Adso crested the hill and looked out over the valley. Wary of being spotted from below, he crouched down and made himself part of the scraggly brush covering that topped this hill. Far beneath him, the ruined Empyrean graveyard brooded in its own darkness. Even from this distance, hidden by the valley’s perpetual black fog, he could make out the movements of the many unnatural denizens of the graveyard.
Roving patrols of the tormented dead and packs of huge rats, twisted by their exposure to the unnatural grounds… He knew these enemies well. He’d made numerous scouting expeditions into the heart of this graveyard to seek out an artifact or to track down some long-dead noble that his Master sought news of. He’d gained more than a few scars to show for all his trouble, and he was not looking forward to the next trip. The target of his new search was known to be powerful and unpredictable, and Adso hated dealing with such a degree of uncertainty.
From ten paces behind him came the sound of a rustling branch, too loud to be caused by wind. He spun, blades out and ready to confront an enemy, when Sabithra stepped out of brush cover. He relaxed slightly, but not completely, as she approached with a grin on her face. Though she had risen in Master’s estimation and trust, Adso still didn’t trust her, and wouldn’t put it above her to knife him in the back to smooth her own path to advancement within their small organization.
“At ease, Adso,” Sabithra smirked when she noticed his tension. She raised her hands and wiggled her fingers to show she was not carrying any weapons. “We’re all friends here.”
“You are no friend of mine, acolyte,” Adso muttered. He pointedly did not sheathe his blades. “Your fieldcraft still wants improvement. I heard you coming.”
Sabithra bowed with false modesty. “I am ever willing and eager to receive training from my betters,” she said. “But I got close.” The glint in her eyes showed the delight she took in tweaking his nose this way.
Adso grunted, upset that he’d let himself show his irritation to Sabithra. “Why are you here?”
Sabithra pulled a thin, rolled-up dispatch from her belt, sealed with red wax and a device he knew well. He took it from her without a further word, and read it.
Without being asked, Sabithra began to elaborate. “It seems Master got word that some other players seek an audience with Lord Rytheran. Master wishes for you to suspend your original mission and take me with you to find Rytheran to ensure that we get the item Master seeks, before servants of some other interested party cozen it out of the undead lord.”
Adso grimaced and looked up at her from his letter. “And did he tell you what my mission is?”
Sabithra shrugged. “He told me the details were not important to me, but scuttlebutt among the younger acolytes said that you were off to find the Jester. That you were supposed to… talk to him. Get a story out of him. We wondered what you’d done to get such a… choice assignment.”
“Prying into missions that are not one’s own responsibility will eventually get one killed,” Adso warned, as he finished reading the letter.
“Provided one is an inferior fighter to one’s killers, one supposes,” Sabithra quipped.
Adso ignored that obvious bait and rolled up the letter. Unwilling to burn this letter while he was attempting to maintain some cover, he settled for ripping it into a few small pieces and eating them, chewing each piece thoroughly and methodically.
Sabithra watched with amusement, as if their Master’s very strict security instructions were nothing to her. It didn’t make the letter go down any easier.
Finally, he was ready to set out into the graveyard. He scanned the horizon one last time, then turned back to Sabithra. “Can you control your cockiness long enough for an audience with Rytheran? I promise you he will not suffer your impertinence. If you bungle this mission for us, I’ll send you back to the lifestone myself.”
Sabithra nodded seriously. “You know I am dedicated to the Master’s craft, as dedicated as you are, Adso. I may joke around, but I remember myself when the knives are out.”
That would have to do. He nodded. “Fair enough. Follow me, then…”
He led them by a side path off the hill, and towards the graveyard. He relied on his past knowledge of the site to steer them past the most dangerous concentrations of rats and undead. They moved low and quietly and ducked behind cover as much as they could. They spent half an hour cautiously making their way into the heart of the graveyard, and soon Adso began to feel comfortable with Sabithra as a hunting partner. She was a competent sneak and she had good reflexes and seemed to anticipate his own moves, working in harmony with his leadership.
He was so pleasantly surprised that he allowed himself to get complacent. As they passed one set of ruined stones, she reached out absent-mindedly to touch one stone in particular. He noticed her motion but didn’t think about it… until her fingers left glowing traces on the stone’s smooth surface.
He felt the blood drain out of his face as high-pitched laughter boomed out above and behind them.
“Joy! Someone’s come to help me clear my head!” The sound of jingling bells had never sounded so menacing…
An old woman, tired and alone, stood in front of a stone altar. The set of her back was imperiously high and proud, but she could not keep her shoulders from sagging or her head from drooping periodically, out of sheer exhaustion. Her white hair was close-cropped and she was dressed in a plain linen robe, spotted with brown bloodstains on the sleeves and chest. The oblong room in which she stood was lit only by a flickering candelabra positioned near the wall behind her. Atop the altar in front of her was a wide silver bowl, filled with clear water. She was staring intently into the water and muttering under her breath, in words that only a handful of people would understand. She had been looking into the placid, unchanging surface for hours. If she saw anything in the water now, it was surely only illusions conjured by her weary mind…
Finally, Nuhmudira snorted in disgust and frustration and looked away from the water vessel. Turning from the altar, she called out, “Brizinna!”
A door opened in the far end of the room and a younger woman, dressed in much cleaner linen robes, shuffled in. She had the pale blue skin of a Viamontian and her hair was a bright, almost shocking red. As she came in she snuck a glance at the older woman, standing suspended in her bubble of candlelight with her altar and scrying bowl, surrounded on all sides by darkness, and she couldn’t help shuddering at the image as she averted her eyes and knelt in submission.
“I am here to serve, teacher,” the younger woman murmured.
Nuhmudira sneered. “Oh, stand up, woman. I didn’t pull you out of the Varicci’s college of royal finger-wagglers so you could scuttle around on your knees, bowing and scraping to everyone who’s older or more learned than you.”
Embarassed, Brizinna stood up with what dignity she could muster and asked, “What would you have of me, teacher?”
Nuhmudira gestured. “Come. Stand here, opposite me.” Brizinna quickly complied, and came to stand on the opposite side of the altar from her leader and mentor. She stood silently, looking off into a point in space just above Nuhmudira’s left shoulder, not daring to meet the powerful mage’s gaze. She was aware that Nuhmudira was watching her, seemed to be studying her, almost like a cat studying a wounded bird before pouncing.
“Give me your hand, Brizinna,” Nuhmudira said, in a soft and soothing voice. Brizinna extended her right hand, palm down, and watched with fascination as Nuhmudira took it into her own right hand. She had expected the elder sorceress to have rough, callused hands, but her touch was warm and comforting. She watched as Nuhmudira turned her hand over so that her palm faced up. She belatedly realized that she was being lulled into a trance, could almost feel the spell working on her, looked into her teacher’s face and saw lips moving and forming near-silent syllables that were…
She was broken from her stupor by a flash of pain in her palm, followed by a gush of warmth that enveloped her whole hand. She gasped at the pain and belatedly noticed the bronze knife in her teacher’s free hand... A free hand that was wrapped in bloody white linen. Nuhmudira had pacified her senses only to cut her palm open, and now her blood was dripping in hot pulses into the silver bowl.
Nuhmudira released her hand, almost as an afterthought. “There are strips of cloth to bandage your palm with at the base of the altar,” she said. Her voice was absent-minded and distant, with not a hint of remorse or regret for wounding her student.
Shocked, Brizinna sought out the linen strips as directed, and wound them around her palm until she had bandaged it securely. She couldn’t keep the sense of betrayal out of her face as she sought her teacher’s eyes.
Nuhmudira was staring into the bloodied water with an expectant grin, when she finally thought to look at Brizinna again. Her lip curled with contempt when she saw Brizinna’s hurt expression.
“Did you think blood magic just meant other people’s blood, young girl? You have much to learn about the Radiant Blood if you thought the path to mastery would require no sacrifices of your own.”
Nuhmudira looked down into the swirling blood and water and grinned triumphantly. Brizinna looked into the bowl and watched with horrified fascination as the blood seemed to drain out of the bowl and the crystal-clear water started to cloud over, turning opaque, and then starting to display an image…
“Some of the Old Ones have grown finicky, and prefer the taste of blood unwillingly given,” Nuhmudira said in a conversational tone. “Perhaps they have tasted my own blood too often, and would not give me the power I needed to defeat that old fool’s warding until they got a taste of your fear and pain. Or perhaps they simply wanted the taste of a younger, fresher life.” She almost seemed to leer at her student.
Brizinna shuddered, but could not look away from the image taking shape in the bowl. It resolved itself into something recognizable… something that looked like a skeletal corpse in a grey robe, reclining on a throne carved from stone. At first she thought Nuhmudira was scrying another crypt to loot for Empyrean artifacts. But then the corpse moved, and seemed to stare directly at her. There was a malevolent light in the skull-face’s eye sockets, and she knew she was face to face with one of the great undead lords of Dereth.
She heard Nuhmudira’s throaty laughter from across the altar. “I have you now, my lord of bones.”
Greetings and welcome to the June 2008 Release notes! Let’s see what is new and exciting this month in the world of Dereth!
Updated Content and Functionality
There are now two summoning stones in the Graveyard. One summons the Jester with the old quests, other summons Jester with new quests. You must complete last month's quest before he will allow you to do this month's.
The Jester in the Graveyard will allow you to hand him in a spectral Soul Bound staff for a new one - this is for the players whose staff did not update on last patch like it should have.
The Jester at end of the Jester dungeon will now reward players with a jester card for repeat runs along with the Arcane Pyramid.
The Jester in the Graveyard will allow you to turn in a Soul Bound spectral atlatl for a new one with a lower wield requirement. Please make sure you have the available pack slots when ever you turn in items.
The Jester Trap hall now has a new path at the end for the players that couldn't get the run across right in earlier attempts.
Glenden Wood invasion has been changed to no upper level cap on the dungeons. To allow for this the starting quests now come from the royal guards instead of Tomo (it would be confusing for Tomo to just list off the info for all 3 quests when you initially talk to her).
The Colosseum ticket typo has been fixed.
Drudge Balloons are now called Drudge Balloons instead of Drudge Ballooons.
The Soul Bound Spectral Caster is no longer invisible when hooked.
The word askance is no longer in the love note from Laylana.
The Soul Fearing Vestibule quest has had some adjustments made to it. The High Acolytes Skull is now on a 13 day pickup timer instead of 5 hours.
The XP reward for turning in the Acolytes Skull has been raised on both NPC’s you can turn it in to.
The Hunter’s Leap/Lilitha’s Bow quest has had its rewards updated.
The Green Mire Grave has had its rewards updated.
So there are just some of the things we have in store for Asheron's Call in June. Please remember that along with everything listed here, there are several new quests and exciting things going into the game for the June event.
Town Crier tells you, "An informant told me the Jester will fix a Soul Bound Caster or Soul Bound Atlatl if you have a problem with one of them."
Town Crier tells you, "I've heard that Rytheran has become interested in the works of the Falatacot. Interesting, no?"
Town Crier tells you, "I have received reports of a Bloodless scholar seeking information on one of their long-dead heroes, someone they call the Green Mire Warrior."
Town Crier tells you, "I have reports of young adventurers finding bows of unusual strength somewhere between the Bloodless towns of Holtburg and Glenden Wood."
Town Crier tells you, "The Graveyard's Fool continues to flaunt his power. Watch him closely to ensure that the mainlanders do not tip the balance of power in their favor."
Town Crier tells you, "There are rumors that a pair of strange scouts have taken up residence in the Bloodless town of Wai Jhou, seeking information on the undead lord known as Rytheran."
Town Crier tells you, "Remember the Blood Witch Numuhdira who was assisting His Majesty during the war? Apparently she's dispatched agents to Bur to investigate something."
You give Town Crier Pyreal.
Town Crier tells you, "Ivory Crafters around Dereth have placed new importance on the High Acolyte's Skull, and are offering larger rewards for gaining one."
You give Town Crier Pyreal.
Town Crier tells you, "I have several reports of a Bloodless Scholar in Shoushi, sending adventurers into the Green Mire Grave to retrieve weapons and armor for him to study. It may be worth your while to retrieve these things for use in battle yourself."
You give Town Crier Pyreal.
Town Crier tells you, "We have reports that two representatives from rival hidden factions are stationed in Wai Jhou, recruiting adventurers for a foray into the lair of Rytheran, the undead lord. Even more strange, one of these people is a Viamontian!"
You give Town Crier Pyreal.
Town Crier tells you, "I've received reports of several adventurers entering the dungeon of Hunter's Leap finding bows that are both easy to wield and powerful. It may be of benefit to our King for these bows to be collected."
You give Town Crier Pyreal.
Town Crier tells you, "Our scouts report strange new Summoning Stones in the Graveyard. Please investigate them."
Mainland Town Criers
Town Crier tells you, "If your Soul Bound Staff or your Soul Bound Atlatl is broken I hear the Jester can fix them for you."
Town Crier tells you, "I've heard rumors of a scholar seeking information on the Green Mire Warrior."
Town Crier tells you, "I've heard rumors that people have found something new of Lilitha's."
Town Crier tells you, "Rumor has it that Harlune has picked up and left the Mite Maze, though he still maintains a residence there. It might be worth finding out what's going on down there."
Town Crier tells you, "Someone told me the Jester is collecting some sort of crystal sphere for something."
Town Crier tells you, "We have heard that a pair of scouts have appeared in Wai Jhou, asking questions about Rytheran..."
Town Crier tells you, "I've heard rumors of a scholar seeking information on the Green Mire Warrior."
You give Town Crier Pyreal.
Town Crier tells you, "The Jester has placed a few Summoning Stones in the Graveyard. I suppose he got depressed hanging out in a Graveyard all day."
You give Town Crier Pyreal.
Town Crier tells you, "I've heard from Eldrista the Adventurer that the bows Lilitha made that people collect from Hunter's Leap have changed. Perhaps someone in there found a new stash of bows Lilitha left there?"
You give Town Crier Pyreal.
Town Crier tells you, "I've heard that Roderick, the bodyguard in the Mite Maze who's watching over Harlune's business, has some shady ties..."
You give Town Crier Pyreal.
Town Crier tells you, "Ivory Crafters around Dereth have placed new importance on the High Acolyte's Skull, and are offering larger rewards for gaining one."
You give Town Crier Pyreal.
Town Crier tells you, "The Jester has placed a few Summoning Stones in the Graveyard. I suppose he got depressed hanging out in a Graveyard all day."
You give Town Crier Pyreal.
Town Crier tells you, "My uncle told me he ran into a scholar in Shoushi, seeking people to go into the Green Mire Grave to retrieve the Green Mire Warrior's Cuirass and Yari for him."
You give Town Crier Pyreal.
Town Crier tells you, "Word is that two mysterious strangers in Wai Jhou seek adventurers to go after the undead lord Rytheran. Even more interesting, these mysterious strangers are not friends with each other at all."
Ulgrim the Unpleasant tells you, "Oh ho, so people are seeking out Rytheran for what he knows about the book, are they? They should have come to me. I already know all about that book. Read it years ago. Here's a hint: everyone dies in the end."
Ulgrim the Unpleasant tells you, "You know, Lilitha just came through here, looking for her bow. Heh, okay, I'm pulling your leg. Lilitha hasn't been here in ages. Not since I stole her bow after that one night of drunken carousing. She was a fine warrior, but she couldn't hold her liquor."
Ulgrim the Unpleasant tells you, "The Falatacot asked the Empyreans for help. Seriously, what were they thinking..."
Ulgrim the Unpleasant tells you, "Exactly! They weren't!"
Ulgrim the Unpleasant tells you, "I heard the Nutty Prophesier has been spouting a bunch of crazy warnings about something evil coming and eating us all."
Ulgrim the Unpleasant tells you, "Normally, I would take Jester warnings with a heaping mug full of mad cow milk."
Ulgrim the Unpleasant tells you, "That was before I started having the nightmares again. I can't remember them, but... they werent good."
Ulgrim the Unpleasant tells you, "Have you heard about those changes in the Green Mire Grave? I remember my first adventures in there, when I was new to Dereth... I used to stand on the other side of locked doors and make people tell me knock-knock jokes to open the door for them..."
Ulgrim the Unpleasant tells you, "That all ended when Oswald came through. He wouldn't tell me a joke, so I told him to pick the lock by himself. I do believe he shivved me in the kidney, right through the door lock!"
You give Ulgrim the Unpleasant Stout.
Ulgrim the Unpleasant tells you, "Doesn't it feel like something's in the air? There's a certain smell, a smell of things changing, alignments shifting. Like a new island could arise out of the sea, or some chunk of land could fall off of Dereth... It smells like impending catastrophe."
Ulgrim the Unpleasant tells you, "Oh, wait, that's just my socks."
You give Ulgrim the Unpleasant Stout.
Ulgrim the Unpleasant tells you, "You know, I really admire that Harlune fellow. I mean, he taught Celcynd everything he knows, right? And Celcynd spends all of his time in a bar drinking! Clearly, Harlune is wise."
You give Ulgrim the Unpleasant Stout.
Ulgrim the Unpleasant tells you, "I saw a cute little Ursuin Cub the other day. I tried to pat it on the head. Cute little teeth on that cub. See my cute little bite mark?"
You give Ulgrim the Unpleasant Stout.
Ulgrim the Unpleasant tells you, "Ah, summer. My favorite time of year, when the tourists flock to Ayan Baqur for the cool ocean breezes and the periodic invasions of hordes of hostile creatures. I like to barbecue in the summer. But the last time I did, Aerbax came and stole all the stout. I'll never forgive him for that."
You give Ulgrim the Unpleasant Stout.
Ulgrim the Unpleasant tells you, "A bad decision"
Ulgrim the Unpleasant tells you, "Drinking alone in the rain"
Ulgrim the Unpleasant tells you, "Sorrow wet and cold"
Ulgrim the Unpleasant gives you Ulgrim's Home Brew.
Ulgrim crosses his arms and smiles proudly.
You give Ulgrim the Unpleasant Stout.
Ulgrim the Unpleasant tells you, "I went to visit the fortune shrine today. Want to hear my fortune?"
Ulgrim the Unpleasant tells you, "You will fall into a very deep hole and your broken body will slowly be devoured by the foul things that reside in the lightless places."
Ulgrim the Unpleasant tells you, "That didn't sound so good."
Ulgrim the Unpleasant tells you, "My lucky numbers are 6,6,6."
You give Ulgrim the Unpleasant Stout.
Ulgrim the Unpleasant tells you, "All right, I'll try again. Here, take this to the Jester. It's my finest home brew."
Ulgrim the Unpleasant tells you, "Once he tries that he won't be able to get enough of the stuff and I can finally make peace with the nutter. Maybe even have him over for a few drinks. I never said he wasn't interesting, just a Sira-loonie."
Investigate possible ley line disruptions caused by Lord Rytheran at the behest of one of two factions for Major Life Magic, Major Magic Resist Headpiece. Very important lore developments for the observant. More details here.
The Jester is plagued by the voices in his mind, in the search for a possible palliative, he directs you across various dungeons and an open ley line where the K'nath Mother is found. He rewards you with experience, a title, and a book of lore. More details here.
Lilitha's Lost Bow - Lilitha's Bow now has a damage modifier of +110% (was 100%), a base Damage Bonus of + 4, and level IV spells, Attuned/Bonded/Ivoryable, new reward of about 350k xps
Lord Rytheran (Turns from NPC to Creature if attacked)
Known Issues
This isn't technically an issue, but in the release notes it indicated that in The Jester quest, he would now reward you with a "jester card" for killing the jester when repeating the quest. This was not referring to the Jester Card, rather that you will get a random card from amongst the jester cards (more commonly referred to as GY cards in game).
Even though you can apply Salvaged Ivory to the Visage of Menilesh, if you drop it or mule it, the pick-up timer of 13 days is still in place and will prevent you from picking it back up.
"Master's Lectern cast Enervation of the Heart on you, but it is surpassed by Avalenne's Blessing" - the debuff is surpassed by a buff.
On Friday 6/20 the quest Disturbance in the Ley Lines was disabled (Lord Rytheran is no longer available). It will remain disabled until a TBA hotfix that will address flagging bugs with the quest. Link
Was there an earthquake in Yanshi? Or are the statues alive?
In the Falatacot Visitor's Alcove, when you enter the room with the Falatacot Warden Statue, you see this message: "The state [sic] looks as if it has been tampered with...its eyes are dull." -- should be "statue".
Hotfix
Tuesday June 24th from 9:00am - 12:00 pm EDT. This downtime will address the recent closing of the new quest involving Rytheran. The Visage of Menilesh timer was not fixed. Link
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