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.

From the lloydable room in Under The Stars go 3n w u 3n 4e 3n u to reach Obsidian Arena; Stands. Note that the 2nd to last room in these directions has a couple of tough-ish Gatewatch Eyes.

Now that you're in the stands you have some options. You can seek out Majestre's Crop, Exaltra's Mirror, Onzilorne's Bracer, Jozarill's Belt, Naeadonna's Choker, 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. If you don't have track, head north and west. 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. The watchmen in the first room uses charge shield, which seems to eat the hitpoints of the persons near top of grouplist. If they get lowish it can be a good idea to remove their wields so that they won't die from the shield damage before the fight is over.

Lately a common tactic in groups for the stair problem is to wait for repop before entering so the nospell rooms wont repop. Some leaders also opt to leave the casters behind for the nospell and come get them afterwards, just make sure they can handle a walkin or two if you do, and the fighting group can take care of doom toxin self.

A particularly creative alternative option to the nospell staircase rooms involves using blackjacks; a deft rog/bld/shf/bci with a high quality blackjack could put the watchmen to sleep for a few rounds and have the group quickly walk past them.

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 Zydarielle, Queen Of Stars's room (only if you see the ring (lasts ~2 ticks), otherwise it will take you back to shift inwhich case wait for repop). Don't enter the portal; this will take you to the Shiftwatch Orb. Note that once you quaff you will be stuck in a no-regen section for the rest of the run. Zydarielle's room is tougher than the baronness'. The queen can immolate, instantly killing one of your groupies. 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). Also wandering about the area are Starguards, which each carry a Nightsky Cuirass.