Quiddity Seed at the Black Death Catacombs (Dream Realms Part III)

Timer: 13 days
Rewards: % XP, Blue Quiddity Ingot, Empowered Bracers of the Perfect Light (Can be turned back for 5% xp for next level), and Warrior of the Past title
Weapons: Bludgeoning/Slashing and Fire/Virindi Slayer
Difficulty: Hard
Quest Type: Puzzle
Restrictions: 130+ and you must speak with Asheron regarding the Quiddity Seeds.

The Apparition that Asheron refers to is triggered by the first of four Strange Devices. This device lies at the northen fringe of the North Desert. To get there go to the Glenden Wood settlement known as Zabool Overlook Settlement at 27.9N X 29.5E. From there head to 22.0N X 19.0E and use the Strange Device.

The device gives off an unearthly hum, and you feel your sense of reality itself shift.

Activaite it to trigger a scene from the past when Elysa first escaped from an olthoi hive in the area.

You touch the device, and immediately your sense of reality begins to swirl.

Elysa Strathelar says, "Must not catch me...must stay ahead of them..."

(Olthoi Sentinel Trackers spawn)

Elysa Strathelar says, "No! Not back to the caverns! I'll die first!"

Thorsten Cragstone says, "Wait a second, lassie - we're comin' ta get ya!"
Thorsten Cragstone says, "Alright, boys! Let's be squashin' some bugs for the lady!"

Elysa Strathelar says, "Thank Pwyll! Give me a weapon and I'll help!"

A female whisper on the wind says, "Seek resolve in the place where the words of the past were found."

Defeat the Olthoi Sentinel Trackers (Apparition, not Olthoi) to save Elysa and pick up the Elysa’s Hope Gem. Head to Underground City. From the drop you will need to take the second door on the left-side wall and got a bit West into the next small room and take the stairs to the South heading up. You will come to a four-way intersection; head to the ledge straight ahead and jump down to the next Strange Device.

The device gives off an unearthly hum, and you feel your sense of reality itself shift.

Activate it to see a scene from the past where Elysa and Thorsten discover texts leading to Asheron.

You touch the device, and immediately your sense of reality begins to swirl.

Thorsten Cragstone says, "Lass...I brought ye some tea. It's not good, but it's the best we be gettin' from the surface."

Elysa Strathelar says, "Lemongrass is fine, Thorsten. Thank you."

Thorsten Cragstone says, "Ye be welcome, m'love."

Elysa Strathelar says, "Thorsten, come here and look at this paper."

Thorsten Cragstone says, "Well, lassie, truth be - I canna read."

Elysa Strathelar says, "Oh...well, I'll teach you. But later. This writing is like nothing that I've ever seen before. It's not Roulean, not any of the scripts of far off lands - not even similar. I've figured out a way to translate it, though."

Thorsten Cragstone says, "Oh? What's it say?"

Elysa Strathelar says, "This word seems like it would sound like...'Empyrean'...it's another culture, maybe a culture we can contact for help with the Olthoi!"

Thorsten Cragstone says, "We've been over this before, lass - there's too many ta fight. We can stay here, safe..."

Elysa Strathelar says, "No, Thorsten...we will free our people...we must. There's directions to another one of those portals that leads to an island. If I read this right, there's a man named...'Asheron', I think. He's supposed to be the master of a school of powerful magic...surely his magic can help against the Olthoi!"

Thorsten Cragstone says, "I dinna think so...the magics that our people know do nothing against 'em, and wouldn't this Asheron have fought the Olthoi off if he could've?"

Elysa Strathelar says, "Perhaps he doesn't know how prolific they are, perhaps he doesn't even know we're here...either way, I intend to go there, with or without you."

Thorsten Cragstone says, "Ye mean this, lass?"

Elysa Strathelar says, "Yes. I cannot be content to live here under the earth when our people still live in thrall."

Thorsten Cragstone says, "Alright, lass. I'll go with ye to visit this...Asheron."

A female whisper on the wind says, "Seek courage in the home of light.”

Pick up the Elysa's Resolve Gem and travel to Asheron’s Castle. To the left of the drop will be another Strange Device.

The device gives off an unearthly hum, and you feel your sense of reality itself shift.

Activate it to trigger a scene where Elysa and Thorsten successfully try to appeal to Asheron and receive the poison that will be used to slay the Queen of the Black Death Catacombs.

You touch the device, and immediately your sense of reality begins to swirl.

Elysa Strathelar says, "Where is the key..."

Thorsten Cragstone says, "I think we be wastin' our time, m'dear. If whoever be inside be at all interested in talkin', they be doin' a good job o' hidin' it."

Elysa Strathelar says, "Nonsense...I will not believe that this place is uninhabited."
Elysa Strathelar says, "Whoever's in there - open up! I won't go away! You must listen to us, of the plight of our people! We were summoned here by strange portals, an unknown magic we have never seen be-"

Thorsten Cragstone says, "Lass, ye've returned! I was worried for ye, but I dinna know how ta enter..."

Elysa Strathelar says, "It is alright, Thorsten...there was nothing you could've done. Thorsten, I have done it! I have met the sorcerer in his tower! It is a wondrous place. He is a man of few words though."

Thorsten Cragstone says, "What did he say, lass?"

Elysa Strathelar says, "Just one thing - "You must find the Queen and slay her.""

Thorsten Cragstone says, "And how d'we do that?"

Elysa Strathelar says, "I think with this..."

Thorsten Cragstone says, "What be that?"

Elysa Strathelar says, "I think it's a sort of poison, maybe. I think we should try it on our weapons when we fight the Olthoi."

Thorsten Cragstone says, "I dinna think we're ready for an open confrontation quite yet...but if it be true, if it be the first step, maybe..."

A female whisper on the wind says, "Seek determination in the tomb of past warriors."

Pick up the Elysa’s Courage Gem and head back to the Underground City. Northwest of the drop is a staircase leading up the stone tower; head up the two lights of stairs and go over the plank bridge to the West of the landing. Head north up a flight of stairs then head East up another. At the landing go through the North door then head east into a large open room with a smaller mausoleum inside where the tomb of Thorsten Cragstone lies. Head up the ramp way on the North wall and follow alonf the couple smaller rooms until you meet a ledge facing out West overlooking the mausoleum. Jump out onto the mausoleum and you’ll reach the final Strange Device.

The device gives off an unearthly hum, and you feel your sense of reality itself shift.

Activate the device to trigger a scene from the past where the Aluvian rebels are rallied to storm the Black Death Catacombs and bring down Olthoi rule by slaying the queen.

You touch the device, and immediately your sense of reality begins to swirl.

Elysa Strathelar says, "Pay heed me words, brave warriors of Aluvia! Today is the day we have dreamt of! We have our destiny in our hands!"
Elysa Strathelar says, "We have found the Queen of the Olthoi, the heart of the darkness we have fought for so long! We can reach her, and if we can reach her, we can slay her!"
Elysa Strathelar says, "Do you remember your families, your friends, all held in slavery for so long? Today is the day we march forward to free them!"
Elysa Strathelar says, "There is no fury in the world like the Aluvians marching to war. Let us show the Olthoi the steel of Aluvian hearts! Let their death scream echo in their caverns, until finally we have met the Olthoi Queen in her dark majesty and ended her reign!"
Elysa Strathelar says, "Let the horns of our ancestors sound triumphant! We march to war!"

A female whisper on the wind says, "And now, in the end...you must seek the end to my story, and the beginning to the story of humanity upon Dereth.

Pick up the Elysa’s Determination Gem and combine all four gems together.

You bring the two gems into close proximity, and they fuse into one.
You bring the two gems into close proximity, and they fuse into one.
You bring the two gems into proximity. They both give off a small pop and vanish in clouds of purple mist. The mist coalesces into a ghostly arrow tipped with a small dab of black goo.

You will now have Elysa’s Phantasmal Arrow, the arrow that was used to slay the queen. But if you have it, then Elysa doesn’t. You must now return to the chamber where the queen of the Black Death Catacombs was slain which now resides in Aerbax’s Dream Realm. Head to the Black Death Catacombs at 59.9n 71.2e and we will ignore every creature in here. Simply head down the ramp at drop and turn left toward the South (avoid the ramps in the middle of the floor) and head into the tunnel leading down on the South end of the dungeon. Stick right (avoiding the portal) and head into the Quiddity Seed.

You touch the seed, and immediately your sense of reality begins to swirl. You sense that you will now have a full day of access to the place beyond...

~Dream Realm: Black Death Catacombs~
Coords: n/a
Nearest Drop: Black Death Catacombs
Level: 1+
Spawns: Olthoi Sentinel Tracker (Apparition) and Virindi Consul and Paradox (Virindi)
Flagging: Complete Elysa’s Phantasmal Arrow
Weapons: Bludgeoning/Slashing and Fire/Virindi Slayer

From the drop take the South passage behind you. Stick right to an up ramp leading into a large open room. Head North into a tunnel and stick right until you reach another up ramp leading into an open chamber. Head west and stick right into another tunnel; Stick to the left wall through the tunnel and through large open area into another tunnel leading up into another open chamber. Head into the south tunnel and ignore the first passage left then stick to the left wall until you reach Elysa in the queen’s chamber before Thorsten was slain, where after his killer, the Olthoi Queen, will be swiftly destroyed.

Elysa Strathelar says, "Thorsten? Where are you? I cannot see what has happened in here..."

You give Elysa Strathelar Elysa's Phantasmal Arrow.
(Thorsten appears with the queen)

Elysa Strathelar says, "Thorsten! No...no..."

Thorsten Cragstone says, "Ye foul fiend!"

(Thorsten dies)

Elysa Strathelar says, "You! Die, now!"

(Elysa shoots the arrow and slays the queen)

A female whisper on the wind says, "...and that was the end of my story, hunter...while the swarm still exists, it never again held this land in thrall. And so, one queen gave way to another. Remember me...as an enemy, but as a worthy enemy...

Pick up the Head of the Apparition Olthoi Queen and you’re done! If you want lore, then recall to the drop and head back into the dream realm again. From the drop take the South passage behind you. Head North into a tunnel and stick right until you reach another up ramp then stick right into a large open room. Head into the North tunnel and stick right through the winding passages until you come up into a large open room. Head about 3 steps East then stick right again up a tunnel to a small room where a Virindi Paradox guards a notebook:

~Execution Log of Strathelar Modification~

Ever since the failure of the prodigal human experiment, I have attempted to determine how best to weaken the resistance of the humans to my powers. Two other branches of the experiment already have proceeded, but for this branch I have chosen to modify Elysa Strathelar, the human who has had the greatest impact upon the humans of Dereth. The Elysa Strathelar Modification experiment will have five distinct phases, all of which should reinforce each other.


The first phase will involve modifying Strathelar's escape from the Olthoi. Improving the abilities of the Olthoi in pursuit should cause Elysa to become disheartened, and possibly die, before she can augment the rebellion against the Olthoi. This in turn decreases the total amount of hope that the humans of Dereth possess, and weaken their resistance.


The second phase calls for a disruption of Strathelar's perusal of Empyrean documents. If Strathelar is unable to find the tower of Asheron Realaidain, she will not be able to bolster the beliefs of her fellow humans. Ultimately, their confidence will crumble and they would not have been able to resist the Olthoi. As Elysa's resolve crumbles, so will the resolve of all humans.


The third phase interferes with the actual meeting between Asheron and Strathelar. Only a human of immense courage would have dared to harangue the preeminent mage of that time. Strathelar possesses this kind of courage. Bereft of this courage, she and the human species will begin to falter.


The fourth phase modifies the last speech given to the Aluvian leadership before the battle against the Olthoi Queen. While it was Strathelar's arrow which dealt the ultimate blow, she would never have reached that cavern had she not impressed her determination upon those war leaders who would in turn lead thousands of Aluvians to die in the caverns in the name of their race. Weakening their determination should hamstring theit cause, and Strathelar would then not make it, in spirit, to the Queen.


The fifth phase cuts to the heart of Strathelar's defining moment - the death of the Olthoi queen. Strathelar called upon all of her virtues - hope, resolution, courage, and determination - to be able to will herself to shoot the arrow which slew the Olthoi Queen. Lacking these virtues, she should be paralyzed by uncertainty, and the Olthoi Queen will at least have a psychic control back upon the world. The human collective psyche, thus weakened, should fall more easily this time, and I will be able to complete my collection of experimental leaders and thralls.


In closing, I add a final note of commentary. While the human Elysa Strathelar possesses flaws, as all humans do, it must be acknowledged that she is a wondrous specimen of the human species. If I were able to abduct her directly as the potential prodigal human, I believe the experiment might have more success. The humans do not appreciate what she represents to them and what she has sacrificed for them already. It is true that in this era she works through agents, but in truth, what power of this world does not? Once the human's ability to resist me is weakened, I believe I shall choose her to be the centerpiece of my new human strategy.

-Aerbax

With lore and head in hand return to Asheron and give them the Head of the apparition Olthoi Queen.

You give Asheron Head of the Apparition Olthoi Queen .

Asheron tells you, "What is this that you give me, Isparian?"
Asheron tells you, "It is like the head of the old Olthoi Queen, but insubstantial. Tell me how you came about this?"

You detail your pursuit of Elysa's remembrances.

Asheron tells you, "It would seem that Aerbax's minion have been manipulating the memory of the defeat of the Olthoi Queen. Perhaps Aerbax thought that it would prove easier to turn the Isparians if they were still held in bondage to the Olthoi."
Asheron tells you, "There is a strange core to the Olthoi head...I have extracted it for your use."

Asheron gives you Quiddity Ingot.
Asheron gives you Empowered Bracers of the Perfect Light.
You've earned 81,207,858 experience.
Asheron looks down at you with a warm friendliness.

Asheron tells you, "Elysa is safe. You have restored the past to what should be, and I believe Aerbax will not be able to gain a foothold against you through that means. Elysa is safe, but more importantly, all of your kind is safe by your actions."

For valor and bravery in the face of the unknown I award Player Name the title "Warrior of the Past."

Now to check your tally as well as see if the three ingots you’ve collected have any use!

Asheron tells you, "Welcome, I'm glad you've come."
Asheron tells you, "Let's see if you have had any success with the Quiddity Seeds I told you of."
Asheron tells you, "Well done, I feel that you have broken some of the hold that Aerbax had on my memories of Knorr."
Asheron tells you, "Ah Yes, I see that you have broken the hold Aerbax had on our memories of poor Ilservian."
Asheron tells you, "Very good, I see that you have broken Aerbax's hold on our memories of Queen Strathelar's and her early hardships."

Asheron pauses, absorbed by his thoughts.

Asheron tells you, "I believe that Aerbax used the Quiddity Seeds as a distraction to draw our attention away from his true machinations."
Asheron tells you, "The information I was able to steal from his mind combined with reports of activity on the Obsidian Plains seem to confirm this theory. Return to me in a few weeks, I must study the ley lines and learn what I can."

You allow Asheron to examine your Quiddity Ingot.

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."

You allow Asheron to examine your Quiddity Ingot.

Asheron tells you, "This metal resonates with dark forces. Perhaps you should hold on to this for awhile."

You allow Asheron to examine your Quiddity Ingot.

Asheron tells you, "Well, I suppose Olthoi will eat anything. Perhaps you should hold on to this for awhile."

Wearing all three pieces of armour casts Epic (+20) Quickness/Endurance/Self cantrips. Make sure you hold on to those Quiddity Ingots for the next stage of the plan to thwart Aerbax’s Dream Realm.