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Background

You'll receive this quest from Zandalor's servants in the hidden cellar in Hunter's Edge (#1).


Walkthrough

After tracking down the servants in the quest The Hunt in Hunter's Edge, you'll find out from them that Zandalor has made his way to the Source Temple in the Phantom Forest, and that he left behind a message for Icara the White Witch. Picking up this information will earn you 4080 xp. The servants won't want to give you the message, however, so you'll have to travel to the Homestead and talk to Icara there. Icara will give you Icara's Blessing, which will prove that you're her ally.

When you show the token to the servants, they'll give you the message: that you should follow Zandalor to the Source Temple. Of course, it won't be that easy. The servants will inform you that the Phantom Forest is a deadly place, and that you'll only be able to survive there if you wear the amulet found in Zandalor's bedroom -- which will require you to dodge or disable the numerous traps in his house. Then once in the forest, you'll need to find Shearah the Forest Spirit so she can give you a rune that will allow you to enter the temple. At the end of this conversation, you'll earn 4080 xp, and the servants will give you a Portal Activation Crystal, which will allow you to use their mirror portal to travel to the interior of the Wizard's House.

The interior of the Wizard's House (#2) is covered in detail in its location entry. You'll find the Phantom Protection Amulet upstairs in the master bedroom, inside a jewelry chest next to the waypoint portal there. You won't need to wear the amulet to gain its protection, but only the player with the amulet will be safe. However, once you get that character far enough away from the entrance log to the forest (#3), then you'll be able to teleport the rest of your party to him (using your Teleporter Pyramids).

While you're exploring the Phantom Forest, you should eventually run into Greal (#4). He's Shearah's apprentice. He'll tell you that Shearah was captured by Balberith the demon, and that he's holding her in her house. Greal will also claim that killing any of Balberith's minions on your way to him will just make him stronger, but if this is actually the case, we couldn't tell the difference. You'll earn 4590 xp at the end of your conversation with Greal.

You'll find Balberith and Shearah in the basement of Shearah's house (#5). Balberith won't seem too alarmed to see you, and you'll have up to three ways to deal with him:

• Balberith will offer you a deal. This will give you a chance to become more Bold (initiative +1) or Cautious (sneaking +1). If you accept the deal, then Balberith will ask you to kill the demon Raalzen Ax'aroth, who can be found guarding the entrance to the Source Temple (#6). You'll have to kill Raalzen regardless, so Balberith's request isn't a big deal. However, if Jahan is in your party, then Balberith will reset him (which might cause him to lose some of his spells), and you'll have to reassign his points.
  
  
• If you refuse Balberith's deal, and if Jahan is in your party, then Balberith will ask you to hand over Jahan. This will give you a chance to become more Righteous (leadership +1) or Renegade (pickpocketing +1). If you acquiesce to Balberith's demand, then Jahan will disappear from your party forever.
  
  
• If you refuse both deals or demand that Balberith face you in battle, then you'll have to fight him. Balberith will immediately summon four Slaves of Torment, plus some cyclopes as well. The slaves will heal Balberith and improve his resistances, so you should target them first. However, you can't just ignore Balberith, or else he might take an interest in your spellcasters and defeat them quickly. So we'd recommend putting your best defensive character on Balberith while the rest of your party takes out the slaves and cyclopes.

By far the best option is to kill Balberith, as that will earn you over 60,000 xp (and possibly gain you the unique cleaver Hacksaw Decapitator). But regardless of your choice, you'll end up with the Magic Rune Stone, which will allow you to enter the Source Temple.

Inside the Source Temple (#6), you'll have to pass a pair of tests, which are described in the Source Temple location entry. Past the tests, you'll discover Zandalor lying on the ground wounded. However, when you approach him you'll trigger his Blood Stone amulet, and that will restore him to health. Zandalor will then tell you that Leandra has joined forces with the Trife, and that they're now in the First Garden planning to imprison Astarte and release the Void Dragon. This conversation will complete the quest and earn you 57,000 xp.


1 - Hidden Cellar


2 - Wizard's House


3 - Forest Entrance


4 - Greal


5 - Shearah's House


6 - Source Temple