Plains of Ashford

By: OldGoat

The Plains of Ashford was once occupied by the human kingdom of Ascalon. Now ruins of that kingdom are all that remains. Ghosts of the past patrol the countryside, taking vengeance upon any who trespass. It is one of two Iron Legion territories, the other being Diessa Plateau.

This area is a level 1 through 15 area, which means that all events, hearts, skill points, and NPC’s are from level 1 through 15. This doesn't mean you have to be level 15 to complete the map. You can complete it and level up as you go. You can even complete it at any level, it’s just much more difficult.

Resource nodes:

We begin our tour at Smokestead Waypoint in the Village of Smokestead. This is on the west end of the map, just outside the entrance to The Black Citadel, which is the headquarters of the Iron Legion and was built upon the ruins of the human city of Rin. Near the waypoint we find various profession trainers. Heading south, we find the Point of Interest (POI) Three Legions Court.

Events:

Back to the north, we pass the Smokestead Waypoint entering the Gunbreach Hills where we find the Graysteel Armory Waypoint and The Wrecking Yard POI.


Hearts:

Events:

Resource Nodes:

Now, before we travel too far east in the hills, we want to take a short trip north and east into the Tela Range. Through a gap in the wall, we find Mock’s Niche POI. Back out and to the left, we run into the skill challenge Centurion Titus Bearclaw, who just wants to test your fighting skill. (Watch out for his thrown mines.)

Events:

Resource Nodes:

Heading east, we find Devourer’s Mouth. (Don't skip the part under the bridge.) As it’s name suggests you'll find it filled with Devourer’s.

Events:

Resource Nodes:

Ranger Pets:

If we haven’t completed exploring Gunbreach Hills, we can go South from Devourer’s Mouth. If we have finished, we can exit through the cave directly to Lake Feritas to find Feritas Waypoint.

Hearts:

Events:

Vista:

Resource Nodes:

From Lake Feritas we continue south to The Old Duke’s Estate. The old Duke, Duke Barradin, was a human Noble before the searing. Now, he haunts the vaults near his estate. His lands were famous for having the best vineyards in old Ascalon. Inside the vaults we find Vault Waypoint and Barradin's Vaults POI. The vaults are filled with red oozes. You can also examine each sarcophagus for treasure or to trigger a fight.

Hearts:

Events:

Group Events:

Vista:

Once we come out of the vaults, we will go east a short way and grab Temperus Point Waypoint, find Charr’s Triumph Vista, and complete Help the Blood Legion on our way north towards Martyr’s Woods. If you miss these, you will have another chance on our way back following the southern route.

Martyr’s Woods is our final stop in zone 1. Moving straight North from Temperus Point, we find Calhaan’s Haunt POI. East and a little north of here is Martyr’s Waypoint.

Events:

Group Events:

Once we've completed Martyr’s Woods, we head further east and a little south to Zone 2.

Agnos Gorge is the first place we'll explore in Zone 2. As we enter, we move east and a little south to find Deadgod’s Lair POI. Continue a little further East to Shards of War POI. From there, back west and then South to Spirit Hunter Camp Waypoint.

Hearts:

Events:

Group Events:

Vista:

From the Agnes Gorge Vista, we head due east to The Toppled Wall. Some players call the Agnes Gorge Vista by the name of The Toppled Wall Vista. Either way it’s the same vista. If you haven’t gotten the vista yet, go to the north side of the hill. There is also a cave here which is the location of an occasional spawned chest that holds a skritt burglar.

Heart:

Events:

Now it’s time to go south to the Phasmatis Corridor and discover the dungeon Ascalon Catacombs. (It’s a ghostly place that sends chills down my spine.) Directly south of the dungeon door is Catacombs Waypoint, west you'll find Ghostsummit POI. South again to Swordcross Outpost POI, then due east to Phasmatis Waypoint.

Events:

Vista:

Resource Nodes

Due east of the Phasmatis Corridor is the relatively unexplored region of Lamia Mire. No waypoints or POIs, it has a few crafting resource nodes.

Resource Nodes

Our last place to visit in this zone is due north. The Ascalon City Ruins is the former human city located near the center of Ascalon along the Great Northern Wall. Once a major city of Ascalon, following the Searing the city was left in ruins but remained a bastion for the ongoing struggle against the first charr invasion. As time passed the Ascalon resistance dwindled in number due to deaths, desertions, and the exodus to Kryta.

Twenty years after the Searing, King Adelbern and his remaining forces, unable to hold Rin, staged a final defense at Ascalon City as their last resort. Cut off from the Ebon Vanguard, with most of his men dead or dying, Adelbern committed one last act of defiance and called upon the powers of his sword, Magdaer to bring about the Foefire and drive the charr back.

Ascalon City is now a ghost town, filled with the spirits of its guard. The ghosts continue to watch over the ruins but make no attempt to communicate with living humans. They are nothing more than echoes of the soldiers who died there centuries ago. Legend says that if one of the twin swords of the royal family is returned to the city by the rightful heir of the throne that the spirits will finally be laid to rest.

On the west side, The Viewing Hill POI, northeast to Ascalon City Waypoint, farther east to Foefire’s Heart POI. Two skill challenges, one at the bottom of the lake to the east, Ruins of Ascalon City (commune) and one high up on the wall to the east, Ascalonian Ruins. (commune) To get to Ascalonian Ruins Skill challenge, follow the wall towards the east, climb up stairs until you find it. I suggest you kill as you go, as running could get you mobbed.

Hearts:

Events:

Group Events:

Vistas:

As we leave Zone 2 to the east we find ourselves entering Human’s Lament at the north end of Zone 3.

Human’s Lament is in the northeast corner of the map. A chest can be found in the cave you use to get to the vista. It’s very well guarded by Veteran Trolls and ghosts.

Events:

Vistas:

As we travel south towards Cadem Forest we pass through areas filled with Ogres and their pets. Stonecrag Kraal POI is inside the Kraal. Higher level characters can run to it, Lower levels be prepared to fight your way through. Once in Cadem Forest you’ll find Watchcrag Tower Waypoint and a bit further south, Duskrend Waypoint.

Hearts:

Events:

Group Events:

Vistas:

Ranger Pets:

There is rumored to be a chest in Cadem Forest. As of this writing, the author has not found it. As we travel further south we find ourselves at the easternmost point of Ascalon Basin and we begin our journey back toward The Village of Smokestead by heading west into Zone 4.

Our first area in this zone is Ascalon Basin, a large body of water south of Ascalon City. After getting to the farthest point south for the heart, we go west and slightly north to the peninsula to find IronDock Waypoint.

Hearts:

Events:

Vistas:

Heading back south we enter Loreclaw Expanse to find Loreclaw Waypoint and to the southwest, Camp Keiran POI.

Hearts:

Events:

Resource Nodes:

Jumping Puzzles:

Spoiler Alert

  1. Jump to a collapsed corridor that contains two sets of double spike traps. These hit for 1200. Note: these traps are continuously operating.
  2. Jump through the window on the left at the second set of traps.
  3. Run across beams and up stairs.
  4. Jump down to another corridor.
  5. Time your run through the flame traps and across to stairs. These hit for 750 and burning. Note that although there seems to be a safe spot in the middle (between the second and third heads), this is not the case, the traps will continue to hit you there. Do not stop in the middle of the corridor with the flame traps.
  6. Jump up the makeshift stairs in the wall.
  7. Run up next stairs while dodging falling rocks. At the top turn left.
  8. Jump through the waterfall via the middle of the 2 ravens and angle slightly to the left. The landing platform is slightly visible through the waterfall.
  9. Open the treasure chest to spawn
    (a) the Kill the shadow skelk matriarch event. Kill the matriarch to allow you to use the pressure plate required to reach the final treasure.
    (b) the Kill Captain Ravenwood event. Kill Captain Ravenwood to allow you to use the pressure plate required to reach the final treasure. The Ascalonian Healer does not need to be killed and vanishes after Ravenwood is dead.
  10. Climb up to the rafters, using the wall pieces behind the chest; this might involve dodging fireballs. Walk across the beams and step on the pressure plate.
  11. Drop back down to the first chest; the southeastern wall has opened up, allowing access to a Grand Chest and sometimes a Rich Copper Vein. Approaching the chest grants the Loreclaw Expanse achievement. Grab the loot and run out since the roof may collapse and kill you.

Trivia
Numerous references to the Indiana Jones franchise are hidden around the puzzle.
The dead archeologist’s name is quite similar to Henry Jones, Sr., the name of the titular character’s father.

  1. His skeleton wears a fedora, the hat usually worn by Indiana Jones.
  2. In the passage to the final room with the chest, the player passes spiderwebs and there are two large saw blades against the wall, similar to the first trap shown in the movie.
  3. There is a selection of cups sitting on the stone table near the final Grand Chest
    A ‘leap of faith’ from a lions head/statue is present in both movie and puzzle.
  4. The room with the Grand Chest will collapse (also done in the movie), killing you, if you do not leave fast enough.
  5. Captain Ravenwood is a reference to Marion Ravenwood. One of her quotes is “You can’t do this to me. I’m an Ascalonian” in reference to a quote by her in Raiders of the Lost Ark.

As we continue our journey we move west from Mei Hawkslayer’s heart into Windrock Maze. There is a chest at the end of the canyon west of the heart. There’s usually a dead npc beside it. A Veteran Ridgeback Skale spawns once you get close. Go northerly in the maze to come out in Devast District. Here you will find a skill challenge Ethereal Vanguard Monument. (fight)

Hearts:

Events:

Now we take a short detour into Abbey Ruins to the west.

Events:

Resource nodes:

Back out and south we then have a chance for a break of sorts. Ashford Forum houses vendors, crafting stations, an armor repair station along with Ashford Waypoint and the skill challenge Centurion Micka Thickblood’s. (combat) We leave the zone going west, then south into Zone 5.
On our southward foray into Lake Adorea we find Adorea Waypoint on the northern shore. On the southern shore we find the skill challenge Effigy Core. (combat)

Group Events:

Vistas:

From Lake Adorea, we head north to Charr’s Triumph. Exterminatus HQ POI and Victory Cenotaph POI and if we missed it earlier, Temperus Point Waypoint.

Hearts:

Events:

Group Events:

Ranger Pets:

After Charr’s Triumph we move southwest on the road, towards Victor’s Presidium. A short detour south into flame legion territory finds Igni Castrum POI. Then back out and west to find a chest guarded by a Veteran Lashtail Devourer. Once opened, the chest releases a skritt burglar. If you can down the burglar before he escapes, you receive a bag of loot. Guardpoint Decimus Waypoint is further west. From here, due south is Langmar Estate Waypoint. This is the location of a guild puzzle. It’s also a good place to find Ascalonian Veterans. Heading back north we discover Sharptail Encampment POI.

Hearts:

Events:

Vistas:

Resource nodes

Ranger Pets:

Now a short detour is in order. The entrance to Decimus Stones is just west of Guardpoint Decimus Waypoint.

Events:

Chest:

Now, back out and North to Vir’s Gate Waypoint and your map should be complete.

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