Complete walkthrough for the 'What Lurks Below' side quest in Neverwinter. Find Jax, explore Troll Caves and Creator Race Ruins, and retrieve the Ancient Tome.
Walkthrough
- 1Start the quest by speaking to Jax outside the Archeologist Barracks on the East Road. Ask him why he looks nervous, and agree to find the Ancient Tome for him.
- 2On the East Road map, locate the four caves. Enter the top-most cave in the south-west corner to reach Troll Cave Level One.
- 3To the east of your entry point are the Shallow Caves (relevant for the Simpleton's Mother side quest). To the south, you'll find map pins indicating deeper cave sections.
- 4Near the Shallow Caves door, search a corpse to find a Troll Letter, which updates your journal.
- 5In the corridor to the right of this exit, search another corpse for the Journal of Synth La'neral (required for Linu's Tale).
- 6Return to the cave entrance and break through a heavily trapped door. Kill the Troll Chieftan, being mindful of his Knockdown abilities. Take his head, as it's needed for Lenton.
- 7Explore the rest of the cave for items and XP, then proceed deeper to Troll Cave Level Two.
- 8Explore Troll Cave Level Two for XP and items. The stairs to Level Three are in the south-end of the cave.
- 9Upon entering Troll Cave Level Three, you'll face Troll Shamans and Ogres. After defeating them, explore the level, encountering new undead enemies called Ghasts.
- 10In the bottom middle room, find a door leading to a small room. Open it and talk to Darius, then send him on his way.
- 11Proceed east to enter Level One of the Creator Race Ruins.
- 12Open the crate on the immediate right to find Prism Blossom Seeds (needed for Boddyknock's Tale).
- 13The entrance to the lower levels in the upper north-east is guarded by a Seal Guardian Golem. You can either kill it (recommended for Fighters/Barbarians with a +2 blade, high Strength, and good feats) or use a ring to pass.
- 14If you kill the Golem, use the Seal Key found on its remains on the guarded door.
- 15Alternatively, find the Golem Signet Ring in the bottom north-east corner, guarded by a Helmed Horror.
- 16Beware of Minogons and their Stun spells throughout this level.
- 17Proceed to Creator Race Ruins Level Two after showing the Golem the ring or using the key.
- 18In the north-east corner of Level Two, another Seal Guardian Golem guards the way. You can kill it for a key or find the password.
- 19The password is on a Creator Scroll located in the south, guarded by Flesh Golems in three small rooms. Kill the golems and open a chest for the scroll.
- 20Proceed to the third and final level of the Creator Race Ruins by showing the Golem the scroll or using the key.
- 21Upon entering Level Three, you will be attacked by a Seal Guardian Golem. Defeat it.
- 22The gate the Golem was guarding requires a key. Open the other door in the room and go to the center room with a dead thief.
- 23Search the dead thief to find the Stolen Seal Key and the Thief's Journal.
- 24Use the Stolen Seal Key on the seal and kill three Creator Sorcerers, who use Fireball, Magic Missile, and summon Familiars.
- 25After defeating the sorcerers, open the gate to fight another Creator Sorcerer. You can choose to kill it or not.
- 26Open the chest by the portal to obtain the Complete History of the Creator Ruins, the tome Jax wants.
- 27Step into the portal and give the tome to Jax to receive 500 gold and 500 XP. You can keep the book, but it has no further use.
Tips
- The Journal of Synth La'neral is required for Linu's Tale.
- Prism Blossom Seeds are needed to complete Boddyknock's Tale.
- The Troll Chieftan has Knockdown abilities.
- Seal Guardian Golems can be bypassed with a specific ring or key, or by defeating them.
- Minogons cast Stun spells.
- Creator Sorcerers use Fireball and Magic Missile and summon Familiars.
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