Gateway to the Deep

Quest Summary
Quest type	Solo/Group
XP Reward	190,000,000
XP Cap	190,000,000
Item Reward	Access to Vissidal
Title Reward	None
Starting location	Ayan Baqur
Timer	One time quest. (May be repeated without rewards.)
Level Restrictions	130+
Level Suggestions	130+
Introduced in	Under Cover of Night

Gateway to the Deep is one of AC's premier quests and gives access to Vissidal Island, one of the best leveling and looting areas in the game. Vissidal is also the doorway to Dark Isle for levels 150+. The quest is fairly involved and is best done with more than one person. Although it can be soloed, it can be a challenge if you have just turned 130.

Walk Through

Speak to Shuthoth in Ayan Baqur for the Watcher Token.
Travel to Aerlinthe and follow the beach east then north to 87.3N 51.2E and give the Watcher Token to the Devastated Watcher statue on the beach. If you have previously given a token, simply use the statue.
The statue portals you inside the Devastated Falatacot Temple. At the end of the dungeon is a portal to the Gatekeepers.
It is very IMPORTANT that you speak to Shemza before doing anything else. This flags you to be able to use a shortcut portal outside Ayan Baqur at 60.3S 90.7W.
Give a Yellow Jewel to Shemza, you will be portaled into the dungeon Gateway of Shemza. You will need to use a candle stick shown on the map to open a door half way down. There is a free BMK chest by the jump. At the end kill the the Radiant Crystal (melees work well with Imperil) and pick up one of the Radiant Shards. Use the exit portal to return to the Gatekeepers.
Give the Radiant Shard to Lurza, then give Lurza a Sezzherei's Lair Portal Gem. You'll be portaled into the dungeon Gateway of Lurza. There is another BMK on the way down. When you come to the end of the acid floor, shift jump up onto the grate then kill the Dazzling Crystal and pick up a Dazzling Shard. Use the exit portal.
Give the Dazzling Shard to Dmesne, then give Dmesne a Pyreal Bar to be portaled into the dungeon Gateway of Dmesne. At the end is the Brilliant Crystal that drops Brilliant Shards.
Give the Brilliant Shard to Rhujun, then give a Swamp Stone. You'll be portaled to a small island, speak to the Flame Guardian near the drop who tasks you with killing five Water Golems. Speak to the Guardian again when done.
The Flame Guardian sends you ot Abandoned Mines Mirror, a dungeon very similar to subway. Head to the bottom and kill Bur Lizk who summons a portal on death.
You are sent to another small island, similar to the previous one. Speak to the Water Guardian who instructs you to kill five Fire Golems. Speak to the guardian after doing so and you will be given a Watery Token and portaled to 70.3N 65.4E.
Give the token to the Watcher of the Deep. You are now flagged for Vissidal Island, there is a portal just south of the statue on the beach. There's also a lifestone, however there is a lifestone on the island itself if you use the portal (at 80.2N 59.4E). Portal gems to Vissidal can also be purchased from Archmage Moldurg at 79.9N 59.2E.

Note: There is a secondary watcher, the Corrupted Watcher on the west beach of Aerlinthe. It will send you to the Corrupted Falatacot Temple, a mirror image of the Devastated Falatacot Temple though not the same place. Both have a portal to the Gatekeepers at the end. It is unknown if there is any substantive difference, but whichever statue you use will flag you to only use that statue (you will never be able to enter the other. For this reason most people use the eastern beach because it is a faster run and they can accompany new people to help them do the quest again later.

Note: The three Black Marrow Reliquary chests can be looted once a week. The shortcut portal at 60.3S 90.7W outside Ayan Baqur will take you right back to the Gatekeepers, also the surface portal inside each dungeon is tiable/recallable though not summonable.

Note: If for you did not get flagged for the Ayan portal, you can redo the quest in a month and pick up another shard (any of the three will work). Show the shard to the Corrupted Watcher or the Devastated Watcher to be portalled to the Gatekeepers, skipping the Corrupted Falatacot Temple or the Devastated Falatacot Temple respectively. It isn't as fast as the Ayan portal, but still useful (you keep the shard and can use it anytime).

Items

File:Watcher Token icon.png Watcher Token

File:Radiant Shard icon.png Radiant Shard

File:Dazzling Shard icon.png Dazzling Shard

File:Brilliant Shard (Vissidal) icon.png Brilliant Shard

File:Watery Token icon.png Watery Token

Lore & Dialog

Town Crier tells you, "Explorers have reported that a new island has risen from the deeps of the ocean! Wooo, the mystery!"

Town Crier tells you, "My cousin went to the new island and he came back with an odd-looking hand weapon..."

Town Crier tells you, "I hear tale the new island's not for everyone. Apparently it is filled with strange and powerful creatures, and it's quite difficult to gain access to the portal that leads there."

Town Crier tells you, "Reports say the new island is called Vissidal Island, a name bestowed on it by the Empyrean race who lived there before."

Town Crier tells you, "I have heard there is a group of intelligent Mosswarts living on the newly risen island. I have to wonder how they got to be so much smarter than their mainland cousins."

Town Crier tells you, "Oh no. You cannot be serious. Those Mosswarts on the new island cannot possibly worship HIM."

Town Crier tells you, "Have you heard the stories of the beast they call the Leviathan? Large as a house they say. Most dreadful."

Shuthoth tells you, "Welcome, friend. I seek warriors in search of great adventure. I represent one who would grant the Isparians of this world much power, much knowledge."
Shuthoth tells you, "She has found something. Something powerful beneath the waves of this world. A city, ancient and doomed. The blue-skinned King did his part to raise it from the deep, but I daresay he could not have done it alone."
Shuthoth tells you, "Now that the island exists, the lady would ask Dereth's hunters and adventurers to explore its mysteries."
Shuthoth tells you, "If you seek such a challenge, I bid you take this gem and place it within the empty eye of one of Aerlinthe's Watchers. The Watchers will tell you what else you must do."
Shuthoth tells you, "You have the spark of adventure within you. Good luck, my friend."
Shuthoth gives you Watcher Token.

You give Devastated Watcher Watcher Token.
The gem clicks into place within the Watcher's empty eye socket. The statue hums to life and looks down upon you. You hear a whisper in your mind, "Appease the Gatekeepers," then all grows quiet.

Shemza tells you, "A warrior! A warrior comes! Brothers, feast your eyes on one who would give their lives willingly to the great lord!"
Shemza tells you, "You seek to bask in the glory of Grael, do you not? You seek to join us in the worship of he who is more powerful, more glorious, than all who have come before? My brothers and I, we were the first to join his side. We were there when he led us to victory over the old ones. We helped him slay the mages and lay waste to their cities. We were there when he led an army upon the heretics of the light."
Shemza tells you, "When defeat fell upon us, we knew that our ascendance was only delayed. One day, we knew that our god would rise from the depths and claim that which is his. And we knew that ones such as you would seek to free him from his chains."
Shemza tells you, "And now you are here. You seek to barter with us who have given our souls in exchange for life eternal. Those of us who have lengthened our lives for the sole purpose of delivering warriors unto him."
Shemza tells you, "Yes. You are here now. And now you will aid me. And then you will aid my brothers."
Shemza tells you, "I seek a boon. One small boon. The masters of the portal carry a token of golden hue. A token that I would claim as mine own. Find it and deliver it to me. Then the first part of your quest shall begin."
Shemza tells you, "I have altered your body. You may now use our portal near Ayan Baqur."

You give Shemza Yellow Jewel.
Shemza tells you, "Seek out the Radiant Crystal. Bring a shard to my brother Lurza. Then he will treat with you."

You give Lurza Radiant Shard.
Lurza tells you, "Long have we waited, trapped within these crystalline forms, waiting for those who would join him in his quest. And now you come. You come seeking our approval. But are you worthy?"
Lurza tells you, "There is something I seek. The key to one who once followed our cause. A traitor who makes his home among the winged demons of the dark. Bring the key to this fallen lord, and I will grant you passage."
Lurza tells you, "Long have we waited, trapped within these crystalline forms, waiting for those who would join him in his quest. And now you come. You come seeking our approval. But are you worthy?"
Lurza tells you, "There is something I seek. The key to one who once followed our cause. A traitor who makes his home among the winged demons of the dark. Bring the key to this fallen lord, and I will grant you passage."
You give Lurza Sezzherei's Lair.
Lurza tells you, "The demon Sezzherei once called himself our brother. But when he betrayed our lord to the ancient mages, he fell from Grael's favor. Our brother Tursh slew Sezzherei on the battlefield, or so we all believed. Now he claims the dark as his master, and seeks to appease its twisted whims."
Lurza tells you, "Sezzherei will once again know the taste of his own blood. When Grael rises and marches across this land, Sezzherei will kneel once again."
Lurza tells you, "Now find the Dazzling shard, and give it to my brother Dmesne."

You give Dmesne Dazzling Shard.
Dmesne tells you, "There is a metal, a pure metal of great power. You use it to strengthen your arms, barbarians that you are. One bar is all I ask. One bar and you shall have my blessing."

You give Dmesne Pyreal Bar.
Dmesne tells you, "Within this chamber lies the Brilliant Crystal. Take a shard to my brother Rhujun, and you will be escorted to the isle of water."

You give Rhujun Brilliant Shard.
Rhujun tells you, "There are those of wet skin and barbaric means. They carry the meanest of stones, a stone whose power is unknown even to them. I would have it, little one."
Rhujun tells you, "I would have it now."
You give Rhujun Swamp Stone.
Rhujun tells you, "The cousins of these young ones make their homes on the bones of the ancients. They know not the power that surrounds them. Such simple creatures they are."

Flame Guardian tells you, "Welcome to my lonely isle, little one. You seek the mysteries of Vissidal, do you not? Many have come before you. Many will follow in your footsteps. The power which once lay dormant beneath the waves has surfaced. I fear the new rulers of this world will regret their meddling before all is done."
Flame Guardian tells you, "You seek a boon from me, do you not? You seek my permission to further your quest?"

Flame Guardian tells you, "You must prove yourself, little one. You must bathe in the cleansing waters of the deep. You must destroy the spirits of Water that lay claim to this isle."

You have killed 5 Water Golems! Your task is complete!
Flame Guardian tells you, "The waters of the deep cover your flesh. You have been cleansed. I sense the spirit of Grael about you. I deem you worthy, little one."

Water Guardian tells you, "You have done much to reach this point. You have appeased the Gatekeepers. You have been bathed in the waters of the Deep. You have bested the warrior Bur Lizk. And now you seek my blessing."
Water Guardian tells you, "As you were bathed in the waters of the deep, now must you be cleansed by its fires. Slay the spirits of Flame. Bask in their glory."

You have killed 5 Fire Golems! Your task is complete!
Water Guardian tells you, "You have been cleansed by the spirits of Flame. The essence of Grael wraps about you like a lover's embrace. Soon, you will be his."
Water Guardian tells you, "Give this to the Watcher of the Deep, and then you shall know glory."
Water Guardian gives you Watery Token.

You give Watcher of the Deep Watery Token.
You feel a low rumble, and the statue looks down upon you. You hear a whisper in your mind, "The isle of the deep is yours," then all grows quiet.
You've earned 190,000,000 experience.