Game mechanics • Newbie guide • In development • DDO Store • Social Media
Challenges • Classes • Collectables • Crafting • Enhancements • Epic Destinies • Favor • Feats
Glossary • Items • Maps • Monsters • Places • Quests • Races • Reincarnation • Skills • Spells
Please create an account or log in to build a reputation and unlock more editing privileges, and then visit DDO wiki's IRC Chat/Discord if you need any help!
Strike Back
The Drow of Sschindylryn are launching attacks against the Dwarves from a fortified stronghold nearby.
![]()
|
Strike Back | |
Heroic level: | 15 |
Epic level: | 31 (considered Legendary) |
Duration: | medium |
Heroic XP: | ♣3,217Solo/Casual ♦5,591Normal ♥5,820Hard ♠6,048Elite |
Epic XP: | ♣15,429Solo/Casual ♦26,368Normal ♥27,020Hard ♠27,672Elite |
Takes place in: | Drow Stronghold |
Bestowed by: | Gunhild the Watchful |
NPC contact: | Gunhild the Watchful |
Quest acquired in: | Tethyamar Mining Outpost |
Patron: | The Harpers |
Base favor: | 5 |
Free to Play: | No |
Extreme Challenge: | No |
Overview
The Drow of Schindylryn keep interfering with the Dwarves' mining expeditions in Tethyamar. Now that Gunhild has located their Outpost, it is time to take the fight to them!
Infiltrate the Drow outpost and kill Priestess Argith so they will stop harming the Dwarves.
- This is the fourth of five quests. The quests can be run in any order; however, the first four are required to flag for the final quest.
Objectives
- Defeat the Drow High Priestess
- Find a way inside the Drow stronghold
- (Optional) Save the Dwarves from slavery — Bonus (20%): Heroic( ♣643 ♦1,118 ♥1,164 ♠1,210 ) Epic( ♣3,086 ♦5,274 ♥5,404 ♠5,534 )
- (Optional) Keep every Dwarf alive. — Bonus (20%): Heroic( ♣643 ♦1,118 ♥1,164 ♠1,210 ) Epic( ♣3,086 ♦5,274 ♥5,404 ♠5,534 )
- (Optional) Clear the way and help the slaves escape. — Bonus (35%): Heroic( ♣1,126 ♦1,957 ♥2,037 ♠2,117 ) Epic( ♣5,400 ♦9,229 ♥9,457 ♠9,685 )
- (Optional) Slay Bulbossmos. — Bonus (10%): Heroic( ♣322 ♦559 ♥582 ♠605 ) Epic( ♣1,543 ♦2,637 ♥2,702 ♠2,767 )
What to Expect
- Spell Wards
- Respawning mobs
Known Traps
- Three Spell Wards on the bridge; can be disabled by speaking to Lieutenant Rauva and convincing her you belong there.
- Another spell ward in the cavern beyond; seems to be a one-shot that disappears after being triggered.
- Another spell ward inside the fortress; can be skirted by sticking to the east/south wall.
Tips and Misc
- Before the stronghold
- East of the entrance are some Umber Hulks. Killing them awards a letter regarding "The Black Network" that guarantees safe passage into the fortress (see below), and a collectable.
- North of the entrance is an optional slave master waiting to be killed for some XP.
- Killing the slavemaster will free the dwarves; however, the rest of the drow need to also be killed to complete the optional.
- Entering the stronghold
- There are multiple ways to enter the stronghold
- Ring the bell and chat with the drow. This will disable the traps on the bridge and in the entryway of the stronghold without giving trap bonus. Additionally, NPCs along this route will go inactive temporarily. Note that they still need to be killed to complete the "Save the Dwarves from Slavery" optional.
- If you find the letter with the Umber Hulks, informing her that you're from the Black Network will automatically succeed.
- Just charge through the bridge. Not recommended unless you have a strong party, including somebody to disable the traps.
- There's a cave in the northern section of the tar field.
- The rusty door at the end requires Strength check to open it directly; requiring a Minimum Strength value of 50 to open (it shows the actual Minimum Strength value required on the Gate itself, if focused upon). However, a Lever right next to it seems to work if your Strength check is 25. Those two Strength check values are static and don't change regardless of Heroic/Epic difficulty.
- Sneaking in this way requires at least one character to do some jumping up to ledges to get up the shaft; there's a lever at the top to drop the ladder for those more gravitationally-inclined.
- Bulbossmos may appear in the southern section.
- If your entire party is stealthy enough, this option may be ideal for a quick completion.
- Ring the bell and chat with the drow. This will disable the traps on the bridge and in the entryway of the stronghold without giving trap bonus. Additionally, NPCs along this route will go inactive temporarily. Note that they still need to be killed to complete the "Save the Dwarves from Slavery" optional.
- Through the barracks
- If you can open locks, you don't need to open any of the doors in the barracks, except the locked one leading west.
- If you cannot open locks, you need to search for the several metallic keys: Iron for the Slave Quarters, Silver for the first door west to the 'Training Yard' (which can be bypassed by the secret doors to Ildan Argith), and Gold for the final door west. These can be found (randomly) in the side rooms: the barracks, the eastern storage room, or Ildan Argith's chamber.
- After talking to the leader of the slaves, any drow patrolling the corridors as well as the bridge will show up as red marks on your map.
- All the breakables you need for ransack are in the two storage rooms off the northern corridor.
- The cave tunnel from the tar field leads up to the central room off the northern hallway in this area. Any character can lower the ladder via the lever here, however opening the gate at the bottom still requires the same Strength DC check no matter which side you open that from.
- In the western room is a secret door; behind it is a corridor, guarded by phase spiders, that leads to shrines and Ildan Argith's chamber. The secret door between his chamber and the hallway is much easier to search out than the one from the storage room.
- Note that the drow patrolling the corridors are very single-minded; if you're in a room as they walk by, they won't even notice you, even if you're not sneaking.
- Gold Key may be in Captain Zyn's chest
- Officer quarters
- Again, head straight west if you can open locks; if you can't, you need to take a detour north.
- If you're coming from Ildan Argith's chamber (with or without the gold key), you can just head straight to the door - no need even for sneaking. Be sure to open the door from off to the side, however, as there are drow just beyond. If you don't fight until you're inside the corridor, the drow inside the large room will not aggro on you.
- End fight
- High priestess Talice has recruited some spiders (phasing on higher difficulties).
- She can drain your levels, so be sure to bring Death Ward.
- She will teleport around, making the fight difficult for melee characters. Phase spiders will continually respawn during the fight as well; the best method may be to head up to the ledge above her portal and range her.
- The end-chest spawns at the resurrection shrine, where you first saw Talice.
- Note that spiders will continue to respawn after the quest is over; loot quickly and get out. Running back to the shrine seems to shake them.
- Sarah won't leave until Anders is freed.
- Once you find and speak with Anders, you will need to clear the fort's bridge entrance of enemies.
- The map will actively mark with red dots the enemies that need to be killed for this optional to be completed. Not all the enemies in the area are part of the optional, though you are likely going to aggravate the rest while completing it. The Dungeon Master will alert you when the optional is completed.
- You must return to and speak with Anders a second time to complete the optional.
- Although her dialogue implies you need to go back to speak with her after Anders is freed, Sarah actually de-spawns along with Anders and the other slaves when you speak with him the second time.
Bonus XP
- Devious bonus: 4-24 or fewer monsters killed +7% Bonus.( ♣225 ♦391 ♥407 ♠423 )
- Discreet bonus: 25+ or fewer monsters killed +5% Bonus.( ♣161 ♦280 ♥291 ♠302 )
- Aggression bonus: 86-87 or more monsters killed +10% Bonus.( ♣322 ♦559 ♥582 ♠605 )
- Onslaught bonus: 110 or more monsters killed +15% Bonus.( ♣483 ♦839 ♥873 ♠907 )
- Conquest bonus: >137 or more monsters killed +25% Bonus.( ♣804 ♦1,398 ♥1,455 ♠1,512 )
- Tamper bonus: 3 or more traps disarmed +10% Bonus.( ♣322 ♦559 ♥582 ♠605 )
- Ingenious Debilitation bonus: 4? or more traps disarmed +30% Bonus.( ♣965 ♦1,677 ♥1,746 ♠1,814 )
- Observance bonus: 1 or more secret door discovered +8% Bonus.( ♣257 ♦447 ♥466 ♠484 )
- Mischief bonus: 26 or more breakables smashed +8% Bonus.( ♣257 ♦447 ♥466 ♠484 )
- Vandal bonus: 34 or more breakables smashed +10% Bonus.( ♣322 ♦559 ♥582 ♠605 )
- Ransack bonus: 41 or more breakables smashed +15% Bonus.( ♣483 ♦839 ♥873 ♠907 )
- Notes: Achieving "conquest" requires not only killing everything in the outpost, but also respawning spiders during the endfight.
Loot
- Chests: Three
- 1 chest in barracks (also contains Silver Key)
- 1 chest for defeating Bulbossmos
- 1 chest for defeating Ildan Argith or Captain Zyn (also contains Gold Key)
- 1 end chest, may contain named items
- Collectables: Four
- Adventurer's Pack in the northeast corner
- Fungus in the southern section of the sewer
- Cabinet in Ildan Ardith's chamber
- Adventurer's Pack in Captain Zyn's chamber
- NPC rewards: Standard level-appropriate items; no renown on Legendary.
Named Chest Drop
Last Edited | Item | Type | Enhancements | ML | Bind | Quests |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Light Boltslinger (edit) | Repeating Light Crossbow |
|
15 | Bound to Account on Acquire![]() |
Strike Back, End Chest |
|
Pendant of Hidden Tools (edit) | Necklace |
|
15 | Bound to Account on Acquire![]() |
Strike Back, End chest |
|
Deep Arcanum (edit) | Outfit |
|
15 | Bound to Account on Acquire![]() |
Graveyard Shift, End chest; Strike Back, End chest |
|
Forge (edit) | War Hammer |
|
15 | Bound to Account on Acquire![]() |
Strike Back, End chest |
|
Legendary Forge (edit) | War Hammer |
|
28 | Bound to Account on Acquire![]() |
Strike Back, End chest |
|
Legendary Pendant of Hidden Tools (edit) | Necklace |
|
28 | Bound to Account on Acquire![]() |
Strike Back, End chest |
|
Legendary Deep Arcanum (edit) | Clothing |
|
28 | Bound to Account on Acquire![]() |
Graveyard Shift, End chest; Strike Back, End chest |
|
Legendary Light Boltslinger (edit) | Repeating Light Crossbow |
|
28 | Bound to Account on Acquire![]() |
Strike Back, End Chest |
Monsters
Name ( picture • New Monster ) | CR | Type | Race |
---|---|---|---|
Battle Horror ( view • edit ) | ●♦33Epic Normal | Construct | Helmed Horror |
Bulbossmos ( view • edit ) | ♦18Normal | Evil Outsider | Demon |
Captain Zyn ( view • edit ) | ♦18Normal ♠23Elite | Elf | Drow Elf |
Deep Crawler ( view • edit ) | ♦15Normal ♥17Hard ♠20Elite ●♦31Epic Normal ●♥35Epic Hard | Vermin | Spider |
Draegloth Guardian ( view • edit ) | ♦15Normal ♥17Hard ♠20Elite | Evil Outsider | Demon |
Dretch ( view • edit ) | ♦15Normal ♥17Hard ♠15/17/20Elite ●♦31Epic Normal ●♥35Epic Hard | Evil Outsider | Demon |
Drider Warrior ( view • edit ) | ♦17Normal ♥20Hard ♠24Elite ●♦33Epic Normal ●♥37Epic Hard ●♠59Epic Elite | Aberration | Drider |
Drow Ritualist ( view • edit ) | ♦16Normal ♥19Hard ♠23Elite ●♦32Epic Normal | Elf | Drow Elf |
Drow Warpriestess ( view • edit ) | ♦17Normal ♥20Hard ♠24Elite ●♦33Epic Normal ●♥37Epic Hard ●♠59Epic Elite | Elf | Drow Elf |
Dwarven Miner ( view • edit ) | ♦15Normal ♥17Hard ♠20Elite ●♦31Epic Normal ●♥35Epic Hard ●♠55Epic Elite | Dwarf | Dwarf |
Ildan Argith ( view • edit ) | ♦18Normal ♠23Elite | Elf | Drow Elf |
Lieutenant Rauva ( view • edit ) | ♦16Normal ♠21Elite | Elf | Drow Elf |
Ogre Battle Thrall ( view • edit ) | ♦15Normal ♥17Hard ♠20Elite | Giant | Ogre |
Outpost Archer ( view • edit ) | ♦16Normal ♥19Hard ♠23Elite ●♦32Epic Normal | Elf | Drow Elf |
Outpost Guard ( view • edit ) | ♦16Normal ♥19Hard ♠23Elite ●♦32Epic Normal ●♥36Epic Hard ●♠57Epic Elite | Elf | Drow Elf |
Phase Spider ( view • edit ) | ♦7Normal ♥9Hard ♠12Elite | Magical Beast | Spider |
Ravenous Umber Hulk ( view • edit ) | ♦15Normal ♥17Hard ♠20Elite ●♦31Epic Normal ●♥35Epic Hard ●♠55Epic Elite | Aberration | Umber Hulk |
Slave master Velkas ( view • edit ) | ♦17Normal ♠22Elite | Elf | Drow Elf |
Talice Argith ( view • edit ) | ♦18Normal ♠23Elite | Elf | Drow Elf |
Drow Stronghold quests
The Mines of Tethyamar quests
DDOwiki maintenance categories
DDOwiki meta > DDOwiki metacategories
DDOwiki metacategories
Root > DDO game guides > Maps > Quests with maps
Root > DDO library
Root > DDOwiki meta
Root > DDOwiki meta > DDOwiki metacategories > Quests > Epic quests
Root > DDOwiki meta > DDOwiki metacategories > Quests > Pay to Play quests
Root > DDOwiki meta > DDOwiki metacategories > Quests > Quests by duration > Medium quests
Root > DDOwiki meta > DDOwiki metacategories > Quests > Quests by favor reward > Quests with 5 base favor reward
Root > DDOwiki meta > DDOwiki metacategories > Quests > Quests by level > DDO Compendium > Compendium:Level 15 (31 epic) quests
Root > DDOwiki meta > DDOwiki metacategories > Quests > Quests by level > Level 15 quests
Root > DDOwiki meta > DDOwiki metacategories > Quests > Quests by level > Level 31 quests
Root > DDOwiki meta > DDOwiki metacategories > Quests > Quests by location > Tethyamar Mining Outpost quests
Root > DDOwiki meta > DDOwiki metacategories > Quests > Quests by name
Root > DDOwiki meta > DDOwiki metacategories > Quests > Quests by patron > The Harpers patron quests