After Action Report for Pools of Darkness (Act Five)
Campaign complete!
Numerous events happened during the finale, detailed below.
Ky'ran, through the POWER OF TORM, turned a lich in the first encounter with one.
During one wipe, Calder and Yurin were charmed by white dragons, leading to them killing the party.
Geralt may've been the first to achieve Epic leveling due to thief's faster level progression.
Lilyis killed the first dragon encountered, a blue dragon posing as a cloud giant.
Lilyis solo killed an entire Zhentil Mage group, estimated 12 to 16.
Lilyis solo killed 2 Ancient Red Dragons
Ky'ran dealt the final blow on Thorne, a superpowered ancient red dragon.
Calder dealt the final blow to Manshoon's personal beholder servant.
Ky'ran killed Kalistes, a Marilith sworn to Bane.
Geralt killed the first Rakshasa Rajah encountered.
Calder killed the first Banshee encountered, a servant of Marcus, a cleric of Bane.
Ky'ran killed Marcus.
Yurin killed Tanetal, a Glabrezu lieutenant of Bane.
Calder killed the first Death Tyrant encountered by the party.
Ky'ran killed Arcam, a high-ranking beholder within the Mulmaster Beholder Corps.
Deirdre turned Cadorna, a traitor NPC from Pool of Radiance.
The wielders of the artifacts gained from Bane's lieutenants: Kyran, the Talisman of Bane, Calder the Horn of Doom and Lilyis the Crystal Ring.
Calder killed Xoham, an Elder Orb servant of the Balor Gothmenes, the top lieutenant of Bane.
Lilyis, wielding a Vorpal Long Sword, dealt the final blow to Gothmenes.
Calder, Ky'ran and Geralt died during the final battle, sacrificing themselves to drop the final remaining monsters.
The party's kill count has to be genocide in levels, I couldn't keep track of all the dragons, drow, Bane minions and other assorted monsters slain on the way to saving the day. The text descriptions in the final dungeons implied it was straight out of Doom.
The biggest death trippers this act: THE ENTIRE PARTY. Usual cause of death: Minion of Bane dragonbreath or Pet of Kalistes Disintegrate. Calder and Yurin IIRC were the biggest targets, with Geralt and Lilyis right behind. Estimated death count is double digits for each member, minimum.
In bizarre incidents of near TPK, Ky'ran would solo entire swarms, demonstrating how absurd paladins actually are.
The difficulty curve in Pools of Darkness was extreme. Even on easiest level, the sheer number of AOE/magic spammers could take down a well-equipped and leveled party. This is because of how strong, regardless of difficulty, the Pet of Kalistes (Disintegrate spammers with save-or-die poison bites with -2 save penalties) and Minion of Bane (Blue) with lightning breath spam actually are.
End of Pools of Darkness levels:
Ky'ran Level 29 Paladin
Geralt Level 32 Thief
Calder Level 27 Ranger
Yurin Level 24 Thief
Deirdre Level 29 Cleric
Lilyis Level 25 Mage
