gates of Fort Highstone
x4y7; x0y5 - Gates of Fort Westedge
x45y20 - Fort Hillside Tradeway Station
x59y37; x56y32 - Gates of Mountedge (see key below)
x63y50 - Estates of the Intendant of the Royal Mines of the Iron
Kingdom
x45y56 - Temple of Agrah
x71y54; x69y54; x67y55; x65y56 - Royal Mines of the Iron Kingdom
x12y49 - Gates of the orc village of the Stormriders
x5y60 - Gates of Stygiax' estates
x56y72 - Store of the Harbor
x23y34 - Ruins of an old temple of Graaz'z
x14y23 - Castle Maladore
x57y3 - Fort Highstone Tradeway Station
x50y49 - Mountedge's Crafted Armors
x58y57 - The Miner's Store
x60y43 - The Marksman's Den
x53y56 - House of an old mariner (you can rent a boat there)
Key
to Mountedge:
x71y31 - Gates of Phantagolia Sanctum
x71y23; x73y22; x79y26; x82y26 - Noble/Rich estates
x61y29 - Gates of the estates of the Royal Governor of Mountedge
x60y34 - Temple of Hurme
x64y38 - Temple of Codan
x64y34 - Temple of Danuur
x74y33 - Arcane Potions and Trinkets
x76y35 - Western Lands Imports Depot
x67y33 - Bank
x69y35 - City/Magistrates' Hall
x57y30 - Central Market
x77y34 - Dreaming Pillows Inn
x72y34 - Misty Clouds Inn
x68y38 - The Rowdy Tankard
x62y37 - Yorik's Weaponsmithy
x70y37 - Bando's Leathers
x57y31 - Mountedge Gates Store
x74y31 - Obuna's Exotic Trinkets
x75y35 - City Business and Trade Center (get a job there!)
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in Mountedge, head to the gates of Phantagolia
Sanctum (see key above). A proclamation is
nailed on the gates there, calling for brave adventurers to rid
the area of increased bandits and orc raids, and those that are
behind it all.
- from Mountedge, head to the castle located on the map that Ayed
Al-Rabin gave you: this is castle Maladore,
owned by the warlord Yon Maladore
(see key to the Western Province above).
- as you arrive at the castle, you find it heavily guarded. Not
surprisingly, Ayed Al'Rabin is among the warriors, crowing with
pride that Lord Maladore will be pleased that you have
(apparently) taken his bait. At that, the gates of the castle are
opened and out comes a score or warriors and riders, with Ayed
not far in tow.
- after the clash, enter Castle Maladore.
Key
to Castle Maladore:
Ground floor
x78y58 - castle gates
x76y54 - barracks (a battle awaits you there!)
x80y54 - barracks (a battle awaits you there!)
x79y49 - stables
x81y49 - commisary
x86y47 - stairs to upper floor
x76y44 - armory
x80y44 - storage room (foodstuffs)
x78y42 - stairs to upper floor
Upper floor
x54y82 - stairs to ground floor
x52y82 - dormitory (a battle awaits you there!)
x53y83 - dormitory (a battle awaits you there!)
x30y82 - stairs to ground floor
x32y82 - conference room. Lord Yon Maladore
is there with his lieutenants, quite displeased with your
meddling. Of course, he aims to remedy this. After the battle,
most of Maladore's henchmen will flee - throughout the commotion,
you notice that his body has disapeared.
x33y84 - conference table with maps, plans of conquest and papers
of all sorts. You will recognize words and names like
Bonecrusher, Stygiax and marauders.
x29y85 - Maladore's private quarters
x25y83 - chest holding Maladore's private fortune
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having taken care of Maladore and his ilk, now it is time to
investigate the problem with the raiding orcs. To do so, head to
the orc village of the Stormriders
(see key to Western Province above).
- near the orc fortifications, be sure to approach the gates at
night. There, use spells or items that can teleport, phase,
vaporous form or fantastic wings, in order to cross the gates
silently and without waking anyone. Once on the other side of the
gates, be sure to be endowed with a sentry spell in order to
avoid any trouble.
- head quickly to the castle at x2y45. With the lazy guards well
asleep, you can quietly enter Bonecrusher's
Castle.
Key
to Bonecrusher's Castle:
Main floor
x11y87 - gates (exit)
x7y84 - lower floor of a guard tower (a battle awaits you there!)
x6y87 - stairs to upper battlements (a battle awaits you there!)
x15y84 - lower floor of a guard tower (a battle awaits you
there!)
x16y87 - stairs to upper battlements (a battle awaits you there!)
x6y78 - dormitory (a battle awaits you there!)
x16y78 - dormitory (a battle awaits you there!)
x11y79 - feast hall. The orc-king Zum
Bonecrusher and his generals are there. Quite
angry at your intrusion, he offers you to choose one member of
your party to fight him alone in a contest to the death. If he
wins, you accept to be put to a swift death. If you win, you are
free to go unharmed. Whether to accept or refuse his offer is up
to you: either way, Bonecrusher is not a man of his word and a
large battle will nonetheless ensue. After this battle, most of
Bonecrusher's orc kin will flee the castle and the village -
throughout the commotion, you notice that his body has
disapeared.
x14y75 - stairs to upper floor
Upper battlements
x5y14; x16y14 - stairs to lower floor of guard tower
x6y11; x2y10; x15y11; x19y10 - doors
Upper floor
x40y3 - stairs to main floor
x38y3 - Bonecrusher's private quarters
x35y5 - conference table with maps, plans of conquest and papers
of all sorts. You will recognize words and names like Maladore,
Stygiax and marauders.
x38y7 - chest holding Bonecrusher's private fortune
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having done away with Bonecrusher and his orc tribe, now it is
time to find out who is this mysterious Stygiax. To do so, head
to his castle gates (see key of Western Province above).
- at you arrive, the gates open by themselves. A booming magical
voice seemingly out of thin air announces that you were expected.
Head straight for Stygiax' Castle
and enter it.
Key
to Stygiax' Castle:
Main floor
x42y13 - exit
x39y10 - study (a battle awaits you there!)
x38y8 - stairs to second floor
x45y10 - study (a battle awaits you there!)
x50y11 - stairs to second floor
x34y7 - kitchen
x50y7 - dormitory
x42y7 - door
x42y4 - stairs to second floor
Second floor
x58y6 - stairs to main floor
x53y7 - dormitory
x54y5 - dormitory
x80y11 - stairs to main floor
x75y5 - laboratory (a battle awaits you there!)
x66y1 - stairs to main floor
x66y4 - conference room (a battle awaits you there!)
x66y7 - conference table with maps, plans of conquest and papers
of all sorts. Quite similar with what you found earlier in
Maladore's and Bonecrusher's castles.
x71y4 - dormitory
x62y4 - door
x64y1 - stairs to third floor
Third floor
x5y83 - stairs to second floor
x3y84 - private study. Stygiax
is there, alongside with a couple of his most loyal
electromancers and two lightning elementals. He is also flanked
by Maladore and Bonecrusher, apparently revived and well thank
you. Need I say what follows next? Heh. (a battle awaits you
there!)
x10y85 - Stygiax' private room.
x7y84 - above the oil lamp there is a secret trap door on the
ceiling (use search to find it). This will lead you to Stygiax'
private fortune.
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having dealt with Stygiax, Maladore and Bonecrusher permanently,
and having staved off the fall of the old Iron Kingdom, return to
the gates of Phantagolia Sanctum (see Mountedge key above) and
claim your reward!
Onward to Chapter 30!
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