After Corporal Tahar had discussed his plans with Angar Arandir and his other companions, it became evident that in order to take on the house of Utran's army at the Iskander Wilds, they would require advanced troops for their armies.
Lord Marshal Angar Arandir would propose to talk to High-Keeper Arenor of the Iron Falcons to boost the Wayfarers' ranks. Gor was telling about an invasion of Ashreavers at the Foot of Barga Gor which he needed to take care of in order to get access to advanced troops. And a message had reached Ianna that the Morhir scryers had run into trouble at Old Haalâyash. It they would get help, they would surely dispatch a few advanced elven fighters for Corporal Tahar's cause.
| “ | While you were asleep, an elven messenger came by. Varden Merelith, one of the Morhir scryers from Leafshade, sent him. [...] They seem to be somewhere deep in the Leafshade jungle, near the Haalâyash ruins. [...] He only stated that he would need help | ” |
— Ianna about Varden Merelith's message
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Traveling to Old Haalâyash[]
Once Corporal Tahar had arrived at Old Haalâyash he was immediately found and greeted by Silverhand. The Dreamweaver was currently helping Scryer Varden Merelith in dealing with the Corruption in the jungle.
While cleansing the pools of Elen had at first delayed the progress, the magic infestation now struck even harder. A strange fog could be found in the south of the area. However no one dared to investigate the dangerous fog and thus Silverhand suggested to go there first to observe how the fog would affect other life in the jungle.
Unraveling the truth behind the miasma[]
At the dark fog Corporal Tahar was able to observe two soldiers of the Purity of Light marching inside the fog. The dark clouds killed them within seconds and so he did not dare to venture deeper and returned to Silverhand and Scryer Varden Merelith.
The dreamweaver had the idea to consult an expert in black magic: Raith. The dark elven exile could be found in an area close-by and thus Corporal Tahar headed to the eastern border to travel to the Old Monastery.
Going to the Old Monastery[]
The Old Monastery of the guardian gods was home to many priests. Raith Skaddar found a new purpose here after his wife Jarobhe and his son Atros died from the Bloodburn and was serving there as a priest of Nor. Corporal Tahar attempted to convince him into helping with the strange fog but Raith was uninterested and would not leave the monastery.
Corporal Tahar had to find a way of convincing Raith and when he traveled the area, he found Raith's shack in the southeast of the Old Monastery. The Corporal found an old book with some sketches from Raith's family. This information could be used by Corporal Tahar to pressure Raith Skaddar into helping Silverhand and the elves. He would still be annoyed but went to Old Haalâyash to take a look at the fog.
| “ | They died six moons ago. But please, spare me the verbiage. You are not "sorry", because you did not even know them - you wanted to appeal to my better self and it worked. Good job, charmer. I'll come with you and take a look at that fog. | ” |
— Raith Skaddar agreeing to help
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Raith's golem[]
After having arrived at Old Haalâyash Raith could tell at first glance that the strange fog was indeed black magic. According to him this was an ancient hybernian magic called Miasma. However, it had to be invoked and controlled by someone and thus Raith Skaddar summoned a golem which he dispatched into the miasma clouds.
| “ | That is definitely black magic. Necromantic miasma, to be precise. Though it has been a long time since it was used because it is practically uncontrollable... the last noted occurrence was during the Hybernian era. | ” |
He shared the vision with his creation and thus could tell that his golem had seen a man within the fog. According to the description delivered by Raith, Scryer Varden Merelith was immediately recognizing him as the missing Scryer Arlan Finrior. Raith's golem was to weak to deal with Scryer Arlan Finrior and thus he proposed to search for at least four hybernian Crystal Shards. They would help him in invoking a powerful ritual to summon a devourer capable of destroying the miasma.
Fighting the Purity and the Corrupted[]
After having learned that he now had to obtain the four shards, Corporal Tahar had to lead an assault in the jungles of Old Haalâyash. He was threatened by both Corrupted and Purity fighters who led counter-attacks on the Morhir settlement. Commander Zyla was ordered by Scryer Varden Merelith not only to hand over the command over the camp but also over the elite units of the Morhir. This would unlock the Protector, the Wintermage, the Druid and the Ballista units.
- 🡆 This would also start the sub-quest The Unrelenting which finishes after having dealt with the Purity.
Destroying the Miasma[]
The four crystal shards could be found at four ruins all across the area. Some of the ruins were guarded by hybernian Colossus units which had to be defeated to get them. The final shard could be found in the sector where the Purity of Light had their main base and workers first had to clear the rubble blocking the access to the ruined temple.
Hybernian Shrine[]
Once Corporal Tahar had all four shards on him, he returned to Raith and Silverhand to inform them. Raith would propose to summon a powerful devourer which would be capable to destroy the origin of the Miasma. In order to summon the devourer Raith needed two additional things: An hybernian shrine and a living sacrifice. While Corporal Tahar, his companions and Silverhand were extremely opposed to this idea, Scryer Varden Merelith would agree to be the sacrifice.
| “ | I said, I will do it. It is Arlan who caused this and even though I do not know the reason, I should have seen it. HIs "expeditions", these speeches he gave in the council... I was too occupied with cutting a good figure among the Scryers. [...] If this fog spreads again, it may be the end of the Morhir - we have nowhere else to go. | ” |
— Scryer Varden Merelith volunteering as a sacrifice
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Because he failed to see Scryer Arlan Finrior's madness, so many elves had to die and if his sacrifice were to make it any better, he would gladly do it. He would not be able to convinced otherwise as he stated towards Silverhand. The hybernian shrine could be found in the north and once the sector had been occupied, Raith and Varden Merelith would conduct the ritual.
In an agonizing death the scryer gave up his life force to fuel the crystal shards with magic power. Raith quickly utilized it at the border to the miasma to summon a unique devourer resistant to the effect of the corrupting energy released by the fog. The devourer destroyed the crystal totem maintaining the miasma flow and thus cut of the source of the evil energy. A Corrupted Abomination would appear then that ought to be defeated with Corporal Tahar's and his soldiers' support.
Calling a Treant[]
If Corporal Tahar had already completed Forgotten Knowledge and thus obtained the power to summon a titan from the Ancient Altar at the area, he could propose to use the titan instead of Raith's devourer. Scryer Varden Merelith could remain alive in this case and would also add additional information regarding the Morhir culture at a later time.
Like Raith's devourer the titan was immune towards the corruption energy and could walk in safely and destroy the energy crystal and likewise the Corrupted Abomination summon upon its destruction had to be dealt with after.
| “ | We found out how to perform the ritual. It is dangerous but if it works, we could send that titan through the miasma. It would survive and destroy whatever is causing the corruption. | ” |
— Corporal Tahar proposing to use a titan
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Conclusion[]
After the summoned abomination had been defeated, Scryer Arlan Finrior was interrogated by Corporal Tahar and his companions about his motivation. According to him he wanted to teach the Morhir a lesson. He believed that the young scryers such as Varden Merelith had led the tribe on a faithless path. He wanted to remember them to Elen's teachings and had hoped that the threat of the Miasma and the Corruption would cause enough unrest to bring them back to their faithful devotion. Arlan Finrior would die soon after because of the wounds taken by his dark ritual earlier.
| “ | Out people... we had lost our way. The Guardians, Elen... they were all we had. They just ... do not see it. They think it was just our perseverance that made us survive throughout the years, but it was not. It was Elen... our mother. But they betrayed her... they forgot our origin, forgot what our culture was... was all about. | ” |
— Scryer Arlan Finrior about his motivation
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Corporal Tahar then returned back to Silverhand. If the titan was summoned, Scryer Varden Merelith would thank would Corporal Tahar's services and he would promise additional troops in future battles. If not, this would be told by his second-in-command Commander Zyla. This quest would be completed after this and would continue in The Impenetrable Cage.
Trivia[]
- Although the Corporal is required to have at least one army reinforced to assault the Iskander Wilds, this quest is officially listed as a side quest in the ingame quest log interface just like Struggling to Reconcile and Unwavering Resolve.
- You can only accept this quest if you have obtained access of the elven army during The Corruption.
- Since the update of Spellforce 3 Reforced, using a Treant titan instead of Raith's golem is no longer an option.