Ruins of Surmia (mission)

Mission Objectives
Rescue the soldiers taken prisoner by the Charr.
 * Safeguard Prince Rurik's life.
 * Free all the Ascalon captives.
 * Get to the Obelisks inside the ruined academy.
 * ADDED Cross the ravine and open the drawbridge for Prince Rurik and Erol.
 * BONUS Extinguish the Flame Temple by defeating the Flame Keepers.

Primary
Follow the prince and take it as slow as possible since the prince has a tendency to rush off and get everyone into too much aggro. Particularly when reaching the Charr, there can be some groups which can get too large. Eventually after looping over the "river" you will find three prison cages alongside the river (point A on the map). Each group has a boss with it. At this point, make sure to clear out the small groups around each prison first as Rurik will head for the prison to try and open it the moment he is near it. the last prison is guarded by Devourers so it's not as open as it looks. Upon freeing the last group you get the first cut-scene.

A short journey later you arrive at the drawbridge where Rurik decides to wait with the recently released Erol (point B on the map). To cross you need to loop south and east, north, back west along the river under the drawbridge and then round to the right. Pull the lever to bring the bridge down. After opening the drawbridge follow Rurik to the mages. (If you choose to do the bonus, there is a short cut from the bonus location to the lever.)

If you close the door after entering the "final area" (point D on the map) using the two levers you may save some trouble. Basically the mobs come at you in groups of 3 or 4, one group at a time. If you keep a single member of each group alive for a bit it can delay the arrival of the next group and allow time to heal up a bit. Finally, a group with a boss will arrive. Kill him to complete the mission.

Bonus
Just after leaving Prince Rurik at the bridge, and heading south and then east you arrive at a guard (point 1 on the map) who has been guarding in the middle of nowhere for two years. He gives you the Bonus. At this time a group of Charr Ember Bearers appear just south of you. Do not kill them yet. Follow them, taking care to stay out of aggro range, until a gate opens for them to pass through. (2 on the map) Once the gate opens you can kill them. The Temple keepers are at the top of the hill inside the gate and cast Fire Storm. Kill them to complete the bonus (point 3 on the map). At the bottom of the hill there is a second gate that leads to a shortcut to the other side of the drawbridge (point 4 on the map).

Note: If you kill the Ember Bearers all paths leading to the temple will be locked.

Bosses and Skills
The following bosses can be encountered during the Ruins of Surmia mission:
 * Burr Mankiller (Necromancer): Faintheartedness, Life Siphon, Mark of Pain
 * Fester Fang (Necromancer): Life Siphon, Parasitic Bond, Weaken Armor
 * Gnash Underfoot: -
 * Hurl Foulspine: -
 * Slaug Firehide (Elementalist): Flare, Conjure Flame, Aura of Restoration
 * Scint the Malign (Mesmer): Ether Feast, Mantra of Flame

Additional Notes
Before doing this mission pick up the Cities of Ascalon quest from the scribe in Ascalon City. One of the "historical monuments" for the quest is located two-thirds of the way into this mission just before opening the drawbridge. (C on the map) The Cities of Ascalon quest is worth 1000 XP. After completing it, you can receive Symon's History of Ascalon from Witness Rastin, an easy quest worth 2000 XP.

The players will be in Nolani Academy at the completion of this mission.