Nexus Shadow Armor Quest

Quest Overview

 * 1) During the Darkness Ascendant event, menacing Shadow Spires appeared from beneath the surface of Dereth. Tales were told of random travellers being abducted and sent to the spires for interrogation by three entities.
 * 2) During the Thorns of the Hopeslayer event, large Shadow armies led by Shadow Captains and the generals Black Ferah and Ler Rhan started to invade Dereth.
 * 3) Later on in the event, portals appeared giving players access to the Shadow Spires. At the top of each spire in the Spire's Head were creatures called Spire Shadows, which dropped spire key chunks on death.
 * 4) The key chunks were taken from the Spire Shadows at each town and combined to create a complete Shadow Key.
 * 5) In the final stage of the Shadow invasion, portals started to appear giving access to the Nexus dungeon. Using the Shadow Key players could enter the final dungeon.
 * 6) At the end of the Nexus dungeon was one of the Soul Crystals - the Nexus Crystal. When destroyed it dropped a single Nexus Core Gem. The gem could be handed in to one of the Master Armorers for a suit of unique Nexus Shadow Armor.

Note: Although this quest is now retired, you can still visit the Nexus dungeon when completing the Apostate Nexus Quest and climb a Shadow Spire as players did in 2000, by doing the Shield of Isin Dule Quest.

Lore & Dialog

 * For an official account of the invasions during the Thorns of the Hopeslayer event, see the General History of Dereth Vol. V.
 * For lore on the Shadow generals who led the invasions, see Ferah and Ler Rhan.

Town Crier Rumors
 * Town Crier tells you, "News! The floating Shadow Spires that burst from the depths of the earth last month still float passively. Mages report that when the earth quakes, the currents of magic that run through the land shift a little more towards them."


 * Town Crier tells you, "News! Experienced adventurers report being ripped from their daily activity and magically brought to the howling Shadow Spires. There they have been questioned by some unseen inquisitor."


 * Town Crier tells you, "The adventurers taken to the Spires were asked to make a difficult choice. There are six towns where Spires have erupted from the ground - Cragstone, Eastham, Tou-Tou, Sawato, Khayyaban, Tufa. They were asked which of those six they should like to see destroyed."


 * Town Crier tells you, "Those taken into the Spires, after discussing their experiences with each other, believe that three distinct entities performed the questioning. I know not what this means."

Broadcast messages during the Shadow attacks

The first wave, lead by a Shadow Captain, attacks Fort Tethana and the Direlands.
 * In the dark of the obsidian wasteland, where great magics wrought destruction long ago, the Shadows stir and awaken. The Hand stretches forth once more...

The first Shadow Captain is defeated and the Shadows move into Northern Osteth
 * The darkness has been checked in the Northern Direlands. The brave defenders of Fort Tethana have prevailed; [Name of Hero] has slain the Shadow Captain. The tides of war shift...another captain shall appear, perhaps in a different settlement... The dying Shadow Captain cackles, the hateful sound echoing from the walls of Fort Tethana. "You may have sent me to my doom, [Name of Hero], but the generals are here, and they shall see your people weeping in despair."


 * The Shadows, despite the loss of their Captain to [Name of Hero], have pushed on into northern Oseth, into the Mt. Espar range. Beware, children of Ispar... The ancient terror has come!

Two more Shadow Captains are defeated in the northlands
 * The northlands tremble with the echoes of battle, but another Shadow captain has been slain by [Name of Hero]. The Shadows establish a presence in the northern mountains, but otherwise withdraw.... An uneasy peace settles over the land...


 * The dying Shadow Captain laughs. "Savor this little victory [Name of Hero]. The Generals are come, meat-puppets, and they shall fall upon your puny hovels like a storm-tide!"

Black Ferah and her army attack Wei Jhou
 * A whisper floats upon the wind: From the blasted obsidian plains come Black Ferah's armies. Seek the shadow of Ferah.
 * It is not Black Ferah's true self, for the Generals do not yet risk themselves thus.

Shadow Aspect of Black Ferah is defeated
 * The wind whispers to you: [Name of Hero] destroyed the first shadow of Black Ferah, but that is no hindrance. The Enemy is advancing into the craggy Linvak Mountains, south of the Sho lands.

Shadow Aspect of Black Ferah is defeated again near Kara
 * A whisper floats upon the wind: [Name of Hero] has defeated the shadow of Black Ferah. The Shadow forces press onward, even to the frontier of the lands settled by the Sho. The aspect of Black Ferah will doubtless seek the power within the southern Shadow Spire... Find the portal to that dread construct, where ever it may appear...

Shadow Aspect of Black Ferah is slain inside a Shadow Spire 
 * The wind brings good tidings: [Name of Hero] has found and destroyed the shadow of Black Ferah! Leaderless, the Shadow Armies melt away. All but the mountains are safe once more. The land is quiet for the moment...


 * As the shadow of Black Ferah falls, you hear the cold voice say: "A fine attempt, to have reached me within this twisted pathetic creation. Well done, [Name of Hero]. I see I must reformulate my plans.

Ler Rhan's forces appear in the A'mun desert
 * A whisper floats upon the wind: Ler Rhan has called forth the shadows to the realm of the proud desert dwellers! The first wave shall begin anon.


 * Seek out the shadow of Ler Rhan who shall arrive soon…the way shall be opened soon.


 * Only the protective magic of Asheron keeps the darkest Shadows from your precious towns.

A Shadow Aspect of Ler Rhan is beaten
 * The wind brings tidings: The shadow of Ler Rhan has been destroyed by [Name of Hero]! Coolly, the Shadow General moves on to the plains nigh upon the borders of the Aluvian realm. Seek again the aspect of Ler Rhan; he may be reached soon...soon...

A Shadow Aspect of Ler Rhan is defeated once more in the Aluvian region
 * The wind brings tidings: The shadow of Ler Rhan has been slain by [Name of Hero]! Ler Rhan has been pushed southward to the realms of the Sho and the Blackmire Swamp. Seek Ler Rhan's shadow; he will arrive soon...


 * Ler Rhan collapses, but hisses in amusement as he falls: "You may have defeated this shadow of mine, [Name of Hero], but I shall rise up elsewhere!"

A Shadow Aspect of Ler Rhan is slain in the Blackmire Swamp
 * The wind brings ominous tidings: The shadow of Ler Rhan has been slain by [Name of Hero]! But Black Ferah has taken up the assault within the Direlands...


 * Ler Rhan collapses, but hisses in amusement as he falls: "So, you have defeated me, [Name of Hero]. Well played. Yet, I have the aid of Black Ferah, who will now take up the forces in the northern Direlands!"

Black Ferah is slain yet again in the Direlands
 * The wind brings terrible news: While the shadow of Black Ferah has been slain by [Name of Hero] in the Direlands, Ler Rhan has renewed his offensive in the A'mun desert! But a new, cool and quiet undercurrent rides this wind, and it says: Little ones, seek now the Key that leads to the Nexus, and all will be made well!

The Nexus Crystal
 * Nexus Shadow says, "It is glorious to fall in the service of Ler Rahn and our Dark Master!"

On destruction of the Nexus Crystal
 * The destruction of the Nexus Crystal brings a burst of heat through the area, followed by a cool, chill wind. Shadows seem to leap up and fall away...in the distance, a faint voice seems to cry: "Retreat, in his name!" and then there is nothing more"


 * You flatten Nexus Crystal's body with the force of your assault!


 * The wind brings important tidings: with the destruction of the great Nexus Crystal by [Name of Hero], the shadows suddenly withdraw! From all across the land, the shadows seem to leap away, returning to their dark corners to hide. It seems that Dereth is safe...for now.

Handing in the Nexus Core Gem for Nexus Armor
 * You give Alean the Steel Forger Nexus Core Gem.
 * Alean the Steel Forger tells you, "This is the gem from the core of the Nexus Crystal, is it not? A worthy achievement, indeed. I will make you the greatest suit of armor in Dereth."
 * Alean the Steel Forger gives you Nexus Celdon Breastplate.
 * Alean the Steel Forger gives you Nexus Celdon Sleeves.
 * Alean the Steel Forger gives you Nexus Celdon Girth.
 * Alean the Steel Forger gives you Nexus Celdon Leggings.