This is quest initiated through talking with Archivist Giltham – or rather his spirit. He's very cold and not very talkative when you first meet him, but he becomes more at ease once the hearth is lit.
This quest guides you through the steps needed to open the portal to Watcher's Keep Elemental Level, awarding quest experience in various steps:
Gameplay quest walkthrough (abbreviated)[]
Find the tinderbox hidden behind a statuette in the Bedchamber (2000.600). It's used to light the kitchen fireplace/hearth. While you're there, get the Old Slippers (1650.750) from the bookcase.
Converse with Archivist Giltham and inquire about the lower levels and the ritual (or question his sanity). He must be summoned in the Kitchen by reigniting the Fireplace using the Tinderbox before any dialogue can occur.
Obtain the Key (Watcher's Keep Altar Level)(2600.1500) to open the Crypt door to the priest's sarcophagus.
There are two Guardian Golem creatures within the Crypt. If you don't want to fight these two defenders, ensure that the stones are possessed by the party. The golem's respective wardstones: green for left (north), blue for the other. The cryptic handwritten notes refer to these.
Interact with the sarcophagus to summon the undead lich-priest. The Golems will attack, unless the wardstones are in the party inventory.
If you brought the Old Slippers (have them in a party member inventory), the creature will know, and he'll ask for them. If given freely he will forgive your intrusion and award you 20,000 XP to each member. He'll also invite inspection of the contents of his final resting place. Refuse, and the creature will become hostile.
If the slippers are provided each party member gains another 8,000 XP.
Following the instructions written on the Tattered Parchment found throughout this keep's level. First, a party member with the Bell and Candle in their inventory must place them upon the altar (walk up close to it and transfer the items onto the altar container).
The altar Holy Ritual requires:
However, interacting with the altar by moving any items to or from the altar at this stage of the game will activate the first defending phase of the Statues that are located closest to the altar. This statue activation interrupts the item placement temporarily. The statues are dangerous opponents, and the party will need to take care and defend itself. They can do some real harm, especially to an under leveled party. Expect competent melee combat from the warrior statues, and buffs as well as Insect Plague type attacks from the cleric statues.
After the first wave of statues are dealt with - the party is probably suspicious of the remaining statues. What if they activate later? Now is the time to prepare and be ready for that likely event. Do whatever actions are deemed necessary to be able to deal with the remaining statues.
When ready, continue placing the items on the altar. When all items are placed, the Guardian (Altar) engages in dialogue and begins the Holy Ritual.
As prompted by the Altar Guardian, select the correct ritualist steps as described in the tattered parchments and the verse read from the Priest's sarcophagus.
If the player selects an incorrect response - the Guardian will boom out a response "THE RITUAL HAS BEEN DEFILED!".
This results in 50 Magical damage to the offender, and all the objects on the altar are removed and placed back in the PC's inventory. The player will now have to try again.
The section below is a "Spoiler". Click on the "Reveal" button if you want to be provided the answers to the altar ritual. Don't do it if you want to figure this out on your own, like a first-time player was meant to.
The correct order of action during the ritual is:
- Ring the bell
- Ring the bell
- Light the candle
- Open the book
- Ring the bell
Note that the statues will animate in two phases as part of the Holy Ritual, and they'll be hostile and attack the party as the altar ritual is being performed.
This is unavoidable and seems to be part of the defense of the Portal to the lower reaches. These opponents are the strongest opposition faced on this dungeon level.
When the first group of statue defenders is finished, return to the Altar and ensure all the items are on the Altar, placing the missing ones as required.
Once that has occurred, and the correct dialogue selections are made to perform the ritual in the right sequence, the player gets a Journal update and 25,000 XP quest experience is awarded for performing this action.
The player must now face the second statue group, who have begun to activate after the ritual was finished properly.
After defeating all the statues, the portal can be accessed and used to travel to the Watcher's Keep Elemental Level, the player's next dungeon goal.
Journal Entries[]
Upon talking to Archivist Giltham about the lower levels:
| “ | The ghost of the temple's archivist suggested I seek out the forgetful old priest—though I doubt he's even still alive. | ” |
Upon insulting the man or asking about the ritual:
| “ | It seems the way to get down to the next level is by performing some type of ritual. Since this is a temple, I imagine the altar would have something to do with this. | ” |
Upon inspecting the sarcophagus after talking to the Priest (WK Altar Level):
| “ | I have made a note of the verses of the holy book should I need to perform the ritual. | ” |
Upon completion:
| “ | Successfully performing the ritual activated the mirror portal in the center of the temple. I can now descend at my own convenience. | ” |
Gallery[]
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