The Obelisk of Blight: Invasion of the Body Snatchers

by: Tony "RadarX" Jones

The land of Lesser Faydark is full of beauty and life. While some of it is in fact dangerous, you can see the hand of Tunare in every creature and plant. In the southwestern portion of this zone lies an area of unspeakable evil. From what we know some dark force was trying to infiltrate the land and use host bodies in search of a significant source of power. A glowing spire named the Tower of Zet sits inside this sanctuary of corruption providing a beacon of unholiness. Welcome to the Obelisk of Blight.

The Obelisk of Blight is a single group instance and considered the starting point for the high end Tier 7 content of Echoes of Faydwer. Most of this zone can be completed by folks in their mid to upper 60's but the last creature will require a fairly well equipped group under 70.

Why would you go here? One good reason is to finish some of the interesting quests they created for the zone. In the make sure you stop off and have everyone speak to Aleta Rannikko and pick up Into the Shadowed Grove. The other is the Ivy Shrouded Orb of Tunare Signature Quest which will spawn a special named creature in the zone for you. What is the other reason? Loot of course! Some great items drop in this zone not to mention a foot piece of class set armor off the last creature.

Journey into Evil

The zone is divided into two subsections, the first can be skipped altogether if you'd like, but no one ever does. The first room you enter will have a few "trap" mobs who spawn as you walk towards the door. That's about as big of a surprise as you'll see in this zone, and they are pretty easily dispatched. Opening the door and moving down the hallway you'll have a door to the left and the option to continue straight. Take a left and have your tank pull towards the door (adds are really easy to grab).

You'll see two exits to the room, but relax, it's a big circle. You'll want to go straight and it'll turn you to the right. The pull in front of the door can be tricky so do NOT pull with a ranged CA or weapon. Body pull by hugging the left wall and your group will live! Once all that is clear, go in the room and move to the left corner clearing mobs as necessary. Investigator Bruek isn't too rough. I'm pretty sure he has a stun, but he drops fairly easily. His ornate chest will drop a nice Dark Linger dagger that saps health from it's target.

You can head up to the catwalk if you want but you'll find yourself wrapping around into the same room you came out of earlier so unless you need the experience, head back towards the entrance. Instead of taking the left, you’ll instead go straight and up a ramp.

Reconditioning an Evil Eye

The standard tactic I've seen for this next room is to clear the mobs near the door and make your way along the left side. This room contains the Occulator responsible for reconditioning host bodies for service. Clear the evil Fae (I really enjoy that part) near Occulator Yxorx and pull him. Nothing abnormally significant about him, and he should die fairly quickly. His ornate treasure should be a fighter only earring called Auditor of Silence which has a nice stifle proc.

The next room is full of mobs, but very few of them have to be killed. Clear near the door and move along the left side of the room. You'll find a locked door that won't open just yet. If you are on the Ivy Shrouded Orb of Tunare quest, the step requiring this zone, a creature will spawn about here. If your group complains about the extra mob, just remind them to thank you when they get the AP experience.

Continuing along that left wall you'll see a creature called the "Key of Chaos" which you'll need to kill. Guess what that opens? Yup, the door you just passed. Clear the room if you really want to, otherwise open up the door and proceed to the final rooms.

Destroying the Nightmare

Clearing the first few encounters in the last area is fairly easy, so have at it. As you approach the final room you'll notice it consists of three chambers surrounding a main one. The main chamber has a creature that circles the room, and is on a 5ish minute respawn timer, so keep that in mind. Kill the patrol, and move into the right chamber where you'll find a Nightblood called Gretalik the Bloodbourne.

Clear one side of Gretalik's chamber at a time and make sure to body pull the evil fae worshipping him. When they have been dispatched smack Gretalik until he is very dead. Gretalik on an extremely rare occasion drops an ornate chest which might contain a very nice buckler for priests.

Keeping your 5 minute timer in mind, head straight across from the room you are in and repeat what you just did until it's just your party and Zzorzzaxx (try spelling that 5 times fast). Zzorzzaxx won't provide any more challenge than Gretalik so if you had it easy last time, it'll be cake. On a very rare occasion, an ornate chest will drop containing the Cloak of Zet which has a nice bonus to damage spells for mages.

It's time for the final battle! You'll see a lot more to kill in the final chamber (don't forget about your 5 min timer) so clear away. It is important you are patient in body pulling the "walking shadow" who scurries around the room. An improper pull could yank him and the "boss" of this zone Axxyk'Tuur.

Axxyk'Tuur is a 72^^^ and has two friends with him you'll need to contend with. I've seen numerous tactics in this final battle from mezzing adds, to burning Axxyk'Tuur then the adds. If you are high in DPS, I'd recommend the burn, if not hopefully you got a mezzer. You are guaranteed an ornate chest on this last encounter and it will 100% contain a piece of class set armor for feet, but usually not for your class. On a rare occasion you will see a ring called the Signet of Light and Darkness drop, and all the casters drool. I've lost rolls on this ring 8 times…oh I'll have my ring.

I hope this guide was helpful to you, and you enjoy the Obelisk of Blight. If you see any omissions or feel there is something that we could add feel free to email me.