So I beat SoA tonight, and found the paladin in me was not quite pleased. I restored an old saved game, just before entering the end part of SoA, and went back to town. Mission: clean out the Shadow Thieves, and their den of torture.
Naturally, I got waxed several times by Arkanis Gath, but I really figured I had the plan after a while. Mind you, I cleaned out Watcher's Keep already, so we're all 23rd level plus. Figured I'd strike someone after summoning a Deva and simulacruming my lead guy (paladin with Crom Faeyr), wait for Arkanis to appear, time stop and blast him with magic missiles until he died.
well, best I can do is get him down to nearly dead. He just keeps on fighting, ultimately slaying everyone in the group. It's totally irrational--after the time stop and magic missile trick which got him to nearly dead, he took at least another 150 HP without expiring.
what's the trick? I know SOMEONE here has done it! Thanks.
how the heck do you kill Arkanis Gath?!?
thanks kopywrite! heh, finally had a chance to do this last night. the time stop/shapechange into mind flayer works brilliantly! it's true that i didn't get exp, but Arkanis Gath did drop his armor (something like Leather +4 i believe).
as far as his weapons, well, I got those in another way. when heading to Bodhi's tomb, I met with the shadow thieves leader on a lark first. he said he'd send his top guy to help out, none other than Arkanis Gath! So during a dull moment between battles, and after he had disarmed a few traps, I put him to the sword quickly and he did die. His name was only "Arkanis" but he had the shortsword +2 and a dagger +2 as his weapons. of course, I had hoped this would prevent him from appearing later when I went to clean out the shadow thieves, but no such luck.
FWIW, the best part about cleaning out the shadow thieves is getting Renal Bloodscalp's pair of boots of speed. Now my entire "Front rank" of 3 fighter types wears boots of speed, it's great.
as far as his weapons, well, I got those in another way. when heading to Bodhi's tomb, I met with the shadow thieves leader on a lark first. he said he'd send his top guy to help out, none other than Arkanis Gath! So during a dull moment between battles, and after he had disarmed a few traps, I put him to the sword quickly and he did die. His name was only "Arkanis" but he had the shortsword +2 and a dagger +2 as his weapons. of course, I had hoped this would prevent him from appearing later when I went to clean out the shadow thieves, but no such luck.
FWIW, the best part about cleaning out the shadow thieves is getting Renal Bloodscalp's pair of boots of speed. Now my entire "Front rank" of 3 fighter types wears boots of speed, it's great.