Jokanur Diggings (mission)

Objectives
Speak to Digmaster Gatah to enter this mission.
 * Melonni must be in your party.
 * Elonian characters must have completed Signs and Portents.
 * Non Elonian characters must have completed Sunspears in Kryta or Sunspears in Cantha.

Travel to the ancient Istani ruins. Kormir must survive.


 * ADDED Obtain the tablet from Darehk and place it on the stone pedestal.
 * ADDED Place the two tablets on the pedestals.
 * ADDED Guard Kahdash while he places the tablet on the pedestal.
 * ADDED Find and defeat the Apocrypha.
 * BONUS Do not harm any Sunspear Ghosts. (note: it says "harm", but it means "kill")

Primary
The primary objective is to pick your way through Fahranur, The First City to discover what was unearthed in the excavations and has begun killing the diggers. You discover it to be, and are then required to kill, the Apocrypha, which appears to be a living tablet inscribed with a glowing purple symbol that can split into multiple pieces and take the general form of an elemental.

On the mission map the starting location of the ghost Darehk (and the tablet he is carrying) is point 1. You must kill him to get the tablet and place it on the first pedestal (Location A). The locations of the second and third stone tablets required to continue are at points 2 and 3 and must be placed on the pedestals at location B. If you place a stone tablet on one of the pedestals, the Sunspear Ghost that was guarding that tablet will run to the pedestals to take it back. It is suggested to drop one of the tablets near the pedestals and then go back to get the second one. Once both are near the pedestals, you can place them both and exit the room before the Sunspear Ghosts come over to take them back. Kahdash, who you must protect to reach the Apocrypha, is at point 4, and the Apocrypha itself is at location 5.

The city has numerous 'traps'. The crushers cause instant death, the dart pillars inflict the Madness Dart hex, causing -1 health degeneration for 10 seconds and the flame jets inflict damage, burning, and crippled.

Foes inflict Disease frequently.

Bonus
The bonus is to avoid killing the two Sunspear Ghosts who walk around near the stone tablets in the second chamber. They won't attack you, so you can simply run away once you have the tablet. Heroes can readily be flagged away from the ghosts if needed. Pets can be temporarily set to avoid combat, though minions cannot be so leashed and should not be used in this section. Kormir will attack them, but she follows the party and can be pulled away from them easily. As long as the ghosts do not die, you will complete the bonus.

The Sunspear Ghosts will attempt to take the stone tablets back to their original position once they are on their pedestal. To get around this, simply drop the first tablet next to the pedestals and then go to retrieve the second. The ghosts will not be triggered to steal the tablets unless they are actually placed on the pedestal.

If Kahdash should die, this will also count against the bonus. He will respawn however and allow you to complete the mission.

Hard mode
It helps immensely to have two healers, as mobs cause disease with Tainted Flesh, which can put a lot of pressure on a single healer. Most mobs are undead, and thus handily destroyed by holy damage; your healers can pitch in on this with some smiting skills if desired.

Allies

 * 20 Kormir
 * 12 (20) Kahdash
 * 12 (20) Ghostly Sunspear Commander

Monsters

 * Ghosts
 * 12 (20) Sunspear Ghost
 * 12 (20) Darehk the Quick
 * Insects
 * 8 (23) Grub Lance
 * 8 (23) Preying Lance
 * Plants
 * 10 (24) Fanged Iboga
 * 10 (24) Stormseed Jacaranda
 * Undead
 * 11 (24) Relentless Corpse
 * 11 (24) Restless Dead
 * Monolith
 * 13 (24) Apocrypha

Inside the mission
Kormir: ''The diggers were excavating the ruins west of here. That is where we must go.''

Melonni: ''I have never seen anything quite like these markings. What did this to the diggers?''

Kormir: ''I cannot say, but I am certain we will find their killer in the ruins. We will find it, and we will destroy it.''

Kormir: ''I am Spearmarshal Kormir. We seek access to the inner chambers.''

Ghostly Sunspear Commander: ''Your name means nothing to me. I'll warn you as I've warned the others: Death stalks these dusty halls. You must not enter!''

Kormir: ''The centuries have addled your senses, phantom. We are Sunspears. We shall pass with or without your permission!''

Darehk the Quick: ''The chamber is sealed. I will not allow you entry.''

Kormir: If you will not give us the key wilingly, we will be forced to take it from you.

Kormir: ''This next champer will also be sealed. We'll need two tablets to open it.''

Melonni: Kormir, how do you know so much about this place?

Kormir: ''A Spearmarshal's duties do not end on the battlefield. Come, we must find the stone tablets.''

Kormir: ''Excellent work! We must continue. The third trial awaits.''

Kormir: ''We are here to destroy what lies within the inner chamber. Stand aside, specter.''

Kahdash: ''The inner chamber is sealed with good reason. Others have come before you, but the evil of the Apocrypha remains.''

Melonni: ''If you truly oppose this "Apocrypha" you will help us destroy it. Please. Our enemies are the same. Let us work together.''

Kahdash: ''Your words ring true. Very well, I shall help you. I will place this tablet back on the pedestal, but I need your protection to succeed.''

Melonni: ''Thank you, Kahdash. I promise that we will not rest until the evil is driven from this place.''

Kormir: ''Well said, Melonni. Onward, friends! For the glory of the Sunspears!''

Kormir: ''Whatever that abomination is, we will defeat it! Sunspears, forward!''

Ending cutscene
Varesh: Report, General Morgahn.

General Morgahn: ''You were correct, Warmarshal. The Sunspears have been recruiting and training new leaders.''

Varesh: We will need to increase our own forces as well.

General Morgahn: With respect, Varesh, the Sunspears serve all the Elonian Provinces.

Varesh: If they serve all of Elona, why are the headquarters here, in Istan, instead of Kourna?

General Morgahn: Your father taught me to trust the Sunspears.

Varesh: My father taught me to do what is necessary to protect my land.

General Kahyet: Varesh!

Varesh: ''General Kahyet! You are dismissed Morgahn.''

General Morgahn: Warmarshal, we are not finished here.

Varesh: ''Prepare for our return to Kourna. I shall join you shortly.''

General Kahyet: He is a loyal old fool.

Varesh: What news, Kahyet?

General Kahyet: ''The Apocrypha has been destroyed by the Sunspears. But not before I gained what we needed from it.''

Varesh: Praise Abaddon.

General Kahyet: ''Praise Abaddon! Prepare the way. You lead. I shall follow. Nightfall comes.''

Varesh: ''Yes, my teacher. Nightfall comes.''

Follow-up

 * Upon completion of the mission, players will find themselves in Kamadan, Jewel of Istan.
 * To continue the storyline, a Nightfall character can accept the Primary quest: Isle of the Dead from First Spear Dehvad.