In this guide, you’ll find a walkthrough for an area in the Realms Dimension part of Pools of Darkness. To help you to navigate this area, a map and legend are provided. There are more detailed notes for each point in the map legend at the bottom of the overview section.
Walkthrough
When you start the game, you won’t be able to enter the aerie. You won’t see the entrance. To make the entrance visible, you’ll have to fight your way through the nearby Hill Giant Steading and Fire Giant Cave, which will alert the dragons to your presence and cause them to fly in and out of the aerie.
When you enter the aerie (via Exit A), you’ll get attacked by three Black Dragons, a Blue Dragon, three Green Dragons, and a White Dragon. If that’s a rough fight for you, then you’re in the wrong place. Inside the aerie, you’ll get attacked by dragons left and right. After the battle you’ll spot “a man in dark robes” watching you, but he’ll head out of the entrance hall before you can confront him. However, not much later (at #3), you’ll learn that his name is Modthryth, and that he’s the patriarch of the Cult of the Dragon.
As you explore the aerie, you’ll eventually come to a locked door (#15). To open it, you’ll need to collect the four keys being held by the Green Dragons (#5), the White Dragons (#8), the Blue Dragons (#10), and the Black Dragons (#12). Past the door you’ll confront Modthryth and a pair of Dracoliches (#16). Modthryth is just a Black Mage, so disrupt him as needed and focus your attacks on the Dracoliches. The Dracoliches are immune to a lot of spells, but you can hit them with Magic Missiles and Blades Barriers, plus regular melee and ranged attacks. By defeating Modthryth, you’ll gain access to a dimensional gate (Exit B), which will allow you to reach Thorne’s Cave (via Limbo). Thorne is one of Bane’s three lieutenants.
1 – Disused Rooms
These rooms are safe to rest in.
2 – Scroll
When you enter this room, you’ll find a scroll on the floor. Nothing will happen if you keep it or discard it.
3 – Meeting Chamber
This central part of the aerie is where the dragons meet and discuss their differences. You’ll frequently encounter dragons in the chamber and have to fight them off.
The first time you enter in the chamber, you’ll witness a duel between a Black Dragon and a Blue Dragon, which the Black Dragon will win. If you “watch” then you’ll record Modthryth’s preamble as Journal Entry 54. If you attempt to “sneak past” then you’ll succeed. If you “attack” then some of the spectators will oblige you, and you’ll have to battle six Blue Dragons, three Black Dragons, three Green Dragons, and three White Dragons.
At another point when you enter the chamber, you’ll run into a mortally wounded Red Dragon. If you question it, then you’ll hear Journal Entry 70.
4 – Caches
If you look or search at these spots, then you’ll find hidden caches of valuables. The caches will consist of a random item plus 250 platinum, 75 gems, and 2 pieces of jewelry.
5 – Blue Dragon Key Battle
When you enter this room you’ll get attacked by five Blue Dragons. They’ll attack you from two sides, making them difficult to deal with. Move your characters away from the walls so they’re not hit twice by bouncing lightning bolts. You might also want to try moving them so only one of the two groups of dragons can hit them. After the battle you’ll find 10 Bolts +2, a Hammer +2, a Scimitar +4, 100 platinum, 150 gems, and 6 pieces of jewelry. You’ll also find a Blue Steel Key, which you’ll need for a door in the northern part of the aerie (#15).
6 – Imprisoned Green Dragon
You’ll find an imprisoned Green Dragon here. If you “attack” it then the result will be as expected. But if you “set it free” then it will leap at you, and you’ll have to fight it anyway. The main difference between the two battles is that the dragon will have the initiative for the latter option, and so you should just attack it.
7 – White Dragon Battle
When you enter this room you’ll get attacked by three White Dragons.
8 – White Dragon Key Battle
When you enter this room, you’ll witness Modthryth talking to a White Dragon about becoming a Dracolich, and you’ll record this conversation as Journal Entry 67. Then everybody will notice you, and you’ll get attacked by three White Dragons and nine Zhentil Mages. After the battle you’ll find a Long Sword +4, a mage scroll, a Short Sword +2, a Wand of Ice Storm, 100 platinum, 50 gems, and 25 pieces of jewelry. You’ll also find a Silver Key, which you’ll need for a door in the northern part of the aerie (#15).
9 – Skeleton-Filled Room
If you search through the skeletons in this room, then you’ll find a Short Sword +4.
10 – Green Dragon Key Battle
When you enter this room you’ll see a Green Dragon give Modthryth an amphora full of vampire blood, and you’ll record the scene as Journal Entry 61. Then the Green Dragons will decide that you shouldn’t be there, and four of them will attack you. Afterwards, you’ll find a Flail +4, a Long Sword +1, Ring Mail +4, 100 platinum, 20 gems, and 2 pieces of jewelry. You’ll also find a Copper Key, which you’ll need for a door in the northern part of the aerie (#15).
11 – Zhentil Mage Battle
At this location you’ll spot Modthryth with some Zhentil Mages. Modthryth will retreat, but he’ll also order the mages to attack you, and you’ll have to face 11 of them.
12 – Black Dragon Key Battle
In this room you’ll spot the Black Dragon who won the duel earlier (at #3), plus a few of his friends. The dragons won’t notice you, which will give you a chance to leave if you want to. When you eventually do attack the dragons, you’ll face six of them, but they’ll start out nicely clumped together, making them easy targets for a Delayed Blast Fireball or two. After the battle you’ll find a Dart of the Hornet’s Nest, a Mace +3, a Wand of Paralyzation, 200 platinum, 150 gems, and 18 pieces of jewelry. You’ll also find a Black Iron Key, which you’ll need for a door in the northern part of the aerie (#15).
13 – Dragon Corpses
You’ll discover numerous dragon corpses in a pit in this room. If you burn the corpses, then you’ll gain some xp, but you’ll also get attacked by a Blue Dragon, three Green Dragons, and two White Dragons.
14 – Poisonous Snake Battle
When you enter this room, Modthryth will order eight Poisonous Snakes to attack you, and then he’ll leave again.
15 – Locked Doors
When you reach these doors, you’ll discover that they have four locks on them. The game will give you options for “force,” “pick” and “knock,” but as far as we’re aware, the only way you’ll be able to open the doors is to use the keys being held by dragons in the aerie (#5, #8, #10, #12).
16 – Modthryth and Dracoliches
Inside this room you’ll finally get to attack Modthryth (a Black Mage) plus his two Dracolich bodyguards. The Dracoliches are much more dangerous than Modthryth, so focus your attacks on them as much as possible, and only hit Modthryth when you need to disrupt him. Dracoliches are immune to fire and lightning spells — and probably more — but you can hit them with Blade Barriers and Magic Missiles, and between those and your fighters, you should be able to take them out in a round or two.
After the battle you’ll find a Battle Axe +4, 10 Bolts +3, Leather Armor +4, a Scroll of Protection from Dragon Breath, 1000 platinum, 400 gems, and 16 pieces of jewelry. Defeating Modthryth will also open the way to Thorne’s Cave (Exit B).
