Gate of Desolation

This is a lengthy mission where you tame the Junundu to gain the ability to travel the Desolation.

Gate of Desolation has two parts, the first is the taming of the Junundu queen, Queen Aijundu by defeating her and her Undead helpers. The second is traversing the Desolation guided by Palawa Joko safely ensconced in your very own controllable wurm escort.

Requirements
Zhed Shadowhoof must be in your party before you enter this mission.

Objectives
Tame Queen Aijundu and gain control of the junundu wurms.
 * ADDED: Defeat Queen Aijundu and her undead minions.
 * ADDED: Call forth a junundu so you may ride it through the sulfur.
 * ADDED: Guide the junundu to the Remains of Sahlahja.
 * *Bonus* Protect the junundu young from the demon hordes.
 * You have saved [0...3] of 3 junundu young.

Reward
The reward for this mission depends on how many Junundu young you rescue from the Margonites (See Normal mode reward/Hard mode reward for details).

Walkthrough
As you enter the mission Palawa Joko starts to talk and will lead you to a Wurm Spoor to the left of the entrance. The Wurm Spoor is situated in a hole beyond which the yellow Sulfurous Haze begin. To walk in human form on the areas which show as bright yellow on the map means near immediate death. Stay clear.

It is at this Wurm Spoor (1 on the map) that you will tame Queen Aijundu, so set up for the fight. You should stage the fight from the hill over looking the Wurm Spoor which will give you a height advantage and keeps you away from the sulfur. If you are using heroes and henchmen, they should be pinned at the top of the hill at the point furthest from the sulfur and set to defensive mode. For a better idea, when Palawa Joko runs to the Wurm Spoor, he will stop before reaching it, then move to the other side, and then remain in that spot until you tame Aijundu. Flag your heroes and henchmen at the point he stops at before moving to his final position. If there is a minion master in your party, avoid fighting near Palawa Joko, since he will use Well of Darkness on recharge, exploiting the corpses that the minion master could have used; however, if your party doesn't have a minion master, it is recommended to fight near Palawa Joko, so he will create Wells of Darkness that will hinder hexed undead physical attackers and at the same time prevent Awakened Defilers from using those corpses to create Wells of Darkness that will hinder your party.

After a few groups of undead have attacked and been defeated, Queen Aijundu will approach and attack. Once her health has been reduced a bit she will retreat and further undead will attack. There are quite a few bosses who spawn in the undead groups - keep an eye out for them. Aijundu will attack again when all the undead are killed, this time when you've damaged her enough she will allow you to use the wurms to cross the Desolation. Look out for enemies with hard resses: Awakened Acolytes, Awakened Cavaliers and especially the boss Chakeh the Lonely. Left alone these will resurrect fallen enemies on top of the new groups approaching you, which might overwhelm the party. Tip: If you feel your party is overwhelmed with attacking foes try running away from the Wurm Spoor. Not all enemies will follow you all the way to your new destination. This smaller group of enemies will be easier to individually target and take down. This also gives your party a chance to regroup, heal, and target the remaining foes left guarding the Wurm Spoor. Also it's not necessary to fight next to the Wurm Spoor. You can flag your party a fair distance away at the start and simply pull the successive groups of enemies.

The order of appearance of the bosses is as follows: first Chakeh the Lonely (Paragon); second Avah the Crafty (Warrior); third Chundu the Meek (Dervish); fourth and fifth appear together, Nehmak the Unpleasant (Necromancer) and Amind the Bitter (Mesmer).

Click on the Wurm Spoor. This will summon wurms to transport you and the party. You now have control of the wurm and will use Junundu skills rather than those you have equipped on your character. You can now travel on the sulfur areas without dying.

Follow Palawa Joko as he leads you to the Remains of Sahlahja. Along the way you will fight groups of Margonites and Elementals. Margonites are easy to take down in wurm form, but take care with the Elementals, especially the Sandstorm Crags whose earth damage attacks prove dangerous to the wurms. Mind that both these and Cracked Mesas cannot be knocked down for healing through Junundu Bite nor leave corpses for Junundu Feast. Remember to use Junundu Wail to resurrect fallen party members and heal once a fight is over.

During the journey you will encounter rocky ground which the wurms cannot travel through. You will have to abandon the wurm until you find another Wurm Spoor which will allow you to travel on the sulfur again. By timing your movement, you can avoid the Margonite group nearby and proceed to the next Wurm Spoor. You complete the mission when you reach the Remains of Sahlahja.

Bonus
The bonus is not difficult, but it detours from Joko's direct route in order to rescue 3 Junundu Young. There is no need to exit Junundu to reach them.

Each Junundu Young is surrounded by a group of a half-dozen Margonites. Follow the bonus route on the map and kill each group in turn. As you do, an advice box appears stating that the young has been saved and you can move on to the next objective along the path. You still receive credit for a rescue even if the young dies after you have disposed of the foes that threatened it.

Although the Margonites do not attack the young directly, these wurms can be hurt by area of effect skills, including your own &mdash; most notably, the young can be damaged by Junundu Smash. To guarantee the bonus, pull the Margonites away from the young before engaging them in combat.

Skill recommendations

 * Holy damage does double damage to undead.
 * Bring plenty of party-wide heals, protective wards, and/or anti-melee and anti-caster skills &mdash; the undead at the start can be overwhelming to an unprepared party.
 * Area of effect spells, non-spell skills, and certain enchantment removal skills can help to overcome Obsidian Flesh and Vow of Silence, used by the Carven Effigies and Awakened Dune Carvers respectively.
 * Minions created outside the wurms can run through the Sulfurous Haze; however, while in Wurm form, the party won't be able to heal or create new minions.
 * Some players prefer Rebirth or Sunspear Rebirth Signet for resurrection, since they are more convenient for any allies who die on the sulfur.
 * Lightbringer skills are not very useful, since your party will encounter the majority of Margonites while in the Junundu and the other foes in this mission are not affected by those skills.

Allies
Mummy (Undead)
 * 24 Palawa Joko

Wurm
 * 28 Aijundu


 * 24 (26) Junundu Young

Foes
Demons (Margonites) Elementals Elementals (Undead) Mummies (Undead)
 * 24 (26) Margonite Executioner
 * 24 (26) Margonite Bowmaster
 * 24 (26) Margonite Cleric
 * 24 (26) Margonite Warlock
 * 24 (26) Margonite Seer
 * 24 (26) Margonite Sorcerer
 * 24 (26) Margonite Ascendant
 * 24 (26) Margonite Reaper
 * 24 (26) Shambling Mesa
 * 24 (26) Sandstorm Crag
 * 24 (26) Carven Effigy
 * 24 (26) Awakened Blademaster
 * 24 (26) Awakened Gray Giant
 * 24 (26) Awakened Acolyte
 * 24 (26) Awakened Defiler
 * 24 (26) Awakened Head
 * 24 (26) Awakened Thought Leech
 * 24 (26) Awakened Cavalier
 * 24 (26) Awakened Dune Carver

Bosses
Mummies (Undead)
 * 28 (30) Avah the Crafty &rarr; Soldier's Stance
 * 28 (30) Nehmak the Unpleasant &rarr; Signet of Suffering
 * 28 (30) Amind the Bitter &rarr; Hex Eater Vortex
 * 28 (30) Chakeh the Lonely &rarr; Soldier's Fury
 * 28 (30) Chundu the Meek &rarr; Vow of Silence

Wurm
 * 28 (28) Queen Aijundu (Although she has a ranger boss aura, she does not appear to use any ranger skills at all.)

Opening cinematic

 * Zhed Shadowhoof: "Did you think you could escape us, grave-walker? We could follow your stench across the desert."
 * Palawa Joko: "You are a natural follower, centaur. Your dead ancestors served as my cavalry."
 * : "We did not come to trade insults, Palawa. We want to know how to cross the Desolation."
 * Palawa Joko: "Sorry to disappoint. Only the dead and the demonic can walk the sulfur flats unscathed."
 * Zhed Shadowhoof: "Let me rip his limbs off. He'll still be able to tell us, afterwards."
 * Palawa Joko: "You wouldn't dare, mule."
 * Zhed Shadowhoof: "You're right. Fire is a better way to deal with a lying abomination like you. Someone, fetch me a torch."
 * : "Don't lie to us, Palawa. The histories speak of mortals at your Bone Palace. How did they get there?"
 * Palawa Joko: "I did not lie. No mortal can walk the sulfur flats. But there are great wurms who travel beneath those sands."
 * Palawa Joko: "These can serve as your steeds, but you have to do one thing."
 * Palawa Joko: "You have to show them you are their master. Otherwise, you are wurm food."

Initial dialogue

 * Palawa Joko: Before you can master the Desolation, you must first master the beast. Those not up to the task die a painful, horrible death. The great wurm Aijundu waits for you, mortal. Tame the queen or perish in her belly!
 * Palawa Joko: My tenuous grasp on these desolate sands is weakening. I can show you where to go, but the task of taming the wurm is yours alone.
 * Zhed Shadowhoof: Be careful. I don't trust that shambling, undead two-legged lord any farther than I could kick him.
 *  : Don't worry, Zhed. We've got your back.
 * Zhed Shadowhoof: No, human. I will have your back. You lead, I shall follow.

Intermediate dialogue
When reaching the Wurm Spoor.
 * Palawa Joko: Venture close to the wurm spoor and you will awaken Aijundu. But be sure you are prepared to challenge the queen of the wurms. Once you have awoken her, she will not rest until she is tamed... or you are kicking and screaming inside her gullet.

When Aijundu approaches the first time.
 * Palawa Joko: You have completed her first challenge, but Aijundu will not yield so easily.

When Aijundu approaches the second time.
 * Palawa Joko: Aijundu will hold back no longer. The more you disturb her, the fiercer she becomes.

When Aijundu is defeated.
 * Palawa Joko: Impressive, mortal. Truth be told, few survive the first challenge and none, save myself, survive the second... until now.
 * Palawa Joko: You are a tamer of the sands. Aijundu has deemed you worthy of riding her kin. Do not abuse this gift, lest you find yourself wurm fodder.
 * Palawa Joko: Interact with the wurm spoor to become one with the junundu. Your bodies and minds will merge, and traversing these sulfurous sands will be instinctual.
 * Palawa Joko: Follow me mortal. I will guide you through the sands of desolation. But beware! The armies of Abaddon infest the area.

When reaching rocky ground the first time.
 * Palawa Joko: Even the junundu have their limitations. Rocky terrain impedes their tunneling. You'll have to separate from the wurm to pass through here.

When reaching the Remains of Sahlahja.
 * Palawa Joko: We have reached our destination. Beyond this path lies the Remains of Sahlahja.

End cinematic

 * Palawa Joko: "Well, well, you seem to be more capable than I thought."
 * Zhed Shadowhoof: "Given your low expectations, that would not be hard."
 * Palawa Joko: "Easy now, my little plough horse. Now if you don't mind, I will be taking my leave."
 * Zhed Shadowhoof: "This abomination preyed on my people centuries ago. Let us return him to his tomb."
 * Palawa Joko: "It took the armies of the Ossa clan to defeat me before. You think your motley band are their equal?"
 *  : "Zhed. Let him go."
 * Zhed Shadowhoof: "He's dangerous. We should burn him."
 *  : "He gave us what we wanted. We will let him go on his way."
 * Palawa Joko: "And that is why humans rule and your people are beasts of burden. They think things through."
 * Zhed Shadowhoof: "We've not seen the last of him. He'll be back, and we'll regret having helped him."

Trivia

 * The 13 November 2008 update added the lightbringer bonus to the rewards.