Mopping Up Phlan

Now I've completed the rest of Phlan accessible on foot from the civilized area (well, not Stojanow Gate or Valjevo Castle, obviously). Sokal Keep is also done. These are much easier than the slums, since there's usually just one major battle.

In Sokal Keep, I just entered the room from the side, formed a defensive line, dropped the archers with sleep, fortified my line with stinking clouds, and kept hacking. No casualties, not even close. Plus, it solved my money troubles, since the reward included some really valuable jewelry.

Kuto's Well is a pain, since it seems not to be actually cleanable. I went and killed the bandit down the well and the other set-piece fight, but I'm still getting random encounters there, and the lizardmen can be pretty tough!

Podal Plaza I kind of messed up. I just went there, listened to the auction, and left. A few times previously, I've at least gotten into a fight there, but I didn't have a recent enough save to start experimenting.

I got really lucky in Mendor's Library. The basilisk fell before it even had a chance to act. And of course I forgot about the spectre and got a bit of a scare when it appeared. But it managed to only try once to hit and luckily missed. And I don't care what the clerk said; what they paid for the books was a real pittance.

My maps show that before I'd gone across the bay first and cleaned the three areas there, and only then did the textile house. This time I went to the textile house first. The random encounters there can get pretty tough, especially since Gabrielle doesn't seem to be high enough level to turn wights. Also, it's a lot more annoying when the turned undead just flee and don't disappear like they do in later games, though I see how it's more realistic in Pool.

The thieves in the textile house were really interesting. After all, I have a Lawful Good character in my party, I had Cadorna's employee with me, and neither prevented me from using the thieves' assistance to loot Cadorna's treasure. Which was worth it: now Andreas has gauntlets of ogre power.

Now I went to see the bishop of Tyr, picked up the priest, and am heading to the other side of the bay. I think I'll start with the two mansions, since I have the extra cleric with me, and only after those go to the temple of Bane.