Category:Gear In Obsidian Arena; Stands

Suggested group size: 20+, with at least 7 good tanks.

Before you begin the run, make sure that you have a lot of cure poison wands or potions. On Midgaardia Kelsee sells rowen wood branches (wands), and the Alchemist sells vials of mustard extract (potions). Both mobs are portable. Having some heal brandishes is also very helpful.

Bring your group to Under The Stars. If the Planar Anchor is in Noctopia then just shift to it. Otherwise go to Noctopia shift and go s,d,w,d. See Shiftwatch Orb for suggestions on how to survive Noctopia shift.

Once you're Under The Stars make your way to the "iron walkways" portion of the area. This can be done by wandering the bleeding tunnels, searching for an up exit, or by portalling to "pet".

On the iron walkways, search for the entrance to Obsidian Arena; Stands. This entrance is a northern passage called the "narrow bridge". I believe this entrance is in the northeast of the iron walkways, but not as far as Yorimandil The Blind's gazebo. You'll know you're in the right place if you see "malevolent red eyes" on scan. If anyone has a good method of finding this entrance, please add it here. Otherwise maybe someday I'll get around to drawing a map of Under The Stars.

Now that you're in the stands you have some options. You can seek out Majestre's Crop, Exaltra's Mirror, and/or Havynne's Lantern by tracking their owners, or you can make your way straight for "the Lady's Stair". To do that, track Baroness Kippiarelle. Once you see two "malevolent red eye stirs..." above you, you've found the stair. Regen/respell (if necessary) and prepare for the fun part.

The lady's stair is a series of three rooms. Each room has two Obsidian Watchmen to kill. Surrounding each step are mobs that longshot your group with Doom Toxin arrows. Don't try to fight the snipers, as they keep company with Deathwishes. The first two rooms of the staircase are nospell, so you'll need a relatively long tank chain, keeping the brutes in hit gear until its almost their turn to tank. Casters should zap groupies to cure doom toxin, or swing a heal brandie to keep everyone alive. After you clear a room unlock or bashdoor up to reach the next one. Remember that you can use magic once you reach the third step. Archers should be aware that the mobs on the stair don't seem to be affected by bow damage (either ice or lightning arrows. The same applies to Zydarielle.

Baronness Kippiarelle's room is directly above the third step of the stair. Her room only has three mobs, so it's not that difficult, especially when compared to the staircase. This is where you get the Gauntlet Of Icicles, Snowstar, Throwing Sickle, Troublemaker, and Rediscovering Ether, Book 3 In A 3 Part Series. This room repops normally, so you can camp if it you'd like.

After you clear the baronness' room you can quaff to reach Queen Zydarielle's room. Don't enter the portal; this will take you to the Shiftwatch Orb. Zydarielle's room is tougher than the baronness'. The queen can immolate, instantly killing one of your groupies. She also seems to summon mobs to defend her as the fight wages on. She also flashes and switches targets with her bow. Additionally, she's seemingly able to dodge arrows. The queen has the following loot: Black Widow Bodice, Long Bow, "Deep Shadow" (Noctopia), Starshard, Half Of The Sundered Ring (Queen). I don't know for sure, but I doubt the queen repops, considering that Duke Malafont's room doesn't.