Blacklake Main Gate

When you head through the main gate, you won't be entering Blacklake proper. Instead, you'll be heading into no-man's-land--an abandoned street that was formerly the servants' neighborhood and now serves as a sort of treacherous airlock between the Neverwinter City Core and the upper-class Blacklake neighborhood.

No-Man's-Land

A-To City Core B-Cendran C-Loxar's Tower D-Abandoned House E-To Blacklake

Just north of the main gate, near the smoking pile of wreckage, you'll meet Cendran. He'll tell you a bit about no-man's-land and ask you to kill Loxar, a thuggish half-orc who has been terrorizing the area. You'll find Loxar in the remains of a tower located up the road. Loxar is a 10th-level fighter and has a rabid dog with him as well. Return Loxar's head to Cendran for a small number of experience points, then head toward the main gate.

You may be ambushed by assassins near the gate. If so, search their bodies for a note, and take it to Fenthick at the Hall of Justice Sanitorium. Before entering Blacklake, visit the abandoned house in the northwest corner--inside a desk you'll find the iron ring needed for Grimgnaw's quest.

The Board Laid Bare Tavern

There are two people to speak with here. First, talk to Thurin. He's the militia captain, and he'll ask you to search for Samuel, an inspector who has mysteriously disappeared. If you bought the gauntlet key from Graxx in the Trade of Blades, talk to the bartender to gain admittance to the gauntlet.

The Gauntlet

Talk to Kellisai when you're ready to begin battle, but you may want to do some recon on your opponents by talking to the spectators. You will face four opponents. The first is Hrusk, a 5th-level barbarian who uses a flaming hand axe. Next up is Fashi, a 6th-level monk. Your third opponent is Agar, a 6th-level half-orc fighter.

Your final opponent is Claudius, and the crowd (and other competitors) will warn you that he's invincible and probably not for copacetic reasons. Before the fight, talk to Kellisai and ask her to "keep the battle fair," and then use whatever means you can to make sure that she casts Dispel Magic on both of you (you can bribe or persuade her, and human characters can play the race card). If you beat Claudius, you'll receive the Gauntlet Championship Award and ownership of the tavern (which will earn you very little money during the short time you are in Neverwinter).

The Rumbottom Estate

A-To Blacklake B-Long Hallway C-Thoms Rumbottom

Before investigating Meldanen, finish up the ongoing quests in Blacklake. The first stop is Thoms Rumbottom's Estate. It won't be hard to talk your way past the guard. Once inside, make your way to the long hallway, patrolled by a noble guard (3rd-level fighter). You'll find Rumbottom in the central bedroom of the estate, accessible from the west wing. The coveted (by Ophala, at least) portrait of Sir Reginald Rumbottom III is in a nearby chest. The chests in his house are fairly high-class, so you may want to bring Tomi along, or be prepared to do some significant bashing or casting.