Shattering the Dark

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August 2006 - Announcements Page

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Discoveries

Town Crier Rumors

Viamontian Town Criers

Town Crier tells you, "We shall fight Grael to the end. What a glorious battle that will be!"

Town Crier tells you, "There are rumors of less powerful Mukkir appearing near the arrival towns on the mainland. Investigate them if you care. Despite our detente, I do not much care about what happens to Elysa's subjects."

Town Crier tells you, "The King's forces have been quite busy defending our land against Grael's warriors. Keep an eye out for any incursions and report them to your local guard."

Town Crier tells you, "I hear tell that there has been something going on in Sawato. Maybe you should go investigate."

Town Crier tells you, "There are reports of newcomers to Dereth arriving from Ispar with a great deal more pyreal wealth than the earlier arrivals made due with. Lucky for them."

Town Crier tells you, "That traitor Dardante has fallen under Grael's power! The King will not let this stand."

Town Crier tells you, "Scholars say that Grael has three souls. Or is it that his soul has been split into three pieces? The details seem mostly academic to me."

Town Crier tells you, "Yes, I've seen those Grael pack dolls. I do not think it was wise of that foolish old drunk to start handing out toys shaped in the form of our greatest enemy, but his actions have never made sense to me."

Town Crier tells you, "Count your blessings, Bloodless one. The King has decreed that all his loyal subjects should focus their hostility on the threat of Grael instead of on our conquest of the mainland."

Town Crier tells you, "The King has declared his former advisor, Count Dardante, to be a traitor. The treacherous Count Dardante overstepped his bounds and gave himself over to the dark influence of the Heart-Render. Woe to the false counselor! May the wrath of all true Viamontians fall on his head!"

Town Crier tells you, "Yes, it seems new arrivals are being blessed with a surfeit of riches. More pyreals than they know what to do with. I would be envious of them, except that they are also entering this world at a truly perilous time, and no stack of coin will help them with that."

Town Crier tells you, "Count your blessings, Bloodless one. The King has suspended all hostilities against your kind so that we may work together against the demon Grael. I blame Count Dardante for this!"

Town Crier tells you, "Ware the towns, friend. Even the mighty walls of Sanamar may not protect you if Grael's soldiers of darkness come. Be prepared to fight at all times."

Town Crier tells you, "This pyreal appears to be stamped with the Bloodless Queen's royal mark. Well, the pyreal it's made of is appreciated at least."

Town Crier tells you, "There are reports of dens of less powerful Mukkir near the Bloodless arrival towns of Yaraq, Shoushi, and Holtburg. Ordinarily, I would merely laugh at the tribulations of the Bloodless, but they are officially our allies now, and it might do for new arrivals to seek out these dens and build their strength against the minions of Grael."

Town Crier tells you, "I have heard tell from those who study the arcane that Grael's soul is quite unique. It has three parts. Such matters are beyond me, but perhaps one of the King's sages will find some way to use this knowledge against the Heart-Render."

Town Crier tells you, "Ah, yes, the Grael pack doll. It seems useless and very inappropriate at first, but it seems that they can be traded in for personal power and advancement... Most interesting, yes?"

Town Crier tells you, "Ha! It would seem that Sawato is having some sort of Bandit trouble. That kind of thing would never be allowed to happen in Viamontian territories. Maybe you should go help them out, well all know that Bloodless Queen will not."

Town Crier tells you, "Regrettably, the King has declared a moratorium on hostile actions against the minions of the Bloodless Queen. We have a stronger foe to fight."

Mainland Town Criers

Town Crier tells you, "Woohoo! Lots and lots of money! Money money money!"

Town Crier tells you, "Have you gotten your new pack doll? I know he's an avatar of death and destruction and smells faintly of regurgitated blood... But he's just so cute in that little form!"

Town Crier tells you, "It would seem that there is an apprentice of the Ryu Jou Gai in Sawato. Since when does the Ryu Jou Gai have a presence in these lands? He must be organizing something..."

Town Crier tells you, "If Dardante is following Grael and Kurth follows Dardante... Oh no."

Town Crier tells you, "I've heard that Dardante is now under Grael's control. As if he wasn't bad enough before!"

Town Crier tells you, "Good news! King Varicci and Queen Elysa are cooperating in the effort to fight Grael!"

Town Crier tells you, "Lock your doors and windows tonight. I've heard of towns being attacked by groups of Grael's thralls."

Town Crier tells you, "I've heard the scholars muttering about how Grael has a soul split in three, or three souls, or something like that. That's all well over my head."

Town Crier tells you, "Apparently there have been Bandits extorting the town of Sawato for quite some time... You might think that someone would have noticed it before now. Good thing that Ryu Jou Gai apprentice is organizing a way to stop the Bandits once and for all."

Town Crier tells you, "There have been whispers of less powerful Mukkir appearing near Holtburg, Yaraq, and Shoushi. Has Grael seen fit to target the towns where our newest and most vulnerable comrades first arrive? A chilling thought."

Town Crier tells you, "I've heard tell that Grael has a, ah, what was the word? A tripartite soul? Whatever it is, hopefully people smarter and braver than me will figure out some way to use this knowledge against him."

Town Crier tells you, "It sure was a pleasant surprise, to see the token for the Grael pack doll just show up in my things. I got my doll. I'm not sure if I want to trade it in now for immediate power, or save it and auction it off at the Marketplace in a few years when their value has gone up."

Town Crier tells you, "I have a friend who just came through the portals, and I was ready to console him for coming to Dereth at such a troubled time, but he's actually quite happy. It seems he is just rolling in pyreals now."

Town Crier tells you, "There is news out of Sanamar that the King is most angry with his former advisor, Count Dardante. It sounds like Dardante left the King's service and has given himself over to Grael. Looks like Dardante was just looking for a more powerful patron."

Town Crier tells you, "Tread carefully around towns. I hear tell that Grael's armies are attacking the towns of our fair, if troubled, realm."

Town Crier tells you, "It seems King Varicci and Queen Elysa are cooperating with each other to defeat the terrible threat posed by Grael the Heart-Render. Good for them, I say. I hope the peace will last beyond the fight against Grael. That is, if we survive that fight..."

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Ulgrim Rumors

Free Rumors:

Ulgrim the Unpleasant tells you, "I can't believe that Grael is still stomping around. What's Nuhmudira doing? Where's Elysa's arrow of doom? Why isn't the Black Knight being all menacing? Do I have to do everything myself? Fine. I'll invite Grael to a drink off. First to pass out loses. Hehe, I've been preparing for this my whole life. I'm ready."

Ulgrim the Unpleasant tells you, "I'm not scared of Grael. Are you? I didn't think so, you look like the brave sort..."
Ulgrim the Unpleasant tells you, "Look out it's Grael!"
Ulgrim the Unpleasant tells you, "Haha! I got you! You should have seen the look on your face."

Ulgrim the Unpleasant tells you, "I imagine that King Varicci is feeling pretty put out by the fact that his right hand man, the most powerful wizard in his employ, went and got himself swallowed up by Grael's darkness. Dardante doesn't drink, you know. That's how I knew you couldn't trust him."

Ulgrim the Unpleasant tells you, "Zounds! Did you hear about how much money new arrivals are getting now? Must be nice, to be able to buy as much stout as you want the instant you get here. Well, maybe it's not enough money to get all the stout that I want, but I'm a pretty thirsty guy."

Ulgrim the Unpleasant tells you, "You know, some days I really miss my old pet from Ispar. I had a cat. I named him Wobbles. Boy, could that cat drink."

Ulgrim the Unpleasant tells you, "Grael's little minions better not come near Ayan Baqur. They may threaten my stout supplies!"

Ulgrim the Unpleasant tells you, "I imagine that King Varicci is feeling pretty put out by the fact that his right hand man, the most powerful wizard in his employ, went and got himself swallowed up by Grael's darkness. Dardante doesn't drink, you know. That's how I knew you couldn't trust him."

Ulgrim the Unpleasant tells you, "You should probably stay away from the swamps of Sawato. It is a mean and uncaring place in which someone of my stature is not served a stout in his hour of need."

Ulgrim the Unpleasant tells you, "Did you like the Pack Doll? Just wait. When you press the button on his back, he grabs the nearest person, rips out that person's heart, and devours it. Oh, yours didn't come with the button on the back? Oops!"

Ulgrim the Unpleasant tells you, "Now the theory about Grael having three souls is pretty interesting. Completely false, of course, but interesting. I think they came up with that because of a mathematics error."

Stout Rumors:

Ulgrim the Unpleasant tells you, "Oswald came to talk to me the other day. Nice guy, as it turns out. Who knew, all this time he's just had a public relations problem. I mean, it wasn't his fault that his dagger ended up in Elysa's back. These things just happen."

Ulgrim the Unpleasant tells you, "Well, I was passing through the swamps outside Sawato the other day and I encountered a man who might even put Varicci to shame."
Ulgrim the Unpleasant tells you, "Just imagine this, a barkeeper..."
Ulgrim the Unpleasant tells you, "You are getting this right?"
Ulgrim the Unpleasant tells you, "A barkeeper who tells me that he has no stout when I can see it, quite clearly, right there behind him! What is this land coming to when an honest man can not even get a stout in a bar of all places?"

Ulgrim the Unpleasant tells you, "I can't believe that Grael didn't just kill Dardante. Dardante is so uptight I bet he demanded a benefits program before joining Grael."

Ulgrim the Unpleasant tells you, "I'm glad Elysa and Varicci have declared a truce. It was hard to keep up with who was secretly betraying whom on behalf of whom."

Ulgrim the Unpleasant tells you, "It took a lot of magic to enchant up those pack dolls and train my filthy assistants. You have no idea how much stout I had to pour down their gullets before they agreed to work for me."

Ulgrim the Unpleasant tells you, "The end is nigh! Or is it nye? Really it's not like the world will end if we're gone. Sure Grael won't make Dereth a very pleasant place to live, but it'll still be here. And when Asheron eventually shows up maybe he can kick Grael right in his nigh."

Ulgrim the Unpleasant tells you, "It's too bad about Dardante. There may have been time to save him, not too long ago. But once he drank the Black Stout of the Heart-Render, he was lost to us forever. The moral of this story is clear: life's too short to drink evil beer."

Ulgrim the Unpleasant tells you, "Some mage called me a gimp the other day."
Ulgrim the Unpleasant tells you, "I asked him what a gimp was and he said "You, Gimpy! What kind of a gimp mage has a 40 Focus?""
lgrim the Unpleasant tells you, "So I portaled him to that new valley everyone is talking about to find out what kind of mage he is."
Ulgrim the Unpleasant tells you, "I guess he didn't realize that I had used a few attribute transfer gems... What a gimp."

Ulgrim the Unpleasant tells you, "I hear tell that Grael's over-eager little fiends are raiding towns still. Won't he learn? He should be hitting mansions. Attack the assets of the capitalist classes! The towns are the haven of the innocent worker!"

Ulgrim the Unpleasant tells you, "I was tired of having to run over hills just to kill a creature so I created the Arcing Spells. Now everyone is using them and nobody is giving me any credit! I think I deserve the title Archmage at least."
Ulgrim the Unpleasant tells you, "Ulgrim the Archmage, Master of Time and Space, Leader of the Virindi Resistance, Master Tinkerer, Seer of Truths, Lord of the Jewelry, Supreme Peppermint Cook, Celebrations Advisor to the Queen, Chess Grandmaster, the Shadow Tested, Virindi Regulator and Beer Lord. Yes, that fits nicely with my other titles."

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New Quests

• Small Fledgling Mukkir Kill Task
• Sawato Bandit Quest
• Mukkir Aspect of Grael Quest
• Ruschk Aspect of Grael Quest
• Shadow Aspect of Grael Quest
• Totem Gateways
• Totem Gateways (100-149)
• Totem Gateways (sub 100)

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New NPCs

• Emissary of Ulgrim - Sanamar (71.7N, 60.8W), Zaikhal (13.8N, 0.7E), Hebian-To (39.0S 83.3E), Cragstone (25.6N 48.8E)
• Hoshar ibn Jalaq
• Lamorda Loschi
• Sergeant Huang
• Soju Bo-Ki
• Unfriendly Barkeeper

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New Locations

• Abyssal Totem Gateway - 86.4N, 57.4E - summons portal to Abyssal Totem Temple
• Black Totem Gateway - 93.2S, 94.6W - summons portal to Black Totem Temple
• Sawato Bandit's Hideout - 25.3S, 56.6E
• Tents in Ayan Baqur - 59.6S, 88.0W
• White Totem Gateway - 87.5N, 48.8W - summons portal to White Totem Temple

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New Items

Emissary of Ulgrim

Pack Grael

Ulgrim the Unpleasant has created a present for each and every denizen of Dereth! Please report to Ulgrim's Emissaries in Cragstone, Zaikhal, Hebian-To, or Sanamar to receive your special gift!

Emissary of Ulgrim tells you, "Yes, you are entitled to a wonderful, yet strangely menacing, Pack Grael! Enjoy it! If you don't like it, you can trade it back to me for one free level of advancement. Consider it carefully, though! You'll only ever get one!"
Emissary of Ulgrim gives you Pack Grael.

This item is no longer able to be turned in.

Blood Warrior Title (Live Event)

Stone Ruschk Figure

Sawato Bandit Quest

Sawato Bandit's Mask Sawato Bandit's Ledger Old Footlocker Key Old Footlocker Jitte of Law Shield of Truth Breastplate of Grace Breastplate of Power Breastplate of Splendor

Shadow Aspect of Grael Quest

Falatacot Vault Key Falatacot Soul Trap Falatacot Chest Key Shard of the Black Spear Black Spear of Shadow Renewal Mukkir Slayer Stone Shadow Aspect Slayer Title Token

Mukkir Aspect of Grael Quest

Shadow Vault Key Experimental Shadow Stone Greater Mukkir Slayer Stone Shadow Chest Key Shard of the Black Spear Black Spear of Mukkir Strength Mukkir Aspect Slayer Title Token

White Totem Gateway

Garaktar's Blood White Gateway Token White Totem Gateway White Totem Shard of the White Totem Helm of the White Totem

Black Totem Gateway

Hastar's Essence Black Gateway Token Black Totem Gateway Black Totem Shard of the Black Totem Helm of the Black Totem

Abyssal Totem Gateway

Progenitor's Ichor Abyssal Gateway Token Abyssal Totem Gateway Abyssal Totem Shard of the Abyssal Totem Helm of the Abyssal Totem

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New Titles

• Champion of Daemal
• Hero of the Golden Flame
• Slayer of the Black Spear
• Blood Warrior (live event - retired)
• Small Mukkir Squasher

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Portal.dat

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New Creatures

Human Sawato BanditSawato Bandit/ Mukkir Mukkir Aspect of Grael Mukkir Draktehn Mukkir Kartak Mukkir Laktar Mukkir Progenitor Small Fledgling MukkirMukkir Aspect of Grael/Mukkir Draktehn/Mukkir Kartak/Mukkir Laktar/Mukkir Progenitor/Small Fledgling Mukkir/

Ruschk Decaying Ruschk Sadist Ruschk Aspect of Grael Ruschk Chief Garaktar Ruschk Haktar Ruschk Sadist Warchief Ruschk StalkerDecaying Ruschk Sadist/Ruschk Aspect of Grael/Ruschk Chief Garaktar/Ruschk Haktar/Ruschk Sadist Warchief/Ruschk Stalker/ Shadow Count Dardante (Creature) Black Flame Hastar the Misbegotten Shadow Aspect of GraelCount Dardante (Creature)/Black Flame/Hastar the Misbegotten/Shadow Aspect of Grael/

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Images

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