Quest:A Pawn on the Eternal Board

A Pawn on the Eternal Board
Start	Crystalline Tear
End	Anachronos
Level	60 Requires Level 60
Type	Solo
World quest	Nofalse
Category	Silithusfalse
Experience	6600 EXP (or 3 96 at max level) XP (this quest may give money at max level)
Reputation	+100 Brood of Nozdormu
Previous	Long Forgotten Memoriesω τ ϖ
Next	The Charge of the Dragonflights

This quest is part of the introduction to  [The Scepter of the Shifting Sands] quest chain to open the Gates of Ahn'Qiraj.

Objectives

Learn all that you can of the past, then speak with Anachronos at the Caverns of Time in Tanaris.

• The War of the Shifting Sands

Description

As you regain your composure and focus your gaze, you notice that something stirs within the crystal. Upon closer inspection, you realize that you are looking into the past... a memory... long forgotten.

Completion

After Staghelm's betrayal, I gathered the shattered pieces of the  [Scepter of the Shifting Sands] and returned here. I had every intention of protecting the scepter from those that would seek to use it to cause harm to our world - thus was born the charge of the Dragonflights.

A scepter divided amongst the four mighty Aspects would prove to be nearly impossible to restore for those willfully seeking chaos... or so I thought. What a fool I was. Even now I am hunted by that cursed flight.

Notes

Accepting the quest will trigger a cutscene with (until the Burning Crusade) unique background music:

The four dragons, Staghelm, and a large group of qiraji and night elves appear out of the sands of time.
Anachronos the Ancient says: We must act quickly or all will be lost!
Fandral Staghelm says: My forces cannot overcome the Qiraji defenses. We will not be able to get close enough to place your precious barrier, dragon.
Merithra of the Dream says: There is a way...
Arygos nods knowingly.
Caelestrasz says: Aye, Fandral, remember these words. Let not your grief guide your faith. These thoughts you hold... dark places you go, night elf. Absolution cannot be had through misguided vengeance.
Merithra of the Dream glances at her compatriots.
Merithra of the Dream says: We will push them back, Anachronos. This I vow. Uphold your end of this task. Let not your hands falter as you seal our fates behind the barrier.
Merithra runs to the fight.
Merithra of the Dream yells: Succumb to the endless dream, little ones. Let it consume you!
She drops her night elf guise, casts a nature breath attack on the qiraji and flies over the gate.
Arygos says: Anachronos, this diversion will give you and the young druid time enough to seal the gate. Do not falter. Now, let us see how they deal with chaotic magic.
Arygos follows in Merithra's steps, dropping his gnomish guise and casting a chaos magic breath attack on the melee.
Arygos yells: Let them feel the wrath of the Blue Flight! May Malygos protect me!
Caelestrasz says: Do not forget the sacrifices we made on this day, night elf. We have all suffered immensely at the hands of these beasts.
Caelestrasz repeats the process with flame attack.
Caelestrasz yells: Alexstrasza grant me the resolve to drive our enemies back!
Fandral Staghelm says: It is done dragon. Lead the way...
Anachronos the Ancient says: NOW, STAGHELM! WE GO NOW! Prepare your magic!
Anachronos the Ancient says: Stay close...
Anachronos and Fandral run through the melee to the gate to seal off the gate. Time for the elves and the qiraji comes to a standstill
Anachronos the Ancient says: The sands of time will halt, but only for a moment! I will conjure the barrier.
Anachronos the Ancient says: FINISH THE SPELL, STAGHELM! I CANNOT HOLD THE GLYPHS OF WARDING IN PLACE MUCH LONGER! CALL FORTH THE ROOTS!
Fandral Staghelm says: Ancient ones guide my hand... Wake from your slumber! WAKE AND SEAL THIS CURSED PLACE!
Staghelm calls roots to seal the gate, ending the attack.
Fandral Staghelm falls to one knee - exhausted.
Anachronos the Ancient says: It... It is over, Lord Staghelm. We are victorious. Albeit the cost for this victory was great.
Anachronos the Ancient says: There is but one duty that remains...
Anachronos the Ancient says: Before I leave this place, I make one final offering to you, Lord Staghelm. Should a time arise in which you must gain entry to this accursed fortress, use the Scepter of the Shifting Sands on the sacred gong. The magic holding the barrier together will dissipate and the horrors of Ahn'Qiraj will be unleashed upon the world once more.
Anachronos the Ancient hands the Scepter of the Shifting Sands to Fandral Staghelm.
Fandral Staghelm says: After the savagery that my people have witnessed and felt, you expect me to accept another burden dragon? Surely you are mad.
Fandral Staghelm says: I want nothing to do with Silithus, the Qiraji and least of all, any damned dragons!
Fandral Staghelm hurls the Scepter of the Shifting Sands into the barrier, shattering it.
Anachronos the Ancient says: Lord Staghelm, where are you going? You would shatter our bond for the sake of pride?
Fandral Staghelm says: My son's soul will find no comfort in this hollow victory, dragon. I will have him back. Though it takes a millennia, I WILL have my son back!
Anachronos the Ancient shakes his head in disappointment.
Anachronos the Ancient kneels down to pick up the fragments of the shattered scepter.
Anachronos the Ancient says: And now you know all that there is to know, mortal...

Gains

Upon completion of this quest you will gain:

• 9550 XP (or 3 96 at level 70)
• 250 reputation with Brood of Nozdormu

Quest progression

This is part of  [The Scepter of the Shifting Sands] quest chain introduction:

1.  [60] What Tomorrow Brings
2.  [60R] Only One May Rise
3.  [60G] The Path of the Righteous
   •  [60G] The Hand of the Righteous (repeatable)
4.  [60] Anachronos (requires neutral with Brood of Nozdormu)
5.  [60] Long Forgotten Memories
6.  [60] A Pawn on the Eternal Board
7.  [60] The Charge of the Dragonflights

Patches and hotfixes

Patch 1.9.0 (03-Jan-2006): Added

External links

• Wowhead
• Thottbot
• WoWDB

YouTube Scepter of the Shifting Sands Introduction quests.