Mission 5-2: Rank 6
San d'Oria: Shadow Lord (speak with Prince Trion after getting mission from guard).
Windurst: The Shadow Awaits (speak with the Star Sybil after getting mission from guard).
It is recommended you finish the quest "Northward" from Radeivepart (Ru'lude Gardens, Peace Monument) for a map of Castle Zvahl. Only one party may take part in this mission at a time. For this mission, the minimum level is 55 and maximum level is 75. This can be done with a full party of level 60. However, if members below 60, there should be 68+ to compensate.
After you have the mission initiated, head to Xarcabard, then Castle Zvahl Baileys. Make your way in to Castle Zvahl Keep. Beware, there are multiple types of beastmen on the way in, some which detect by sound and others by sight.
NAVIGATING THE CASTLE
Once in the Keep, you will need to make your way through several gates. Getting to the Throne Room was quite tedious, but carefully managed it shouldn't cause too much trouble. Know where to hide/recast sneak and invisible and you should be fine.
Here are some diagrams of a possible path to take to get to the BC fight with the Shadow Lord.
home.comcast.net/~azuretwilight4/m12keep1.jpg home.comcast.net/~azuretwilight4/m12keep2.jpg home.comcast.net/~azuretwilight4/m12baileys1.jpg home.comcast.net/~azuretwilight4/m12baileys2.jpg [not sure why the drawn path ends on m12baileys2.jpg, but you continue towards the west]
After this map, there will be a series of teleports, go through each one until you port to a room with 3 paths. Don't forget to cast invisible (or use powder) after each teleport.
home.comcast.net/~azuretwilight4/m12baileys3.jpg If you have someone who is lvl 68+, they can open the doors without aggro. I believe a lvl 68 char will not get aggro until the very end. It should be required that everyone (below lvl 68) bring Silent Oil and Prism Powder. Another advantage of having someone lvl 68+ on the run is that you can see that person and follow them. The dash through the first two maps is probably the most nerve racking.
The Castle zones are: Xarcabard/Baileys, Baileys/Keep, and Keep/ThroneRoom. The suggested path through the castle is: Continue until you get to the four way intersection, G-8, near Dark Spark. DS is east, behind you is west, you can either go north or south. I prefer to go south. When walking through zones I prefer mobs that aggro sight. Continue along the path. Once you go over the bridge take a right and head to E/F 8 (Note: This is not a zone).
You will be on the lower level hallways. You should be heading south into Orc territory. Follow the path and take a left. Go to the stairs at I-9. Take the stairs up to the second level. DO NOT drop down the holes. Now on the second level, travel west to G-9, then head south to the stairs. This is Yagudo territory. Take the stairs to the first level and take a left. Follow the path to the four way intersection in H-9. Head north to the center of the map. At G/H-8 there is another stairway to the second level. Take the stairs and take the hallway to the west. The zone is at E/F-8.
Follow the path to H-8 and take a right. You will need someone to open the doors. This area has goblins. Once through the first door, head East, North, open door to the North. Open the first East door. There are four more doors to open, but it is a continuous hallway to the next map.
Once you enter the small room on the next floor, open the door, east, then go south, open the door south, and continue south to a hallway. Continue south in the hallway, then west, south, and west. Follow this hallway to the next map, E-8.
The first teleporter is in the middle of the next room, H-8. Once someone teleports, there seems to be a delay until the next person can port. If everyone is on the teleporter, everyone will warp. We were able to get through this area with Invisible. You will be teleported into a room full of demons. There is only one hallway, leading to a platform with another teleporter. There are four teleporters you need to take. The last teleporter will warp you to the next map.
From this room, I believe you can go north or south. We went south, west, north, and west. The zone is at F/G-7. There is a door that you need to open to get to the zone.
The various teleporters near the end of Zvahl Keep takes about 3-5 seconds to activate (on its own) after you stand on it. You should kill the demons around the teleporters to avoid trains of mobs. Once you have gone through all the teleporters you will enter the Throne Room. There are no mobs in this area so you can use this place to med and buff. Once that is done head across the bridge to the tower and open the door to the Throne Room where the tomb of the Shadow Lord lies. F7 is the Throne Room. Click on the Tomb Door to start the battle.
The first Shadow Lord form will be immune to almost all forms of magic. He later becomes immune to physical damage and so you must finish him off with magic. After you kill him he will of course get upset and come at you again (second form). He will do only AE attacks so make sure to use Curaga spells.
SHADOW LORD FIGHT
Buff up prior to entering the Throne Room (burning circle), eat foods (Mages: Melon Pie +1, 3 Yagudo Drinks (to Refresh during battle) and Melee: Meat chiefkabob), cast shadows. Haste after entering. WHM Reraised just in case bodily waste hits the fan.
-First Form-
Melees save TP and engage as normal with some JA (no 2 hours yet), mages conserve MP and only do limited debuffing/healing/buffing as needed (keep your mana up and only cure when you have to). Mages concentrate on giving the tank paralyna and support healing. Also, melee keep TP and do not use it on first form.
Shadow Lord will do his Invincible special when he has around 1/3 life left. PLD 2 hours at this time. Mages hit it with light nukes, anything level 2 will be resisted (do not resort to using 2 hour unless absolutely necessary).
-End of First Form-
-Second Form-
Basically you need to take him down as quickly as possible during Shadow Lord's second form. Shadow Lord attacks you immediately so make sure you have adequate MP left from first form. He will only do AoE specials.
Melees use all JAs including 2 hour, and use TP saved from first form. Basically go all-out on attack since you won't get hit physically.
Mages nuke as fast as possible (use 2 hour if needed): use chainspell then bury him to Blizzard II and Fire II. WHM spam curaga and heal as needed.
-End of Second Form-
Saving our TP and melee 2 hour really helps during second form by taking him down asap. If done correctly, the Shadow Lord fight should take 12 minutes with cutscene.
After you are done head back to your home town to collect your 20,000 gil reward and Rank 6.
((At this site, you can see the full video of mission:
www.tarutaru.it/img/DOWNLOAD/Ciche_Rank6.zip 80Mb) - I have not watched it, though.
in the center of this room. You will need to trade the Tavnazian Bell to it, then kill the mob when it spawns. One mob, Altedour I Tavnazia (who spams dimensional death; ninja is a preferred tank) about level 67, drops a Tavnazian Mask. 
