Help-earth elemental keeps killing Vithal in Underdark

Bren · Post by **Bren** » Thu Jan 25, 2001 4:46 pm

I have freed the mage Vithal in the Underdark but he goes off to the earth elemental gate and keeps getting himself killed before I can return with the Book of Rituals. Can someone help - the only thing I can think of is to leave all but one of my party behind to protect him & send one off to collect the book. Is this the only possible solution or am I being stupid & missing something obvious (don't be too harsh on me, please...!)

nael · Post by **nael** » Thu Jan 25, 2001 6:19 pm

ummmm, you did somethign screwy...none of the elementals should come out until you get there and talk to him.

escape velocity · Post by **escape velocity** » Thu Jan 25, 2001 11:23 pm

When I first got to the Underdark I got too close to one of those portals (I think the Earth one) and I fought 4-5 of them before I realized I should probably get out of the way. And I hadn't yet freed Vithal. As far as I know, the other ones stayed closed, though. So it is possible for those portals to start spawning creatures... However, I didn't get too close to the one that Vithal goes to first, so maybe you just have to avoid that one to keep him healthy long enough to get your goodies.

fallout · Post by **fallout** » Fri Jan 26, 2001 2:07 am

Try this:
Send one of your men to Dwarfs Village. Not you on of NPC's(better with boot of speeds). If you dont fight the drow and mush. make him invisible.
When he gets to tavern (Save game) talk with mage. He goes to portal. Rest of the group protect him until the book come. In may game Elementals cant hit mage until i deliver the book.

Garcia · Post by **Garcia** » Fri Jan 26, 2001 5:18 am

When you first get to one of the 3 portals there will come 10 grater elements from each (don't worry they wont geep coming) if you did the Astrial prison quest you should have the staff of air +2 use that on the greater air elem. and the 2 other just haste your "tanks" and put them in front, behind them your healer and behind him/her your mages then you shouldn't have any troble killing the elements.
when you free the wizard you will follow him to the 3 portals and elements will pop out again.

Doltan · Post by **Doltan** » Fri Jan 26, 2001 2:41 pm

I wanted to echo what Garcia said. Go to each of the portals before freeing the mage. Kill 10 elementals at each portal (summon monsters, buff-up your characters, whatever...), it's great experience! Then, once you've secured all of the portals, summon the mage. You won't have any problems with him getting killed.

Bren · Post by **Bren** » Fri Jan 26, 2001 3:15 pm

Thanks for the advice - I assumed that they just kept on coming (I got too close to all of the portals while exploring so each portal was 'activated' - oops) - tried the 'protection' tactic which worked but was quite tricky; knowing that eventually the portals will become 'exhausted' is very helpful and should make it a bit easier next time!

On the topic of a thread I have seen elsewhere, what do you think are the best party combinations? As I have mainly followed the central story and pursued Imoen / Irenicus (because I felt that my character would do this) my party consists of 12th level fighter (me - imported), Minsc (again felt my character would be loyal to him following on from BG1), Imoen, Jaheira (ditto), Nalia & Aerie (love the 'bitching' between Jaheira and Aerie!). As I am neutral good decided not to use Edwin, not sure about Anomen or Keldorn, haven't spoken to Korgan yet and haven't met Mazzy yet. Oh yes, and I did have Yoshimo but .... I shall say no more.