Temple of Apshai Trilogy - Merlis' Cottage Map

General Layout

This level is quite a lot more confusing. It's likely the first time that the player experiences a layout that doesn't follow conventional geometry and there are times where exiting a room and then trying to return will instead send you to a third location. I've represented this on the map with notes by the appropriate doorways. The only exception is room 19 which doesn't have a western wall at all; a trick of the layout that's particularly hard to visualise.

Other than this, the level is small. There's the cottage itself, which sort of has two versions that the player travels between, and a forest to the southwest (filled with bees and culminating in finding the hive).

It is worth noting that the enemies in this level give far more experience than both the Innkeeper's Garden and the first two floors of the original Temple of Apshai. I found it trivial to fight my way to what I'd assume was character level 6 (following AD&D rules) by running through the cottage a few times.

---

Notable Treasures

There's a source of elixirs (honey from the hive) found in the very southeastern corner of the map.

Room 6 holds the best treasure in pure coinage: a chest containing gold worth 1000 silver pieces.

However, by far and away the most exciting loot here is found in the well-hidden Room 19. It's a magic wand with no material value, but collecting it permanently gives the player a single point of Intelligence.

It is trivial for the player to loop through the cottage repeatedly picking up the wand and the chest of coins. During my playthrough, I did this until I had increased my Intelligence to a total of 18.

---

Full Reference

Treasure Descriptions:

T01 - In an elegant chest adorned with feline figurines you find 250 silver pieces. [250sp]

T02 - These insects must be magical indeed to produce such a delicious and tasty liquid. Drinking some makes you feel marvelous, and you risk a sting or two to grab a honeycomb full of the stuff.

T03 - Hanging on a tree is a quiver with some interesting arrows in it.

T04 - In a brass-bound chest you find 500 copper pieces. [50sp]

T05 - You decide to show Merlis a thing or two and take what you are sure is a magic wand. Unfortunately, it is so magical that it turns into an ordinary stick as soon as you take it out of the cottage.

T06 - When you open the chest, you find the only things inside were moths.

T07 - Inside a silver-laid chest that seems magically bonded to the floor, you take 100 gold pieces. [1000sp]

T20 - A large eggshell - of value only to a large egg.

---

Trap Descriptions:

CROSSBOW TRAP - From high in a tree comes a loud "SPROINGG!" but nothing else. Originally intended to keep unwanted visitors out, this useless trap was fortunately forgotten. No one even bothered to put an arrow in it.

---

Room Descriptions:

Room 1 - The small foyer of the cottage of Merlis the Mage. A pale, greenish light emanates from nowhere in particular, and the walls are decorated with arcane symbols and spooky magical stuff that no doubt maintain Merlis' image but don't impress you. Much.

Room 2 - A long, narrow hallway filled with remarkable lifelike sculptures of men and beasts. Paintings of the village - strangely distorted but oddly vivid - hang on the wall. The scenes seem to move when you are not looking at them. Sounds you cannot identify emanate from the walls.

Rooms 3-5 - The corridor widens into a large reception area with many doorways. The chairs - seats for those waiting for an appointment in Merlis' magic hall - have seen much use.

Room 6 - Merlis' den. A desk is covered with scrolls and magical paraphernalia, and the shelves are lined with dusty tomes. The apparatus looks so dangerous and the runes and symbols so forbidding, you are afraid to go near most of the stuff. However, out in the open is an ordinary chest.

Room 7 - A laboratory. There are many bottles and jugs you are afraid to touch and some complicated machinery. There is a small crack in one wall near the ceiling and a door on the east side. Over the door a sign warns, "DANGER - DO NOT ENTER."

Room 8 - the crack leads to a huge nest and landing area on the roof of the cottage. It is not visible from below. The large flying creature - evidently one of Merlis' strange animal friends - that usually occupies the area is not here. Looking around, you see what looks like a large egg to one side.

Room 9 - Another laboratory. This one is filled with cages of small animals. A sign reads: "PLEASE LEAVE OR YOU MAY SCARE THE EXPERIMENTAL ANIMALS TO DEATH!"

Rooms 10-11 - Merlis' hall of magic. A large table occupies the center of this dimly lit room. There is a chest in one corner and a huge tapestry covering the back wall. While moving around through the room, things appear to shimmer every now and then; you suspect there may be more here than meets the eye.

Room 12 - A back room in the cottage. There is a door leading out the back of the house into a forest. There are some empty phials on the floor of the otherwise tidy room.

Rooms 13-17 - A path leading from the back door through the woods. It is bounded by large, old trees and tall hedges; the shade of the forest is deep. A buzzing sound grows louder as you go east.

Room 18 - A small meadow in the woods, completely enclosed by trees. The smell of clover is strong, and a large, white box hums with activity to the south.

Room 19 - The narrow closet is lined with shelves on which rest various strange objects. You find your courage beginning to desert you and wonder if there is really anything here worth the risk. Perhaps you'll find something...

Rooms 20-21 - An enchanted hall in which Merlis keeps his cats. The carpeting is expensive but covered with hair, and the room is finely decorated with chairs and tables of fine workmanship. There is a chest near one wall.

---