Kysin Keep Questline

[Howie Feltersnatch]

AA R1

These will go by when you get 20 points in the Archeologial Adventurer (AA) skill.

Step 1: Emerald-Eye Nave
1) Gather the following three items:
* Artificer's Strongbox from Lair of the Artificer
* Ymar's Dresser from Windscar
* Captian's Pendant from Inachis
DO NOT SELL THE STRONGBOX OR THE PENDANT UNTIL YOU HAVE AA R1. SERIOUSLY.
2) Gather in Inachis. This will give the first 20 points of AA and allow you to open the box.
Step 2: Ruby-Eye Nave
1) Buy a Fake Philosopher's Stone from Skyrift or Night Tear, or win it from various 2-mark sites or A Cure fight 4.
2) Gather in Lumina for 20 AA and give you the next set of clues.
Step 3: Sapphire-Eyed Nave
1) Collect the following items:
* Small Spider Egg from Cursed Forest. This is not a 100% drop, but it is necessary.
* Unhatched Chimera Egg. If you've been doing 5-mark sites while running around doing the first two steps there's a good chance you'll have one already but the High Trial of Transcendence also gives them.
2) Move to Skyrift:
* Gather to unlock the Spider Gate. This is a battle against 7 Mini Astroblades. Use frost or fist charms and 5 copies of Gloom Knell. Duty is also a suitable idea/replacement for GK.
* Gather again after winning that fight to unlock the Chimera Gate. This is a battle against 3 different Astroblades at once. Use a blend of Holy/Axe/Fist/Frost/Lightning/Twinblades. When you win this fight, you'll get another clue.
3) Move to Triland. and gather to unlock yet another site. This site contains the Petrified Dragon Eggs. To win, use a defense/debuff gear (Prioritize cumul ward) that contains nearly all double-runes and as many Vita/Kata/Support runes as you can fit in.
4) One last gathering back in Skyrift, competing the set of 20 AA points and pitting you against a Fire/Earth based super Astroblade. Use high defense, anti-auras, and banes/magic projection. You'll get the Sapphire-Eyed Nave upon claiming victory.
Step 4: Amber-Eye Nave
******Start running 5 mark sites to get a fleeting dream for AA 2.1.1
1) Craft Kyud's Unstable Staff, preferably 5. Ebony can be obtained in Inachis, and Pearl Stone and Gold Ore is in Eclis.
2) Move to Eclis. The goal is to play Kyud's Staff in the 2-mark event Glowing Cave (Gather if you don't have it. It's a vanilla event otherwise). To do this, use a 24-charm gear with pure defense and your two Kyud's Unstable Staff. This will get you the last nave and 20 more AA.
****Step 0 of AA part 2 can be done before you move. Kenley is here, http://www.estiah.com/character/469
send him the emote hire and then gather to get the secret shop.
Step 5: Ancient Grinding
1) This step is simple: Upon using the last nave you got a ring. However, you need Ancient Languages to use it. The class is in Zeal, but Foreign Languages to take it. Once you do have Ancient Languages, use the ring to obtain the first rank of AA, gaining 5 of each pebble, 2 of each stat, 20 HP, and a [Hand of Salamath].

---------------------------------------------------------------------------


AA R2

Step 0: READ A MOTHERF***IN BOOK
1) Get into the secret club to obtain information:
* Do the first fight of Rooftop Rush to obtain the Guild Missive.
* Open up someone else's character sheet, and in the url replace the character id with the number listed on the missive. Hi, Kenley!
* In the emote box, type hire. You'll get the Ace of Pens in your inventory, which can be taken to Eclis to find his club via gathering. The books inside require a pebble to craft, and you already have the AL skill to translate. Technically this step isn't even necessary, but it's doable at any time and the non-Amber books make great trade-ins for any spare pebbles.
Step 1: Faith in Humanity is restored.
1) Obtain a Fleeting Dream. Just do the 5-marks in Eversweep and you'll have this soon enough.
2) Gather in Zeal, get 20 AA and the first in a chain of puzzle fights.
3) The gear used here consists of Dawn's Melody, Restore Faith, and Obstination. Only those charms. If done right, Dawn's Melody will cleanse away the enemy's normalize, Obstination will give the boss a large to next boost, and then when you Restore Faith you will trigger a combo that should OHKO the statue.
* Dawn's Melody you likely have 5 of already. It's a treasure drop from Village of Cyneth.
* Restore Faith is a craft from A Cry of the Earth. Watch for the rather high requirements.
* Obstination is one of Greydam's drops. If you have 2 or 3, your time is better spent using them on this fight until you win.
****** Straits of the Lost#5x1096 5x1459 5x1575
Step 2: Put Out the Lights
1) Go do Revival of the Fury to get a Phoenix Ash.
2) Gather in Eversweep and you'll unlock the next fight. The goal is to kill the Signal Light. You could use Consecrated Soil, Pure Heart, and Poisonous Fog, but you can also manually build up a lot of melee boosts and then OHKO with the melee Target Lowest HP charm of your choice. If you're going for the combo strat, Consecrated Soil is crafted in Eclis, Pure Heart is crafted in Windscar, and Poisonous Fog is a drop from Lair of the Artificer.
Step 3: UberSheypar
1) Do Tomb of Sheypar until you get a Sheypar Family Relic. Yes, this is a coinflip but the site only accepts the Relic. Keep the Crests, though.
2) Gather in Eversweep to unlock a fight against a ___ off Sheypar.
3) This time, you'll need Purifying Flames, Nightmare, and Helm of Narrow Vision/Terrine's Wide Helm. Flames+Helm will kill Sheypar via combo, and two Nightmares will kill the spirit (but Sheypar must be defeated first)
* Purifying Flames is crafted in Windscar, requiring 4 Infused Vita/1 Swirling Essence/1 Magmagrain/1 Emerald. All of that can be bought in stores except for Swirling Essence, which is Expert/Master Kata only. If you have a lot of AP, you can save a little time by gathering in Zeal/Night Tear, which will get you all the materials but may let you only get 3 or 4 if you're unlucky.
* Nightmare is a level 40 PvP craft requiring 3 White/2 Red/2 Green for one. Curse of Pandamius also works here, so technically any Spirit/Debuff should work.
* If you did any significant amount of Rogue Colossus, you'll have more Wide Helms. You'll only need one or the other. If you didn't, Helm of Narrow Vision is crafted in Zeal. Weak Demonic Essence can be obtained from High Summoner's Study and low level gathering, everything else can be bought in Zeal.
Step 4: Terracotta-fest
* Obtain a Typhoon Catalyst from A Cure, and gather at Eversweep again, revealing the last fight there.
* Use Cold Bronze Chest, Fury of the Seas, and Gloves of the Marytr.
** Cold Bronze Chest is a drop in Goblin Tower/Zeal.
** Fury of the Seas is gotten from A Shudder from the Depths
** Gloves is crafted in Eversweep. You need the family CREST, Tellium bar x3, Gold Ore X1.
Step 5: Ring a bell.
Move to Skyrift and buy a Tellium Bell.
Gather to Discover a new fight.
Use a single Colithon Skull (or any bane spirit).
EDIT: At the time this post was originally written, this fight was broken so it can be defeated in this way. At the time you hit it, it would likely be fixed, so the winning charms are Fiery Embrace (crafted in skyrift, get oniris from Wildhowl or use the Herbalist gathering in Eversweep), Blessed Hammer, and The Iris of Cerpathos.
Get a Timid Light (Cond rank 2) and a Spring Water before moving to Wildhowl.
(Again, updates as we advance)
Step 6: Getting in the Keep
Gather and find "The Brooding Grotto".
Beat the fight using 3-4 Shield of The Whale, 3-4 Blade of The Tides and at least 2 Maddening Darkness. The first two are from Temple of Tides, and the Maddening Darkness is a Soul Harvester's Lab craft.

If you have a Spring Water you can gather and find The Grand Hillcrest
You win be using Fury of The Elements, Azure Ring of Hope and Soul Flame. You should already have crafted your FotEs by the time you hit the quest. Azure Ring of Hope is a drop from Frost Fortress, and Soul Flame is dropped from Tomb of Sheypar.

Gather again to get the final fight in rank 2. Using the box locks you out of using an elixir and doesn't give any useful items.
The only way to win is to use SHIFTING damage. It may also help if you use EA's to help with the damage, and good double hits, blazing inferno/blood frenzy are a must, fury of the elements helps too. Beating this gives you +stats +hp and rank 2 done.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------


AA R3/Kysin Keep

With rank 2 done you can now enter Kysin Keep.

Fight 1:

Use Shard of the Godblade and Hand of Salamath. That will insta kill the wall and give you another Hand of Salamath + 25 to rank 3

NOTE: The next four fights have specific actions that must be done to obtain the points in AA. This will also get you an item used to craft the level 50 Kysin charms.

Fight 2:

Use Fire/Melee charms along with Melee/Willpower charms. Use at least 5-10 cleanse charms as well. Corrupted Blood is an excellent idea here. You will earn a Berserker Pixie for winning.

To get the AA points and Burning Soul Crystal, you must play at least three Deflagration, to kill your allies. Yes, you kill your healing but this causes the boss to melt itself soon after.

edit(Galad): For our lovely fellow int dumps, here's a really short gear that works most of the time..unless you pull a deflagration last:

3 x Soul Healing, 4 x Corrupted Blood, 3 x Deflagration

Fight 3:

Use 5 Hypnotic Pendulum, a lot of self stuns, multihits, and spread your runes out or else your ally will inflict mass spirit on you. You will earn Cascade Effect for winning.

To get the AA points and Nullification Gem, you must play at least 2 Chaotic Shadow in order to kill your ally.

Example gear, to get the general idea. This won with about half life/spirit left:

Good Night (5)
Persistent Disease (5)
Hypnotic Pendulum (5)
Hyphine Injection (5)
Yoga Training (5)
Six-Points Crystal Ward (4)
Crystal Dragonfang (5)
Hydra Flare (4)
Chaotic Shadow (3)
Midnight's Bargain (3)
Rockslide (4)
Colithon Axe (5)
Nazohi Blades (5)

Fight 4:

Go get Nightmare Blade out of archives. Triggering its conditional wins the fight, and triggering within the first three charms earns you the AA points and a Dreaming Soul Crystal. If you don't care about swords, use 5 Nightmare Blade and about 20 debuff runes (preferably ones that give Willpower. Left Ear is superb here, as you'll get a bonus stun on the guardian). To brute force the item, use 2 debuff/1 Nightmare Blade and hope the blade pulls second. You get Poisoner's Pride from this fight.

The other idea is to melee CPB it (the spirit hit is reduced to 0 at +15 ongoing, although stuns might mess with this). Buff rune stuns it, so try those. Avoid debuff with this strat or you'll hit the wrong target.

Fight 5:

Tank as hard as possible, and use massive amounts (At least 10 charms, 15 is safer) of cleanse. Bring some protects, Jade Shields, Dense Mithril charms, and Skygod Sigil if you have it, along with as much cumul defense as you can muster.

To get the AA points and Anachronistic soul crystal, you'll need to play two Kyud's Unstable Staff. While he IS getting 10 straight actions right afterwards, he spends them with an effective -100/-100 ongoing debuff, and then you get cleansed after that. No matter what, you get a Chronicler's Soul Crystal and Strength in Humility.

Last Step: The Charms of the Kysins

There are four hidden sites left. Once you gain all 125 AA points from KK, you'll have them items to find these sites, which are craft shops with two charms an each giving 25 AA. The craft shops are in: Night Tear, Inachis, Draka, Triland.

Each shop contains two items. To craft them, you need 5k, the Chronicler's Soul Crystal obtained from fight 5, one of the special gems from winning the fights in the special way, and a certain charm that will be consumed in making the Kysin charm.

Triland shop (Dreaming Soul Crystal):

* Nightmare Blade -> Kysin Guardian Blade (Damage/melee debuff/ward/protect/doublehits against spirit)
* Ice Spikes -> Kysin Frozen Estoc (Ongoing melee debuff and magic damage, with a potential doublehit)

Inachis shop (Nullification Gem):

* Persistent Disease -> Kysin Coruscating Daggers (Melee Persistent Disease with Illumination's effect)
* Mana Leech -> Lightning Bugs (Summon using the new gimmick)

NT shop (Anachronistic Soul Crystal):

* Battle-Forged Lance -> Kysin Stalwart Defender (Einar'd)
* Lightning Rod -> Bolts from the Blue (CPB Lightning, with an aura you can keep for focus or remove via Empathics for damage)

Draka shop (Burning Soul Crystal):

*Slash and Thrust->Slash and Burn (Rage Slasher variant with a global bane)
*Purifying Flames->Fervor's Flames (Banishing Flame Stone/Mind Cheer combo, with an added healing/anti-bane aura)

Upon finding all four shops, you gain 3 to all stats, 10 HP, and one spirit.

[lessigfan]

Criminy that's long and tortured. What kind of masochist thought this line would be "fun?"

Telamon's post, formatted for clarity.

Step 0:

• Grind Foreign Languages R1. (Literature Class 1 in Zeal - 4 days)
  
• Grind Literacy R1. (Literature Class 2 in Zeal - 4 days)
  
• Grind Ancient Languages R1. (Literature Class 3 in Zeal - 4 days)

The following charms are required for the quest:

• Azure Ring of Hope
  
• Blade of the Tides ^*
  
• Blessed Hammer*
  
• Chaotic Shadow
  
• Cold Bronze Chest
  
• Consecrated Soil*
  
• Dawns Melody
  
• Deflagration (at least 3)
  
• Fiery Embrace*
  
• Fury of the Elements
  
• Fury of the Seas
  
• Gloves of the Martyr
  
• Hand of Salamath (obtained on the quest)
  
• Iris of Cerpathos*
  
• Kyud's Unstable Staff
  
• Maddening Darkness
  
• Nightmare
  
• Nightmare Blade
  
• Obstination
  
• Poisonous Fog*
  
• Pure Heart*
  
• Purifying Flame
  
• Restore Faith
  
• Shard of the Godblade (obtained on the quest)
  
• Shield of the Whale ^*
  
• Soul Flame
  
• Terrine's Wide Helm or Helm of Narrow Vision, or a combination of both.
  *- These charms are not completely needed, in that you can beat the fights that require them alternatively.
  ^*- You need either/or of these two charms.

Step 1.1:

• Buy a [Ymar's Dresser] in Windscar.
  
• Beat Lair of the Artificer Fight 4 to get an [Artificer's Strongbox].
  Gather in Inachis to find Ymar's Furniture Shop and get your first 20 points of Archaeological Adventurer. (20/100)

Step 1.2:

• Buy or find a Fake Philosopher's Stone.
  
• Beat River's Edge to get a [Captain's Necklace].
  
• Use the Strongbox to craft the [Emerald-Eyed Nave] in Ymar's Furniture shop.
  
• Use the Nave (requires the Necklace for usage) to obtain [Artificer's Access Key: Level 1].
  
• Use the Access Key to open the Strongbox to get [Artificer's Note 1], [Artificer's Note 2], [Artificer's Note 3].
  Gather in Lumina to discover The Corridor of Obfuscation (shop) and get your next 20 points of AA. (40/100)

Step 1.3:

• Use the Fake Philosopher's Stone in the Corridor of Obfuscation shop to craft [Eyeless Nave].
  
• Use the Eyeless Nave (again requres the Necklace) to obtain [Artificer's Access Key: Level 2].
  
• Use the new Access Key to open the Strongbox even further and get [Artificer's Note 4], [Artificer's Note 5], [Artificer's Journal 1], [Artificer's Journal 2], and [Artificer's Journal 3].
  
• Run Cursed Forest until you get a [Small Spider Egg].
  Go to Skyrift and gather to discover Artificer's Island: Spider Gate and get 5 more points of AA. (45/100)

Step 1.4:

• Beat Spider Gate and obtain [Scrap Metal] (grey junk item?)
  
• Gloom Knell is key, lots of Banes (Poisonous Fog, Contagion, Ghyzochrome Enabler, etc)
  Gather with an [Unhatched Chimera Egg] to discover Artificer's Island: Chimera Gate and get 5 more AA points. (50/100)

Step 1.5:

• Beat Chimera Gate to obtain [Scrap Metal] and [Clockwork Positioning System]
  
• This fight sucks. You need to identify the mystery auras and then strike the right balance of crap vendor charms based on rune type.
  Travel to Triland and gather with the [Clockwork Positioning System] to discover Seylin's Terraforming Site and get more AA points. (55/100)

Step 1.6:

• Beat Seylin's Terraforming Site to receive a [Petrified Dragon Egg]
  
• Another stupid rune-counting fight with no regard for actual charm effects. The Dragon hurts himself for each Rune you've played or discarded, so just stack your deck with dual-rune charms of the appropriate type and pad with self-Spirit to accelerate his emo cutting.
  Take the [Petrified Dragon Egg] back to Skyrift and gather to discover Artificer's Island: Stone Dragon Gate and earn 5 more AA points. (60/100)

Step 1.7:

• Beat Dragon gate to receive [Sapphire-Eye Nave]
  
• This one sucks less than the others, but meh. Identify the right runes, and pad with Aura Reducers.
  
• Alternatively, DKs can use a long Blightwood deck.
  
• Use the [Sapphire-Eye Nave] (again requres the Necklace) to obtain [Artificer's Access Key: Level 3]
  
• Use the new Access Key to open the Strongbox even further and get [Artificer's Note 6], [Artificer's Note 7], [Artificer's Journal 8], [Artificer's Journal 4], [Artificer's Journal 5], and [Artificer's Journal 6].
  Beat Glowing Cave in Eclis with Kyud's Unstable Staff in your deck to get an [Amber-Eye Nave] and another 20 AA Points. (80/100)

Step 1.8:

• Use the new Nave (still requires the Necklace) to obtain [Artificer's Access Key: Level 4]
  
• Use the new Key (still requires the Strongobx) to obtain [Artificer's Note 9], [Artificer's Note 10], [Artificer's Journal 11], [Artificer's Journal 7], [Artificer's Journal 8], [Artificer's Journal 9], and [Councilor's Signet Ring].
  The Signet Ring has a usage requirement of Ancient Languages R1, and the reward is 5 of each Pebble, a charm: [Hand of Salamath] (you can get 4 more later in the quest), an [Activated Signet Ring], and the last 20 points of AA R1. (100/100)

Step 1.9-ish: (can be completed early)

• Beat Rooftop Rush to obtain [Guild Missive]
  
• Emote the word "hire" to bot player Kenley to obtain [Ace of Pens]
  
• Gather in Eclis to discover Kenley's Club (shop)
  
• The books you can buy give you clues for AA R2, but since this list is spoiling it all for you, you don't actually need them.

Step 2.1:

Take a [Fleeting Dream] and the [Activated Signet Ring] to Zeal and gather to find Straits of the Lost and get your first 20 points of AA R2. (20/180)

Step 2.2

• Make a 15-charm shortdeck of nothing but Restore Faith, Dawn's Melody, and Obstination. Auto-win. Bask in the stupidity. Also, you get an [Engraved Signal Shutter].
  Take a [Phoenix Ash] to Eversweep and gather to find The Sheltering Jetty and get 20 more points of AA R2. (40/180)

Step 2.3

• Shortdeck The Sheltering Jetty with Pure Heart, Consecrated Soil, and Poisonous Fog to get an [Unplaced Gravestone]
  
• Alternative Win: Melee CPB+Burst with Target Lowest HP (Finishing Move, Daggers of Suspicion, even Vicious Stab).
  Gather again in Eversweep with a [Sheypar Famil Relic] to find Empty Grave of Sheypar and get 20 more points of AA R2. (60/180)

Step 2.4

• Shortdeck Empty Grave of Sheypar with Nightmare, Purifying Flame, and either Terrine's Wide Helm or Helm of Narrow Vision (both work) to get a [Terracotta Shield]
  Gather one last time in Eversweep with a [Typhoon Catalyst] to discover Kaoline Quarry and get 20 more points of AA R2. (80/180)

Step 2.5

• Shortdeck Kaoline Quarry with Cold Bronze Chest, Gloves of the Martyr, and Fury of the Seas to get [Bark Tablet]
  
• Buy a [Spring Water], you'll need it later.
  Go to Skyrift and buy a [Tellium Bell], then gather to find Iced Glade and 20 more AA points. (100/180)

Step 2.6

• Shortdeck Iced Glade with Blessed Hammer, Firey Embrace, and Iris of Cerpathos to get [Nhyle's Voice Orb]
  
• Alternative Win: 5 Colithon Skulls + 1000+ HP
  Blow a few hundred AP getting a [Timid Light] from Seasoned Vita Condenser in Skyrift and take it to Wildhowl and gather to find The Brooding Grotto and 25 more AA points. (125/180)

Step 2.7

• Shortdeck The Brooding Grotto with Blade of the Tides OR Shield of the Whale, and Maddening Darkness to get [Salmath's Voice Orb]. You can use either Blade of the Tides or Shield of the Whale in this fight.
  Gather again in Wildhowl to find The Grand Hillcrest and 25 more AA points. (150/180)

Step 2.8

• Shortdeck The Grand Hillcrest with Azure Ring of Hope, Soul Flame, and Fury of the Elements to get [Bag of Treasures], a usable item that counts towards your daily item limit.
  
• The [Bag of Treasures] is a decoy and full of junk. Instead...
  Gather one last time in Wildhowl to find The Godblade and get the last 30 AA points, +2 to every stat, and +25 HP. (180/180)

Step 3.1

• Beat The Godblade with a Shifting/FotE deck to receive the charm [Shard of the Godblade]

Step 3.2

• Beat Kysin Keep F1 with a shortdeck consiting of Hand of Salamath and Shard of the Godblade and a few junk charms.
  Even Dusty Gyrometer works. Get another [Hand of Salamath] and 25 points of AA R3. (25/220)

Step 3.3

• Beat KK F2 with Cleanse, Fire+Melee charms, Melee+WP charms, and some additional WP to earn a [Berserker Pixie] charm and 25 more points of AA R3. (50/220)
  
• Deflagration will kill your allies and trigger the drop of [Burning Soul Crystal], which will unlock Kysin Cache: Lair of Lyngus in Draka, and can be used to craft [Slash and Burn] or [Fervor's Flames] there.

Step 3.4

• Beat F3 with self-Stun and mixed rune (think Greydam) damage to earn a [Cascade Effect] charm and 25 more AA points. (75/220).
  
• Playing Chaotic Shadow will trigger the drop of a [Nullification Gem], which will unlock Kysin Cache: Catacombs of Ashes in Inachis, and can be used to craft [Kysin Coruscating Daggers] or [Lightning Bugs] there.

Step 3.5

• Shortdeck KK F4 with a Nightmare Blade and two Debuff-rune charms. As long as the Nightmare Blade comes out second, you auto-win and get 25 more AA points and a [Poisoner's Pride]. (100/220)
  
• Since Nightmare Blade is such a rare drop, here are shortdecks for those of you without many
  
• 1 NB, 1 regular Debuff charm, 3 EA Debuff (e.g. Dusk Cape or Grim Presence)
  
• 2 NB, 7 EA Debuff
  
• 3 NB, 5 EA Debuff
  
• Playing Nightmare Blade will trigger the drop of a [Dreaming Soul Crystal] which will unlock Kysin Cache: Cave of the First Crossing in Triland, and can be used to craft [Kysin Guardian Blade] or [Kysin Frozen Estoc] there.

Step 3.6

• Tank/Cleanse the ever-living fuck out of KK F5 and play Kyud's Unstable Staffs (triggers a massive combo) to earn [Strength in Humility] and a [Chronicler's Soul Gem] which is the other crafting agent required for all the charms in the Kysin Caches.
  
• Kyud's Unstable Staff triggers the drop of the [Anachronistic Soul Gem], which unlocks Kysin Cache: Kyud's Future Workshop in Night Tear, and can be used to craft [Kysin Stalwart Defender] or [Bolts from the Blue] there.

Step 3.7

• Use the key drops from the KK fights to unlock the Kysin Caches in Inachis, Draka, Night Tear, and Triland to earn 25 AA R3 points each.

Last Step: The Charms of the Kysins
There are four hidden sites left. Once you gain all 125 AA points from KK, you'll have them items to find these sites, which are craft shops with two charms an each giving 25 AA. The craft shops are in: Night Tear, Inachis, Draka, & Triland.

Each shop contains two items. To craft them, you need 5k, the Chronicler's Soul Crystal obtained from fight 5, one of the special gems from winning the fights in the special way, and a certain charm that will be consumed in making the Kysin charm.

Triland shop (Dreaming Soul Crystal):

• Nightmare Blade -> Kysin Guardian Blade (Damage/melee debuff/ward/protect/doublehits against spirit)
  
• Ice Spikes -> Kysin Frozen Estoc (Ongoing melee debuff and magic damage, with a potential doublehit)
  

Inachis shop (Nullification Gem):

• Persistent Disease -> Kysin Coruscating Daggers (Melee Persistent Disease with Illumination's effect)
  
• Mana Leech -> Lightning Bugs (Summon using the new gimmick)
  

NT shop (Anachronistic Soul Crystal):

• Battle-Forged Lance -> Kysin Stalwart Defender (Einar'd)
  
• Lightning Rod -> Bolts from the Blue (CPB Lightning, with an aura you can keep for focus or remove via Empathics for damage)
  

Draka shop (Burning Soul Crystal):

• Slash and Thrust->Slash and Burn (Rage Slasher variant with a global bane)
  
• Purifying Flames->Fervor's Flames (Banishing Flame Stone/Mind Cheer combo, with an added healing/anti-bane aura)
  

Upon finding all four shops, you gain 3 to all stats, 10 HP, and one spirit.

[Howie Feltersnatch]

Another Guide to the same quest provided by Telamon
------------------------------------------------------------

http://pastebin.com/YRr4bdSE

Cut and pasted below in the code boxes in case pastebin(much neater) ever disappears.

Code:

  1.
      Step 0:
  2.
      * Grind Foreign Languages R1. (Literature Class 1 in Zeal - 4 days)
  3.
      * Grind Literacy R1. (Literature Class 2 in Zeal - 4 days)
  4.
      * Grind Ancient Languages R1. (Literature Class 3 in Zeal - 4 days)
  5.
     
  6.
      * The following charms are required for the quest:
  7.
      ** Azure Ring of Hope
  8.
      ** Blade of the Tides ^*
  9.
      ** Blessed Hammer*
  10.
      ** Chaotic Shadow
  11.
      ** Cold Bronze Chest
  12.
      ** Consecrated Soil*
  13.
      ** Dawns Melody
  14.
      ** Deflagration (at least 3)
  15.
      ** Fiery Embrace*
  16.
      ** Fury of the Elements
  17.
      ** Fury of the Seas
  18.
      ** Gloves of the Martyr
  19.
      ** Hand of Salamath (obtained on the quest)
  20.
      ** Iris of Cerpathos*
  21.
      ** Kyud's Unstable Staff
  22.
      ** Maddening Darkness
  23.
      ** Nightmare
  24.
      ** Nightmare Blade
  25.
      ** Obstination
  26.
      ** Poisonous Fog*
  27.
      ** Pure Heart*
  28.
      ** Purifying Flame
  29.
      ** Restore Faith
  30.
      ** Shard of the Godblade (obtained on the quest)
  31.
      ** Shield of the Whale ^*
  32.
      ** Soul Flame
  33.
      ** Terrine's Wide Helm or Helm of Narrow Vision, or a combination of both.
  34.
      *- These charms are not completely needed, in that you can beat the fights that require them alternatively.
  35.
      ^*- You need either/or of these two charms.
  36.
     
  37.
      Step 1.1:
  38.
      * Buy a [Ymar's Dresser] in Windscar.
  39.
      * Beat Lair of the Artificer Fight 4 to get an [Artificer's Strongbox].
  40.
     
  41.
      Gather in Inachis to find Ymar’s Furniture Shop and get your first 20 points of Archaeological Adventurer. (20/100)
  42.
     
  43.
      Step 1.2:
  44.
      * Buy or find a Fake Philosopher's Stone.
  45.
      * Beat River's Edge to get a [Captain's Necklace].
  46.
      * Use the Strongbox to craft the [Emerald-Eyed Nave] in Ymar's Furniture shop.
  47.
      * Use the Nave (requires the Necklace for usage) to obtain [Artificer’s Access Key: Level 1].
  48.
      * Use the Access Key to open the Strongbox to get [Artificer’s Note 1], [Artificer’s Note 2], [Artificer’s Note 3].
  49.
     
  50.
      Gather in Lumina to discover The Corridor of Obfuscation (shop) and get your next 20 points of AA. (40/100)
  51.
     
  52.
      Step 1.3:
  53.
     
  54.
      * Use the Fake Philosopher's Stone in the Corridor of Obfuscation shop to craft [Eyeless Nave].
  55.
      * Use the Eyeless Nave (again requres the Necklace) to obtain [Artificer’s Access Key: Level 2].
  56.
      * Use the new Access Key to open the Strongbox even further and get [Artificer’s Note 4], [Artificer’s Note 5], [Artificer’s Journal 1], [Artificer’s Journal 2], and [Artificer’s Journal 3].
  57.
      * Run Cursed Forest until you get a [Small Spider Egg].
  58.
      * Go to Skyrift and gather to discover Artificer’s Island: Spider Gate and get 5 more points of AA. (45/100)
  59.
     
  60.
      Step 1.4:
  61.
      * Beat Spider Gate and obtain [Scrap Metal] (grey junk item?)
  62.
      - Gloom Knell is key, lots of Banes (Poisonous Fog, Contagion, Ghyzochrome Enabler, etc)
  63.
      * Gather with an [Unhatched Chimera Egg] to discover Artificer’s Island: Chimera Gate and get 5 more AA points. (50/100)
  64.
     
  65.
      Step 1.5:
  66.
      * Beat Chimera Gate to obtain [Scrap Metal] and [Clockwork Positioning System]
  67.
      - This fight sucks. You need to identify the mystery auras and then strike the right balance of crap vendor charms based on rune type.
  68.
      * Travel to Triland and gather with the [Clockwork Positioning System] to discover Seylin’s Terraforming Site and get more AA points. (55/100)
  69.
     
  70.
      Step 1.6:
  71.
      * Beat Seylin's Terraforming Site to receive a [Petrified Dragon Egg]
  72.
      - Another stupid rune-counting fight with no regard for actual charm effects. The Dragon hurts himself for each Rune you've played or discarded, so just stack your deck with dual-rune charms of the appropriate type and pad with self-Spirit to accelerate his emo cutting.
  73.
      * Take the [Petrified Dragon Egg] back to Skyrift and gather to discover Artificer's Island: Stone Dragon Gate and earn 5 more AA points. (60/100)
  74.
     
  75.
      Step 1.7:
  76.
      * Beat Dragon gate to receive [Sapphire-Eye Nave]
  77.
      - This one sucks less than the others, but meh. Identify the right runes, and pad with Aura Reducers.
  78.
      - Alternatively, DKs can use a long Blightwood deck.
  79.
      * Use the [Sapphire-Eye Nave] (again requres the Necklace) to obtain [Artificer's Access Key: Level 3]
  80.
      * Use the new Access Key to open the Strongbox even further and get [Artificer’s Note 6], [Artificer’s Note 7], [Artificer’s Journal 8], [Artificer’s Journal 4], [Artificer's Journal 5], and [Artificer’s Journal 6].
  81.
      * Beat Glowing Cave in Eclis with Kyud's Unstable Staff in your deck to get an [Amber-Eye Nave] and another 20 AA Points. (80/100)
  82.
     
  83.
      Step 1.8:
  84.
      * Use the new Nave (still requires the Necklace) to obtain [Artificer's Access Key: Level 4]
  85.
      * Use the new Key (still requires the Strongobx) to obtain [Artificer’s Note 9], [Artificer’s Note 10], [Artificer’s Journal 11], [Artificer’s Journal 7], [Artificer's Journal 8], [Artificer’s Journal 9], and [Councilor's Signet Ring].
  86.
      * The Signet Ring has a usage requirement of Ancient Languages R1, and the reward is 5 of each Pebble, a charm: [Hand of Salamath] (you can get 4 more later in the quest), an [Activated Signet Ring], and the last 20 points of AA R1. (100/100)
  87.
     
  88.
      Step 1.9-ish: (can be completed early)
  89.
     
  90.
      * Beat Rooftop Rush to obtain [Guild Missive]
  91.
      * Emote the word "hire" to bot player Kenley to obtain [Ace of Pens]
  92.
      * Gather in Eclis to discover Kenley's Club (shop)
  93.
      * The books you can buy give you clues for AA R2, but since this list is spoiling it all for you, you don't actually need them.
  94.
     
  95.
      Step 2.1:
  96.
      * Take a [Fleeting Dream] and the [Activated Signet Ring] to Zeal and gather to find Straits of the Lost and get your first 20 points of AA R2. (20/180)
  97.
     
  98.
      Step 2.2
  99.
      * Make a 15-charm shortdeck of nothing but Restore Faith, Dawn's Melody, and Obstination. Auto-win. Bask in the stupidity. Also, you get an [Engraved Signal Shutter].
 100.
      * Take a [Phoenix Ash] to Eversweep and gather to find The Sheltering Jetty and get 20 more points of AA R2. (40/180)
 101.
     
 102.
      Step 2.3
 103.
      * Shortdeck The Sheltering Jetty with Pure Heart, Consecrated Soil, and Poisonous Fog to get an [Unplaced Gravestone]
 104.
      * Alternative Win: Melee CPB+Burst with Target Lowest HP (Finishing Move, Daggers of Suspicion, even Vicious Stab)
 105.
      * Gather again in Eversweep with a [Sheypar Famil Relic] to find Empty Grave of Sheypar and get 20 more points of AA R2. (60/180)
 106.
     
 107.
      Step 2.4
 108.
      * Shortdeck Empty Grave of Sheypar with Nightmare, Purifying Flame, and either Terrine's Wide Helm or Helm of Narrow Vision (both work) to get a [Terracotta Shield]
 109.
      * Gather one last time in Eversweep with a [Typhoon Catalyst] to discover Kaoline Quarry and get 20 more points of AA R2. (80/180)
 110.
     
 111.
      Step 2.5
 112.
      * Shortdeck Kaoline Quarry with Cold Bronze Chest, Gloves of the Martyr, and Fury of the Seas to get [Bark Tablet]
 113.
      * Go to Skyrift and buy a [Tellium Bell], then gather to find Iced Glade and 20 more AA points. (100/180)
 114.
      * Buy a [Spring Water], too. You'll need it later.
 115.
     
 116.
      Step 2.6
 117.
      * Shortdeck Iced Glade with Blessed Hammer, Firey Embrace, and Iris of Cerpathos to get [Nhyle's Voice Orb]
 118.
      * Alternative Win: 5 Colithon Skulls + 1000+ HP
 119.
      * Blow a few hundred AP getting a [Timid Light] from Seasoned Vita Condenser in Skyrift and take it to Wildhowl and gather to find The Brooding Grotto and 25 more AA points. (125/180)
 120.
     
 121.
      Step 2.7
 122.
      * Shortdeck The Brooding Grotto with Blade of the Tides OR Shield of the Whale, and Maddening Darkness to get [Salmath's Voice Orb]. You can use either Blade of the Tides or Shield of the Whale in this fight.
 123.
      * Gather again in Wildhowl to find The Grand Hillcrest and 25 more AA points. (150/180)
 124.
     
 125.
      Step 2.8
 126.
      * Shortdeck The Grand Hillcrest with Azure Ring of Hope, Soul Flame, and Fury of the Elements to get [Bag of Treasures], a usable item that counts towards your daily item limit.
 127.
      * The [Bag of Treasures] is a decoy and full of junk. Instead...
 128.
      * Gather one last time in Wildhowl to find The Godblade and get the last 30 AA points, +2 to every stat, and +25 HP. (180/180)
 129.
     
 130.
      Step 3.1
 131.
      * Beat The Godblade with a Shifting/FotE deck to receive the charm [Shard of the Godblade]
 132.
     
 133.
      Step 3.2
 134.
      * Beat Kysin Keep F1 with a shortdeck consiting of Hand of Salamath and Shard of the Godblade and a few junk charms. Even Dusty Gyrometer works. Get another [Hand of Salamath] and 25 points of AA R3. (25/220)
 135.
     
 136.
      Step 3.3
 137.
      * Beat KK F2 with Cleanse, Fire+Melee charms, Melee+WP charms, and some additional WP to earn a [Berserker Pixie] charm and 25 more points of AA R3. (50/220)
 138.
      * Deflagration will kill your allies and trigger the drop of [Burning Soul Crystal], which will unlock Kysin Cache: Lair of Lyngus in Draka, and can be used to craft [Slash and Burn] or [Fervor's Flames] there.
 139.
     
 140.
      Step 3.4
 141.
      * Beat F3 with self-Stun and mixed rune (think Greydam) damage to earn a [Cascade Effect] charm and 25 more AA points. (75/220).
 142.
      * Playing Chaotic Shadow will trigger the drop of a [Nullification Gem], which will unlock Kysin Cache: Catacombs of Ashes in Inachis, and can be used to craft [Kysin Coruscating Daggers] or [Lightning Bugs] there.
 143.
     
 144.
      Step 3.5
 145.
      * Shortdeck KK F4 with a Nightmare Blade and two Debuff-rune charms. As long as the Nightmare Blade comes out second, you auto-win and get 25 more AA points and a [Poisoner's Pride]. (100/220)
 146.
      * Since Nightmare Blade is such a rare drop, here are shortdecks for those of you without many
 147.
      - 1 NB, 1 regular Debuff charm, 3 EA Debuff (e.g. Dusk Cape or Grim Presence)
 148.
      - 2 NB, 7 EA Debuff
 149.
      - 3 NB, 5 EA Debuff
 150.
      * Playing Nightmare Blade will trigger the drop of a [Dreaming Soul Crystal] which will unlock Kysin Cache: Cave of the First Crossing in Triland, and can be used to craft [Kysin Guardian Blade] or [Kysin Frozen Estoc] there.
 151.
     
 152.
      Step 3.6
 153.
      * Tank/Cleanse the ever-living fuck out of KK F5 and play Kyud's Unstable Staffs (triggers a massive combo) to earn [Strength in Humility] and a [Chronicler's Soul Gem] which is the other crafting agent required for all the charms in the Kysin Caches.
 154.
      * Kyud's Unstable Staff triggers the drop of the [Anachronistic Soul Gem], which unlocks Kysin Cache: Kyud's Future Workshop in Night Tear, and can be used to craft [Kysin Stalwart Defender] or [Bolts from the Blue] there.
 155.
     
 156.
      Step 3.7
 157.
      * Use the key drops from the KK fights to unlock the Kysin Caches in Inachis, Draka, Night Tear, and Triland to earn 25 AA R3 points each.


Alternate route from above to doing a few of the fights in the AAR2 line, as well as put asterisks on the Required Charms list to point out the charms you don't NEED (since you can do those fights different)

[Howie Feltersnatch]

Is there an alternate way of beating this fight, or do I have to go craft some crap that I will probably never use again (except for maybe this damn questline).

On a related note, this is hard enough just getting all the materials, I couldn't imagine trying to figure this one out.

-----------------------------------------------
Step 2.4


* Shortdeck Empty Grave of Sheypar with Nightmare, Purifying Flame, and either Terrine's Wide Helm or Helm of Narrow Vision (both work) to get a [Terracotta Shield]
Gather one last time in Eversweep with a [Typhoon Catalyst] to discover Kaoline Quarry and get 20 more points of AA R2. (80/180)

[Obadiah]

I'm trying to acquire all the charms before I even start the questline. I hate having to stop midway through something because I don't have the required charms. But I do agree, it is a huge pain in the rear to get all these charms from lower level dungeons that I will never use again.

[Howie Feltersnatch]

For Kaoline Quarry (step 2.5) do you have to have 5x of all 3 of those charms or can I hope to get lucky and the right combination with less?

[lessigfan]

You don't need a full set, as long as you have 3 or 4 of each you're fine.

[Howie Feltersnatch]

From the Bag of Treasures drop, is there anything good from using this or is it just clues for the rest of the quest?

[lessigfan]

From the Bag of Treasures drop, is there anything good from using this or is it just clues for the rest of the quest?

Nah, it has like scrap metal in it or some such nonsense. Nothing good.

[Howie Feltersnatch]

Took me a while to get the achievement in the 4th fight, when I did I had 1 HP left

[ogopogo]

Jasper Rosary can be really useful in that fight, helping you keep your auras when you get stunned by your ally.

[Obadiah]

Step 0:

• Grind Foreign Languages R1. (Literature Class 1 in Zeal - 4 days)
  
• Grind Literacy R1. (Literature Class 2 in Zeal - 4 days)
  
• Grind Ancient Languages R1. (Literature Class 3 in Zeal - 4 days)

How important is it for these three skills to be finished before I start the other steps? Is it possible to start into the keep before I finish these, or should I really have these done before I even start step 1?

[Howie Feltersnatch]

No big deal to start, but they have to be finished before you can start AA rank2

[Obadiah]

All these notes are filling up my inventory. I made the mistake of selling the first three notes before gathering in Lumina, so I have a question. Once I've gathered and found the next site, can I get rid of these notes and journals? I'm already limited in space due to the huge amount of items for the epic pebbles.

[Howie Feltersnatch]

just leave them in storage, don't move them to your inventory and you should be done with what you need to well before they expire.

I never actually sold or got rid of any, they just expired and went away (or maybe i did sell some if they had gold value. But yes, after you get the site(s) you can get rid of them. If in doubt just use the search function to see if it comes up again in this thread.

[Obadiah]

I've read the thread in its entirety, but it never stated to wait until you discover the next site before trashing the grey items, which I did to my dismay of not being able to discover the next site.

[Howie Feltersnatch]

Ouch...how far back do you need to go? At least you already have the gears made up. it should be easier this time.

[Obadiah]

Fortunately, I only had to redo 3 steps. Which wasn't too bad, but still a waste of AP and my time. Trying to help those that have not gone through it yet.

[Obadiah]

[*] Shortdeck The Brooding Grotto with Blade of the Tides OR Shield of the Whale, and Maddening Darkness to get [Salmath's Voice Orb]. You can use either Blade of the Tides or Shield of the Whale in this fight.

I must be doing something wrong, I've tried 5 Balde of the Tides with 5 Maddening Darkness; I've tried 5 Shield of the Whale with 5 Maddening Darkness; I've tried 2 Maddening Darkness with 4 Blade of the Tides and 4 Shield of the Whales; and 5 of all three charms; but nothing beats this event. How did everyone else beat this?

[Howie Feltersnatch]

i used :

"Grotto Decks":

They have to come out in a certain order, not sure what it is. bI don't remember this fight in particular so I am assuming it was not an issue, just waste a few AP and you'll be fine (oh and preying to the RNG gods helps too).

[Obadiah]

Well no idea why the setup didn't work before, but the
Shield of the Whale x4
Blade of the Tides x4
Maddening Darkness x3
worked...now I'm interested in why the 5 of each didn't work but taking a few away did.

[MeDeFe]

Forest Medicine should probably be added to the list of needed charms, I'm beginning to think that the Godblade is next to impossible without it unless you're capable of running a high-end lightning deck including the epics.

[Obadiah]

This is what I'm using, it's not 100% but I typically win within a few turns. I think the max it took me was 100 AP, but that was really bad RNG:

Spoiler:

[Howie Feltersnatch]

Here are 2 I used. I don't think they were first try winner but they got the job done. If I remember right the key for me was shortening the decks a bit.

"Godblade Assassin":

"Godblade Pyro":

"Godblade Champ":

[MeDeFe]

Yeah, thing is, I don't want to spend up to 100 AP on a single exploration site every day for 4 weeks until I master Heroism. I want to get it done with one or two tries. Forest Medicine seems to be essential for that since I was always just a few points (between 15 and 82) short of killing the angel before it killed me. A few more turns of not taking damage from the bane is enough for a deck of absolutely no more than 35 damage-dealing charms. I ran something very similar to Obadiah, but it's a bit too dependent on whether you pull your FotEs after being normalized or after having been hit with the -next debuff.

And Howie, your decks look way too long and way too EA-heavy, Rapier in particular is always a loss for you since you take at least 14 damage from the bane if you have 20+ ward, but only deal 12.

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