Gaerlan's Citadel

Cooking

Fletching

Magic

Quests

From the Verdict event.

See the October letters and the Festivus patch for updates to this quest. Portals updated during Pillars Made of Sand.

Ziggurat portals, etc. now found at 17.1N, 63.0E

From Letter to the Players:
Start points for the quest have been moved to the places where the essences once lived. A unique creature there will begin the quest when it dies. Be warned it will take a while for that creature to appear.

The access to the valley should now be impossible. If you do find an area of the landscape that is still passable, please send a report to bugs.zone.com or post a thread on the accmty.com website.

The golem will now know if you belong in the valley. This means that those of you that find any passable landscape will be unceremoniously expelled.

The golems within the ziggurats will now be there 24/7/365.

Gaerlan's rewards will now be given to all players that take part in the fight against him.

Gaerlan's sword has been buffed for the High and Extreme levels.

Rolling Death now places you in a safe spot upon entry. But you should still be very careful when you enter because something has changed about the dungeon.

A portal to the Citadel Library has been placed in Eastham for players that are killed by the aspect of Gaerlan.

Gaerlan should no longer spawn after being killed. Be considerate when you kill him, move along, nothing more to see here.

*****

Just prior to this month's even, Martine and Gaerlan engaged in a fierce battle atop Gaerlan's Citadel. Details of what happened are unclear, but it seems that just as Martine was about to fall, he unleashed a powerful spell that brought the citadel crashing down from the sky. The fallen citadel lies in a crater in the mountains of Northern Osteth. The fate of Martine remains unknown; only his robe and mask were found.

The menace Gaerlan, however, was still intent on his destructive path. Golems and elementals attacked the towns. As brave defenders struck back, four portals opened in Eastham.

In Eastham, four portals open. Created by Asheron, these portals lead to caverns inhabited by golems created to defend the accessways to Gaerlan's grounded citadel. Warriors must divide themselves and defeat these guardians to gain entrance to the portals in the valley of the fallen citadel.

The Guardians
Inside the caverns, you'll need to kill the Guardian Golems. When they are defeated, a portal to the Citadel opens and Asheron spawns. When all of the guardians are dead, the portals will disappear.

From Joost:
Frost Guardian Lair 20-39: Essence of Enchantment (52.8N, 62.4E) - Go to Arwic housing portals and take the Sennon Valley Retreat (32.9N 59.4E) portal. It drops you very close.

Fire Guardian Lair 40-59: Essence of Strife (73.4N, 3W) - You can take the Highland Manors Villas portal from the Glenden Wood housing portals at (27.9N 29.5E). Or, from Crater Village, go through the crevice and run there.

Acid Guardian Lair 60-79: 60-79: Essence of Verdancy (30.5S, 74.3W) - The easiest way is to go to Baishi, buy a saki, head south to the Drunken Madman at 53S 61E. Give him the saki then take the portal he opens to the Walled Fort (21.6S 74.5W). If you have a high enough jump skill, you may be able to jump over the wall. Otherwise, take the Accursed Halls portal then run to Essence.

Lightning Guardian Lair 80+: 80+: Essence of Artifice (86.7S, 10.4E) - Fastest way here is to go to Qalaba'r, head due west following the road until you need to leave the road to the left.

Asheron spawns in the crater by the fallen citadel at 57.7N, 48.4E. Speak to him for an Imbued Pyreal Nugget which allows you to enter the Ziggurat portal.

Note: Asheron only spawned the first time the quest was run. Now, a Platinum Golem will give you the nugget.

To reach Asheron by land, take the Colier View Hill portal at the Cragstone Settlement portals (26.3N, 46.3E). Run to 60.2N, 47.6E to cross over the mountain ridge, then run to 56.6N, 49.6E. Buff your jump to ~310 and do a full running power jump at an upward angle. You should land on the slope then you can work your way around the crater ridge from there. On the NE side of the crater, you'll see a dip. Do a medium shift jump down onto the snowy patch, then another jump down onto the ground. (No longer available.)

Note: If you log off inside the citadel crater, you will log back in at the lifestone. Also, do not attempt to jump on to the citadel itself; an invisible barrier will impede you.

Asheron tells you, "This world has suffered too many losses, and I have bore witness to too many of them. No longer. Gaerlan must be stopped."
Asheron tells you, "Our futures have been altered by Gaerlan. The time has come to right what he has made wrong. Martine's sacrifice shall not have been made in vain. We will avenge him and see that his gift to us is not wasted."
Asheron tells you, "Misfortune begs me tell you that Gaerlan is using some magic to bar me from his citadel. Though I have regained much of my strength from my injuries I am using much to keep his citadel here upon the ground."
Asheron tells you, "I have, however, located four Platinum Golems within the citadel. They are slumbering at the moment and need to be awakened. But once they are awake I can communicate with them and learn what they know of this citadel. Then perhaps I can assist you in traversing the several areas in an effort to meet and defeat Gaerlan."
Asheron tells you, "Your efforts over the past cycle of the moons has proven invaluable and he is cornered now. Be wary for this will make him dangerous, but you should also know that he is indeed much weaker. Take this."
Asheron gives you Imbued Pyreal Nugget.
Asheron tells you, "The portals into the citadel's inverted ziggurat lay nearby. I have been able to determine the rudimentary difficulty of the areas within and have restricted the entrances to assist you in your task. Find the appropriate portal and enter the ziggurat, find the golem and give the nugget to it. I will speak to you more once this is accomplished."

The Ziggurats
Once you've received the nugget, you have been flagged to enter the Ziggurat at 57.2N, 47.8E. Choose the one that corresponds to your level.

Lightning Ziggurat - 20-39
Acid Ziggurat - 40-59
Fire Ziggurat - 60-79
Frost Ziggurat - 80+

The Lightning Ziggurat (20-39) has Lightning Elementals (Sparks, Synnasts and Voltarcs), level 83 Stasis Wisps and Granite Golems.

The Acid Ziggurat (40-59) has Strife Wisps, Coral Golems, and Acid Elementals, including Mox and Buillics.

The Fire Ziggurat (60-79) is full of Fire Elementals -- Flares, Flammas, Infernos, Hellfires, Corrosion Wisps and a few Diamond Golems. Go NW at the the first maze area, and west at the second.

The Frost Ziggurat (80+) has Frost Elementals, Tempest Wisps, Acidic Diamond Golems and Platinum Golems.

Each dungeon is similar in design, with a pre-maze area where you'll be fighting most of the creatures, a maze area (head up), and the end portion with the Platinum Golem.

When you reach the end, hand the Imbued Pyreal Nugget to the Golem and it will open a portal to the Proving Grounds.

You give Platinum Golem Imbued Pyreal Nugget.
Platinum Golem says, "I hear and obey Lord Asheron Realadain."
Asheron's voice fills your mind, "You have done well. Now you must pass a set of trials that the citadel itself will place before you. In a sense it lives, as this was the design of the Empyrean from before my years. You must not fail, failure can lead to death. I will ensure that portals are created to assist you should you meet with misadventure."

The Proving Grounds
Portals in Eastham 17.5N, 63.4E
Proving Grounds Low (20-39)
Proving Grounds Mid (40-59)
Proving Grounds High (60-79)
Proving Grounds Extreme (80+)

Trail #1 -- The Tribunal
To pass the first test of the proving ground, you must answer a riddle posed to you by The Tribunal, a giant statue of a head. Click the post which has the corresponding answer. If you answer it correctly, you will be portalled to the next area and given a Seal Fragment. If you answer incorrectly 3 times, you'll get an all expense paid trip to Teth!

Riddles
To see the answer, highlight the answer area each question to reveal the answer.

Q: It begins eternity, ends time and space, it rests at the start of every end and the end of every place. What is it?"

answer: e

Q: Tribunal tells you, "I am a room without walls, windows or doors. What am I?"

answer: mushroom

Q: Tribunal tells you, "The maker want it not, the buyer does not use it, and the user never sees it.

answer: coffin

Q: A poor man has too much of me, a wealthy man needs me not, and if you feast upon me you will die. What am I ??

answer: nothing

Q: Tribunal tells you, "What has no beginning or end, yet binds two together?"

answer: ring

Q: Tribunal tells you, "I am void, and absence, I am not a color. What am I?"

answer: black

Q: Tribunal tells you, "I've legs, and a foot, and also a head. But I cannot think nor move on my own.

answer: bed

Q: Tribunal tells you, "It never was, is always to be, none have seen it, but many dream of it, it is the hope of all that live that it shall always come. What is it?"

answer: tomorrow

Q: What is it that has one voice but becomes four-footed, two-footed, and three-footed?

answer: Man

Q: I can be an old love, but mostly a lost passion. My life grows as you feed me, but when I drink water I die.

answer: flame

Q: Tribunal tells you, "You will break me if you name me. What am I?"

answer: Silence

Q: Tribunal tells you, "I pass through the water and never get wet. What am I?"

answer: sunshine

Q: Tribunal tells you, "No sound, no voice, no breath,no sleep, no thought, no sight, no more. What is it?"

answer: Death

Q: Tribunal tells you, "It waits for none and gauges all, it is eaten by leisure and work the same, it is abundant but there never seems to be enough. What is it?"

answer: Time

Q: Tribunal tells you, "At night they come without being called, but at dawn they are lost without being stolen. What are they?"

answer: Stars

Q: Tribunal tells you, "I never grow, but can become very wide, and everything falls into darkness when I hide. What am I?"

answer: eyes

Trail#2 -- Rolling Death
Next you will face Rolling Balls of Death! Yes, that's right: Rolling Balls of Death! Your task is to get to the end of the corridor, dodging the rolling death balls, and through the door. The door, however, is not an ordinary door! It must be smote! Melee attacks will be almost impossible. Instead, use archery to attack it from afar. Your corners will be safe spots. Because of the door's low resist, even players without bow trained can be effective with a store bought bow or crossbow and some arrows. Once the door has been defeated, the balls of death will stop spawning temporarily. In the following chamber, you'll find chests with more seal fragments, and a portal to the next area of the proving ground.

Map: Rolling Death Safe Spots Map
(Thanks to Sangre Fria of SC!)

Trail#3 -- Floor Puzzle
The third task is a floor puzzle. To make your way across, you'll need to use a diagram that can be found in one of the previous corridors. Don't try to jump across; there is an invisible ceiling. At the other side, you must hit a switch which causes the chests with the seal fragments to spawn. A portal to the final area will also open.

Map: Floor Puzzle Map
(Thanks to Archmage Hunter of FF!)

Trail#4 -- Reverence of the Ceremony
For your final task, you must show your patience and discipline by passing through a room in silence. No talking, and no spellcasting. If you quietly walk through, you will be safe. If you speak, you will be portalled back to the start of the dungeon. Once through the room, pull the switch for your final seal fragment and take the portal back to Asheron. Two golems may also spawn in this room. Melees may fight them if necessary.

The seal fragments fit together to create part of a larger seal. There is still a section missing.

The Hearths
Combine the Seal Fragments into an Ornate Seal. Hand it to Asheron and in return, he will return an Imbued Ornate Seal and a Citadel Portal Gem. Use it to enter the Citadel. Inside, there are 4 Hearth portals with levels corresponding to the Ziggurat and Proving Grounds Portals.

You give Asheron Ornate Seal.
Asheron tells you, "Yes, I had thought the architecture was reminiscent of that epoch...You will need this for there are hidden pillars on the surface of the citadel. When you have destroyed the hearth gems they will be revealed."
Asheron tells you, "You must prepare yourself well for what you will face. On the surface of the citadel there are four large gems. Each functions as a small well between worlds, it is difficult to explain but think of it as a space within a space. There you will find one of the hearth gems that continue to draw mana from the ley lines of the world. They are fueling the spell which hides the pillars at the moment."
Asheron tells you, "I have constructed gems that will portal you onto the citadel. There you should find entrances into the hearth gems. Defeat the device that is within and then find the pillar. Once you have placed the seal within the pillar you should transported into the lowest level of the sanctum, located in the tower."
Asheron tells you, "I wish you well on your endeavor."
Asheron gives you Imbued Ornate Seal.
Asheron gives you Citadel Portal Gem.

Inside you'll find Hearth Crystals (level 999) which must be destroyed. The Fire Hearth Crystal (80+) has 400,000 health and the Ice Hearth Crystal (60-79) has 300,000 health points. The Hearth Crystals differ from the Elementals Cores in that they have low resistance and a very slow regen rate. You should be able to kill them without too much trouble.

The Library
An exit portal will appear after the Hearth Crystal is destroyed and you'll be back at the Citadel. The pillar will now be revealed. Give the pillar the Imbued Ornate Seal and you'll be portalled to the library. Climb the stairs and find three bookshelves. One gives you 5 books, another one book and the last a local broadcast. While you're wandering in the library, you'll hear whispers in your head. A list of library sayings can be found on the Verdict patch page. The books can be translated in Cragstone. In the words of Valinar of WE: read the 39 pages of how we doomed the world!

Text: Gaerlan's Research Notes
Text: Decrepit Tome
Text: Disciples of Corrosion
Text: Disciples of Stasis
Text: Disciples of Strife
Text: Disciples of Tempest

Gaerlan
Valinar of WE reports the following: "Upon destruction of all of the crystals, a 20-39 portal opened in the stair maze (the library). Inside were frost elementals (mid range and low) and Gaerlen himself, a level 750 Empyrean. 4 archers and 5 melees couldn't take him. Can't use elemental weapons on him. After an hour or so we had to pull out due to depression of him being at 99% health forever. He can be vulned and imped... too bad though we didn't have a full blown mage in there."

The first time the quest is completed, killing the Frost Aspect of Gaerlan spawned a portal for the next higher level group.

Character Name] has defeated Gaerlan's frost aspect. As the illusion crumbles away a portal coalesces in the Citadel Library beckoning the brave defenders of Dereth to face down Gaerlan's fiery aspect.

Once the Fiery Aspect was defeated, another portal opened and his Acid Aspect was the foe. The final 80+ group fought the Electrical Aspect. Once the elemental aspects of Gaerlan were defeated a portal to the Inner Sanctum opened where Gaerlan himself awaited! After a long and arduous battle, Gaerlan was slain and Nuhmudira appeared, trapping him in a phylactery.

[Character Name] with the assistance of their fellow Isparians has defeated Gaerlan. As the madman falls, a hush spreads in the place that was once his citadel.

Nuhmudira appears in a flourish of wispy thin smoke, as she coalesces she lets out a low laugh. Gaerlan's form seems frozen in time.
Nuhmudira says, "Dead? Dead? Not dead. Not yet. There is so much left that you need to do."
Nuhmudira says, "You have done well to ruin this cur's reign. I also would like to thank those of you that assisted me in my hour of need. It is difficult to show such forgiveness to one that finds and kills her own kind. I am glad that some of you had that pity in your heart."
Nuhmudira pauses and gives a hard look to the floating form of Gaerlan.
Nuhmudira says, "On the other hand, I have no such pity within my breast for this man."
Nuhmudira starts speaking in an incomprehensible language.
Nuhmudira says, "Saervu Nuhmudi, Gaerlan."
Mana swirls in the place where Gaerlan was slain.
Nuhmudira says, "Yes, Gaerlan and endless life of servitude. Forever imprisoned within the walls of this citadel. Worse still within a phylactery. You shall rise so that my people may visit upon you the torment you meant for me to endure."

Repeating the Quest
After the defeat of Gaerlan and his imprisonment, the quest may still be repeated, but instead of the successive aspect spawns, four level restricted portals await at the top of the library.

Ice Demise (20-39)
Fire Aspect Dungeon (40-59)
Acid Aspect Dungeon (60-79)
Extreme Electrical Dungeon of Destruction (80+)

Gaerlan is weak to Slashing Attacks. In order to get your prizes at the end, make sure each person has a chance to get a critical hit on Gaerlan. Srand, one of the live team Devs, stated on the boards that there are other ways than a war spell for mages to get flagged as completing a crit, but at this time, details are unknown.

Each group can do their section at their own pace. As Gaerlan's aspect falls in each section, a global message goes out:

[Character name] has defeated Gaerlan's [elemental] aspect. As the illusion crumbles away a deep voice thunders over the world, "A doomed eternity to relive this life. Stasis within the walls of a crystalling prison. How could Ihave fallen toyou vermin. Nuhmudira, my revenge upon you shall be as painful as yours upon me."

A portal then opens to the Inner Sanctum. You'll run over a fire and acid pit, them jump down. You should then see Gaerlan, trapped, floating above the pillar. Double click on the pillar for your reward!

The player who got credit for killing Gaerlan will receive the Black Robe. All others will receive a Red Rob, Gaerlan's Sword (for display only), and one of the other items. At this time, it is unknown what causes a player to receive a particular prize. The best guess so far is that it's based on skill credits spent. For example, War is the most expensive skill at 16 skill credits, so if you have War Trained, you'll get the War Wand. As you go through successive times, you will get the prize associated with your next highest expensive skill. (Thus the plethora of War and Life Wands, and the Shield). Weapons may be dropped or given away. Robes are no drop, no give.

Timer is "a full cycle of days." (A week.)

Once you have done the quest enough times to get all the items you can (depending on which skills you have trained), you will get the following message:

Gaerlan's Phylacteric Prison gives you Elemental Master Robe.
Gaerlan's Phylacteric Prison gives you Iasparailaun.
A woman's voice sounds in your head, "There is nothing left of his soul that you can take, you have stripped him of all that he possesses that would be of use to you."

Martine's Mask and Robe
After you've received your prizes from Gaerlan's Phylactery, take the Citadel Apex portal to get Martine's Mask and Robe.

Thanks to Flubber's Ego of TD, Valinar of WE, and Tyrian of WE for details on this quest.

See Martine's Mask & Robe for details.

Gaerlan's Token
Linkmage of HG discovered that by handing Iasparailaun to an Agent of the Arcanum, you would receive experience, a hefty trade note, and a token which can be exchanged for the title of Gaerlan Slayer! Linkmage received over 1.4 million xp. Tabitha of MT received only around 300,000. The amount of xp you receive (direct xp, does not move up to your patron) will be 5% of the total xp needed to reach your next level.

You give Agent of the Arcanum Iasparailaun.
Agent of the Arcanum tells you, "I see that you have visited revenge upon the man that wanted to bring our race to an end. Nuhmudira thanks you for this. Here is your reward."
Agent of the Arcanum gives you Trade Note.
You've earned [amount] experience.
Agent of the Arcanum gives you Gaerlan Token.
Agent of the Arcanum tells you, "If you hand the token back to me I will make sure that you are recognized for your efforts. The madness of his reign is over and now we can move forward."
You give Agent of the Arcanum Gaerlan Token.
From this day forward [player name] shall be known as Gaerlan Slayer.

Tabitha of MT attempted to turn in a sword from an earlier quest run, but too much time had passed between her kill and the attempt to receive her reward. Upon re-doing the quest, she was successful. It's assumed that you have up to a week after the kill to receive your reward!

You give Agent of the Arcanum Iasparailaun.
Agent of the Arcanum tells you, "I see that you have obtained the sword but you have not recently visited revenge upon Gaerlan. Please destroy his form once more and return to me then. I will know whether you have done this or not."
Agent of the Arcanum gives you Iasparailaun.

It is possible to turn in more than one sword to the Agent at a time, so if you have a collection, you can round up some nice xp!

Reward updated during the Discoveries event:

You give Agent of the Arcanum Iasparailaun.
Agent of the Arcanum tells you, "I see that you have visited revenge upon the man that wanted to bring our race to an end. Nuhmudira thanks you for this. Here is your reward."
Agent of the Arcanum gives you 2 Trade Note (200,000)s.
You've earned 3,709,797 experience.
Agent of the Arcanum gives you Gaerlan Token.

Level 126+ reward updated during Pillars Made of Sand.

You give Agent of the Arcanum Iasparailaun.
Agent of the Arcanum tells you, "I see that you have visited revenge upon the man that wanted to bring our race to an end. Nuhmudira thanks you for this. Here is your reward."
Agent of the Arcanum gives you 2 Trade Notes (200,000).
You've earned 15,000,000 experience.
Agent of the Arcanum gives you Gaerlan Token.
Agent of the Arcanum tells you, "If you hand the token back to me I will make sure that you are recognized for your efforts. The madness of his reign is over and now we can move forward."