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Lower Dorn's Deep | Marketh's Palace | Malavon | Gnome Village | Mines | Dark Temple | Return to Easthaven |
MARKETH'S PALACE
Shrieker Garden
Now I return to where I first encountered Seth. On the other side is a rather large garden. With several strange creatures called Shriekers. Shriekers can't attack you, but they persistently emit a piercing shriek that beckons other monsters. It will usually be a lot of Red Myconids, but given enough time, the Shriekers can end up summoning other monsters as well, like Minotaurs, Umber Hulks, and Boneguards. If you're so inclined, you can try to milk this area for as much experience as you can by letting the Shriekers be and killing off all the monsters that arrive. Eventually, the monsters will run out. The prudent course, and what I show in this video, is to simply kill off the Shriekers first and then the Red Myconids.
In the middle is a statue with a couple of Gnomes working on it. One of them, Callard, can provide background information on Marketh.
Fleezum
Now I make for the door at the north end of the garden, and set up a savegame called 'Marketh's Palace'. I quick-save as soon as I step in through the door.
There's a chest right next to Fleezum that I want to cherry pick. The possibilities are:
The Morningstar Defender is the one I want. Extra low-level priest spells won't be that big a deal. It's definitely better than the Star Forged Warhammer. The other viable alternative is the Static Star, but at the end I think the Defender just offers too many defensive benefits to pass up. Another +2 to armor class, +15% magic resistance. The damage resistances will also stack with the +5% bonuses to slashing and piercing resistance from the Clasp of Bron's Cloak. If I don't get the Defender, I reload the 'Marketh's Palace' savegame. If I do get the Defender, I reload the quicksave and go from there.
Now I move south, and have to deal with a couple more backstabbing thieves. I then take the first door to the south, and start a fight with a warrior named Fleezum, who isn't much trouble by himself. He leaves behind Bathed-In-Blood (+4 plate armor, armor class -1), which is the best magical armor available in the game. *Note* There is another armor called Glory of Suffering that provides even better armor class, but wasn't brought into the game after final release. The only way to get it is to cheat it in or to download the right component from the Unfinished Business for IWD mod. But, it also imposes a -25 hit point penalty, and is also bugged in the sense that whoever wears it often dies early, and can walk around in a kind of undead state but can't be healed. It's hard to explain better than that, but suffice to say I think you'd find the armor more trouble than it's worth. So, in the end, Bathed-In-Blood is simply the best magical armor available in the game, and Genevieve wears it for the balance. I also have to admit, the back story of the armor also fits thematically with having her wear it.
The chest that was just behind Fleezum will now have the Morningstar +4: Defender in it. This will be Halagrim's weapon for the rest of the game. He won't be able to crank out the same raw damage as Genevieve, but he will be the most physically resilient member of the party, and so he always stands at the very front alongside Genevieve to await the advance of the monsters.
A cabinet in the room will also have a couple of Potions of Cloud Giant Strength, and a few other potions as well.
Ginafae
Now I go east a bit, and kill a couple more Thieves. Through the door to the south is a Drow woman named Ginafae, apparently the abused concubine of Marketh. I pledge to her that I won't kill Marketh, as this will earn a bigger xp reward.
Palace Kitchen
Now I go across north, and have to kill a few Thieves. Remember, use protective spells if you have to in order to negate the backstabs.
On the other side of the hallway is a kitchen, where I find a Sack of Potatoes. This is a question item that will come in handy later on.
Flozem
Now the party heads towards the southeast corner. Fleezem's brother, Flozem, immediately attacks. He can dish for heavy damage, but will fall once ganged up on. I loot his body for the Girdle of Stromnos (sets Strength to 19). This will be Genevieve's belt, and makes her a bona fide heavy-hitter against the forces of evil.
Marketh
I set up my "Marketh's Palace" savegame before taking the stairs up to the next level. I then go up the stairs, kill a couple of Thieves, and then quicksave. There is a chest just a little left of Market to the north that I want to cherry pick. The possibilities are:
The Mage Dagger is my choice, since it is clearly the best weapon available for a single-class mage, and this is my only opportunity to get it. Don't worry about the Leather, there will be others. If I don't get the Mage Dagger, I reload my "Marketh's Palace" savegame. If I do get the Dagger, I reload my quicksave and go from there.
After setting the Mage Dagger, I then do a sweep of the second level, killing off all the Thieves.
I then have Derrick step ahead into Marketh's room. There's a specific reason for this. If I kill him, I won't get the xp bonus for releasing Ginafae. A character with a high enough Intelligence score can talk Marketh into both leaving AND giving up all his equipment, which includes:
He'll also offer his ring, which is actually a Ring of the Gorgon that will turn it's wearer into stone. Simply refuse it, as he's being too clever by half.
Now Seth and a Kraken Society Mage will attack from the south. The Mage is easily shot down, and leaves behind a Bracers of A.C. 6, as well as a Robe of Enfusing. Seth is easily ganged up, and he'll leave behind:
I then loot the chests in Marketh's room. Lanatir gets his Mage Dagger +4.
Now I go back downstairs, and speak to Ginafae to inform her that Marketh left alive. There's still a problem though. Her brother Marketh has sealed her inside the palace with magic.
Now it's time to search for Malavon.
