The Stones Run Red

The Stones Run Red is the 1st quest in The Fire Caves 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 Stones Run Red • Brood of Flame

Khyber, the Dragon Below, is more than a myth to the monstrous races of Eberron. Dark cults worship the wyrm, erecting massive sacrificial altars in its name.

Requires access to adventure pack
Definition: Adventure Pack
A list of all adventure packs
: Three-Barrel Cove

The Stones Run Red
Heroic level:	5
Epic level:	None
Duration:	Long
Heroic XP:	♣2,140Solo/Casual ♦3,833Normal ♥4,100Hard ♠4,366Elite
Epic XP:	N/A
Takes place in:	The Fire Caves
Bestowed by:	Idas
NPC contact:	Idas
Quest acquired in:	Three-Barrel Cove
Patron:	The Free Agents
Base favor:	4
Purchase:	Three-Barrel Cove or VIP
Extreme Challenge:	No

Loading screen

Overview

Go to the fire mountain north of Three Barrel Cove. From the cliffside road, the path winds through orc territory, but perhaps there is also a safer path around the orcs. From the top of the fire mountain, descend into the Fire Caves. Then defeat the Ogre High Shaman, Mak-Murug and destroy all the altars to the Dragon Below that he has erected.

Spoiler Warning: Spoiler material below this point!

Objectives

Slay High Shaman Mak-Murug.
Destroy the altars of the Dragon Below (3 total)

What to Expect

Spawning/respawning monsters

Tips and Misc

This quest is full of lava; make sure to bring the best fire resistance you can get.
Destroying the altars counts towards your 'monsters slain' (kill) bonus, not your breakables; several fire mephits spawn when you attack them, but killing them doesn't count towards any bonus.
You can actually target the first altar by the southern lever, return to the bridge across the lava, and range it from there, so you don't have to worry about the spawning fire mephits. You can then target and range the mephits from the middle of the bridge (near the pillar), if you wish to get the collectable beyond.
Despite the giant padlock on the door leading to the first set of shrines, it's unlocked; the door to the second set of shrines, however, is locked. (Lock DCs)
There are two doors near the second shrine: the "high road" across from the shrine, which leads to Mak-Murug, and the "low road" to the south, leading to the final altar. It's possible to range the altar from where Mak-Murug was standing and skip the low road entirely (unless you really, really want that Adventurer's Pack down there...).
There is nothing in the southern lobe other than the mushroom at the top of the ledges (and it's a long hop-climb up) and the exit rope.
The Ogre Shaman can cast Blind, so bring some blindness removal potions.

Bonus XP

Discreet bonus: 4 or fewer monsters killed +5% Bonus.( ♣107 ♦192 ♥205 ♠218 )
Aggression bonus: 8 or more monsters killed +10% Bonus.( ♣214 ♦383 ♥410 ♠437 )
Onslaught bonus: 15 or more monsters killed +15% Bonus.( ♣321 ♦575 ♥615 ♠655 )
Conquest bonus: 23 or more monsters killed +25% Bonus.( ♣535 ♦958 ♥1,025 ♠1,092 )

Notes: Fire Mephits spawned by altars only count as one kill per altar.

External Links

Loot

Chests: 3
- One in the room to the west, on the lower level of the lava room
- One behind the second altar
- One by Mak-Murug
Collectables: 9
- Crude Altar — near the first altar
- Mushroom — in the room to the west, on the lower level of the first lava room
- Adventurer's Pack — along the northern walkway on the lower level of the first lava room
- Mushroom — near the second altar
- Adventurer's Pack — on a ledge to the north, on the high road
- Mushroom — on a ledge to the west, on the high road
- Cabinet — near Mak-Murug
- Mushroom — on a ledge above Mak-Murug; you need to continue past his alcove and keep climbing up.
- Adventurer's Pack — north of the third altar, near the lava flow

NPC end rewards

No reward when turning in the quest.

Monsters

Name ^{( picture )}	CR	Type	Race
Altar of the Dragon Below ^{( view • edit )}	0	Construct	Inanimate Object
Fire Mephit ^{( view • edit )}	♦3Normal ♥5Hard ♠8Elite OR Summoned by another mephit: ♦3Normal ♥3Hard ♠3Elite	Fire Outsider	Mephit
Gray Ooze ^{( view • edit )}	♦4Normal ♥6Hard ♠9Elite	Ooze	Gray Ooze
Greater Hell Hound ^{( view • edit )}	♦5Normal	Evil Outsider	Hellhound
High Shaman Mak-Murug ^{( view • edit )}	♦5Normal ♠12Elite	Giant	Ogre
Large Fire Elemental ^{( view • edit )}	♦5Normal ♥7Hard ♠9Elite	Elemental	Fire Elemental
Lesser Gray Ooze ^{( view • edit )}	♦2Normal ♥4Hard ♠6Elite	Ooze	Gray Ooze
Ogre Shaman ^{( view • edit )}	♦5Normal ♥7Hard ♠10Elite	Giant	Ogre
Ogre ^{( view • edit )}	♦3Normal ♥5Hard ♠8Elite	Giant	Ogre