Tainted Sun

Diablo II Notation Basic Class Skill Item Ally Quest Area Monster Tale The Sightless Eye Secret of the Vizjerei The Infernal Gate The Harrowing Lord of Destruction Special Radament's Lair The Horadric Staff Tainted Sun Arcane Sanctuary The Summoner The Seven Tombs Type Mandatory Initiation Enter Lost City Objective(s) Destroy the Sepent Altar in the Claw Viper Temple beneath the Valley of Snakes Area(s) Claw Viper Temple Level 2 Item(s) None Reward Amulet of the Viper and return of sunlight to surface I've been researching this lengthy eclipse and I believe it to be the work of Claw Vipers. Find their temple beneath the desert sands and you may find the source of this curse. - Drognan Navigation Upon entering Lost City from Far Oasis, sky darkens due to eclipse and quest notification icon appears in bottom-left corner of screen, prompting return to Lut Gholein to talk to Drognan. Search Lost City for its waypoint and exit to Valley of Snakes on one of other sides of Lost City to entrance from Far Oasis: within is entrance to Claw Viper Temple Level 1. Dark Elder is an Extra Fast Magic Resistant Super Unique Plague Bearer that may be encountered while searching Lost City. Accompanied by four minions in Normal, five in Nightmare and six in Hell, all are Immune to Magic (100%) in Hell. Entrance to Claw Viper Temple Level 1. Exit to Claw Viper Temple Level 2 is normally found most quickly by going left from entrance. Objective Claw Viper Temple Level 2 always has same layout. Tainted Sun Altar is in pit in center of area, accessed via stairs to south. Fangskin is a Lightning Enchanted Extra Fast Super Unique Salamander who spawns to south of Tainted Sun Altar, guarding it. Accompanied by four minions in Normal, five in Nightmare and six in Hell, all are Immune to Cold (110%) in Hell. Fangskin and minions may be avoided by turning right from entrance and going to north around Altar: they cannot follow down stairs to Altar due to their size, so once characters have descended they are safe from them. Even if they are not avoided, it is safer to turn right and start clearing area to allow room to move and retreat. Click on Altar to destroy it. Reward Amulet of the Viper needed to complete the Horadric Staff quest drops when Tainted Sun Altar is destroyed. It requires one inventory space to pick up. Cast Town Portal to return to Lut Gholein, where the sun shines once again. I've been speaking with Lord Jerhyn, and I sense that he is becoming more and more agitated by something. You should try to talk to him again. If he still won't take you into his confidence, seek to prove yourself a bit more. I gather that his respect for you is growing. - Deckard Cain