Hi all! Thanks for your replies. I'm now moving on away from the serpent's temple. Since I haven't played this game very long I haven't figured out some basic things:

1) Are there any offensive spells that you can cast at close range without damaging your own party at the same time, and

2) How do you identify items? I have the Ancient Lore skill but I don't know how to use it. Does it do it automatically?

Thanks!
bard

Offensive spells by "school" that won't damage PC's:

SUN: Burn, Dazzle, Dragon Breath
MOON: Frost Breath
SPIRIT: Dispel Undead, Dust to Dust, Force of Mind
STONE: Shock, Zap, Petrification
VINE: Stink Bomb, Venom Bite, Poison Breath
FIEND: Pain, Demonic Fist, Lifesteal

Hope this helps! I may have missed some, but these are the "safe" ones.

-Sazerac

On #2, having the Ancient Lore trait isn't enough; you must also train your characters in the "Artifacts" skill. Ancient Lore just gives you the ability to acquire this skill; it's up to you to develop it. I think you have to actually train once in it at a guild before you can start adding points to it a level-up.

-Sazerac

Hi bard!!!

As Saz said you need both Ancient Lore and Artifacts to be able to identify items, the higher your artifacts skill the better your ability to successfully identify an item.

To identify, open up your inventory and right click on the item you wish to identify. In the individual item new window there will be an icon on the bottom with a "?" - when you click on that you are attempting to identify the item. Obviously better quality items require the higher artifacts skill to successfully identify them.

Have fun!!

Wyv