Into the Rift

Into the Rift

Into the Rift is a permanent quest available via the QUEST verb.

Details

THIS PAGE CONTAINS SPOILERS

Accepting the Quest

Check you eligibility for the quest with the QUEST INFO command. You may accept the quest by using the QUEST ACCEPT # command, where the # is the number associated the the Into the Rift quest.

     Quest Name                      Status        Realm                Reward

  1) Into the Rift                   Available     The Rift             Mechanical  
  2) Artificer Research              In Progress   The Hinterwilds      10,000 Exper
  3) Weekly: Empyrean Extermination  Available     Unknown              Mechanical  
  4) Weekly: Ground Clearance        Available     Unknown              Mechanical  
  5) Monthly: Empyrean Extermination On Cooldown   Unknown              Mechanical  
  6) Monthly: Ground Clearance       On Cooldown   Unknown              Mechanical  

QUEST INFO <#> to see the status of a quest.
QUEST ACCEPT <#> to begin an available quest.
QUEST ABANDON <#> to abandon an active quest.

>quest accept 1

-~-
Into the Rift
A shimmer of displaced air ripples beside you, and a grizzled half-elf materializes from the shadows.  His weathered face breaks into a grim smile, and you notice a faded holy symbol etched into his worn breastplate.  "Your skill in combat marks you as one who might succeed where my brothers and I failed."  His voice carries the weight of old sorrows, yet there is hope kindled in his haunted eyes.
The man steps closer, his form seeming to waver slightly at the edges as if not fully anchored to this realm.  "I have watched you from afar, and I believe you possess the strength to help me with a task that weighs heavily upon my soul.  My three brothers and I once served the light together, but when we ventured into the Rift with our Order, that cursed place twisted their minds into madness.  They still wander its depths as fallen crusaders, their spirits tethered to an unholy mission."
"By my sacred oath, I beg you to meet me in the Cavern of Ages within the Rift, where I might explain more fully.  Will you help me grant them the peace of a true death?"
Without waiting for your response, the adventurer begins to fade once more.  "Seek me in the Cavern of Ages, within the Birthing Sands of the Rift.  There, I will tell you the full tale of our tragedy."  His form dissipates like morning mist, leaving only the echo of his plea hanging in the air.
-~-

Beginning the Quest: Arriving at the Cavern of Ages

Name:          Into the Rift
Realm:         The Rift
Rewards:       Mechanical
Prerequisites: You must be level 100.
Cooldown:      Monthly
You are currently undertaking this quest.
- Seek out the Cavern of Ages in the Rift

[Birthing Sands, Cavern of Ages]
This part of the cavern seems intimate after the expansiveness just around a bend of the red stone.  Recesses all along the east wall give the rock a filigreed appearance which belies the vast size of each enclosure.  The fine sand is a constant carpet, however, the light it expends is much dimmer here, fading to a soft twilight within the eastern niches.  To the south, the walls swirl to create an oval passageway into another cavern where more of the recesses can be glimpsed.  You also see a jagged stone ledge, a narrow fissure and a stiff sandy pack.
Obvious exits: south, southwest

Stepping into this part of the cavern, you are struck by its intimacy after the vastness just beyond the bend of red stone.  Fine sand carpets the floor, its glow now dimmed to a gentle twilight that pools softly within the eastern niches.  You see the grizzled half-elf who asked you to meet here.  He looks up, his eyes haunted.  "My order came to the Rift, seeking to cleanse the Rift of its unholy insanity," he says, "But the horrors within were beyond anything we imagined."
[Use QUEST CONTINUE to proceed.]

"One by one, my companions fell, torn apart or twisted by the madness that lurks in these shadows.  I had three brothers... but they were slain and then twisted.  The Rift claimed their minds first, turning them into raving lunatics, lost to rage and violence.  I had to end their suffering with my blade, but their respite was brief."
"My brothers rose from their shallow graves as fallen crusaders.  I beg you, end their suffering once and for all.  Vanquish them from this mortal plane so that they may rest.  Only you can grant them peace."
[Use QUEST CONTINUE to proceed.]

"I must go now, but I will meet you here when you have finished your task."
The man gives you a lingering, haunted look before his form begins to shimmer and blur at the edges.  With a final nod, he fades away into the dim twilight, leaving behind only the echo of his sorrow.
Roundtime: 5 sec.

Step 1: End their Suffering

Travel Plane 4 of the Rift and defeat fallen crusaders.

Name:          Into the Rift
Realm:         The Rift
Rewards:       Mechanical
Prerequisites: You must be level 100.
Cooldown:      Monthly
You are currently undertaking this quest.
- End the suffering of the fallen crusader brothers (0/3)

Each time you defeat a fallen crusader, you will see a message indicating if they were one of the brothers you are looking for and the counter listed in QUEST INFO will be updated.

[Into the Rift] You sense that the fallen crusader has long been in the grip of the Rift.  This is not one of the brothers you seek.

[Into the Rift] In its last moments, the fallen crusader meets your gaze, blinking at you with something like humanity.  You exhale slowly and sense that you have laid to rest one of the brothers you sought.

Name:          Into the Rift
Realm:         The Rift
Rewards:       Mechanical
Prerequisites: You must be level 100.
Cooldown:      Monthly
You are currently undertaking this quest.
- End the suffering of the fallen crusader brothers (1/3)

After releasing all 3, you will receive a message instructing you to return to the grizzled half-elf in the Cavern of Ages.

[Into the Rift] In its last moments, the fallen crusader meets your gaze, blinking at you with something like humanity.  You exhale slowly and sense that you have laid to rest one of the brothers you sought.  Having laid all three brothers to rest, you should return to the grizzled half-elf in the Cavern of Ages.

The grizzled half-elf awaits you.  His eyes search your face, and as you recount the fate of his brothers, a deep sorrow settles over him.  He listens in silence, his expression haunted by grief and regret.  When you finish, he bows his head, murmuring his thanks for the mercy you have shown.  "You have given me the gift of closure, and for that, I am grateful.  Now, I can begin to grieve properly."
[Use QUEST CONTINUE to proceed.]

After a moment, the man straightens, a new resolve hardening his features.  "But grief alone cannot heal the wounds left by the Rift.  The horrors that dwell here must be confronted, and vengeance must be claimed for those lost."  He fixes you with a determined gaze.  "If you are willing, I ask you to continue your work."
[Use QUEST CONTINUE to proceed.]

"I'm afraid that the release of my brothers is not enough.  I know that it is not right, but I must have my vengeance against this cursed place.  But first, there is a more pressing matter.  There exists within the Rift a particularly unhallowed space known as the Scatter.  It was in the Scatter that I met my own demise.  In my last moments, I was able to raise my battle standard, calling upon Voln to intercede and prevent me from becoming one of the undead."
[Use QUEST CONTINUE to proceed.]

"I need the battle standard closer to me to maintain my connection to my soul.  You must bring the battle standard here, or I too will become a fallen one like my brothers.  Go to the Scatter, SEARCH for my battle standard, and return to me.  You must RAISE it here in the Cavern of Ages so that I am empowered to continue this mission."
Roundtime: 5 sec.

Step 2: Raise the Battle Standard

Travel to the Scatter and search for the battle standard.

Name:          Into the Rift
Realm:         The Rift
Rewards:       Mechanical
Prerequisites: You must be level 100.
Cooldown:      Monthly

You are currently undertaking this quest.

- Search the Scatter within the Rift for the adventurer's battle standard

Not every room in the Scatter is capable of spawning the standard. You will see a message displayed in eligible rooms

The area looks well suited to a search.

Searching a room can yield a couple different messages. You cannot search the same room twice for the battle standard.

You meticulously search the area, sifting through wind-scoured sand and peering into shadowed crevices, but find no trace of the adventurer's battle standard.  The air hums with uneasy pressure, and the stone bears no fresh marks, as if the Rift has swallowed every sign.  Perhaps another part of the Scatter hides what you seek.
Roundtime: 5 sec.

You have already searched this room.

[A tattered battle standard is now in your right hand.]

Looking around the room, you see a strange mass of tenebrous tentacles, writhing and clenching around themselves in a wet pulsating mess.  You approach the disgusting spectacle, and the tentacles skitter away from you as if in fear.  In their wake is the battle standard that you seek!
Roundtime: 5 sec.

A successful search will result with the battle standard appearing in an open hand. After recovering the standard, return to the grizzled half-elf in the Cavern of Ages and RAISE it to continue the quest.

You plant the base of the battle standard firmly into the ground, hoisting the tattered banner towards the heavens.  The faded red banner ripples with an unseen breeze.  Without warning, terrible whispers fill your mind as the Rift lashes out against your display of sanctity.  Just as the whispers begin to fade, the banner bursts with a blinding light, and you cover your eyes.  When you look again, the banner is gone, but a lingering sense of peace remains, filling you with courage.

The half-elven man shimmers into view, and you feel an unexpected chill emanate from his ghostly form.  It might be your imagination, but he appears to be more corporeal than previously.  "Thank you for returning my battle standard.  I can feel it tethering me further to this plane, and my strength waxes once again where only moments ago it did wane," the man says as his form rapidly solidifies.

[Use QUEST CONTINUE to proceed.]
Roundtime: 5 sec.

The man continues, "Now that I am feeling better, I hunger all the more for retribution.  They say the taste of vengeance is bitter, like copper, and my palate has gained a taste for blood.  I need you to exact vengeance on my behalf.  Slay 15 Murky Soul Siphons, 15 Glistening Cerebralites, 10 Rift Crawlers, and 10 Darkly Inked Fetish Masters."

The adventurer places a hand on your shoulder, his grip unexpectedly firm.  "You have already done much, but this final task will help bring peace to the memories of my brothers and all who have suffered here.  Return to me when your work is done, and together we will honor their sacrifice."  With that, he steps back into the shadows, waiting for you to fulfill his last request.
Roundtime: 5 sec.

Step 3: Vengeance

Travel back to the Scatter and slay soul siphons, glistening cerebralites, rift crawlers, and fetish masters.

Name:          Into the Rift
Realm:         The Rift
Rewards:       Mechanical
Prerequisites: You must be level 100.
Cooldown:      Monthly

You are currently undertaking this quest.

- Slay soul siphon (0/15)
- Slay glistening cerebralite (0/15)
- Slay rift crawler (0/10)
- Slay fetish master (0/10)

After defeating the final foe, you will receive a message directing you back to the Cavern of Ages

[Into the Rift] Foe vanquished!  You have no kills of this foe remaining!  - Return to the Cavern of Ages

Completing the Quest

Return to the Cavern of Ages to speak with the grizzled half-elf.

Name:          Into the Rift
Realm:         The Rift
Rewards:       Mechanical
Prerequisites: You must be level 100.
Cooldown:      Monthly
You are currently undertaking this quest.
- Return to the Cavern of Ages

Upon returning to the Cavern of Ages, the grizzled half-elf will deliver a brief message of gratitude before disappearing.

-~-
The grizzled half-elf regards you with a solemn nod, gratitude etched deep into his weathered features.  "You have done more than I could have hoped, driving back the darkness and granting peace to those lost souls."  His voice trembles with emotion, yet there is a strange intensity in his gaze, a flicker of something ancient and unreadable.  "For now, I must go and grieve, but know that the Rift is never truly quiet.  Its secrets run deeper than sorrow."
As you watch, the man's form begins to shimmer, edges blurring as if reality itself struggles to contain him.  "There may come a time when I call upon you again," he whispers, his voice echoing oddly in the cavern's twilight.  "Until then, remember: not all who wander the Rift are what they seem."  With a final, enigmatic smile, he fades into the shadows, leaving behind only questions.
Into the Rift is finished!  Use QUEST COMPLETE to claim rewards.
Roundtime: 5 sec.
-~-

Additional Information

Completing the quest will grant 5,000 exp and 10,000 fame.

Name:          Into the Rift
Realm:         The Rift
Rewards:       Mechanical
Prerequisites: You must be level 100.
Cooldown:      Monthly
You are currently undertaking this quest.
- Return to the Cavern of Ages