*SPOILER* Malchor Harpell is killing me.

[rcRaCer]

Hey everyone.

I just finished killing Bodhi with Drizzt help, and am returing to the surface. As soon as I return MH is there and is killing me with "Imprisionment". I have tried to give him what he wants, multiple times, and tried to run, and fight him, nothing seems to work, I end up dead. All my drow things have already turned to dust and I dropped them. Any help on how to get by alive.

TIA

Al

[Thrifalas]

Ctrl+y him to death. :P Sounds like your game is bugged in some strange way, so "cheating" would be acceptable. Otherwise, what does he show up for, what does he want from you?

[galraen]

Originally Posted by Thrifalas

Ctrl+y him to death. :P Sounds like your game is bugged in some strange way, so "cheating" would be acceptable. Otherwise, what does he show up for, what does he want from you?

Unfortunately that doesn't work on him, I know, I tried. He's equipped with one of the min1hp cheat items.

[wise grimwald]

Same thing happened to me last night except that I found out a way to stay alive.
I used shield of Arkon for my PC and a magic resistance spell for Jan. We were the only two to survive the assault. I therefore went back to a saved game and did a re-run except that I got my other characters to leave the party first. We survived!! I was a little bit narked by him however so I then pickpocketed him. Got a nice necklace, a potion and a spear +2. I then assaulted him even though he was not hostile. He must have taken literally thousands of hitpoints, but just continues to stand there without becoming hostile or dying. He didn't become hostile when I failed to pickpocket him either. Very weird. I think the programmers must assume that I died and didn't program in what would happen if I didn't.It makes me wonder if the previous suggestion will work. I've forgotten the spell that Jan used, but if you are not a cleric yourself, it might be vital to your survival so I'll have a look at it tonight.
Another suggestion. Leave all of Drizzt's belongings in a chest inside before leaving.
Further info.
The spell that Jan used is spell deflection. The spell that the cleric used is shield of the Arkions.
If you haven't got them yet, my suggestion is to leave Drizzt's gear in a chest and come back for it when you have.

[Saros]

The thing about Malchor is that he appears and immediately casts Imprisonment on your protagonist. Ways to avoid him and keep Drizzt's loot for yourself.

Frankly, the only items needed from Drizzt&co are the Ring of Invisibility, Ruby Pendant, Tansheron's Bow and Twinkle, the scimitar +5. All other items, while not crappy, are unworthy your attention and should be sold.

1st way - install ToB(with the area of Watcher's keep). After killing Drizzt, go there and store all of the items in the first lvl of WK - a random container should do the trick. Pick them back when in ToB, Malchor won't be there.

2nd way - Use Timestop + Shapechange to Mind Flayer(if you're under SoA xp cap, use a Simulacrum with these scrolls equipped on quick slots). Malchor is not immune to int drain. But I think that even after you kill the first Harpel, a second and third appears...well, you get the picture, a bug.

3rd way - there is a tweak in the G3 site, which disables Malchor Harpell and allows you to keep Drizzt's stuff.

4th way - use a Scroll of Protection from Magic on your protagonist(since he's the target of Imprisonment). If you don't wanna waste the scroll, use it from a Simmy or PI inventory. Malchor's Imprisonment will be rendered harmless and he'll trouble you no more. Yet, his copies will continue spawning(a bug - yet they won't harm you even if you attack them), but it's annoying. They'll stop spawning when you enter Suldanesselar, I think.

The last tactic works if your protagonist is an arcane caster. Use SI: Abjuration in this case. A Berserker can also survive - the moment you see Harpel appearing, activate Berzerk in order to be immune to Imprisonment.

[wise grimwald]

Because I now try to be a relatively good guy, I have never acquired the above items. I've only had the ones from BG1. To get them, do you have to attack the party, or can you pickpocket them whilst they are helping you?
An additional question.
From my answer above, you will see that I found my own way to survive the assault. If I now go back for some more of his gear it sounds like I will no longer be attacked. Is that so?

[Saros]

You get attacked only ONCE by Malchor. If you somehow survive his Imprisonment, then the game assumes you're dead, and while Malchor keeps appearing, he doesn't turn hostile anymore. There may(and will) be multiple copies of him. I've never pickpocketed him maybe I should.

You can probably pickpocket Drizzt's friends, but most probably you'll find only potions of healing and a ring or necklace at most. Weapons and armor you cannot pickpocket,and that's exactly what you wanna loot.

"Twinkle" is the best weapon of choice for Jaheira in SoA and the beginning of ToB(at least until you find Spectral Brand in Tob, and yet you can wield both of them). Still, there is a G3 tweak that must be installed to make Jaheira Neutral Good in order to use the scimitar.

There is actually an honest(good) way to obtain this scimitar. Convince Drizzt to join you in destroying Bodhi's lair. Drizzt usually locks in combat with Bodhi herself and kills her singlehandedly. Well - help her a little! Improved Haste, Champion's Strength, Righteous Magic, Aid and Heal on Bodhi, as well as other vampires that may be attacking Drizzt. He will die, most certainly. Then, after you kill all vampires, store the two scimitars Drizzt had and walk out with just his armor. Malchor appears 1st time, picks up the armor(whether you like it or not). Return, repeat the process with Icingdeath...oops Frostbrand. Malchor takes that away too. Not a big loss, in Underdark there is a similar +3 scimitar, Water's Edge, if you *so* need a +3 weapon for Jaheira. When you return for the last item, "Twinkle", Malchor will attack you so use one of the tactics described above.

[wise grimwald]

Thanks that explains it perfectly.
The trigger in my case was importing a character wearing the armour, but I expect that the end result is the same.