Prismatic Shadow Armor Quest

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Prismatic Shadow Armor Quest
Level:	??
Type:	Group
Starts At:	??
Repeat:	??

Quest Overview

This quest is for the Prismatic upgrade only. You must have already completed the Shadow Armor Quest beforehand. The first part of this quest is essentially the medium Harbinger where you first kill the Essences to weaken him. Defeating the Harbinger for this quest, however, is not necessary unless you intend to upgrade a Diamond Shield or Helm of the Elements in which case you will need the Harbinger Arm Token.

Walk Through

Step 1: Arcanum Research Facility

[Optional] Speak to Talar the Apprentice in Xarabydun (41.8S, 15.8E).
Head to Al-Jalima via the Town Network (west hall), and run to the Arcanum Research Facility at 5.9N 6.3E.
From the drop head through the north east or north west doors to reach the rooms with the Decanters. Each person needs 4 Enchanted Decanter.
Now you have the Decanters, you must make your way to the Tunnels to the Harbinger in Yanshi.

Step 2a: The Tunnels to the Chamber of Essences

Make sure everyone from your fellow has a Harbinger Item (see below) before starting.

From Yanshi, run to either Issk @ 12.9S, 46.5E or Vincadi @ 12.6S 46.7E.
- Note: Each NPC offers the same quest, however the lore is different for each. Flagging with one will prevent you from accessing the other, so be sure your whole group flags with the same NPC.
- Tip: Soft tie to the surface portal @ 13.0S, 47.3E for convenience. If you die, you'll want an easy way to get back quickly.
When your group is ready, everyone should hand their Harbinger Item to the NPC (either Issk or Vincadi) and then use the nearby Tunnels to the Harbinger portal to begin.
Once inside, the dungeon is linear to the bottom (keep heading down). The only obstacles are a series of 4 jumps that must be made.
- Jump 1: Acid Pit - Full jump ahead (land on invisible platform)
- Jump 2: Lava Pit - Jump into the pit and take the hallway to the North
- Jump 3: Ice Shelf - Shift-jump down onto the platform above the ice shelf, clear the spawn, and wait for your group.
- Jump 4: Ice/Acid Pit Combo - Dispell, then shift Jump down onto the ice shelf and quicky run to the edge and full jump across the acid pit (land on invisible platform). The ice hurts, so be quick.
- Jump 5: Staging Area - Shift jump down and quickly move to the south (near the portals).
Take the Essence Chamber Portal on right, NOT the portal on the left unless you're are prepared to fight the Harbinger!
Kill each of the 4 Essences, the Essence of Strife, Essence of Enchantment, Essence of Artifice and the Essence of Verdancy
Each will drop multiple Crystallized Essences.
After all 4 are killed, a portal will spawn to the Harbinger Do not take portal unless you intend to complete the Medium Harbinger quest for a Harbinger Arm Token.
Combine the Crystallized Essences with 4 Enchanted Decanter.
Hand the 4 Decanter of Essence of Artifice, Strife, Verdancy and Enchantment to Talar the Apprentice to receive Prismatic Oil. If you killed the Harbinger and picked up a Harbinger Arm Token, you can give that to Ciandra for the Shimmering Prismatic Oil.

Step 2b: Rewards

There are many options available for using the oils:

You can apply the shimmering prismatic oil to a Diamond Shield or a Helm of the Elements to upgrade it.
- Or, if you don't want to upgrade any items, you can give the Shimmering Prismatic Oil back to Ciandra, Arcanum Alchemist for 6,500,000 xp.
You can apply the prismatic oil to Greater Amuli Shadow Leggings or Coat to turn that piece into Prismatic Shadow Amuli (2 oils are needed for a complete suit).
If you do not want prismatic amuli, you can complete step 3 to obtain a glyph, which when combined with the oil can be used to upgrade alduressa, celdon and koujia Shadow armor (you will need one glyph and one vial of oil per piece of armor).
- Or, if you don't want to upgrade any armor, you can give the Prismatic Oil back to Talar the Apprentice for 6,500,000 xp.

Step 3: Ancient Masonry

This stage is to gain the Glyph for upgrading shadow suits other than Amuli.

Head to Aerlinthe by either using the recall spell or by using the methods outlined here.
From the drop head north and around the shoreline to the Ancient Masonry portal at 88.1N, 47.6E.
Progressing through the dungeon is done via levers. First head around to the north to a single door. The rest of the group can stay here whilst a single person uses the levers.

Room 1

Go to the south lever opposite the portal drop. Use it and then pull the lever in the now accessible room, run to the east center room and pull the lever on the floor. Now run to the west center room and pull that floor lever which will open the door to the north.

Room 2

Head north and then have everyone wait at the single door to the east.
Go to the south lever in this room like before. Use it and then pull the lever in the now open room, run to the west center room and pull the lever on the floor. Now run to the north center room and pull that floor lever which will open the door to the east.

Room 3

Head east and then have everyone wait at the single door to the south.
Go to the west middle lever in this room like before. Use it and then pull the lever inside the room, run to the north center room and pull the lever on the floor. Now run to the east center room and pull that floor lever which will open the door to the south.

Room 4

Head south and then have everyone wait at the single door to the west.
Go to the morth middle lever in this room. Use it and then pull the next lever inside the room, run to the east center room and pull the lever on the floor. Now run to the south center room and pull that floor lever which will open the door to the west.

Glyph of Alteration

The final west section has a locked door to the south (Dif. 500), if someone has high enough lockpick it is possible pick the door and skip the final part, otherwise you need to head north for the key.
Use the levers in the west and east rooms to open the double doors to the north. Inside is the Ancient Steward, defeat it and loot the Steward's Key.
Head back to the locked door to the south and unlock it with the key, inside are Glyphs of Alteration on the floor. Make sure everyone takes one before leaving.

Step 4: Upgrading to Prismatic Armor

To activate the Glyph you now need a Pyreal Mote, if you don't have one simply head to the Mysterious Cave or Halls of Metos and kill the Golems there until one drops.
Once you have a Mote, use the Glyph of Alteration on it to make a Pyreal Glyph. Use the Prismatic Oil upon the Pyreal Glyph to make a Prismatic Glyph.
Use the prismatic glyph on a non-amuli piece of greater Shadow armor to make a piece of Prismatic armor. You will need two glyphs to do the upper and lower portions of the suit.

Maps

Dungeon	Coordinates	Wiki Map	ACmaps
Arcanum Research Facility	5.9N, 6.3E	--	545B
Tunnels to the Harbinger (Issk)	12.9S, 46.5E	--	6447
Tunnels to the Harbinger (Vincadi)	12.6S, 46.7E	--	6446
Essence Chamber	12.6S, 46.7E (Tunnels to the Harbinger)	--	--
Ancient Masonry	88.1N, 47.6E	--	008B

Items

Quest Items

Decanter of Essence of Artifice Decanter of Essence of Enchantment Decanter of Essence of Strife Decanter of Essence of Verdancy Crystallized Essence of Artifice Crystallized Essence of Enchantment Crystallized Essence of Strife Crystallized Essence of Verdancy Glyph of Alteration Pyreal Glyph Prismatic Glyph Pyreal Mote Harbinger Arm Token Steward's Key Instructions for Essence Recovery An Ancient Masonry on Aerlinthe

Rewards

Prismatic Oil Shimmering Prismatic Oil

Prismatic Shadow Armor

Prismatic Amuli Coat Prismatic Amuli Leggings Prismatic Alduressa Coat Prismatic Alduressa Leggings Prismatic Celdon Sleeves Prismatic Celdon Breastplate Prismatic Celdon Girth Prismatic Celdon Leggings Prismatic Koujia Breastplate Prismatic Koujia Sleeves Prismatic Koujia Leggings

Upgraded Prismatic Items

Greater Helm of the Elements Prismatic Diamond Shield

Experience Rewards

Images

Click image for full size version.

Decanters in the Arcanum Research Facility
Harbinger & Essence Chamber portals

Harbinger & Essence Chamber portals
Essence of Verdancy in the Essence Chambers
Glyphs of Alteration in the Ancient Masonry

Lore & Dialog

Speaking with Talar the Apprentice

Talar the Apprentice tells you, "The four Essences have sunken into the ground below Old Yanshi. The Menhir rings that once focused and held them have been overpowered by the Harbinger's magic and he now feeds from their power."

Talar the Apprentice tells you, "Yes, you look skilled enough to help me. I require a sample from each of the four Essences below Old Yanshi."

Talar the Apprentice tells you, "All of the Arcanum's attempts at collecting these samples ourselves have failed. Fifteen of our best agents were defeated in a recent attempt on the Essence of Verdancy. Find yourself a group of adventurers at least as powerful as you before you go anywhere near these new Essences.":

Talar the Apprentice tells you, "First, you need to retrieve four Enchanted Decanters from the Arcanum Research Facility outside of Al-Jalima. You will use these decanters to collect each Essence's essence. The details are in these instructions."

Talar the Apprentice gives you Instructions for Essence Recovery.

Talar the Apprentice tells you, "Good luck and don't underestimate the power of the Essences. They are raw magic after all."

Destroying the Essences

[Player Name] strikes the final blow against the Essence of Verdancy. The Essence contracts and falls to the ground, crystallizing on contact.

Filling the decanters with the Crystallized Essences

The Crystallized Essence of Artifice is drawn into the Enchanted Decanter, liquefying on contact. As the last drop of essence is taken the decanter magically seals itself.

Handing Talar the Essences for Prismatic Oil

You give Talar the Apprentice Decanter of Essence of Artifice.

Talar the Apprentice tells you, "Ah, Essence of Artifice! I can't wait to start testing this. These Essences react differently to various alchemical tests than the pure essence we collect from the Fathomless Chasm."

Talar the Apprentice tells you, "You still need to retrieve a sample of the Essence of Enchantment for me."

Talar the Apprentice tells you, "You still need to retrieve a sample of the Essence of Verdancy for me."

Talar the Apprentice tells you, "You still need to retrieve a sample of the Essence of Strife for me."

You give Talar the Apprentice Decanter of Essence of Enchantment.

Talar the Apprentice tells you, "Ah, Essence of Enchantment! You didn't get any on you I hope. I theorize that this essence could have dangerous effects if it comes in contact with a creature. I'll have to be very careful while I'm testing this."

Talar the Apprentice tells you, "You still need to retrieve a sample of the Essence of Verdancy for me."

Talar the Apprentice tells you, "You still need to retrieve a sample of the Essence of Strife for me."

You give Talar the Apprentice Decanter of Essence of Strife.

Talar the Apprentice tells you, "Ah, Essence of Strife! War in a bottle eh? I don't know where to begin testing this. I'll have to confer with some of the Arcanum's War Magic specialists."

Talar the Apprentice tells you, "You still need to retrieve a sample of the Essence of Verdancy for me."

You give Talar the Apprentice Decanter of Essence of Verdancy.

Talar the Apprentice gives you Prismatic Oil.

Talar the Apprentice gives you An Ancient Masonry on Aerlinthe.

Talar the Apprentice tells you, "Ah, Essence of Verdancy! It's a good thing this decanter is enchanted or the essence would have eaten right through it and through the floor stones and through the ground beneath. In fact I don't think it would stop until it reached its source."

Talar the Apprentice tells you, "Let's see, where did I put those enchanted gloves."

Talar the Apprentice tells you, "Excellent, more essence samples. These will prove invaluable in my continuing research. Let me mix your reward."

Talar combines a small amount of each essence into a small vial of viscous red oil. He holds the bottle up to the light and watches as the oil clears and prismatic colors can be seen spinning in vial.

Talar the Apprentice tells you, "Here you go. This oil works on the same principle of elemental energies that the Prismatic Plume uses. Apply this oil to a piece of Greater Amuli Shadow Armor and you should be able to instill it with an impressive amount of elemental protection. If you would prefer a different reward then give me back the Prismatic Oil and I'll see what I can do."

Talar the Apprentice tells you, "If you wish to apply the Prismatic Oil to one of the other Greater Shadow Armor pieces you should read this report we received from an Arcanum Researcher on Aerlinthe Island. He found a buried structure there which may hold the required intermediary you need to instill the other armor sets with the Prismatic Oil."

Applying the oil to a piece of Shadow armor

You apply the oil to the surface of the armor. The oil hardens into a hard prismatic crystalline shell. A soft glow surrounds the coat and storms become visible in the prismatic coating.

Handing Ciandra a Harbinger Arm Token for the Shimmering Oil

You give Ciandra, Arcanum Alchemist Harbinger Arm Token

"Ah, excellent, an arm from the Harbinger! You must have killed the Essences before you fought the Harbinger and retrieved this limb. You can tell by the lack of thaumic glow I've seen on the Essence bolstered Harbinger limbs. I can't wait to begin testing this! Here take this as a reward for helping to keep the Harbinger in check. Return it to me if you would prefer a less tangible reward."

Ciandra, Arcanum Alchemist gives you Shimmering Prismatic Oil.

Retired Text

Speaking with Ciandra, Arcanum Alchemist

Ciandra, Arcanum Alchemist tells you, "The four Essences have returned to world. They have been seen near the broken menhir rings that once focused and held them. From what I've been able to surmise from our Arcanum Agents, the Essences are much more aggressive than they once were. Perhaps Gaerlan's tinkering with the elemental forces has changed them."

Ciandra, Arcanum Alchemist tells you, "Yes, you look skilled enough."

Ciandra, Arcanum Alchemist gives you Instructions for Essence Recovery.

Ciandra, Arcanum Alchemist tells you, "All of the Arcanum's attempts at collecting samples from the four Essences have failed. Fifteen of our best agents were defeated in a recent attempt on the Essence of Verdancy. Find yourself a group of adventurers at least as powerful as you before you go anywhere near these new Essences."

Ciandra, Arcanum Alchemist tells you, "First, you need to retrieve four Enchanted Decanters from the Arcanum Research Facility outside of Al-Jalima. You will use these decanters to collect each Essence's essence. The details are in these instructions."

Ciandra, Arcanum Alchemist tells you, "Good luck and don't underestimate the power of the Essences. They are raw magic after all."

Handing Ciandra the Essences for Prismatic Oil

You give Ciandra, Arcanum Alchemist Decanter of Essence of Enchantment.

Ciandra, Arcanum Alchemist tells you, "Ah, Essence of Enchantment! You didn't get any on you I hope. I theorize that this essence could have dangerous effects if it comes in contact with a creature. I'll have to be very careful while I'm testing this."

You give Ciandra, Arcanum Alchemist Decanter of Essence of Artifice.

You give Ciandra, Arcanum Alchemist Decanter of Essence of Strife.

You give Ciandra, Arcanum Alchemist Decanter of Essence of Verdancy.

Ciandra, Arcanum Alchemist tells you, "Ah, Essence of Verdancy! It's a good thing this decanter is enchanted or the essence would have eaten right through it and through the floor stones and through the ground beneath. In fact I don't think it would stop until it reached it's source."

Ciandra, Arcanum Alchemist tells you, "Let's see, where did I put those enchanted gloves."

Ciandra, Arcanum Alchemist tells you, "I've been studying some of the essences people have brought me. These new Essences seem to be extremely powerful and extremely unstable and I think I may know why."

Ciandra, Arcanum Alchemist tells you, "I think the Cistern's have filled with elemental essence again, but without the Menhir Rings focusing and stabilizing these energies they have... overflowed, more like a discharge really, resulting in these new Essences. With the Cistern's spilling elemental energy the Essences will keep returning and gathering energy. Fascinating, but not good."

Ciandra, Arcanum Alchemist tells you, "I have to compare the new samples against some of the samples from the old Essences. You've brought me more than enough of each Essence for my purposes. Give me a second and I'll give you your reward."

Ciandra combines a small amount of each essence into a small vial of viscous red oil. She holds the bottle up to the light and watches as the oil clears. Prismatic colors can be seen spinning in vial.

Ciandra, Arcanum Alchemist tells you, "Here you go. This oil works on the same principle of elemental energies that the Prismatic Plume uses. Apply this oil to a piece of Greater Amuli Shadow Armor and you should be able to instill it with an impressive amount of elemental protection. If you would prefer a different reward then give me back the Prismatic Oil and I'll see what I can do."

Ciandra, Arcanum Alchemist gives you Prismatic Oi

Handing Ciandra the Prismatic Oil for experience

You give Ciandra, Arcanum Alchemist Prismatic Oil.

Ciandra, Arcanum Alchemist tells you, "No problem, lets see, I think you've earned this."

You've earned 6,500,000 experience.

Notes

During the A Change in Tactics, the Essences were outdoor creature spawns, located near the Essences which were used to obtain level 7 Spells. It was only possible to upgrade Amuli during this time.
During the Shining Runes and Shadowed Hands event, it became possible to upgrade other suits of Greater Shadow Armor.
During the Price of Loyalty event, the Essences were moved into a separate dungeon, the Essence Chamber.