Setting the Wards: The Lower Cathedral

Setting the Wards: The Lower Cathedral is the 6th quest in The Catacombs story arcStory arcs are chains of quests that make up a story line. Completing everything in a story arc often yields a nice reward..
The Friar's Niece • To Find a Witness: Archbishop Dryden • Return to the Sanctuary • The Old Archives • The Crypt of Gerard Dryden • Setting the Wards: The Lower Cathedral • Setting the Wards: The Patriarchs' Crypt • Endgame: Marguerite • Endgame: The Archbishop's Fate

Purify the defiled altars of the Lower Cathedral to reach the Patriarchs' Crypt.

Requires access to adventure pack
Definition: Adventure Pack
A list of all adventure packs
: The Catacombs

Setting the Wards: The Lower Cathedral
Heroic level:	3
Epic level:	23
Duration:	Medium
Heroic XP:	♣456Solo/Casual ♦820Normal ♥880Hard ♠940Elite
Epic XP:	♣9,963Solo/Casual ♦17,132Normal ♥17,659Hard ♠18,185Elite
Takes place in:	Lower Cathedral
Bestowed by:	Archbishop Dryden
NPC contact:	Archbishop Dryden
Quest acquired in:	Catacombs
Patron:	The Silver Flame
Base favor:	3
Purchase:	The Catacombs or VIP
Extreme Challenge:	No

Loading screen

Overview

Enter the lower Cathedral and purify the altars to enter the Patriarch's Crypt.

Spoiler Warning: Spoiler material below this point!

Objectives

Purify the altar of the Winged Serpent (western altar)
Purify the altar of the Avenging Maiden (eastern altar)
Purify the altar of the Conflagration (northern altar)
Slay the guardians of the main altar
Purify the main altar

What to Expect

Traps (fixed, some don't require rogue skills to be disarmed)
Contains the entrance to another quest (to Setting the Wards: The Patriarchs' Crypt)

Known Traps

Spot and Search DCs for Traps
Disable Device DCs

Skill DCs and pictures of all traps and control panel locations can be found in the above links by hovering over the description text.
Frost traps. Left and right of hallway after the shrine. Two control panels, one for left, one for right.
Blade traps covering the gate levers in the north hallway. Two control panels, one for left, one for right.
Spike traps in the eastern corridor. Two control panels, one for left, one for right. Alternatively, they can be disabled by the levers on top of the wall; Note that unless you have a high jump, this will require jumping on the vase there.

Tips and Misc

When you enter the quest, you'll find a resurrection shrine and a rest shrine engulfed in a bright glowing field. This field will instantly destroy any undead that touch it, but other creatures can walk freely through it. Leading the more powerful undead back to this area is a good way to get rid of them. Note, though, that undead with ranged attacks can still freely fire into the aura; they just cannot walk into it themselves.
If you don't smash the vases, you can jump on them and then over the wall to avoid the first frost traps. Alternatively, you can use the fountain for the same purpose.
Each altar is guarded by a wight priest and several undead. Once you've killed the wight, the field drops. The rest of the undead will automatically die if you can activate the altar. This only affects any undead which have "awoken" at the time of purification, not those who are currently inactive.
Be careful with large AOE spells near the altars! Breaking vases in these rooms can summon an Undead Rat or Corrupted Spiderling which could overwhelm players soloing higher difficulties at-level.
You may want to uncheck the box in your UI settings "Combat takes precedence over non-combat" if you are attempting to purify the altars without killing the spawned creatures.
Once you purify the main altar, go back to the start and there is an exit to the next chapter. If you leave this mission, you can get into the next chapter through a door in the catacombs just like previous missions. The next chapter is Setting the Wards: The Patriarchs' Crypt

Bonus XP

Discreet bonus: 11 or fewer monsters killed +5% Bonus.( ♣23 ♦41 ♥44 ♠47 )
Aggression bonus: 29 or more monsters killed +10% Bonus.( ♣46 ♦82 ♥88 ♠94 )
Onslaught bonus: 38 or more monsters killed +15% Bonus.( ♣68 ♦123 ♥132 ♠141 )
Conquest bonus: 47 or more monsters killed +25% Bonus.( ♣114 ♦205 ♥220 ♠235 )
Tamper bonus: 3 or more traps disarmed +10% Bonus.( ♣46 ♦82 ♥88 ♠94 )
Neutralization bonus: 4 or more traps disarmed +20% Bonus.( ♣91 ♦164 ♥176 ♠188 )
Ingenious Debilitation bonus: 5 or more traps disarmed +30% Bonus.( ♣137 ♦246 ♥264 ♠282 )
Mischief bonus: 35 or more breakables smashed +8% Bonus.( ♣36 ♦66 ♥70 ♠75 )
Vandal bonus: 46 or more breakables smashed +10% Bonus.( ♣46 ♦82 ♥88 ♠94 )
Ransack bonus: 61 or more breakables smashed +15% Bonus.( ♣68 ♦123 ♥132 ♠141 )

Notes: To get the conquest bonus, purification of the altars must be delayed to allow some respawns. The insidious cunning and devious bonuses are unobtainable due to the 7 required kills.

Loot

Chests: 2
- 1 near one of the three minor altars (can spawn in multiple locations)
- 1 at the end for purifying the main altar (found at the entrance to the next chapter and may contain named loot)
Collectables: Three
- Bookshelf by the western altar
- Adventurer's Pack by the northern altar
- Moss along northern wall on way to the eastern altar
NPC rewards: None

Named Chest Drop

Last Edited	Item	Type	Enhancements	ML	Bind	Quests
Update 53.0.2 1 year, 2 months, and 16 days PurpleSerpent	Pillar of Light ^(edit)	Quarterstaff	Spellcasting Implement +2Spellcasting Implement +2: Passive: +2 Implement bonus to Universal Spell Power. +2 Enhancement Bonus+2 Enhancement Bonus: +2 enhancement bonus to attack and damage rolls. Silver Flame Lore +6%Silver Flame Lore +6: Passive: Your Positive, Light, and Alignment spells gain a 6% Equipment bonus to their chance to critical hit. Power of the Silver Flame +43Power of the Silver Flame +43: Passive: +43 Equipment bonus to Positive, Light, and Alignment Spell Power. Holy 1Holy 1: This weapon is wielded by the pure to smite the wicked, dealing an additional 1d6 good damage on each hit. This effect makes the weapon good aligned. Evil characters wielding this weapon will suffer one negative level. Orange Augment Slot: EmptyOrange Augments Named: Category:Orange augments Yellow Augments Named: Category:Yellow augments Deathblock Elemental Resistance: +5 to +45 Immunity: Fear, Blindness Movement: Feather Falling, Striding: +10% to +30%, Swiftness +5% to +15%, Underwater Action Proof Against Disease, Poison: +2 to +10 Spell Focus, Greater Spell Focus (Enhancement bonus) Spell points (Enhancement bonus): +19 to +294 Damage: +1 to +11 Spell penetration: +1 to +9 Red Augments Named: Category:Red augments DR bypass: Alignment, Material Elemental damage: +1d6 to +9d6 Spell Power (Enhancement bonus): +38 to +153 Colorless Augments Named: Category:Colorless augments Ability (Enhancement bonus): +1 to +14 Ability (Exceptional bonus): +1 Ability (Insight bonus): +5 Skills, except UMD (Competence bonus): +5 to +20 Searing LightSearing Light Caster level: 5 Charges: 1 (1/day) — 1 Charges (Recharged/Day:1)	2	Bound to Account on AcquireBound to Account on Acquire: This item is Bound to Account on Acquire	Setting the Wards: The Lower Cathedral, End Chest
Update 45.3 3 years, 2 months, and 22 days LrdSlvrhnd	Ring of the Archbishop ^(edit)	Ring	Wizardry +41 Wizardry +41: +41 Enhancement bonus to spell points. Heal +5Heal +5: Passive: +5 Competence bonus to the Heal skill. Colorless Augment Slot: EmptyColorless Augments Named: Category:Colorless augments Ability (Enhancement bonus): +1 to +14 Ability (Exceptional bonus): +1 Ability (Insight bonus): +5 Skills, except UMD (Competence bonus): +5 to +20	3	Bound to Account on AcquireBound to Account on Acquire: This item is Bound to Account on Acquire	Setting the Wards: The Lower Cathedral, End chest
Update 48.2 2 years, 5 months, and 24 days BugTime	Silver Flame Bracers ^(edit)	Bracers	Protection from EvilProtection from Evil Caster level: 1 Charges: 3 (3/day) — 3 Charges (Recharged/Day:3) Protection +2Protection +2: Passive: +2 Deflection bonus to Armor Class. Yellow Augment Slot: EmptyYellow Augments Named: Category:Yellow augments Deathblock Elemental Resistance: +5 to +45 Immunity: Fear, Blindness Movement: Feather Falling, Striding: +10% to +30%, Swiftness +5% to +15%, Underwater Action Proof Against Disease, Poison: +2 to +10 Spell Focus, Greater Spell Focus (Enhancement bonus) Spell points (Enhancement bonus): +19 to +294 Damage: +1 to +11 Spell penetration: +1 to +9 Colorless Augments Named: Category:Colorless augments Ability (Enhancement bonus): +1 to +14 Ability (Exceptional bonus): +1 Ability (Insight bonus): +5 Skills, except UMD (Competence bonus): +5 to +20	3	Bound to Account on AcquireBound to Account on Acquire: This item is Bound to Account on Acquire	Setting the Wards: The Lower Cathedral, End chest
Update 48.2 2 years, 5 months, and 24 days BugTime	Epic Silver Flame Bracers ^(edit)	Bracers	RestorationRestoration Caster level: 7 Charges: 3 (3/day) — 3 Charges (Recharged/Day:3) Protection +9Protection +9: Passive: +9 Deflection bonus to Armor Class. Radiance Lore +18%Radiance Lore +18: Passive: Your Light and Aligned spells gain a 18% Equipment bonus to their chance to critical hit. Radiance +122Radiance +122: Passive: +122 Equipment bonus to Light and Alignment Spell Power. Yellow Augment Slot: EmptyYellow Augments Named: Category:Yellow augments Deathblock Elemental Resistance: +5 to +45 Immunity: Fear, Blindness Movement: Feather Falling, Striding: +10% to +30%, Swiftness +5% to +15%, Underwater Action Proof Against Disease, Poison: +2 to +10 Spell Focus, Greater Spell Focus (Enhancement bonus) Spell points (Enhancement bonus): +19 to +294 Damage: +1 to +11 Spell penetration: +1 to +9 Colorless Augments Named: Category:Colorless augments Ability (Enhancement bonus): +1 to +14 Ability (Exceptional bonus): +1 Ability (Insight bonus): +5 Skills, except UMD (Competence bonus): +5 to +20	23	Bound to Account on AcquireBound to Account on Acquire: This item is Bound to Account on Acquire	Setting the Wards: The Lower Cathedral, End Chest
Update 48.2 2 years, 5 months, and 24 days BugTime	Epic Ring of the Archbishop ^(edit)	Ring	Wizardry +220 Wizardry +220: +220 Enhancement bonus to spell points. Heal +18Heal +18: Passive: +18 Competence bonus to the Heal skill. Healing Lore +18%Healing Lore +18: Passive: Your Positive Energy spells gain a 18% Equipment bonus to their chance to critical hit. Devotion +122Devotion +122: Passive: +122 Equipment bonus to Positive (Healing) Spell Power. Colorless Augment Slot: EmptyColorless Augments Named: Category:Colorless augments Ability (Enhancement bonus): +1 to +14 Ability (Exceptional bonus): +1 Ability (Insight bonus): +5 Skills, except UMD (Competence bonus): +5 to +20	23	Bound to Account on AcquireBound to Account on Acquire: This item is Bound to Account on Acquire	Setting the Wards: The Lower Cathedral, End Chest
Update 53.0.2 1 year, 2 months, and 15 days PurpleSerpent	Epic Pillar of Light ^(edit)	Quarterstaff	Spellcasting Implement +23Spellcasting Implement +23: Passive: +23 Implement bonus to Universal Spell Power. +6 Enhancement Bonus+6 Enhancement Bonus: +6 enhancement bonus to attack and damage rolls. Silver Flame Lore +18%Silver Flame Lore +18: Passive: Your Positive, Light, and Alignment spells gain a 18% Equipment bonus to their chance to critical hit. Power of the Silver Flame +122Power of the Silver Flame +122: Passive: +122 Equipment bonus to Positive, Light, and Alignment Spell Power. Holy 5Holy 5: This weapon is wielded by the pure to smite the wicked, dealing an additional 5d6 good damage on each hit. This effect makes the weapon good aligned. Evil characters wielding this weapon will suffer one negative level. Hallowed +11Hallowed: An item with this quality assists only wearers who have the ability to turn undead. Hallowed items provide an +11 Enhancement bonus to the maximum Hit Dice of undead turned. Sacred +11Sacred: An item with this quality assists only wearers who have the ability to turn undead. Sacred items provide an +11 Enhancement bonus to your effective level for Turning Undead. Orange Augment Slot: EmptyOrange Augments Named: Category:Orange augments Yellow Augments Named: Category:Yellow augments Deathblock Elemental Resistance: +5 to +45 Immunity: Fear, Blindness Movement: Feather Falling, Striding: +10% to +30%, Swiftness +5% to +15%, Underwater Action Proof Against Disease, Poison: +2 to +10 Spell Focus, Greater Spell Focus (Enhancement bonus) Spell points (Enhancement bonus): +19 to +294 Damage: +1 to +11 Spell penetration: +1 to +9 Red Augments Named: Category:Red augments DR bypass: Alignment, Material Elemental damage: +1d6 to +9d6 Spell Power (Enhancement bonus): +38 to +153 Colorless Augments Named: Category:Colorless augments Ability (Enhancement bonus): +1 to +14 Ability (Exceptional bonus): +1 Ability (Insight bonus): +5 Skills, except UMD (Competence bonus): +5 to +20 Searing LightSearing Light Caster level: 5 Charges: 3 (3/day) — 3 Charges (Recharged/Day:3)	23	Bound to Account on AcquireBound to Account on Acquire: This item is Bound to Account on Acquire	Setting the Wards: The Lower Cathedral, End Chest

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Monsters

Name ^{( picture )}	CR	Type	Race
Corrupted Spiderling ^{( view • edit )}	♦2Normal ♥4Hard ♠7Elite ●♦24Epic Normal	Vermin	Spider
Ghoul ^{( view • edit )}	♦0.5/6Normal ♥2Hard ♠4Elite QL3: ♦1Normal ♥3Hard ♠5Elite ●♦25Epic Normal	Undead	Ghoul
Human Female Zombie ^{( view • edit )}	♦3Normal ♥5Hard ♠8Elite ●♦25Epic Normal ●♠45Epic Elite	Undead	Zombie
Human Zombie ^{( view • edit )}	♦3Normal ♥5Hard ♠8Elite ●♦25Epic Normal ●♠45Epic Elite	Undead	Zombie
Shadow (Mabar) ^{( view • edit )}	♦7Normal ♥9Hard ♠12Elite	Undead	Shadow
Skeleton Archer ^{( view • edit )}	♦2Normal ♥3Hard ♠5Elite ●♦25Epic Normal ●♥29 - 31Epic Hard ●♠45Epic Elite	Undead	Skeleton
Skeleton Knight ^{( view • edit )}	♦4Normal ♥6Hard ♠8Elite ●♦25Epic Normal ●♥31Epic Hard ●♠45Epic Elite	Undead	Skeleton
Skeleton Warrior ^{( view • edit )}	♦0.5/2Normal ♥1/4Hard ♠3/7Elite ●♦25Epic Normal ●♥31Epic Hard ●♠45Epic Elite	Undead	Skeleton
Undead Rat ^{( view • edit )}	♦2Normal ♥4Hard ♠7Elite ●♦7Epic Normal	Animal	Rat
Wight Priest ^{( view • edit )}	♦5Normal ♥7Hard ♠9Elite ●♦25Epic Normal ●♥31Epic Hard	Undead	Wight

External Links