The Mines of Malrinor

The Mines of Malrinor is the 5th mission in the Fallen Campaign.

Plot
Keran travels beneath the human lands. He tries to fight his way to the surface and into the lands of the Teonians.

Quests

 * Capture Gate
 * Destroy the elevator's Control Tower
 * Keran must survive
 * Bring Keran to the surface with the elevator

Strategy
This mission is rather difficult because the Humans can spawn at any point in the underground with the help of their Mining Teams. This means they can attack from any side.

Resources in your own base are rather scarce. There is the possibility to expand to the north and the southwest.

In the middle of the map, there is a small outpost of the Empire. This one must be destroyed.

The solution to this mission are Hive Guards. You have to build a pretty large army of them. Then, you fly to the very southwest of the map, where there is a conduit to the surface that only flying units can pass. The Control Tower is in the very northeast. This means you have to cross the entire surface map with the Hive Guards. The direct way is unwise because there are Manticores (without Riders) around that will roast your Hive Guards in no time with their fire splash damage.

You have to move on the very edge of the map. Don't get distracted by some scattered towers. The elevator is guarded by a lot of Guard Towers (this is why you need a lot of Hive Guards). These have to be disposed, Keran hovers to the northeast, into the elevator, mission accomplished.

Speedrunning
This mission can be finished in under 10 minutes. The elevator's "Control tower" that needs to be destroyed is actually just a plain Guard Tower. However, it is protected by many more towers and a contingent of Empire units as well. A pack or even less (10-15) of Hive Guards should be enough to take it out. Upgrades could be useful, such as the move speed upgrade and attack damage upgrade.

After the tower is destroyed, you still need to ascend the elevator with Keran, so make sure he's already on his way to the elevator as your flying units are on their way to the tower. Avoid sending Keran straight to the elevator, because he will take the route through the Empire outpost below the ground. Sidetracking through the north portion of the caves is a safer option. Also, don't let your Hive Guards fly to the tower directly through the map, instead hug the bottom and then right edges of the map (or alternatively, left and then top edges of the map).

When Keran arrives to the surface, the ending cutscene will start rolling, with Keran getting attacked from all sides by towers and archers. If he dies quickly, you will actually get a losing screen. The solution, however, is to just skip the cutscene with the Escape button.

Enemies

 * Manticore (neutral)
 * Swordsman
 * Elf Ranger
 * Priest
 * Dryad
 * Valkyrie
 * Catapult
 * Gnome Ark
 * Miner Team

New tech
Hive Guards and Seekers are introduced in this mission. Void Walkers get a "silent" introduction - there are no hints or instructions as to their use.

Many new upgrades for Deep Elf units are available in the Sorrow Shrine, as well as for Hive units in the Incubator.


 * New units
 * Hive Guard
 * Seeker
 * Void Walker


 * New structures
 * Vile Cocoon
 * Hall of Whispers
 * Charged Deformer


 * New upgrades
 * Ethereal Shroud (Dark Fortress)
 * Mana Efficiency (Dark Fortress)
 * Charged Deformer (Deformer)
 * Call of Death (Hall of Whispers)
 * Metamorphosis (Incubator)
 * Grasp (Incubator)
 * Insect Haste (Incubator)
 * Improved Focusing (Sorrow Shrine)
 * Improved Meditation (Sorrow Shrine)
 * Nailed Scourge (Sorrow Shrine)
 * Mana Depletion (Sorrow Shrine)
 * Curse Tree (Sorrow Shrine)
 * Infest (Vile Cocoon)
 * Avenging Strike (Vile Cocoon)
 * Greater Wings (Vile Cocoon)

Opening Cutscene
Keran Kessertin: We are very close. The Mines of Malrinor are above us. Beyond that, the passage to the First Seal.

Summoner: The Humans suspect nothing.

Keran Kessertin: The Ageless Ones dispatched the Unseen to serve as our eyes, the Seekers. Make use of them, and this place - establish our forward base here.

During the mission
Summoner: The Humans have built passages to the Under Realms.

Keran Kessertin: The passages must be destroyed. We must cut off the Human's way into our Realm.

Swordsman: Spread the alarm! We are under attack! Make for the Lift - To the surface!

Captain: What new enemy is this? Draw the lift to the surface at once. Send a detachment to dispatch these fell creatures!

Keran Kessertin: The Mines of Malrinor are located above our very heads. From here our Power can be launched, the Magic of the Fallen.

Keran Kessertin: We will use the Lift of the Humans. We must take the Tower that controls it. Find a position on the arch of the cave where the Hive Guards can rise to the surface!

Keran Kessertin: The wing warriors can fly through this crease in the earth.

Keran Kessertin: Here is a suitable place for a second forward base!

Captain: Send a messenger to the Council of the Mages at once! They must be told of this danger! We must hold the line until Noran sends reinforcements.

Keran Kessertin: Destroy those passages! We must not allow the Surface Dweller's ingress into our Realm!

Captain: Reinforcements are approaching from the Capital!

Ending Cutscene
Keran Kessertin: Send your armies Alric - you have no hope. Soon Darkness shall swallow this world. Noran shall fall as all others before it have fallen.

Keran Kessertin: Gather survivors from the Field of Battle. The Soul Trap hungers for fresh grist.