Xarcabard, Land of Truths

Mission Name	Xarcabard, Land of Truths
Number	5-2
Start NPC	Any Bastok Gate Guard
Title Granted	Shadow Banisher
Reward	Rank 6 20,000g

← Previous Mission	Next Mission →
Darkness Rising	Return of the Talekeeper

Replay Cutscenes
Xarcabard, Land of Truths (pt.1)	Taulluque Metalworks (I-8)
The Rank 5 Mission (pt.1)	Goblin Footprint Throne Room
The Rank 5 Mission (pt.2)	Goblin Footprint Throne Room
The Rank 5 Mission (pt.3)	Goblin Footprint Throne Room
Xarcabard, Land of Truths (pt.2)	Taulluque Metalworks (I-8)

Recommended: Level 70+ and ability to do physical and magical damage, or level 55+ party.

Summary: Guard -> Karst -> Throne Room -> Karst

Walkthrough[]

This mission requires a certain level of Rank Bar. Complete some repeatable missions or trade 2 crystals (after completing Darkness Rising) to a Conquest Overseer.
See a gate guard to accept the mission. Select Xarcabard, Land of Truths.
After talking to the gate guard travel to the Metalworks and speak to President Karst (K-8) for a cutscene.
Travel to the Throne Room within Castle Zvahl Keep.
- If you already have the Home Point outside the Throne Room in Castle Zvahl Keep, take it. If not don't forget to grab it when you get there.
- Tigers, Demons, and assorted Beastmen along the path will sight-aggro, and Ahriman will aggro by sight and sound. The highest level mob will be 53, so players below level 70 or so will need sneak/invis to avoid aggro.
- From Beaucedine Glacier, travel to (F-6) to enter Xarcabard.
  - In Xarcabard, the Vahzl Gate Crystal can be obtained by checking the Telepoint at (H-8).
  - Players with a Traverser Stone can activate the Cavernous Maw at (H-8).
- Enter Castle Zvahl Baileys at (D-7/D-8).
- Hug the outside of the map on the lower level until you get to the NW corner of (G-8).
- Go east under the bridge at the NW corner of (G-8), the turn left.
- Follow the pathway down until you get to the SE corner of (G-7).
- Go up the steps and go east.
- Go west up a set of stairs into map 2.
- Enter Map 2 at (F-8).
- Head to the Goblin circle at H-7/I-7/I-6 in Castle Zvahl Baileys Map 2 and jump all the way to the bottom. Then go down the hallway, up the steps, under the bridge, take a right, take a quick left, up the steps and take the door on the left to enter Zvahl Keep.
- Enter Castle Zvahl Keep at (F-8).
  - In Castle Zvahl Keep, you can activate the Geomagnetic Fount at (H-8).
- Enter Map 2 at exit A (H-6) or B (H-10).
- Enter Map 3 at exit C (E-8).
- Stand on the dais in the middle of the room until a glowing symbol appears. It will teleport you to the upper level.
- Exit the room and stand on the dais you encounter until it teleports you again. Repeat this process two more times. The final dais will teleport you to Map 4.
- Enter the Throne Room at (G-7). Don't forget the Home Point!
Examine the door at the end of the path to enter the Battlefield "The Shadow Lord Battle."
- Only players who are in the mission corresponding to this battle (Mission 5-2 for any of the starting nations) or have beat it under current nationality can enter the battlefield.
  - Characters completing this mission for the second time are immediately given the defeat cut-scene and key item.
- Trusts can be summoned once inside the battlefield.
- This Battlefield has a level cap of 99. Buffs will wear upon entry.
- The time limit is 30 minutes.
- Your opponent is the Shadow Lord. The fight has two phases.
- In the first phase he will begin in a stance that grants him magic immunity. Every 5 minutes or after taking 1000 damage, he will change between magic stance and melee stance, which gives him physical immunity.
  - In magic stance he will primarily use tier 2 elemental spells and debuffs. He tends to use the weaponskill Dark Nova when he is about to switch to melee stance.
  - In melee stance he uses the weaponskills Giga Slash, Kick Back, and Umbra Smash.
    - Monks can use Formless Strikes to bypass his physical immunity.
- A cutscene will play after you defeat his first phase. He will immediately attack you in phase two.
  - In this phase he will spam Implosion. If you are attempting this fight with a lower-level party, it is typically best to zerg him.
- The Shadow Lord gives experience points equal to a Level 60 mob.
After the fight you receive a cutscene then you will be transported to the entrance of Castle Zvahl Baileys. You will receive the Shadow Fragment.
Talk to President Karst to finish the mission.

Upon Completion[]

You may now begin the Rise of the Zilart Missions.
If your level is at least 65, you may also return to Xarcabard for the initial cutscene to begin Dynamis.
Depending on your progress in the Rhapsodies of Vana'diel Missions, you may get a cutscene when you zone to Bastok to see President Karst reminding you that you can now progress to the mission What Lies Beyond.

Game Description

Mission Orders: You must go to Castle Zvahl in Xarcabard. The President himself will brief you in his office.

SPOILER WARNING: Click here for additional details about this story line.