Marlowe, a merchant in Amkethran needs help with an unusual problem regarding his daughter Malla - Can you help? - PPE Mod portraits
Malla, daughter of the merchant Marlowe. Her soul has been taken hostage by Vongoethe, until Marlowe makes good on his promise and debt. Can you intercede and help figure out what to do?
The Graveyard Lich (sometimes referred to as "Rescue Marlowe's Daughter") is a side quest initiated in Amkethran. The first time you enter The Zephir Inn, Marlowe will approach you and ask to meet in his house to discuss a problem he faces.
When you enter Marlowe's home, which is actually labelled as Empty Home (Amkethran), the party has to decide if they will hear his tale, or tell him they aren't interested, or that you are actually going to kill Marlowe. If you decide to hear his tale, he will say he is a merchant from Calimshan. He will also mention that a lich named Vongoethe has stolen his daughter's soul and that the undead being is likely trapped in the Cave of the Dead. Your party can ask for more details and inquire about why a lich would be hunting Marlowe, and some further information can be gained. In the end, you either agree to help or you don't. If you agree, then Marlowe explains that he has spent the last of his coin to bribe a Monk who prevents access to the Cave. He has only to give the word to the Monk, and then your party will be allowed to enter the Cavern.
So, at your earliest convenience, travel to speak with the monk positioned near the cavern entrance. The Monk says "You're the one Marlowe wants me to let in? Ilmater's patience! *sigh* I'll likely get in huge trouble for this, but a deal's a deal, I suppose. Go on in the cavern, I'll be elsewhere." The monk will then hurry off, and you may enter the cavern.
After entering the cavern, the lich will quickly rise from the center of the circular raised platform and address you, saying "Ahhh...I had sensed that one with great power was close by, And here you are, come to my little prison. What do you wish, godling? Vongoethe has no quarrel with you!".
There are a few replies that you could choose. One of which is to initiate hostilities and prepare to destroy the Lich. Or you can try and get more information to find out what is going on. There is the demanding tone and the calmer tone offered. It appears that the lich really does not want to fight you, as he recognizes your power, but it also clarifies that Marlowe has lied to you, and that he has a contract and a debt to collect from Marlowe, who has reneged paying it. A strange debt involving promising the Lich his very soul in return for twenty years of prosperity and good fortune. When the lich confronted Marlowe that the debt was due, Marlowe refused. The lich then took the soul of his wife to force Marlowe to surrender his soul voluntarily as promised. Yet Marlowe refused, and then his wife sickened and died. Marlowe fled again with his daughter Malla. The lich tracked them down and was able to force Malla's soul into a "soul stone'. Just like his now dead wife, the lich has done this to force Marlowe to surrender his soul - or his daughter will eventually die as well. This is the reason Marlow's daughter is bedridden and ill.
The lich wraps up his version of events by saying "He evaded me for years until I found him here! I have his daughter's soul now, and he will live up to his promise, or she shall suffer the consequences! He had his desire... and now I want mine."
Once again you have choices available to you through dialogue. You find out through dialogue that if you raise a hand against the lich, then Malla will perish. You may tell the lich that no one else will be harmed and attack him anyway - See the Gameplay - Fighting the Lich section below. You may tell the lich that you will not bring Marlow to him, and just leave. If you do this Malla will perish, but Marlowe will not. You may also ask a few questions, and then agree to get Marlowe and bring him to the Lich. The lich has promised that he will give the soul stone to you if you bring Marlow to him. Once you have the soulstone, you can do whatever you wish with it, including healing Malla if you want.
If you decide to get Marlowe, then leave the cavern and travel back to his home. Once back with Marlowe, a series of back and forth dialogue occurs, and Marlowe comes clean and admits everything. He seems truly sorry for his misdeads and poor judgement. He does not want his daughter to perish, like his wife did. He agrees to face his fate and will go with you back to face the lich's debt collection. A cutscene will now play and the party and Marlowe are standing on the platform with Vongoethe back in the Cavern.
The lich addresses marlowe and eventually wants to know if he freely gives up his soul to him as he promised. Marlow answers, and agrees - resigned to his fate and knowing that the soulstone will be given to the Gorion's Ward. The lich then says "Most Excellent. As I live up to my bargains, here is the mortal girl's soul, godling. Take it and begone. Now, for what is long overdue, Marlowe..." Your inventory now receives Malla's Soul Stone and the information screen displays "The Party Has Gained An item".
The party has dialogue options and choices of action. They are as follows:
- Save Marlowe and kill the lich. If you choose this option Vongoethe will summon several Skeleton Warriors, Skeleton Archers, and Banshees. After the lich is defeated you can give Marlowe the soul stone for 15,000 XP and a Reputation point. (This option is available even if you "accidentally" dropped the Soul Stone from your inventory. This exploit will allow you to keep the Soul Gem and receive the reward for restoring Malla anyway.)
- Let Marlowe die, go back to Malla and restore her with the stone. For this you will gain 10,000 XP and a reputation point if you give her 5,000 gp.
- You can also let Marlowe die and keep Malla's Soul Stone, as you can use it as an ioun stone. Wearing the soul stone will give you an extra point of Constitution and Dexterity, and you will also be able to cast Neutralize Poison once per day. Only neutral- and evil-aligned characters can wear it.
Gameplay - Fighting the Lich[]
The lich and a number of assisting undead and Banshees manifest to destroy the party. Two Banshees and two Skeleton Warrior Warriors will be on the platform with the lich. Five Skeleton archers will fire missiles at those in range from the edges of the room, some on the balcony. The lich will quickly get up a few rapidly cast protection spells, and possibly bring in a Simulacrum of himself. If not interrupted, the lich will probably try and cast a time stop and other level 8 and 9 spells. Note that the Banshees may be a problem for party members who are not protected against instant Slay effects or miss a saving throw vs. Death, as they have a Wail of the Banshee ability.
It is up to you if you want to activate any of the pedestals on the raised platform during the battle. It may provide an advantage, confusion for your enemies or it could be a poor tactical choice.
If unlucky, Marlowe can be killed by accidental friendly fire, or even by the Lich's AoE spells. Some players have reported that protecting him with a Otiluke's Resilient Sphere is a good choice to avoid mishaps.
Mod Content[]
The Sword Coast Stratagems Mod provides a much more responsive and smarter script to Vongoethe and the allied creatures assisting him. Also, it ups the numbers of Skeleton Archers to about 12. The Skeleton Warriors are more efficient in their melee attacks with weapon proficiencies and are protected from Turn Undead. See Vongoethe creature page for more SCS stats to the lich. Expect an instant battery of buffs from the lich (Stoneskin, PFMW, Spell Trap, Protection from Fire and Magical Energy and Spell Shield), followed a few seconds later by Immunity Divination and Improved Invisibility. A Simulacrum will be attempted as well. If the simulacrum appears, the clone will also instantly cast a number of defensive buffs. Then later, the lich will try a Time Stop. Mage HLA's will be used against the party as well. It should be a challenging battle. The key to defeating him will be to survive the Timestop, with Improved Alacrity and multiple offensive actions, and then strip its defensive buffs. As a level 30 Necromancer, Vongoethe will have a powerful Remove Magic, and Abi-Dalzim's Horrid Wilting attack.
Trivia[]
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe was a German poet and writer whose work includes the epic play Faust, in which a deal with the devil (Mephisto) is made about a soul in return to eternal life, The idea for of that plot was derived from the earlier work of English playwright Christopher Marlowe, who again used German folk stories as a source. Thus, Vongoethe vs Marlowe with Margarete (Gretchen) alias Malia.