Diablo II/Seven Tombs

You can actually activate the sixth and final quest of the second Act after talking to Atma to complete the first, Radament's Lair: she tells you that Jerhyn wants to see you and you'll find him in front of the palace, in the west corner of Lut Gholein.

Jerhyn
I have heard of your many deeds of skill and bravery. I feel I can trust you with something I have been hesitant to speak of... Drognan and I have concluded that the Dark Wanderer who passed through here recently was Diablo, himself! Drognan believes that Diablo is searching the desert for the secret tomb where the great Horadric mage, Tal Rasha, keeps Baal imprisoned. You must find Diablo and put an end to the terrible evil that has fallen upon our city. Drognan is wise and is sure to have some helpful advice for you as to how Tal Rasha's tomb may be found. It may take you quite some time to find The Tomb. May you be ready when you do.

	The Seven Tombs
	Find Tal Rasha's Tomb.

If you talk to anyone before completing this quest:

Jerhyn	Deckard Cain
It is well-known that there are seven great Horadric tombs hidden beneath the sands in the furthest reaches of the desert. One of them surely must be Tal Rasha's prison. You must explore each of the tombs to find Tal Rasha's exact location. Of course, Diablo is searching for the Tomb as well... No one can guess as to what terrors he has unleashed in his search.	Diablo nears his goal. We have little time to lose. Remember, my friend, that Andariel gave herself willingly to Diablo's cause. It would be prudent to assume that the other Evils will attempt to aid their master as well.
	Atma
	I've heard legends of the Tomb of Tal Rasha, but I thought they were just old tales meant to scare young children.
Drognan	Lysander
Tal Rasha's tomb is hidden deep in the desert among six others. Tal Rasha's symbol marks the True Tomb. If you want to know what that symbol is, you should be able to find it within the legendary Arcane Sanctuary.	When Tal Rasha chose to embody the spirit of Baal, he knew his doom was to wrestle eternally against the will of the greater Evil. Look around you and ask yourself, 'Has the battle been won or lost?'
Fara	Elzix
Legend has it that Tal Rasha lies imprisoned within his tomb, forever struggling to keep the Lord of Destruction bound. His was a selfless act, although perhaps foolhardy.	So... You're going to search for the Seven Tombs, huh? Don't you know that they're just desert legends passed between merchants and travelers? No one really believes that they exist.
Greiz	Geglash
Ohh... I'd go with ya' to those tombs... But... umm... I don't like all that living dead stuff.	If you're going into the deep desert, why not hire a few of my men to watch your back?
Meshif	Warriv
I'm sorry, I can't help you much here. Now, if the tombs were across the ocean, then I'd be the guy to talk to.	Be very careful, my friend. I think I've seen enough recently not to doubt that these Tombs exist. And if they do, they're most certainly guarded by terrible creatures.

Jerhyn's right, it will take you quite some time to find The Tomb: you need to destroy the Tainted Sun Altar before you can find the Arcane Sanctuary and read Horazon's Journal within, which will open a portal to the Canyon of the Magi and tell you the Symbol of the True Tomb of Tal Rasha, allowing you to pick the correct tomb from the seven you'll find there. However, there's little point in finding it if you don't have a Horadric Staff when you do so...

Canyon of the Magi[edit]

The last waypoint of the second Act is to the north of the portal from the Arcane Sanctuary (which remains open until you save and exit). When you enter the Canyon, this quest is activated if talking to Jerhyn after completing Radament's Lair has not already done so.

	The Seven Tombs
	The Symbol of the True Tomb of Tal Rasha.

The Symbol will be one of seven marking the tomb entrances along the northern walls of the Canyon, each of which is labelled Tal Rasha's Tomb.

The portal and waypoint are in the middle of the Canyon so, unlike previous areas above ground, you'll be obliged to cross open desert to travel towards the True Tomb, rather then around the perimeter (although the sides of the canyon are closer to the southeast and -west of the waypoint, if you want to be really careful).

The Canyon is randomly populated by three of the following five monster types, all animal: Crushers, Devourers (which spawn Devourer Eggs, which in turn spawn Devourer Young), Hell Cats, Hell Slingers and Steel Scarabs. You can advance carefully, in case you get attacked from multiple directions, or simply charge across the desert to the True Tomb and enter it, leaving any pursuers outside in the Canyon.

Tal Rasha's Tomb[edit]

All seven tombs are randomly populated by three of the following seven monster types: Apparitions, Ghoul Lords, Gorebellies, Preserved Dead, Steel Scarabs, Unravelers (2) with Burning Dead (this means Unravelers can be picked twice, for 5/7 or ~71.4% chance of spawning, while the others each have 'only' 3/7 or ~42.8% chance of spawning). There can also be Fire Towers and Mummy Sarcophagi (which spawn Dried Corpses).

Unravelers can raise any low undead (fortunately this doesn't include Ghoul Lords, or each other) so they should be a priority target. However, the confines of the tombs don't necessarily allow this, and you may need to use similar tactics to those used against Radament.

The True Tomb is much larger than all but one of the false ones, so if you've made a mistake it should soon become apparent. You're looking for a small square room with an Orifice on a raised platform at its center, illuminated by a shaft of light from the ceiling: the most direct route to it is most likely to be found by traveling left after entry. Once you've found it, insert the Horadric Staff: it glows and rises out of the Orifice, and once the seven symbols of the tombs carved into the platform around it have lit up, it emits a bolt of lightning which creates a hole in the northwest wall, allowing you to enter Tal Rasha's Chamber.

Before you do so, make sure you have plenty of healing and mana potions: if your cold resistance isn't particularly high, you should also drink multiple Thawing Potions. Since you won't be able to exit Tal Rasha's Chamber once you enter it, it's also highly advisable to have a Scroll or Tome of Town Portal so that you can cast a portal to escape back to Lut Gholein if need be.

The six false tombs all contain a chest guarded by a non-random Unique monster, in addition to those randomly spawned: the most direct route to these is most likely to be found by traveling left after entry. One of the false tombs is significantly larger than the others, and if you keep traveling left then you'll encounter Ancient Kaa the Soulless.

Ancient Kaa the Soulless[edit]

Super Unique Unraveler (Mana Burn Extra Strong Lightning Enchanted)

Ancient Kaa the Soulless and his Burning Dead minions can be found in a dead end chamber, so they can be easily avoided.

Tal Rasha's Chamber[edit]

The floor has collapsed into a sunken pit, preventing you from returning to Tal Rasha's Tomb. You enter on the northeast side, and the only exit (aside from casting a town portal) is a set of stone doors in the northwest wall. However, these remain closed until you've killed the Lord of Pain...

Duriel[edit]

Evil

Looking for Baal?

Duriel charges towards you, but fortunately he no longer actually uses Charge. However, this can still be the hardest fight in Normal, particularly for ranged attackers and casters due to the confined space and the fact that he inflicts 200% damage on any mercenary and 400% damage on any pets that might normally keep attackers away from you (although this increased damage can be exploited if you can use Iron Maiden, or Thorns, particularly when combined with Amplify Damage). He's a pure melee attacker who can use Smite, and even though it doesn't always hit, it can be blocked and its percentage damage increase doesn't apply, it can still knock back and inflict stun length (so melee attackers should stand with their backs to a wall).

However, his most frequent attack is Jab, which is the most efficient means of inflicting the cold damage added to his attacks by his Holy Freeze aura (level 5 in Normal and Nightmare, level 6 in Hell). While cold resistance will reduce this damage, neither it, Half Freeze Duration or Cannot be Frozen has any effect on its slowing, which can be frustrating for attackers, even if you can respond in kind with cold length, Decrepify or Slows Target.

As ever, Crushing Blow and Static Field can decrease an Evil's life most quickly, and once he's killed rocks fall (harmlessly) from the ceiling. He should always drop at least one Scroll of Town Portal to allow you to return to town, but you should pay attention to your quest log:

	The Seven Tombs
	Explore Tal Rasha's Tomb

The stone doors in the northwest wall are no longer sealed!

Tyrael[edit]

The passage beyond the unsealed doors turns northeast, leading to an open chamber where a large rock is suspended from chains over a circular pit of lava in its center. A rope bridge leads to the rock, where you must talk to the Archangel Tyrael:

Tyrael
I thank you, mortal, for my freedom. But I did expect you earlier. I am the Archangel Tyrael. I came here to prevent Diablo from freeing his brother, Baal. But I have failed. Now, Terror and Destruction roam free throughout your world. Even now, they head towards the Eastern capital of Kurast - to the very heart of the Zakarum Temple. There they hope to find their eldest brother, Mephisto, the Lord of Hatred who was imprisoned there ages ago. If the three Prime Evils unite, they will be invincible. Though it is unclear as to what their aims are, it is certain that they must be stopped at all costs. I am broken and the energies that tie me to this world are diminishing rapidly. You must take up this quest and prevent the Three Brothers from reuniting. You must cross the sea and search for Diablo and Baal in Kurast. Now hurry, mortal... Time is running out for all of us!

Tyrael opens a portal to allow you to return to town: it remains open until you save and exit.

	The Seven Tombs
	Talk to Jeryhn.

If you talk to anyone but Jerhyn and Meshif:

Deckard Cain	Drognan
The Archangel Tyrael was the one who gave the Soulstones to the Horadrim two hundred and sixty years ago. It is highly unusual for the forces of Heaven to so directly interfere with man's destiny, but Tyrael was said to act of his own volition. We have never been able to discern why. Perhaps, he goes against the consensus of Heaven because he doubts our ability to defend ourselves, or perhaps, he sees more threat than his peers. Where the actions of Hell often seem straightforwardly bent on destruction, the motives of Heaven are unfathomable. Now make haste... Both Diablo and Baal must be stopped before they can join with their brother, Mephisto. If the three Prime Evils unite once again, the world as we know it will be no more.	This is a serious setback... It is most unfortunate that Tal Rasha has been consumed by Baal's destructive influence. There are many secrets known to the Horadrim, which could be used by Baal against us. You must travel east by sea to Kurast and stop Diablo and Baal before they free their eldest brother, Mephisto. Hahh... The lands of the eastern Empire are not the same as they used to be. There has been little word for some time. Speed is of the essence. Go quickly, my friend. May the fates smile on you.
	Lysander
	I'm sorry things didn't turn out as you had hoped. Go and remember us fondly. You know, you bothered me far less than most.
Fara	Elzix
This is terrible news! Baal is in possession of one of mankind's most powerful mages, and the Lord of Terror guides his path. They must be stopped, for I am sure they mean to free their elder brother Mephisto, the Lord of Hatred, who lies imprisoned under the corrupted city of Kurast. I fear you are walking into a great evil, but your faith can save you. May you walk in the light always.	I heard that Diablo has managed to best you, at least for the time being. I hope you catch up with him soon, and send him back to Hell for good!
	Atma
	You have proven to be the greatest of heroes, and I am honored to call you friend. Thank you for bringing peace to our lives again.
Greiz
I've heard that your foe got away from you this time. Well, look at it this way... you've got the demons on the run. If you're going to be leaving, then... Well, thanks for your help.
Geglash	Warriv
You're an inspiration! And such a hero that it makes me look twice as bad... Ahh, you're OK... Hey! Just save some glory for us little guys, huh?	Never fear, my friend. You did the best you could. I suspect that Diablo and Baal are now heading east, towards Kurast. You'll find them... I know you will.

Talk to Jerhyn:

Jerhyn
You have done very well. Few could have come this far, let alone discover the True Tomb of Tal Rasha. Unfortunately, I hear that Diablo and Baal have eluded your grasp. This is most unfortunate... If you wish to travel East, I have authorized Meshif to give you passage by sea. I imagine he should be very anxious to leave by now. Good luck on your quest, and thank you again for saving my beloved city. You will always be welcome in Lut Gholein, my friend.