Thorns of the Hopeslayer

Town Crier tells you, "News! The floating Shadow Spires that burst from the depths of the earth last month still float passively. Mages report that when the earth quakes, the currents of magic that run through the land shift a little more towards them."

Town Crier tells you, "News! Experienced adventurers report being ripped from their daily activity and magically brought to the howling Shadow Spires. There they have been questioned by some unseen inquisitor."

Town Crier tells you, "Hey, a pyreal! There really isn't much news right now, but thanks!"

Town Crier tells you, "Yesterday I found a Wool Fez of Fealty!"

Town Crier tells you, "The adventurers taken to the Spires were asked to make a difficult choice. There are six towns where Spires have erupted from the ground - Cragstone, Eastham, Tou-Tou, Sawato, Khayyaban, Tufa. They were asked which of those six they should like to see destroyed."

Town Crier tells you, "For some reason, many asked if Holtburg could be put to the sword instead. Residents of that Aluvian town were not amused."

Town Crier tells you, "I saw a Shadow Child killed yestereve. It called for its mother when it fell."

Town Crier tells you, "Those taken into the Spires, after discussing their experiences with each other, believe that three distinct entities performed the questioning. I know not what this means."

Town Crier tells you, "Wide-ranging parties report seeing fewer creatures moving in the open. It is thought that, like cattle or dogs before a thunderstorm, they have gone into hiding."

Town Crier tells you, "The rabbits have stopped... their recent activity. Streetcorner prophets claim this is an ill omen, but they say anything is an ill omen. Larger moons? Pshaw! Surely it's just an atmospheric disturbance! ...Right?"

Town Crier tells you, "News! Minor earthquakes have intermittently rocked the land. Previously, these heralded the eruption of the Shadow Spires. Who knows what they presage now? It is as if Dereth itself recoils in horror from what is occurring..."

Town Crier tells you, "There is a sense of oppression to the world... we can only wonder when the storm will break."

New UI and Game Changes

Graphics
- Pyreal Motes, Slivers, Nuggets, Bars and Ingots now have new artwork and icons.
- Night ambience is now brighter, by around 12%.
- Casting portal recall spells now make you play some purple bubbly physics scripts for about two seconds before portaling you away.

New Quests

Silifi of Crimson Stars Quest

Live Events

2000/04 - Shadow Invasion - Led by Shadow Aspects of Black Ferah and Ler Rhan, an army of Shadow creatures attack Dereth.

In the dark of the obsidian wasteland, where great magics wrought destruction long ago, the Shadows stir and awaken. The Hand stretches forth once more...

New Locations

18.4S, 12.6E - Skeleton Tent - near Tufa
26.7S, 21.0E - Empyrean Standing Stones
24.8S, 19.7E - Skeleton Bunker - northeast of Al-Arqas
Amiantos Bethel - 16.3S, 35.1E, near Yanshi
Kayna bint Iswas' Home - 1.7S, 36.6E
Nexus - 40.1S, 79.2W, near Mount Lethe

Updated Locations

Mu-miyah Crypt - Leikotha now found here. Originally the crypt contained just lesser and greater Mu-miyah.
18.4S, 21.3E - Skeleton Tomb - Now contains The Ruby Al-Shajar
Grievous Vault - Now contains The Ruby Mahwan
Sylsfear Dungeon - Now contains The Ruby Al-Khur

New NPCs

Kayna bint Iswas - 1.7S, 36.6E, west of Lytelthorpe
Leikotha - 10.1S 31.3E in Leikotha's Crypt

Updated NPCs

Gertarh - Murdered by Oswald the assassin.
Hamud ibn Rafik - Now a Shadow.

New Items

Shadow Invasion (Live Event)
	Spire Key Chunk - Eastham	Spire Key Chunk - Tou Tou	Spire Key Chunk - Tufa
	Shadow Key	Nexus Orders	Nexus Core Gem

Nexus Armor
	Nexus Celdon Leggings	Nexus Celdon Girth	Nexus Celdon Breastplate
	Nexus Celdon Sleeves	Nexus Koujia Leggings	Nexus Koujia Breastplate
	Nexus Koujia Sleeves	Nexus Amuli Leggings	Nexus Amuli Coat

Silifi of Crimson Stars Quest
	Silifi of Crimson Stars	Broken Haft	Repaired Haft	The Ruby Al-Khur
	The Ruby Al-Shajar	The Ruby Mahwan	The Ruby Sulmada	The Ruby Yujazik