Jack Barricade's Clues

John talks about the 4 Grand Masters discussing strange symbols on a Mirror in the Inner Keep. Could this be a portal to Versal?

I dont think so though, those symbols were the Versalian language, which is what he then writes down and Elpam translates for you.

The symbols discuss the attack on NLC, so the mirror (in my mind) is a scrying device, someone is commanding these 4 leaders.
And Jack said, they probably came through this dimensional rift with someone else who was very powerful.

I think they're just pawns in a far greater scheme =O

And Jack said, they probably came through this dimensional rift with someone else who was very powerful.

Which is why I am thinking there would be a Versalian of CC, if there is a Versalian version of good old CC they would be just as powerful as him if not more so.

"From there these massive stone guardians took me and marched me into the Keep's inner sanctum"

Hah! That's where it says "massive stone guardians". Since the statue is one, and I don't think there are more than one of that thing, I think the statue isn't the thing that captured Jack and took him to the Council Hall of the Keep.

Massive stone guardians.. Crimson Guardians, again, are not big enough to take Jack in a manner like that, "being carried in the grushing grip"..

Heh, so, what are the stone golems?

I dont think so though, those symbols were the Versalian language, which is what he then writes down and Elpam translates for you.

The symbols discuss the attack on NLC, so the mirror (in my mind) is a scrying device, someone is commanding these 4 leaders.
And Jack said, they probably came through this dimensional rift with someone else who was very powerful.

I think they're just pawns in a far greater scheme =O

I always loved that "they're just pawns in a far greater scheme" quote. It's such a cliche.
But that would make sense overall. The mirror, which symbolizes Versal, is transmitting messages to the 4 grandmasters from Versal by an other-worldly being.

Hah! That's where it says "massive stone guardians". Since the statue is one, and I don't think there are more than one of that thing, I think the statue isn't the thing that captured Jack and took him to the Council Hall of the Keep.

Massive stone guardians.. Crimson Guardians, again, are not big enough to take Jack in a manner like that, "being carried in the grushing grip"..

Heh, so, what are the stone golems?

What are the stone golems you ask? Well...thats what we have to find out.

I always loved that "they're just pawns in a far greater scheme" quote. It's such a cliche.
But that would make sense overall. The mirror, which symbolizes Versal, is transmitting messages to the 4 grandmasters from Versal by an other-worldly being.

The obvious answer being Naricain, or the Alchemist. What with them really stressing Magatia quest text, I'm leaning towards the Alchemist.

In regards to the first pluralization of guardians, it could be that they had him in a dungeon, the Guardians go down to get him out, and once he's out the giant thing carries him away. Seems kinda reaching though.

The obvious answer being Naricain, or the Alchemist. What with them really stressing Magatia quest text, I'm leaning towards the Alchemist.

Naricain was vanquished by Subani's last throe, no? It's the legend behind the white scrolls and dark scrolls. (I know Subani was from Old Sappe, but was Naricain also from Masteria?)

About the Alchemist, Black Magician, and Icebyrd Slimm's contractor... I'm not entirely sure if they're the same person =/ and the latter is dubious at best, but it's safe to say it has a lot of power, seeing how it apparently raised Masteria back from the depths of where it sank.

Any possible way to place a timeline location between Masteria in the old days and the founding of Magatia or Elin Forest? Assuming the Alchemist and the Black Magician are the same person, the inhabitants of Masteria don't seem to have referenced him as "Black". I do see some connections though, like how the Black Magician poisoned Elin Forest, and how the Alchemist corrupted the Krakians and won the war against CWK's original inhabitants. So in speculation, either the Black Magician/Alchemist is either a trans-temporal being, immortal, or the events in Masteria happened at roughly the same time of the events at Elin Forest. Lots of ways to go about this. My conclusion, unless people put a serious dent in the theory otherwise or if Christopher Crimsonheart has a role to play, is that the Black Magician has achieved immortality and that there have been at least two epic clashes with him... possibly the current era of MapleStory will be the witness to a third epic battle?

Naricain was vanquished by Subani's last throe, no? It's the legend behind the white scrolls and dark scrolls. (I know Subani was from Old Sappe, but was Naricain also from Masteria?)

They specifically mention that the battle between Subani and Naricain is ongoing. You could say that the power of the scrolls is what's left of their Influence in the Maple World, but they themselves continue to exist... somewhere.

About the Alchemist, Black Magician, and Icebyrd Slimm's contractor... I'm not entirely sure if they're the same person =/ and the latter is dubious at best, but it's safe to say it has a lot of power, seeing how it apparently raised Masteria back from the depths of where it sank.

Don't forget, Masteria did not *actually* sink. It was teleported to versal. So whomever summoned it back to Maple World, they had to have a power level over 9000 comparable to that of the Antellion, which warped it away in the first place. The Alchemist is the Black Magician's disciple, not the same person. In the modified passage of Dran's Note, it says he combined advanced technology with the Alchemy/magic of the Black Magician. Maybe he has some sort of advanced teleporter (Think Foxwit door on a massive scale) to pull it back... But then the question is, why help bring it back when he was responsible for eliminating it. Nah, I can't see Icebyrd's helper being the same person as the Alchemist or Black Magician. Three different people.

However, what with Prof. Krakia being a time traveler, he'd have advanced technology, and maybe the Jungle is named after him instead of the other way around. If it's named after him because he went back in time and conquered it. In this case then, Prof. Krakia and The Alchemist would be the same person. Not provable yet but the evidence seems significant.

Any possible way to place a timeline location between Masteria in the old days and the founding of Magatia or Elin Forest? Assuming the Alchemist and the Black Magician are the same person, the inhabitants of Masteria don't seem to have referenced him as "Black". I do see some connections though, like how the Black Magician poisoned Elin Forest, and how the Alchemist corrupted the Krakians and won the war against CWK's original inhabitants. So in speculation, either the Black Magician/Alchemist is either a trans-temporal being, immortal, or the events in Masteria happened at roughly the same time of the events at Elin Forest. Lots of ways to go about this. My conclusion, unless people put a serious dent in the theory otherwise or if Christopher Crimsonheart has a role to play, is that the Black Magician has achieved immortality and that there have been at least two epic clashes with him... possibly the current era of MapleStory will be the witness to a third epic battle?

No, the events of Elin Forest are not dated with exact numbers. Magatia's origins (That is, when it was still just the black Magician's lab when it was active) have to be before Elin, whenever that is. I think the connection you just pointed out with Poisoning Elin and "poisoning (the minds of)" the krakians being very similar is probably significant. It's sort of like The Alchemist echoing his master's deeds in Masteria.

In regards to the first pluralization of guardians, it could be that they had him in a dungeon, the Guardians go down to get him out, and once he's out the giant thing carries him away. Seems kinda reaching though.

Good deduction. I didn't think of that. I'm not very good at deductions.

Now, let's go to level. I don't want to not be able to do the new quests when they release the second part of Crimsonwood Keep.

You know, another possibility as far as the the stone golems go, is that they're monsters we haven't seen yet that are between the size of Crimson Guardians and the statue. It's not like Jack was saying which ones did it specifically, so maybe when they release CWK II, it'll be with some new stone golems. Maybe they'll even be mini boss monsters, that you find within Crimson Guardian maps or something.

As far as the whole story of NLC goes, after thinking about it some more, I think this story makes the most sense to me at the moment. I think that Naricain had some disciples/apprentices, whether that's the Black Magician or Dr Krakia, or the Alchemist, or all of the above. And they're who are currently trying to get him to return to the Maple World. Personally I am leaning towards the Black Magician or Dr Krakia because I think only they could pull out the power/technology to go about helping the return of Naricain. Naricain, after his fight with Subani, was contained within the Antelion. At some time after this, some of his disciples, or perhaps some corrupted guardian of his, attempted to free him. In attempting this, either he caused a rift in space and time, or Subani set a trap should he ever come close to be freed. Perhaps, it was a combination of both, originally Subani meant to send the jewel deep into Maple's sun to forever forestall, or at least attempt to forever forestall, Naricain being freed. However, Naricain was partially released, so the spell went awry and send NLC and the jewel to Versal. Where Naricain, still trapped to an extent within the jewel of the Antelion, was sent to Versal, where Naricain consumed some of their sun. However the sun's power wasn't enough power to return to the Maple World until his disciples started to set up for his return. Subani, on the other hand, had a disciple named Cristopher Crimsonheart, who he set to guard over the jewel. Perhaps he went to root out the remaining dark disciples, or he was too weakened to do anything other than rest after his struggle. Or perhaps he merely decided to go explore the rest of the Maple World. Regardless, he left the guarding to Cristopher Crimsonheart, so I'm sure he did so with the expectation and knowledge that Cristopher would be able to guard it for a lengthy amount of time. Now Cristopher Crimsonheart could go a couple of ways, he could have been corrupted by Naricain, and so he faked his death to further the work of freeing him from the Antelion. Or he could have faked his death to watch over the Antelion in secret. Or he could have faked his death to go after Subani or go searching for Subani. There's also the possibility that he really did die, however his spirit remains encased within the suit of armor he wore, and he eternally stands guard. Or something along those lines.

The other possibility I just thought of, was that the Antelion was Subani's inert form while he recovered and rested after his battle with Naricain. Perhaps to defeat Naricain, he sent him to Versal, where he consumed some part of the sun in order to land a last minute blow that would force Subani to go and heal. I don't think it fits quite as well as the previous idea, but it might work out if someone can think of some explanation for why the Antelion with Subani inside sent NLC to Versal.

They specifically mention that the battle between Subani and Naricain is ongoing. You could say that the power of the scrolls is what's left of their Influence in the Maple World, but they themselves continue to exist... somewhere.

What about Naricain Demon Elixirs? Where did those come from? o_o

What about Naricain Demon Elixirs? Where did those come from? o_o

Another artifact containing his power just like dark scrolls of course o-o