Final Gauntlet|
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Final Gauntlet |
Great Cave |
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Navigation: General Hints, Notes
List of all towns and shops in Avernum
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| Final Gauntlet |
To get through this dungeon you must have got the four parts of the password from Erika, Patrick, Aimee and Athron. With the exception of one trap (which however yields a bit of treasure) the dungeon is relatively straight forward, mainly lots of fighting with altered giants, golems, Cyrodrakes and finally the Deathtouch Horror. After you have got part of the way through your escape route gets cut off. Not to worry, even if you have not got many potions: you can find some energy restoration basins and if things get too tough, there is an Emergency Exit.
As soon as you enter the tunnel you find a long passage leading directly north to a beautiful green meadow, where the sun is shining. Before you reach this garden you encounter an Altered Giant. After eliminating it you can proceed onto the green. At last you have found the exit to the surface. After all the fuss it is a bit of an anticlimax – much to easy! That is right. It is a trap! As soon as you get onto the meadow the gates snap behind you and six Altered Giants appear. They drop a surprising lot of (admittedly poor) loot like an emerald, a spear, some coins and a few trvial items when you kill them.
Behind a hidden door in the the north wall is a wheel guarded by three golems. Turning this wheel reopens the gate so that you can get back out again. But do not forget to search for the button in the entrance to the meadow.
To the east is a passage with a hidden door at the end of it leading to the first Barrier Chamber. You will be asked for the password, which you (hopefully) have and also be told to perform the Ritual of Safety, which you cannot. Oh well! Just press on and hope for the best!
In the south wall is a passage running south then east and then north to a bridge which, if you try to cross, plummets you to your death.
Actually you do not get a chance to cross the bridge yet, because, as you proceed west a gap appears in the eastern wall and six Hellhounds stream out. After killing them you can find a Healing and an Energy Elixir. Now you must find the secret passage in the SW that leads to a wheel the can be turned to stabilise the bridge to the north.
The bridge is still rather rickety but you manage to cross it. The path to the NE leads to some pits which you cannot cross. To the NW is a ramp leading up to a series of ledges connected by ramps. A soon as you get a little way up this passage the bridge collapses behind you cutting off your route of escape. There are lots of Altered Giants (who occasionally drop an emerald) on the ledges and in the connecting passages. To get to the top level you need to find some secret doors.
Heading east and then south you climb another ramp and turn east again to come into a chamber with lots of barriers surounding a wheel. The whole ensemble is guarded by 6 Altered Giants and 3 Divine Shades. When you have disposed of the resistance you can eliminate the barriers, two of which are L1. The rest need L3, but it is not necessary to remove them as the two at level 1 leave a path to the wheel free. Do not however turn the wheel yet.
Search the west wall just south of the entrance for a secret passage leading to a wheel which you cannot turn. There is however a further secret passage in the north wall of the Barrier Chamber leading to a pool which enlightens you when you drink from it. The effects wear off rather quickly. Now back to the wheel which you could not turn. Now you can work out how to turn it whereupon a bridge appears over the chasm to the south where you can find a secret chamber with two basins which restore energy.
You can now go back up the to the second Barrier Chamber. Again you find that you cannot turn the wheel! So back to the enlightnening pool in the north. Now you can turn the wheel which opens a hole in the SE corner.
The passage leads south, east and then north to a cavern full of stalagmites. As soon as you enter this cavern you are plunged into darkness. Cling to the east wall. The aim is to reach a wheel in the NE corner. You will meet lots of Altered Giants and Cyrodrakes on the way. When you reach the NE corner you must find a secret passage and fight the golems in this passage and go upto the wheel.
Turn the wheel in the NE corner. Then fight your way back by the same route to the room in the SE killing not only altered giants on the way but also eyebeasts. There is now a hole in the east wall of this room with another wheel which should now be turned. The room to the SW is empty. Then fight your way back up to the far NW corner. On the way a Cryos Demon and some Lichs join the altered giants to make your jouney difficult. When you reach the NW corner you find that a hole has appeared in the west wall so that you find the third wheel and turn it. Now back to the south. Just north of the entrance is the fourth wheel.
Having turned all four wheels in the correct order, you can head back to the north. On your way you will meet the Deathtouch Horror, which is a very difficult foe that keeps casting death curses. Concentrate on this monster and try to kill it as quickly as possible. It drops a Ghostly Blade (value 3000) and a Scroll – Return Life. Now you can find the gate that was previously hidden by salagmites at the northern end of the cavern. When you pass this gate the light returns.
You are now in the Surface Safehouse. To the west is a room with a cupboard containing a few coins. To the north is the Exit to the Surface. If you go through the door you will be congratulated and asked, if you want to leave or stay in Avernum. Choosing the former finishes the game. If you wish to stay you can use the portal in the east to return to the entrance to the cave.
Having found the exit you can report back to Erika and get your reward. You can also tell the Scimitar about your success but will get no further reward, but Thantria will pay you handsomely for the information.
If the Battle gets too tough, you can escape by returning to the second barrier chamber where you can find a secret passage leading to a portal which takes you back to the entrance.