Focusing Stone

Hobbies

Quests

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The Mines of Despair were closed long ago when miners broke through a wall deep within into an ancient Empyrean tunnel. When Instead of riches, they found undead men and fleshless warriors, the closed the mine and abandoned the town. Only Le-Ai Rae, an old hermit living in a hut nearby, remains to warn of the dangers within. But if you're brave enough to explore the depths of the mine, you will find a treasure the previous inhabitants overlooked - the Focusing Stone.

To reach the Mines of Despair, head to Mayoi and take the Xinh settlement portal at 60.8S, 80.3E. You'll exit a short run from the Mine at 75.4S, 57.3E (restricted to Levels 14+).

Inside the entrance, a Scrawled Note spawns on the ground. Give the note to Le-Ai Rae at 75.9S, 57.3E and he'll tell you to bring him a Lich Skull to gain access to the Mines. You'll also receive a Bound Book which relates the history of the mines.

Text: Bound Book

Le-Ai Rea says, "Lemme alone. And keep my door closed!"
You give Le-Ai Rea Scrawled Note.
Le-Ai Rea gives you Bound Book.
Le-Ai Rea tells you, "Didn't you read the note? That place is dangerous. You'll surely die if you go in there."
Le-Ai Rea tells you, "Now I have to return the note to the dungeon. Thanks a lot!"
Le-Ai Rea tells you, "I tell you what, hand me the skull of the Tortured Soul that hides in the Grievous Vault and I'll give you access to the mines."

You can get a Lich Skull from the Undead Defender in the Grievous Vault. However, when you return, you'll only receive one of the two keys needed to complete the quest. To save a step, you can skip the Lich Skull and bring a Skull of High Acolyte from the Soul Fearing (3 Towers) quest instead.

You give Le-Ai Rae Lich Skull.
Le-Ai Rae tells you, "You managed to find a lich’s head? That is impressive. Perhaps you can go into the Mines, but I can’t give you the key to the final section unless you prove your worth. If you bring me the Skull of the High Acolyte I’ll help you further. The Mines are dangerous and much is unknown about what dwells there. I know not much about it; however, some great evil lurks there. I can feel it."
Le-Ai Rea gives you Golden Key.

When you give Le-Ai Rae the Skull of High Acolyte, you'll get both keys, and also a reward of 12,000 experience.

You give Le-Ai Rea Skull of High Acolyte.
Le-Ai Rae tells you, "Very impressive! You managed to obtain the most unholy of skulls."
You've earned 12,000 experience.
Le-Ai Rea holds the Skull of the High Acolyte with much admiration.
Le-Ai Rea tells you, "You have proven your worth to me."
Le-Ai Rea tells you, "Take these keys. It will give you access to the place many fear."
Le-Ai Rea gives you Golden Key.
Le-Ai Rea gives you Le-Ai Rea's Key.

There are two sections to the dungeon. The first has lower level Skeletons and Undead. Later you'll encounter Granite and Unstable Magma Golems, as well as higher level skeletons and undead -- Fleshless and Decaying Warriors, and Skeleton Lords. Buff at the mine entrance, then break into 2 groups for the first half, a lever tosser and your main group. Your lever tossers should have item magic so they can use portal recall (this part can be done solo).

Map: Mines of Despair

Use the Golden Key on the first door (to the north). Once through, take a right at the T and jump into the pit. Take the ramp down on the north wall past the Skeleton Warriors, then take a right at the split. You should now be at the door that needs a lever to open it.

Have most of your party remain here, and have your lever tossing group (or person) portal recall back to the entrance.

Use the Golden Key again to open the first door. This time take a left at the T, take a left at the next intersection, then keep to the left again until you reach a sloping room with a locked door (resistance 124) on the west wall. Use lockpick to open it, then go through another door. Ahead of you to the south is a ramp down. Take the left immediately before the ramp, then make your first right, then next left. Follow the corridor around until you reach the room with the first button.

When you push the first button, the door for the main group opens. Have someone wait and stand in the open doorway to make sure it doesn't lock before the lever tossers can rejoin the group. The rest of the group should take the right passage and wait at the locked door on the east wall of the skeleton room (contains Piles of Bones and red Accursed Miners).

After pressing the first button, the lever tossers should head back out into the hall and jump down into the pit. Keep to your left and you'll find a small room with a Lich Lord. Kill the Lord and pull the second lever.

Portal Recall back to the entrance and meet up with the rest of the group.

After the second door is open, the route is straightforward. Head down the ramp until you reach the Lich Overseer (Level 55) room.

Lich Overseer tells you, "Soon you will fall into the endless slumber of death."

The Overseer carries the un-imbued Focusing Stone. Don't worry about attacking the other skeletons in the room. When you kill the Overseer, everything else dies with it. Once everyone has their stone (Overseer spawns every 3 minutes), use Le-Ai  Rea's Key on the locked door (difficulty 1000).

As the Lich Overseer falls to his endless sleep, you hear him say, "Maharani, I have failed you! Now the relic falls into their hands...But they will never learn how to use it!"

Beyond the Mines of Despair

Map: Beyond the Mines of Despair

If necessary, buff before taking the portal Beyond the Mines of Despair (acid, fire, lightning, piercing and bludgeoning). This is the more dangerous section with Fleshless Warriors (acid attacks), Magma Golems (fire attacks), Unstable Magma Golems and Decaying Warriors (lightning attacks).

Head down the hall passing 2 Granite Golems and other various assorted baddies. Follow the corridor around until you reach a bridge. Instead of crossing over, you are going to jump down below. Your footsteps will trigger a spawn of Magma Golems, but if you hug the right wall, you may be able to avoid triggering them.

Note: if you cross the bridge instead, you will come to a room with 2 SIK chests.

The rest of the way is very straightforward. Keep hugging the right wall until you pass the surface portal. At the four way intersection, keep going straight until you reach the final room. Use the Focusing Stone with the Vortex to imbue it (double-click the stone, do not give the stone to the vortex).

There is a 3 week timer on the quest.

Tip: Un-equip your focusing stone before charging up your mana on your paper doll!! It has a huge mana capacity!
 

Mines of Despair
Beyond the Mines of Despair

Thanks to Danier of TD, Rannon of FF, Ryucho Rajileth of HG, Kal-Ram of DT, Kashell of WE.