Online:By Invitation Only

Sneak into the Pact's most exclusive mage's college. Zone: Deshaan Objective: Shad Astula — Learn the secrets of the Academy of Magic. Quest Giver: Nosaleeth, Instructor Ninla Location(s): Mournhold, Shad Astula Next Quest: School Daze Reward: Average Leveled Gold XP Gain: Standard XP ID: 3893

What secrets lie within?

Deshaan's Academy of Magic, Shad Astula, trains only the most promising mages to become leaders of the Ebonheart Pact. However, the Academy only accepts those who've received a special invitation.

Quick Walkthrough

1. Acquire an invitation. (Bribe, Persuade. or Intimidate a student to give theirs up)
2. Travel to Shad Astula and talk to the registrar.
3. Find Arch-Mage Valeyn.
4. Solve the memory challenge.

Detailed Walkthrough

Prospective students, one of whom holds your invitation

In northeast Mournhold, behind the Dres House, you'll find the city's docks, and a gathering of many people in blue and white robes. They are mages, waiting for their boat ride to Shad Astula, a prestigious academy for future leaders of the Pact.

You can begin the quest by talking to Instructor Ninla at the front gates of Shad Astula, or Nosaleeth at Mournhold's docks. Instructor Ninla will tell you about the Academy, and promptly tell you to leave. After returning to Mournhold via the Boatmaster, you must then speak to Nosaleeth, who will excitedly assume you are a fellow lucky student. You don't need to speak to Instructor Ninla to be able to speak with Nosaleeth.

"Tell me, how did your invitation arrive?
In the claws of a bird of prey? In the fist of a charmed giant? I got mine from a terrifying ghost!"

What do you mean?

"What do you mean, what do I mean? Your invitation to attend Shad Astula, of course.
Oh, my—you really have no idea what I'm talking about, do you?"

Not even the faintest clue.

"We're waiting to depart for Shad Astula, the Academy of Magic.
The Academy sends invitations to only the most promising mages. Trains them to become leaders for the Houses and the Ebonheart Pact. My apologies, I thought that was common knowledge."

Ah. In that case, where do I sign up?

"It's not that simple. You have to be invited. No invitation, no boat ride to the island.
The Academy is quite exclusive. Not like the Mages Guild."

How do I get one of those invitations?

"All of us waiting for the boat have invitations, but I doubt you'll find anyone willing to hand one over to you.
It's a big honor to be invited. Anyone willing to toss that away isn't really Academy material."

Know anyone who might be willing to give up an invitation?

"Well, Geirvarda doesn't seem very thrilled about going to the Academy. And Renus and Guronii will wager on anything.
I even heard some students buy their way onto the boat, but I'm not sure I believe it."

Regardless, Nosaleeth's information is solid: there are four people you can talk to who will give up their invitation under the right circumstances:

• Geirvarda, who requires a little persuasion (the Persuasive Will passive from the Mages Guild skill line is required) to go back to 'goat herding';
• Swims-in-Spells, an instructor who wants a hefty bribe for a blank invitation;
• Renus or Guronii, both of whom can either be intimidated (Intimidating Presence passive from the Fighters Guild skill line) or dueled. If you choose to duel one of them, Renus wields ice magic and Guronii prefers fire.

Once you have a Shad Astula Invitation, head over to the Boatmaster, the ghost standing on the dock. Show him your credentials and he'll transport you across the lake to Shad Astula.

Head up the docks and to the Registrar's office, the first building before you actually enter the gates of the school. Talk to Registrar Bameni, and hand over your invitation. She will tell you the Arch-Mage himself has been expecting you. She'll also say there's no need to worry, however; he had a vision about you, as such things are one of his 'many, many gifts'.

Exit the office and head up to the compound. It's huge, and swarming with students and instructors. The main building where the Arch-Mage is lies straight ahead, up some steps. Skirt the inner courtyard and enter the Arch-Mage's office.

The sequence puzzle

Arch-Mage Valeyn is waiting for you a few steps inside. Speak to him.

"I expect my students to strive for excellence. I demand brilliance, determination, and eagerness to embrace the ineffable mysteries of our noble calling."

I'm not really a student here.

"Do not doubt what was meant to be. Powers beyond our comprehension set things in motion and all we an do is take the ride. I saw you in my visions. You have come to protect the Academy."

Protect the Academy? From what?

"That part of the vision remains clouded. Nonetheless, here you are and we must get ready.
I need to confirm your sensitivity to magic. The lights in the next chamber form a ... test of sorts. Only the most sensitive individuals can see them."

What do I need to do?

"Touch the vision orb behind me. Watch the pattern play out.
Simply repeat the order by touching each of the spheres. If you make a mistake, you may start over."

In the small room behind him are six dark blue orbs with a watery effect arranged before one bright yellow orb. Activate the yellow orb first, and watch as the other orbs light up one by one. Your task is to memorize the order in which they light up and reproduce it once the sequence finishes. If you were to label the orbs from left to right as 1 though 6, the correct order is 3-5-1-2-4-6. Once you have it, the orbs will disappear, and you have to talk to the Arch-Mage again.

"I knew you could do it. Well done!
Now to business. Something threatens this Academy, but your presence here will save the day. I have seen it in a vision!"

What do you mean?

"You've seen it. War and disease ravage our lands. We're surrounded by enemies, yet still we tear at each other's throats.
Our students will help change that. And you will keep them safe so they can fulfill their destiny."

And how am I doing to do that?

"We'll figure that out together. Though the invitation didn't start in your hands, that's where it ended up. You were meant to be here.
A great danger approaches this Academy. And you will save us from this disaster. I have foreseen it!"

You will receive a leveled amount of gold and experience, and the next quest, School Daze, will be available.

Notes

• Students and teachers will stop being present at the docks once this quest is finished. The Boatmaster will still be present, and two generic students will be placed on the dock.
• Most, if not all, students and teachers will also be already present at Shad Astula before and during the quest, but will stop being present after the quest is finished.
• If you end up in the drink, you can still talk to the Boatmaster by being near him in the water.

Quest Stages

By Invitation Only
Finishes Quest	Journal Entry
	The instructor at the Shad Astula Academy of Magic said that I need to have an invitation. She suggested I talk to the boatmaster at the docks so I can return to Mournhold. Objective: Return to Mournhold
	If I want to visit Shad Astula, I need to acquire an invitation. Maybe I can get an invitation from one of the students waiting along the docks. Objective: Acquire a Shad Astula Invitation
	I acquired an invitation to the Academy. I should speak to the Boatmaster when I'm ready to visit Shad Astula. Objective: Talk to The Boatmaster
	I arrived at Shad Astula. My invitation says I should report to the Academy's registrar. Objective: Talk to the Registrar
	Somehow, the Arch-Mage knows I arrived at the Academy. He wants to talk to me in the main building. Objective: Find Arch-Mage Valeyn
	The Arch-Mage needs to make sure I can handle myself around magic. He wants me to go into the next chamber and solve the memory challenge. I need to touch the glowing orb and memorize the sequence. Objective: Touch the Vision Orb
	I watched the sequence of the lights. All I have to do now is touch the orbs in the same order. Objective: Repeat the Sequence of Lights Hidden Objective: Light the First Flame Hidden Objective: Light the Second Flame Hidden Objective: Light the Third Flame Hidden Objective: Light the Fourth Flame Hidden Objective: Light the Fifth Flame Hidden Objective: Light the Final Flame
Finishes quest	I completed the memory challenge. I should speak to Arch-Mage Valeyn to find out what he wants me to do next. Objective: Talk to Arch-Mage Valeyn Objective: Talk to Arch-Mage Valeyn

Notes

* Any text displayed in angle brackets (e.g., <Alias=LocationHold>) is dynamically set by the game and will be filled in with the appropriate word(s) when seen in game.

• Not all Journal Entries may appear in your journal; which entries appear and which entries do not depends on the manner in which the quest is done.
• Stages are not always in order of progress. This is usually the case with quests that have multiple possible outcomes or quests where certain tasks may be done in any order. Some stages may therefore repeat objectives seen in other stages.