The Lost Thread

{{Quest in King's Forest
 * name= The Lost Thread
 * level= 21
 * duration= Medium
 * xp={{xpcolors|solo=13,079|normal=17060|hard=??|elite=??}}
 * loc= Abandoned Temple,
 * npc= Cormul Haythorne
 * zone= Eveningstar
 * patron= Purple Dragon Knights
 * favor= 8
 * free=
 * epic= yes
 * extreme=
 * mappic=M_lost_thread.png
 * maplegend=yes

Ana Brabener was captured by the Drow in the woods while she was searching for the Thread of the Weave. Go to the abandoned Temple of Mystra deep in the King's Forest and try to rescue Ana. Take the left fork out of Eveningstar, travel past a mill building with a rest shrine, and then go east through the swamp. Unlocking collars is a straight strength check, or skill + d20.
 * overview=
 * obj=
 * Search for a sign of Ana
 * Search for Ana in the temple
 * Continue your search for Ana
 * Remove Ana's slave collar
 * Take Ana to safety
 * (Optional) Free a slave (2.6%)
 * (Optional) Free five more slaves (5.3%)
 * (Optional) Free ten more slaves (13.3%)
 * (Optional) Be a real hero, free twenty more slaves (13.3%)
 * (Optional) Free the captured War Wizard (5.3%)
 * traps=
 * bear traps
 * spell wards
 * fire jets (cannot be disarmed?)
 * misc=
 * Concentration: casual 46 succeeded, normal 53 succeeded, hard 58-60
 * Strength: normal 50 succeeded, elite : 55 failed 56 succeeded
 * Open Lock: normal 52 failed
 * UMD: normal 40-42, hard 46-47
 * Repair: hard 65 failed

Eldrin Szind will run to each corner of the archive and cast two each of water elementals, air elementals, salamander firebrands, and steadfast armor. To avoid him sacrificing any prisoners it is best to enter via the hidden passage.

The puzzle has a toggling feature, in that one lever may open one door, but if the another lever is flipped, the previous one may open another door. This is do-able with a hire/pet. I did not write down my exact step-by-step, so I'll leave it for another trip through here or someone else who's better at describing puzzles.
 * The levers toggle the following doors:
 * The upper cell lever #a operate the first gate to the right #A.
 * The upper lever #1 operate the gate infront of the ramp #B.
 * The upper lever #2 opens the final door #G and the final exit past #E, though it also closes a door #D in between.
 * The upper lever #3 toggle the gate #F in between.
 * The lower lever #4 operate directly the gate #C next to it with the trapped war wizard.
 * The lower lever #5 operate the gate #D close to it, to open the passage modified by lever #2.
 * The lower lever #6 operate the final gate #E, to leave this room, as well as gate #B (see lever #1).
 * If you manage to get yourself trapped between doors, a sufficient jump skill may allow you to climb on the furthest cell lever and up to the wall. While you cannot go back into the main room this way, you can get back to the second set of three levers and free yourself.
 * From S1M0N5 on the forums: Lever 1 & 3 down then lever 5 & 6 down gets you through the gates to continue the quest. If you do lever 4 down before 5 & 6 you unlock the room with the War Wizard Orange name and his Slaver, kill the Slaver and release the Wizard then go back out and flip 4 again then 5 & 6 and you're through. As far as I can tell you can't get the other slaves without another party member or a hire.

Killing the nearby slaver (hidden until damaged or spotted) will cause the slaves to stop attacking. However, if another slaver enters range, they will become aggressive again.

Ana has a few options that allow you to control her motions. Basic commands are: "Follow", "Stay here", "Go Back". For the backtracking option, Ana will teleport back to the last rest shrine you have visited with her.

Defeating Phargred Avithoul (dungeon boss) will allow you to uncollar the villagers and purple knights that assist in the battle. While killing the villagers that are under duress will not hurt you (no hit to XP), you won't be able to complete the optional. {{XP bonus|n1=|n2=|n3=|k1=>52|k2=|k3=|t1=|t2=|t3=19|s1=|s2=2|s3=|b1=>37|b2=55|b3=}}
 * chest=4
 * 1 east for defeating Eldrin Szind - contains Weathered Key
 * 1 north for defeating Odezzt Avithoul
 * 1 west behind a secret door
 * 1 End Chest - can drop Commendations


 * npcreward= ML~20 items

Named loot

 * Ancient Gemstone - Docent: (Adamantine Body +20 / Mithral Body +9 / Composite Plating +3) +6, Constitution +7, Resistance +6, Good Luck +2 [ML:20, BTAoA] (Chest Loot: End Chest) (upgradeable to add Eveningstar item set effects)
 * Archaic Device - Runearm: Force Shot, Max Charge Tier V, Rune Arm Imbue: Force IV, Potency +60, Protection +6, Elemental Absorption 5% [ML:20, BTCoA] (Chest Loot: End Chest)

Monster Information }}
 * unique=
 * monsters=
 * Drow Slavers, Archers, Warriors
 * Collared Villagers (stop being hostile when slavers are slain)
 * Purple Dragon Knights, orange (stop being hostile when slavers are slain)
 * Salamander Firebrands
 * Steadfast Armor (similar to Animated Armor)
 * Swarmhorde Spider
 * War Wizard, orange (stops being hostile when slaver is slain)
 * Water Elementals
 * Eldrin Szind, red named drow summoner. CR 23/?/?
 * Odezzt Avithoul, red named drow. CR 23/?/?
 * Phargred Avithoul  - red named drider. CR24/?/?