The Underground Trial

The Underground Trial
Team Size	12-24 players
Badge	Underground Seeker
Enemy Groups	Devouring Earth; The Infested; Imperial Defense Force; Warworks;
Incarnate XP	Physical and Psychic
	Requires a VIP subscription.
	v • d • e

Overview

The Underground Trial is the fourth Incarnate Trial, released with Issue 21: Convergence, which takes place in First Ward, Praetoria. A maximum of 24 players can raid the Underground. Chronologically, this trial takes place after the Keyes Island Reactor Trial and concurrently with the content of First Ward.

During the mission, a voice will "radio in" information about your progress. While there is no specific contact (the trial is entered entirely through the LFG menu), it is possible that your unseen helper is meant to be Prometheus as he was added in Issue 20 to recruit Incarnate-capable players to wage a war against Emperor Cole and end his quest to become more in-tune with the Well of the Furies.

Both types of Incarnate Experience are gained towards unlocking the Incarnate Slots.

Story Summary

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

The all but abandoned subway and access tunnels beneath Praetoria has been the home to the Resistance, working from below the city to slowly bring it down. Desdemona plans to meet a group of Incarnates and lead them through the tunnels into the belly of the beast to rescue Vanessa DeVore from the monsters that dwell there alongside the Resistance. However, the passage is not without its perils and is guarded heavily by the IDF lest anyone finds out one of Praetoria's darkest secrets.

After defeating an Extinction War Walker or two, and a score of the IDF, the allies find that Vanessa DeVore has already been slain, and that an Avatar of Hamidon killed her to keep her silent. However, Desdemona dons her fallen mask when the beast has been defeated and finds out that Emperor Cole made a deal with the Hamidon to keep it at bay, a deal that forced Praetoria's Marcus Cole to attempt the destruction of Primal Earth to keep his end of the bargain!

In Detail

The Underground Trial is a long, multi-phase assault on the belly of Praetoria.

Phase 1

The League must team up with Desdemona to clear the initial groups of IDF in order to gain access to the Underground proper.

Entrance Dialogue

Statesman says: 'The reason you are being sent here is to meet with the Praetorian Vanessa DeVore, a Resistance leader, to bring back a secret so dangerous that Tyrant has eliminated anyone who discovers it.'

We must learn this secret before he catches her as well. To that end, I have asked Desdemona to accompany you.

In the event that DeVore attempts any mental shenanigans, my newest protege's wards will protect you from mental control.

Vanessa says: 'It seems I have decided to hand over the information just in time. Tyrant has sent the IDF to hunt me down and silence my voice.'
I only hope you can get to me first. I am a level or so below you, but I need to keep moving to stay ahead of the IDF.

Phase 2

Desdemona can't keep a psychic lock on the location of Vanessa DeVore, and must perform a ritual to strengthen the link. Keep her safe!

Desdemona says: 'The psychic link with Vanessa isn't strong enough for me to pinpoint where she is in this maze of tunnels. I'm going to need to perform some rituals to strengthen the link before we go any further.'
I'll be unable to defend myself while I'm performing the rituals, so you're going to have to keep me alive.

Desdemona says: 'OK. I've got a better sense of where we need to go, but I'm not quite sure which of the exits we need to take.'
One more ritual ought to do it. I'll need you to stand guard one more time. Now that the IDF know we're here, I'm sure they'll be coming back!

Desdemona says: 'That did it. We have to go through the door to our south. That'll take us into the subway tunnels that'll lead us to Vanessa. Let's go!'

Phase 3

The League must proceed deeper into the tunnels, fighting more IDF troops.

Prometheus says: 'So, Statesman has finally seen fit to get involved in this conflict has he? You should ask yourself what his motivations are? Why has he remained on the sidelines?'

I have no trust for Statesman. He fears his power, fears becoming like the Emperor. Rather than doing anything about it, he spends his time hiding.
Unlike him, you are choosing to learn how to wield your power. You are choosing your path.

You would be wise not to trust him or put your confidence in him... and to keep a close eye on his pet, Desdemona.

Phase 4

This phase pits the League against the Extinction War Walker, a difficult foe who guards access to the lower portions of the Underground.

Vanessa says: 'The IDF have forced me deeper into the tunnels, but these don't look like ordinary tunnels. There's something growing on them.'

I thought I overheard one of the IDF mention that the Devouring Earth are here. If this is the case, I'm going to have a much harder time getting out of here without your help.

Hopefully, the IDF and the Devouring Earth will be more focused on fighting each other than dealing with us, but you should be cautious!

Phase 5

The Devouring Earth make their first appearance, springing a trap on Desdemona. Clear the room to free her and proceed.

Desdemona says: 'What is going on?! It's as though all my powers are drained!'
This must be how they caught Vanessa! Quickly! I need you to break me free of this prison before it drains all of my strength away!

After freeing Desdemona:

Desdemona says: 'That was cutting it pretty close. Whatever is going on down here, it looks like both the IDF and the Devouring Earth don't want us to find out!'

Phase 6

Another set of tunnels prepares the League for a fight with the Self-Repairing War Walker, a difficult foe who, when defeated, respawns as a Lichen-Infused War Walker. Both AVs must be defeated before the League can proceed to the next phase.

Vanessa says: 'I... I have no words. The walls, they are alive. I seem to have stumbled into an infestation of the Devouring Earth, here in the tunnels. They... they are battling with Tyrant's men, so I have some cover to move on.'
I will keep moving... I cannot allow either the Devouring Earth or the IDF to find me!

After defeating the War Walkers:

Vanessa says: 'No! They've found me. Please, you must hurry!'

Phase 7

The tunnels in the next phase are emit toxic spores that will overwhelm the League if they tarry too long. The Incarnates are then faced with multiple proximity bomb booby-traps. Best to safely snipe them from range to proceed.

Vanessa says: 'Where are you? The Devouring Earth... I'm cornered.... What... what is that!? No!'

Vanessa says: 'Hurry! This... monster! I... I don't think I can hold it off much longer!'

Desdemona says: 'The spores in the air here are exceptionally toxic. We're going to need to move quickly through here, or the effects will eventually overwhelm us!'

Vanessa's Spirit says: 'It is done. The terrible beast has vanquished me. Your only hope now is to recover my mask. Within it is my consciousness. Recover it and the secret will be revealed. Do not let my death be in vain!'

Phase 8

The final phase pits the League against the Avatar of Hamidon. Stay close to Desdemona so she can protect you from its attacks.

Desdemona: Vanessa is close. I can feel the remnants of her essence in this room.

There! But the mask! Where is the mask?

We have to find it, or all of this will have been for nothing. It must be close to her body!

Wait... what was that? I... I don't think we're alone in here!

Desdemona: The wall! It's moving! What... what is that monstrosity!?

Looks like we're going to have to get that mask the hard way! You want a fight, beast, you got one!

After defeating the Avatar:

All right. Enough of this. We need to find that mask and get out of here before something else happens!

I can feel a great power emanating from this mask. It is as though it is alive!

The mask... it... it is sharing Vanessa's knowledge with me... the secret for which she died!

That... creature we just defeated was an emissary of the Hamidon. It watched Emperor Cole to ensure a promise was kept.

The truth is, the Emperor never truly defeated the Hamidon. He negotiated a truce; a chance to prove humanity's worth.

Contact with Primal Earth upset the Emperor's plan. His salvation of humanity would be undone, unless he controlled Primal Earth as well.

But the prolonged war rekindled the Hamidon's hatred of humankind, and it is finishing what it began.

Desdemona: The truce is broken. The Hamidon is coming and nothing can dissuade it from devouring all humanity.

Rewards

Badges

	Underground Seeker	Complete The Underground Trial
	Regenerate This	Defeat the Self-Repairing War Walker and Lichen Infested War Walker within 8 minutes of starting the fight
	Tour Guide	Don't let Desdemona's health go below 50%
	Preservation Specialist	Don't let any of the IDF bombs detonate
	Avatar Assassin	Defeat the Avatar of Hamidon at the same time as a Detonating Seedling
	Master of the Underground	Earn the Regenerate This, Tour Guide, Preservation Specialist, and Avatar Assassin badges

Experience

Physical Incarnate & Psychic Incarnate Experience is earned, which unlocks the Alpha, Interface, Judgement, Destiny and Lore Slots, if any of these slots are locked.

Salvage

Incarnate Threads drop instead of Incarnate Shards.
60 Incarnate Threads are awarded immediately after defeating both the Self-Repairing War Walker and the Lichen Infested War Walker before the 20 minute timer is up in the second part of phase 4.
Upon successful completion of this trial, each character is presented with a reward table allowing them to choose one reward from several options. There is a participation threshold that must be met in order to receive an Incarnate Component table instead of a 10 Threads or one Super-level inspiration "consolation prize".
- Players who are present for the entire trial are guaranteed a Rare or Very Rare Incarnate Component reward table upon completion.
- If a character surpasses the "consolation prize" threshold, but was not present for the entire trial, the rarity of the component reward is a random roll. The options available will either be a choice of: one Common component or two Super-level inspirations, one Uncommon component or three Super-level inspirations, one Rare component or four Super-level inspirations, or one Very Rare component or five Super-level inspirations.
A random Uncommon Incarnate Component is awarded the first time each achievement badge is qualified for.
A random Rare Incarnate Component is awarded the first time the Master of the Underground badge is qualified for.

Merits

Two Empyrean Merits will be awarded upon successful completion of the Trial once per 20 hour period.
- Any successive completion of the Trial within that 20 hour window will instead award two Astral Merits. This functionality is essentially the Incarnate Trial version of Merit Reward Diminishing Returns.
Three Astral Merits will be awarded immediately after defeating the Extinction War Walker.
Two Astral Merits will be awarded immediately after defeating the Self-Repairing War Walker.
Two Astral Merits will be awarded immediately after defeating the Lichen Infested War Walker.
Two Astral Merits will be awarded immediately after defeating the Avatar of Hamidon.
An additional Astral Merit can be rewarded at the end of the trial for running as an Open League.
An additional Astral Merit can be earned if the requirements for the Regenerate This badge are fulfilled, even if you already have the badge. It is awarded at the end of the trial.
An additional Astral Merit can be earned if the requirements for the Tour Guide badge are fulfilled, even if you already have the badge. It is awarded at the end of the trial.
An additional Astral Merit can be earned if the requirements for the Preservation Specialist badge are fulfilled, even if you already have the badge. It is awarded at the end of the trial.
An additional Astral Merit can be earned if the requirements for the Avatar Assassin badge are fulfilled, even if you already have the badge. It is awarded at the end of the trial.

Strategy