Blackmire I - Temple of Ixir Zi

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From Across the Vast Divide

It's the quest that started it all! When adventurers first explored the new temple below the swamps, little did they know that they would be unleashing a new enemy on Dereth.

The great Blackmire Swamp in Osteth begins to boil. A visible wave of magic erupts from a small temple between the ruins of Yanshi and the city of Sawato. It spreads across the world rippling over the desert and the inland sea, stretching across Dryreach and the eastern shore until all of Dereth and the outlying islands has been touched. Still visible, the wave of energy strikes an unseen barrier.
As the blood is siphoned from Strage Device's wound, magical energy filters into the archways. The room shudders with power.
For a brief moment the scent of a fetid, decaying swamp assails the senses. A visible ripple can be seen around Dereth and the islands. As quickly as the wave arose it is gone, and a voice carries on the wind, "Ekta vaik av kintiku, ia avtu ikni livaik ekta ukri! Tik Vaiktu Kiktij, ikni zirku zikt Bur av akri. Klia mijik av iaktik, ikni iak av ixk."

Antius Blackmoor himself came to investigate and met with Rage Lao of MT, the man who unwittingly opened the door. Following are links to more information about the background of the Blackmire quests:

Antius Blackmoor appears
Across the Vast Divide: The Investigation Begins
The Investigation Begins - Part 2
Interview with Rage Lao

The teamwork of a fellowship will be required to complete this quest. After the initial part, the quest is divided into 3 sections: 40-69, 70-99, 100+. You will need at least 3 people for each level section you are completing. Bring Health Elixirs, Healer's Hearts, Attenuated Awakeners and Dispel Gems.

Timer: 28 days
Rumor: Blackmire Temple

To begin, meet in Yanshi and buff before heading to the temple (you can either run or take the Swamp Temple Place settlement portal at 10.3S, 45.7E).

Temple of Ixir Zi - 21.7S, 47.7E
Levels: 40+
Map: Blackmire Temple

The bunker entrance is swarming with Burun Ruuk Adept and Burun Ruuk Ruffian. Instead of attacking, have someone draw them away from the entrance while everyone enters on the south side. Head into the room on your left, then walk through the north wall into a room with the Watcher of the Dead. Don't speak to him, but instead, double click the Odd Looking Vine on the floor. You'll be portaled into the dungeon.

Dizziness and nausea wash over you. For a brief moment you feel as though your body is being torn asunder as it is pulled into the torrent of portal space.

Guardian of the Outer Ward

When you enter, you'll be standing in a room with a Guardian in the middle, and 4 doors on each wall (N, S, E & W). Each of the doors doors has a button on the wall next to it. You'll need to choose one person to run the section and someone to man each of the doors. When you speak to the Guardian of the Outer Ward, it tells you you'll be granted access to the Halls of High Matron Ixir Zi's Temple if you bring it a sacred gem. You'll also be instructed to remain in your fellowship throughout and to travel in groups of similar level.

"Shi vaik tukinti ikni likik ki inki Viliakti, av esk ilti?"
The language is guttural and hard. You do not understand what was asked of you, but you know that it was a question. As it speaks again, a vein of understanding spreads through you.
"Jiktani ekta irntrika to the matron of this temple. Prove to Ixir Zi that you are devout followers of the Watcher. Bring me the sacred gem from this room. Only then will I recognize the work of your and your fellows."
"Once you have completed this challenge you will then need to stay amongst your fellows through the remainder of this temple. I shall grant you entrance into the halls of High Matron Ixir Zi's temple, only when you have succeeded. You must gather into groups of equivalent learning. Failure av iakvi."

Have the person manning the north door open it and go down the hall to open the door for the runner on the southeast wall. The west button opens the 2nd door to the runner's north. The runner should keep the right, again heading north. The 3rd door is opened by the south button. The east button opens the 4th door for the runner. You'll cross over a bridge and will be on a ledge overlooking your friends below. Five stones lie on the ground in a row. Take the Bloodstone (1 hour timer), then jump below to rejoin your friends. Make sure everyone is together and fellowed-up, then hand the Guardian the Bloodstone. You'll be portaled as a group to the next section.

Note: If you give the Guardian the wrong stone, it will kill you! You may also wish to have a few other people grab Bloodstone in case someone dies.

You give Guardian of the Outer Ward Bloodstone.
Your fellowship is now locked. You may not recruit new members. If you leave the fellowship, you have 15 minutes to be recruited back into the fellowship.
Blackmire is now a closed fellowship.
"You have proven your knowledge. You shall be allowed within the Temple. But be warned, the mistress sleeps still. Guardians, Wards and defenses against intrusion remain active. If you are true to the Iakvi Liviliakti then you shall reach her crypt. Wake her, she will welcome you, sister."
"Pray that you have chosen your fellows wisely, for the trials ahead will call upon you stay amongst them. Failure at any step will bring death upon you all."
Guardian of the Outer Ward teleports you with Hall of the Temple Guardians.
You feel your body being torn apart piece by piece until it is no more, yet you still live.

Hall of the Temple Guardians

Map: Hall of the Temple Guardians

When you enter, you'll be in a room with three Guardians, one for each level section. Double click the correct statue to be portaled to the appropriate hall. You'll fight through various creatures (use Cold weapon) to reach a Guardian of the Crypt. Use the Guardian to be portaled to the next section.

Hall of the Greater Guardians - L 100+
--Creatures: Chomu Sclavus Lord, Falatacot Consort, Falatacot Patrician
--Directions: Take either passage at the split. Jump below when you reach an overpass and follow the passage down a ramp to the Guardian of the Crypt.

Hall of the Guardians - L 70-99
--Creatures: Essa Sclavus Lord, Faisi Sclavus Lord, Sata Sclavus Lord
--Directions: Take a right at the split. Immediately after going down the ramp, look to the right for the place to jump to the level below. Head east to the Guardian of the Crypt.

Hall of the Lesser Guardians: L 40-69
--Creatures: Chomu Sclavus, Faisi Sclavus, Ulu Sclavus
--Directions: Take a left at the split. Jump to the level below immediately after the ramp, then head east. At the four way split, go south to the Guardian of the Crypt.

A hollow sounding raspy voice says, "Advance, but know that beyond you shall be tested in cunning, wit and humility."
Guardian of the Crypt teleports you with Hall of the Arbiter.

Hall of the Arbiter

Map: Hall of the Arbiter

The next section involves three trials. Choose one person from your fellowship to complete the trials and speak to the Arbiter in the middle of the room.

Note: No one else should speak to the statue. If they do, you'll be booted back to the start of the previous section.
"As you were warned Your presence here is not warranted. Begone!"

The spells in the trials section are fellowship spells. When the person doing the trials is debuffed, the entire fellowship is debuffed. Make sure everyone keeps an eye on their health the entire time. The trial runner may also want to consider carrying a Sanguinary Aegis Shield.

"Welcome, young initiates. You have found your way beyond the guardians of the Tomb of Ixir Zi. You have done well to reach this point. By the Watcher, you shall awaken the High Matron. But there are still spirits to defeat and still challenges that you must complete to prove your worthiness. Within this very hall lie several such challenges."

"Each must be completed by you and your fellows. Each statue within this hall will explain the challenge that it watches over, and invite you to partake. When you have completed all of the tests, return to me. If you have succeeded, you shall be granted passage into the final resting place of the High Matron. If you have not succeeded, you will be sent from this place."

"There, make your sacrifices to awaken her. Should you fail...then I shall be forced to rid these halls of your presence. Pray to the Iakvi Liviliakti that you do not fail."

Trial 1 - Sacrificial Bones

Speak to the Guardian of the Sacrificial Urns for your task. You'll be given a satchel and asked a riddle. You need to fill the satchel with the number of bones that correspond to the answer of the riddle.

A disembodied voice echoes, "Beyond me lies a test that will challenge the quickness of your mind, and comprehension." There is a long pause.
"You have been chosen to complete the test here. Within this hall are piles that were once offerings to High Matron, Ixir Zi. Long ago they crumbled to dust, but still they serve a purpose. Listen well to this question."
"A Matron, has four servants and six consorts. She must offer the High Matron half of those who serve her and half of her partners. Half of the servants that are sent will survive upon return, and each consort that returns will become a servant. How many consorts will the Matron have once her offering is complete?"
"Collect the remains of prior offerings from within this hallway. Place the amount of offerings you believe is the answer inside this satchel."
Guardian of the Sacrificial Urns gives you Satchel.
"Bring the filled satchel to the statue at the end this hall and it shall judge you. Be warned the spirits of the dead are restless."

Use the Urn to pick up sacrificial bones. When you have 3 bones (the answer to the riddle), combine them with the satchel, then hand them to the Judge of the Sacrifice to pass the first trial. If you succeed, you will be deemed worthy!

Offering Urn gives you Sacrificial Bones.
Unseen Force stabs you for 44 points with Sacrificial Edge.

Offering Urn gives you Sacrificial Bones.
Unseen Force stabs you for 52 points with Sacrificial Edge.

Offering Urn gives you Sacrificial Bones.
Unseen Force stabs you for 42 points with Sacrificial Edge.

You place the bones with the satchel.
You place the bones with the satchel.
You place the bones with the satchel.

You give Judge of the Sacrifice Satchel with Offerings.
An ancient voice booms, "You are worthy! The spirits within this hall are quelled!"

Trial 2 - Offering Plate

To begin the second trial, speak to the Guardian of the Restless Dead. You'll be instructed to collect 4 gems of appeasement and put them on an offering plate. Restless spirits will try and stop you by casting fellowship spells which drain your health. As you use the Offering Tables to try and collect your gems, have someone accompany you to heal while you complete the task. Typically, the person who has the highest health in the group will do this task.

A deep voice resonates, "Beneath my eyes is a test of appeasement. It lies in the hall beyond me. You, are marked. The spirits within this temple are enraged at their mistress's absence. They require certain objects to make them peaceful. You must quell the anger of the spirits by collecting these objects and placing them upon this plate."
Guardian of the Restless Dead gives you Offering Plate.
"Be warned, the spirits are malicious and will strive to hamper you from reaching your goal. You will likely need the aid of your fellows within this hall. You will need to collect four items to complete this task, each can be found through searching the offering tables."
"You will need four gems, each has spiritual energy that the spirits desire. When you have collected them make your way to the statue, place them on the plate I have furnished you and make your offering to the statue. Remember, you will need four such gems."

Use the Offering Tables to receive Gems of Appeasement. You'll be given the gems alternating randomly with harmful spells. When you have 4 gems, combine them with the plate, then hand them to the Judge of the Appeasement to pass the second trial. If you succeed, you will be allowed to proceed!

Offering Table cast Death's Vice on you
and drains 117 points of your health.
Offering Table casts Death's Feast and drains 100 points of your health.
Offering Table gives you Gem of Appeasement.
Offering Table gives you Gem of Appeasement.
Offering Table gives you Gem of Appeasement.
Offering Table casts Death's Feast and drains 100 points of your health.
Offering Table gives you Gem of Appeasement.

You place the gem onto the offering plate.
You place the gem onto the offering plate.
You place the gem onto the offering plate.
You place the gem onto the offering plate.

You give Judge of the Appeasement Offering Plate with Offerings.
"You have quelled the spirits here. You may proceed onward."

Trial 3 - Heart of the Temple

The third trial is the most difficult. To begin, speak to the Guardian of Fury. You'll be given the Heart of the Temple and asked to deliver it through hallways filled with flying daggers to the High Matron Arbiter. Many of the corridors will have false statues to confuse you.

A gentle voice muses, "I hold vigil over the test of your acuity and judgment. Of all the trials here this is the hardest. Only one of your number need navigate the hallways beyond. That one is you. You are chosen"
Guardian of Fury gives you Heart of the Temple.
"Along these halls are spirits and traps that can easily bring about your death. It will be up to your fellows to keep you alive. Be warned there are some traps within this maze that will bring ruin upon your fellows."
"Take care. You search for the High Matron's visage. It is unique amongst the other statues along this hall. When you have found it hand her the heart and you will have completed the first half of your test. The second half is to return here alive."

The route to the High Matron Arbiter is the same for all three levels. (The lower level has a slightly different layout, but the route is the same.) Take the west passage out of the Arbiter's room and go straight west down a ramp. The alcoves to your left and right will have Wailing Statues that have daggers flying out of their mouths. If you're careful, you can watch the timing of the daggers and run between them. After you head down the ramp, take a left heading south. Another Wailing Statue is directly in front of you. You can actually let the daggers pass you by on either side if you're careful. At the end of this hallway, before the statue, make a right heading west. From there, you're basically going to keep left until the end, heading down a 2nd ramp and ignoring all side passages. Hand the High Matron Arbiter the Heart of the Temple to prove your cunning!

Wailing Statue stabs you for 39 points with Sacrificial Edges.
Wailing Statue stabs you for 42 points with Sacrificial Edges.
Wailing Statue stabs you for 48 points with Sacrificial Edges.

You give High Matron Arbiter Heart of the Temple.
"You have proven your cunning in surviving my challenge, now find your way back to your fellows."

Have one of your fellowship members speak to the Arbiter after the trial is completed to be portaled to the final section.

"You have done well. She lies beyond, ever sleeping. Wake her through your sacrifice. She will need the life of four but the rest shall be rewarded."
Arbiter teleports you with Matron's Outer Chamber.

Crypt of Kixkti Xri

Blackmire Temple
Hall of the Temple Guardians
Hall of the Arbiter
Crypt of Kixkti Xri

Thanks to Deven-Kenyon of SC, Capt Justice of TD, Darkavenger of TD, Zedjin of TD, Rage Lao of MT, Raging Wanderer of F, Abdula of SC, Serix of MT, Rage Lao of MT, Julian's Touch of TD, Kawahine of SC, Wyome Willow of LC, Oldin of HG, Dark's Dagger of HG, Omni Oni of HG, An'iya of HG, Relentless Destruction of FF, Tyrian of WE, Reska of WE, Mithan Kitara of TD (welcome back, Mithan!), Iron Grip of MT, Ryan the Hunter of TD, Lugian Warlord of MT, Mal al-Smith of HG, Artifex Palacost of HG, Norflaece of FF, Yumi Dono of TD, Shiden-Kai of Frostfell, Raging Wanderer of FF, Scotty the Handy Man of LC