The Forgotten Prince Ithelia returns in the Gold Road Chapter, and with the Prince of Paths comes strange new group challenges that you and your allies will need to overcome together. This includes both the Lucent Citadel, an all-new 12-player Trial, and Mirrormoor Incursions, new West Weald world events.
Brave the Lucent Citadel
“The Lucent Citadel is an ancient Daedric vault located in the wastelands of Fargrave, and until recently the monstrous residents of the citadel have been dormant,” says Senior Content Designer Shane Slama. “Ithelia’s return has triggered their awakening and attracted a number of interested parties in search of something called the Arcane Knot.”
Alarmingly, these parties seem to have conflicting agendas for the Knot, and they are willing to do anything to get their hands on it.
“Your old ally Keshargo from Scrivener’s Hall was dispatched by Hermorah and the Scribes of Mora to secure the Knot, but after setting up a base camp, they were attacked by a Dremora called Xoryn. Keshargo needs all the help he can get in stopping Xoryn and finding a way to extract the volatile Arcane Knot from the Citadel.”
The Lucent Citadel awaits
Be warned, the path through the Lucent Citadel will not be easy for you and your allies, with all sorts of unusual monsters and magic at play. Every encounter, whether with any of the four total bosses or their assorted minions, will test your party’s power and ingenuity.
“As you adventure through the Citadel and chase after Xoryn, you’ll encounter a mix of awoken Mirrormoor creatures and Xoryn’s powerful allies,” explains Slama. “These include Lightbringers that can reanimate the dead and Darkcasters that attempt to suffocate their targets with a mounting darkness.”
“Not all the challenges inside the citadel are combat-focused.” adds Slama. “There are moments where your path to Xoryn requires more than running, jumping, or falling. Being light on your feet won’t be enough. You’ll have to ditch your feet entirely and try your best to avoid looking down!”
Be knot afraid
As with any Trial, the Lucent Citadel features new ways to challenge you and your group. This is especially so for the final encounter, which is completely different from anything the team has done before.
“The constant that runs throughout the trial is the presence of light magic and dark magic, and learning how the two clash is important,” says Slama. “Be warned, the Arcane Knot is unstable and chaotic, and once it has been disturbed, it must always have a carrier bonded to it. However, a single adventurer is not going to be able to shoulder the burden of this powerful object alone. When the time comes, remember that sharing is caring!”
Turn Back Mirrormoor Incursions
In addition to the Lucent Citadel, Gold Road also features a new kind of world event that anybody adventuring within the zone can help overcome.
“With Mirrormoor Incursions, powerful forces from the mysterious realm are attempting to spread their influence across West Weald and infiltrate the land,” explains Encounter Designer Lauren Kaiser. “Three elite Valkynaz have positioned themselves at key points surrounding the crux of the incursion, and together, they work to perform a ritual that paves the way for a powerful Mirrormoor champion.”
Mighty foes await
Of course, there’s more to this than just a straight-up fight with the Valkynaz and their champion. To shut down the operation in full, you’ll first need to search the wilderness around the mosaic for Daedric ritualists and force them to abandon their efforts.
“One of the main design goals for Mirrormoor Incursions was to make them feel like they’re having a real impact on the world,” says Kaiser. “You’ll find all manner of hazards and creatures from the Daedric realm have appeared within the wilderness surrounding the mosaics and are attempting to spread their influence.”
Ithelia’s servants stage Mirrormoor Incursions
Fortunately, the increased scope of these new events comes with new ways to track progression.
“Because the event takes players on a monster hunt in the wilds, it’s important that they can track progress no matter where they are,” says Kaiser. “To do this, players can look up at the portal above the Mirrormoor mosaic—the number of orbs orbiting the portal corresponds with the number of Valkynaz that have been defeated. There are also additional audio and visual cues that will appear throughout the world event area. Major kudos to the VFX and audio teams for their phenomenal work on these critical elements!”
This wider scope makes Mirrormoor Incursions very different from ESO’s past world events, and certain key elements can change with each encounter.
“There are six different Valkynaz total, and three of them will appear at random during an incursion. The Valkynaz are much stronger together, so the knowledge that players gain while fighting them alone in the wilderness will be key during the battle with the champion. There are also three different champions total, each with their own unique kit of abilities, and one of them will appear at random for each incursion.”
Drive back the Daedra of Mirrormoor
Mirrormoor Incursions may appear imposing at first, but there are tools you can use to prepare yourself.
“Players may notice that a champion’s power extends into the wilds in the form of environmental hazards,” explains Kaiser. “Each champion has an associated hazard, so players will know which champion they're facing based on those that are present.”
Change Your Fate with Rich Rewards
Opposing the Daedra of Mirrormoor is not without benefits, as triumphing in these new group activities can earn you all-new item sets and collectibles, found only in the Gold Road Chapter.
Shattering the forces across each of the zone’s Mirrormoor Mosaics, for example, earns you the Glass Sky Defender achievement and a red Reverse Slash Skill Style! In fact, Mirrormoor Mosaics are the source of several new Skill Styles, including an orange one for the Warhorn skill (earned via the Mirrormoor Incursion Disruptor achievement).
You can earn some rewards just for completing Mirrormoor Incursions, and incursion completion also adds progress toward larger zone-wide rewards such as the Wildburn Lynx mount, the Saint Alessia patron for Tales of Tribute, or the piece-by-piece unlock of the Nantharion’s Regalia outfit style.
Find even more rewards in the Lucent Citadel, including four potent item sets, unique furnishings, body and face markings (earned via completing two different Trial Achievements), a red Skill Style for the Expert Hunter skill (earned via the Lucent Citadel Vanquisher achievement), and the fabulous Refulgent Mirrormoor Steed (earned via completing the Knot Worthy meta Achievement).
The spoils of Mirrormoor
The new item sets include the Lucent Echoes heavy armor set. The set boosts the critical damage and healing of other group members while the wearer is healthy and reduces their incoming damage after taking punishment—a great tool for tanks in group content!
Travel New (Challenging) Roads
Exciting new activities await you within the Gold Road Chapter, and overcoming these new PvE challenges can earn you all sorts of unique in-game rewards. Gather your allies and put out the call so you can dive right into the fight against Ithelia’s forces when they arrive this June. Are you excited to tackle this challenging group content? Let us know via X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and Facebook.
The Elder Scrolls Online: Gold Road arrives for PC/Mac on June 3, 2024, and for Xbox and PlayStation consoles on June 18, 2024. Pre-purchase Gold Road now to receive unique bonus rewards at launch and immediate access to the Welkyndstone Ruins Wolf mount. Don’t miss out.