LDoN Raid: Takish-Hiz: The Palace Grounds

Recruiter: Dizzl Nulzik, Northern Desert of Ro camp · Theme: Takish-Hiz · Portal: Northern Desert of Ro

What the recruiter says

Hail: Dizzl Nulzik bows to you. 'These are most exciting times for us! Exploring the world with such great companions, there can be no greater occupation. Well, maybe tinkering, but this is great. There are so many surprises around the bends of time, aren't there? Much to do, much to do! In fact, I can see that you'd like to get involved, eh? If you can rally the call of your friends perhaps you can help us with a serious [problem].'

[problem]: Dizzl Nulzik says, 'It seems the sand elves of Takish-Hiz are very disturbed by our presence. Now our scouts report that some Geomantic Compact masters aim to create a beast of sand to unleash on all who enter Takish-Hiz. This would impede our gathering of information and such, so we need you to stop them. You will need your best and bravest for this task. Are you [interested]?'

[interested]: Dizzl Nulzik says, 'Put the beast of sand to sleep if you must, . We're counting on you.'

How it plays out

1. Pick up the three defenders. Three earth elementals wait near the entrance: a wayward defender, a delinquent defender and an aberrant defender. Hail one (or say "follow") and it "rumbles and falls in behind" you. If a defender is destroyed on the way, "The broken defender reforms at the palace gate, waiting to try again."
2. Escort each defender to its room. When a defender reaches its post it "sinks its feet into the palace stone. The ground answers it." and the zone reports "A defender reaches its post -- and something old and jeweled answers it." That wing's officer now appears: the Tactician of the Guard, the Champion of the Guard or the Master of the Guard. (Fighting your way to a wing's ring and breaking it also calls the officer: "The palace ring shatters -- something old and jeweled answers it.")
3. Hold off the guard waves. Engaging an officer calls enraged jeweled guards: "Jeweled guards tear themselves from the palace walls, enraged!" Each officer's room sends four waves in all, a few minutes apart. Watch for insect traps on the way: "The ground splits open with a dry rattle -- a swarm of ravenous insects pours out of the trap!"
4. Kill the Tactician and the Champion first. Each officer death: "An officer of the Guard is destroyed. The palace shudders."
5. Kill the Master of the Guard last. His death ends the raid. With both other officers already dead: "With all three of the Guard destroyed, the palace vaults surrender everything they hold." Otherwise: "The Master of the Guard falls -- but his surviving officers spirit part of the treasury away."

Reward

The Master of the Guard's death always brings one reward chest, plus one more for each of the Tactician and the Champion already killed before him (three in total if both died first).