Act 1, Quest 8: Trailing the Coven

Quest 8: Trailing the Coven

To begin the longest quest yet, Leah directs you to take revenge on Maghda. Return to Wortham via the Wortham Cellar waypoint. Leave town through the gate near the chapel and continue on to the Wortham Bluffs. Just up the road are the Caverns of Aranae. Inside is a large dungeon with many caverns hiding conspiring arachnids that descend from the ceiling to ambush. The spider enemies here range from small to large, but none are terribly imposing outside of large groups. A resplendent chest is also hiding within the cavern. Look for the Chamber of Queen Aranae to the far east of the cavern, at the end of a long causeway with a dying hermit.

Enter the Chamber to find the spider leader, Queen Aranae, who appears after you talked to the women trapped in her web. The Queen is essentially a large Toxic Lurker, spewing medium range pools of acid towards you and spit webbing at a longer range that temporarily slows movement speed. Circle around the Queen, avoiding the pools of acid she leaves, striking between her spits. When hurt, she will burrow and summon other arachnid to fight, take them out quickly before focusing on her again. Once she is defeated, click on the Pools of Vomit near the webbed woman, and then click on her. Exit through the now open path to the Highlands Crossing. Talk to the woman, Karyn, who now sends you to grab the Khazra Staff.

The Southern Highlands are patrolled by many goatmen of the Moon Clan and several large herds can be found, including a particularly strong one that may be found inside a fortified area. Head to the location marked on the map to find Karyn’s Lost Wagon and click it to retrieve the staff. An ambush of goatmen appear immediately, kill them and their champion leader. The Khazra Staff will now open the previously closed gate leading to the Northern Highlands.

A herd of goatmen waits behind the gate and attack when it opens. Head down the road, killing the small groups of Moon Clan and watching for the many falling tree traps along the way. Look for a solid stone staircase to lead to Leoric’s Hunting Grounds. This area has largely the same monsters as the Highlands, just bigger groups of them. Cross the bridge to Leoric’s Manor Courtyard and from there, Leoric’s Manor. Head up the stairs and open the door to fight more of Maghda’s cultists. Avoid the center of the battle and use AOE attacks from the edge of the mass of cultists. Talk to the wounded man and open the manor doors, be sure to grab the waypoint before heading forward to the Halls of Agony.

A Unholy Ceremony

Monsters

• Spiderling – Baby spiders that are released from eggs or burrows and attack in swarms. Weak on their own, but can harass when with a larger group of spiders.
• Arachnid Horror – Medium sized spiders that can ambush from the ceiling and spit webbing that slows movement. Attack in groups.
• Toxic Lurker – Often solo, these giant spiders have high health. Can create poison clouds that surround themselves, dealing damage.
• Withermoth – Hidden large insects that ambush the hero. Weak health but a decent lightning attack that can rack up damage quickly if ignored.
• Dark Summoner – Raise and channel demons such as Hellions and Unholy Thrall’s, while also having a ranged fireball attack. Summoner’s should be taken out first in large cultist groups.
• Unholy Thrall – When Dark Vessels gather in small groups and chant with their staffs, they will transform into these demons who possess a strong melee attack. After transforming they will charge the hero extremely quickly. Kill Dark Vessels before they can transform.

Lore

• Hermit’s Ravings – (Dusty Bag) Caverns of Aranae
• Torn Letter –  (Dusty Bag) Caverns of Aranae
• The Highlands – (Lost Chest) Southern Highlands
• A Summoner’s Journal – Southern Highlands, found by a killing lone, chanting Dark Cultist
• Notes of Urik the Seer – (Urik’s Satchel) Cave of the Moon Clan Lvl 1: pt. 1, (Urik’s Satchel) Cave of the Moon Clan Lvl 2: pt. 2
• Researching the Khazra – (Decaying Corpse) Northern Highlands
• Khazra Heads Wanted –  (Decaying Corpse) Northern Highlands
• Report from Wortham – (Wortham Courier Corpse) Northern Highlands
• Orders from Maghda – Leoric’s Manor, dropped by enemy in 1st battle in manor

Possible Events

• Revenge of Gharbad – The Ancient Pyre is a small area that may occur adjacent to the Southern Highlands. Enter and talk to the ghost of Gharbad to begin the event. Destroy the 2 totems, kill the Dark Moon Clan ghosts and then face off against Gharbad the Strong, an elite two-headed Impaler who would look more at home in Fallout, than in Diablo.

Possible Side Dungeons

• Cave of the Moon Clan (Southern Highlands)
• Lvl 1: Moon Clan and spiders.
• Lvl 2: Rare Moon Clan leader, resplendent chest
• Abandoned Servant House (Southern Highlands)
• Merchant: Arghus the Collector
• Watch Tower (Northern Highlands)
• Lvl 1: Small level with Dark Cultists
• Lvl 2: Skeletons, resplendent chest

Waypoints

• Highland Crossing
• Northern Highlands
• Leoric’s Manor

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