Stage 1 Minimum Level: 1251 Location:Broken Kingsway (Highroad) (11, 2) Required Item: None Required Kills: None

Hunched in defeat you find a wounded Guard. You reach out to the prone Guard and get him sat up. He looks at you with despair in his eyes, 'Are you his servant sent to finish me off?' You look blankly back at the Guard for a moment. The Guard then hesitantly says, 'You... you don't know what I'm talking about do you?' You shrug and tell him that you wander the Realms as fate leads. The Guard smiles, then coughs with the effort. He regains his breath, 'Sorry Warrior, this region was ruled by King Sadinus. The Old King named him over his older brother Xerdes, which he did not accept. Now Xerdes has taken the City of Lacedonia and the throne for himself by force. The rightful King Sadinus has been forced into exile, and all those loyal to Sadinus have been hunted down and murdered. I assumed you were one of Xerdes mercenaries. You spoke of fate, I suppose my fate is to die here at the sting of the Thorn Scorpion.' You say to him, 'You don't look dead yet. Why give up and do Xerdes job for him?' the Guard blinks up at you, 'I suppose your right, I can at least die on my feet rather than waste away here. Xerdes slank away into the hills after the first failed coup and learned dark arts within the wilderness. We could not kill him as he is protected with his foul arts, but maybe we can craft a weapon to murder the unchosen king.' The Guard then takes out a sheaf of parchment, 'Old habits die hard, a City Guard always needs parchment. Here, take this recipe and bring me the Thorn Venom Needle.' The Guard then takes a heavy swig of a water canister, 'Sorry Warrior but I must rest.' You receive 1 x Thorn Venom Needle Recipe. Bring the City Guard a Thorn Venom Needle

Stage 2 Minimum Level: 1251 Location:Broken Kingsway (Highroad) (11, 2) Required Item: Thorn Venom Needle Required Kills: None	The City Guard is sitting up binding his wounds when you return, 'Have you got a Thorn Venom Needle yet?' The Guard takes the Needle from you very carefully, 'Yes, this is potent enough. Well done Warrior.' He hands it back to you, 'Can you meet me in the Carriageway, we will require something from the Roc that flies there.' You receive 1 x Thorn Venom Needle

Stage 3 Minimum Level: 1252 Location:Broken Kingsway (Carriageway) (2, 9) Required Item: None Required Kills: None

The City Guard waves you over. He smiles weakly up at you, 'It's been a while since I've been here. But the old tales say that the Roc has sharp claws to hunt the Thorn Scorpions. The Rocs are not only resistant to the Scorpion Venom but their claws can penetrate their armor plates. Hunters of our City have used Roc Charms to give them luck for years, frankly we can use all the luck we can get to defeat Xerdes. I just can't quite remember how the Recipe goes. Go get me the Roc Body to jog my memory'

Stage 4 Minimum Level: 1252 Location:Broken Kingsway (Carriageway) (2, 9) Required Item: Roc Body Required Kills: None

The City Guard waits for you to return, 'Did you get a Roc Body for me?' The Guard squints at the dead bird, the laughs. 'of course , I remember how it goes now. An Eye for speed, a Feather for flight and a Razor for the kill.' He scribbles on another piece of parchment, 'Have this Roc Charm Recipe, maybe it will be of use at some point. But for now meet me Lacedonia (Merchant Quarter) and we shall see how the city fares under Xerdes rule.' You receive 1 x Roc Charm Recipe

Stage 5 Minimum Level: 1254 Location:Lacedonia (Merchant Quarter) (14, 8) Required Item: None Required Kills: None

The City Guard hunches down to cover his face. He looks around furtively, 'Glad you got here Warrior. It looks like I was wrong about the City falling to Xerdes. I just assumed that Xerdes had won when the City Guard was routed, but it looks like Xerdes still only has a fragile grasp on the City. So if we strike now, we might loosen his grip on Lacedonia. Kill 150 Xerdes Saboteurs and be quick about it as I don't know how long I can avoid attention.'

Stage 6 Minimum Level: 1254 Location:Lacedonia (Merchant Quarter) (14, 8) Required Item: None Required Kills: 150 x Xerdes Saboteur	The stands around trying to look inconspicuous, 'Have you dealt with those Xerdes Saboteurs yet?' He smiles gratefully, 'Good let's get out of here, meet me in the Sewers I need to get off the streets.'

Stage 7 Minimum Level: 1255 Location:Lacedonia (Sewers) (14, 6) Required Item: None Required Kills: None	You find the City Guard holding his side but with his sword drawn. The Guard gasps for breath but nods weakly, 'I'm not sure what these idiots are up to. But whatever it is I want to know about it. Go find out what they are trying to do.'

Stage 8 Minimum Level: 1255 Location:Lacedonia (Sewers) (2, 17) Required Item: None Required Kills: 50 x Xerdes Bomber

After searching the dank sewers you find a large pile of barrels. But as you try to get a closer look the Xerdes Bombers rush at you blindly. Kill 50 Xerdes Bombers to inspect the barrels. Once you get past the Bombers that were protecting the Barrels you finally get a chance to get a close look at them. But as you step up to them you wish you hadn’t when you smell the familiar acrid aroma of gunpowder. You look at the large pile of barrels and wonder if the Bombers want to blow up the entire city. The City Guard will want to hear about this, and quickly!

Stage 9 Minimum Level: 1255 Location:Lacedonia (Sewers) (14, 6) Required Item: None Required Kills: None

The wounded City Guard now leans heavily against the wall, 'Did you find out what the Xerdes Bombers are up to?' You describe the huge pile of gunpowder barrels in the far corner of the sewers and the Guard's eyes go wide. 'That would be directly under the Palace, I know that King Sadinus has fled the City so it must be where the Generals are co-coordinating the remaining forces from.' The Guard breaths quick shallow breaths then says, 'Best not to panic, an explosive needs a detonator to ignite it. If the barrels are still there then the fuses have not been set yet.' He scribbles on a piece of parchment and hands it to you. 'Go get me the Fuses to disarm the powder kegs.' You receive 1 x Bundled Fuses Recipe

Stage 10 Minimum Level: 1255 Location:Lacedonia (Sewers) (14, 6) Required Item: Bundled Fuses Required Kills: None

The wounded City Guard gives a rattling cough as you return, 'You got the Bundle of Fuses I asked for?' He gratefully takes the Bundle from you, 'Thank you Warrior, it shames me that the City has fallen to these fools. There was a time when a rat would think twice before running these sewers. But those are times long gone. We should concentrate with the here and now. You have stopped the Bombers plot but we should put an end to the root of the problem and kill Xerdes himself. Use the Overflow and meet me in the Opyly Pass (Gap). Let us try and put an end to all this madness.'

Stage 11 Minimum Level: 1256 Location:Opyly Pass (Gap) (2, 10) Required Item: None Required Kills: None

You step into the bright sun of the Opyly Pass and almost immediately find the City Guard. The Guard nods weakly, 'I saw a Pyrus Cyclops just walk by with a Warclub. Xerdes must have found a way to get our ancient enemy to fight for him. The good thing is that it is quite easy to discourage the Cyclops from attacking. Our ancestors discovered that the Cyclops use the Nargash Skull as a meeting point. If you place a broken Warclub there, the new Cyclops that arrive find the broken club and think that it's too dangerous to stay and simply leave. Get a Warclub from one of the wandering Pyrus and take it to the Nargash Skull. Break the club and leave it there. Return to me when you have completed the task. '

Stage 12 Minimum Level: 1256 Location:Opyly Pass (Gap) (13, 5) Required Item: Pyrus Warclub Club Required Kills: None

Half submerged by the canyon sands you find a skull of a truly massive beast. You hold the Warclub in both hands and wonder how you can break it. Bracing it firmly against the Nargash Skull you kick it with all your strength and the club gives a quiet snap. Then you hear the slow lolloping step of a Cyclops wandering down the Opyly Pass. With the strength of fear you kick out again at the Club and the crude weapon snaps half way through. From the sounds of it, the Cyclops is almost upon you. You quickly skirt round behind the skull and pray to the gods that the club is broken enough. You hear the beast enter the small chamber and it becomes suddenly deathly quiet... There is a confused grunt from the Cyclops and it bends down and picks up the club. It accidentally knocks the end of the club against the Nargash Skull and breaks off completely, falling to the sand with a dull thump. The Cyclops gives a huge roar of fear, throws the broken club at the skull as if it is on fire and flees. It is not long before the fearful cry is picked up by other Cyclops. You should return to the City Guard and tell him what you have done.

Stage 13 Minimum Level: 1256 Location:Opyly Pass (Gap) (2, 10) Required Item: None Required Kills: None

The Guard waves you over, 'Have you placed a broken Warclub at the Nargash Skull?' Relief floods the Guards face, 'Oh, that’s alright then. I thought for a moment that racket I heard was their battle cry, I thought they were attacking the City. We should move on deeper into the Opyly Pass. I'm hoping that Xerdes will still be in the hills, meet me in the Defile and we shall see what we find any sign of him.'

Stage 14 Minimum Level: 1259 Location:Opyly Pass (Defile) (16, 27) Required Item: None Required Kills: None

You find the Guard sitting on the rocky path. The climb took a heavy toll on the wounded City Guard. The Guard nods slowly, 'I will live... I have seen strange masked men walking this realm. I can only guess that they are connected to Xerdes himself. Their masks have a strange aura, it would be good if you could examine a Drake Mask and bring me whatever you find.' He then waves you on weakly, you see that the Guard can hardly stand. This exertion is not good for his wounded state. You should find an kill this Xerdes quickly, or the trip will be the end of the City Guard.

Stage 15 Minimum Level: 1259 Location:Opyly Pass (Defile) (16, 27) Required Item: Xerdes Drake Mask Required Kills: None

The Guard waits for you to return, 'Did you examine the Drake Mask?' He takes the Xerdes Drake Mask. You tell him to break it open, as you did. He does so and a shining Ruby is exposed. 'It's a pretty gem, but apart from that I don't see any runes or magical devices on it.' He then doubles over from a rattling cough and gasps for breath. You reach to steady him but he waves you away, 'I'm alright. We must keep going, meet me in the Switchback. Xerdes must be somewhere there, we're almost on the ridge of the hills. There not much left of the pass for him to hide in!'

Stage 16 Minimum Level: 1260 Location:Opyly Pass (Switchback) (27, 7) Required Item: None Required Kills: None

You are staggered to find the City Guard standing without pain. His sword is drawn and he looks around for an enemy to kill. He grins madly at you, 'Yes I feel fine. No pain and my wounds have healed completely. I also know where Xerdes is hiding.' he points up the Pass and you see a tall tower silhouetted against the sky. 'The old City Guard Watchtower. It overlooks the entire Realm, Xerdes can watch his coup in complete comfort and safety. But no longer, we must storm the citadel. But the Xerdes has crafted Stone Hoplites to protect his hiding place, Kill 300 Hoplites of Stone so we can gain access to the Watchtower.

Stage 17 Minimum Level: 1260 Location:Opyly Pass (Switchback) (27, 7) Required Item: None Required Kills: 300 x Hoplite of Stone	The City Guard walks up to you, 'Have you killed 300 Stone Hoplites?' He grins broadly, 'I too have dulled my blade on their tough hides, but we should now be able to enter the Watchtower and finally slay the Treacherous King. Come, follow me into the Watchtower before he uses his foul magics to summon more Hoplites.' Follow the City Guard into the Watchtower

Stage 18 Minimum Level: 1260 Location:Opyly Pass (Watchtower) (7, 12) Required Item: None Required Kills: None

The City Guard glares around the ancient tower. You see rage boil within the City Guard, 'I found the wretch but my sword simply had no effect against him. I also suspect that this Bloodbond healed me which means that every Drake Immortal is continually healed whilst they wear that helmet. Unfortunatly that means they are almost impossible to kill on the battlefield. All this trouble stems from Xerdes, and he has some underhanded magic trick that allows it happen. I don't want to carry anything that is connected to Xerdes and his evil.' With that, the Guard throws the Xerdes Bloodbond to the ground and stomps in it. It shatters! 'The only other thing within this watchtower are those Skull Familiars, I bet they are key to Xerdes' power. As obviously summoned creatures those familiars must have something that keeps them within the realms of the living, find that anchor and bring it to me.'

Stage 19 Minimum Level: 1260 Location:Opyly Pass (Watchtower) (7, 12) Required Item: Xerdes Soul Lock Required Kills: None

The City Guard swipes at any Skull Familiars that comes with range of his sword, 'Have you found what is keeping these Skull Familiars anchored within the realms of the living?' The Guard takes the Black Diamond, 'I'm not a Mage, but I assume that magic works along the lines of logic up to a point. If this is part of Xerdes' soul, then we might be able to use it to get past his defenses and hurt him directly.' He scribbles on a piece of parchment, 'I also think that his reluctance to leave the hills might be because his magi is rooted here, so maybe essences that are rooted in other places might be his weakness. Build this Mace of Lacedonia and use it to kill Xerdes the Usurper (Elite), may Gurgriss bless your actions Warrior for the hope of everyone in Lacedonia.' You receive 1 x Mace of Lacedonia Recipe

Stage 20 Minimum Level: 1260 Location:Opyly Pass (Watchtower) (7, 12) Required Item: None Required Kills: 1 x Xerdes the Usurper (Elite)

The City Guard waits for your return, 'Have you killed Xerdes the Usurper (Elite)?' The City Guard stares at you unbelieving for a moment, 'We have rid the Realms of that tyrant!' He chokes on emotion, turns and composes himself. 'I must return to the City and tell the Generals what we have done. Xerdes is slain but his forces still remain. But Thank you for your efforts Warrior. Please take the Amulet of the City Guard, you can wear it with pride.' You receive 37,120,364 Xp + 1 x Amulet of Lacedonia