The Age of Decadence

The Age of Decadence

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Steal everything: A thieves guide to Maadoran
By Marcos_DS and 1 collaborators
WIP/incomplete: Continuation of the thieves guide to Teron
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Arriving in Maadoran
Last update 20232903: Finishing the guide

Starting stats from the previous guide "Steal everything: A thieves guide to Teron", we start at the city gates.
12/64/9
Currently 450g in hand.

- Kemnebi next to the city gate doesn't trust us (yet), we will be back.
- The inn: Listen to the storyteller and ask your questions.
- Talk to the innkeeper and pay for a room, [Trade] the price down to 100g for +1 CiSP
- Kadmos is an excellent fighter and an ex-gladiator. You can talk to him but don't provoke (not yet). Let's get some better equipment before we challenge him.

Inside Inn
  • Go straight to upper floor to your room, stash your heavy loot.
  • Upper floor, 1st room: +1 CiSP unlock door, +1 CiSP sneak in, loot shelf (noble clothes), !trapped chest (leave it for now, need Traps=>6)
  • Lower floor, 1st room: door is already unlocked, but need Sneak=>6. With the running trick you can still open chest and steal from patron, but i prefer to skip this room altogether and save it for later.
  • Lower floor, 2nd room: 1+ CiSP unlock door, +1 CiSP sneak in, steal patron left +1 CiSP sapphires and ruby ring, steal patron right +1 CiSP, gold and gold ring
  • Lower floor, 3rd room: shop, get there from outside, nothing to see
12/54/16

Across the street, talk to Clericus, asking him about the caravans and cities.
Towards the arena, there is a local guide. Talk to him about everything: the city, jobs, people you look for, work
The "Grab a bite" tavern owner Basil doesn't offer anything right now (but will be important later)
Arena District I: The Brawler
Raise Streetwise 4->5
12/60/0

Upon entering the crossroads in front of the arena, a cut-scene starts.
1) follow them
2) intervene. "Get out of here."
3) [Streetwise] +1 CiSP, +4 SP and a unique Arbiter Dagger
*spoilers* these thugs will come back later with a mercenary. And we'll deal with 'em much later with better gears.
Cassava roots can be found here around the corner
12/64/1

North-West of the arena, a cut-scene occurs. A crowd wants to burn some preachers from House Crassus. We have some options:
a) Fight the crowds. They've got no armor, but beware of those hammers. +1 CoSP, +2 SP, +rep HC and very minor loot
b) [Lore+Persuade] +1 CiSP disperse them, +2 SP, +1 Peacemaker, +rep HC
c) Side with them: +2 SP, -rep HC, Regulus (crowd leader) explains why he hunts the preachers & you can donate money to the cause.
this guide choose b), but if you want more bodycount feel free to choose a)
12/66/2

To the east, next to the exit to the slums, a Youth wants you to deliver a package to Neros in the slums. Trade for 50/50 and ask him some questions, but agree in general.
Quest: The Package

Also, a begger is on the other side of the slum entrance. Give him 5g and listen to his story.

To North-East of the arena, you can open a door to the house of Domitius, the guy we should ask about the map according to Lord Antidas.
Listen to his story +18SP
You are taken to Lord Gaelius. He asks you to find the temple for him, but then refuses your services since you are a thief?! Ok,
guess we will have to find some valuable information before we can enter his service.
12/84/2

Other than that, there is the imperial guard (no interaction since its not our faction), a brothel (part of a later quest). Behind Domitius house, near fallen minaret around the corner, are Sulfurs you can harvest.

Now go east of Arena to the Trade District.
Looting the Trade District
Trade district:
Trader cut-scene with some background on the district.

With Steal=5 we can steal from most merchants in this area. We'll raise more skill in Steal later ofc but for now Skill Allocation is tight, so let's just reap what we can.

Outside The Plaza
  • Merchant at district entrance (from arena): +1 CiSP, bronze plates & goblets
  • Merchant stand SE of plaza: +1 CiSP, sapphires and ruby
  • Fletcher SE of plaza: +1 CiSP, bow & steel missiles
  • Merchant next to blacksmith: steal not yet possible, return later.
  • Market stand NE of plaza: +1 CiSP, gold goblets
Inside The Plaza
  • Capes trader in pavillon: +1 CiSP, gold & capes
  • Merchant stall SE in pavillon: +1 CiSP, gold goblets
  • General trader in pavillon: +1 CiSP, herbs
  • Merchant ENE in pavillon: +1 CiSP, noble clothes & rings
  • Merchant NNE in pavillon: +1 CiSP, silver plates & goblets
  • Alchemy trader: steal not yet possible, return later.
12/84/11

We can't do much with our current gold and Trading=4. We'll be back for the other Traders here real soon. Let's check other NPC residing here for now.
  • Blacksmith:
    For now just buy enough wood to craft some crossbows later.
  • Farmer close to blacksmith:
    Give him tips in alchemy, trading and listen to his stories.
  • Boatmen of Styx:
    You can talk to them, but not our faction so it won't go anywhere. There is an alchemy ingredient (fennah berries) that you can harvest around here.
  • Healers House:
    There will be a quest triggered after you've been healed 3 times here.
  • Abukar's tower:
    Ask about his telescope, and follow the dialogue to get the location of the library of Saross. Also ask about your artifacts, you'll need him to identify all of 'em for an Achievement. Kadura leaves can be found around the corner.
  • Tiresias home, west of Abukar's tower:
    You can pay 500g (250g w/ Streetwise 7+, CHA 7+) to get a training in Lore/Etiquette/Streetwise worth 15 SP. Normally this is a good thing to get ASAP, but if you get it now you'll end up with Etiquette=5 after Erebus training (if you join House Aurelian). In short, skip this for now to maximize SP Allocation.
    Also there is another hidden option with Streetwise 7+, but thats for later...
  • Nasir's shop, across Tiresias's:
    Talk to him to get the quest: The gem (Steal Sapphire from Silvanus).

Finally, go north to the Palace District
Palace District I
Someone tries to sell you a (fake) badge. Normally it's a sin for a conman like us to get conned! But seems like it's a hot opportunity for everyone is waiting in line to get inside.
- [Trading] Pay 125g for the badge
- Talk to the Centurion, you're on the list. Ikr
- Show the badge to confirm it's fake and there's a punishment to sell one.
- But wait..not everyone know it. Especially a newcomer, just like us. Speaking of the devil! A woman in a purple robe suddenly appear.
- Talk to newcomer, con her into buying the badge, [streetwise] x2.
- Don't be greedy and choose 300g or you'll be facing the guards for selling fake badge
+3 SP and 175g surplus. LOL

NPC Caius Amerius stands around here demanding justice.

A building labelled "Rich Villa" just across is where Silvanus lives (The Gem Quest), don't interact with it until you decide which faction you will follow.

The bathhouse, next to Villa:
-> sneak into NE room +1 CiSP, lock pick both containers for +2 CiSP & 6 rock oils

Back to Caius, agree to help him, but only if he gives you some trinkets (Important). He will lead you to his house. Gain Quest: The Rightful Owner

Parley with the mercenaries inside
1) I've heard enough, get out!
2) [impersonate+streetwise] i'm a praetor! +1 CiSP
3) I thought it was taken by mercenaries.
4) Agree to their proposal. (mod Quest: Rightful Owner)
5) leave and tell Amerius you are working on it (Important).

Now we have enough SP for our next plan.
12/87/15
Getting New Equipment
Raise Crafting 6->8 <-- now we can forge a bluesteel
12/42/0

Buy schematics from The Fletcher. Double and Scoped Crossbows.
(They are amazing first strike weapons, and with enough prep, can be use to win some crucial fights very early)

There are plenty of choices for Armor, Weapon and Shield here in the big city. From trading, looting or questing. Anything crafted with Crafting=10 will always stand on top tho, but it's a luxury and we can only have Crafting=8. So we'll wear a combination of unique equipment and a crafted one. But first we need some bluesteel ingots to forge.

Remember Kadmos? The ex-arena champion, who hang around drunk in the Inn. He has exactly what we need. We've been avoiding him last time. Now time to show this Kadmos whats what.

First, go back to your room to stash items. Craft these:
- Two Double Crossbowsone (+THC,+Passive)
- One Hand Crossbow (+THC,+Passive)
- 20 Steel regular ammo, coat in poison.
Equip a bolas to belt, set to Throw:head. Hand crossbow to other belt. Set crossbows in hand to Aimed:Torso. Go and provoke Kadmos. (we're still naked but that's totally fine!).

1.) If Kadmos doesn't move first, click "wait" button (hourglass icon)
2.) Throw bolas to head. 75% THC (reload if fail)
3.) Still round 1: Shoot twice (91% THC).
4.) Round 2: Open inventory and swap to a loaded crossbow, shoot (70% THC)
5.) If all arrows hit Kadmos, he will die most of the time.
Reward: +3 CoSP
- Kadmos Skewer. an amazing unique 1h spear, but we won't use it.
- Swordbreaker, A great unique DR8(!) buckler. Perfect for us.
- Warriors Crown, A blue steel DR8 helm with no penalties. Another one for us.
- Blue steel manica, only good for dodgers w/ 12 AP. Will be decomposed for the ingots.

Raise Trading 4->5
15/22/0

We won't raise trade beyond 5, since there is no more Trading checks beyond that so all the loot we didn't sell in Teron and Madoran can be sold now. Don't sell unique and blue steel items, crafting and alchemy resources.
(Not resources like iron, ingredients, blue steel weapons/armor, unique items, or non-improved weapons - those can be disassembled and sold for more later)

Just by selling all of your valuables alone (gems, jewelries, goblets, plates), you can accumulate 3200~ gold
- Travel to trade district, buy "Honor-Bound" from The Armor Trader for 3000g +1 CiSP
- Decompose the bluesteel manica & craft a Khopesh (THC, Passive, CS Bonus).
- Craft 20 Bluesteel Barbed Missiles, and sharpen a batch with whetstone
- Lastly, craft two Scoped Heavy Crossbows

We want to explore the slums ASAP but we still lack some skill points for an important check.
Thus, we'll be exploring the Library of Saross (and the other ancient sites).
Library of Saross (and other ancient sites)
+5 SP for exploring
Raise Alchemy 3->4
15/17/0

Harvest herbs around you. Approach the prospector at the temple.
1) With the alchemy ingredients you harvested here, make one antidote and one poison vial
2) Approach prospector
3) Accept invitation
4) [streetwise] distract, poison his coffee +1 CiSP
5) [intelligence success] there is a secret chamber
6) loot body, go to basement +3 Rock Oil & Air Valve.
7) examine the shelves: +location "the arch", "zamedi", "inferiae"
8) Look at the machine, reattach the air valve but it said we need an oil injector. Really?
9) [intelligence+crafting] Jury rig it instead +4 CiSP
10) [alchemy] 3x rock oil is enough +2 CiSP

Now the power is back online, walk toward the stairs
11) found a switch behind the stairs
12) Enter & examine the tablets +6 SP
13) [Lore] decipher the text
14) [perception] examine tablets again to find "Surgical kit" of goodhood+1 ^^ (one of the ingredients, that is)
15/23/7

Travel to the Arch for +5 SP exploring
Esbenus - the bandit from Teron - made camp here with some slavers
Approach, he will ask 1000g for sight-seeing, [trade]x2 to haggle price but don't pay him. We'll be back later +1 CiSP

Travel to Zamedi for +5 SP exploring
You can talk to the preacher and examine the wall, but no way to pass.

Travel to Inferiae for +5 SP exploring
We'll come back here later with better preparation.
15/38/8

Back to Maadoran. Lastly talk to Abukar.
1) ask about the library
2) [int+streetwise] you disabled the machine. (we've done the opposite tho ^o^) +2 CiSp & Oil injector.
Raise Sword 2->3
5/38/10
Slums and Temple District I
Raise Streetwise 5->6, Persuasion 3->4
5/18/0

Make sure you talked to the Youth in front of Slums entrance, exhaust dialogue to get "The Package" quest. Otherwise he'll be disappear once you enter.

Quick-Save
Enter the Slums. Decide to pay and follow our new guide Leon. After his theatrics act, we now have two options,
1) Follow Leon into the ambush. +2 CoSP Loot. (prepare scoped heavy crossbow and a net)
- Click "Wait until the end of turn to act" button.
- Snipe the mercenary with the black leather armor (64% THC 74% CS). Land a crit to insta-kill.
- Throw net to mercenary with axe
- Open inventory and swap to a loaded crossbow, snipe the axe guy. (94% THC 62% CS)
- Swap crossbow with buckler, kill the hammer guy next w/ sword & shield, lastly Leon

2) Leave Leon midway and deal with another "rat-face"
- [Streetwise]/[Thief] to scare the living sh*t out of him +2 SP.

This guide choose b)

Move towards a pack of thugs guarding an area, Hermon (don't go back to the entrance!):
This would be a hard fight, and they are part of the Forty-Thieves guild. We could just tell them who we are, but why do a little con-job for extra SP. And we have the required skills, anyway.
1) talk to Hermon
2) Just passing through
3) [streetwise] relax friend
4) [persuade/streetwise] You shake down tourists, i'm a bad-ass spy noob +2 CiSP
5/20/2

Go North towards the Temple district (leave Neros for now, we'll be back soon).

Upon entering, Clemens the street doc gives you a short overview.

To the left, Zeb the trader has some special stock to unlock with [alchemy] and [traps] dialogue. We'll come back later after collecting more gold.

Livia, the girl from Teron is here. She will tell you a bit about Levir and her plans.

There are three traders here that offer special item.
  • 1st trader (E of temple entrance) has a special eye. [Trade] pay it for 100g +1 CiSP
  • 2nd trader (E of temple entrance) has an axe called "Black Dow". Lower the price with [Crafting] to 200g. +1 CiSP.
  • 3rd trader (W of temple entrance) has a steel club called "The Perforator". [Trade] Pay it for 250g. +1 CiSP.
Sell the unique weapon as soon as you buy it, they're worth more that way.
5/20/5

Take a look at the eye you bought. Maybe Clemens, the street doc knows something about it? He does, and wants to try something with it for 100gp. Congrats, you are now a cyborg with the "Augmented: Far Sight" perk.

Talk to the Thief blocking the temple entrance, enter and talk to Levir. He't not happy about our hard-earned treasure, the ungrateful git.
With [perception] and [lore] you get some extra dialogue, but don't go to the merchant plaza at night just yet - since this quest treasure offers some personal power for the thief - which requires a bit of extra preparation effort.
Mehrab and The Abyss
Fast travel to The Slums <Use Map button>, and go to the left the first chance you get. If you trigger an encounter, you went too far!
You should see a "dirty-looking local" next to a well. Talk to him and agree to take a look at the well. Spam <1> button or follow this path to reach chamber.
Go down, Go deeper, Go in, Go right, Dex+Con check, Go left +3 SP

There is a portal looking doorway but we can do much with it, not without a large power module.
  • [perception] search the rubble for alchemy ingredients
  • [perception] search the rubble in the next room for gold, blue steel and sky metal!
  • search & lockpick the stongbox for +1 CiSP, 2 small power tubes, strange mask artifact and even more blue steel.
Swim back to first chamber, go back to surface and give the local 100gp for +1 Word of Honor (or not, negative honor isn't gonna softlock us)
5/23/6

Time to check out the Abyss. Go directly to a guy called Mehrab, Approach --> How much? --> tell him you are a [thief] --> don't have money --> he doesn't care. Aight, let's tell our buddy Hermon about it.

However,
we still want to avoid the special encounter here. So Fast Travel to The Temple <Use Map Button>, go south to the slums and to Hermon. Prep for a fight before talking (reload Scoped crossbows w/ steel missiles, Khopesh in belt). He will lend two thieves to help you out.

Spam snipe here as you see fits (high Crit%). Ideally we want Hemron's men to die here as well, that will reduce his power, and It benefits us if we side with Gaelius later. Anyway, +2 CoSP, +Forty Thieves rep

Some alchemy ingredients are nearby (including quicksilver leaves), then go south to the abyss

Some old man tells you a bit of background and sells an amulet (why not, its cheap).
But we really need the mask we got from the well, a power tube (also well) and lore to understand it.

Raise Lore 4->5
7/9/0

Go inside the abyss, follow the steps however you want. At some point, you will have the option to use the strange mask with [lore]. Do so and use a power tube to activate! go down to the center for +30SP (!).
Follow an very interesting thread of information and pay close attention, many hints and info about the magi and past events.
7/39/0

Read on the shelf about what happened here, then try to examine the console. [failure] because of low Lore. We're gonna need Lore:8. Dealing with this one could potentially impact our main quest, factions, and alot of things. Anyway, go back to surface and leave the abyss.
Arena District II: The Gladiator
Now that we have enough bluesteel ingots to complete our equipment, let's craft and test it out.

Go back to your stash, decompose the bluesteel Marculus stolen from Thessalos' treasury back in Teron, combined with the bluesteel ingot from the secret chamber inside the well, and we'll have
- a bluesteel Khopesh (THC, Passive, CS Bonus). Already crafted
- a bluesteel Shamshir (THC, Hardness, Passive). Sharpen it & coat with the poison from Zeb.
- 20 bluesteel barbed missiles. Sharpen it & coat with poison as well. Already crafted and used some.
- And for the remaining ingots, 19 bluesteel regular missiles. Sharpen it.
These bluesteel ammo will be totally worth it, you'll see.
Don't forget your crafted scoped crossbow

Time to make it in the Arena !

1st fight, a non-guild thief
Basically an execution. Sword & Shield +1 CoSP +30g

2nd fight, a zealot
Sword & Shield, still easy win. He might dent your armor tho, damn those hammers.
+1 CoSP +1 Combat training +40g

3rd fight, Crossbow kid
Sniper shot (60% THC, 72% Crit), or Sword & Dagger to save ammo.
+1 CoSP +40g
Raise Block 2->3
0/39/0

4th fight, Papa Yochan, [Big Hammer]
A sniper shot is better and simpler (Thc 54%, CS 52%), throw net first for more THC. Landing a crits will always 1-hit kill.
+2 CoSP +70g

5th fight, The Raider, [Poisoned Axe, Throwing & Shield]
Equip a net and bring an antidote (you should have one from stealing).
Sword & Shield. Get closer so that he won't use throwing weapon. Click <wait>, throw net, antidote to negate, then start attacking. Thanks to Honor-Bound, he cannot do much damage nor can dent our armor.
+2 CoSP, 70g, Rank: Gladiator Quest: Problem Solving
4/39/0
Mercenary Jobs
Problem Solving Quest

Basil, the tavern owner has problems with some thugs, so lets help him out. Stash your items first, heal if needed.

This fight will be hard if you can't go first, but easy if you can. Thus, quick-save.
Prepare a net in belt, a scoped crossbow w/ Poisoned+Sharpened bluesteel barbed ammo in main hand, and a khopesh in the other belt. Check your Shamshir too if it's need re-coating and/or sharpening. Talk to Basil.
- First round, throw net to guy in black leather armor.
- Sniper shot [Thc 70%, CS 72%], reload if miss or not a crit hit. 99,9% will 1hit-kill.
- Now that the troublesome one is lying dead. You can swap to another crossbow, click <wait> and move to his rear to Snipe (Thc 77% CS 87%) OR you can swap to Shamshir & Buckler to kill him. Won't be a problem in any case.
Reward: +2 CoSP, free healing and [trade] 500 gold reward + Quintos the brothel owner now wants your help

Buy more nets from merchant in front of arena.

Quintus brothel is in the NE part of the Arena district. Bring/make some healing salves.
Same tactic as before, reload your crossbow. Quick-save before entering the brothel.
- Make sure you go first, throw net to thug with hammer
- Sniper shot [80% THC, 62% Crit], reload if miss or not a crit hit. He'll die the next round from poison dmg.
- The other thug is quite the fighter. Swap to Shamshir & Buckler, click <wait> whenever available and use balm whenever you're bleeding. Throw net followed by Aimed:Head w/ Shamshir. Then spam fast attacks (Shamshir 1x, Khopesh x2).
+2 CoSp
Go back to Basil to report
1) Ask who is running the racket and follow up with [streetwise], but he won't go into it
2) Report your success +6 SP, gain Quest: Down on Luck
8/45/0

Down on Luck Quest
Go to the city entrance and talk to Kemnebi
The job will involve a long mass fight with tons of loot, so i suggest to only bring a scoped crossbow and some steel ammo, stash everything else (naked FTW!). The ensuing fight is runs well without your aid, just pick them off from afar as needed and don't get caught in the front lines.
As long as Kemnebi is alive, everything is fine.
+1 CoSP, +3 SP, tons of iron and leather to decompose. (Steel too if Gracchus is dead. but he's hard to die)
Prioritize Leather (yes, leather) and then Iron ingots as many as you can. The chest contains stones only!
You can get a double crossbow from Red Gracchus (nothing special). Return to Maadoran and talk to Kemnebi again to get block training +5, and +15 CiSP (Streetwise/Trading training)
9/47/15
Neros Drinking Hole
We still have Neros package to deliver (Quest: The Package), let's head to
the Temple District and go south (we still want to avoid triggering a
cut-scene near the slums entrance).

Enter "Neros Drinking Hole and Debt Collection"
1) [traps] tell Nelos about the bomb
2) find out who the youth is called Calvus and lives in the Noble quarter
2) [trade] ask for more money
3) Teach him some manners. Sword & shield, ez fight
+2 CoSP

Lets check out the kid that was trying to blow us (and Neros) up!
Head to the Noble Quarter and pay him a visit
We can choose 400 imperials or a revenge with extra SP. Easy pick, right?
1) Teach them a lesson (straight up fight, they are unarmored) +1 CoSP, +6 SP
2) Run away (you cannot kill the guards, and would have to pay 3000 imperials - not worth it)
12/53/16
Aurelian Mine : Final Improvement
Raise Lore 5->7
12/19/0

Now that we have more skill in Lore. Let's use it to fix the second stage of the smelter in the Aurelian Mine.
Travel to Outpost. Bring a power tube.
Important: don't approach Teron, this would break the current quests in Maadoran.
Note: If you forget to visit the mine for reputation check back in Teron, you won't be able to enter (current daratan rep=8). enter this in console command dlgchangerep(daratan,2) to give yourself just enough reputation

Approach the machine.
1) [crafting] examine again
2) [lore] figure it out
3) Remove old tube and insert new. +12 SP
4) Decanus arrives, rewards you with 150 gold, 10lb blue steel, +1 Prestige, +3 Daratan reputation, -2 Aurelian reputation
12/31/0
Inferiae
Raise Sword 3->4
2/31/0
Heal up. Check your Shamshir whether it needs sharpening. Make 6-8 healing salves.
Travel to Inferiae,

Approach the village
1) Enter and talk to Azra
2) Keep talking
3) You'll see [intelligence] opt, pick ANYTHING but that.
4) Keep asking question
5) Tell "Everyone needs something..."
7) [Intelligence] "Are you so certain..." +1 CiSP, Map Location: Ganezzar
8) How did you get across?
9) [charisma success] and learn some lore about Al-Akia
9) [intelligence] you seem to know a lot
10) ask about middle of town & take your chances.

A demon guardian is inside. You now have several options. You can a) talk some sense into it, b) sneak past it, c) fight head on. We will kill it anyway, so choose a) for more skill points and tutorial on using semi-sphere console [lore]

1) introduce yourself
2) [streetwise][persuade] +2 CiSP
4) Ask about the portal
5) [lore] about yazatas
6) [lore+intelligence success] show me how to use crystal for a advanced computer use crash course
Optional: use the panel to [int+lore] activate defense mode +3 CiSP (warning: kills everyone in Inferiae - but don't do it)

After exhausting all options, it's time to kill the Guardian:
You can enter combat at any time by pressing the crossed swords icon. This demon is not really formidable, but if you're not prepared, you will die from the bleeding as it can stack really fast. Abusing <wait> button to secure a victory. Make sure your Shamshir is well sharpened.
+3 CoSP, Loot: Steel weapons and a demon core

Raise Sneak 5->6
5/15/0

Now we need to escape from this place. There is a safer way and there is a less safe way. But first
1) Go through the glowing portal +12 SP
2) Examine the message
3) Pick up the glove
4) We don't really need the tube
5.a) Escape thru the elevator (you can pick up the tube)
5.b) Go back thru portal, then climb up to the surface. And sneak past the guards +1 CiSP
I personally choose b) just because we can. We'll get another large power tube anyway.

Killing the village isn't required and i won't assume you did - on the other hand, the villagers will continue sacrificing people, so its up to you. Yet another option is to leave and come back later.
5/27/1
Tower of Zamedi
Travel to Zamedi and enter through the portal using a demon core. It has the same interior as Inferiae, only it's not buried under the ground.

1) Talk to the tower guardian
2) Agree to do whatever it asks
3) Upstairs you can find a mysterious artefat and a whole bunch of alchemy reagents.
4) Top floor: Control room. Interact with the semi-sphere
5) Examine the image. You can also open portal to the mountain facility but it's unnecessary.
6) Downstairs and use elevator.

The demon is waiting for us, we have some options. a) Give ring back, then use [streetwise] to have our live spared +4 CiSP, b) "Reduce power to the minimum", then trade ring with some answers +1 CiSP +1 WoH, c) Attack the demon.

7) "Reduce power to the minimum" +1 CiSP
8) Trade ring with some answers
9) Exhaust all dialogue, but DON'T give the ring
10) This will make the demon furious, [dexterity] Make a run for it. -1 WoH +12 SP

This demon, even after you weaken its life force, is still gonna slaughter you effortlessly. To kill it this early you're gonna need 4 bombs with moderate damage and lots of liquid fire vials. Totally not worth it. It's still there waiting for you tho, so we can always come back later, to claim our precious combat SP.
5/39/2
The Abyss & Aemolas' Village Revisited
Back in Maadoran, we can talk to the guide at the city entrance about Azra "ever heard about the witch?"
Abukar also has a small piece of dialogue about Azra. In Inferiae, we unfortunately cannot talk more about her amazing story.

Raise Lore 7->8
5/11/0
Travel to the Abyss, read some background information here. Deactive the last remaining machine to slain the sleeping god (+30 SP). Leave the place
5/41/0

Raise Streetwise 6->7
5/11/0
Travel to Aemolas' Village. Now we can have a parley with the bandits.

Approach the village
1) This calls for a Parley
2) [streetwise][impersonate] Esbenus wants the gold
3) [streetwise] Dig out gold +2 CiSP
4) ♥♥♥♥ Aemolas +6 SP +1258g -2 WoH
It's not that we are desperate for gold, we just don't care about honor at this stage.

Back to Maadoran, but first go to Inn
Lower floor, 1st room. Open door, Sneak in, steal from patron, lockpick both chests. +4 CiSP

Go to Tiresias's house, west of Abukar
With Streetwise 7 now a hidden check appears, "Here to pick that, uh, thing." +1 CiSP Large Power Tube.
You can also ask for discounted training for 250 gold, but don't take it right now.
5/17/7
Working for the Forty-Thieves
Now that we have the tube.
- Fast travel to the slums, go down the well to enter the chamber again.
- Place the large tube, go thru the portal. There are many things to inspect here, all Lore related.
- Examine the shelves, then the vats to get a medical canister.
- [lockpick] strongbox to get another green jar +1 CiSP
- Examine the machine to find out what the green jar is used for.
- Increase CON +1
- Go back to the Surface

Raise Lockpick 5->6
5/5/0

Thieves Guild Madoraan Quest-1
Now we have all the information to realize what the treasure we should steal actually is (and its wasted on the guildmaster!).
1) Go to Levir to get to the merchants square at night.
2) Sneak to slip inside +1 CiSP
3) Lockpick door without anyone noticing +1 CiSP
4) Sneak, knock her out. +1 CiSP
5) Lockpick the mechanism +1 CiSP
6) Take the jar. And leave the gold alone.
No matter how good our trap skill, we cannot disarm it :(
7) Return to Levir
5/5/4

*Make a Hard Save*

==Choices==
a) You could give Levir the jar for +18 SP, +3 thieves guild reputation and gold
b) Or dont go to Levir, but to take it to the Monastery (Via the Sewers). And use the jar yourself to increase CON.
I absolutely recommend option b), since CON 7 will unlock some interesting things and is worth more than the other reward. And you will need two green jars for that.

Talk to Levir in his temple.
"About the jars..."
"I didn't." <sorry boss, i need it more than you do>
-rep Forty-thieves

Thieves Guild Maadoran Quest-2
1) Talk To Isandros & Bassar to get the mission rundown
2) Ask Isandros about getting backup and equipment
3) Bring one blood mushroom and one black powder, can be purchased from Zeb the trader
4) There is a new NPC called Rusty at the eastern edge of the temple, use streetwise or body count to convince him, and offer 100 gold to his men for each kill
5) Talk to Isandros again
6) Use the [alchemy] option to make your new hires go berserk, then taken to Bassar
7) Talk to Aziz and Lucius, but choose your own plan:
8) [sneak/traps] to weaken them +2 CiSP
9) now, you could send in your berserk friends which would kill all (including themselves) but two 10hp boatmen
10) finish the rest
Reward: +2 CoSP, +18 SP, +rep Forty-Thieves 200g Loot (check inside the hovel as well)

11) Talking to Levir, we find out the money was taken - and we will should kill Gaelius for it!
12) Talk to Levir again, say you are ready to talk to Cyrus
13) Follow the dialogue, tell him "I don't think i can pass for a palace guard":
+10 CiSP and Impersonate 3->4

Don't engage yet. Let's continue other area first.
7/22/17
Arena District III: The Champion
Always bring two scoped heavy crossbows with you
Always check your Shamshir if it needs resharpen and re-coating poison

*Important* Abuse <wait> button to your advantage, if done correctly
- you can completely avoid bleed/poison damage to proc in that turn (using balms and antidote).
- you can move 2 turns in a row
- dodge/block penalty from net and bolas can last 2 turns.

Fight vs. The Barbari
What to prepare: antidote, healing salves
Tactic: Snipe barbari in the middle (Thc 59% CS 93%). Swap to sword & shield, the guy with khopesh has poisoned wpn (5 dmg/tick!) and will bleed you often on top of that. Abuse <wait> button.
+3 CoSP +1 Combat training 100g

Fight vs. Nicander (Long Spear+Nets)
What to prepare : a net / a bola
Tactic: His manica allow us for an easy kill. A crit from sniper shots will drop him. Click <wait>, throw net (Thc 51% CS 74%) OR throw Bolas (Thc 100%).
+3 CoSP, +100g
Raise Block 3->4
3/22/17

Fight vs. Bendidoros
What to prepare : nets and healing salves
Tactic: High vsCS, good def rating and a unique 2H-sword makes him a troublesome opponent. But you can still win fairly easy.
+3 CoSP, +100g

Fight vs. Sarpedon
Tactic: Sarpedon is tough. Has 50HP, ok block rating & very high vsCS due to shield. Luckily his weapon skill is nothing special. You're likely to win in a melee fight, use one or two net if you want.
+3 CoSP, +1 Combat training +100g

Fight vs. Ordu
What to prepare : Craft Infantry shield (Hardness, vsCS, -def penalty), healing salves
Tactic: Snipe the archer (Thc 61%), swap to shield, click <wait>, swap to loaded scoped crossbow, snipe again. It's fine if you miss. Switch to Sword & Shield to deal with ordu warrior, strike arm/torso.
+4 CoSP, +150g Arena rank: Executioner +Combat rep

Figth vs. The Butcher
What to prepare : a net / a bola
Tactic: He can hit like a truck, but fortunately is vulnerable to critical hits. Throw net (Thc 51% CS 65%) or bolas (Thc 100%), then sniper shot. A critical hit plus poison dmg will finish him off.
+4 CoSP, +250g, loot

Fight vs. Mack the Knife
What to prepare : a bomb, the low dmging bomb is fine.
Tactic: very deadly close up, has 12AP +neurostim and high dodge, but low CON and low vsCS. Click <wait>, throw bomb, 75% to knock down (reload if not), then sniper shot.
Alternatively, you can also bet your luck on RNG and Insta-kill him with a sniper shoot at the start (Thc 29%), so that you can have his unused neurostim and net.
+4 CoSP, +1 Combat training +250g, loot

Raise Sword 4->5
1/22/17

Fight vs. Triiari
What to prepare : A double crossbow, a bolas and some healing salves. Load with regular missiles instead of barbed this time.
Tactic: For the first guy, <wait> to make him closer, throw bolas to legs to immobilize, aerial strike twice with double crossbows (Thc 84%), swap to scoped crossbow then shoot his torso to kill him.
The other two, albeit intimidating, cannot dent our armor nor do much damage. Kill the one with sword first, just beware of the bleed. Strike arm/torso.
+5 CoSP, +300g, excellent loot (if not enough carrying capacity, focus on steel stuff, maybe even decompose)

Fight vs. Al Sahir, the Arena Champion
Remember our *friend* Kadmos? Al Sahir will soon get the same treatment.
What to prepare: Two double crossbows, a hand crossbow and a bolas. Load crossbows with regular missiles instead of barbed.
Tactic:
Round 1) Click <wait>, throw bolas to head, shoot his torso twice (Thc 91%)
Round 2) Swap to loaded double crossbow, shoot to torso again 3x (Thc 75%)
+5 CoSP +1 Combat training +400g Rank: Arena Champion, +Combat rep, +Prestige. All blue steel loot, including the unique armor "The Blue Cuirass" (don't decompose it!!)
11/22/17
Miltiades and more ambush
Prepare your scoped crossbow.
To the slums. Head west to run into three Thugs and Miltiades
Fight - Snipe the thug standing next to you (Thc 58% CS 87%) - swap to shamshir & shield and kill the rest. Alternatively you can bring two bombs and a double crossbow, these thugs with leather have low CON so they can be easily knocked down.
+2 CoSP, Loot, also -5 rep Forty-Thieves

Follow Miltiades - Kill Lord Varus and his Sons - they are unarmored, ezpz.
+2 CoSP, +6 SP, +2104 imperials

Heal up at the healer. Stash items in Inn. Prepare a double crossbow and a bomb in belt. Load with sharpened+poisoned bluesteel barbed missiles, sharpen your Shamshir.
- Approach the thugs behind the Inn, they're coming back for a revenge with a mercenary this time.
- Make sure you go first.
- Throw bomb to hit three of 'em. Try to knock down two out of three.
- Shoot aerial strike to those knock'd down (Thc 92%), none of 'em wear headgear.
- Switch to shamshir & shield, strike to legs/arms
Reward: +3 CoSP and Loot.
18/28/17
Shopping Tour
We haven't finished buying all the merchandise in Maadoran because we were short on funds. Now we have more than enough to spend.

Exotic Emporium Trader
Buy [trade] (500 gold) the "Pendulum of Judgement" +1 CiSP

The Curio Trader
Buy [trade] (250 gold) the astrolobe +1 CiSP
Buy [trade] (800 gold) a power tube + 1 CiSP

The Ordu Trader
Buy [trade] (300 gold) the "Mangudai Ordu Armor" +1 CiSP
Buy 2 bolas from his wares.

The Fletcher
Buy [trade] (400 gold) the "Old Faithful" Bow +1 CiSP

The Shields Trader
Buy [trade] (300 gold) the "Impenetrable" Shield +1 CiSP

The Imperial Trader
Buy [trade] (1500 gold) "Dreamweaver" Blue Steel Sword +1 CiSP

The arena merchant
Buy [trade] (800 gold) "Zagros" armor & headgear +1 CiSP

The Alchemy Trader
Buy Alchemy reagents
18/28/25
Praetor or Thief? (WIP)
Time for a huge decision: Do you want to stay loyal to the thieves guild, or do you want to switch sides, tell Gaelius about assassins and become an Aurelian Praetor?

The Praetor gets access to some unique locations and interesting options, and can get some more intersting loot. I prefer this option.

But continuing the thief questline also is quite interesting. The assassination mission is great, and the thief questline in Ganezzar is also interesting including an unique area not available to any other guild.

I would recommend a hard save.

The guide is incomplete, i hope i will finish the remaining parts for Maadoran soon. Decided to already post it here since two players requested the notes...
Praetor (unfinished)
- gaelius, uncovered a plot
- pledge loyalty +3 cis +HA -HD -HC
- have 1400 gold

- haran's pass +5 sp
- choose [lore] +2 cis
- [trade] ramirus +1 cis -1000gold +2 tube & glove
- buy 5x whetstone 3x nets

- ordu camp +5 sp, there are 5 alchemy ingredients here
- poison well +1 cis
- talk lore to keeper of tales +2 cis
- calm thorgul
*persuasion 4->5
- Belgutai, stay on plains then, do nothing +3 cis
- wait in tent
- give carbo 100 ordu +2 cis, loot bass
- report back to maadoran +30 sp +HA -IG

- zamedi, report immediately +30 sp +HA

- erebus, grain of truth, teaching +6 sp +10 cis +ettiquete 3->4

- tiresias, teaching +15 cis -250gold

- silvanus, talk, impersonate, fight bassar
*throw bomb, snipe bassar, switch to sword, spam strike arms +3 cos -rep TG
- nasir, give gem +6 sp +1000 gold

*steal 5->6
- merchant next to blacksmith, alchemy trader +2 cis
*traps 5->6, lockpick 5-> 6
- inn 2nd floor trap chest +2 cis
END OF MAADORAN ACT II

TERON REVISIT
- 9 alchemy ingredients here
- con merchant in front of inn, [streetwise] +2 cis
- steal from 5 merchants +5 cis
- inn, clean the place +28 cis

GANEZZAR
- arrive 20 sp
- 4 alchemy ingredients outside
*alchemy 3->4
- prospector, +4 cis +map Dead river
- ignore zealot and hector, go to Inn +1 cis
*traps 6->7
- Inn, clean the place +16 cis
- Laevinus, +18 sp +map Hellgate +map Old Facility
*steal 6->7
- steal from 5 merchants +5 cis
- trader, multiple skill checks and charisma +2 cis
34 Comments
HonourableRat 3 Apr, 2024 @ 7:18am 
There are some minor discrepancies regarding the number of GSP and CiSP - at various points during the playthrough in Maadoran I had either 1 or 2 more GSP and less CiSP (or vice versa) than what I should've had according to the guide but that was pretty much inconsequential as the guide does not spend GSP on combat skills anyways. I didn't encounter any such discrepancy during the Teron chapter.

Eg. The guide says that at the end of the 'Shopping Tour' I should be at 18/28/25 SP-wise but I am actually at 18/30/24.

Aside from that the Ordu trader in the Traders' District does not sell bolas, the Fletcher does however (section 'Shopping Tour'). Also the chance to hit Mack the Knife with Snipe (the alternate tactic in order to get his neurostimulant and net) was lower in my game for some reason than it was in the guide. But these are really small things that do not affect the playthrough in any meaningful way.

Overall this is a very good guide, thanks to Marcos and Noire for it!
Marcos_DS  [author] 12 Nov, 2023 @ 5:58am 
The revamp has improved the initial guide a lot, the resulting character is better than the one i had in the original guide. Noire also found small things i missed, e.g. that if you save the merchant in Arena District I you get SP & reward now AND get a harder fight later for more total SP (i just fought them when i met them). So although i don't agree with some of the changes, Noires modifications are a definite improvement over my original guide.
UN0W3N 12 Nov, 2023 @ 5:46am 
So has the "revamp" broken the initial guide or not?
Marcos_DS  [author] 12 Nov, 2023 @ 5:15am 
The guide before revamp was mostly 1 dagger and some crossbow (4 when returning to the village iirc) without using swords at all (fire bombs, regular bombs and high reliance on poison) & i barely invest SP (just CoSP) The Arbiter Dagger has a huge to-hit bonus and allowed for some chance to hit without investment to apply poison in melee. And a well crafted scoped heavy crossbow with its special attack & high crit chance can end a fight with the first shot (esp. if combined with bomb knockdown). However i can understand that Noire wanted to build a decent fighter that doesn't have to rely so much on poison damage and items to survive. E.g. I didn't see anything wrong with just blowing the Zamedi Guardian up: its a thief, not a honorable knight...^^
rebelops 11 Nov, 2023 @ 7:58pm 
@Marcos_DS right, but you fail those by necessity from not having any SP actually invested in Crossbow. I just did it tactically rather than through dialogue option. Perhaps there just isn't CoSP enough to make those checks. Killing the Zamedi Guardian without bomb spam pretty much requires Sword 5, for example: I did it using 2 acids and Mack's stim. Not a foolproof method, but probably similar odds to one-shotting Mack.
rebelops 11 Nov, 2023 @ 7:47pm 
@[SAP]CommanderA I'm short from dumping CHA, but not to the extent where I'm hardlocked out of a quest so far. Presumably, I'll make up the SP difference with INT as I go, assuming there's no more CHA-based training, but yes, I've had to somewhat rearrange progression because of it. If you aren't able to hit every Steal or Traps check, it's not really the end of the world.
Marcos_DS  [author] 11 Nov, 2023 @ 12:07pm 
@rebelops yeah there are even dialgue skill checks specific for the heavy scoped crossbow that allow killing several enemies before the fight even begins. I originally had this option in the guide but it was changed by Noire, not sure why exactly - likely cause he values CiSP over CoSP (which for an ideal run would be put into some points of crossbow first). But i also much prefer extra Combat rep and not loosing Word of Honor.
In the thieves quest-1 in Maadoraan there are also some crossbow kill options that are not longer part of the walkthrough...
On the one hand i don't like the changes very much, but on the other i feel reluctant to change it back cause Noire put a lot of work and thought into his modifications.
[SAP]CommanderA 11 Nov, 2023 @ 7:02am 
@rebelops - I followed the guide exactly but still found myself about 10 general skill points down when leaving the the starting section of the game. Have you been able to progress through the guide without this problem? Because of this I have actually found myself stuck in the thieves guild quest and unable to proceed.
rebelops 11 Nov, 2023 @ 12:08am 
It's possible to return to Aemolas' Village one more time and kill the 8 raiders for +4 CoSP, +1 Combat rep, and +1 Combat training. I did it after winning the arena using the 2 scoped heavy crossbows with blue steel broadheads (although standard blue steel after the opening shot on the archer for a critical probably makes more sense) reloading once and throwing a 20-25 bomb when I got surrounded by 3 enemies in the blast radius. Nothing too fancy on the sword moves, just manage the DoTs and use the khopesh fast attack to round off to a bleedout in the next round, then hit wait. There's also 3 alchemy ingredients to harvest.
[SAP]CommanderA 26 Oct, 2023 @ 6:46am 
@Marcos_DS - Thanks for the reply. So far all the skill checks up to where I am seem to be the same, I haven't failed anything. I do seem to be a couple of general and civic skill points behind though. The big one I noticed was that in the first part of the guide, I didn't get any points for breaking into Feng's house; but that might be a bug on my end.

Alright, I will just make some steel armour and continue on from there. Thanks for your help!