Sendai's Enclave
Although the directions on your map are correct, all you immediately find at the marked point is a Woodcutter's Cottage, and the Woodcutter himself. He'll use the age-old farmer's cry of 'Get off my land', but when Sendai's name is mentioned he warms a little. He will tell you about some 'funny looking Elves' in a clearing to the west, and when you investigate this you will be ambushed by a group of Drow. The best way to clear them out is to summon monsters to tackle the Umber Hulks and Drow Warriors, whilst you can concentrate on the Hive Mother (she bombards you with many Spells, so getting rid of her is a priority). After the battle, while keeping a look out for other Drow encounters, return to the Woodcutter who will tell you that strange goings on have been happening recently, and maybe you should visit his wife's grave.
Another Drow ambush awaits you in the graveyard, so be prepared, and after you examine the gravestones you will see that you've been duped all along. The Woodcutter is in fact a Drow Warrior, and after you have dispatched him (and his summoned followers) you will find the entrance to Sendai's Enclave.
The tunnels before you reach the Enclave are filled with a plethora of troublesome beasties, mainly Myconids bolstered by Spore Colonies (always attack the Colonies first so you can stop them respawning all the time). At the end of the tunnels (past very toxic Spiders and Umber Hulks amongst others) you'll face another battle before a bridge appears, but once you have won this you can open the door to the Drow Barracks.
Here you will need to battle through the many Drow in here (no surprise there), and beat Thelynn'ss so you can get the Drow Guard key from the folds in his uniform. As you leave the tunnels you will be treated to a cut-scene that gives you a few nuggets of information as to what to expect next. Sendai is arguing with Bennon, and after he leaves a Drow Captain informs Sendai of your arrival. Her orders are to fill the North Tunnels with slaves and the South Tunnels with Spiders, so it is up to you which type of enemy you fancy ploughing your way through next.
Now you will have reached Sendai's inner chambers and there is only one place you can get to immediately - The Lair of the Lich, Odamaron (the other exit from this area is magically barred). As soon as you breach Odamaron's Lair he will fire off Time Stop and Spell Trigger at you, so be wary. Also, the steps ahead of you are heavily trapped so send your Fighters around the side, whilst leaving you spellcasters firing off Breach Spells from the doorway, and your Ranged attackers shooting off arrows or bolts. Once you have searched for very valuable treasure and the Drow Wardstone (to open the magical barrier in the previous area), leave this room and you will be treated to another cut-scene involving Sendai. The Captain once again informs her of your progress, at which news she kills the messenger, and she sends her Priestess Daiytha to stop you.
Inside the inner chamber you are best advised to stay in the doorway to fight the two Greater Earth Elemental Guards, as once inside you will have to face Daiytha's servant, Ogremoch, the Elemental Price of Earth. He's very tough, but if you hit him hard with your fighters, whilst sending Breach Spells in from the back you should be able to manage the battle.
Beyond the next door is Daiytha herself so rest first and replenish whatever you can. Cast a Negative Plane Protection on the whole party as a Vampire awaits you (and those level-drains will render you incapable of winning this one). There's also a Hive Mother and a Demon Knight to take care of, as well as Daiytha, but when you finish them all off you can climb the steps to the next encounter.
Captain Egeissag awaits you next, and he is surrounded by hidden archers. He wants to take you on one-on-one with a mysterious Spectator to be the referee. If you decline then you'll have a big battle on your hands, and the archers can only be harmed with ranged attacks. However, if you agree you will have to take him mano-et-mano, with the loser not only losing their life but forsaken the lives of their respective followers. It is generally easier to fight him alone, but it really depends on your Character's Class and Abilities. When you have won either way The Spectator reveals himself to be one of your acquaintances from SOA, and leaves to continue his search from a Beholder spouse. There is now another interlude showing Sendai ordering her Mind Flayer Mithykyl to deploy his forces against you.
Mithykyl's lair is guarded by a Ultharid and other forces. Concentrate on the Ultharid first as it preys on your weakest Characters if left alive. There are also Vampiric Illithids in each of the small rooms you can explore so make sure you have Negative Plane Protections cast at all times. The fight with Mithykyl is especially tough as he uses Psionic attacks often and is flaked by Ultharid henchbeasts and an Umber Hulk. But, after what seems like an enternity, the winning of this battle allows you to come face-to-face with the BhaalSpawn Sendai.
Sendai has a surprise for you as you enter her inner sanctum. You find seven platforms inside with a statue of Sendai on each. The statues lurch into life one at a time and as you defeat each one, two Drow appear as rearguards for the next. The individual statues represent a different facet of Sendai's personality (in this order; Priestess, Mage, Thief, Fighter, Mage, Archer and Thief) so expect their attacks to have the attributes of each Class. When they are all defeated, Sendai herself will appear, summoning four Invisible Stalkers to her defence. She will also teleport around the room, summoning Skeleton Warriors and Sword Spiders and healing herself each time she reappears. The only way to combat this is to spread out to cover as much ground as possible in order to get as many hits on her in each position as possible. When you finally win this epic battle, she cries out that the return of Bhaal is inevitable and you are transported once again to the Pocket Plane (you can return later to reclaim your hard-won spoils).
Player Guide Index
- Chapter 8: The Siege of Saradush
- Chapter 9: Amkethran
- Chapter 10: The Throne of Bhaal
- New Items and Weapons
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