Durlag's Tower Level 1 Walkthrough

Durlag's Tower Level 1 is a cRPG dungeon in BioWare's cRPG of 1998-99, Baldur's Gate. Durlag's Tower Level 2 is the Labyrinth of the Warders. The large, central chamber is occupied by four dwarven warders (Pride, Avarice, Fear & Love) guarding an elevator shaft, each of whom pose a riddle which must be solved in order to descend to the second, deeper labyrinth.

Solving the riddles requires careful and extensive exploration of the entire dungeon; its floors and containers laced with traps, its corridors and chambers linked by secret doors and inhabited by undead, arachnid, jellies, golems and shapeshifters [2], all of which stand as obstacles to the procurement of treasures and essential puzzle pieces.

Below left: One of Durlag's glittering treasuries.
Below right: A trio of Greater Doppelgangers, hasted and mirrored. Their creepy moans and one-liners send shivers up my spine!

[2] Skeletons, Zombies, Ghouls, Ghasts, Skeleton Warriors, Phase & Wraith Spiders, Mustard Jellies, Flesh Golems, Greater Doppelgangers.

Right: Time to fillet some meat!

Riddle of Pride

To solve the riddle of Pride, the player must venture to the reading room and peruse the four tomes, causing a sword, Durlag's Pride, to glow in the chamber across the corridor.

Riddle of Avarice

To solve the riddle of Avarice, the player must rummage through the treasury to procure the priceless Glittering Beljuril Gemstone.

• Item code for Glittering Beljuril Gemstone (MISC1J).

This stone seems to be out of place down here, almost as if it wasn't a coincidence at all. Perhaps it has some meaning, maybe even a purpose here. You get an uneasy feeling that this gem stone shouldn't be sold, perhaps it would be best not to be too greedy and keep it around awhile. Normally a deep, pleasant seawater green, beljurils periodically blaze with a glittering, winking, flashing light. Although this particular stone has a slightly different hue, perhaps a new strain, rarely if ever seen before. It looks incredibly valuable.

Riddle of Fear

To solve the riddle of Fear, a mallet head and handle must be found; then the mallet assembled in the forge using the hammer & anvil.

The mallet must then be taken to the trophy chamber and struck on a gong to sound it. 

This riddle requires considerably more exploration than the first two.

• Item code for the Mallet Head (MISC94) -- Found on a bookshelf in the library to the north.

This heavy metal ball appears to be the head of a gong mallet. The handle is broken off.

• Item code for the Mallet Handle (MISC95) -- Found in a barrel behind the Pride Warder.

This gilded rod was once a handle.

• Item code for the Gong Mallet (MISC1H)

This appears to be a mallet for a gong of some kind.

Riddle of Love

And finally, to solve Love's riddle, a bejeweled key must be found and used to open a magically-warded dresser containing a switch to turn on a machine in the engine room, thereby powering up a winepress. 

A bunch of glowing grapes must also be found; then crushed on the now-operable winepress to fill a bottle of wine.

• Item code for Odd Looking Key (MISC93) -- Found in a small treasure pile in the treasure room.

A bejeweled key of odd design.

• Item code for Switch for an Engine (MISC92) -- Found in a chest in the bedroom to the south. The chest is opened with the Odd Looking Key.

This appears to be a switch for something.

• Item code for the Grapes (MISC91) -- Found in a chest in the bedroom in the south.

This fruit glows with a strange inner light.

• Item code for the Bottle of Wine (MISC1A)

This wine was obtained after placing the eerily glowing grapes in the winepress and starting the engine. When you breathe deeply, memories of lost loves come rushing back and you find your eyes filling with tears.

Below left: As a nice touch, the engine can indeed be heard humming once it's switched on. Atmosphere like that is taken for granted these days, but back then it was rare and appreciated.

Below right: When you breathe the wine deeply, memories of lost loves come rushing back and you find your eyes filling with tears. - Item description for the Bottle of Wine.

With the sword glowing, beljuril pocketed, gong struck and wine bottled, the grim-faced party (who are only alive thanks to Power Word: Reload!) return to the central chamber to be rewarded by each warder in turn (+2,000 quest experience per riddle). 

The wine for Love is presented last.

How to Beat the Warders

The warders now turn hostile, with Pride shifting into an armored warrior and self-buffing with Draw Upon Holy Might; Avarice dropping a Cloudkill before shifting into a backstabbing thief; Fear shifting into an ethereal ghoul; and Love shifting into a mighty mage and blasting the party with Skull Trap!

To beat the Warders, the party should buff up with Haste and cast offensive spells of their own. In addition, warrior companions should be wielding good weapons. 

The best way to beat the Warders is to lay down Skull Traps before turning them hostile. The Skull Traps can easily take out every Warder except Love.

Your Mages should also be protected by Mirror Image.

Below left: The four warders.

Below right: The warder battle, showing Skull Trap, Web and Cloudkill in action. Love is immune to Web and Skull Trap by virtue of Globe of Invulnerability. The two blood-red columns each signify a warder's death.

Pride Stats

Offensively, the Hasted and helmed Pride is a 10th level Fighter. He has a THAC0 of 5 and inflicts an average of 17.5 slashing damage at a rate of 4 ApR, wielding a Battle Axe as Grandmaster.

Defensively, Pride has an AC of -2, 110 HPs, saves of 5-5-5-5-5, 21% magic resistance, 10% elemental resistance, 10% resistance to physical damage, wears Plate Mail Armor and wields a Large Shield, off-hand.

Pride casts Draw Upon Holy Might.

Avarice Stats

Avarice is a Hasted and helmed Thief. He has a THAC0 of 11 and inflicts an average of 17.5 piercing damage at a rate of 3 ApR, wielding a Short Sword +1 with no proficiency.

Defensively, Avarice has an AC of 2, 64 HPs, saves of 6-8-8-7-8, 10% elemental and magic resistance, and wears Studded Leather Armor.

Avarice casts Cloudkill and Invisibility.

Fear Stats

Fear is a Hasted and unhelmed Ghoul. He has a THAC0 of 4 and inflicts an average of 9 crushing damage at a rate of 3 ApR, wielding 2d8 claws.

Fear has an AC of -6, 59 HPs, saves of 7-7-7-7-7, immunity to poison, 85% resistance to cold and magic cold, 70% resistance to acid, 15% magic resistance and 10% resistance to magic fire.

As a ghoul, Fear is immune to panic, poison, sleep, petrification, confusion, berserk, charm, paralyze and slay. 

Love Stats

Love is a 12th level Mage. He has a THAC0 of 1 and inflicts an average of 12 slashing damage at a rate of 2 ApR, wielding a bastard sword as Grandmaster.

The unarmored and unhelmed Love has an AC of 0, 85 HPs, saves of 6-6-6-6-7 and 10% magic resistance.

Love casts Minor Globe of Invulnerability, Dire Charm and Skull Trap.

Level 1 Exit Wardstone

With the warders bested, the Level 1 Exit Wardstone is looted from Love's corpse; it being the key to the lift that leads down to a second, more challenging and complex labyrinth, where we learn about Durlag's ill-fated family.

Level 1 Exit Wardstone item code: MISC2B.

Next up: Durlag's Tower Level 2!

1. Durlag's Tower Walkthrough	2. Durlag's Tower Level 1	3. Durlag's Tower Level 2
4. Durlag's Tower Level 3	5. Durlag's Tower Level 4	6. Aec'Letec Baldur's Gate
Werewolf Island Walkthrough	Baldur's Gate 1 Walkthrough	Baldur's Gate 1 (Index)