Unleash the Gearknights

Quest Overview
Apostates are ambushing clockwork soldiers. Hei Shou has you investigate the Gear Knight arrival.

Walkthrough
Warning: You lose your quest flag once you turn in the fragment and will not be able to reenter the dungeons. (until you get flagged again)
 * 1) Use Town Network to get to Eastham.
 * 2) Speak to Hei Shou at 17.5N 63.5E in Eastham, she flags you to use portal for the quest.
 * 3) Use Town Network and travel to Plateau Village.  Use the Wilomine Villas housing portal [45.4N, 42.3W]. Run NW to the Reaving Facility at 40.1 N, 50.9 W. The dungeon starts as an open burrow, stick to all lefts until you come to the portal.  You should not need to fight. The Lugians are hollow.
 * 4) Inside are Apostate Servants and Reaver Simulacrums that cast tons of war magic. Near the end is the Apostate Reaving Master that drops a Arrival Chamber Key to a door down a ramp nearby. There is a large, deep pit just past the door. Jump ACROSS the Pit!
 * 5) Past the door is a portal to the Arrival Chamber where you will find several Iron Blade Arrival Guards guarding the Iron Blade Lieutenant. They are weakest to Acid. If your group is small you can use the wall near the surface portal to hide behind so you don't have to fight them all at once.  You can lure the Lieutenant easily...his escort will return to their positions if you pull him from near the drop point.
 * 6) The Lieutenant drops 9 Aetherium Core Fragments.
 * 7) Talk to Hei Shou in Eastham for xp and key rewards.

Lore & Dialog
Town Crier tells you, "We've heard there are some interesting reports about the Apostates mucking around with those rumored clockwork soldiers that no one's seen before. Speak with the Arcanum scholar Hei Shou at the scribe's shop in Eastham to learn more."

Ulgrim the Unpleasant tells you, "I was just in Eastham the other day, talking to Hei Shou, and she had an interesting theory about what the Apostate Virindi are really up to. As soon as I realized that her theory had nothing to do with applesauce, though, I dismissed it as the unfocused ravings of a crank."

Hei Shou tells you, "Hail, friend! Are you as concerned about the Apostate Virindi threat to Dereth as I am?   If you are, I would ask you to investigate a site in northwestern Osteth that seems to be the source of some very interesting energy emanations." Hei Shou tells you, "Seek the site at 40.1 N, 50.9 W, investigate it to its deepest levels, and bring me back anything interesting that you find. You will be well rewarded."

The Apostate Master whirls to attack and screeches to its minions, "Destroy the Isparian interlopers! Keep the Arrival Chamber sealed!  The Isparians must not reveal our deception!"

A shrieking sound pulses from the core of the falling Virindi. As the cloak become immobile a shrill voice sounds in your mind, "Your triumph is temporary and illusory. The mechanical soldiers have accepted our ruse!"

The Gear Knight turns to attack and announces, "Isparian allies of traitor Asheron detected. Commencing combat protocol.  Die, betrayers, die!"

The Gear Knight shudders to a stop and begins to rattle. In a fading voice, it intones, "Power core critically damaged, fragmenting. Protocol fails.  Uploading to backup."

Hei Shou tells you, "Fascinating! So you discovered some kind of hostile metal men in that dungeon?  And they've destroyed the Apostate facility I asked you to investigate?  Well, that's quite a development.  I see you brought back some kind of souvenir from your excursion.  I'd love to analyze it to learn more about these clockwork soldiers.  May I have it?  I will reward you, of course..."

You allow Hei Shou to examine your Aetherium Core Fragment. Hei Shou tells you, "A most interesting find! From what you tell me, the Apostates were ambushing these clockwork soldiers, Gear Knights as you call them, and harvesting their Aetherium for their own purposes.  And to use Simulacra to do it, so the Gear Knights blamed us Isparians for it..." Hei Shou tells you, "Whatever else they are, these Apostates are very clever." You hand over all of your Aetherium Core Fragments. Hei Shou gives you Mana Forge Key. You've earned 12,000 Luminance. You've earned 396,314,475 experience. (Level 275) Hei Shou tells you, "I must send news to the Arcanum and to Lord Asheron, and all the royal council... What a discovery!"

Hei Shou tells you, "Thank you for your interest, but I think you have already helped me quite well in the matter of the gutted Virindi facility. I need nothing more from you at the moment."

Update History

 * During The Risen Princess event a Luminance reward was added to this quest.