Proof is in the Poison

Thual Masmataz's apothecary is a front for his dark laboratory that produces his lethal cocktail.

Proof is in the Poison
Heroic level:	4
Epic level:	None
Duration:	Very Long
Heroic XP:	♣1,442Solo/Casual ♦2,596Normal ♥2,788Hard ♠2,980Elite
Epic XP:	N/A
Takes place in:	Vile Apothecary
Bestowed by:	Ruat Acalay
NPC contact:	Ruat Acalay
Quest acquired in:	The Marketplace
Patron:	The Coin Lords
Base favor:	5
Purchase:	Free to Play
Extreme Challenge:	Yes

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Overview

Thual Masmataz has hatched a plan to poison the water supply of Stormreach. Hidden away in his laboratory beneath Stormreach, he has been experimenting to make the most potent poison possible. Stop the mad alchemist before he perfects his latest concoction and infects the water supply of Stormreach.

Spoiler Warning: Spoiler material below this point!

Objectives

Slay Thual Masmataz
Gain Entry to the Gold Door
Gain Entry to the Green door
Gain Entry to the Silver Door
Kill Hosha Sollego, Quickfoot leader
Kill Oran Zatlo, Drow Overseer
(Optional) Kill Gnaghi Ugnot — Bonus (20%): Heroic( ♣288 ♦519 ♥558 ♠596 )
(Optional) Kill Woathe — Bonus (20%): Heroic( ♣288 ♦519 ♥558 ♠596 )
(Optional) Slay 40 members of the Quickfoot gang — Bonus (30%): Heroic( ♣433 ♦779 ♥836 ♠894 )
(Optional) Slay 100 members of the Quickfoot gang — Bonus (40%): Heroic( ♣577 ♦1,038 ♥1,115 ♠1,192 )

What to Expect

Traps (fixed, some undisarmable)
You need a character or hireling with a Strength of 14 to break down one of the early doors. Alternatively, Fireball can be used to break it down. Knock spell or picking the lock also works.
Many enemies cast Magic Missiles, which can be blocked by Nightshield and Shield (spell). Shield/Nightshield wands (UMD: 19, no ASF check) are sold in the Marketplace by Olvod Alorum, or, at a −16.7% (1/6) discount for Guild members only, in House Kundarak by Mona Harper.

Known Traps

Trap DCs

Spinning blades, under the first bridge; Control panel is in the middle of the floor
Fire trap on the first bridge; Control panel is at the end of the bridge
Acid traps in the hallway after retrieving the Gold key. There is no control panel for these, and must be dodged.
Acid traps in the hallway after retrieving the Green key. There is no control panel for these, and must be dodged.

Tips and Misc

This is one of the most difficult quests in the game, if run level-appropriate. Make sure you are over-powered compared to any other level 4 mission. Lots of casters, lots of concealed enemies – never assume you have "cleared" an area.
You'll probably want to go to the end of the bridge and disable the fire traps on the bridge before going down below to pull the lever. Do NOT pull the lower lever unless/until you are 100% sure no one is in danger on the bridge!
There are enemy casters who use Melf's Acid Arrow as their main attack, and levers you need to pull that are protected by acid pools. Acid resist spells/items can be a lifesaver.
Lots of Magic Missiles, too, so Shield effects are also valuable.
Watch out for slimes near the shrine if you're hurting badly when wanting to rest.
Gnaghi Ugnot may appear in an alcove just past the first turn.
Woathe may appear in the spider passage, to the north.

Basic Walkthrough (does not include exploring/clearing dead-ends of mobs or breakables)

Entry...
- Combat will start once you move forward more than a little – buff up before anyone advances.
- Clear the initial ambush, and resistance around the bridge.
- Disable the fire trap on the bridge (hop on the ledge to the left, then stand on the short pillar over the trap control panel).
- Drop down, deal with any remaining defenders on that level, and disable the trap under the bridge.
- Pull the lever on the wall below the bridge.
- Entire party cross the bridge.
Your only open path is right; break down the door^† and go downstairs to the spider passage...

† The door has a Strength requirement of 14, or it can be "shot" down with ranged weapons, or blasted with Fireball or certain other flame-based spell attacks.

When the passage splits, take the left hand branch and up those stairs, and break out through the end door.
Go due south to the end of the north–south passage at the "locked door". (Note the 2 crystal-locked doors/gates to your right/west as you proceed.)
Turn east and then north, and pull the red gem switch behind the gate alcove.

Go back into the main corridor and return north...
- Turn west through the red gem-locked gate that is now open.
- Pull the orange gem lever.
- Go back into the main corridor and north, and west through the orange gem-locked gate that is now open.
At the double-stairs...
- First take the northern path; wind your way to the end to get the gold key (mind the acid sprays).
- Go back to the double stairs, and continue south through the gold-key door, to the "western" acid room.
- Cross to the eastern door, either by jumping, or jump up to use the thin ledge as a walkway starting on the right-hand wall and going around on that.
To the (only!) shrine...
- Go down one flight of stairs to the shrine level (mind the acid pool!); this area is guarded by a few oozes, dogs and thieves.
- From the shrine, go northwest up the other stairs; follow that hall northwest to the end to get the green key.
  - (The side branch leading northeast is a short dead-end, and only has a few breakables.)
To the 2nd and 3rd acid rooms...
- Go back to the shrine and up the other stairs to continue southeast, through the green door (at the first intersection) to the "south-west" acid room.
- Climb the broken stairs and pipes, kill the defending casters, and turn the green valve near the top.
- Continue east(ish) to the next ("southern") acid room; jump across to throw the green switch on the wall. (Some partial barriers will drop, making your return more "interesting".)
- Continue east then north, and pull the green gem switch at the end of the corridor.
On to the end fight...
- Go back, and take the first right, a newly opened door, leading northwest toward the middle of the map.
- Pull the lever at the end of that passage.
- Go back north through the newly opened door, get the silver key and pull the switch to go through the gate there.
- Go south (you've been north) to your first chest.
- Continue west (optional: pick/Knock the locked door (on your right) for another chest)
- Follow the path north and down to the end fight.

Bonus XP

Aggression bonus: 33 or more monsters killed +10% Bonus.( ♣144 ♦260 ♥279 ♠298 )
Onslaught bonus: 67 or more monsters killed +15% Bonus.( ♣216 ♦389 ♥418 ♠447 )
Conquest bonus: 100 or more monsters killed +25% Bonus.( ♣361 ♦649 ♥697 ♠745 )
Tamper bonus: 2 or more traps disarmed +10% Bonus.( ♣144 ♦260 ♥279 ♠298 )
Mischief bonus: 167 or more breakables smashed +8% Bonus.( ♣115 ♦208 ♥223 ♠238 )
Vandal bonus: 217 or more breakables smashed +10% Bonus.( ♣144 ♦260 ♥279 ♠298 )
Ransack bonus: 267 or more breakables smashed +15% Bonus.( ♣216 ♦389 ♥418 ♠447 )

Loot

Chests: 3
- 1 for killing Hosha Sollego (Human)
- 1 behind a locked door after the silver door
- 1 at the end for killing Thual Masmataz (Drow Scorpion)
Collectables: 4
- Alchemy Table around the first acid pool
- Alchemy Table down the corridor north-west of the shrines (near the Green Key)
- Bookshelf just past the Silver door
- Alchemy Table past the stairs down to the final room
NPC rewards: Standard

Monsters

Name ^{( picture )}	CR	Type	Race
Black Widow ^{( view • edit )}	♦2Normal ♥4Hard ♠7Elite	Vermin	Spider
Gnaghi Ugnot ^{( view • edit )}	♦5Normal ♥7Hard ♠10Elite	Humanoid	Human
Hosha Sollego ^{( view • edit )}	♦5Normal ♥7Hard ♠10Elite	Humanoid	Human
Large Violet Slime ^{( view • edit )}	♦3Normal ♥4Hard ♠7Elite	Ooze	Violet Slime
Oran Zatlo ^{( view • edit )}	♦5Normal ♥7Hard ♠10Elite	Elf	Drow Elf
Quickfoot Caster ^{( view • edit )}	♦4Normal ♥6Hard ♠9Elite	Humanoid	Human
Quickfoot Fighter ^{( view • edit )}	♦4Normal ♥6Hard ♠9Elite	Humanoid	Human
Reinforced Iron Defender ^{( view • edit )}	♦3Normal ♥5Hard ♠8Elite	Construct	Iron Defender
Thual Masmataz's Assistant ^{( view • edit )}	♦4Normal ♥6Hard ♠9Elite	Elf	Drow Elf
Thual Masmataz ^{( view • edit )}	♦6Normal ♥8Hard ♠11Elite	Aberration	Drow Scorpion
Woathe ^{( view • edit )}	♦5Normal ♥7Hard ♠10Elite	Vermin	Spider

External Links