Shadows in a Struggle for Power

A corrupted ranger takes aim. He's wearing light braided armor.

Those who venture to the Gold Coast are warned against venturing too far from the roads - with good reason. Rangers from the province of Valenwood have been spotted and seem unusually hostile to travellers. They are scouring ruins, that until now, have remained undiscovered by native Cyrods. They seem to be looking for something of immense power.

Adventurers who do explore these ruins will find two factions. The Sylvan Rangers and the Corrupted Rangers. There are various new ruins with these fierce warriors virtually swarming through the halls. Best be prepared, as even if you can take one or two in close combat, they can still overwhelm even a seasoned adventurer with sheer numbers.

The Rangers have stolen a mystical green gem and are holding it in the well-fortified ruin of Narind as part of a larger plot to gather a set of armor that has a dark purpose. You learn of this if you try to don some of the armor from one of the corrupted rangers.

The Sylvan Rangers have made strategic camps and make raids on ruins they think may hold the gem. They won't help the player per se, but you can follow them as they raid nearby ruins.

This quest goes beyond just the Corrupted Rangers and their feud with their Sylvan brethren. The goal of the quest is to reunite a cursed set of heavy armor that will allow the wearer to wield the weapons of the undead. It is said that members of the Putrid Hand understand the workings of this fell armor and know where it the last piece might be.

Another player in the game is Hlorfor, the Arctic Bear who is holed up in Dasek Moor (just off the road to Anvil). He is the leader of the formidable Raiders.