Thanks to Arvernien, Haznabel and Stahr, last night Detrimental (64 level lock) was able to acquire the Dreadsteed spell. This epic tale deserves to be told because of the selfless sacrifices those three made. My recollection of the times may be off, so I'm rounding, but I do know what time we finished.
I was finally getting my new add-ons installed and was configuring them when Arvernien (70 level tank) came on about 10:00 and suggested we try for Dire Maul. Of the few guildies on at the time, none could help - everyone was ready to log, was in the midst of something else, or was not high enough level. The call went out to friend of the guild Haznabel (level 70 frost mage) who was still on. We especially looked for, and could not find, a healer to join our merry band. Haz said "well, let's try it anyway. If we wipe we can always try again." So the intrepid
trio ported/flew/rode to Dire Maul to attempt this 5-person quest, starting about 10:30-ish (ST, which is 3 hours later for Haz).
The end-of-quest is in the West wing of Dire Maul, but no one had the key, so we had to go into the East wing to chase a stupid imp around to get the Crescent Key to open the West wing.
On our very first encounter inside the East wing, the trio wiped. Too many adds and a patrol to boot. After the ghost run back in, we took it a lot slower. Much drinking and eating along the way. More carefull pulling, etc. We managed to finally take down the imp and secure the key - for future reference, Arvernien, Detrimental and Haznabel now have the Crescent Key for access to the West wing of Dire Maul. We went out the wrong exit, and so had a long ride back to the entrance to the West wing.
So, on to the West wing. Sneaking around a very large rectangular chamber, the initial object was to destroy 5 glowing pylons - the method is to kill the dozen or so electrical elementals guarding each of them. One was right near the entrance. Two were up on the balcony and two were in the basement near the magic circle where we would confront several bosses and complete the quest. We errantly tried to go down first. Snuck up to the first boss guarding the door to the basement. He called in every mob from the surrounding main floor - man that was a fast wipe! Ghost run. We went up to the balcony as we should have, and found and destroyed the second pylon.
At this point, Stahr logged in (Level 6
2 Fire Mage - gratz). I think it was about 11:30. He agreed to join us, and Det was able to Summon him directly into the instance (Yay for patch 2.4!)
Fight, fight, fight, third pylon down (balcony). We now knew we had to kill every mob on the main floor, so we did, and then took out the first boss guarding the basement door - this time, cake. Into the basement. Cleared lots of wandering patrols. Stahr died, having been too close to one that exploded. Unfortunately, having been initially summoned into the instance, Stahr's ghost didn't know the way back in! We got it sorted, but it took a bit more time.
So, we ran into the circle, killed the second boss, and after some delays getting Stahr's add-ons sorted and Haz getting DC'd, Det let loose the imp who set up the bell, candle and wheel, which, in time, are supposed to cast a summoning circle for calling the dreadsteed. Det's job was to run around and keep these three objects "up" (by spending soul shards) for 6 minutes, while the tank and two mages - without a healer - had to fend off wave after wave after wave of imps and elite felguards. If all three items "fall" at the same time, the party would wipe, so the tank and mages also had to protect Det, who kept getting interrupted when trying to keep the objects up.
The battle seemed endless, but it was only 6 minutes. During the
very last assault wave, one by one, Stahr, Arvernien and finally Haznabel died, leaving no-one to defend Det while he tried to keep the three items up so the 6-minute spell could complete. Now set upon by the
very last 2 felguards and 3 imps, Det was stunned and unable to move or cast. It was with a feeling of sad inevitability that I watched Det's hit points plummeted. But then, just as Det's hit points fell past 5%, the summoning circle spell completed, and the mobs disappeared!
Yay, we juuuust made it! Although they all died in the process, Arv, Stahr and Haz lasted just long enough for the party to be successful.
The three ghosts ran back for the final battle. We rested up, drank, ate and quaffed, then summoned the horse, killed it and killed his "master" who showed up half-way through. With the party at full strength and fully buffed, and with Det now free to contribute a teensy bit more DPS, the last battle was anticlimactic and Det got the spell to summon the dreadsteed. Getting kicked 100 feet through the air was fun!
Effusive thanks and gratz all around, portal to Shattrath, a quick look at the new mount and everyone logged after 1:00 AM - that's 4:00 AM for Haznabel!
I believe there were a few more deaths in there - I used a soul stone at least once, and stahr had to run back again (knowing the way now) but the details are fuzzy. Death is so bad for your memory.
Now I don't have to worry about mounts for another 6 levels, but if any lock guildies ever needs the help, I'm keeping the expensive quest gear, and I now have the key and the experience so I'm always available to help.
Big shout out to Arverien, the
incomparable tank, to Haznabel, a very
coold frost mage, and to Stahr, without whom we could not have done it.
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