Pools of Darkness
For ten years, your glorious band has fought evil wherever it has threatened the realms. Lord Bane has suffered many defeats at your hands, and new peace has flooded the land. Now we have come full circle - back to the thriving city of Phlan. As your ship arrives, you see the towers of Phlan where before there were only ruins. The slums and decay have given way to new growth. Boats bob in the harbor under the watchful protection of the Sokal fortress. This prosperity and success is due in large part to your victory over Tyranthraxus so many years ago. As the sail is furled and the crew prepares to dock, you ask yourself, "Where can you find adventure in such peace ...
Story
The group's goal is to defeat Bane's lieutenants Thorne (an ancient red dragon), Kalistes (a Tanar'ri Marilith) and Tanetal (a Tanar'ri Glabrezu) and obtain the items they possess. The ultimate goal is to reach Bane's land and face off against Bane's last and greatest lieutenant, Gothmenes (a Tanar'ri Balor). All lieutenants are located in other dimensions that can be reached through portals known as Pools of Darkness. When crossing the pools, many items carried by the characters can be permanently destroyed and lost. The party can choose to store these items in a vault. Of course, all items from the dimensions suffer the same fate when they travel back to the realms. Items that will survive include the vorpal longsword, magic rings and composite bows. There are also many side quests that the party can complete along the way that will help them gain experience and items, especially in the beginning. On the overworld, there are many unseen areas that the party can enter if they look around the open fields for such locations. This applies to all overworlds. Mandatory quests include: Liberating the homestead near Dragonhorn's Gap, which opens the way to Dragon's Aerie. Eliminate the Dragon's Lair, which opens the way to Thorne's Lair via a Pool of Darkness. Eliminate Thorne's Lair, giving the party the Horn of Doom. Eliminate the Drow caves and Kalistes' temple beneath Zhentil Fortress, opening the way to Kalistes' land across a pool of darkness. Eliminate Kalistes' parlor, giving the party the crystal ring. Eliminate Marcus' red tower, which opens the way to Moander's body through a pool of darkness. Eliminate Moander's heart, which contains Tanetal, earning the party the Talisman of the Curse. Defeat the Cave of Arcam under Mulmaster, which opens the way to Bane's Land through a Pool of Darkness. Defeat Gothmenes (a Tanar'ri Balor), who is fighting Elminster, in Bane's Land. There are also side quests in various locations and also famous people in the realm. Elminster, for example, has always been there to preserve the dimensional portal for the party in case they arrive at a Pool of Darkness. The lost princess Alusair Nacacia asks the party to help her fight the Rakshasas in Myth Drannor. After completing the last quest, the party had the choice of either completing their journey or traversing another dungeon of enemies and traps known as "Dave's Challenge".