MQ: Escape From the Deep Barrows

Escape From the Deep Barrows

After speaking to Coren about the world's state, you should be on your way to begin your journey.

Two more books on pedestals here. This one is a guide to scavenging. It states that you can pick up simply left clicking. The option to have nearby items display automatically, which is also done by pressing the Tab key. Dragging loot to your inventory and vice versa, and query mode that displays information on objects in the vicinity.

This next pedestal focuses on combat.

The next chamber holds your first combat experience. Dispatch these foes as you see fit. They don't pose much of a threat.

Make sure to equip the armor you get from the bandits you just defeated. It is better than the rags you will be wearing.

If you wander to the right of the chamber, you will find an Altar of the Blue. Ignore this for now as this is for a quest down the line.

The second level will be far bigger than the first map and will hold much greater loot and experience.

Just ahead of you when you ascend, you will come across Stephan and his dog, Riven.

There isn't much you can do for poor Stephan and Riven. All he asks you to do is bring a swift end to Riven as he doesn't want the dog to suffer the poison. There is no consequence to this mission and either way, you will end up fighting Riven as he will succumb to the poison.

Further on, you will come across another book on a pedestal. This will contain information regarding sleeping by using a bedroll or a real bed. Using one over another will have no difference. Bedrolls are also non-consumable so don't think twice about using it to rest.

Sleeping also gives an experience bonus that increases the experience you get from defeated enemies.

It also details the waiting function to pass time (useful for certain quests / NPCs)

In this next chamber, you will find an Ancient Tome in the center. Around it are some corpses. Coren also points out that it shouldn't be touched. We all know better so touch the Ancient Tome. By activating it, you will find out that it is a vitality tome that will add one vitality to your stats. Touching it will also summon a bunch of skeletons. The rest are pretty easy. The mage will teleport around when you deal damage to it.

Further exploring may lead you to this odd scene. Be sure to pick up the items here, especially the Book of Summoning Wishes which is a quest item for later on in the game.

Another pedestal will be seen here that guides you through challenging encounters. Make sure to equip the best gear you have found. Use the bedroll to rest up and gain a little more bonus exp.

Shrade the Spider Queen is the toughest foe you will face just yet. She has more HP than all the enemies you have faced and can also summon spiders to aid her occasionally. Just concentrate on damaging her and she will go down quickly.

Defeating her will give you your first special armor. The Plated Armor of the Spider. This piece of armor is a heavy type and gives some stats along with the "Leap" skill which makes your character leap unto enemies even from far away and stunning the small area in where he lands.

When you exit the Barrows, you will most likely level up from the reward exp. Aside from that, Coren will say a few things so just finish speaking to him.

While speaking with Coren, you will notice some men standing outside. These are people hired to take you down but seem to have been duped on the deal. It is your choice to let him go or fight him. You may get a special melee weapon from Johan if you kill him but it isn't particularly mind-blowing.

The last book here is a guide on leveling up. You get two stat points every time you level up. These points can be spent wherever you want. Take not though that not everyone starts at a level stat distribution. Coren, for example, if you open his Character Sheet screen where his stats are shown, you can see his base stats.

You can also see this by resetting your character's points distribution and checking what stats he has highest when they are reset. This will show you what they are more inclined to.