Nolani Academy

Sneak out of Nolani Academy and destroy the besieging Charr. Help Rurik push to Rin and sound the horn Stormcaller.

Objectives
Return Prince Rurik south of the Wall to safety.


 * Sneak out and ambush the Charr forces besieging the academy.
 * Return to the Nolani Academy to rendezvous with the prince.
 * Defend Prince Rurik on the way back to the capital city of Rin.
 * *BONUS* Return the Tome of the Fallen.
 * ADDED: Take Stormcaller to Horn Hill.
 * ADDED: Save Rin.

Walkthrough
Talk to the lone Flaming Scepter Mage at the start of the mission to have him follow you and help out. You will also encounter two groups of allied ranger NPCs with Dual Shot when following the red path on the map: an Ascalon Ranger and Warmaster Casana are on the long path at the beginning, and three Lost Soldiers near the Charr forces. They will follow and help you. Using enchantment or weapon spells on them or skills like Barbs on the foes can also help.

Unless you have a strong party, the Charr will completely overwhelm you if you pull the lever and open the front gate. Instead, head out the northeast corner of Nolani Academy and make your way south. Eventually your path will lead you to the Wall, but you cannot pass through the gate here yet. Instead, continue on and start heading north towards the rear of Charr force that is attacking Nolani.

If doing in the traditional approach (following the red path on the map around to the rear of Charr forces), you must be careful with the boss and its mob at the front gate, because sometimes killing that mob causes the gate to open and the remaining Charr to rush in at Prince Rurik. If you don't act quick and he dies, you fail the mission and have to start all over. It is best to pull and kill the mobs on the left and right first before attacking the middle mob with the boss.

After you defeat the Charr forces, Rurik will open the front gate of Nolani and come out to greet you. Follow him back to the wall where he will order the gate to be opened.

After the cinematic, follow Rurik and keep him protected until he reaches the top of the hill where the Stormcaller horn is located. After the cinematic, follow Rurik down the hill and engage the Charr (make sure you follow Rurik, even if you need to wait for him; if you engage the Charr ahead of him, and he ends up attacking a different mob once he finally moves, he will quickly die fighting by himself, causing you to fail the mission). If you save the Ascalon Prisoners, they will follow you if talked to. Towards the back of the ruins, you will come across the Charr boss Bonfaaz Burntfur. Kill him to complete the mission.

Alternate strategy
The following strategy may be simpler for hard mode players who have trouble keeping Rurik alive. This can also be done in normal mode, but must be done quickly, as it depends on the party reaching the final boss before Rurik reaches Stormcaller. If Rurik reaches Stormcaller before the party kills Bonfaaz Burntfur, they will be teleported back to the mission's regular path after the cinematic. In hard mode, Rurik takes longer to reach Stormcaller, giving the party plenty of time.

When the mission begins, head through the eastern gate and complete the bonus if needed. Circle around the Academy, rescuing Ascalonian soldiers and clearing out Charr forces. Players in hard mode will have an easier time of protecting Rurik if they kill all the Charr between the wall and the Academy.

Once the Charr are gone, Rurik will join you for the trek to the wall. Once the first cinematic is completed, do not follow him. Instead, turn right and follow the nearly empty path south (see map).

When approaching the ruins of Rin, the mobs from the main path are visible on the radar, but your objective is the small Charr mob to the right that is attacking the two Ascalon Prisoners, just past the archway (usually made up of one Charr warrior and one Charr ranger). Quickly eliminate them, keeping close to the wall to avoid aggroing the other groups. There is enough space to do this safely, even with a minion master.

Just above the stairway, you will see Bonfaaz Burntfur standing by himself. As mentioned above, parties must kill him before Rurik reaches Stormcaller, but a 4-person party (especially with a minion master or a spirit lord) can easily take down the lone Charr boss and complete the mission.

Bonus
The bonus can be attained relatively early in the mission. When traveling south just after leaving Nolani, look for a small path to the east. At the end of this path is Watchman Pramas; talk to him and he will give you the bonus and drop the Tome of the Fallen (point 1).

Carry the tome along with you during the mission until you pass the wall. Instead of heading north towards the rear of the Charr force attacking Nolani Academy, keep heading west. You will come across a graveyard filled with hostile Spirits of the Fallen. Be wary when fighting these, as they are relatively powerful and can easily overwhelm your party if you engage too many at once. Instead, attack them piecemeal; have a party member pull a few away from their main group and lure them towards your party where you can safely kill them. Keep doing this until they are all dead. While you're attacking the spirits, beware of hidden devourers that can pop-up and join the fight.

After the spirits are dead, continue through the graveyard until you come across a pedestal. Place the tome on the pedestal and talk to the Old Ascalon Spirit who appears (point 2). Any spirits still remaining will disappear, and the bonus will be complete.


 * Placing the tome will not complete the bonus objective. To get credit, you need to talk to the Old Ascalon Spirit who will appear after you place the tome.
 * Several of the spirits will not move to attack you, even when in aggro range; they only attack if you are within melee range. Use this to your advantage and take them out with ranged attacks and spells; however, they will move if attacked by AoE spells, but will move back to their original location after the spell is over.
 * A devourer boss in the northeast corner by the cemetery can provide a recharge for your party's Resurrection Signets. But be careful; several Carrion Devourers will popup when you attack. It may be best to pull the boss from its original location.

Skill recommendations

 * Holy damage is very effective against the Spirits of the Fallen when completing the bonus.
 * If following the alternate strategy, your party will avoid the majority of spellcaster foes in this mission, so hex removal skills are unnecessary, as the only hex your party will encounter is Parasitic Bond cast by Plague Devourers, which may be counterproductive to remove.
 * If following the alternate strategy, your party will encounter mostly warrior and ranger foes in this mission, so skills that punish physical attackers, block (avoid bringing stances since Charr Blade Storms use Wild Blow), or inflict Blindness, Weakness, or Cracked Armor will be effective here (see Melee counter).

Allies
Humans Ghosts
 * 5 (20) Ascalon Guard
 * 10 (20) Prince Rurik
 * 5 (20) Ascalonian Ranger
 * 7 (20) Lost Soldier
 * 7 (20) Warmaster Casana
 * 7 (20) Ascalon Prisoner
 * 7 (20) Flaming Scepter Mage
 * 7 (20) Ascalon Watchman
 * 5 (20) Watchman Pramas
 * 11 (20) Old Ascalon Spirit

Foes
Charr Devourers Elementals Gargoyles Ghosts
 * 8 (23) Charr Axe Fiend
 * 8 (23) Charr Blade Storm
 * 8 (23) Charr Hunter
 * 6 (23) Charr Stalker
 * 7 (23) Charr Shaman
 * 8 (23) Charr Ashen Claw
 * 8 (23) Charr Chaot
 * 8 (23) Charr Flame Wielder
 * 8 (23) Carrion Devourer
 * 7 (23) Whiptail Devourer
 * 8 (23) Plague Devourer
 * 7 (23) Boulder Elemental
 * 8 (22) Shatter Gargoyle
 * 7 (22) Flash Gargoyle
 * 10 (24) Spirit of the Fallen

Bosses
Charr Devourers Elementals
 * 10 (27) Brand the Brawler
 * 10 (27) Felinam the Whip
 * 10 (27) Blaze Bloodbane
 * 10 (27) Red Eye the Unholy
 * 10 (27) Ghast Ashpyre
 * 10 (27) Jaw Smokeskin
 * 10 (27) Bonfaaz Burntfur
 * 11 (27) Stank Reekfoul
 * 9 (27) Crush Kill
 * 9 (27) Rock Fist

Objects

 * Lever (opens front gate of the Academy, letting the Charr in)
 * Tome Pedestal
 * Charr Firestand

Dialogue

 * Flaming Scepter Mage: "As long as I control this OBELISK, it will strike any foes who venture near."


 * Prince Rurik: "The Charr archers have us pinned down. You'll need to sneak out the path to the east and ambush those Rangers. I'll stay here to help the mages hold the defenses. you must hurry. We can't hold out here for long."

After freeing the Academy:
 * Prince Rurik: "We push on, to Rin! Bring the mages. Their homecoming is overdue."

Receiving bonus objective:
 * Watchman Pramas: "I took the Tome of the Fallen from the graveyard. The captain ordered me. But I didn't know it was cursed! Now the spirits of those who lost their lives on the Wall are roaming free! Please. Take it back to the graveyard for me."


 * Warmaster Casana: "I got separated from my party on a scouting mission beyond the Wall."


 * Warmaster Casana: "I didn't think I'd make it back alive by myself."

Bonus completion:
 * Old Ascalon Spirit: "These spirits are at peace because of you. They gave their lives protecting the Wall. The story of our destruction was foretold long ago. Our names might as well have been written in the Flameseeker's Prophecies. Heed the words of the prophet. The sons of Ascalon must not die in vain."

Cinematic 1

 * Ascalon Watchman: "Prince Rurik! What are you doing out here?"
 * Prince Rurik: "Open this door! You will let us through!"
 * Ascalon Watchman: "But sir, the king swore death if the door was opened."
 * Prince Rurik: "And I swear death if you don't stand aside this instant!"
 * Ascalon Watchman: "Yes, my prince."
 * Prince Rurik: "I defend Ascalon against another Charr invasion, and my father trifles with doors."
 * Ascalon Watchman:"You'll speak to the king, won't you? You'll tell him I had no choice ?"
 * Prince Rurik: "By Balthazar's beard! Rin burns! I told the king the Charr would not be held for long. We must go to Horn Hill! Only Stormcaller can save the city now."

Cinematic 2

 * Prince Rurik: "Praise be to Dwayna if this works."

Cinematic 3

 * Prince Rurik: "Trumpets! The king must be near. The fall of Rin will have darkened his heart. Hail King Adelbern!"
 * King Adelbern: "Rise, my son. you have done well. The discovery of Stormcaller is surely a sign of victory."
 * Prince Rurik: "It is a powerful weapon, but I fear not powerful enough. The Charr have amassed an army of many thousands."
 * King Adelbern: "You overestimate these beasts, Rurik. Do not be afraid."
 * Prince Rurik: "I am not afraid, father. I have seen them in battle. Rin has been destroyed! It would be wise to escape while we can. We should make for Kryta and rebuild our strength. Not wait here for death."
 * King Adelbern: "I will never allow Ascalons to live in the shadow of the Krytans! It is Rin that will be rebuilt. And you will learn your place."
 * Prince Rurik: "You have grown proud, Adelbern of Ascalon...proud and foolish!"
 * King Adelbern: "You would dare call your king a fool? I will hear no more. I banish you from Ascalon! You are no longer my prince, and you are no longer my son!"
 * Prince Rurik: "People of Rin! Your king will lead you to death. If you wish to see better days, if you wish to live, then leave the beasts behind and follow me over the Shiverpeaks. We make for Kryta and a new life, free of the Charr."

Trivia

 * In front of the main gate of the academy, there is a burning statue in a crater that looks like a Titan.