| Latest revision |
Your text |
| Line 13: |
Line 13: |
|
| |
|
| ==Steps== | | ==Steps== |
| | ===Transcript=== |
| {{Verbatim}} | | {{Verbatim}} |
|
| |
|
| Line 31: |
Line 32: |
| *'''Completed''' | | *'''Completed''' |
| ''You were tasked with assisting Crow in investigating Scorn sightings near a ruined Dark Age castle in the EDZ.'' | | ''You were tasked with assisting Crow in investigating Scorn sightings near a ruined Dark Age castle in the EDZ.'' |
| | ---- |
| {{Quote|[Datapad, summarized]<br> -[[Scorn]] [[Raider]] sighted in sector EDZ-R5<br> -Scorn Raiders, 5-7, sighted in sector EDZ-R4<br> -[[Taken]] migration from [[The Sludge|Sludge]] to sector EDZ-R<br> -Scorn [[Chieftain]] engaged in sector EDZ-R2, potential [redacted] in play, retreated into mountains<br> -External operative confirmed [[Dark Ether]] trail<br> -[[Guardian]] fireteam requested}} | | {{Quote|[Datapad, summarized]<br> -[[Scorn]] [[Raider]] sighted in sector EDZ-R5<br> -Scorn Raiders, 5-7, sighted in sector EDZ-R4<br> -[[Taken]] migration from [[The Sludge|Sludge]] to sector EDZ-R<br> -Scorn [[Chieftain]] engaged in sector EDZ-R2, potential [redacted] in play, retreated into mountains<br> -External operative confirmed [[Dark Ether]] trail<br> -[[Guardian]] fireteam requested}} |
|
| |
|
| Line 38: |
Line 40: |
| *'''Bone of [[Hefnd]]''' | | *'''Bone of [[Hefnd]]''' |
| ''The remains of the Ahamkara beckon you forth…'' | | ''The remains of the Ahamkara beckon you forth…'' |
| | ---- |
| {{Quote|''Don't be afraid.'' Come a little closer.}} | | {{Quote|''Don't be afraid.'' Come a little closer.}} |
| ----
| |
| *'''Petra Venj:''' This is all that remains of the Ahamkara, then. Even like this, in its silence, it could move worlds. The damage the Scorn could have caused had one of them realized what they possessed… We’ll secure the bones and make sure this can’t happen again.
| |
|
| |
| *'''The Crow:''' Yeah. This makes me a little worried about the hidden cost of our deal with Riven.
| |
|
| |
| *'''Petra Venj:''' That thought has crossed my mind.
| |
|
| |
| *'''The Crow:''' Petra, I’ve… never apologized to you. For what you’re still going through.
| |
|
| |
| *'''Petra Venj:''' There’s no need. It wasn’t you.
| |
|
| |
| *'''The Crow:''' I’m sorry. He is too. Completely. If I could wish it away…
| |
|
| |
| *'''Petra Venj:''' No. You’re helping break the cycle; that should be more than enough.
| |
|
| |
|
| ===Step 3=== | | ===Step 3=== |
| Line 59: |
Line 48: |
| *'''Dark Ether Tinctures found 0/5''' | | *'''Dark Ether Tinctures found 0/5''' |
| ''Hefnd has tasked you with finding the first of his bones, stolen by wishful Scorn who believe the bones are sacred relics of power.'' | | ''Hefnd has tasked you with finding the first of his bones, stolen by wishful Scorn who believe the bones are sacred relics of power.'' |
| | ---- |
| {{quote|See how they feed their totems blight and bone? They believe it worship. They believe this ground sacred. Their small desires feed my power. Feed… you, O vengeance mine.|Hefnd, Blighted in Vengeance}} | | {{quote|See how they feed their totems blight and bone? They believe it worship. They believe this ground sacred. Their small desires feed my power. Feed… you, O vengeance mine.|Hefnd, Blighted in Vengeance}} |
|
| |
|
| Line 68: |
Line 58: |
| *'''Blighted Wishing Glass found 0/3''' | | *'''Blighted Wishing Glass found 0/3''' |
| ''Wish upon the Bones of Hefnd to unlock doors with a level 1 corruption and uncover more fragments.'' | | ''Wish upon the Bones of Hefnd to unlock doors with a level 1 corruption and uncover more fragments.'' |
| | ---- |
| {{quote|The Scorn carry my bones like relics. They worship, they pray, they form rituals. They place them on shrines to bring good fortunes, but with each wish made in ignorance, I dig their graves deeper.|Hefnd, Blighted in Vengeance}} | | {{quote|The Scorn carry my bones like relics. They worship, they pray, they form rituals. They place them on shrines to bring good fortunes, but with each wish made in ignorance, I dig their graves deeper.|Hefnd, Blighted in Vengeance}} |
| ----
| |
| *'''The Crow:''' Is this bone all that’s left? Not much of a territorial claim.
| |
|
| |
| *'''Petra Venj:''' Death is not the end for and Ahamkara. If it’s feeding, it exists.
| |
|
| |
| *'''The Crow:''' That bone’s radiating sterile neutrinos… Taken energy?
| |
|
| |
| *'''Petra Venj:''' Yes, like poison in the marrow... but I don't understand how.
| |
| ----
| |
| *'''Petra Venj:''' It's like the Ahamkara here was... feeding off the [[Taken]], preying on their desire to fulfill a purpose. We understand what that's like.
| |
|
| |
| *'''The Crow:''' They DO like things that loop in on themselves. I thought only [[Riven]] dealt with the Taken.
| |
|
| |
| *'''Petra Venj:''' [[Xivu Arath|Xivu]] and [[The Witness]] are indisposed; many Taken are masterless. It's possible a strong will, like an Ahamkara, could have drawn them in.
| |
|
| |
| *'''The Crow:''' Or maybe the Scorn wished them here.
| |
|
| |
| *'''Petra Venj:''' Any Scorn making a wish probably doesn't realize they're doing it. At least, let's hope not...
| |
| ----
| |
| *'''The Crow:''' The [[Great Ahamkara Hunt|"Great Hunt"]] doesn't seem to have stopped the Ahamkara from granting wishes. It's a shame... to shed so much blood for so little return.
| |
|
| |
| *'''Petra Venj:''' They were beautiful creatures... but venomous with guile. It's true the hunt wasn't all motivated by safety. Ahamkara were a threat... but, as you noted, their bones are still trophies. Some Guardians continue to wear them for power and status.
| |
|
| |
| *'''The Crow:''' Like I said... a shame. Ahamkara were all across Sol. Maybe they're not all dead. I wonder who this one was.
| |
|
| |
|
| ===Step 5=== | | ===Step 5=== |
| Line 101: |
Line 68: |
| *'''Blighted Wishing Glass found 0/3''' | | *'''Blighted Wishing Glass found 0/3''' |
| ''Wish upon Bones of Hefnd to unlock doors with a level 3 corruption and uncover more fragments.'' | | ''Wish upon Bones of Hefnd to unlock doors with a level 3 corruption and uncover more fragments.'' |
| {{quote|These vermin claim what is mine, again, as if to repeat the past. Soon it will be over. I can feel [[blight]] overtaking me, O vengeance mine. When judgement is had, you must end me as well.|Hefnd, Blighted in Vengeance}}
| |
| ----
| |
| *'''The Crow:''' You know... you sit around enough campfires with [[Lord Saladin|Saladin]], and you hear about castles like this. There was this Warlord in the [[Dark Age]] named, um, um...
| |
|
| |
|
| *'''Petra Venj:''' Ugh, don't start-
| |
|
| |
| *'''The Crow:''' Naeem! She drank with a Warlord who'd felled a shapeshifting beast. [[Lord Shaxx|He]] led her to the beast's lair, a castle in snowy peaks. Inside was a skull that whispered promises. I always thought Saladin was just blowing smoke.
| |
|
| |
| *'''Petra Venj:''' You found your people; Guardians do love their myths and stories.
| |
| ---- | | ---- |
| *'''The Crow:''' Wait. Guardian... the Knights you've fought are marked. Something we did with the Barons.
| | {{quote|These vermin claim what is mine, again, as if to repeat the past. Soon it will be over. I can feel [[blight]] overtaking me, O vengeance mine. When judgement is had, you must end me as well.|Hefnd, Blighted in Vengeance}} |
| | |
| *'''Petra Venj:''' Crow, you aren't responsible for this. These Scorn didn't come from the [[Reef]].
| |
| | |
| *'''The Crow:''' I'm not seeing things! It's a... signature in the Dark Ether.
| |
| | |
| *'''Petra Venj:''' [[Fikrul, the Fanatic|Fikrul]] has been missing from the [[Tangled Shore|Shore]] for some time. You can let this go.
| |
| ----
| |
| *'''The Crow:''' Naeem and Hefnd - that's the Ahamkara's name - they'd become friends. Pretty tragic, actually. Saladin said their bond was "like a mutual domestication." But it wasn't long before the [[House of Kings]] stormed the castle.
| |
| | |
| *'''Petra Venj:''' When the Kings came, I take it Naeem didn't survive them?
| |
| | |
| *'''The Crow:''' No. And in her final breath, she wished ruin on their House, that "her vengeance follow them into the [[Scorn|grave]]." Very particular wording.
| |
|
| |
|
| ===Step 6=== | | ===Step 6=== |
| Line 132: |
Line 79: |
| *'''Blighted Wishing Glass found 0/4''' | | *'''Blighted Wishing Glass found 0/4''' |
| ''Wish upon the Bones of Hefnd to unlock doors with a level 2 corruption and uncover more fragments.'' | | ''Wish upon the Bones of Hefnd to unlock doors with a level 2 corruption and uncover more fragments.'' |
| {{quote|I am soon-to-be whole again, and it brings my heart joy to see these rotted [[House of Kings|kings]] break against you. Enough of this sad world. All is soon to be well. I am coming to see you again, [[Naeem]].|Hefnd, Blighted in Vengeance}}
| |
| ----
| |
| *'''The Crow:''' [[Uldren Sov|Uldren]] had a history with the House of Kings. That's what led to the Scorn in the first place.
| |
|
| |
| *'''Petra Venj:''' I'm familiar with your history, but the banners here are ancient.
| |
|
| |
| *'''The Crow:''' Like from the Dark Age? You know that Warlord - the skull promised her anything she wanted. She offered that promise to surrounding villages. For tribute, of course - brokered their wishes and protected against consequences. Naeem's reputation spread, until... any guesses Petra?
| |
|
| |
|
| *'''Petra Venj:''' She drew attention from the House of Kings, who coveted this power.
| |
| ---- | | ---- |
| *'''The Crow:''' This all feels... personal. Uldren links to the Kings, both link to Fikrul. My one dangling thread.
| | {{quote|I am soon-to-be whole again, and it brings my heart joy to see these rotted [[House of Kings|kings]] break against you. Enough of this sad world. All is soon to be well. I am coming to see you again, [[Naeem]].|Hefnd, Blighted in Vengeance}} |
| | |
| *'''Petra Venj:''' Step back from yourself. New Scorn rising drew Fikrul's attention... Kings, no less. What if this was a diplomatic envoy? The Witness's Scorn are empty flesh made weapons. But the Scorn here appear to express a crude culture.
| |
| | |
| *'''The Crow:''' Fikrul's followers have always been different... capable of learning. Maybe he saw that potential here.
| |
| | |
| *'''Petra Venj:''' Then maybe you can still get through to him.
| |
| ----
| |
| *'''The Crow:''' This has to be the castle from Saladin's story. The Scorn have to be Kings. It's the only thing that makes sense. Hefnd was buried here since the Dark Age, but the instant he could, he lured the Taken in... Poisoned himself, feeding off their ties to the [[Darkness]], their want. He found a loophole to raise the Kings into Scorn and enact his friend's dying wish for revenge.
| |
| | |
| *'''Petra Venj:''' Holding onto that anger for what... centuries? Just to destroy itself with Taken corruption - of course. Vengeance is an ouroboros. And everything cyclical is doomed to destroy itself, eventually.
| |
|
| |
|
| ===Step 7=== | | ===Step 7=== |
| Line 160: |
Line 89: |
| *'''Blighted Wishing Glass found 0/5''' | | *'''Blighted Wishing Glass found 0/5''' |
| ''Activate the teleporter.'' | | ''Activate the teleporter.'' |
| | |
| | ---- |
| {{quote|One final task is yours. Gather what power remains in this ruined place, and open the way to my resting skull.|Hefnd, Vengeance Sated}} | | {{quote|One final task is yours. Gather what power remains in this ruined place, and open the way to my resting skull.|Hefnd, Vengeance Sated}} |
|
| |
|
| Line 167: |
Line 98: |
| *'''Reclaim Hefnd's Bones 0/1''' | | *'''Reclaim Hefnd's Bones 0/1''' |
| ''The lost bone fragments have been recovered and restored. Return them to their owner, that they may be at peace.'' | | ''The lost bone fragments have been recovered and restored. Return them to their owner, that they may be at peace.'' |
| | |
| | ---- |
| {{quote|Naeem's wish is fulfilled. Return my bones to where Naeem enshrined them, and let my spirit finally find rest.|Hefnd, Vengeance Sated}} | | {{quote|Naeem's wish is fulfilled. Return my bones to where Naeem enshrined them, and let my spirit finally find rest.|Hefnd, Vengeance Sated}} |
| ----
| |
| *'''Petra Venj:''' Something is different about this one…
| |
|
| |
| *'''Lord Shaxx:''' And so, the Great Hunt claims the life of another Ahamkara. You slew me 14 times, Wish Dragon. I landed a killing blow only once. Hardly seems fair. They say that to draw a weapon against one of your kind is to wish for victory. Even if the beast is slain, the wish is granted. The dragon wins either way. Perhaps that's why they send me on these hunts. Because… I do not wish to do this. The Ahamkara are a force of nature. To blame you for an ill-conceived wish is like blaming fire for burning down a house. And yet, when the fire burns out of control, it must be extinguished. There is no joy… or ambition in it. Only the knowledge that it must be done. Rest well, dragon. Let this castle be your tomb, one befitting a creature of your stature. That is the closest thing to a wish you’ll get from me.
| |
|
| |
| *'''The Crow:''' Shaxx is the other Warlord?
| |
|
| |
| *'''Petra Venj:''' Saladin never mentioned that? It’s sweet, in a way. That this is the way Hefnd chose to speak to us.
| |
|
| |
| *'''The Crow:''' Well, Hefnd, I’m sure the Guardian found you a worthy opponent to. We were glad to hear your story. Who wants to ask Shaxx about this?
| |
|
| |
|
| ===Step 9=== | | ===Step 9=== |
