I don't recall reading this in a walkthrough before, and I couldn't find anything on it in the archives.

Oh yeah, SPOILERS ahead.
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Did you know that you can reveal Phaere's plans to Matron Mother? She is inside the temple, on the left. But I have a funny feeling she wasn't there the first few times I played the game (could I have been THAT blind?? :confused: ). Maybe this only happens if you have the right alignment or reputation or wisdom or intelligence? :hmm:

Anyways, after playing around with the dialogue options, I don't think any good could come out of this. She either doesn't believe you (whole city turns hostile) or she kills Phaere and starts the demon ritual and offers the REAL dragon eggs (demon exposes you, whole city and demon is hostile). I wonder if anyone has tried this and got the optimum result?

I think the same thing happens as with Phaere, except you don't get the Gorgon Plate

Actually, I raise that possibility briefly in my walkthrough.

However, I wrote my walkthrough on the premise that some ways of doing things are better than others. So I dismiss it about as quickly.

Ok, I did find one (cheap) way to get the best results. Just interrupt the ritual or pickpocket Matron Mother for the real dragon eggs. But you'll have to fight your way out either way.

And the funny thing is, if you pickpocket Matron Mother for the eggs during the ritual, she'll still attempt to offer the eggs to the demon... and she is successful!

You can swap the eggs for fakes then tell the Matron Mother, I have done that before.

@8People: I think I tried that, but not too sure. Here's what I tried:

I showed matron mother the key to the egg room. It exposes Phaere, but you don't get to swap the eggs. (actually there is a little time between killing Phaere and the ritual when the imp teleports in, but I didn't try breaking into the egg room at this time)

I put Phaere's eggs in the egg room and held Solaufein's (spelling?) and the real ones. When I tell the matron, she just takes the real eggs and kills Phaere. No option to offer her Solaufein's.

I put Solaufein's eggs in the egg room and held Phaere's and the real ones. When I tell the matron, I think she takes Phaere's eggs, but asks for more proof (which I don't have - attacks on the spot).

You need Phaeres' eggs and the keys to the treasury. She will take the proof and continue to use Soulefains' eggs as they have no tell-tale marks on them to prove they aren't real.

Heh, I just give Phaere Soulafein's eggs and place Phaere's eggs in the treasury. The daemon gets pissed when he's given Phaere's fake ones by Ardulace, but he apparently doesn't like what Phaere has to give him either :evil:

So soon as the daemon has dealt with the ladies, I take the shortest way to city's gates, hehe.

I only tried it because I was feeling rather evil and thought Phaere was a cheap brat who needed a hiding :evil: