Empowered Pauldrons

Saturday afternoon was a big day for allegiance grouping, for the first time in many a moon a significant number of members were online at the same time. To comemorate such an important event we - some of which included Adept of Dereth, Woah, Mark the Mace, Kymbo, Lan-something, myself and possibly another who's name escapes me atm unfortunately and Relams showed up too late to participate - decided to do something dangerous, and assist Woah in getting his Empowered Pauldrons of the Perfect Light.

Obtaining the E.BracersP.L. or the E.BreastPlateP.L. is typically a two person event. Thus they can be obtained about anytime, the Pauldrons are the challenging piece to obtain and a good sized party is needed. The other day Pine, Adept of Dereth and myself had gotten flagged for the Pauldrons and gone investigating to famaliarize ourself with this quest. Getting started wasn't that difficult but once in the seed dungeon we ran into a brick wall of resistance. Some weirdly dressed shadow warriors and bile grievers.

We managed to eventually clear the entrance way, but once down the ramp the brick morphed into granite, with a much larger party we hoped for a much better result. So we buffed up, portalled into Eastham, used the Asheron's island portal (17.9N 64.3E) and hopped on Asheron's castle portal (16.2N 69.3E). After speaking to Emissary of Asheron, we traveled to Teth and checked in with Aun Aemaua (1.5N 71.7W) for updates. Once briefed it was off to the Sanctuary on Vesayan island to use the Quiddity seed. Quiddity Seed: device through which Aerbax is attempting to manipulate our memory of the past.

The shade of Dule, was eager to summon us a portal if we would return Avoren's skull taken by the Theif of Dreams, Virindi Boss. Making our way the short way down into the dungeon we quickly encountered him. Dispatching him and his friends in a fire blast of flames. Returning the head, Dule as he agreeded opened up a portal for the next challenge in the quest.

The party did well clearing the entrance way, and down the ramp we went West to the door, only to discover it was of the can't be access from here variety. While holding off the hordes of shadow warriors and bile grievers chasing us we were unable to quickly locate any lever to access the door. After one or two sudden departures, we beat a hasty retreat and were regrouping discussing the options of returning to try a different tactic or opt for something a bit easier. When Infected Orphan, a follower of Blackmancer's, joined our fellow and briefed us on the button's location, down the corridor 2nd big room on the left, which of course explains why finding a lever was so difficult.

So we regrouped, went in and respoke to Dule who was happy to summon us a portal without the need for another skull. We cleared the entrance way and then beat a hasty dash for the door thru the madness and mayhem of hostile monsters. I.O. hit the button and we were all inside the door on a narrow ledge healing and waiting for the door to close. By not attacking, those monsters at the back of the pack eventually got discouraged and wandered off in search of something more interesting then a party of boring healers that refused to fight.

But once the door closed and those outside were 'locked' outside and those inside were trapped without a safe path of escape we commenced a royal smack down. After a recovery with clean up period we then looked at the large room in the abyss below. More grievers, Black Breathes and Bael'Zharon. Those that could proceeded to imperil and vul every critter below and we were ready to leap into the abyss. The magely fire power quickly took out the Black Breathes and the melees concentrated on the grievers. Then we turned our attention en-mass to Bael'Zharon and encircled him, where we beat on him like a red-headed stepchild, keeping an eye out for a respawn of the lackeys. Soon it was over and everyone was picking up their claw of the Hopeslayer souvenier to take back to Teth for our reward - about 129M (level capped %) xp, the empowered pauldrons of the Perfect Light (bonded and ivoryable, but once ivoryed can only be muled and not worn by another) and a quiddity ingot.

You allow Emissary of Asheron to examine your Quiddity Ingot.

Emissary of Asheron tells you, "Hmmm, interesting, this ingot of metal seems to be attuned to some magic field. Perhaps you should hold on to this for awhile."

Ag

The pine, adept and myself investigation trip I usually took a lot of damage while switching from flame rended wand for the shadow warriors to a slash rended wand for the grievers while standing in a circle of monsters. With the larger party i made a strange discovery: I used the flame rended on the warriors, imperiled the grievers and then instead of switching to slash I just flamed away to do some minimum damage as the melee's would quickly finish them anyway so why bother with all that constant wand switching. When to my suprise, the flame wasn't doing much less damage then the slash wand! So I wasn't at risk while swapping out from wand to wand, and the decreased damage was more the offset by the extra spell or two i was able to fire off in the time formerly spent switching wands.

the xp reward is a level % and can be 129M or higher, not sure I've seen the level capped amount yet. Already in possession of a pair of pauldrons then they can be returned for what is reported as 5% of level, but that appears to be capped at about 16 or 18M.

Empowered Bracers

This was the third test, the one that was 'undiscovered' and finding it the first time must have been a herculean task, anyways there is a 'Strange device' at 21.9N 19.0E - Glenden Wood's Zabool Overlook Settlement portal (27.9N 29.5E) will drop you a short run east of the device.

Reaching it you use the device and then a one act play or dream sequence begins. After which some 'ghost/invisible' Sentinel Tracker style VoD Olthoi will spawn for you to dispatch. Shortly after their demise a group or two of three Elysa' Hope gems will spawn on the ground - everyone in the group will need one. IF you paid attention to the dream sequence which was played out for you, you should realize that within the Underground City you will find the next 'Strange Device'

At the very bottom, a long twisted up/down route will get you there, or if you have a good jump skill that ledge just to your right upon arrival will lead down to the exit portal and behind the one door you will discover the device. Use it and watch another dream sequence enacted before the Elysa's Resolves spawn on the ground - again all in the group wanting bracers will need one.

As before the dream contained a clue reference to where the next device can be found - outside of Asheron's Castle.

No you couldn't have used this one when you first went to the castle to start the quest, the devices must be accessed in sequence 1, 2, 3, 4th for the dream sequence/gems to occurr.

Reaching the device, to the left of the entrance doors of the castle, starts a long 3 act dream sequence. Finally Elysa's Determination will be spawned and you can get onto the 4th device.

So as revealed in the sequence it is back to the Underground City and Thorsten's Tomb, atop which you will find the 4th device. After it plays out Elysa's Courage is usually found on the floor around the Tomb. Now combining the 1st and the 2nd, the 3rd with the Elysa's Incomplete Reflection and then finally the 4th with Elysa's Partial Reflection you obtain a ghostly arrow tipped with a small amount of black goo - Elysa's Phantasmal Arrow.

From the clues in the final dream sequence you race off to the Black Death Catacombs and there to the south behind the Paradox-Touched Ward portal is a Quiddity Seed portal. After clearing the way you can use this to be portalled into a very strange DARK place where singing 3 blind mice is somehow appropriate, as the place is nearly BLACK. Feeling your way south and hugging the right wall you will eventually go up a ramp into a large room (if you could see it) and to the south down another ramp you will find Elysa. Along the way you may have to kill a Sentinel Tracker or Virindi Consoul but often if you are quick and keep moving you can lose them, assuming you don't get lost yourself so keep close together.

Down in Elysa's small area there are no monsters so once anything chasing you leaves or is killed you are then safe from further distraction. NOW it is vital that folks wait their turn, each should give their arrow to Elysa and then wait out the dream sequence where Elysa will kill the spawned Olthoi with the arrow you supplied. Then you can pick up the the Apparition Olthoi Queen's head. If someone was to give an arrow before you got your head, then you may lose out. Thus the caution to proceed slowly and not all rush handing in arrows.

Once everyone has an arrow it is back to Asheron's castle to visit Emissary of Asheron for your reward of xp and Empowered Bracers.

Ag

Empowered Breastplate

Head to Stonehold for the Knorr luggie Olcris. Here depending on your past questing status in Knorr can purchase a portal gem for an M note (must go thru the 3 tests introduced in the Halls of Knorr Mage armor update quest) or an MMD note (by passes the 3 tests as you've accomplished those in the past).

3 tests

talk to the luggie upon arrive he will give you a puzzle about which item from the right alcove he desires. Select the correct item and return it to him and he will portal you on to the next testing station. Choose wrong and you have to wait three days to purchase another gem from Olcris.

the 2nd golem will have a similar set up and test.

like wise with the 3rd golem.

Arriving at the last golem you can talk to him to be flagged to purchase the mmd note, it isn't clear but it does sound like every time you purchase/use one of Olcris's gems for an mmd, if you talk to this golem then you can immediately purchase another gem (if needed due to a tradegic accident).

Once the testing is over with use the Collegium Planar Abstraction Conveyance (portal device) to the south, 2nd on the right. This will get you into a long east west hallway with many bookcases and a few torches. One of the torches will open a bookcase into a room with two levers, one on wall as you walk in opens/closes the bookcase and the one over the bed opens another bookcase down the hallway. Have someone running up and down the hallway seeing which doorway you open. Then move to that one and repeat, opening the next room and so on, till you open a bookcase that enters into a long hallway.

Traveling onward and constantly upward you beat on various types of olthoi and a couple of virindi until you discover to the north the Academy Portal to the next area.

Where again you travel onward and upward thru more types of olthoi and virindi till you discover way in the north the Headmasters's Portal to the next area. A large room with exit portal behind the stairs/door and an Quiddity Seed Portal.

The seed portal will take you to a very similar room with the addition of Asheron who is fighting off the Olthoi & Virindi to save his people. As he is being weakened by the attacks it is your mission, if you chose to accept to help him in slaughtering these stages of progressively harder and harder Olthoi&Virindi. If you fail in your mission and Asheron dies and you are portaled back to the Seed Portal room, where you can choose to attempt the process all over again.

If you accept get ready, as two waves of monsters and portal will appear on first the left side, kill all including the portal. Then two waves will appear on the ride side of the hall, and again you must kill the portal. In the fifth wave will be a named Virindi designated as 'the Cleaner'. Once he and his pals are eliminate return to Asheron for a post battle briefing and aa Empyrean Spherule.

Returning the Spherule to Emissary of Asheron gets you a wall mounted version of the Spherule, some xp and your Empowered Breastplate.

Ag

the xp appears to be a level capped % of 263M for the first turn in and less for later ones. If you already have the breastplate you can return it for what you are informed is 5% of level, but that appears to be capped at about 18M.

 The set of Three

wearing the complete set of pauldrons, breastplate and braces will change the spells to provide Epic Quick, Epic Willpower and Epic Endurance. Nice but be warned, this armor is so ladened with spells that each drains 1 point of mana per 2 seconds. So you will be going thru a lot of mana stones if you run around wearing them all the time. And while the armor will self bane to about 57AL, it's base is a meager 170AL which of course is disasterous against hollow monsters.