20th Anniversary Event

20th Anniversary Global Event Arc

ShatteredObeliskHeader.png



The Shattered Obelisk was scheduled to begin on August 16th, 2017 at approximately 11:00am ET. Due to a shard crash issue with Publish 98, the start was delayed to August 17th, 2017.[1]

On 8/17/2017, just after 3 PM EST, the new flaming trade quest ambushes were deactivated due to a bug. They were turned back on on 8/18/2017 after server maintenance for all shards except Oceania. [2] Oceania will be turned back on after server maintenance on 8/19/2017.[3]

Non-Storyline Changes

The Town Cryer

UO-Item-40884-0.png The Town Cryer has been resurrected to publish new fiction for the first time since 2000. Issues are now released using a in-game item that looks like a newspaper, rather than being posted out-of-game to uo.com.


UO Store

Three new Haochi's Pigments have been spotted in the UO Store: (8/16/2017)

Storyline

Part I – The Not-So-Ordinary World

This part started on August 16th, 2017.

"It is just another day in Britannia, or is it? In an effort to stimulate trade and bolster city treasuries his Royal Highness has announced a reduction in tariffs, giving a large bonus to all city trade deliveries. With an increase in trade traffic, royal trade carts are finding themselves ambushed on Britannia’s roads. Who are these unknown attackers and what is their intent? Are they merely highway men looking to score some easy coin or are there more sinister forces at work…"[4]


Official fiction

2017-08-10: The Shattered Obelisk: The Oracle and the Bard
2017-08-16: The Shattered Obelisk: Enlightenment
2017-08-21: The Shattered Obelisk: Hickory Dickory Dock


The Town Cryer

2017-08-17: Feeling Pressure, Crown Announces Tariff Reduction to Spur Trade


Trade Quests

A proclamation from King Blackthorn has encouraged citizens to fill trade quests. However, trade quests are currently being ambushed.

AmbushCaravan.pngCaravanAmbush2.png


'Curious' Items

New 'curious' items come as rare drops from doing trade quests:

Item Skill required Description
UO-Item-4232-0.png A Daemonic Amulet Magery The amulet bears a large pentagram hanging from a series of interlocking beads. Small bits of daemon flesh grind between the links as you manipulate them.
UO-Item-5357-0.png A Mysterious Rolled Map Cartography The map shows the location of several locations throughout Britannia, but none seem to stand out as noteworthy.
UO-Item-5139-0.png An Oddly Modified Gorget Blacksmithing The gorget appears to have been modified to fit the neck of a large creature. There are chafe marks scarring the interior showing signs of struggle against it by the wearer. Large rings stud the circumference of the gorget.
UO-Item-18054-0.png A Soul Trapped Within A Phylactery Necromancy A tool used by those wishing to entrap the souls of the undead and command them to do their bidding.
UO-Item-9925-0.png Boline Swordsmanship The crescent blade is crude but you surmise is formidable for performing intricate engraving work. The tip is stained with the shavings of wax and soft metal.
UO-Item-3138-0.png Dried Incense Alchemy The strong smell of sage and deadwood emanates from the bundle.
UO-Item-6420-0.png Folded Stole Tailoring Often used during official ceremonies and ritual this long flowing vestment is worn draped over the neck and is embroidered with pentagrams at either end.
UO-Item-2458-0.png Goblet Tinkering The goblet is relatively unassuming. The interior of the pewter cup is stained a deep ruby. An etching of a pentagram decorates the base.
UO-Item-3573-0.png Pentagram Adorned Wand Arms Lore The wand is pretty standard among other wands you may have seen. The twin shaft is made of cedar and is crested with an intricate pentagram made of etched rock, inlaid with blueish crystals.
UO-Item-7185-0.png Ritual Tome Spirit Speak The large tome is adorned with a pentagram, not uncommon to many arcane items found throughout Britannia. There appear to be pages upon pages of ritualistic instructions and incantations, none of which are in a familiar language.
UO-Item-5743-0.png Scourge Provocation Not unlike tools used to provoke a response from an intended victim, this whip is studded with beads of hard rock. The leather is stained deep red from repeated self use.
Unusually-hued items

Some unusually hued normal items have also been spotted as loot on brigand ambushers:

UO-Item-5445-2683.png Bear Mask (hue 2683)
UO-Item-5397-1150.png Cloak (hue 1150)
UO-Item-5397-2406.png Cloak (hue 2406)
UO-Item-10127-2406.png Cloth Ninja Hood (hue 2406)
UO-Item-5112-1345.png Gnarled Staff (hue 1345)
UO-Item-3907-1345.png Hatchet (hue 1345)
AmbushRobe.png Hooded Robe (hue 1345)
UO-Item-10137-1745.png Kamishimo (hue 1745)
UO-Item-5431-1208.png Kilt (hue 1208)
UO-Item-5431-1227.png Kilt (hue 1227)
UO-Item-5431-1616.png Kilt (hue 1616)
UO-Item-5431-1802.png Kilt (hue 1802)
UO-Item-5431-1883.png Kilt (hue 1883)
UO-Item-5062-1345.png Leather Gloves (hue 1345)
UO-Item-10106-1345.png Leather Mempo (hue 1345)
UO-Item-10126-1748.png Leather Ninja Hood (hue 1748)
UO-Item-5061-1345.png Leather Sleeves (hue 1345)
UO-Item-7937-2404.png Plain Dress (hue 2404)
UO-Item-5100-1510.png Ringmail Tunic (hue 1510)
UO-Item-7939-1345.png Robe (hue 1345)
UO-Item-7939-2306.png Robe (hue 2306)
UO-Item-5399-1201.png Shirt (hue 1201)
UO-Item-5399-1224.png Shirt (hue 1224)
UO-Item-5399-1324.png Shirt (hue 1324)
UO-Item-5399-1416.png Shirt (hue 1416)
UO-Item-5399-1427.png Shirt (hue 1427)
UO-Item-5399-1512.png Shirt (hue 1512)
UO-Item-5399-1520.png Shirt (hue 1520)
UO-Item-5399-1536.png Shirt (hue 1536)
UO-Item-5399-1540.png Shirt (hue 1540)
UO-Item-5399-1547.png Shirt (hue 1547)
UO-Item-5399-1637.png Shirt (hue 1637)
UO-Item-5399-1650.png Shirt (hue 1650)
UO-Item-5399-1708.png Shirt (hue 1708)
UO-Item-5399-1714.png Shirt (hue 1714)
UO-Item-5399-1723.png Shirt (hue 1723)
UO-Item-5399-1729.png Shirt (hue 1729)
UO-Item-5399-1731.png Shirt (hue 1731)
UO-Item-5399-1746.png Shirt (hue 1746)
UO-Item-5399-1747.png Shirt (hue 1747)
UO-Item-5399-1809.png Shirt (hue 1809)
UO-Item-5399-1824.png Shirt (hue 1824)
UO-Item-5399-1884.png Shirt (hue 1884)
UO-Item-5422-1202.png Short Pants (hue 1202)
UO-Item-5422-1310.png Short Pants (hue 1310)
UO-Item-5422-1314.png Short Pants (hue 1314)
UO-Item-5422-1525.png Short Pants (hue 1525)
UO-Item-5422-1634.png Short Pants (hue 1634)
UO-Item-5422-1710.png Short Pants (hue 1710)
UO-Item-5422-1886.png Short Pants (hue 1886)
UO-Item-5398-1405.png Skirt (hue 1405)
UO-Item-5398-1431.png Skirt (hue 1431)
UO-Item-5398-1635.png Skirt (hue 1635)
UO-Item-5443-2406.png Skullcap (hue 2406)

Other colors of clothing have been found, but this listing excludes any dyable colors.

Part II – Exotic Treasures

This part started on August 23, 2017.

The treasuries of Britannia’s cities overflow with coin as brave citizens take to protecting the commerce of the realm, hoping to recover otherwise useless trinkets of unknown highwaymen. Clues from those trinkets have raised more questions then they have answered. As the questions continue to mount, exotic treasures are found buried deep in the otherwise quiet Britannian countryside…to what end are these treasures important and what role do they play – only time will tell…[5]


Official fiction

2017-08-23: The Shattered Obelisk: Talking Through Wisps


The Town Cryer

2017-08-23: Classifieds: Yearning for Adventure? HUGE Treasure Map Sale!


New Treasure Maps

To start this week's content, the Town Cryer's advertisement sends you to Needful Things in Jhelom, northeast of the central teleporters. There you meet an NPC named Al the Treasure Hunter:

Al the Treasure Hunter.png


Al the Treasure Hunter Dialog.jpg


Al the Treasure Hunter: Greetings Traveler! Is it fine provisions you seek? Then look no further!

Player: I saw your ad, can I buy some maps?

Al the Treasure Hunter: You and everyone else! Ever since running that ad we haven't been able to keep anything in stock, treasure maps especially! Look friend, don't take this the wrong way but you wouldn't want to get involved in treasure hunting. Dangerous business you know.

Player: I think I can handle it. I've got coin!

Al the Treasure Hunter: The coin is nay the problem! I merely do not have any more maps to sell!

Player: Perhaps I could find them for myself?

Al the Treasure Hunter: I suppose there is no harm in telling you...you will probably end up getting yourself eaten by something and my associates and I will scavenge that fancy gear of yours *chuckles*

Player: *eyes narrow* The location?

Al the Treasure Hunter: *nervous laugh* Fine, fine! Us Treasure Hunters get together every so often, and recently we have been coming across some strange stuff buried out there. Normally we find pirate treasure or the hidden stash of some highway bandits, but recently...I dunno. Instead of rusty chests there have been these...objects. I really dunno how to describe them. Kinda like a statue with weird carvings...and the flashes and thunder, really bizarre. Treasure's all there though, same creatures still protecting them, just now we been finding these statue things from maps recovered from Hythloth, Deceit, and Destard. Good luck getting your hands on one though!

Player: *nods* I'll have a look, farewell!

Al the Treasure Hunter: Well met, *mumbles* can't wait to come across your corpse in...I mean good luck with everything and thanks for stopping in!


The new treasure maps can be recovered from corpses while hunting in Hythloth, Deceit, and Destard.

What to Hunt

This lists all mobs from those 3 dungeons which are known to drop treasure maps:


The Treasure Hunt
TreasureMapDeceit.png

They can be traded between characters, and must be decoded by a character with Cartography skill. When decoded and opened, these maps will have an additional tag, "Recovered in Dungeon (dungeon name)", with the description "The map appears unlike other treasure maps common to this area. The map is much newer and includes detailed notations related to the treasure hoarde's proximity to major trade routes."


At the location given by the treasure map, once you dig, "A Mysterious Obelisk" will appear. As with all treasure chests, skill in Mining will be a great help.


Mysterious Obelisk.png


A group of guardians will spawn, which must be killed. Then the obelisk must be destroyed before the treasure can be unlocked - target the green crystal at the top. A "Stone Base" will be left behind.


StoneBase1.png


The Stone Base looks different, but functions exactly like a normal treasure chest. To unlock, use either Lockpicking or the spell Unlock on the top of the obelisk, not the base (the "Obelisk Tip" part). The stone base will then be trapped; the Remove Trap skill or the Telekinesis spell can be used to remove the traps.


StoneBase2.png


While looting the stone base, additional mobs will spawn, until the stone base is empty.

New items found in the treasure obelisks

Scrolls

Double clicking on these scrolls gives the message, "*The scroll seems unwilling to unfurl. Perhaps it belongs in a spellbook of otherworldly origin...*".

Reagents
Item Skill required Description
Candle (black) Magery A rather unassuming candle, from what you understand it has some ritualistic use.
UO-Item-5171-33.png Candle (red) Magery A rather unassuming candle, from what you understand it has some ritualistic use.
UO-Item-3961-0.png Blackmoor
UO-Item-3971-0.png Executioner's Cap
UO-Item-40937-0.png Obsidian
UO-Item-3979-0.png Pumice

Note: This new Obsidian is NOT the same graphic as the old rare Obsidian.

Old version: UO-Item-3977-0.png
New version: UO-Item-40937-0.png

However, the other reagents are identical in all respects to the old items.

Part III – August 30, 2017

Part IV – September 7, 2017

Part V – September 28, 2017

References

<references>

  1. https://uo.com/2017/08/16/publish-98-hotfix/
  2. https://stratics.com/threads/uo-com-shattered-obelisk-reactivated.390937/page-2#post-2867009
  3. "Update 8/18/2017: We have resolved the issue with missing trade crates on all shards except Oceania. Oceania will be re-activated following their next maintenance. Thank you for your patience while we addressed this issue." https://uo.com/2017/08/17/shattered-obelisk-reactivated/
  4. https://uo.com/the-shattered-obelisk/
  5. https://uo.com/the-shattered-obelisk/