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Nixtrix -> Alnaphar - Quest for the Reign/Shadow/Golden Sets (5/2/2007 21:17:08)
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Alnaphar
Alnaphar: Quest for the Reign and Shadow sets!
Location: Battleon » Travel Map » Travel South » Alnaphar
Alnaphar. This strange valley lies south of Smoke Mountain, and at the heart of a story of how the elements made Lore into their battleground. Many of the world's terrors, wonders, and mysteries are said to have been born in that war. Alnaphar, however, died with it. A kingdom that once thrived in the fire fields, now buried underneath the black sand.
At its heart, a black mountain stands apart from the others and bears a vast golden tree that holds a fortress aloft. Over the centuries, many have sought out this tree, pursuing the last spoils of this kingdom. None have returned save the sole inhabitant of Alnaphar.
Halliphax. A strange and melancholic woman bearing regal armor and shadowy robes, warding off the unprepared while urging the strong to fulfill the Reign Tree's legacy. Once you cross the haze of Smoke mountain into this uncannily still valley, she soon looms over you as if she knew of your arrival.
«Scene: Overview of Alnaphar»
«A rainbow stretches into the distance behind the mountains. Clicking on it will lead you to the Failure to Communicant quest. Halliphax enters the scene after a while.»
«If you are below level 11...»
Halliphax: Another newcomer reaches Alnaphar. I'm sorry, stranger, but you have to turn back. You show promise in making it here on your own, but I will not let you through until I know you can survive.
«You»: Wait! You're Halliphax the Gatekeeper, right? There is so much I want to ask!
Halliphax: You will have your answers once you're ready to face the dangers of my fallen home. I have allowed too many people to die braving the Reign Tree. Those were the lucky ones. Turn back. Please.
«You»: How will I know when I'm ready?
Halliphax: I guard a legend, newcomer, and seek those worthy of fulfilling it. When your own tale shows promise, I will yield passage to you. Now leave. Only ash and bone await the foolish and the unprepared.
[This quest requires level 11, and reaching its best gear requires level 150!]
«You return to Battleon.»
Halliphax: Halt! Ah, «You», is it? I'm glad to see you. Many come to Alnaphar with but one hunt or adventure under their belt, thinking themselves worthy.
Halliphax: But I've heard so much of you already! You may well be ready.
«You»: I'm glad to hear that. I've come too far to back down so easily now. What exactly is it that I'm ready for, though? And how have you heard of me?
Halliphax: You stand in the shadow of the Reign Tree, symbol and heart of the kingdom of Alnaphar. One of the last great wonders of mortal civilization, before the great war scattered it back to farms and woods.
Halliphax: I was my king's confidant, in those days. Before he died, the last king of Alnaphar entrusted me with his dreams and regrets, then sent me away. I returned to find my home fallen, and that dream dashed.
Halliphax: I refuse to let his dream end while there is still a chance to fulfill it. Alnaphar stands, even if hollow, and I seek those worthy enough to put my king's spirit to rest. It has been... a long, lonely watch.
Halliphax: Sometimes, I confess, it becomes too much. So when I can, I search for champions instead of awaiting them. That is how I heard of you, and your heroic deeds since arriving to Battleon.
Halliphax: Yours may become a legend to be remembered through the centuries. Ah, but you doubtless need to know what treasures lie within that could make such a treacherous adventure worth the risk.
«You»: I'd like to know that, but let's not rush ahead just yet. What exactly do you need me to do, and what dangers can I expect in this keep?
Halliphax: Aloft the tree, you'll find the fiery path to my king's symbols of office, through fire monsters and the deranged lost. Soothe the echo of his legacy, and claim the destructive blaze of the Reign armaments.
Halliphax: In the tunnels beneath, you will find the bitter shadow of Alnaphar's glory. If you can overcome the undead to put my king's regrets to rest, the unshakable darkness of the Shadow set is yours.
Halliphax: You may find lesser replicas along the way, but the ultimate power of Alnaphar's ruler will demand the greatest challenges out of you. Which mission would you like to pursue?
Quest for the Reign Set
Quest for the Shadow set
Leave Alnaphar
Notes for Reign / Shadow Quest
When you reach a sub-boss, successfully defeating it will give the following message.
You have survived this far and earned a reward! You can either:
Visit the Shop - See below
or
Journey On!
Regardless of choice, you will be presented with the following choices.
Continue Quest
Story Mode
Abandon Quest
If you click on Story Mode at any point of time, you are presented with the following message.
You are about to enter Story Mode. You will be able to experience the rest of the story without any fights – but you will not have the opportunity to earn the higher-level sets.
This decision cannot be changed without restarting the quest. Do you wish to continue?
Yes, enter Story Mode
or
No, continue
Reign Set Story Mode Intro
quote:
As you explore the gilded depths of the Reign Tree's fortress, you quickly learn not to take Halliphax's warnings lightly. This haunted fortress was fitted with all manner of traps, some obvious yet challenging, others so subtle that it's as if they magically melded into the walls. You are forced to singlehandedly navigate traps meant to slow down an invasion.
Once you make the king's echo acknowledge you, he leads you through the keep. The armored manifestation walks undisturbed among monsters, although you could swear you occasionally see his fists clenching at the sight of them. You are slowed down by lost and starving invaders, as well as visions of the keep's forces, and lose the king's trail.
Geldar, golden dragon and loyal friend of the king, poses a greater challenge. Not only in raw might, but in understanding this legacy of burning gold. This keep is the legacy of generations of conquest. What manner of destruction consigned such a mighty kingdom to oblivion? Why is there no record or likeness of its last king?
All along, you are haunted by something else: Tireless, unhinged laughter. Mocking your questions. Mocking these halls and their vaunted glory. Mocking the king. Mocking itself. One wrong turn, and you're surrounded by frenzied jesters. Once you're rid of them, the silence lets you find the king again.
«Dialogue continues where you confront the Nameless King again.»
Shadow set Story Mode Intro
quote:
The tunnels underneath the Reign Tree have wasted no time in showing you that this is not a place of life or honor. Only supernatural forces remain to hold up the volcanic vents after the caldera's collapse. Some enchanted stones and pillars have yet to be ripped free from this place, and they bear some of the weight... But you are swarmed by undead every step of the way, often emerging from the very walls. You begin to wonder if this place truly is held together by shadow and bone.Navith, the strongest shadow-shrouded figure that wanders this place, insists that such is all that remains of it.
It takes you a great deal of effort to command that shadow's attention, as he quickly tries to frighten you away, then flees as soon as he gets you to say that Halliphax sent you here. Following in his trail, you exit the long access path into a system of circular tunnels going deeper into the dormant volcano -- It's as if the tree above kept it dormant, and ancient mystics shaped its once-burning vents into a lair for the sinister forces that now reside within. Those forces, you learn, were called the Ring of Shadow. Assassins, saboteurs, and workers of the many dark deeds that litter the shadow of Alnaphar's glory.
A revenant belonging to the Ring of Shadow attempts to recruit you, letting you in on a grim secret: The king's regrets are no abstract concept or unfinished affairs. He lingers as a shadow himself, containing the Lost -- The undead hordes you have been facing. This has been his burden for a thousand years, slowly eroding the curse of this place after trying to absolve the Ring of their burdens. But some still refuse to move on, and wish for your help in eroding his will so that they may escape. You put them to rest the hard way.
Finally, after shaking off the familiars he used to keep an eye on you, you stand before the shadow that you now identify as King Navith.
«Dialogue continues where you meet Navith again.»
Quest for the Reign Set
«Halliphax floats away from the scene as the scene zooms into the tree on Alnaphar, revealing a castle standing atop the tree.»
quote:
Seeing the tree up close is its own reward. The bark isn't simply golden, it seems like refined gold! Climbing along, you wonder what makes it warm to the touch, until the great height gives you a glimpse: From above, you can see the roots burrowing into a collapsed caldera! The tree is nourished by a volcano, and its leaves form gigantic sheets of pure night.
Above, a castle seems both built atop and formed from the tree's gold. This awe-inspiring view before you is worth the effort by itself. The challenges within will see an ancient legend unfold before you, and if you can survive... Your name written upon it.
«Scene: Entrance to the Reign Tree»
«Halliphax enters the scene.»
Halliphax: Welcome to the Reign Tree, «You». Alnaphar grew its innermost fortress from this fiery gold. Inside, you will find what remains of my kingdom.
Halliphax: Its halls and chambers are filled with danger that only grows as you go deeper. You will face broken remnants of a bygone age, maddened jesters and those of your predecessors who joined their ranks.
Halliphax: Many monsters have found their way here from the Fire Realm, drawn by the tree's power. The castle itself is a threat as well, as we prepared many traps when the war broke through our borders.
«You»: You said I would have to put an echo of his legacy at peace if I came here. What exactly does that mean?
Halliphax: It means that the last king of Alnaphar still roams these halls and chambers, but he is... Broken. What you will find here in the tree is a manifestation of his ambition. His ideals and unfulfilled dreams.
Halliphax: He barely acknowledges the living. He won't even listen to me anymore. But if you can command his attention, you'll face the dream held in his heart when he lost everything. You can make it true.
«You»: Everything here makes it seem like Alnaphar was an incredibly powerful kingdom. What can I possibly do that would be so important for a man who had it all? Is he expecting someone to restore Alnaphar?
Halliphax: Hah! That would be a sight... And to be honest, I could see you rekindle it, if you were to live long enough. I think you would have loved my home, or at least the sight of it.
Halliphax: We stood shoulder to shoulder with the dragon throne of Thunder Mountain, rivaling their glory. We harnessed the fire fields and the bellowing mountains. We struggled, yes, but our people reveled.
Halliphax: We had all of that... And yet we still fell, washed away in the tide of war. No, my king has no interest in dredging up the broken past. What remains of him has a humbler, and much more difficult, dream.
Halliphax: Seek him out. Fight through the monsters, the invaders, and the visions so real that they will burn your flesh and mind. See for yourself why you may just be perfect for this.
Quest!
Quest alone!
Take Halliphax with you! (Guardian only)
«Regardless of choice, you will proceed with the following dialogue. Arrows will appear for you to navigate through the area. Each “room” has 1 monster battle. You receive a Full Heal and a potion bag for you to refill your potions (Guardian Only) every 2 battles. There is a trap you may encounter (first entrance up that you see).»
Ceiling Spears!
A spear trap has triggered! You've spotted a failsafe lever, but it's jammed! Can you force it in time?
Difficulty: 50
Stat Used: Strength
«If you fail the roll: “You were hit by the spears!”»
«If you succeed the roll: “You dodge the trap!”»«You get a Full Heal immediately after the trap. Should your HP hit 0 due to the trap, you will be sent to the Boatman.»
«However you move, you will eventually have to go up one of 2 entrances. Both lead you to the dialogue below.»
???: You are unfamiliar. Have I forgotten another face? No. You do not belong. A new haunting. A new invader. Get out of my way.
«You»: Who are you? Are you the king?
Nameless King: I am the last. I am the lost. I am what remains when there is nothing left to consume in the pyre of glory. My name is consigned to shadow, as your flesh will be consigned to ash.
1 BATTLE: The Nameless King
Full Heal
New Description: The remains of the last king of Alnaphar, inhabited by a restless echo of his unfulfilled dreams and ambitions! Defeat him to obtain the power of the Reign set!
The top level version is described as 'powerful' instead of 'restless'.
Nameless King: You are not like the others. The tree and the remnants are yet to break you. No matter. Even if your body is unbroken, the dreams and laughter will soon claim your mind. And yet...
Nameless King: ...There is something to you. A sense that I have been waiting for you. Though I am sure now that I never knew you. Have I called you here? Are you my reinforcements, centuries late?
«You»: I am «You». I am no vision or invader, king. Your gatekeeper sent me to find you.
«You»: She's not a dream or hallucination either. Halliphax said you don't listen to her anymore, but she is still working to fulfill the dream you shared with her.
Nameless King: I see her now. Refusing to abandon her post, even at my insistence. Not until a king begged and gave her a dream to protect did she finally leave, with my daughter's armor to guard that dream. So long ago...
Nameless King: How could anything but the very vision before my eyes be out there still, calling to you? ... I ordered her to leave. I ordered her to live. My loyal gatekeeper. You say she sent you to fulfill my dream.
Nameless King: Do legions march at your command? Does devastation follow in your wake, even when you do not will it? Is there nothing left but ash when you DO will it? Answer not, for I see the truth of your soul.
Nameless King: I see glory and flame. You are a destroyer, «You». Just like me. And you are a hero... Unlike me.
«You»: I don't care what you think you see in my future, king, but I am not in this world to cause ruin. And even if I were in your shoes, I--
Nameless King: Stop. I am not interested in explanations. If you truly are what I've been looking for, then I will see the measure of you. Survive, and you will find me again. Then I will know if you can save me.
«The Nameless King leaves the scene. You are given the option to visit Reign Set I or continue on. You can also refill your potions from the potion bag (Guardian Only). Once you receive the message “There are a lot of enemies past this point!”, you will be fighting 2 consecutive battles per room. You will have to pass through a Jester Pit trap in order to proceed, with the following stat rolls.»
Trap!!!
You sense a trap in here, can you cross the room without triggering it?
Difficulty: 109 (CharLvl <75) / 115 (CharLvl =75)
Stat Used: Luck
«If you fail in the roll, the message “You fell in a pit!” appears, and the entire screen plunges into darkness. You will encounter another roll.»
I’m Free FA-ALLING!
You fell into the pit, can you pull yourself back out before enemies arrive? OR
You fell into the pit, can you levitate yourself out before enemies arrive? OR
You fell into the pit, can one of your pets get you out before enemies arrive?
Difficulty: 79 (CharLvl <75) / 85 (CharLvl =75)
Stat Used: Strength/Intelligence/Charisma
«Stat Used depends on the following condition: Between STR, INT and CHA, use the stat that comes out highest. If there is a draw between at least two stats, then STR will have precedence followed by INT.»
«Succeeding in either rolls will give the message “You dodged the trap!”, and you can continue to the dialogue with Geldar below. If you fail the strength roll however, a message “You hear crazed laughter!!” appears and you will go through the following battles.»
6 BATTLES: Jesters
Level <75: Jester (60)
Level =75: Jester (75)
Full Heal after battles #3 and #6
«You can then exit the pit and proceed to the dialogue with Geldar below.»
Geldar: WHO DISTURBS THE LAIR OF GELDAR? YOUR JOURNEY ENDS- Wait. Are you the one the king was speaking of? Apologies, the screaming act gets things done faster. You're smaller than I expected.
«You»: I believe I am. I'm «You». Besides, to be fair, you look like you could just pick up any invader and throw them off the tree.
Geldar: Hah! Fair. I stopped doing that a few centuries ago. Halliphax complained. Something about letting people flee. Between you and me, though, it was probably because I accidentally hit her with an invader.
«You»: I'm glad that you found common ground, but I'd rather not have to flee until I've seen the king again. Halliphax sent me to find him, and I'd almost gotten through to him before he monologued and left.
Geldar: Welcome to my life for the past thousand years, young one. That echo is all that remains of my closest friend, and I can never quite suss out how to help him before his mind wanders. Yet, you did differently.
Geldar: He hasn't been adrift. He even walked past, warning me to give you no easy time of it. Ah, but where are my manners? I am Geldar, Champion of Alnaphar.
«You»: It's an honor to meet you. I'm surprised there are several survivors after all of this time... You said the king was your friend? Is that why you'd been defenestrating invaders?
Geldar: Yes. This was my second home. Gold Dragons, just like the Halcyon Spark that this tree was grown from, are native to the Fire Realm. I was stranded in the prime world and badly injured, once.
Geldar: The king and his forces found me after a battle. I was fading. I don't know why, but I tried to drive his forces off instead of burning them. They could have finished me off. He held them back.
Geldar: He had me stabilized and brought to the Reign Tree to recover. It was like being back home, albeit surrounded by frightened little primates. Not him, though. We'd talk for hours.
Geldar: About power. Legacy. Loyalty. The burden of rule when war is on the horizon. Lost loved ones. His absolutely terrible taste in music. When the time came to go home, I realized I was already there.
Geldar: Which brings us to now. You have my friend's interest, and so you've earned my curiosity. You even have the guts to stand before an ancient dragon.
Geldar: The king wishes to see the measure of you, and I can think of an easy way to do that. I'm going to slam you against every wall of this chamber and see what falls off when I shake your burned body.
«You»: Wait, what?!
1 BATTLE: Geldar, Ancient Gold Dragon
Full Heal
Geldar: Impressive. You held your own very well.
«You»: Okay, I was wondering when you'd attack me, but what was THAT for?
Geldar: You've been roaming my home for some time now. You could have slain Halliphax and staked some manner of claim, started looting this place or trying to clear it out for yourself.
Geldar: That would have gotten you roasted, mind, but you didn't know there'd be an ancient dragon here to ruin that. Besides, if the king is to face you again... I had to make sure you could handle it.
Geldar: Listen well. The only time I went far from this home, hoping to defend it... I couldn't return in time to save it. Now I can't even remind him that there is more than ruin to his legacy. So now I remain and mourn.
Geldar: So if you can make a difference... An ancient dragon does not beg, «You». However, I will set pride aside for this. Please. Save the king.
«Geldar retreats. You are given the option to visit Reign Set II or continue on. You can also refill your potions here via the potion bag (Guardian Only). You face 2 BATTLES followed by a Full Heal per room on the way to the Reign Phoenix as shown.»Monster List
Level <105: Flame-kissed Phoenix (90), Fire Knight (90), InfernoZard (90), Jester (90), Large Salamander (90), Djinni (90)
Level =105: Phoenix Mother (105), Fire Knight (105), InfernoZard (105), Jester (105), Huge Salamander (105), Djinni (105)
«You»: Are you the king's eyes out here? If you're coming after me... Is he done observing, then?
1 BATTLE: Reign Phoenix
Full Heal
«You are given the option to visit Reign Set III, or just continue on. You can also refill your potions from the potion bag (Guardian Only). In the subsequent battles, for every trap you encounter, it will be immediately followed by two monster battles regardless of whether you succeed or fail the roll, before a Full Heal. Failing the roll will deal damage to you. Damage is based on your Fire resistance.»
Monster List
Level <135: Phoenix Defender (120), Fire Knight (120), InfernoZard (120), Jester (120), Enormous Salamander (120), Djinni (120)
Level =135: Phoenix Queen (135), Fire Knight (135), InfernoZard (135), Jester (135), Humongous Salamander (135), Djinni (135)
Flaming Arrow Trap
A mechanism in the wall is firing flaming arrows at you! Can you dodge the arrows and disarm the trap?
Difficulty: 81
Stat Used: Dexterity
«If you fail the roll: “Ouch! You couldn’t dodge the flaming arrows!”»
«If you succeed the roll: “You dodge the flaming arrows, but there are still enemies lying in wait!”»
«The Nameless King confronts you once more.»
Nameless King: You are worthy in the eyes of Halliphax and Geldar. The way you carry yourself is worthy in mine. If the time is finally here, then I can finally be fulfilled.
Nameless King: You had questions before I left you behind. Ask, but be ready to act.
«You»: I could be here asking questions for days. What are you, really? How can we know so little of Alnaphar's rulers when something like the Reign Tree remains?
Nameless King: If Alnaphar's royalty was forgotten, it would be because it could do naught but be forgotten. We were conquerors. No matter what glories we sought to offer our people...
Nameless King: ...Therein lies the great sin of Alnaphar. To make them call themselves our people in the first place. The cultures we bound to our ways, the peoples we bound to our fate.
Nameless King: Each ruler pushed until we reached the shores. Until we met the borders of the dragon rule to the north and the orcish cities to the west. At first, it was the conquest of threats. Then it was our way.
Nameless King: The last king of Alnaphar inherited a legacy of plunder and conquest. He wished for a legacy of his own, but never had the strength to turn away from the way of rule that he inherited.
Nameless King: He died fighting to the last for a legacy that haunted him. In death, this regret grew too heavy, and he would not rest. To elude the Reaper, he cast himself into the very gold and stone of the Tree.
«You»: That's not the whole story. You expected you would die. You sent Halliphax away so that she wouldn't share your fate. Whatever you did to your soul, you had some hope of finding peace.
Nameless King: The last king of Alnaphar did. But now I am more than a king, yet less than a human. I am what was cast aside in the moment of death: The aspect of the ruler.
Nameless King: I am both the legacy of conquest, and the longing the king could not fulfill in life. If I were to fulfill this dream, I could rest. Do you see, now? I could finally move on if I conquered these lands.
«You»: ... And you don't want to. That's why Geldar is really here, and why you tolerate these monsters and haunted jesters. It's all to contain you while Halliphax finds someone who can be your other way out.
«You»: But if this is the dream Halliphax wants me to help fulfill, how can I help you turn away from your mistakes?
Nameless King: The rulers of Alnaphar were called heroes. That's what I truly wished to be. Join me for one last conquest, adventurer. I challenge you to a duel. Win, and I can become part of a true heroic legacy!
«Non-Story Mode»
1 BATTLE: The Nameless King
Full Heal
«Successfully defeating The Nameless King opens Reign Set IV.»
«If you are at level 150, the following dialogue occurs.»
Nameless King: It's almost working. I can feel it! My mind clears, broken as I may be, and my power returns to me. I truly stand before a storied hero, and your legend will surpass my own.
«You»: Why didn't it work yet?
Nameless King: As much as I wish to focus on my dream of heroism, I embody the legacy of conquest as well. A duel is not enough. You must truly vanquish me.
Nameless King: To be put to rest by one who shares that capacity for destruction, yet has the strength to turn away from it... That would fulfill everything I have become. Prepare, hero. We must fight to the death.
- Fight the Nameless King! - Battle as below
- Abandon Quest - Return to Town
1 BATTLE: The Nameless King (150)
Full Heal
«Reign Set V opens.»
Halliphax: I... I can scarcely believe it. The king's dreams have been laid to rest. Thank you so much, «You»! I am sorry for leaving you guessing. It was important that my king didn't get too suspicious.
«You»: After going through that, I understand why the revelations had to come from him. He had to be the one to decide to trust me with his dream.
«You»: He was fortunate to have people as loyal as you and Geldar. Though I have to ask, how have you been able to live this long to keep vigil over Alnaphar? Are you a spirit or aspect too?
Halliphax: Some secrets are better off staying buried, my friend. I was the last gatekeeper of Alnaphar. I was supposed to lead the final line of defense. To be sent away and see it all brought to ruin... I couldn't bear it.
Halliphax: But you! You were able to make a thousand years worth the wait! You have earned the Reign Tree's royal armaments, and your rest.
Split line below:
(Default line) Halliphax: When you are ready, there is another challenge I would beseech you to face. In the tunnels at the base of the tree, the darker parts of Alnaphar's legacy fester. Can you overcome them?
(Rewritten Shadow set completed) Halliphax: And perhaps... Now that you have put the fragmented king to rest... I can rest too. Once again, and from the bottom of my heart, thank you. May we meet again.
- Quest for the Shadow set
- Leave Alnaphar
«Story Mode»
«You»: If the trials so far weren't enough, then I ask for time. I will prepare until I'm ready to face you at your strongest. Then I can put you to rest.
Nameless King: If you don't believe you can overcome me yet... I will remain here. I have resisted for a thousand years. I can wait a few more.
Nameless King: Find me when you are ready, hero.. Free me from the stones and regalia I have bound my dreams to, and the Reign armaments will be yours.
You return back to Battleon. Original write-up by whackybeanz. Original Jester Pit stat roll information thanks to BlackAces and 1997p3. Element of original traps by Genoclysm. New story and dialogue by Lorekeeper.
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