Ancient Tomb

Travel to the Ancient Tomb: From Oleg’s Trading Post, travel South, Southeast, West, South, Southwest, Southwest, Southwest.

Inside the Tomb: Save your game and buff your party. Venture northwest, looting a crate. You will find Tartuccio berating his mercenaries.

Recruit a Companion: You have two options: attack Tartuccio or attempt to persuade a former companion to rejoin you. The [Persuasion 10] check is manageable. If you reached the Ancient Tomb before Thorn Ford, this option is available. Level up your recruited companion before the fight.

Battle Tartuccio's Mercenaries: Tartuccio flees with the companion you didn't recruit, leaving his mercenaries to fight you. These mercenaries are strong. One is to the north with high Armor Class. Two are to the northwest: a spellcaster who buffs allies and a warrior with a Longsword +1.

Mercenary Strategy: Send one character north to occupy the high AC mercenary. Focus the rest of your party on the isolated mercenary to the west. Once he is defeated, focus archers on the spellcaster and have warriors engage the combatant who accompanied the spellcaster. Use debilitating spells like _Sleep_, _Color Spray_, or _Hideous Laughter_ on the warrior, then quickly defeat the spellcaster. Clean up any remaining mercenaries.

Looting the Tomb: After the battle, loot the fallen foes for arms, armor, treasure, a Longsword +1, and a Scorched Fragment of a Necklace. Return to the southeastern corner of the tomb to loot a coffer with scrolls and trinkets. In the mercenary room, loot a container in the western corner for more scrolls and baubles.

Secret Areas: Head southwest down a hallway. Pass a [Perception 12] check to interact with a tile revealing a secret room. Pass a [Perception 17] check to loot a stone for an Ancient Cyclopean Coin. Enter the secret chamber to the southeast to find a container. Be wary of a [Perception 17] trap in this room.

Exiting the Tomb: After looting, use one of the area transitions to leave. You will then pick up Tartuccio's trail in an Illustrated Book episode. You can choose to follow the trail or abandon the pursuit.