Cave of Athron|
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Cave of Athron |
Magi/Honeycomb |
| neutral |
Navigation: General Hints, Shops, People and Quests, Notes
List of all towns and shops in Avernum
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| Cave of Athron |
Although Athron is friendly – when you eventually reach her – there are lots of obstacles and monsters trying to prevent your getting that far.
| Person | Function | Items, Quests and Notes | Rating |
| Athron | Dragon | The only friendly person to talk to here is the mighty dragon Athron. When you finally reach her she will tell you part of the password to the surface and if you ask her nicely, teach you Slow L3. She will also tell you about an ancient race which has been sleeping for centuries, but will soon wake up (Vahnatai). |
There is no one here other than Athron to talk to, so the following notes give hints on hidden rooms, traps and puzzles on the way to her.
Athron does not seem to welcome visitors. The direct way in is blocked but there are passages to the east and to the west. In the west are lots of twisty passages with drakes round every corner. There is not much treasure here except for a nest in the NE corner of the complex with some goodies like a Gold Ring and some coins .
To the east it is much the same story – lots of twisty passages and drakes. The direct way to the NE is blocked, so that you have to make a detour to the south and then east, killing three drakes. (Watch out for a nest with some coins and a bow.) Going north from the SE corner you come to a trap (TU 7) which blocks the way to the stairs leading up to the next level and more drakes. But you at last come back to the main tunnel which makes a turn to the east into a cavern with six golems. After dispatching them you can go through a passage in the NE corner and talk to Athron.
Go west from the entrance, around a few corners and kill the two drakes. Then go back to the first tunnel leading north and look for a button. Pressing it opens a path in the tunnel just west of the entrance. After killing two drakes you come directly to the hall with the statues, where you must fight the six golems.
As long as you are polite to her she will give you some useful information. You can learn the first part of the password and if you ask the right questions she will tell you about the Vahnatai and (if your reputation is at least 13) open a passage to a pedestal with a tome which will teach Slow L3. There is a barrier behind the pedestal which needs Dispel Barriers L3 and is protecting a chest containing some coins, a Wisdom Crystal and an Invulnerability Elixir.
Like all dragons Athron has amassed a fair amount of treasure. She is however very touchy about your going west to her treasure trove. If you want to get her treasure, you will have to kill her. Shame on you! But if you want to you just have to keep going west upto the barrier which can be removed with Dispel Barrier L1. When you get to the runes further SW Athron turns hostile. Since she is alone you can keep beating her until she weakens and dies.
She drops a few things like a Return Life Scroll and a Rod of Alacrity. There are also some crystals lying at her feet. Then back to her treasure trove where some nice things including a few coins and a Wisdom Crystal are lying around. The boxes also contain some nice things including a Bag of Sugar. (I do not know if you loose reputation if you give Gad this bag.) The chest in the SE corner is rather easy to overlook and contains not only some coins but also an Ensorcelled Bulwark (a nice shield value 4000 for swordmages). The button on the wall leads to an escape route.
Although she sees you, the dragon will not become hostile if you steal the crystals lying at her feet. She only gets angry when you cross the runes on the other side of the barrier, but she will not follow you there. So you can pick up everything in her treasure trove and then use the secret exit to the west. You will however need a tool use of 13 to get through the door you then come to.
Whichever way you use to relieve Athron of her treasure, you will make her angry and cannot talk to her afterwards. So make sure that she has opened the secret passage to the spell tome and that you have got her part of the password before attempting to steal anything.