Bloodstone Fen

Relieved of the White Mantle's lies, the heroes set out with the Shining Blade to save the Chosen from their fate at the Bloodstone.

Objectives
Seek the truth about the White Mantle.
 * Locate Blade Scout Ryder. He'll take you to the Bloodstone.
 * Use the vine bridges to traverse the jungle.
 * ADDED: Travel on to the Bloodstone on your own.
 * ADDED: Avenge the chosen by killing Justiciar Hablion and his personal guards.
 * *BONUS* Awaken the Druids while preserving their guardians.

Walkthrough
Players start the mission looking for Blade Scout Ryder and his party. Saidra informs the party that Ryder has gone ahead and drops a Vine Seed. Drop the seed on the designated spot to create a vine bridge. Along the way there are 3 more Vine Seed Flowers (points A and C) which, when clicked, yield a Vine Seed to create bridges at spots marked by a glowing circle on the jungle floor (several of which are marked B on the map).

You will be told to find Bloodstone on your own after speaking with Blade Scout Ryder (point D) or after creating the vine bridge at the location where the bonus path (blue) merges back with the mission path. Eventually the party will find itself at the Bloodstone, and must engage Justiciar Hablion upon the stone itself.

Each Vine Seed Plant produces only one Vine Seed and, when taken, Moss Scarabs pop up. The number of Vine Seed Flowers at a location is a good indication of about how many Vine Seeds the party will need to pick up. If your party has fewer than three players, you will have to re-trace ground sometimes. There is a second cluster of Vine Seed Flowers (point C) that is closer to the last bridge. Mobs encountered include Wind Riders, Jungle Trolls and Moss Scarabs in medium-sized groups so be prepared for Hexes, Conditions and Melee damage.

This mission is not all that difficult if you keep one or two things in mind while completing the main objectives and the bonus. The beginning of the mission follows the formatted run, just kill all foes in your path. Once you reach the Bloodstone, the Curse of the Bloodstone slows the casting of Resurrection skills on allies who perish on the Bloodstone's surface. Instead of charging into the fray, scurry to one side of the stone. Take out the White Mantle Abbot and the fellow with him. Then, run over to the other side of the stone (without going past Justiciar Hablion) and defeat that White Mantle Abbot and his companion. It will make taking out Justiciar Hablion much easier!

Bonus
The bonus for this mission is to use Vine Seeds to awaken four Druids so that they, in turn, may awaken the Elder Druid. This must be done without killing any of the Jungle Guardians who protect the sleeping Druids: the bonus is lost if even one guardian dies. And, inconveniently, the party must then kill the Ravagers summoned in place of the Elder.

The bonus is triggered when the party awakens the first Druid (1 on the map) by dropping a Vine Seed on the glowing circle. The first Druid speaks, creates a Vine Bridge and slowly walks across it. The first Druid stops where the Elder Druid is to be summoned (point 4 on the map). Players will find other Vine Seed Plants (2 on the map) near this spot that they can use to awaken the other three Druids (marked 3 on the map). Several Moss Scarabs will also spawn in and around the areas where the druids are to be awakened; these (unlike the Guardians) can safely be killed without endangering the bonus.

You can easily lose the bonus by accident if you do not pay close attention to any heroes or henchmen in the party. Players can use several strategies to manage the heroes or henchmen: disable skills on the skill bar that create minions or offensive binding ritual spirits; move henchmen before they can do too much damage; set heroes to Avoid Combat mode; set any pets to heel; and/or flag the party out of the way (e.g. before the first of the guardians).

For those lucky enough to tackle the mission with a full party of players, divide the party into two groups: one group awakens the druids while the second distracts the guardians. (This can also work with 2 players and heroes.)

The guardians have a wide attack range but they won't chase very far. There is always a nearby safe area where you can rest to recover before engaging the next one, although the Moss Scarabs will pop up and chase you there. The path to the farthest druid in the north has a safe spot by a tree in the western edge. In hard mode, bring a speed boost and projectile protection or your NPCs will get caught in the crossfire from two groups.

Once all four Druids have been awakened and have made their way to the circle, the Elder Druid will appear. Speak to the Elder Druid to complete the bonus.

After completing the bonus, the Jungle Guardians will no longer be aggressive (although they will fight back if you attack them). Killing them no longer affects the bonus, but will trigger the Ravagers (which are now relatively easy to kill, should you want the experience).

Solo alternative
The bonus can be completed by a single character with a build that includes damage reduction and health regeneration; the Jungle Guardians and Moss Scarabs do not deal heavy damage. Some skills are safe to use on the Guardians, such as Ether Feast (which does no damage) or Blinding Flash (which makes it harder for them to damage you, but does them no other harm).

After awakening the first Druid, follow it until you can see Jungle Guardians ahead. At this point, flag all heroes and henchmen behind. Drop one Vine Seed for each Druid one-at-a-time; use the time between each to regenerate health. Fight Moss Scarabs away from Jungle Guardians. The Vine Seed Flowers are clumped together and safe from other foes; you can rest while near them as well.

Allies
Humans Spirits
 * 10 (20) Chosen Villager
 * 15 (20) Blade Scout Ryder
 * 20 Saidra
 * 15 (20) Shining Blade Rangers (dead)
 * 15 (20) Shining Blade Warriors (dead)
 * 20 Druid
 * 20 Elder Druid (bonus only)

Foes
Behemoths Centaurs Devourers Humans (White Mantles) Plants Nightmares Riders Scarabs Trolls
 * 19 (25) Root Behemoth
 * 16 (25) Maguuma Warrior
 * 16 (25) Maguuma Protector
 * 17 (25) Thorn Devourer
 * 17 (25) Fevered Devourer
 * 16 (25) White Mantle Knight
 * 16 (25) White Mantle Seeker
 * 18 (25) White Mantle Abbot
 * 19 (25) Jungle Guardian
 * 17 (25) Thorn Stalker
 * 20 (26) Ravager
 * 12 (24) Wind Rider
 * 12 (24) Moss Scarab
 * 18 (25) Jungle Troll

Bosses
Devourers Plants Humans (White Mantles) Riders
 * 20 (29) Mossk Rottail
 * 20 (29) Tree of Winds
 * 20 (29) Tree of Life
 * 20 (29) Thornwrath
 * 20 (29) Justiciar Hablion
 * 20 (29) Torr the Relentless
 * 20 (29) Ramm the Benevolent
 * 20 (29) Oswald the Amiable
 * 20 (29) Nyle the Compassionate
 * 20 (29) Pleoh the Ugly
 * 20 (29) Hepp Bilespitter

Intermediate dialogue 1

 * Saidra: "If you're looking for Ryder, he's gone ahead to the Bloodstone, down in that clearing."
 * Saidra: "The Mantle are taking the Chosen there right now."
 * Saidra: "You'll need this, if you want to catch up. Drop it on the glowing circle to grow the bridge."

Intermediate dialogue 2

 * Druid: "The jungle is in peril. The Elder Druid must be summoned."
 * Druid: "Awaken my brethren, the old Druids of Maguuma, the same way you woke me."
 * Druid: "They will summon the Elder Druid, but be careful."
 * Druid: "Do not harm the jungle guardians, or you will instead waken the ravagers."

Intermediate dialogue 3

 * Blade Scout Ryder: "Look, I'm supposed to take you to the Bloodstone, but the Mantle wiped out my entire party, and I'm not going back."
 * Blade Scout Ryder: "Go on if you want. But you should know, the stone disrupts divine energy. Those killed on top of it take much longer to resurrect."

Intermediate cinematic

 * Justiciar Hablion: "I am the scythe, the Bringer of Salvation."
 * Justiciar Hablion: "And I shall harvest the souls of the Unbelievers."
 * Justiciar Hablion: "For their stench will linger."
 * Justiciar Hablion: "Until the false gods have been cast from this world."
 * Justiciar Hablion: "Well, well. If it isn't our old friends."
 * Justiciar Hablion: "We thought you'd been killed by the Shining Blade. But I see we were mistaken."
 * : "We're on to you Hablion. Your days of murdering innocent people end here."
 * Justiciar Hablion: "I'm afraid you're mistaken. If anyone ends here, it will be you."
 * Justiciar Hablion: "Get them."
 * : "Prepare to pay for your sins, Hablion."

End cinematic

 * : "May your soul be lost in the endless Mists, never to find rest."
 * Confessor Dorian: "The White Mantle have been called once again to arms."
 * Confessor Dorian: "There are betrayers among us. Those who would masquerade as our friends only to turn and stab at our hearts."
 * Confessor Dorian: "I have just received word that these traitors have murdered Justiciar Hablion."
 * White Mantle Ritualist: "They must pay for this!"
 * Confessor Dorian: "Yes, my son."
 * Confessor Dorian: "When these heathens attacked the White Mantle they chose their fate. Now it is for us to deliver upon them what they have asked for."
 * White Mantle Savant: "Kill them all!"
 * Confessor Dorian: "Yes, my son. We will mete out justice and take our vengeance."
 * Confessor Dorian: "Leave no stone unturned."
 * Confessor Dorian: "Find the betrayers, find Hablion's killers."
 * Confessor Dorian: "Kill them all."