During The Child of Daralet event, an emissary, The Chosen of Asheron, appeared to teach the people of Auberean how to defeat Bael'Zharon. Three quests were undertaken to retrieve the three items necessary to create the Dark Crucible -- a magical artifact used to gain entry to the Sepulcher of the Hopeslayer. The first of these items was the Skull of Avoren Palacost. Avoren was the beloved son of Ilservian Palacost, Bael'Zharon himself in former days, whose death inspired the Hopeslayer's crusade against the Isparians. The skull is imbued with magical energies attuned to Avoren's father.

Text: Asheron's Missive

The Empyrean Cloister is located just outside of Yaraq at 23.4S, 5.8E (restricted to Levels 15+, may not be summoned).

Midway through the dungeon, the Cloister splits into a Lower (Levels 15+) and an Upper Section (Levels 21+). It's recommended that you have 5-6 people for each side. The biggest challenges you'll face are the Acid Pits. You should have a combined Run/Jump skill of 360 for success. If you fall in the acid, you will die. Bring death items!

If your group is able, bring a few high level mages willing to buff everyone before you enter. A full round of Level VIIs can add 80 points or so to Run and 67 to your jump. The hour long spell duration should be plenty of time to complete the quest successfully. The trick is to keep everyone moving. Do not stop to loot your kills! ;-)

You'll encounter Undead throughout: Liches (Level 30), Lich Lords (Level 55), Risen Soldiers (Level 26) and Risen Knights (Level 44). Try to kill the Liches and Lich Lords first because of their dangerous use of war spells, then kill anything without a shield. As always, undead are most vulnerable to Fire and Slashing.

Map: Empyrean Cloister

The entry is safe. Take a left and follow the hallway. The entire dungeon is very straightforward. There's only one main path with small alcoves to the sides or short dead end passages along the way. You will not get lost, so there's no excuse to not keep it moving! You'll have two jumps before you reach the split. The first small jump has two Liches at the bottom. The second, more dangerous jump has Risen Soldiers below. When you see the surface portal, head north, then take the west passage to the room with the Upper and Lower Mausoleum portals. The portals are guarded by a Lich Lord and some Risen Knights.

Lower Empyrean Mausoleum
Levels 15+
Creatures: Liches, Risen Soldiers
Rewards: Barbed Fletching Tool, Obsidian Dagger, Empyrean Scalemail Shirt

Upper Empyrean Mausoleum
Levels 21+
Creatures: Risen Soldiers, Risen Knights, Lich Lords
Reward: Skull of Avoren Palacost

Map: Lower & Upper Mausoleum

Split into two groups. Designate one person from each group to communicate with the other in order to coordinate the buttons and doors. Enter the portals and kill the undead on the other side. Once everyone is in, head down the hall. The Lower group will reach the first button which they press to open a door for the Uppers. The first acid pit await the Uppers on the other side of the door. Stand at the edge and do a full power jump across. Once the Uppers have made it safely over the pit, they continue down the hall until they find their first button in a small alcove. This opens the first door for the Lowers.

When the Lowers have jumped their first pit, the Uppers continue to their 2nd set of doors and wait for the Lowers to push a button to open it. Once the Uppers are through and over the Acid Pit, head down the hall and find a Lever to open the 2nd set of doors for the Lowers.

Once the Lowers have jumped their 2nd Acid Pit, they'll make their way to their final room. The Barbed Fletching Tool, Obsidian Dagger and Empyrean Scalemail Shirt (now enchantable) are on the Mausoleum Guardian (Level 55, similar to a Lich Lord). It's guarded by a few Liches and a few Risen Soldiers.

This last room also contains a torch on the far right wall which acts as a lever to open the last door on the Upper side.

Once the Lowers have pulled the torch, the Uppers must make a 3rd jump across the final Acid Pit (on this third jump, aim for the floor to your right instead of straight across). The Mausoleum Warden (Level 55) awaits them, along with his undead friends: 2 Lich Lords and a few Risen Knights. The Skull of Avoren Palacost spawns every few minutes on the ground in front of the large stone head. It may be dropped or given away.

The quest has a three week timer.