Competition: Dark Council on Hard Mode (Comedy)

### Navigating the Rarest Raid in the Brotherhood - Outsmarting the Headmistress of the Shadow Academy
What if I told you there was a way to get through a raid with maximum experience and loot, and absolutely 0 enemies to kill? Welcome to the guide. I am telling you now: it is possible.

Of all the potential bosses in the Dark Jedi Brotherhood, the leader of the Shadow Academy presents a unique conundrum. While not considered as martially powerful as the Grand Master or Fist or as clandestinely cunning as the Voice, they are undoubtedly the most intelligent boss you will face. Furthermore, the Shadow Academy located on Arx is a labyrinth within a maze; it is designed to entrap those who would dare to enter the facility with the possibility of other treasures or escape under pressure. And, of course, there are traps galore.

However, this guide will provide users a sure way of navigating through the Shadow Academy with minimal violence and maximum experience and loot reward. It will also yield a rare interaction with the raid boss themselves, if you do it right. So follow the instructions below, and have the secrets of the Academy revealed.

1. Prior to traveling to the raid dungeon "The Shadow Academy" on Arx, make sure your character maximum level in the Shadow Academy. You can do this by accomplishing a myriad of side quests known as "courses" to earn degrees and standing within the greater Academy institutions. It is also beneficial to build **trust** with the Headmistress by completing missions delivered by their right-hand, the Praetor of the Shadow Academy. This usually involves procuring items in distant secondary raid dungeons or in odd locations. However, this allows your character the maximum level access to the facility/raid dungeon possible for a player character. You need to complete each of these missions with a flawless rating and meet all secondary objectives, or this raid experience will not be possible.

2. Once you achieve this, travel to Arx. Instead of being greeted by guards who will attack once you fail to provide proper clearance, the guards will *invite* you into the complex. While you can choose to rampage through the facility and reach the final boss herself, if you decide to hold fast, you will instead be greeted with 3 major puzzles to solve on the path to the Headmistress. These questions are all part of the Test of Wisdom, which you can find detailed in another post. If you answer the three questions of the Test correctly by solving the puzzles, you will be granted access to the Headmistress without any aggro.

3. You make it through the maze unscathed to the Headmistress's office. Here, you will be tested by her one final time as a means to prove your worth. The questions will be randomly generated from the courses you have successfully passed before, so make *sure* to have a browser open with course notes to help you! There is no time limit on answers, so be thorough and take your time. If you answer her five questions successfully, the Headmistress will grant you the loot you seek, max raid XP + 2,500 bonus, and an additional randomly generated legendary item.

4. Profit. You just beat a raid without swinging your lightsaber once. Bravo.

Howie Boss Raid Guide

Description: Howie "Beast Mode Bear" assumes massive form with powerful claws and a thick hide providing extensive protection from kinetic and energy damage. His massive paws provide terrible blunt force and piercing damage. His speed is slow however and attacking from behind is the best method to defeat him.

Loot: Iron Paws and massive amounts of credits and medals redeemable for gold.

Ideal Party Composition: One tank for pinning Howie, a DPS specialist for long range damage, an AOE specialist for providing time on effect damage, and a rogue for thieving of potential loot.