The World Spire (story)

This article is about the story step. For the location of the same name, see The World Spire.

The World Spire

Year

1336 AE

Storyline

Secrets of the Obscure

Chapter

The World Spire

Location

Amnytas
(Horn of Maguuma)

Level

80

Preceded by

Into the Obscure

Followed by

Treachery

API

700

The World Spire is the ninth chapter of the Secrets of the Obscure story.

Objectives

Return to Amnytas and await word from the wizards.

• Return to Amnytas.

Explore the Bastion of the Celestial to locate Isgarren.

• Head to the Bastion of the Celestial.
• Gather with your allies.
• Speak with Zojja when you're ready to begin.
• (Optional) Check in with the other members of your team.
• Move along the Bastion of the Celestial.
• Defeat the Kryptis
• 
• Continue around the bastion.
• Defeat the Kryptis
• 
• Continue around the bastion.

Defeat Isgarren's manifestations to draw him out.

• Approach Isgarren.
• Manifestation of Bitterness
• 
• Destroy the core of hatred.
• Destroy the core of resentment.
• Move farther along the Bastion.
• Confront Isgarren's manifestation of ego.
• Defeat Isgarren's Manifestation of Ego
• 
• Move further along the bastion.
• Confront Isgarren's Manifestation of Rigidity.
• Throw essences from defeated Kryptis to move the Manifestation of Rigidity.
• Use the rift to travel to the World Spire.

Confront and cleanse Isgarren.

• Approach the center of the spire.
• Isgarren
• 

Walkthrough

This mission starts in the Astronomic Nexus Ring in the eastern part of Bastion of the Celestial and circles around it clockwise from there, with mini boss fights against Isgarren's manifestations at the western and northern rings of the Bastion and fights with normal Kryptis along the walkways in between them (though all the Kryptis encounters after the one in the southern ring can be skipped by simply running past them). Speaking with Zojja starts the mission in earnest.

For the southern ring, there is a choice between 5 different memories of which to hold on.

At the western ring Isgarren's Manifestation of Bitterness spawns. It is a fairly simple fight, with the only complications being that it has to be purified at 66% and 33% and then killing the newly revealed Core of Hatred and Core of Resentment, respectively. Reducing the manifestation to 5% health defeats it.

For the northern ring, it is instead his Manifestation of Ego that approaches. This is a slightly more complicated fight than the previous, with area of effects attacks. This time, at both 66% and 33% the illusory Manifestation of Impulse and Manifestation of Vulgarity have to be defeated to continue the fight. These new enemies cast player Staff skills such as Chaos Storm to Daze and Line of Warding to restrict movement, making them somewhat annoying but not very highly damaging.

For the final step in the outer ring, defeat Kryptis waves to spawn a Raw Essence of Unity. Throw one of these orbs at Isgarren (don't worry if you miss as the orb doesn't disappear until he has been hit), so he moves forward until some more Kryptis spawn. Repeat the orb throwing 2 more times so that he moves to the eastern ring and a portal to the center of the bastion is created.

The battle at the Spire's Heart is simply a stronger version of the Manifestation of Ego fight except without the illusory duplicates. Simply reduce the real Isgarren to roughly half health and Cerus will draw Isgarren and you (via a vortex) into his realm at the Temple of Febe, starting the next mission.

Achievements

The World Spire	Secrets of the Obscure: Act 3	1  1
Undertake a daring and dangerous mission to recover Isgarren before the Kryptis fully corrupt the ancient wizard.Journal: The World Spire Reward: Stash of Astral Coins	Completed "The World Spire"	1

• Complete the story mission.
• This may sometimes not be earned until some time into Chapter 10: Treachery so don't be worried if the rewards chest doesn't appear immediately.

Manifestation Mayhem	Secrets of the Obscure: Act 3	1
Defeat Isgarren's manifestations without being downed.Journal: The World Spire Objectives: 3 objectives in total Manifestation of Bitterness Manifestation of Ego Manifestation of Rigidity	Defeated 3 Manifestations without Being Downed	1

• Defeat all three of Isgarren's Manifestations without being downed.
• The Manifestation of Bitterness and Rigidity are simple, consisting of a sturdy-but-low-damage elite that has to be purified twice and 3 waves of Kryptis respectively. For the Manifestation of Ego, keeping on the move to avoid the fire meteors and having some Stunbreak skills to break out of the Daze that the illusory copies open with should make the battle easy.
• Achievement qualification may be tracked via the  Achievement Eligibility: Manifestation Mayhem effect.

NPCs

Allies

Asura

• Uenno
• Zojja

Charr

• Gladium

Humans

• Galrath the Undying

Hylek

• Zizel

Jotun

• Dagda

Norn

• Frode

Skritt

• R'tchikk

Seers

• Isgarren

Foes

Kryptis

• Avatar of Despair
• Avatar of Envy
• Avatar of Rage
• Avatar of Regret
• Elite Avatar of Despair
• Elite Avatar of Envy
• Elite Avatar of Rage
• Elite Avatar of Regret
• Incarnation of Judgment
• The Corrupted
• The Craven
• The Cursed
• The Tormented
• Veteran Avatar of Despair
• Veteran Avatar of Envy
• Veteran Avatar of Gluttony
• Veteran Avatar of Malice
• Veteran Avatar of Rage
• Veteran Avatar of Regret

Seers

• Isgarren

Objects

• Raw Essence of Unity

Dialogue

After returning to Amnytas

Zojja: Commander. It's time.

Zojja: We know where Isgarren is.

<Character name>: I'm with you.

Peitha: Wayfinder?

<Character name>: You're calling me that now?

Peitha: What should I call you? You're no commander to me.

Peitha: I like the wizards and their little words. "Wayfinder" is more exciting.

Peitha: The one you're looking for, Isgarren. He is just ahead. But, I worry that...

<Character name>: From everything I've gathered about him, I'm hoping it would take more than a Kryptis to bring Isgarren down.

Peitha: I'm more worried for you than that one.

Peitha: Just be...cautious. And hold something warm at the back of your mind.

The World Spire: Bastion of the Celestial instance

Speaking to R'tchikk and Gladium

R'tchikk: Oh, skritt is so glad to see the commander.

Gladium: (gestures)

R'tchikk: The wayfinder, R'tchikk means...

If instance owner:

R'tchikk: A-apolgies. Skritt is...scared. That thing appeared in the sky, and...

If not instance owner:

R'tchikk: A-apolgies. Skritt is...scared. The scout said that they heard... screaming.

Gladium: (gestures)

R'tchikk: Oh, Glade. R'tchikk doesn't know what skritt would do without you.

R'tchikk: You'd be fine if something happened to skritt, but R'tchikk... Skritt doesn't want to know life without Gladium.

Speaking to Zizel and Galrath the Undying

Zizel: Perhaps we'll meet during more polite weather, Wayfinder.

Zizel: Do I long for for the days where Isgarren's greatest fear was Dagda's cooking...

Galrath the Undying: As much as I would like to jest...

Zizel: I know. Let's think on the brighter side of things. Just for a moment.

Speaking to Uenno and Frode

Uenno: I thought our days of adventuring were done. I've quite settled on the idea of watching the world from the tower.

Frode: You? Glad to do management work? You've changed since Rata Sum.

Uenno: I never said I don't appreciate a good fight.

Uenno: So long as it's a good one.

Frode: Well, if not "good," this'll certainly be...exciting.

Speaking to Zojja

Zojja: Wayfinder.

<Character name>: Zojja.

(cutscene starts)

Dagda: Isgarren built it himself, when the world was still run by nature and beasts.

Zojja: Zizel, do you still sense him inside?

Zizel: I do... I can hear the...scraping of claws. Movement. Echoes. Cold. Kryptis...and?

Zojja: Then we better hurry.

Peitha: Your miry companion was right... The veil is parting.

<Character name>: What do you mean?

Zojja: Say something, Wayfinder?

<Character name>: Nothing. Thought I heard something.

Zojja: Are you okay?

Peitha: Careful.

<Character name>: I'm fine.

Approaching the first group of Kryptis

Zojja: Okay, fine.

Frode: Eyes up!

Zizel: Do they seem... stronger?

Lyhr: They've been eating well.

Zojja: We're down a wizard. Don't let them get an edge.

Dagda: I agree with our little light. Move forward with shields high.

Approaching the second group of Kryptis at the southern Celestial Control Ring

Zojja: More of them!

After defeating the second group of Kryptis

Peitha: He's...coming. Quickly, tell me a fond memory.

Recount a memory of when Aurene was young...

<Character name>: When Aurene was little, I played games with her. Taught her how to hunt...

Recount a memory of good times with friends...

<Character name>: After every big battle, we met back at the bar... Kas and Jory, smiling. Braham, an ale or two deep...

Recount a memory of victory and glory...

<Character name>: After we defeated Zhaitan... Knowing we had a chance.

Recount a memory of gathering with everyone at Arborstone...

<Character name>: It was bittersweet, but we were all together.

Recount a memory of time with Zojja...

<Character name>: Seeing Zojja, after all this time... Seeing her happy. Healthy.

Peitha: Keep that close. You'll need the warmth to escape to.

Zojja: Commander! Are you okay?

<Character name>: Zojja, I promise I'll explain. But now is not the time.

Zojja: Is one of them... in there?

Peitha: Not at the moment, no.

Zojja: Who was that?

Approaching the Cosmic Theater Ring

R'tchikk: (gasp)

Isgarren: What are you...doing here?

Dagda: Isgarren, it's us.

Lyhr: Sounds like you've got a heck of a cold, friend.

Cerus: (laughter)

Isgarren: One fate awaits everyone.

Dagda: No. Not Isgarren.

Lyhr: After him.

Approaching Isgarren

Dagda: Isgarren, we're here to embrace you.

Isgarren: Oh? It looks like you've got plenty of help without my hand.

Dagda: Mabon made a choice when they brought the wayfinder in, and I didn't agree at first. However—

Isgarren: Mabon's optimism got him killed. Unfortunate, but not blameless.

Dagda: You speak of our friend with disdain? You've been...here! Compromised!

When the Core of Hatred appears during the fight

Dagda: Whatever that thing is, strike it down before it returns to his body!

When the Core of Resentment appears during the fight

Zizel: I can sense his...rage inside of that swirl. Don't let it return to him!

After defeating Isgarren

Isgarren: (pained groan)

Dagda: Push back, Isgarren.

Isgarren: What, do you need my power now? Why not look to your new "wayfinder"?

Lyhr: To take an axe to Mabon's memory... We need to keep up with him.

Frode: Do you think he's...?

Dagda: He's not in his right mind. Something's off. He's... You know Isgarren. He can be cavillous, but not uncivil.

Lyhr: He's headed straight for the source. We can't lose track of him.

Approaching the fourth group of Kryptis

Zojja: More Kryptis!

After defeating the fourth group of Kryptis

Peitha: Clutch that memory. Don't loosen your grasp...

Approaching Isgarren in the Empyreal Observation Ring

Isgarren: Some stray "commander"... Do you think you're helping them? Do you think you're doing anything by causing more pain here?

Dagda: Don't let him get to you, Wayfinder.

<Character name>: Mabon chose to trust me, and you can too. I may not be a wizard—

Isgarren: You brought the world to the brink of ruin. Do you realize, if you hadn't killed Zhaitan...

<Character name>: Do you not see what the Elder Dragons destroyed with every cycle? The lives they ruined.

<Character name>: You didn't witness the terror they wrought firsthand. You hid.

Isgarren: There is a line, and you don't see it. But how could you? I exist at the edge. You scurry below.

When Isgarren reaches 66%

Isgarren: I've protected this world for... you couldn't fathom.

Lyhr: I think they can, and they've saved it just the same, you dusty codger. Collect yourself!

Isgarren: Reactions. This is all a product of a reaction. Your emotional decisions.

When Isgarren reaches 33%

Isgarren: Reach my age, see what I've seen, and maybe you'd start to understand.

Isgarren: Your eyes have flashed with parades and songs. Celebrations to honor the blood you've spilled.

Isgarren: Sit in the shadows for a while. Would you save the world if no one saw you do it?

<Character name>: Yes. Of course.

After defeating Isgarren

Isgarren: I...

Isgarren: Get out of this world. Stay away from this place.

Frode: We follow.

Dagda: He will hear us, Wayfinder.

Approaching Isgarren ouside the Empyreal Observation Ring

Isgarren: The higher the tower, the longer the fall.

Lyhr: Be as stubborn as you'd like, but we aren't going to abandon you. Whether or not you disparage your friends.

Dagda: The wayfinder has fought with us. They were there for Mabon when you weren't, Curator.

Isgarren: Mabon, he...

After defeating the first group of Kryptis

Lyhr: Gather that magic up, quickly!

Throwing Kryptis essence at Isgarren

Lyhr: There we go, warm your bones.

Frode: It's working!

Fighting the last group of Kryptis

Frode: Remember the night you found me, out in the storm?

Frode: My faith was as broken as my body, but you took me in.

Frode: Let someone else play protector for once.

After moving Isgarren near the Astronomic Nexus Ring

Isgarren: P-please, I can't...keep him away...

Lyhr: Who is it? Eparch?

Peitha: Much worse.

<Character name>: No, it's someone else.

Isgarren: How do you...?

Cerus: Silence.

Dagda: Stop fleeing!

After travelling to the World Spire

Cerus: My puppet, how you squirm...

Isgarren: Stop it... If we bring down the spire, then...

Approaching the center of the spire

Lyhr: I don't want to hold Isgarren up on a pedestal, but we can't lose him.

Lyhr: Dagda and I will try to expel whatever...or whoever has their claws in him.

Dagda: Zojja, Wayfinder—you two need to keep him distracted.

Zojja: I'm with you.

Frode: Astral Ward, ready yourselves!

Parallel dialogue at the start of the fight

R'tchikk: Get out of skritt's home! Get out!

Uenno: Been awhile since we danced like this.

Frode: Sure has.

Zizel: Amnytas is a place of tranquility. Knowledge.

Galrath the Undying: I don't guard this place for a century to watch it fall.

Isgarren: I know...your spirit...

Isgarren: Life gives...so little to you mortals.

When Isgarren reaches 80%

Isgarren: Enough!

<Character name>: Zojja!

When Isgarren reaches 60%

Lyhr: Let the steam evaporate... Let go.

Dagda: Wayfinder, get behind me.

Cerus: (laughter)

Lyhr: No!

Trivia

• Curiously enough, the in-game position of the Temple of Febe in both this mission and in the eponymous strike mission is just over the northwestern shore of the Mere of Everlasting Night.

My story

“ While processing Peitha's ill-timed revelation, I hauled myself back into Amnytas and out of the stifling eeriness of the bastion. But just as I did, Zojja called on me. Isgarren has been sighted at the Bastion of the Celestial—the gateway to the World Spire. And we've no time to spare. *** I'm not sure what we're going to find inside. Dagda almost succumbed to her possession. Mabon fell to his, a loss that continues to loom over the ward. The Kryptis are growing more powerful each moment, and our time to deal with their threat is running out. If we can't rescue Isgarren soon, he may suffer a fate worse than our dear Mabon. This would be catastrophic not just for the Astral Ward or Wizard's Court, but for Tyria as a whole. Without Isgarren, who knows what'll slither forth from the Mists next. And worse yet, what sort of a threat would a corrupted Isgarren be? We regrouped on one of the bastion's floating rings. Dagda and Zojja stood with Zizel, who was listening for movement. Kryptis were waiting to attack, so we marched forward to get the upper hand. As we entered the spire, Peitha took on a defensive tone. "The veil is parting," she told me. Zojja overheard us despite our efforts to be covert. She asked if I was okay, assuming I was speaking to myself. I managed to conceal Peitha's existence for just a bit longer. With tensions as strained as they are, I can't risk being compromised for fear of being removed from the field—or worse. But I don't know how much longer I can keep up this deception. Zojja was on the verge of launching into a lecture when she was interrupted by a Kryptis ambush. This fight likely won't cool until something has concluded. I just don't know if that something is going to be in our favor. After fighting wave after wave of Kryptis, Peitha advised me to think of a particularly fond memory—something to hold on to in the moments ahead. I thought of my home. My friends. Aurene... But Zojja, whose attention was already focused on me moments before, snapped. Is "one of them" in there? And before I could deflect, Peitha interjected. Zojja's skin crawled, but before anyone else could process that revelation, someone more important hovered just ahead: Isgarren. *** Isgarren, the Curator. A being of legend, boiled down to hostility and impatience. Whatever invaded his consciousness was vicious; neither Lyhr nor Dagda could break through the glacier of ice that covered his mind. Even Dagda—with all her stoicism—was shaken by the sight of him. Isgarren snarled at the group before retreating farther into the bastion. A brutal fight lay ahead of us. We pursued and cornered him in a small opening. His power was flickering outward, as if only a piece of his consciousness was exposed. A distilled manifestation of his bitterness, and we needed to break it down one ornery thought at a time. Dagda attempted to calm his spirit, but words alone wouldn't free Isgarren from the demon's grip. He threw Mabon's death at my feet in defiance. "Wayfinder" dripped from his mouth like venom, just as it had from Dagda on our first encounter. We fought. Grotesque clusters of Kryptis energy burst from Isgarren's manifestation as we battled. We attempted to quell that corruption before it could reinfect him—returning his thoughts to sludge and impatience. As the conflict raged on, Isgarren pulled farther back into the bastion. Lyhr and Dagda were mortified by what he'd become. Whatever or whoever had their claws in Isgarren's soul had burrowed deep. And the words he uttered pierced like arrows. To talk any sense into him, we needed to expose his vulnerabilities—break down every jaded thought and ideal until there was no refuge in which he could hide. He has mistakes to own up to, consequences to face, and a demon to kill. Isgarren eventually pulled away, retreating farther onto the ring. The group pushed forward, fighting against their heartbreak. Isgarren aimed his words—at me, at Mabon. Dagda remarked that in normal times he has a cavillous nature, but this far exceeded his worst days. Lyhr maintained his composure, keeping a keen eye on the situation and pointing out that Isgarren was headed straight for the heart of Amnytas: the World Spire. The only thing fending off a full-on Kryptis invasion. We pursued Isgarren to the next opening. His attention pivoted squarely to me, accusing me of only causing pain here—as I have all over Tyria. A lifetime of hurt starting with Zhaitan and leading to this moment. Isgarren only saw a threat. While I "reacted" and "scrambled" below, he claimed to protect this world from above. But I know damn well that his inflated ego is just that. He may have protected us from the Kryptis, but I kept the Elder Dragons from ripping the entire world apart. Toxic and vulgar manifestations ripped from his essence and lashed against us—Isgarren's subconscious attempting to defend his choices. They'd festered for far too long, and Isgarren needed a proper reminding of what's at stake: Tyria. Our mutual home, that we've each sworn to protect in our own way. His, the more dated. Battle worn and exhausted from our battle of benevolence, Isgarren fled from us once more. But we did not give him respite and cornered him soon after. With few options left for escape, Isgarren froze in place. His snarling spirit simmered, but something...strange happened (even stranger than the events that had come before). As we defeated Kryptis that appeared to feed on Isgarren, they dropped essence of unity—revealing that within Isgarren was at least some flicker of truth. He heard us. Isgarren saw that the only way to move forward was to do it together, with the Astral Ward. With me, even. When I threw this essence to him—into his manifestation—he was propelled forward. His icy shell began to crumble, a glimpse of the real Isgarren showing through. He crept forward, one step closer to the spire. As quickly as that shield fell, Cerus's voice boomed forth from Isgarren and the wizard pulled away—this time, to protect us. A portal to the World Spire opened in his place. *** We pursued him to the apex of Amnytas, atop the World Spire. Everyone held firm, ready to defend their home. Eager to keep Tyria safe. The group broke off to fight Kryptis, while Dagda instructed Zojja and I to keep Isgarren busy while she and Lyhr attempted to expel Cerus from his mind. Glimpses of the real Isgarren broke through as we fought, but those moments of morality were stifled when Cerus pulled his yoke. A surge of energy overcame the group, knocking most of our allies unconscious—only Dagda, Lyhr, and myself stood. We slowly approached him, but before we could make the final blow, Cerus shifted his plan of attack and tore open a rift just before us. Isgarren and I were pulled straight inside. — My story

---

Secrets of the Obscure storyline

Act 1	Prologue: Uncertain Times → Commander without a Cause → Hell Breaks Loose → Mother of Stars
Act 2	Voices beyond the Veil → The Missing Facet → Tower of Secrets → Mabon's Fate
Act 3	Into the Obscure → The World Spire → Treachery
Through the Veil	Duress → The Survivors → Heitor's Gate
The Realm of Dreams	The War Council → Forced Hand → Eventide's March
← Previous: End of Dragons