Fort Ranik (mission)

''For information on the Pre-Searing location, see Fort Ranik (Pre-Searing).

Mission Objectives
Retake the Great Northern Wall.
 * Push back the invading Charr army.
 * Locate the Restraining Bolt and return it to Siegemaster Lormar.
 * Locate the Arming Crank and return it to Siegemaster Lormar.
 * Locate the Release Lever and return it to Siegemaster Lormar.
 * BONUS Rescue Deeter Saberlin from his Charr imprisonment.

Primary
This mission is straightforward until you reach the ballistae. Near the ballistae (and conveniently within range of their fire) are large groups of Charr; rushing in and aggroing them would be suicide. Talk to Siegemaster Lormar (B on the map). He will tell you that that the ballistae are broken, but he can fix them if you bring him three working parts. Gather these parts from the wreckages (marked C on the map). After all three parts are returned and the ballista restored, fire it and watch destruction rain upon the fifteen-strong group of Charr right below the ledge you are standing on.

The second ballista is working (point D on the map). If you fire it quickly, you may be lucky and kill the final boss, completing the mission. Otherwise, it's a case of luring out the Charr into the blast pit of the ballista. If you approach cautiously, staying out of aggro range, the groups will come to the blast pit and stay there long enough to eat fiery death.

Once you have a clear path to the wall, go marching in and kill the boss. Enjoy the ending cutscene.

Bonus
You get the bonus objective from Master Armin Saberlin after you clear the initial Charr platoon (including a boss). If Saberlin does not survive, you will not see the bonus objective in your quest log, though you can still get the reward. The bonus objective is to rescue Trooper Deeter Saberlin from his cage at point 2 on the map. His cage is guarded by two Charr Overseers who use Heal Area to keep each other alive. There are many strategies for defeating them – fight them up close to benefit from their heals, hex them with Backfire to neutralize the healing effect, interrupt their heals with knockdown attacks or Power Leak (which you can obtain from Vassar in an early post-searing mesmer quest), or improvise your own strategy.

Mission Text
Briefing from Lord Darrin.

Bosses and Skills
The following bosses can be found in this mission: Craze the Unforgiving: Ether Feast, Energy Burn, Illusion of Haste

Roarst One Eye: Faintheartedness, Life Siphon, Mark of Pain

Rrrack Whitefire: Bane Signet, Banish, Heal Area, Infuse Health

Spar the Ravager: Frenzy, Healing Signet, Wild Blow

Torch Spitfur: Aura of Restoration, Conjure Flame, Flare

Vatlaaw Doomtooth: Favorable Winds, Ignite Arrows, Penetrating Attack, Troll Unguent

Klaww FeatherStorm: Favorable Winds, Penetrating Attack, Troll Unguent

Exploits
This mission can be rushed, providing the rusher (runner) is equipped with running skills (e.g., Sprint or Dodge) and is strong enough to defeat the boss at the end. There appears to be no actual need to repair the ballistae to complete the mission.

Once the rusher has reached the second ballista (point D on the map), and as indicated above, firing the second ballista should kill the final boss, thus completing the mission.

Should the second ballista fail to kill the final boss, there is a "false" section in the wall, NW of the second ballista, that will allow you to sneak pass most of the Charr still remaining in the blast pit, and allowing quicker access to the final boss.

Additional Notes
The quest Deliver a Message to My Wife is found in this mission. Talk to Gurn Blanston to receive it. He can be found to the west of the first building up on the hill (A on the map).

The players will be in Frontier Gate at the completion of this mission.