Drowning in Blood

Overview

Drowning in Blood
Team Size	4-8 players
Badge	Sibling Rivalry Sidereal Researcher Brotherly Love
Enemy Groups	Freakshow Circle of Thorns Neo-Shivans +++ Missing Information +++

Drowning in Blood (DiB) is a trial available to both heroes and villains from levels 15-50. Players can queue individually or in groups for Drowning in Blood via the Team-Up Teleporter.

Drowning in Blood is set in Bloody Bay, where participants seek to liberate the island from the Neo-Shivans. Civilians and Shivans alike can be rescued as the participants reclaim the island and progress toward the final battle.

While not technically cooperative play, the trial is the same for both heroes and villains except for who assists by caption popups. Note that vigilantes may not participate in villain trials, and rogues may not participate in hero trials.

Missions

Although the trial is completed within a single mission, it is divided like most trials into separate segments. All segments exist on the same map level, but moving between the first three segments requires all characters on the team to individually speak with Commander Nostromo (for heroes) or Commander Sulaco (for villains) to receive a teleport to the next segment.

To receive the Sidereal Researcher badge, a team member must first speak to an NPC on the Boardwalk: Villains, a Night Widow spy; Heroes, a Longbow Scientist. Then, during the mission, any team member must click each of the 4 glowing meteors, one in each segment. The entire team will receive the badge when the last meteor is clicked.

Boardwalk

In the first segment, the characters must clear Freakshow and Neo-Shivans from the city streets. After clearing 81 enemies, the Commander appears as a red X on the map.

Hero/Vigilante Briefings

Commander Nostramo

Briefing

+++ Missing Information +++

Longbow Scientist

Briefing

How can I help you, Character?

• I'm looking for info.

Good information is in short supply around here. You come here with questions, and I'm not sure I can answer you, but I can help.

• That's understandable, go on.

We've got fragments of something great here; we're really on the cusp of a major breakthrough, I just need a little help tying it all together. I'll give you this ore extractor; if you've ever been to this island before, it should be familiar to you. If not, just go up to as many of the meteors as you can find and take a sample. I'll check up with you out in the field to take notes and secure your research.

• It's as simple as that?

It's as simple as that.

• Goodbye.

• +++ Missing Information +++

• You what passes for a specialist around here?

+++ Missing Information +++

Commander Nostramo

Briefing

How can I help you, Character?

• The Boardwalk is clear, what is next?

We know that Circle of Thorns is infesting the Cemetery at Ground Zero. Initial reconnaissance suggests they have managed to capture some Shivans and are performing some type of ritual on them. As well, we've reason to believe that there are civilians trapped within the grounds.

• Got it, I'm on my way.
• Anything else I should know?

We think that a trio of mages - Eligos, Marchosias and Barbatos - are heading up the ceremonies being done there. The rituals should be easy to spot, since they're each congregated around a large, pacified Shivan. As for the civilians, we're not sure where they are; probably hiding amongst the tombstones. You'll have to keep an eye out for them and I'm sure that if you clear a path, they'll be motivated to vacate the cemetery on their own two feet.

• I'm on it.

Villain/Rogue Briefing

Commander Sulaco

Briefing

+++ Missing Information +++

Night Widow Spy

Briefing

+++ Missing Information +++

Commander Sulaco

Briefing

+++ Missing Information +++

Meteor Teen is located in this segment.

Ground Zero

After teleporting into Ground Zero, the characters must defeat Circle of Thorn and Neo-Shivans throughout the graveyard, freeing citizens and disrupting the rituals being performed. There are 3 rituals to disrupt, 3 civilians to free, and 57 enemies to defeat. Afterwards, the Commander again appears as a red X on the map.

Pacified Shivan

Briefing

You have spoken with one of us, so you have spoken with all of us... That encounter has given us great hope... What may I do for you...?

• I have a few questions.

• Tell me of this Mother.

The great Mother flies through the Heavens and we were her children. . . We were forced from her and left to die here, though die we did not. . . We have grown different during our time here. . . Because of that difference grown within us, we can no longer hear her song but it does not matter. . . Because she has wed the Dark Father she sings no longer. . .

• Tell me of this 'Dark Father'.

"He is greedy and gluttonous and has chased our Mother across the Heavens since time immemorial. . . Now She is His and we are orphaned. . . We hate him for all he has done and for all he has yet to do. . . Now that Mother has been made one of His brides, he turns his attention to the Blue Maiden. . .

• 'Blue Maiden'? You mean Earth?

We do not know who or what she is. . . We heard her name hissing on the thoughts of our brothers as they came to slaughter us. . .

• What was the Circle of Thorns doing to you?

They sought to poison us with their magic. . . Being free of will and thought we were vulnerable to the call of their Leash. . .

• That's all.

Hero/Vigilante Briefings

Commander Nostramo

Briefing

How can I help you, Character?

• Circle of Thorns has been cleared out, what's next?

There seem to be two factions of Shivan, because they're fighting right now up in the Forgotten Forest. So far, the ones like those that you rescued, have been pretty docile towards us. That's not working out too well for them, though, because reports suggest they are sustaining heavy losses. We should move before the Neo-Shivans eradicate them all.

• Anything else I should know?

The forest is currently overrun. I've got some troops in the area, but they probably won't be of any assistance to you. We're picking up some pretty heavy energy signatures from up along the Dead Coast, so you should probably head North from your starting location, clearing out the hostile Shivan as you go.

• I'm on it.

Commander Sulaco Caption

Character! Some of my troops ran into trouble somewhere in the Forgotten Forest. They're currently North of your position, pinned down and taking heavy fire.

They wandered into a real mess out there but they've also located the heart of the Shivan assault force.

I'm not sure how much longer they can hold their position though and we shouldn't let this opportunity pass! I'm sending along their coordinates, please hurry! Over.

Meteor Ek is in this segment.

Forgotten Forest

Within the Forgotten Forest, characters must defeat 5 groups of 9 Neo-Shivans (and something else?). Doing so leads them directly to the Dead Coast; no further discussion with the Commander is required.

Meteor Panch is in this segment.

Dead Coast

On the Dead Coast, a single Shivan Obliterator (Giant Monster) waits. When this creature is reduced to 50%, he splits into two identical Obliterators, each of which is at 50% health. Defeating both Obliterators within 30 seconds of each other earns characters the Brotherly Love badge.

After the brothers are defeated, the Commander spawns at the junction of the Forgotten Forest and the Dead Coast with an optional debriefing. Note that multiple characters may not be able to complete the debriefing, as the Commander will may? leave when the interaction is complete.

Meteor Jay is in this segment.

Final Debriefing

Heroes

Commander Nostromo Caption

After Defeating the Obliterator

Commander Nostromo: Good job, Character! You're probably in a hurry to get off this rock, but if you'd care for a debrief, I'm tending to my troops just South of your position. Over.

Commander Nostromo

Briefing

How can I help you, Character?

• Reporting for debriefing.

+++ Missing Information +++

Villains

Commander Sulaco Caption

After Defeating the Obliterator

Commander Sulaco: Character... You're probably in a hurry to get off this rock, but if you'd care for a debrief, I'm tending to my troops just South of your position. Over.

Commander Sulaco

Briefing

How can I help you, Character?

• Mission accomplished, Commander.

The island appears to be contained, Character. Few Freakshow or Circle of Thorns remain alive after your assault and, while they have gone to ground, I am certain our sweeps will pick up the rest of them in short order. After your victory over the Obliterator, energy levels across the island have returned to normal. We take that as a signal that the Neo-Shivan assault has been fully countered. As well, telemetry has been restored to the island, enabling normal communications and clearing the way for Arachnos to launch a full-scale scouring of Bloody Bay. Most of the civilians detained have already been forcibly removed from the island to a nearby facility for further study and observation. Of course, there is still so much left that needs to be catalogued and collected. I won't trouble you with those tasks, though.

• Thank you for your help, Commander Sulaco. Here we part ways.

+++ Missing Information +++

• Anything else, Commander?

If I may say, I was deeply impressed by the ruthless and capable execution of your command. You have dealt a fatal blow to the Freakshow and Circle of Thorns on the isle as well as single-handedly rebuffing a Neo-Shivan assault. Bloody Bay has simmered in revolt under these factions for close to twenty years and you managed to subdue it in a matter of hours. It is simply stunning to see you at work. If left unobstructed, I would not be surprised to see you attain the rank of Commander within a few years. That should prompt you to extreme caution though, Character. Such aptitude invites both praise and secret scorn and some will wonder 'how will this upstart threaten my own career?' Well, just words to ponder.

• Thank you, Commander.

+++ Missing Information +++

• They would be wise to consider me a threat, Commander.

I'm not sure I like your tone, Character. Explain yourself.

• Just idle musings, Commander. Be well.

+++ Missing Information +++

• It is sad what happened to Arachnos here... Killed to a man by the Shivans...

Wait, what?

• I did all I could to save them. Oh well. Goodbye Commander...

(At this point, the Commander dies and his two Arachnos guards attack.)

Rewards

+++ Missing Information +++

Your choice of one of four temporary powers. The powers last for one week in-game time or until level 30:

• Shivan Exposure Damage Enhancer (+Damage)
• Shivan Exposure Accuracy Enhancer (+To Hit)
• Shivan Exposure Defense Enhancer (+Defense)
• Shivan Exposure Recovery Enhancer (+Recovery)

Strategy

Drowning in Blood Strategy Guide By Cord "Think Tank" Carney [1]