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Gate of Desolation

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This is a mission entry. For information on the explorable area, see The Sulfurous Wastes. For information on the outpost, see Gate of Desolation (outpost).
Gate of Desolation
Campaign Nightfall
Region The Desolation
Type Cooperative
Party size 8
Required hero Zhed Shadowhoof
Duration Long
Preceded by Crossing the Desolation
Followed by A Deal's a Deal

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.

Contents

[edit] Mission information

[edit] Requirements

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

[edit] 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.

[edit] Reward

The reward for this mission depends on how many Junundu young you rescue from the Margonites.

Reward Young Junundu saved
Standard 0
Expert 1-2
Master 3

[edit] 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 wastes 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, 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 henchmen at the point he stops at before moving to his final position.

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) & 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 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 worm spoor. You complete the mission when you reach the Remains of Sahlahja.

[edit] Bonus

The bonus takes some time to complete as finding the Junundu Young to rescue them results in detours from the direct route which Joko leads. That said, the bonus is not difficult to complete.

Each Junundu Young is surrounded by Margonites. They do not attack the wurm, so they are safe. However you can kill the young using your attack skills, particularly Junundu Smash, so pull the Margonites away from the young just to be sure. When the Margonites are killed and an advice box appears stating that the young is saved, it no longer needs to be kept alive. So when the young dies during later fights - don't panic - it still counts towards completing the bonus.

It is easiest to save the young while you are in wurm form. Since all young can be reached in wurm form, there is no need to leave the wurms after you have entered them for the second time till the very end of the mission.

If you save all of the young before talking to Aijundu, when you do, it will say you have saved 0 of 3 young, but you will still get the masters reward when the mission is complete

[edit] Skill recommendations

  • Consider skills which deal Holy damage to quickly dispatch undead.
  • Consider bringing skills which can effectively maintain your party as the start of this mission involves fighting many strong undead creatures.
  • If you or your heroes are spellcasters, bring AoE damage since the Awakened Dune Carvers use Vow of Silence.
  • Consider taking a Minion Master since minions created on the rocky areas can run through the sulfurous wastes without harm. However, while in Wurm form, the party won't be able to heal minions and the minion master won't be able to create additional minions.
  • Bringing a skill which teleports dead allies, such as Rebirth or Sunspear Rebirth Signet is highly recommended, so you can resurrect any allies which died on the sulfur.

[edit] Mission NPCs

[edit] Allies

Undead

Wurm

Note:

Earlier in the mission, Queen Aijundu is a level 28 boss foe, assisted by hordes of undead.


[edit] Foes

Margonite

Elemental

Undead

[edit] Bosses

Undead

Wurm

  • Ranger 28 (28) Queen Aijundu → (although she is a ranger, she does not appear to use any ranger skills at all). Later on in the mission she becomes an ally.

[edit] Dialogue

[edit] 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."
<Party leader>: "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."
<Party leader>: "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."

[edit] 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.
<player name>: Don't worry, Zhed. We've got your back.
Zhed Shadowhoof: No, human. I will have your back. You lead, I shall follow.

[edit] 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 seperate 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.

[edit] 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?"
<player name>: "Zhed. Let him go."
Zhed Shadowhoof: "He's dangerous. We should burn him."
<player name>: "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."

[edit] Notes

  • Since the 13 November 2008 update you now gain 30 Lightbringer title points for each level of completion in Normal Mode and 75 in Hard Mode, as well as the normal xp and gold rewards.
  • Palawa Joko does not need to be with you to complete the mission - you may as well rush forward without his guidance.
  • Bringing a Signet of Capture overrides one of the wurm moves.
Anomaly Anomaly.
The Junundu young will travel through the rocky terrain that your party must cross in human form.
Nightfall missions
Chahbek Village » Jokanur Diggings » Blacktide Den » Consulate Docks » Venta Cemetery » Kodonur Crossroads » Pogahn Passage or Rilohn Refuge » Moddok Crevice » Tihark Orchard » Dasha Vestibule or Dzagonur Bastion » Grand Court of Sebelkeh » Jennur's Horde or Nundu Bay » Gate of Desolation » Ruins of Morah » Gate of Pain » Gate of Madness » Abaddon's Gate
Challenge: Dajkah Inlet • Remains of Sahlahja • The Shadow Nexus Elite: The Ebony Citadel of Mallyx
Missions in the Desolation
Gate of Desolation • Remains of Sahlahja • Ruins of Morah
Towns and outposts • Explorable areas • Landmarks
Retrieved from "http://wiki.guildwars.com/wiki/Gate_of_Desolation"
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