Zyla the Ancient Deep Dragon

General

• Area: Shadowport
• Status: Aggressive - Special, repops asleep
• Detects: Invisible/Hidden
• Mob Alignment: Evil

Description

The true master of this lair, Zylandialtiara is undoubtedly one of
the most powerful dragons in existence.  Her purplish-black scales
shine in your light, and her fanged maw opens and closes in
anticipation of her next meal ... YOU!

Equipment

• the Drake Shield
• the Great Axe
• an inky black potion
• a piece of dragonhide (100% pop)

Run Instructions

• Characters: One or more Mages who follow the Path of Countermagick, three being an optimal amount. One or more devout Clerics can be used to cut down on the number of Heal potions needed.
• Weapons: Any
• Tunnel: None
• IP check: None
• Spell: Quantum spike

Protective Spells

• Spells for tank: As many physical defense spells as possible, especially Shadowform, Eldritch sphere, Sanctuary, Protection, and Valiance. Must be able to cast Inviola magicka. Anything that can boost DR (Bless and Indignation). True sight.
• Spells for others: Same as tank
• Elemental shields: Fireshield, Iceshield, Shockshield are not needed, but are reccomended.

Directions

From the golden warning plaque at the entrance to Shadowport go 6 rooms south, then 1 room east. Do not go 2 rooms east by mistake as this is a Death trap. Open rock, and go south, 2 up, south again.

From here, unless you wish to start a fight with Wynd the Deep Dragon, make sure each character in the group has 10000 gold.

Go south one, Wynd will take your gold, then you may open wall.

You should use Scry or Scan to make sure Zyla is asleep before moving west through the hidden 'wall' exit.

Notes

Once in 'The REAL Lair', close the wall exit to the east, and then go south to 'Escape!', which is a recall room.

Spell up here, making sure that you are not affected by pass door in any way. Remember, both Millennium and the Robe of the Magi, two common Mage items both grant pass door.

Refill your mana to give you enough for 10 or so Quantum spikes, use Runebind to bind either a Quantum spike scroll or a spelldown such as Ethereal funnel.

Set your wimpy to about 500-600 hitpoints.

Ungroup, make sure the first tank is in a higher style than everyone else, and have everyone cast Inviola magicka. The tank should then head north, and start the fight with Zyla. All other hitters should follow mere seconds later to join the fight.

The key to killing Zyla is the Inviola magicka spell, as Zyla's highly lethal random Fire breath attack is rendered harmless. Of course, this requires the use of Mages, who are not good melee fighters, and Inviola magicka renders them unable to use Heal potions while it is functioning. It is fortunate that Inviola magicka has a short duration, allowing the Mages to run in, hit Zyla the Ancient Deep Dragon with Quantum spike, then flee out as they hit their wimpy level of hitpoints from Zyla's melee attacks.

The greatest risk that your Mage faces is Zyla's bash and gaze attacks, which can render you unable to flee as your hitpoints become dangerously low, possibly leading to death.

All runners should be prepared to tank, as the fight will involve a lot of fleeing.

Every time you flee from Zyla, wait for Inviola magicka to run out, heal (using clerics here will save on expenses), restore your mana using any means available, recast any spells that have run out, finish up with Inviola magicka, head north, attack her, and repeat until she is dead.