Finally, a challenge.
I remember this quest being hard, and it doesn't disappoint. There's really very little to it besides the boss fight, but it's far and away the hardest boss fight yet (not that that's a high bar at this point; the only competition is Delrith, which is to say there's no competition). But let's do this properly.
We start off talking to Morgan in Draynor Village:
Although Xurdtwos hasn't been to Morytania yet (and won't for a little while yet), Xurdones has so I'm very curious about the lore here. How did Draynor cross the Salve? I guess it must have been before the river was empowered, but I look forward to seeing if that gets addressed later on.
Anyway, the quest proceeds basically as I remember it from childhood. I seem to recall Harlow being at the Jolly Boar Inn rather than the Blue Moon, but I suspect I know why Jagex moved him: putting a low-level quest NPC that close to the Wilderness is just begging for lurers.
So, I understand that this was a very early quest that predates the existence of Morytania, let alone the rest of the vampyre lore the game has built up. But it does seem strange that this quest never got a makeover in light of that, because this is a massive lorefail in 2020; hell, this was a lorefail in 2006. I don't expect it, but it would be nice to see a mention in a later quest that Harlow's stakes are made out of blisterwood or something.
Anyway, we continue on to Draynor Manor. I mentioned in the Ernest the Chicken post that I really liked the graphical redesign of Draynor's room, and I do:
So cool. I also like the update to the dude himself; much more impressive-looking than the generic pasty dude in a suit:
THIS is the brother of Lord Lowerniel Drakan, ladies and gentlemen.
Anyway, this was a very tough fight. I tried him three times with all three combat styles, at varying levels, and he stomped me each time. I like the little touch that, the first time he kills you, you just get sent to a little room; although considering how death was reworked (with Death's Office and all that) is hardly seems necessary.
Anyway I had the most success with magic, so I went off to train that up to 10 and I finally, barely, beat him. ~450 health left, no food remaining. If it wasn't for a last-second Omnipower, I don't think I would have made it.
KNEEL BEFORE XURD!
*ahem*
Quest complete.
