Quest:Rotten to the Core

Rotten to the Core is a level 41 story quest part of the Allemantheia quest chain. It is preceded by and followed by.

Objectives

 * 1) Travel to Tria and meet with Raeren
 * 2) Consult with Rorise about the Stronghold of Blood
 * 3) Speak with Lubdok at Castra Mysterium in Essenian Crest about the Core Crux
 * 4) Ancient Bladegolen <0/8> Fight past the ancient bladegolems to reach Liberation Station
 * 5) Order Velnen at Liberation Station to retreat
 * 6) Ancient Speargolem <0/8> Destroy the ancient speargolem to open up a path of retreat
 * 7) Use the to locate the infiltrators
 * 8) Go to signal location
 * 9) Order Erbale to retreat
 * 10) Go to Taydis's location
 * 11) Give Taydis the order to retreat
 * 12) Shield Stone <0/2> Find and activate the shield stones in the northeast sector of the fortress
 * 13) Stash Investigate the chest
 * 14) Merciless Iskaragard <0/3> Savage Iskaragard <0/3> Eliminate the iskaragards and recover the Core Crux
 * 15) Core Crux <0/1> Legion commander Gernik must have the Core Crux. Kill him and take it
 * 16) Core Crux <1/1> Deliver the Core Crux to Taydis
 * 17) Report to Raeren in Tria that you have retrieved the Core Crux

Script
Our shield towers in the Stronghold of Blood were our best defense against the argons, but Thulsa's forces invaded and captured them.

According to the Mysterium, the shields went down right before Thulsa's forces arrived.

Go to Tria and talk to Raeren for your marching orders.

Reinforcements? Splendid. I don't suppose you brought a battalion of runicars with you? No? Pity.

Thulsa's forces are barricaded in a fortress festooned with mystic wards and arcane protections. That's why those Argons in the north never think about coming down here.

But after our shields went down, Thulsa's forces easily captured the fortress.

We must flush them out and win back the fort!

(I understand.)

Our fortress wards are meant to be powered by the Core, but we've cut that connection while the enemy controls the Stronghold of Blood. Thulsa's forces have no comparable power source — only the dark god himself. That is their strength... and perhaps their weakness.

(I see.)

Lubdock commands the arcanists at Castra Mysterium in Silent Hills. He's trying to figure out a way for our troops to retake the fortress.

(I understand.)

If Thulsa's powering the fortress shields himself, he'll be looking for a way to use the Core Crux to power them instead. If that happens, the infiltrators I sent in will die.

If you get to Liberation Station quickly enough, Velnen might be able to stop the infiltrators before they breach the fortress.

Be careful — the route between here and Serenity Valley is crawling with ancient bladegolems.

(I understand.)

You're too late, they've already left. They're halfway to the fortress by now, no doubt.

We don't want them dying over a miscommunication, though.

Here, take this homing device with you. It'll help you find their location. If you can make your way through the ancient speargolems to reach the team, you might just save them!

(I understand.)

Heavens, I'd never thought that someone like you would risk their life just to save us.

Nonetheless, we can't just stand here and let Thulsa's forces lay their hands on the Core Crux. Taydis went ahead to set up our attack plan. Please go and tell him that we need to retrieve the Core Crux as soon as possible!

(I understand.)

Orders to retreat? I see...

Well, the Core Crux is hidden in a Shield Stone, but I can't spare anybody to retrieve it.

[player name], you'll have to go get it. We'll distract Thulsa's forces and give you some room to operate.

Malfunctioning or not, we must get the Core Crux back.

(What's your plan?)

The Core Crux is inside a large chest, which can be summoned by activating shield stones. Hurry, we can't let such a powerful artifact fall into the wrong hands!

(I understand.)

(There are broken fragments of iskaragard carapace inside. Thulsa's forces must have already found the Core Crux. Hunt merciless iskaragards and savage iskaragards to see whether they still have it.)

(Close the chest.)

Well done. With the Core Crux back in our possession, Thulsa must keep dividing his strength to hold the fortess.

The fight isn't over, but at least we've got a chance now. Take the Core Crux to Raeren in Tria. It's out of our hands now, and much higher than our paygrades.

Take this teleport scroll. You'll be at Tria before you know it.

(I understand.)

A remarkable device. You saved a lot of lives today, and gave us the opening we needed.

You're a good soldier, [player name]. We're fortunate to have you.

(Thank you.)

Summary Upon Completion
Thulsa's forces threatened the shield towers in the Stronghold of Blood that the federation uses to block the argon advance.

You went deep into enemy territory to restore the shields, but Thulsa's forces had already sabotaged one the towers.

Rewards

 * 2,400,000 XP
 * x 5
 * x 5
 * x 3
 * x 5
 * x 5
 * x 3