Into the Darkness

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August 2003 - Announcements Page

Game Changes

Alchemy Gems introduced! You can now craft gems that cast life protection spells. See the August Letter to the Players for details of these new effects.
NPCs have finally moved into the Direlands Stronghold Candeth Keep.
The classic quest, The Sword of Lost Light, has been updated with a number of changes.

New Quests

New Events

Renegade Siege

Updated Quests

Gelidite Library Quest - Now non-repeatable
Harbinger Quest - New quest mechanic and rewards|
- You now choose to side with either Aerbax or Nuhmudira by flagging with them using special "Harbinger Items".
- The Harbinger is now found at the end of a more challenging dungeon named Tunnels to the Harbinger.
- Old rewards can still be obtained by handing the token to the Emissary of Asheron.
Shadow Captain's Heaume Quest
Sword of Lost Light Quest - Many of the quest items have been updated.
Sword of Lost Hope Quest - Sword has new stats and artwork.
Lady Aerfalle Quest - The three infusions from the volcanoes can now be given to Lilly of Glenden Wood for xp.

New NPCs

Updated NPCs

Lilly of Glenden Wood - Now accepts infusions (SOLL, SOLH) in exchange for experience.

New Locations

Candeth Keep - Construction completed and town is now active.
- Tree Portal
- Meeting Hall Style Building
Olthoi Brood Hive (40+)
Olthoi Brood Hive (60+)
Tunnels to the Harbinger (Issk)
Tunnels to the Harbinger (Vincadi)

Updated Locations

Dungeons

Olthoi North - Landscape is now severely blighted by the olthoi presence, with far less vegetation and lots of purplish thatch.
Carved Cave - Portal moved from 72.1N, 35.6W to 7.4N, 0.6E near Al-Jalima. In addition, the Level 17+ restriction was removed and a portal to the Halls of the Lost Light was added.
Chakron Gate - Updated with Assailers, Telumiat Hollow Minions and Virindi Inquisitors, Virindi Preceptors and Virindi Adjudicators
Dungeon Manor - Updated with Drudge Slaves and Desert Rats
Holtburg Dungeon - Updated with Drudge Slaves 12 & 14, Sandy Armoredillo, Spikey Armoredillo, Jade Gromnie, and Swamp Rats.
Matron Hive South - Now levels 20-50
Matron Hive West - Now levels 60-90
Shade Stronghold - Updated with Tenebrous and Sinister Shadows and Destroyer Grievvers
Sepulcher of the Hopeslayer - Now has Bile Grievvers and new Shadows. No longer recallable.
Rithwic Crypt - Updated with Mire Phyntos Wasps, Hunter Shreths, Desert Rats
Shoushi Grotto - Updated with Drudge Slaves, Hunter Shreth and Swamp Rats
Yanshi Tunnels - Updated with Drudge Slaves
Yaraq Tunnels - Updated with Drudge Slaves and Desert Rats

Points of Interest

72.1N, 35.6W - Banderling Cave - The original location of the Carved Cave portal, now populated with Banderlings and has a Runed Chest and Direlands Midland Portal.
72.2N, 36.1W - Zefir Tower - Creatures updated, chest updated to a Sturdy Steel Chest.
47.5S, 85.3W - Plasma Golem Squares - Creatures updated and runed chest added.
47.6S, 86.3W - Drudge Tower - Updated with Bloodletters, Unconquered, Cabalist, Peerless and Murk Drudges along with a Sturdy Steel Chest.
50.5S, 53.6W - Lugian Cave - Creatures updated. (unconfirmed for this event)

New Items

Armor

Fine Olthoi Sollerets Fine Olthoi Greaves Fine Olthoi Bracers Fine Olthoi Pauldrons Fine Olthoi Breastplate Fine Olthoi Girth Fine Olthoi Tassets Fine Olthoi Gauntlets Fine Olthoi Brood Queen Helm Good Olthoi Sollerets Good Olthoi Greaves Good Olthoi Bracers Good Olthoi Pauldrons Good Olthoi Breastplate Good Olthoi Girth Good Olthoi Tassets Good Olthoi Gauntlets Good Olthoi Brood Queen Helm

Alchemy Gems

Gem of Greater Rejuvenation Gem of Greater Mana Renewal

Alchemy Items

Keyrings

Sturdy Steel Keyring

Quest Items

Brood Matron Adolescent Tail Brood Matron Adolescent Tarsus Brood Matron Adolescent Tibia Brood Queen Adolescent Carapace Brood Queen Adolescent Claw Brood Queen Adolescent Crest Brood Queen Adolescent Femur Brood Queen Adolescent Head Brood Queen Adolescent Metathorax Young Brood Matron Tail Young Brood Matron Tarsus Young Brood Matron Tibia Young Brood Queen Carapace Young Brood Queen Claw Young Brood Queen Crest Young Brood Queen Femur Young Brood Queen Head Young Brood Queen Metathorax

Text Items

Felscuda the Scholar Natural Order Experimentation The New Alchemy

Trophy Items

Coral Heart Banderling Aggressor Scalp Banderling Predator Scalp Banderling Antagonist Scalp Banderling Slayer Scalp Banderling Savage Arm Banderling Bone Ring (Trophy) Bloodletter Drudge Charm Drudge Cabalist Charm Drudge Sage Charm Peerless Drudge Charm Essence of a Phantasm Gloom Drudge Charm Murk Drudge Charm Mutilator Head Mystic Drudge Charm Plate Armoredillo Hide Slasher Reedshark Hide Reaper Reedshark Hide Rendeath Shreth Hide Gauloth Shreth Hide Bloodthirsty Monouga Idol Merciless Monouga Idol Insidious Monouga Idol Skull of a Skeletal Hero Skull of a Dark Master Primeval Skeleton Shin Bone Telumiat Hollow Minion Essence

Weapons

Tumerok Hunting Brace

Updated Items

Asheron's Supreme Raiment
- Moderate Endurance spell added as a random cantrip
Empyrean Scalemail Shirt
- Unenchantable property removed
- AL increased from 120 to 150
- Spells updated.
Melee Defense Tattoo
- Moderate Invulnerability spell added
Obsidian Dagger
- Modifiers| +5% attack, +5.0% melee
Virindi Profatrix Mask
- New artwork.
Shadow Captain's Heaume
- AL increased from 220 to 250.
- BU reduced from 2,100 to 500
- Impenetrability V increased to level VI, Magic Yield Other IV removed.
Ulgrim's Golden Gromnie
- Can no longer be picked up (again).
Virindi Servant's Amulet
- New spells: Minor Mana Conversion Prowess, Moderate Item Enchantment Aptitude.
- Exhaustion Other V removed.
Virindi Singularity Key
- Can now be given (uncarved) to Aun Mareura the Collector in Timaru for 25k xp and a Plentiful Healing Kit (Blue Kit).
Superior Shield
- New artwork
- AL updated from 20 to 120.
- Spells added| Impenetrability IV, Sword Mastery Self IV, Invulnerability Self IV.
Sword of Lost Light
- New artwork
- Damage increased from 7 - 13 to 9 - 18
- Modifiers| +5% Attack, +5% Melee added.
- Spells changed from Blood Drinker V, Swift Killer IV, Quickness Other IV to Defender IV, Blood Drinker IV, Swift Killer III, Heart Seeker IV.
- Sword skill req. changed from 280+ to 150+.

Text updates

A note from Iquba A Note from Tibri Rumor (Dungeons) Rumor (Keys) A torn note An odd note Crumpled Note An old note (Lich Archmage) An old note (Monougas) Dungeon Manor Directions Shoushi Grotto Directions Rithwic Crypt Directions Yanshi Tunnel Directions Holtburg Dungeon Directions

New Creatures

Olthoi

Lugian

Renegade GotrokRenegade Gotrok/

Slithis

Updated Creatures

Guardian of the Lost Light - New artwork.

New Dialog

Town Crier

Town Crier tells you, "...and a warrior came forth bearing the mark of Light upon him. He carried, in his hand, the rays of the sun crafted into steel. A blade with a purpose in the hands of a virtuous heart brings hope where there is none. The Light has been found again."

Town Crier tells you, "Aerbax and Nuhmudira seem to be at each other's throats. I wonder what this will mean for the refugees of Yanshi."

Town Crier tells you, "Has it been over a year since the destruction of Yanshi? I can't help but think of that poor jeweler who never returned to the Lifestone with the rest of the town's folk..."

Town Crier tells you, "I can't wait until I have done enough for Candeth Keep to be recognized as a founder. I hear the shops there are exquisite!"

Town Crier tells you, "I hear word that the keep in the South Dires is almost completed. Merchants from all three races of the alliance have moved in to provide adventurers with supplies and places of rest."

Town Crier tells you, "I heard from Alatar Locke recently... he was upset that he had to redo some of his oldest notes... something about some carved caves?"

Town Crier tells you, "I never thought I'd see the day where Alchemists would be smiling again."

Town Crier tells you, "I voted for Locke Ridge..."

Town Crier tells you, "I was worried when the Olthoi first began to congregate in the north, but now they have twisted the land into their own! This can only mean bad things for us."

Town Crier tells you, "I'm trusting in the good faith of the populace to keep me well protected. I figure now that you can craft your own protections I might just be safe on my walkabouts."

Town Crier tells you, "I've heard tell that all but one of the potions we once used for casting spells is used in crafting new protective stones."

Town Crier tells you, "I've heard tell that High Queen Elysa is forming an expedition to enter the tunnels deep beneath Asheron's Island. I wonder if there is any truth to it."

Town Crier tells you, "I've heard that one of Asheron's emissaries has been spotted in Yanshi. Perhaps he is there keeping the peace."

Town Crier tells you, "Iquba's tavern in Qalabar's been awfully crowded these days, but no one seems to be buying any ale, just examining some strange keys."

Town Crier tells you, "In the Halls of Lost Light the Guardian has stirred and the sword glows brighter now than ever. Perhaps this is an omen of things to come. Perhaps it is a sign that even in this growing darkness there is still hope."

Town Crier tells you, "It seems as though the Gotrok Lugians and their Renegade Tumerok comrades are continuing to siege Fort Tethana."

Town Crier tells you, "Our refusal to speak last month was for our own reasons. We're underpaid and it's as though our voices are no longer heard. Many of us decided that we'd be silent for a cycle of the moons in protest. Did it work?"

Town Crier tells you, "Rumors persist that the Harbinger is reforming much more quickly. If it's true what more could we possibly face. We have the Renegade Tumeroks, the Gotrok Lugians, Aerbax, Olthoi and now a thing that is an elemental force. It's good to see that Nuhmudira is doing something about it over there. Of course... it would be better if she didn't have a Sclavus speaking for her."

Town Crier tells you, "Some adventurers came back from the stronghold northwest of Mount Esper the other day -- they reported that it'd gotten much more difficult. Something about new monsters moving in! They were going to check two other dungeons, but I don't remember which ones."

Town Crier tells you, "Swear to me or die! Ha, ha, just joking. Who would be that cruel?"

Town Crier tells you, "The Tumeroks have grown a huge tree in the center of Candeth Keep. They say that it's the heart of the city. Supposedly they can talk to it or some such nonsense. Don't get me wrong, I respect their beliefs, I'm just not sure I believe them."

Town Crier tells you, "There are rumors of new Olthoi hives in the North! I do hope all the homeowners there have a Horn of Vigilance... Available, by the way, at all sellers named Coron Usgin in Zaikhal. Guaranteed to keep Olthoi away! At least, uh, I think they are. Well, I believe you can return it to Coron Usgin if not satisfied, a one hundred percent pyreal-back guarantee! I think..."

Town Crier tells you, "They have infested most of the world, and now the Olthoi have begun to blight our lands. And to make matters worse, it looks as though they are beginning to establish new hives in the Olthoi North!"

Town Crier tells you, "Yanshi has suddenly become popular again. I've heard that a Virindi and a Sclavus have taken up in the ruins, professing their allegiance to new leaders. I can only see ill coming from this."

Town Crier tells you, "Yeah, we're all talking again. But the truth of the matter is that we're still unhappy. Tumeroks and Lugians standing by our side! Ha! Tell them to leave us alone in the wilderness, then we'll talk peace."