I walked into The Crooked Crane with little or no worry to the party
and myself as the quiet, well maintained establishment did not look threatening at all from the inside as well as from the outside.
Removing my helm, the party grabbed a table and ordered some drinks to pick up on news around the area and thanked our waitress
when our mugs of ale arrived. A large bar made one of the corners of The Crooked Crane, its owner cleaning
the counter top with a moist rag while the rest of the patrons spoke softly to each other.
I perked my ears up some and concentrated on the conversations happening around us, sipping my ale
and washing it around in my mouth and I picked up talk of two patrons who spoke of two lovers, Aulava and Tiiro. As I downed the
last drop of my ale, I let the party know I was going to go upstairs and see what the rooms were like, while Aerie
mentioned something about going over to look at the books on the bookshelf.
Upstairs, I found those two very lovers that were being spoken of down below and I tried not to be rude
by listening in on their conversation, which was just that of young lovers and eventually, I was sucked into their discussions giving
my own view on their personal situation. It felt good to help them as both left hand in hand and happy with the advice I had passed
along. Meanwhile, down in the common room other things were happening and it was then, on my return, that this relaxing, warm
common room of The Crooked Crane was about to come crashing down.
Aerie, in a soft word spoke of light coming from behind one of the walls
found within, pointing it out with her eyes as they led me to the direction of where this part of the wall seemed unusual over the
others and I went over to investigate with her once I returned from the upstairs rooms. Aerie was good
at spotting such things and as I pushed the secret door aside, the gasps from the patrons made it clear that I was unveiling something
that should have remained behind closed doors. I caught the owner of the establishment dive behind the bar and I nodded to the party
as we prepared to find out exactly what was causing such fear.
First Floor of The Crooked Crane
|
Second Floor of The Crooked Crane
|
The chamber was thick in dust, cobwebs and long, dark shadows and it was Boo's own call that alerted
us to the Lich who rested in this tomb and would have nothing to do with the looting of his personal resting place. The sounds of
swords echoed in the small chamber as they were removed from our scabbards and the mumbling of Jaheira and
Aerie could clearly be heard as they began to weave their hands in the arcane arts.
|
Let the Battle Begin!
|
|
|
Bless, Protection from Evil, Haste, Defensive Harmony and other spells to help the members of the party deal with this
deadly undead creature were soon glowing around us all and as I led the charge forward, I stopped to check a chest in the back room which would not budge
due to its lock. As the Lich began to weave his own magics, Valygar, Minsc, Korgan and I
were already taking our swings. I barked to Aerie that I needed that chest unlocked right away, but her focus was already transfixed
in weaving another spell she had to assist us in our battle.
My eyes locked on empty sockets which
only looked at me blankly and with a bony, toothed grin and its gnarled
hands began to twitch and weave its own protective magics that were unlike
any I have ever faced. Gritting my teeth, I went into a solid rage, feeling
the blood race through my very veins. Saliva dripped and spat all those
around me and it caused Korgan and Minsc
to do the same.
|
Chaos Takes Over!
|
|
|
I cannot say if it was the rage that had
become me that caused such a thing, but right after the hair on my very
skin stood tall and began to smoke, curls tracing the air before me and
as on cue, flames erupted all around us and the Lich itself. Valygar
staggered back, the only one up front who was able to do such a thing
for the rest of us were deep into our trance and rage of dealing damage
to this foul beast. A ring of burning flames now surrounded the Lich and
although I felt no damage to my very skin, I knew in the back of my mind
that my body was taking a beating as were all of us for standing so close
to this flame barrier. Following this, duplicate images of the Lich appeared
before me, confusing me as to which one to swing at and I did what I could
to keep my eyes focused on the form I had been fighting with before. The
sound of our blades swinging through the air and connecting to cold bone
I shall never, ever forget.
|
Magic Missile and Knock prepared!
|
|
|
Red lights exploded all around me then,
slamming into the bone body of the undead Lich who we were battling against,
at least four I can recall counting but it did not seem to phase him at
all and his bony hands continued to weave his foul and evil magic!
Through all of this mayhem of exploding
lights, crackling flames and duplicate images, crossed with visions of
blades and flails swinging before my view, I heard a faint click as the
lock on the chest was suddenly removed and laying on the stone floor.
Shaking my head, I called as best as I could in my state to Valygar
and find out what was in the chest while the rest of us keep the Lich
at bay and do our best to continue to spoil his spell casting. He was
proving to be much more than we could handle as a team and I wanted the
reward in which he was guarding, in spite of this creature we were now
facing. Unfortunately for us, the Lich was about to have the last laugh.
|
Knock is cast just as Timestop takes effect!
|
|
|
Our swings suddenly began to get slower,
as if we were fighting underwater as each hit after passing hit got slower
and slower. Valygar had just finished grabbing
something from the chest but I was never able to finish looking in that
direction as darkness fell over us all and we all stood still. It was
then I realized this creature had been underestimated by myself and the
look of fear on Korgan's face said it all.
We all watched from our positions as the Lich began to weave his hands,
his own body began glowing due to some protective spells he had cast.
What followed was something none of us wanted to see, especially when
we were unable to defend ourselves from the arriving beast from the very
Planes of Hell as a gate opened up and out stepped the foul creature whose
claws were looking forward to tearing our skin from our very bodies!
Once again, the Lich began to weave his
hands and showed no mercy to the looters we were and then, the very sky
began to bleed hot, burning flames struck our still forms and began to
feast on our unprotected skin.
|
Opening the chest and getting the hell out of there!
|
|
|
As the flames began to fall from above, the summoned Demon made its way towards
us and began to strike at will as the Lich continued to weave spell after spell, both defensive and offensive and
finally, the Timestop spell ceased, its time passed and we were able to move. Pain hit all of us all at once, our
berserker rages ceased as well, but the flames continued to fall and the Demon continued to attack tearing deep
wounds in all of us.
"Go! Go! Let's move out of here!" I yelled, knowing we would not survive much longer if we stayed to battle this
Lich and its summoned pet of destruction. Aerie! I screamed "Identify that sword Valygar has
in his hand" was my last words as the entire party backed out into the common room in hopes to be able to cure some of our wounds or retreat
altogether. As Valygar passed the sword off to Aerie, who had placed the Glasses of Identification
on her face we broke free of the tomb and staggered into the common room as those who were there screamed at the sight that now stood in the very door we had just
come through.
|
Lich follows and Sunray takes its toll!
|
|
|
The Lich had followed us through and it looked as if we were in for. "It's a sword against Undead!" Aerie spat
as she tossed the sword into the air towards Valygar.
"Use it!" I screamed as my own wounds were flowing with blood.
As Valygar gripped the sword, he looked above to the ceiling, raising the blade high above us all and the Lich who was weaving his hands
once again.
"I call to the powers from above to unleash the force of this very blade
that has been locked in a tomb of evil for centuries on end and banish
this creature from whence it came!" Valygar's
voice boomed and as he finished his last sentence, down came bright beam
of warm light that illuminated the Lich in all his glory.
The very skull of the Lich exploded in thousands of pieces, his skeletal form and long forgotten robes fell to the common room floor and a sigh
of relief fell to us all.
| DRINKS |
COST |
ROOMS |
COST |
| Amnish Ale |
1gp |
Peasant |
1gp |
| Bitter Black Ale |
8gp |
Merchant |
6gp |
| Golden Sands |
4gp |
|
|
| Shadow Dark Ale |
1gp |
|
|
| Suz Ale |
7gp |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
| City Gates District - The Crooked Crane | Tavern Statistics... |
- Rilmi
- Maunu
- Gwera
- Groncaner
- Tiiro
- Aulava
- Lich [22,000xp]
- Long Sword "Daystar"
- Ring of Invisibility
- Wand of Cloudkill
- Rod of Terror
- Wand of Lightning
- Wand of Fire
- 1 exit/2 floors
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| City Gates District - The People |
|
This is a full list of all People found within the City Gates District.
- Flydian [Quest to Trademeet]
- Hanj
- Merchant
- Commoner
- Bandon
- Amnish Soldier
- Rilmi
- Maunu
- Gwera
- Groncaner
- Tiiro
- Aulava
| City Gates District - All Quests |
|
This is a full list of all Quests found within the City Gates District.
You will find Flydian here who is looking for brave warriors such as yourselves to help assist Trademeet with
their animal problems which have become so bad they cannot walk around their own town safely!
Accepting this quest will place Trademeet on your map.
| City Gates District - All Items |
|
This is a full list of all Magical
Items found within the City Gates District. Their locations can be found
by viewing the rooms separately through the solution as they are also covered
in the Room Statistics.
NOTE: Store bought items are in this list.
- Arrows +2 [40]
- Bolt +1 [40]
- Bullet +2 [40]
- Medium Shield +1
- Small Shield +2
- Plate Mail +1
- Leather Armor +1
- Studded Leather Armor +1
- Chain Mail Armor +1
- Splint Mail +1
- Small Shield +1
- Medium Shield +1
- Large Shield +1
- Scimitar +1
- Two Handed Sword +1
- Bastard Sword +1
- Long Sword +1
- Short Sword +1
- Katana +1
- Spear +1
- Flail +1
- Mace +1
- Morning Star +1
- Heavy Crossbow +1
- Light Crossbow +1
- Composite Long Bow +1
- Short Bow +1
- Sling +1
- Battle Axe +1
- Dagger +1
- Halberd +1
- Darts +1 [20]
- Antidote
- Potion of Hill Giant Strength
- Potion of Fortitude
- Potion of Agility
- Find Familiar Spell [Wizard]
- Power Word Sleep Spell [Wizard]
- Ray of Enfeeblement Spell [Wizard]
- Minor Spell Deflection Spell [Wizard]
- Protection From Fire Spell [Wizard]
- Protection From Normal Weapons Spell [Wizard]
- Breach Spell [Wizard]
- Lower Resistance Spell [Wizard]
- Oracle Spell [Wizard]
- Conjure Lesser Fire Elemental Spell [Wizard]
- Chain Lightning Spell [Wizard]
- Disintegrate Spell [Wizard]
- Contingency Spell [Wizard]
- Spell Deflection Spell [Wizard]
- Restoration Scroll
- Long Sword "Daystar"
- Ring of Invisibility
- Wand of Cloudkill
- Rod of Terror
- Wand of Lightning
- Wand of Fire
| City Gates District - All Monsters |
|
This is a full list of all Monsters
found within the rooms on all levels of the City Gates District,
their locations can be found by viewing the rooms separately through the
solution as they are also covered in the Room Statistics.
|
|
|
|
|
I came through here knowing of the Lich in The Crooked Crane but had no idea just how
tough he was going to be without any aid for the Daystar Long Sword found within his tomb. If it was not for this item
and the luck I had in getting it during the battle, I surely would have lost this battle rather than being victorious.
Do not underestimate these foul undead beasts as they are nothing like the one you came across in Icewind Dale if you
happened to play that.
This was my party during that battle and while going through this district for the first time:
| 01 |
Grub |
Barbarian |
Half Orc |
| 02 |
Valygar |
[Stalker] |
Human |
| 03 |
Minsc |
Ranger |
Human |
| 04 |
Jaheira |
Fighter/Druid |
Half Elf |
| 05 |
Korgan |
[Berserker] |
Dwarf |
| 06 |
Aerie |
Cleric/Mage |
Avariel |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
