Desperate Measures

Desperate Measures

Year

1337 AE

Storyline

Secrets of the Obscure

Chapter

Desperate Measures

Location

Inner Nayos
(Horn of Maguuma)

Level

80

Preceded by

Eventide's March

Followed by

The Eleventh Hour

API

709

Desperate Measures is the seventeenth chapter of the Secrets of the Obscure story.

Objectives

Make preparations with your allies.

• Head to the forward bivouac.
• Meet with your allies.
• Listen to the proposed strategy.

Aid in weakening Eparch's forces in Nayos.

• Secure Nayos by participating in events and adventures. Adventures count once toward completion.
• Complete any event or adventure in Inner Nayos. Skirmish events and adventures count for more progress.
  

Discuss the plans for the assault on Zakiros.

• Return to the forward bivouac.
• Join your allies.
• Accompany your allies.
• Assassins Remaining
  
• Get Peitha to a safe location!
• Defeat Eparch's assassins, the Daggers of Zakiros.
  
• They've blasted through the rock wall! Protect Peitha!
  
• Defeat Pugia, the Midnight Blade.
  
• Accompany your allies.
• Complete!

Rewards

• Bag of Loot (3)
• Deluxe Gear Box
• Tale of Adventure

Walkthrough

Make preparations with your allies.

A simple and short dialogue-only instance, with some extra dialogue with Arina and Ramses after Peitha leaves for the Well-Informed achievement.

Aid in Weakening Eparch's Forces in Nayos

For the first step, 8 points are needed to progress. Skirmish events and Adventures give 2 points, all others give 1 point.

Shortly after entering the instance, there is an ambush consisting of a large amount of regular Kryptis that will attempt to kill Peitha. Simply escort her through another 3 ambushes until arriving at a rock wall. Here, one final ambush awaits, along with an elite enemy, Pugia, the Midnight Blade.

After this is a short audience with the gathered Kryptis and the instance ends.

Achievements

Desperate Measures	The Midnight King	1  1
Meet with your allies and prepare to assault Zakiros.Journal: Desperate Measures	Completed Desperate Measures	1

• Complete the mission.

Well-Informed	The Midnight King	1
Engage in all dialogue options with Arina and Ramses.Journal: Desperate Measures	Engaged in All Dialogue Options with Arina and Ramses	1

• Simply speak with Arina and Ramses twice in the first instance after Peitha has left.

Swift Assassination	The Midnight King	1
Defeat the Daggers of Zakiros within the time limit.Journal: Desperate Measures	Defeated the Daggers of Zakiros within the Time Limit	1

• Achievement eligibility may be tracked via the  Achievement Eligibility: Swift Assassination effect on the player's effect bar.
• Simply defeat the first Daggers of Zakiros ambush within the time limit. (2 minutes from the line, "Death to the false king!")
• All Daggers are normal rank, meaning they are easy to group up with skills such as a Raptor's Tail Spin, though one in the first group has a defiance bar and slightly higher stats than the others.

Peitha Protector	The Midnight King	1
Prevent Peitha's health from dropping below 90%.Journal: Desperate Measures	Prevented Peitha's Health from Dropping Below 90%	1

• Achievement eligibility may be tracked via the  Achievement Eligibility: Peitha Protector effect on the player's effect bar.
• This achievement is awarded upon defeating Pugia, the Midnight Blade.
• There are many foes between the initial ambush and the boss, but almost all of the enemies are vulnerable to Crowd Control effects such as Pulls and Blinds.
• Peitha will also run behind a wall. Check on her periodically if she does so, as some assassins may spawn outside and seek her out.
• Peitha can actually be healed throughout the fight, though her massive health pool may make this hard to notice. If you're having trouble, consider taking skills that also heal/grant Regeneration to nearby allies to make the achievement easier to do. Peitha also heals while out of combat.

NPCs

Allies

Demons

• General Nephus
• Peitha
• Ramses

Astral Ward

• Arina
• Frode

Foes

Demons

• Avatar of Envy
• Avatar of Malice
• Daggers of Zakiros
• Pugia, the Midnight Blade

Dialogue

Upon activating the story

Ramses: Wayfinder, I must request your presence at the camp immediately.

<Character name>: What's wrong?

Ramses: The situation is tense among our allies. As uncertainty about our next step grows, so too does their anger.

Ramses: I fear that things will worsen without your intervention.

(If charr)

<Character name>: All right, I'll come knock some sense into them.

(Otherwise)^{[verification requested]}

<Character name>: I see. I'll be there as soon as I can. Don't worry, Ramses; we'll resolve this.

Forward Bivouac instance

Approaching your allies

Frode: We have to wait for reinforcements! It's the only way.

General Nephus: Every hour, more of my soldiers die! Do you think his turrets simply stop while we wait?

<Character name>: Enough! Calm yourselves.

<Character name>: What's the situation here?

Arina: Galrath went back to Tyria to report to Isgarren. We don't know what he'll recommend.

Frode: But if he does support sending the full Astral Ward, we would be fools to attack without them.

General Nephus: We would be fools to wait here for reinforcements that may never come!

General Nephus: Have you been out there? We are stretched across dozens of positions, barely able to hold them.

General Nephus: How long until the front collapses? Must we all be dead before we're allowed to strike?

Peitha: That's enough, both of you. You are generals—show each other some respect, at least.

(If charr)

<Character name>: I was wondering where you went.

(Otherwise)^{[verification requested]}

<Character name>: Good. Perhaps you can help me here.

Peitha: I understand your desire for reinforcements, but I will not be beholden to Isgarren's whims.

Peitha: But neither do I offer you a pointless sacrifice.

Peitha: I have watched the battlefield for weeks now. We have been overstretched and vulnerable the entire time.

Ramses: Apologies, my lady. We will restructure our defenses to—

Peitha: Calm, Ramses. I mean no reproach.

Peitha: But if Eparch's forces could have shattered our defenses at any moment, why are we still here?

<Character name>: Are you suggesting Eparch's army isn't as strong as it appears?

General Nephus: Impossible. I know you've sensed—as I have—the souls of the thousands of soldiers stationed in Zakiros.

General Nephus: I wish to strike as you do, my lady, but we should not underestimate our foe.

Frode: If we move now, and you're wrong...

Peitha: Then my head will be the first to fall. I ask nothing more of you than I offer of myself.

(If charr)

<Character name>: So who do you need me to get rid of?

(If sylvari)

<Character name>: What would you ask of me?

(Otherwise)^{[verification requested]}

<Character name>: What's next, then?

Arina: We're conducting a lot of shaping operations out there right now, and I'm sure the troops could use your help.

Arina: Battle are raging across Nayos; if we can free up our troops from those conflicts, we can improve our odds.

General Nephus: I will remain here to craft our battle plan. Frode, perhaps you can offer your insight on that matter.

Peitha: When the hour comes, Wayfinder, I will call on you. I wouldn't want you to miss out on all the fun.

Speaking with Arina

Almost time now. Got something to ask me?

Is Isgarren going to help us?

<Character name>: Is Isgarren going to help us?

Arina: I really don't know. I wish I did, but he operates on a different level than I do.

Arina: It would make a big difference to have him here. We need every powerful ally we can get.

Arina: But truthfully...I agree with Nephus. We're losing good soldiers trying to hold these lines.

Arina: We need to strike while we still can.

Are the troops prepared?

<Character name>: Are the troops prepared?

Arina: As prepared as they're gonna get. I'd love more time to work with them, but it's a luxury we can't afford.

Arina: We'll find out how good a job we've done when the battle begins. That's always the decider.

Nothing for now.

Speaking with Ramses

Yes, Wayfinder?

How do you feel about this plan?

<Character name>: How do you feel about this plan?

Ramses: It gives me some pause, I must say. I had hoped for more compatriots to join us before we assault the final bastion.

Ramses: But Peitha is right—if Eparch's army was as strong as it appeared, how has he not crushed us yet?

Ramses: We have a saying here: "If your horns are in, your head is also."

Ramses: My life has been at risk from the first battle cry. There's no retreating at this point.

Tensions are certainly high right now...

<Character name>: Tensions are certainly high right now.

Ramses: It is inevitable. The fate of our world is at stake, and the lives of our soldiers as well.

Ramses: Frode and the general may argue about their methods, but their goals are aligned.

Ramses: I am glad you are here. Your presence has a way of reminding people what they're truly fighting for.

Ramses: Do not demure from this. You are as vital to our chances as anyone else. And I thank you for that.

Let's get back to it.

Inner Nayos

After helping with events in Inner Nayos

Ramses: It's time, Wayfinder. We gather at the camp to discuss our strategy. Come when you are able.

Forward Bivouac instance

Joining your allies

Arina: And after we breach the walls?

General Nephus: There are three towers in Zakiros, and all must be taken if we are to win the day.

Frode: We're going to have to split our forces between them. If we try to take them one at a time, the defenses will shred us.

<Character name>: What do you need me to do?

Peitha: You will join me as I infiltrate the spider's lair.

Frode: Of course, that assumes—

Avatar of Malice: My lady, please? I am hurt and beg a favor of you.

As enemy kryptis stage an ambush

Avatar of Malice: Death to the false king!

After reaching the end of the path

General Nephus: Your Majesty, behind me!

Upon moving behind General Nephus

General Nephus: Protect Peitha!

When the rock wall gets blasted through

General Nephus: They brought down the wall! Let none of them through!

After defeating Pugia, the Midnight Blade

Frode: Some of their finest, but hopelessly outnumbered.

General Nephus: Indeed. They hoped to silence Her Majesty at the cost of their lives.

Peitha: (laughs)

Ramses: My lady?

Peitha: You smell it on their remains too, don't you, Ramses? Not hatred or fury, nor zeal nor fervor. Something...sweeter.

Ramses: Fear.

Peitha: Prepare the soldiers to move. Zakiros awaits.

My story

“ The Midnight King hunkers in Zakiros, consolidating his forces and strengthening his fortifications. Given Labris's sacrifice and Eparch's rage, I didn't expect his patience. Even General Nephus seemed puzzled about Eparch's retreat. Puzzled...and wary. It's hard to know what awaits in Zakiros when we attack. If we attack. Tensions were running high at the forward bivouac, and Ramses asked if I could intervene. When I arrived, Nephus and Frode were nearly at each other's throats—I stepped in before they came to blows. Frode argued that without reinforcements, the risk of invading Zakiros was too high, and that we'd be fools to invade Zakiros without them. Nephus countered that the troops were spread thin, the front was near collapse, and we'd be foolish to wait for troops that might never materialize; unfortunately, Galrath had returned to the Wizard's Tower and left no indication whether he'd recommend the Astral Ward fully join the assault. Tempers again flared, but luckily Peitha arrived, and she demanded that the two leaders show each other respect. She agreed with Nephus that we should attack, and she also posited that perhaps Eparch's position was weaker than it seemed—after all, he'd not gone on the offensive despite opportunities to do so. Nephus was pleased that Peitha agreed with him, but he cautioned against underestimating Eparch, particularly since they could sense an army amassing in Zakiros. Nevertheless, a decision had been made. The assault on Eparch's citadel would begin after we stamped out some of the smaller conflicts in Inner Nayos. I took to the field to assist the troops while Nephus and Frode crafted the battle plan. *** I struck out across Inner Nayos, assisting our Kryptis allies and the Astral Ward volunteers anywhere I found them. With every skirmish won, I freed up the forces that Nephus and Frode needed to put the battle plan into action. After Ramses alerted me that our forces were ready, I returned to the forward bivouac to discuss strategy. Nephus, Frode, Arina, and Peitha awaited my arrival. *** At the bivouac, strategic planning was in full swing. As we walked through camp discussing the plan to split our forces between Zakiros's towers, a wounded Kryptis in the infirmary leapt at Peitha. Her cry, "Death to false king!"[sic] signaled a vicious attempt on Peitha's life. We staved off the initial assassination attempt, but chaos ensued. The rock-walled corridor exploded in a shower of stones, and loyalist guerillas struck from all angles. We desperately beat them back, holding out against waves of assassins. When the final loyalist fell, I found Frode and Nephus with Peitha. As we took stock of the situation, Peitha jarringly burst into laughter. Ramses questioned her, and she asked him what he smelled on the assassins' remains. "Fear," he answered, almost in disbelief. Could it be? Was Eparch acting out of desperation? Did he truly fear the assault on his citadel, despite the numbers at his back? I suppose we'll know soon enough; the time to strike against the citadel of the Midnight King has finally come. — My story

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Secrets of the Obscure storyline

Act 1	Prologue: Uncertain Times → Commander without a Cause → Hell Breaks Loose → Mother of Stars
Act 2	Voices beyond the Veil → The Missing Facet → Tower of Secrets → Mabon's Fate
Act 3	Into the Obscure → The World Spire → Treachery
Through the Veil	Duress → The Survivors → Heitor's Gate
The Realm of Dreams	The War Council → Forced Hand → Eventide's March
The Midnight King	Desperate Measures → The Eleventh Hour → Sovereign of Nayos
← Previous: End of Dragons Next: Janthir Wilds →