Dragon Response Mission: Thunderhead Peaks

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Dragon Response Mission: Thunderhead Peaks is a Dragon Response Mission set in Thunderhead Peaks.

Objectives[edit]

Counterattack on Thunderhead

Destroyers have overrun Thunderhead Keep. Survivors are regrouping in the Grand Lyceum.
- Prepare the remaining forces at Grand Lyceum to mount an assault on the keep.
  - Injured survivors healed: x/20
  - Spar with survivors and lend encouragement: x/10
  - Destroyers killed: x/20
  - Time remaining: 5:00

Allied forces are beating back destroyers in the Deldrimor Cellars and the barracks.
- Provide reinforcements for the Deldrimor dwarves to defeat the destroyers.
  - Kill invading destroyers
  - Cellars
  - Upper Ledges
  - Lower Path
  - Barracks

Allied forces have pushed to the Heart of the Forge. An enormous destroyer is feeding off of its flames. Defeat it to retake Thunderhead Keep!
- Defeat the destroyer champion to reclaim the Forge.
  - Destroyer of the Last Forge

With their champion defeated, the Elder Dragon's forces are retreating from the area!
Completion time: xx:xx

Ally Support

If the norn were asked for aid
- Faction Aid: Norn
  - Fight alongside the norn shamans to obtain Spirit Blessings.
If the Crystal Bloom were asked for aid
- Faction Aid: Crystal Bloom
  - Defend the Crystal Bloom while they charge protection crystals.
If the Ebon Vanguard were asked for aid
- Faction Aid: Ebon Vanguard
  - Rally at Ebon Vanguard battle standards to stand together for victory!
If the Deldrimor dwarves were asked for aid
- Faction Aid: Deldrimor Dwarves
  - Use dwarven alchemical acid to corrode enemies.
If the Exalted were asked for aid
- Faction Aid: Exalted
  - Use suits of enchanted armor to crush enemies.
If the Tengu were asked for aid
- Faction Aid: Tengu
  - Use tengu longbows to pin down enemies and keep them at bay.
If the Olmakhan were asked for aid
- Faction Aid: Olmakhan
  - Defend Olmakhan sandshifters while they perform effigy summoning rituals.
If the Kodan were asked for aid
- Faction Aid: Kodan
  - Fight alongside champions of Koda by wielding Koda's Hammer to crush destroyers.

Locations[edit]

Area	Area objectives
The Forge	Champions Insight: Thunderhead Keep Heart of the Forge
The Grotto	Barracks Deldrimor Cellars Grand Lyceum Pact Emergency Waypoint

Rewards[edit]

One bouncy chest on first daily completion:
- Scrap of Icebrood Saga Mastery (2)
- Tyrian Defense Seal (10)
- 1,000

Depending on the amount of challenges completed, one of these rank chests (only one rank chest is received for each completed mission):
- Bronze Rank Chest (0/3 challenges)
- Silver Rank Chest (1/3 challenges)
- Gold Rank Chest (2-3/3 challenges)

The rank chests above are the main acquisition source for the following rare reward:

Volcanic Stormcaller Weapon Box

Walkthrough[edit]

Allied Factions[edit]

After the initial event, you will be accompanied by one of the Allied factions. They can be either selected by talking to Meradh near the entrance and paying the fee, or they will be randomly assigned. Many of the NPCs are very weak and die easily, however, some of them have useful utilities. The NPC is only available in Private squads.

Ally Support: Norn: Fighting near Shamans grants you different boons.
Ally Support: Crystal Bloom: Aurene and the Crystal Bloom send a gift, a Prismatic Crystal granting protection and healing.
Ally Support: Ebon Vanguard: Standing near a Ebon Vanguard battle standard grants a special skill summoning an Ebon Vanguard soldier.
Ally Support: Deldrimor Dwarves: Speaking to the dwarven grants a single use Alkar's Alchemical Acid.
Ally Support: Exalted: Provides access to an Enchanted Armor that you can control.
Ally Support: Tengu: Speaking to Master Marksman will give you Tengu Bow to use.
Ally Support: Olmakhan: Olmakhan arrives to help by summoning Olmakhan Sand Effigy.
Ally Support: Kodan: Speaking to the kodan grants Koda's Hammer.

Challenges[edit]

Various challenges can be activated by talking to Veadh near the entrance. Once the first event finishes, they cannot be further changed. The NPC is only available in Private squads.

Recall the Vigil strike teams. (Adds a timer to mission failure.)

Recall the Order of Whispers infiltrators. (Strengthens enemies.)

Recall the Priory enchanters. (Enemy champions gain strength.)

Pull all forces back. I'll handle it. [All challenges on.]

We need all forces on the field. [All challenges off.]

The challenge timer is 15 minutes.
It is recommended to skip elite mobs (and destroyer bursters) as they are not necessary to progress the event.
The Destroyer of the Last Forge boss spawns many adds on the arena, leaves heavy burning AoEs and often slams its arm on the ground Knocking down players, followed up by a shockwave (two shockwaves if strengthened by the Enemy Champions challenge) that Launches. When the boss charges forward, it spawns Destroyer Eggs with a shield surrounding them and a time indicator on when they will hatch. These eggs spawn Elite destroyers and cannot be damaged from outside the dome shield. At 75%, 50% and 25% remaining health, the boss channels a lethal attack that can only be prevented by breaking its defiance bar. EMP from a waystation, CC consumables, or the dragonsblood spears should be used in addition to crowd control skills to break the defiance bar.
The barrels with dragonsblood spears only open shortly after the Destroyer boss reaches 75% and thereafter empty barrels are restocked when its defiance bar is unlocked again at 50% and 25% health.
Boss health resets when out of combat if "Enemy Champions gain strength" is chosen.

Achievements[edit]

Champions Insight: Thunderhead Keep	Champions	1 1
Discover this Icebrood Saga Mastery Insight in the Thunderhead Keep Dragon Response Mission, accessed via asura gate in Eye of the North.	1 Mastery Insight	1

Commune with the object during the mission. Can be done after the events/story is over, but still has to be done inside the instance.

Emergency Dragon Responder: Thunderhead Keep	Champions	1
Complete the Thunderhead Keep Dragon Response Mission.	Completed the Thunderhead Keep Dragon Response Mission	1

Complete the Dragon Response Mission either in Public or Private instance. Automatically gained while playing through Champions story for the first time.

Tide Turner: Thunderhead Keep

Champions

3

During the Dragon Response Mission, aid each recruited faction at least once while a challenge is active.

Objectives: 7 objectives in total

Crystal Bloom

Ebon Vanguard

Deldrimor Dwarves

Exalted

Tengu

Kodan

...

Olmakhan

1 Recruited Faction Aided with a Challenge Active

0

4 Recruited Faction Aided with a Challenge Active

1

7 Recruited Faction Aided with a Challenge Active

2

Factions can be either selected at the start of a private instance by talking to Meradh, or they are randomly assigned after the timed pre-event ends.

Top Dragon Responder: Thunderhead Keep	Champions	5
Complete 5 Thunderhead Keep Dragon Response Mission with all challenges active.	Completed 1 Thunderhead Keep Dragon Response Mission with All Challenges Active	1
	Completed 3 Thunderhead Keep Dragon Response Mission with All Challenges Active	2
	Completed 5 Thunderhead Keep Dragon Response Mission with All Challenges Active	2

Complete the mission with all challenges active. They can be activated by talking to Veadh only in Private instances.

NPCs[edit]

Allies[edit]

Birds

Snow Owl

Charr

³ If supported by the Olmakhan

Dwarves

² If supported by the Deldrimor Dwarves

Elementals

Olmakhan Sand Effigy³

³ If supported by the Olmakhan

Exalted

Forge Master Hilina

Ghosts

Frodak Steelstar

Humans

Kodan

Kodan Icehammer (2) ³

³ If supported by the Kodan

Norn

Tengu

¹ If supported by the Tengu

Various

Services[edit]

Anvil [Reinforce Armor]
Meradh [Factions]
Veadh [Challenges]

Foes[edit]

Ambient creatures

Rat
Spider

Destroyers

Elementals

Lava Elemental

Objects[edit]

¹ If supported by the Tengu

² If supported by the Deldrimor Dwarves

Dialogue[edit]

Entering the instance: Braham Eirsson: Over here, Commander!

While battling the initial destroyers: Braham Eirsson: Hey, we're looking for Skialkin.; Myrun Skialkin: And you've found them. Eirsson. Commander.; <Character name>: Last I heard, the Priory had set up an outpost to guard the Keep and the Forge.; Myrun Skialkin: Since Kralkatorrik's defeat. These are the lucky few who escaped today.; Ogden Stonehealer: We had no warning, Commander. Between one moment and the next, the beasts flooded in from every corner.; Ogden Stonehealer: We lost good people. We can't lose this stronghold too—certainly not to destroyers.

Braham Eirsson: You want us to take back the Keep with the injured, the scared, and the unarmed? I don't like our odds.

Myrun Skialkin: Strength of will and a bit of heart can go pretty far.

<Character name>: Well, then, let's lend them a little of ours and get them ready to go back in.

Speaking with Gravely Wounded soldiers

<Gravely Wounded soldier>: Please, bring me some bandages. This wound is not looking so good...

What happened?

The destroyers. We tried to fight back, but... I'm one of the lucky ones.

I'll bring you some bandages. You'll feel better soon, promise.

I'll be right back, hang in there.

Speaking with soldiers ready to spar

<Sparring soldiers: The destroyers came out of nowhere! My friends...I watched them die. I didn't know what to do, I'm just an academic.

I can spar with you if you want. Next time you'll have the upper hand.

Would you? I owe it to my fallen brothers and sisters to get revenge.

Let's see what you've got!

I'll be right back, hang in there.

After finishing the first event: Myrun Skialkin: Be ready for what we might find on the other side of that door.

Braham Eirsson: Spirits. Wait—are those Deldrimor Dwarves?

<Character name>: Guess we really are the reinforcements.

Myrun Skialkin: If you've got any tricks up your sleeves, now would be a good time!

Myrun Skialkin: Never expected to see so many of your people on the surface.

Locke Stonehealer: Destroyers started rising faster than we could beat them back.

Braham Eirsson: Jormag woke up. And that triggered Primordus.

Locke Stonehealer: Figures. Enough talk. They get thicker farther in.

Braham Eirsson: You were Priory, now you're Crystal Bloom. That's a jump.

Myrun Skialkin: I'm also a norn who sometimes walks as a bear. Lots of things can be true at the same time.

Myrun Skialkin: Read a treatise once that suggested the dragons of fire and ice might be twins. Didn't expect confirmation.

Braham Eirsson: So Jormag claims.

Myrun Skialkin: Might validate the theory that the only thing that can kill one is the other.

Braham Eirsson: How's that square with the tale we were told—that the Norn of Prophecy can kill jormag? None of this makes any sense.

Myrun Skialkin: The truth of a prophecy isn't always clear until it's come to pass.

Braham Eirsson: Thanks. I feel so much better.

After finishing the second event: Myrun Skialkin: It's clear up here.; Braham Eirsson: But this isn't the source. What's happening down in the Forge? That's where the destroyers surfaced, right?; Locke Stonehealer: How did you—? Think the Forge attracted them. And it's changing them.; Braham Eirsson: It's making them stronger, I know that much.; Locke Stonehealer: Fact. And with extra lava.

Upon seeing the champion: Braham Eirsson: Okay. I was not expecting it to be that big.

While fighting the champion: <Character name>: This thing's not going down easy!; Locke Stonehealer: Spears?; Braham Eirsson: Those were made for Kralkatorrik's energy, not Primordus's.; Myrun Skialkin: Commander, can you use Aurene's gift to alter the power of a spear? Maybe slow it down some?

Braham Eirsson: More are coming! We're gonna get swarmed!

Myrun Skialkin: It's going to take every one of us, working together.

Locke Stonehealer: For Deldrimor!

Braham Eirsson: Too many elementals and destroyers—the commander's never gonna get a clean strike.

Myrun Skialkin: It's not always the swipe of the claws that's most important in a battle!

Braham Eirsson: I'm open to suggestions!

Myrun Skialkin: The destroyers are calling to you, aren't they? You sense each other—use that against them!

Braham Eirsson: How did you— What?

Locke Stonehealer: Bait. Be bait!

After defeating the champion: Myrun Skialkin: The Keep is secured.; Myrun Skialkin: Many thanks to you and the dwarves.; Locke Stonehealer: (grunts) We have a duty.; <Character name>: Will we see more of your people?; Locke Stonehealer: See destroyers, you'll see us.; Myrun Skialkin: It was a pleasure and an honor to fight beside Aurene's champion.; <Character name>: Likewise, Myrun.; Braham Eirsson: Somehow, I don't think this will be the last time.; Myrun Skialkin: I understand the weight you carry, Eirsson. And its privilege.; Myrun Skialkin: The Norn of Prophecy. The Spirit-touched. There's a legacy in your blood and loyalty at your back.; Myrun Skialkin: Yet none of that matters without heart. So find yours.

Trivia[edit]

Various Priory members that are 'Gravely Wounded' during the beginning of this Dragon Response Mission will have the effect Bleeding Out applied to them.