View source for Fractals of the Mists (story)

{{Story infobox
| storyline = Living World Season 1
| chapter number = 15
| name = Fractals of the Mists
| status = historical
| status date = 2014-01-21
| status notes = This content was only available during [[Fractured]] (November 26, 2013).
| chapter = Fractured
| location = Lion's Arch
| prev = The Nightmare Incarnate/historical
| next = The Nightmare Ends/historical
| level = 80
}}
The [[Fractals of the Mists (story)|Fractals of the Mists]] story mode was available during [[Fractured]] and featured the reveal of the [[Thaumanova Reactor Fractal]] as part of the [[Living World Season 1]] story. The main difference between this instance and the current Thaumanova Reactor Fractal was the lack of the dormitories area, having to only disable two colliders, the lack of [[Agony]], and the presence of [[Captain Ellen Kiel]].

== Objectives ==
* {{event boss}} Meet Dessa and assist with her experiments.
** Secure the reactor's central control console.
** Clear out the skritt defending the central control panel.
** Retrieve a core sample and escape.
** {{event bar}} {{event boss}}
** Disable the colliders to stabilize the core.: x/2
** Disable the collider in the cooling chamber.: x/1
** Shut down the collider in the live-subject lab.
** Defeat Subject 6.
** {{event bar}} {{event boss}}

== Walkthrough ==
=== Clear out the Skritt defending the central control panel ===
Once you push the detonator and defeat the first wave of mobs, head upstairs and clear out the portals. These portals will pull you to them so be careful and don't get pulled off the platform. The water below is toxic but they are harmless if you jump through them.

=== Disabling the colliders ===
There are total of 4 rooms around the main room. Access a consoles in the rooms that will disable one of the colliders. You have to disable 2 colliders and have three choices to choose from.

==== Live samples lab ====
[[Champion Subject 6]] uses poison and blocking moves. [[Ooze (Thaumanova Reactor Fractal)|Repairing oozes]] start entering and heal Subject 6 if they reach it
* {{effect|Shield Form}} — blocks attacks; gains 1 stack of Overload for each attack blocked
* {{effect|Overload (effect)}} — reaching 20 stacks will cause Subject 6 to deal damage to players
; Effects
* {{effect|Corrode Armor}} — {{effect description|Corrode Armor}}
* {{effect|Corrode Weapon}} — {{effect description|Corrode Weapon}}

; Tips
* When Champion Subject 6 has a blocking buff on him and gains a stacking buff, stop attack immediately. If you let him reach above 20 stacks, he will explode and perform an attack that will instantly down you.
* After the blocking buff/stacking buff, he will perform an ooze shower attack which is mostly harmless. It is very inaccurate and doesn't do a lot of damage even if you get hit.

==== Repulsor Lab ====
Players must navigate through this section of the fractals to disable the shielded collidors. To bring down the shields, other party members need to interact with consoles. This lab is guarded by turrets and golems.

* [[Safety Shield]] — bundles to block turret attacks
** {{effect|Safety Shield (effect)}} — {{effect description|Safety Shield (effect)}}
** {{effect|Overheating}} — deals damage after absorbing a bolt
{| class="skill table"
{{Environmental skill table header}}
{{Environmental skill table row|Absorb}}
{{Environmental skill table row|Repulsor Bolt}}
|}

;Tips [[File:Thaumanova Reactor Fractal Repulsor Lab console locations map.jpg|250px|thumb|Repulsor Lab console locations]]
* There are 3 consoles in the room that you need to be aware. You need to activate Console A to gain access to Console B which in turn grant you access to Console C. A and B only need one player each while C needs two players (although one player with a cleanse can probably handle both consoles at C). On the right is a map of rough locations of the consoles in the maze.
* If you die, the shield will be left at where ever you died and will not reset at the entrance. This is especially annoying and can make it hard for subsequent attempts.

==== Cooling Chamber ====
* {{effect|Meltdown}} — entering the superheated cooling chamber deals damage and changes the player's skills.
** {{effect|Crippling Heat}} — [[Burning|burns]] and [[Crippled|cripples]]
{| class="skill table"
{{Environmental skill table header}}
{{Environmental skill table row|Unnamed skill (Thaumanova Reactor Fractal)}}
{{Environmental skill table row|Vomit}}
{{Environmental skill table row|Panic (Meltdown)}}
|}

;Tips
* Cooling Rods can be placed in the objects near the sides of the chamber to reduce the damage received
* [[Teleport]], [[Shadowstep (mechanic)|shadowstep]], and other movement skills can help players cross the chamber quickly
** {{m}} {{skill icon|Portal Entre}} — set a portal outside of the chamber and run in to set the portal exit, allowing party members to skip nearly halfway through the chamber
** {{norn}} {{skill icon|Charge (Become the Bear)}} (with [[Become the Bear]]) — allows the player to move through most of the chamber very quickly
* Damage mitigation skills can help players survive longer
** {{w}} {{skill icon|Defiant Stance}} — negates the damage from the chamber while healing the warrior

=== Thaumanova Anomaly ===
Once everyone is gathered up at the center of reactor, press the console near Scarlet to enter the final boss room. Everyone will need to click the console personally to get ported to the boss room.
* {{effect|Cosmic Instability}} — temporarily destroys platforms near players; platforms flash and glow purple before being destroyed

;Tips
Be aware of following attacks
* Laser beam attack on a single person(marked with bomb), this person will destroy platforms - have everyone else stay away from this person.
* Lightning ball that follows everyone and destroys platforms – keep moving when this happens and don't run into each other.
* Lightning attacks on specific platforms, avoid them if possible

== NPCs ==
=== Allies ===
* [[Captain Ellen Kiel]]
* [[Dessa]]
* [[Inquest Operative]]
* [[Inquest Technician Chibb]] (dead)
* [[Inquest Technician Greeza]] (dead)
* [[Dessa's Krewe]]
* [[Lionguard (NPC)|Lionguard]]
* [[Scarlet Briar]]

=== Foes ===
* [[Veteran Flame Legion Igniter]]
* [[Veteran Flame Legion Blademaster]]
* [[Veteran Icebrood Wolf]]
* [[Veteran Nightmare Hound]]
* [[Veteran Skritt Bottle Lobber]]
* [[Veteran Skritt Gear Lobber]]
* [[Veteran Aatxe]]
* [[Veteran Ascalonian Archer]]
* [[Veteran Ascalonian Warrior]]
* [[Thaumanova Anomaly]]
* [[Champion Subject 6]]

== Objects ==
* [[Detonator]]
* [[Unstable Portal]]

;Environmental objects
* [[Cooling Rod]]
* [[Safety Shield]]

== Dialogue ==
;Entering the instance
:'''Dessa:''' Uh, hello? Welcome to Mistlock Observatory. Please don't touch anything. This is delicate equipment, and tampering&mdash;
:'''Captain Ellen Kiel:''' I'm not tampering, I'm commandeering. We need this machinery to investigate the Thaumanova Reactor disaster.
:'''Dessa:''' Disaster? My friends there never mentioned any disaster. Besides, it would take an expert to locate a specific&mdash;
:'''Captain Ellen Kiel:''' That's where you come in. I direct, you calibrate. Unless you want to get hauled off to a Lionguard brig.
:'''Dessa:''' No! Unacceptable! I cannot abandon my work. I will not.
:'''Captain Ellen Kiel:''' Then you'd better get busy. And don't worry about your Consortium bosses. I'll force&mdash; uh, secure their compliance later.
:'''Dessa Observation Mode:''' Thaumanova disaster: isolate. Reading massive energy spikes, temporal distortions... I hope you know what you're doing.
:'''Captain Ellen Kiel:''' Dessa sure is dedicated. Suspiciously so, I mean, did you see her face when I told her I'd haul her in?
:'''Captain Ellen Kiel:''' She looked like her whole world was ending. I'll never understand how the Consortium inspires such loyalty.
:'''Captain Ellen Kiel:''' But it means we can't trust her. I'm staying behind to make sure no one fiddles with the machinery once we're underway.
:'''Captain Ellen Kiel:''' Sorry to abandon you, but Magnus made it clear: the Arch can't afford to lose any more councillors.
:'''Captain Ellen Kiel:''' However, if I understand it right, I can monitor you once you're in. I'll be in touch every step of the way.
:'''Captain Ellen Kiel:''' And I promise you as a member of the Captain's Council: do this for me, and it'll absolutely be worth your while.

;Talking to Kiel and Dessa inside Mistlock Observatory
:'''Captain Ellen Kiel:''' One of the main reasons I was elected to the Captain's Council was to investigate the Thaumanova Reactor disaster. The people want to know what caused one of the worst magical disasters in history.''
:{{dialogue icon|more}} ''What do you think we'll find?''
::I have my suspicions. The Consortium controls access to the Fractals, so as far as I'm concerned, the entire project is suspect.
::{{dialogue icon|more}} ''But the Consortium doesn't run the Fractals facility.''
:::True, but I have to assume they still have a stake in it. Historically, those greedy vermin are always up to something. Keeping an eye on them has become second nature to me.
:::{{dialogue icon|more}} ''Do you really think they caused the Thaumanova disaster?''
::::No, but I know for a fact they'll exploit it if they get the chance. I'm going to make sure they never do. But the first step is to find out exactly what happened.
::::{{dialogue icon|back}} ''Can you remind me what we're doing here?''
::::{{dialogue icon|end}} ''Agreed.''
:::{{dialogue icon|back}} ''Can you remind me what we're doing here?''
:::{{dialogue icon|end}} ''Agreed.''
:{{dialogue icon|more}} ''Why did you pick the Thaumanova disaster to investigate?''
::It had devastating environmental and magical impacts that no one understands. Also, [[Captain Magnus the Bloody-Handed|Magnus]] and [[Researcher Levvi|Levvi]] agreed that the other asura on the Council would support it, and I was trying to win an election.
::{{dialogue icon|end}} ''Understood.''
:{{dialogue icon|more}} ''Is Lion's Arch taking over the Fractals project?''
::No. Well, not yet. Many on the Council have never been comfortable with how it's being run. If I can establish a strong reason to do so, we can take steps to exercise more control over it.
::{{dialogue icon|end}} ''Understood.''
:{{dialogue icon|more}} ''What do you think of Dessa?''
::She doesn't seem shady, but as my friend Levvi says, asura keep secrets. It's one of the only ways to protect their valuable ideas. And then there's the Fractals' Consortium connection...
::{{dialogue icon|more}} ''But the Consortium doesn't run the Fractals facility.'' <small>(same as above)</small>
:{{dialogue icon|end}} ''I'm ready. Let's get started.''

;Upon entering the Thaumanova Fractal
:'''Kiel Observation Mode:''' All right, you're in. And it seems you're Inquest. Dessa says it's not unusual, but—
:'''Dessa Observation Mode:''' It isn't. If you were qualified, you'd know gross corporeal reassignment is a potential side effect of Fractal insertion.
:'''Kiel Observation Mode:''' Fascinating. But according to the schematics, the reactor core is nearby. We need to access the console and take a sample.
:'''Dessa Observation Mode:''' Very well. With random monsters teleporting in, and off-the-charts energy readings, I advise making a shortcut.
:'''Dessa Observation Mode:''' There should be explosive units nearby. Use one to breach the wall and you'll have much easier access.
:'''Dessa Observation Mode:''' Our signal is too weak. Temporal drift left you long past the target time. Nothing we can do but press on.

;Approaching the two live Inquest
:'''Inquest Operative (1):''' Chaos magic? That's not what the special consultant says. You don't have any idea what's really going on here, do you?
:'''Inquest Operative (2):''' No, but I know that things were fine until your precious "special consultant" came along.
:'''Inquest Operative (2):''' I also know we're dead if we don't get out of here with as much valuable data as we can carry.

;Coming across Greeza's corpse
:'''Dessa Observation Mode:''' I know that technician from my old krewe. Her name was Greeza. If only we could have gotten you in sooner.

;Coming across Chibb's corpse
:'''Dessa Observation Mode:''' That's Chibb, a former krewemate of mine. Looks like he hasn't been dead long, poor thing.

;Upon activating the central control console
:'''Kiel Observation Mode:''' I'd like to know more about that special consultant, but this situation is deteriorating even faster than I expected.
:'''Dessa Observation Mode:''' That's because you and your expectations are misinformed. And it's too late to turn back now.
:'''Dessa Observation Mode:''' By my readings, you can't get the core sample you need right now. The reactor's too hot. You need to cool it down.
:'''Dessa Observation Mode:''' I say disable the colliders in the adjacent labs and stop them from bombarding the core with high-magic particles.
:'''Dessa Observation Mode:''' That'll buy you time to get the sample and keep more of the researches alive long enough to talk to them.

;When approaching the cooling chamber
:'''Dessa Observation Mode:''' The cooling chamber is overheating, but a cooling rod would slow the reaction. Did you bring one?

;When further inside the cooling chamber
:'''Dessa Observation Mode:''' Keep going! We can talk about the grotesque consequences of nigh-lethal radiation later.

;When approaching the repulsor lab
:'''Dessa Observation Mode:''' Look for safety shields. Even the Inquest wouldn't conduct repulsor experiments without them.

;Approaching the live samples lab
:'''Kiel Observation Mode:''' Watch it! Subject 6 is loose. I don't know exactly what that thing is, but it looks nasty.
:'''Dessa Observation Mode:''' Seems to be of the ooze family, but radically mutated. Even more caustic, corrosive, and calamitous than usual.
:'''Kiel Observation Mode:''' Like I said, nasty.
:'''Dessa Observation Mode:''' There's a cooling rod in that area. If you can acquire it and not get slimed to death, do so. It may come in handy.
:'''Dessa Observation Mode:''' The ooze is blocking access to the collider. You're going to have to kill it, so prepare to get slimy. <small>(When reaching Subject 6)</small>
:'''Dessa Observation Mode:''' The little oozes are trying to repair the big one. Deal with them first. <small>(During the Alpha 6 battle, repeats)</small>

;Disabling the first collider
:'''Dessa Observation Mode:''' You have to shut down more colliders before you can extract a core sample.

;Disabling the second collider
:'''Dessa Observation Mode:''' I think you're ready for the extraction. Head to the control panel and give it a try.

;Finding Scarlet Briar taking sample
:'''Scarlet Briar:''' Reactor approaching critical, panicked evacuation, general mayhem and hysteria...Yep, I'd say my work here is done.
:'''Scarlet Briar:''' Sorry about all the death, and for the portal pandemonium.
:'''Scarlet Briar:''' I told the Inquest chaos energy was a misnomer. Mind you, dragon energy is tricky, so I can see how they flubbed it.
:'''Scarlet Briar:''' At least they helped identify the network of magical channels that crisscross the globe. That was a breakthrough.
:'''Scarlet Briar:''' Now we know how NOT to do this kind of research right on an intersection of those channels. Live and learn, right?
:'''Scarlet Briar:''' That's progress. Hooray for progress! Ooh, but it's getting a bit too deadly in here for me. Bye now! <small>(Disappears afterwards)</small>
:'''Dessa Observation Mode:''' I don't know how to say this, but the energies in that facility are...becoming something. It's an anomaly I can't explain.

;Approaching Thaumanova Anomaly
:'''Dessa Observation Mode:''' Full meltdown is moments away. You have to get by that thing, and fast. If it doesn't kill you, the radiation will.
:'''Dessa Observation Mode:''' Watch your step. There is a 99.9—with lots more nines—percent chance that falling into the reactor core will be fatal. <small>(During Thaumanova Anomaly battle)</small>
:'''Dessa Observation Mode:''' Now the anomaly's overloading! Careful, that beam attack can permanently disperse platforms. <small>(When Thaumanova Anomaly reaches 25% HP)</small>
:'''Dessa Observation Mode:''' This is it! We've hit criticality! Rerouting all power to Fractal extraction! <small>(Upon victory)</small>
* Bug: This line played twice at the same time, with the first simply being just "Dessa".

;After extraction to Mistlock Observatory
:'''Dessa:''' I knew the reactor was dangerous—doubly so with the Inquest involved—but I wasn't ready to watch my friends die.
:'''Dessa:''' Greeza and Chibb weren't paragons of perfection, but they were good technicians. They deserved better than this. Being trapped in the moments leading to their own deaths? Repeating it with every new Fractal insertion? Horrific.
:'''Dessa:''' Watching them die was bad enough. I can only imagine how it must feel. I sincerely hope I never find out.
:'''Captain Ellen Kiel:''' Welcome back. I'm sorry that was so crazy, but you handled it better than I could have.
:'''Captain Ellen Kiel:''' Chaos energy or dragon energy—either way, Scarlet and the Inquest took this facility too far too fast.
:'''Captain Ellen Kiel:''' I don't understand sacrificing every worker here and endangering the entire surrounding area. Then again, I'm not evil or crazy.
:'''Captain Ellen Kiel:''' At least we've got some good info to take back to the people of Lion's Arch. And that's not the only thing we're taking back.
:'''Captain Ellen Kiel:''' Dessa, you're coming with me. I've got a lot more questions that need answers.
:'''Dessa:''' I don't—I can't—
:'''Captain Ellen Kiel:''' You're not under arrest, but I can't leave this machinery in Consortium hands. Now do us all a favor and come quietly.
:''Dessa walks into the asura gate. The screen flashes, and she re-appears in front of Kiel.''
:'''Captain Ellen Kiel:''' Nice try. Dessa. I don't know what kind of mecha-magical gizmo you're using, but you can't get away from us that easily.
:'''Dessa:''' I'm sorry, have we met? Welcome to the Mistlock Observatory. So, are you interested in exploring the Fractals?
:'''Captain Ellen Kiel:''' You really don't recognize me, do you? You don't remember sending a team into the Thaumanova Reactor?
:'''Dessa:''' Thaumanova? I've got friends on that krewe, and from what I understand, it's not a safe place to visit. Or work.
:'''Captain Ellen Kiel:''' Never mind. This is going to take some time to figure out. I'll be back, Dessa. Be here when I come for you.
:'''Dessa:''' Not a problem. My life's work is here, and I couldn't leave it even if I wanted to.
:'''Captain Ellen Kiel:''' I understand. At least, I think I'm starting to. My sincere apologies, citizen. Carry on.

== Notes ==
* Sometimes the dialogue between Captain Ellen Kiel and Dessa wouldn't start after returning to Mistlock Observatory in story mode, which prevented players from receiving a bonus chest.

{{Living World Season 1 nav}}

[[Category:Fractured]]