The Cursed Crypt

The Cursed Crypt is the 5th quest in the Litany of the Dead Part 3 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 first four quests can be completed in any order to unlock The Cursed Crypt.
Tomb of the Unhallowed • Tomb of the Forbidden • Tomb of the Blighted • Tomb of the Tormented • The Cursed Crypt

Maldetto's powers focus on mind control and destroying his enemies will. Given time, he can break through even the strongest of minds.

Requires access to adventure pack Definition: Adventure Pack A list of all adventure packs  : The Necropolis, Part 3

The Cursed Crypt
Heroic level:	12
Epic level:	None
Duration:	Very Long
Heroic XP:	♣3,900Solo/Casual ♦6,819Normal ♥7,140Hard ♠7,460Elite
Epic XP:	N/A
Takes place in:	The Cursed Crypt
Bestowed by:	Sir Pythias the Radiant
NPC contact:	Sir Pythias the Radiant
Quest acquired in:	The Necropolis
Patron:	The Silver Flame
Base favor:	7
Purchase:	The Necropolis, Part 3 or VIP
Extreme Challenge:	No

Loading screen

Overview

With the four mummy guardians laid to rest, the gates to the cursed crypt have opened. Sir Pythias the Radiant has asked you to enter the crypt and defeat the brother of curse, a vampire named Maldetto. He warned you however, that the Silver Flame already launched an assault on the cursed crypt, and it was an unparalleled failure. Maldetto excels at mind control and breaking the will of his opponents. Defeat him and bring back the Black Prophecy.

• You (or at least one person in your group) have to have all of 4 Litany of the Dead Part 3 pre-quests completed to open this quest instance. It is popular among players to have one of their alt characters remain flagged for this quest as permanent "opener", to upgrade their Silver Flame or Emerald Claw necklace whenever they want.

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Spoiler Warning: Spoiler material below this point!

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Objectives

• Speak to the survivor
• Find the jeweled key
• Destroy Maldetto's projections (Kill 2)
• Darken the skulls
• Defeat Maldetto
• Acquire The Black Prophecy
• Investigate the East altar
• Defeat the Brimstone Gatekeeper
• Open the spectre's prison
• Defeat the Brimstone Gatekeeper to free the spectres
• Investigate the West altar
• Defeat the Brimstone Gatekeeper
• Access the second floor
• (Failure) Kill no more than five Silver Flame
• (Failure) Do not linger in the crypt (60 minutes limit)
• (Optional) Rescue the 5 Silver Flame Officers — Bonus (10%): Heroic( ♣390 ♦682 ♥714 ♠746 )
• (Optional) Speak to the Silver Flame Commander — Bonus (5%): Heroic( ♣195 ♦341 ♥357 ♠373 )
• (Optional) Defeat Maldetto without killing a single Silver Flame — Bonus (40%): Heroic( ♣1,560 ♦2,728 ♥2,856 ♠2,984 )

What to Expect

• Collapsible floors
• Point of no return
• Overlapping floors
• Timed quest (60 minutes)
• Spawning/respawning monsters
• Randomly placed quest item (mandatory: Key)
• Randomly placed NPCs (optional: 5 Silver Flame Officers)
• Quest failure (if more than 4 Silver Flame are killed or if the Black Prophecy is not picked up before the time runs out)
• Requires extra player(s)/hireling(s) or Haste and Feather Fall (2 levers have to be pulled almost simultaneously to allow access through a fast closing door)
• Lockout from altar once final fight starts (very important for any wishing to upgrade their Silver Flame item!)

Known Traps

Trap DCs

• Falling floors, Spikes, Grease, Force, Acid pool

Tips and Misc

• Healing Maldetto kills him quickly (which helps out those who cannot crowd control the Silver Flame mobs around him).
• Invisibility might be tricky as Maldetto will have a red detection eye and alert the Silver Flame about your presence and location, even though they may not directly see you (consider hiding behind pillars to break line of sight).
• Mind control spells like Otto's Sphere of Dancing won't work on the Silver Flame, however Flesh to Stone and Web are helpful.
• Be mindful when targeting Maldetto as he may vanish in bats and spawn wolves.
• Note that a big chunk of this quest's experience comes from not killing a single Silver Flame member.
• The optional end chest is only available if no Silver Flame member is killed.
• Ensure to confirm your trinket has been upgraded when using the final Altar, before recalling out.
• Undead respawn and rise up from the ground in various areas; if you have good Sneak skills, you can stealthily avoid activating those mobs.

Walkthrough

This quest is timed – you have 60 minutes to complete it from the time the first person steps in, so be sure everyone is ready and steps in together. Be sure everyone (who wants to upgrade one) has their Silver Flame or Emerald Claw necklace (available in the lower camp) before they hop in. Skeletal wizards use Ray of Enfeeblement, Lightning Bolt and Firewall, so electric and fire resist, and (lesser) Restoration potions/spells are helpful. You will face some incorporeal creatures, so ghost touch helps, and lots of skeletons, so bring your bludgeon weapons, as appropriate.

If you avoid killing any of the Silver Flame agents, you can speak to the captain at the end (by that shrine) to get an extra chest. Flesh to Stone is great crowd control against the Silver Flame agents, as they are immune to mind affecting spells – Petrify Runestones would also work. Silver Flame agents are only encountered in the cells (but not the central cell-halls), and at the 3 fights against Maldetto and his "projections". Even if you don't want the chest, killing more than 5 Silver Flame agents fails the quest, so it is advised that no pets or monsters be summoned, and that hirelings are turned to "passive" in these areas, since they will attack any enemy they see, including Silver Flame. Also be careful of using any area-of-effect spell or weapon (and even guard items can kill them over time).

Lower Level - find the key

Move in and clear out the large entry hall. Head west first – just push left and down. You will get to a closed gate, and a spectre will pop up out of the floor, telling you it is going to help you. Two ghosties fly slowly off; follow the west one first. It will open the gate up the hall to head further in. (The other ghost will be doing the same on the east side of the crypt.) Clear out the halls on this side, approaching any altars you find and defeating the ambush, until you reach a large room full of small cells. The map is not symmetrical, but the concept is basically the same on the other side. Both sides also have shrines. Your goal is to find a jeweled key in a chest that is in a random cell on one side or the other. You will not be able to see the chest without opening the door. There is also a loot chest in one of the cells, which you can scope from outside. In some of the cells are prisoners being tortured, whom you can free for optional XP. In other cells are bad guys, who you can kill. In a few cells are Silver Flame guys who have been mentally enslaved. Be careful not to kill them. They are immune to mind affecting abilities and spells, though Web will slow them down. Once you find the jeweled key, head back to where you first met the ghost, in the room due west of the quest entrance. You can now go into the closed gate there, and free all the ghosts.

Lower Level - defeat Maldetto's 2 projections

Your two ghost buddies are sticking around. Travel back both northwest (just because it's closer, and this is timed), then northeast. (In the large eastern room, the northeast door leads onward.) At the end of each hall you will find your ghost, who will teleport you through the gate (walk into the ghost) to an image of Maldetto the Vampire. The vampire is standing on an altar with Silver Flame adherents grovelling at his feet. The job is to kill the vampire without killing the Silver Flame guys. If you can get to him and encircle him right off the bat, it helps to begin the battle well. The Silver Flame guys will be curing him, casting Cometfall on you, and trying to beat you up. Direct damage spells like Magic Missile work well, since they can't hit the Silver Flame guys. Firewall and other Area of Effect spells and attacks (like Cleave) can be very bad in this regard. It is possible to "body-pull" the Maldetto's projections by slowly sneaking directly towards him. When he speaks (yellow talking dialogue text above his head), stealthily retreat and you can avoid activating the Silver Flame. It is advisable to have only necessary individuals enter his room, and all but the one pulling him hide behind the pillars on the far side of the room from him. When everyone is hidden behind the pillars he will come to you and you can fight him (Heal, other cure wounds spells, and light based spells work great) without having to worry not to kill the Silver Flame. Once you drop him on one side, head to the other side and repeat the process. This will open up the way forward from the first main chamber, up to the second level.

Upper Level - overview

The ramp up is trapped, be prepared. Clear out the top area. You will see a blocked way down with three lit skulls. In order to unlight the skulls you must head up the ramps. There are 3 chambers and an optional chest on the top level. The hallways to the far side chambers, and the hall with the chest, will have collapsing floors. It is possible to prevent the falling of the floors by disarming them – there is a trap Control Panel for each. The whole floor in front of the chest will fall out, once again, avoidable by disarming it. It is time consuming to try to get over to it. If you fall, you will land in a small holding cell. Defeat the minions or survive long enough and the floor will fall out again to the halls below where the shrines are.

Upper Level - 3 altars

Once you make it to a side chamber, you will see a catwalk going over a glowing green floor. You can fall through the green, even though the skeletons don't. The catwalks have force traps, so be careful. For all three, you must get to the end of the rampway, fighting spectral Lost Souls, defeat the brimstone skeleton guardian, and use the altar. The catwalks which have snaking zigzag like bends are close enough to each other that you can jump over the green space to grab the next catwalk opposite – rather than running round all the bends.

(Note: It takes a very good Jump score to get back up from the eastern catwalks. Although a bit slower, it may be necessary to drop down and then run back up the ramps. Note also that the voice-over refers to this as "the western altar".)

The center/bottom area is slightly different than the two side areas. There is no collapsing floor, but there are two levers along the rampway. The levers must be pulled at roughly the same time^* to lower the gate with the altar and the warden. The gate will close shortly after opening. You can pull the guardian out first, dispatch him, then open it again to hit the altar.

(* With Haste and Feather Fall, and/or a good Jump, it is possible for one person to throw both of these levers and make it to the chamber with the skeleton warden. See video. It can be done more easily with a hireling or pet throwing the far lever.)

Once all three altars are lit, the skulls are dark and the way down is open. There is also a new shrine that appears next to the drop down.

End Fight

Down into the last chamber, where the vampire awaits with four more of his devout Silver Flame followers. Once you engage the vampire below, the path will seal behind you, and stays sealed, even after the fight! Make sure everyone has come down before starting things. This version of the vampire is meaner than his two aspects. The best way to defeat Maldetto and avoid the Silver Flame is to rest then buff everyone before dropping down. When everyone is buffed, everyone enters sneak mode and has feather fall on, then drops down through the south-east corner of the hole, and when you enter the larger room below continue to "fly" south-east so that you land in the dark corner in the south-east part of the room, still in sneak mode. Some ghosts will come attack you right away, kill them while staying in the corner. When they are dead, it is again possible to body-pull Maldetto (he'll be targetable as soon as you land in the room unlike the projections) and have the Silver Flame remain dormant. Kill him using the same methods as you used on his projections. Up to you. There is a shrine in the southwest corner if you need it. After defeating him, grab the book from the altar before time runs out. This stops the timer and then you can use the altar to upgrade your necklaces.

Also, a small room opens up in the south-west corner with a shrine. If you were good, and didn't kill any Silver Flame folk, talk to the Commander in the room here, and he will give you a bonus chest.

Upgrading your "trinket"

Note: As mentioned above, you must enter the final chamber before the final fight starts – you will not be able to access the altar if you do not!

The altar will do a single upgrade, no matter what stage you are currently at, to a maximum of the third upgrade. (The final "upgrade" is after defeating the Black Abbot in the Ascension Chamber, and not everyone recommends that upgrade).

Bonus XP

• Aggression bonus: 33 or more monsters killed +10% Bonus.( ♣390 ♦682 ♥714 ♠746 )
• Onslaught bonus: 67 or more monsters killed +15% Bonus.( ♣585 ♦1,023 ♥1,071 ♠1,119 )
• Conquest bonus: 100 or more monsters killed +25% Bonus.( ♣975 ♦1,705 ♥1,785 ♠1,865 )
• Tamper bonus: 4 or more traps disarmed +10% Bonus.( ♣390 ♦682 ♥714 ♠746 )
• Neutralization bonus: 5 or more traps disarmed +20% Bonus.( ♣780 ♦1,364 ♥1,428 ♠1,492 )
• Ingenious Debilitation bonus: 6 or more traps disarmed +30% Bonus.( ♣1,170 ♦2,046 ♥2,142 ♠2,238 )

Loot

• Chests: 4
  • 1 randomly placed in 1 room, in either the west or east cloister
  • 1 at top floor behind falling floor trap
  • 1 at the end (contains named loot)
  • 1 additional for 0 Silver Flame kills
• Collectables: 8, all on the bottom floor
  • West Wing
    • Cabinet in the first northeast cell
    • Bookshelf in the second northeast cell
    • Cabinet in the second southeast cell
    • Bookshelf and Cabinet in the room with the spirit trapped within rings
  • East Wing
    • Adventurer's Pack in the southwest cell
    • Cabinet in the northwest cell
    • Bookshelf in the northeast cell
• NPC rewards: Standard

Named Chest Drop

Last Edited	Item	Type	Enhancements	ML	Bind	Quests
Update 56.3.1 1 year, 5 months, and 20 days PurpleSerpent	Jinx's Vexation  (edit)	Full Plate	+5 Enhancement Bonus+5 Enhancement Bonus: +5 enhancement bonus to Armor Class. MithralMithral: Mithral armor is one type lighter then normal. Arcane Spell Failure decreased by 10%. Maximum dexterity bonus increased by 2. Armor check penalty reduced by 3. Devotion +60Devotion +60: Passive: +60 Equipment bonus to Positive (Healing) Spell Power. Hidden effect: Will Save -3 Will Save -3: This item gives a -3 penalty to your Will saves. Blue Augment Slot: EmptyBlue Augments Named: Category:Blue augments AC: Natural Armor Bonus (+1 to +14) or Protection (Deflection bonus) (+1 to +11) ASF reduction: -5% to -15% Fortification: +25% to +100% Good Luck: +1 or +2 Hit points: +4 to +54 Max Dex Bonus (Armor): +1 or +2 Defense (PRR and MRR): +3 to +36 Saves (Resistance bonus): +1 to +11 Dodge: +1% to +14% Tactics DCs (Stunning, Sunder, Trip): +2 to +16 Accuracy: +2 to +22 Positive/Negative/Repair Healing Amplification: +3 to +57 Colorless Augments Named: Category:Colorless augments Ability (Enhancement bonus): +1 to +14 Ability (Exceptional bonus): +1 Ability (Insight bonus): +5 Skills, except UMD (Competence bonus): +5 to +20	10	Bound to Character on EquipBound to Character on Equip: This item is Bound to Character on Equip	The Cursed Crypt, End chest
Update 61.2 6 months and 26 days PurpleSerpent	Docent of Defiance  (edit)	Docent	+4 Enhancement Bonus+4 Enhancement Bonus: +4 enhancement bonus to Armor Class. Fire Resistance +20Fire Resistance +20: Passive: +20 Enhancement bonus to your Fire Resistance. Electric Resistance +20Electric Resistance +20: Passive: +20 Enhancement bonus to your Electric Resistance. Cold Resistance +20Cold Resistance +20: Passive: +20 Enhancement bonus to your Cold Resistance. Hidden effect: Cursed DefianceCursed Defiance: 5% on-being-hit chance to be unable to move and gain DR 20/- for 20 seconds	10	UnboundUnbound: This item is Unbound, and may take permanent damage.	The Cursed Crypt, End Chest
Update 48.2 3 years, 4 months, and 4 days BugTime	Bete Noir  (edit)	Bracers	Unholy Blight Unholy Blight Caster level: 7 Charges: 3 (3/day) — 3 Charges (Recharged/Day:3) Taint of EvilTaint of Evil: Good aligned characters equipping this item suffer a temporary negative level until the item is removed. Armor Bonus +7Armor Bonus +7: This item surrounds the wearer with an invisible but tangible field of force, granting +7 armor bonus to AC, just as though he were wearing armor. Hidden effect: Cursed Level DrainCursed Level Drain: Each time the player equipping this item is hit there is a small chance it will drain 1 level (no save, almost nothing wards). Yellow Augment Slot: EmptyYellow Augments Named: Category:Yellow augments Deathblock Elemental Resistance: +5 to +45 Immunity: Fear, Blindness Movement: Feather Falling, Striding: +10% to +30%, Swiftness +5% to +15%, Underwater Action Proof Against Disease, Poison: +2 to +10 Spell Focus, Greater Spell Focus (Enhancement bonus) Spell points (Enhancement bonus): +19 to +294 Damage: +1 to +11 Spell penetration: +1 to +9 Colorless Augments Named: Category:Colorless augments Ability (Enhancement bonus): +1 to +14 Ability (Exceptional bonus): +1 Ability (Insight bonus): +5 Skills, except UMD (Competence bonus): +5 to +20	11	Bound to Character on EquipBound to Character on Equip: This item is Bound to Character on Equip	The Cursed Crypt, End chest
Update 48.4.3 3 years, 1 month, and 5 days BugTime	Scourge Choker  (edit)	Necklace	Proof Against Disease +6 Proof Against Disease +6: This item grants its wearer immunity to natural diseases. This item also grants a +6 Enhancement bonus to saving throws against magical diseases, and the wearer does not fail saving throws against them on a roll of a natural 1 (this renders the wearer immune to magical diseases with a DC of less than 7 + their Fortitude save). Blood RageBlood Rage: Anytime you are hit there is a chance that you will fall into a Blood Rage. Blood Rage gives up to a +8 bonus to Strength and Constitution but will also cause short periods of lethargy when your lust for blood becomes sated.	11	Bound to Character on EquipBound to Character on Equip: This item is Bound to Character on Equip	The Cursed Crypt, End chest
Update 48.4.3 3 years and 27 days BugTime	Emerald Claw Talisman  (edit)	Necklace	Symbol of Fear Symbol of Fear Caster level: 11 Charges: 3 (3/day) — 3 Charges (Recharged/Day:3) Diplomacy +11Diplomacy +11: Passive: +11 Competence bonus to the Diplomacy skill. Intimidate +11Intimidate +11: Passive: +11 Competence bonus to the Intimidate skill. FearsomeFearsome: This item causes those who strike the user to be overcome with terror, as from the Fear spell.	11	Bound to Character on AcquireBound to Character on Acquire: This item is Bound to Character on Acquire	The Cursed Crypt, Altar; upgraded from Emerald Claw Pendant
Update 48.4.3 3 years and 27 days BugTime	Cloak of Curses  (edit)	Cloak	Chaotic CurseChaotic Curse: The curse on this item is so powerful it can be transferred to any creature that dares touch the wearer. The rents in the fabric of the underlying cloth has made the curse unstable and it can reverse itself. Note especially that while the wearer is partially shielded he is not entirely immune to this effect. Enchantment Focus I Enchantment Focus I: +1 Equipment bonus to the DC of Enchantment spells. Yellow Augment Slot: EmptyYellow Augments Named: Category:Yellow augments Deathblock Elemental Resistance: +5 to +45 Immunity: Fear, Blindness Movement: Feather Falling, Striding: +10% to +30%, Swiftness +5% to +15%, Underwater Action Proof Against Disease, Poison: +2 to +10 Spell Focus, Greater Spell Focus (Enhancement bonus) Spell points (Enhancement bonus): +19 to +294 Damage: +1 to +11 Spell penetration: +1 to +9 Colorless Augments Named: Category:Colorless augments Ability (Enhancement bonus): +1 to +14 Ability (Exceptional bonus): +1 Ability (Insight bonus): +5 Skills, except UMD (Competence bonus): +5 to +20	11	Bound to Character on EquipBound to Character on Equip: This item is Bound to Character on Equip	The Cursed Crypt, End chest
Update 48.5 3 years and 24 days BugTime	Anathema  (edit)	Ring	Evocation Focus +1 Evocation Focus +1: +1 Equipment bonus to the DC of Evocation spells. MagiMagi: This item grants the wearer +100 maximum spell points. Sorcerers and Favored Souls gain up to double spell points from items. Hidden effect: AnathemaAnathema: Increases all threat generated by spells by 25%. Yellow Augment Slot: EmptyYellow Augments Named: Category:Yellow augments Deathblock Elemental Resistance: +5 to +45 Immunity: Fear, Blindness Movement: Feather Falling, Striding: +10% to +30%, Swiftness +5% to +15%, Underwater Action Proof Against Disease, Poison: +2 to +10 Spell Focus, Greater Spell Focus (Enhancement bonus) Spell points (Enhancement bonus): +19 to +294 Damage: +1 to +11 Spell penetration: +1 to +9 Colorless Augments Named: Category:Colorless augments Ability (Enhancement bonus): +1 to +14 Ability (Exceptional bonus): +1 Ability (Insight bonus): +5 Skills, except UMD (Competence bonus): +5 to +20 Colorless Augment Slot: EmptyColorless Augments Named: Category:Colorless augments Ability (Enhancement bonus): +1 to +14 Ability (Exceptional bonus): +1 Ability (Insight bonus): +5 Skills, except UMD (Competence bonus): +5 to +20	11	Bound to Character on EquipBound to Character on Equip: This item is Bound to Character on Equip	The Cursed Crypt, End chest
Update 54.0.2 1 year, 10 months, and 2 days PurpleSerpent	Silver Flame Talisman  (edit)	Necklace	Negative Energy Absorption - 10 Charges (Recharged/Day: 10)Negative Energy Absorption: This effect absorbs negative energy and energy drain effects. DeathblockDeathblock: The wearer of this item is immune to all death spells and magical death effects. Protection from EvilProtection from Evil: Passive: You gain the benefit of the spell Protection from Evil.	11	Bound to Character on AcquireBound to Character on Acquire: This item is Bound to Character on Acquire	The Cursed Crypt, Altar; upgraded from the Silver Flame Pendant

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Monsters

Name ( picture )	CR	Type	Race
Black Wolf ( view  • edit )	♦3Normal ♥5Hard ♠8Elite	Animal	Wolf
Brimstone Butcher (Necropolis) ( view  • edit )	♦9Normal	Undead	Skeleton
Brimstone Gate Keeper ( view  • edit )	♦12Normal ♥14Hard ♠17Elite	Undead	Skeleton
Brimstone Servitor ( view  • edit )	♦11Normal	Undead	Zombie
Eternal Hunter ( view  • edit )	♦10Normal ♥12Hard ♠15Elite ●♦21Epic Normal ●♥29Epic Hard ●♠44Epic Elite	Undead	Skeleton
Eternal Warrior ( view  • edit )	♦10Normal ♥12Hard ♠15Elite ●♦21Epic Normal ●♥29Epic Hard ●♠44Epic Elite	Undead	Skeleton
Eternal Wizard ( view  • edit )	♦10Normal ♥12Hard ♠15Elite ●♦21Epic Normal ●♥29Epic Hard ●♠44Epic Elite	Undead	Skeleton
Lost Soul ( view  • edit )	♥11Hard	Undead	Spectre
Maldetto Devotee ( view  • edit )	♦11Normal ♥13Hard	Elf	Elf
Maldetto Disciple ( view  • edit )	♥13Hard	Humanoid	Human
Maldetto Thrall ( view  • edit )	♦10Normal ♥12Hard	Humanoid	Human
Maldetto ( view  • edit )	♠21Elite	Undead	Vampire
Silver Flame Elite Templar ( view  • edit )	♠18Elite	Humanoid	Human
Silver Flame Friar ( view  • edit )	♠16Elite	Humanoid	Human
Silver Flame Paladin ( view  • edit )	♠17/29Elite	Humanoid	Human
Silver Flame Scout ( view  • edit )	♠16Elite	Halfling	Halfling
Silver Flame Soldier ( view  • edit )	♠16Elite	Humanoid	Human
Silver Flame War Priest ( view  • edit )	♠17Elite	Humanoid	Human
Silver Flame Warrior ( view  • edit )	♠15Elite	Humanoid	Human
Twisted Soul ( view  • edit )	♦11Normal	Undead	Spectre

External Links

• original forum post
• Another nice walkthrough: (DDO Forums).