Void attacking terens?!?!?

[Aneova]

So i was running up to terens when i noticed 2 of the guards had a blue blackish cloud coming from their helms along with strange ruins, i checked the other guards and none of them had this around them, however when the 3 roaming guards drew near to the 2 with the clouds, they also gained the effect while nearby.<img src="http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee308/Aneova/EQ2_000131.jpg" alt="" border="0" /><img src="http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee308/Aneova/EQ2_000129.jpg" alt="" border="0" /><img src="http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee308/Aneova/EQ2_000130.jpg" alt="" border="0" />

[Cusashorn]

<p>Hey I remember that spell effect. It first showed up in KoS as a countdown detonation spell against a mob in Lord Vyemm's lair.</p><p>In the preview to Echoes of Faydwere, the Cazic Thule quest had you using an item to suck out souls from living creatures, and that same timer appeared.</p><p>I think it might also be a spell that one of the evil classes get, but I don't know for certain.</p><p>I don't think this is the Void. They'd be covered in a black and red aura around thier entire bodies if they were, just like the Void-touched Naga in Sinking Sands.</p>

[Apocroph]

The runes are actually a font called "Evil Rune" (evilrune.ttf) that EQ2 installs on your computer as part of the game software.  I took your screenshots into Photoshop to translate, but they don't seem to spell anything in particular.In the first screenshot, the runes over the Sarnak's head are indecipherable (at least for me), but the runes over the other guard's head translate to "MTURBHNUAUT."  In the second screenshot, the runes translate to "TOWTAXC."Seeing as how this effect has been used before, and the Shadowed Men have their own alphabet, I'm going to guess the text in the effect is just gibberish.  At any rate, here's a quick and dirty translation key: [<a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v192/the_axiom/eq/evilrunes.jpg" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Link</a>]

[Cusashorn]

<p>As I mentioned, these spell effects were used for the original Cazic Thule introduction quest before EOF, and to indicate a countdown timer to a deadly spell from a boss in the Laboratory of Lord Vyemm.</p><p>I'm in Teren's right now, it's just those 5 guards walking around, and nobody else. There's no spell effects associated with thier buffs though.</p>

[BleemTeam]

That graphic can be seen from K'dal too. And the zombie in section two of to Gates of Ahket.

[Meirril]

<p>It sounds like an AE buff that affects friendy mobs. Possibly with the last update the graphic for one of the mobs current buffs was accidently given this setting. Or maybe it was on purpose.</p><p> One thing to try would be to see what buffs the guards currently show and see if they pass it to other guards. The buff name should give you a clue as to whether its on purpose or not.</p>

[Jennive]

<p>I have seen random mobs in Antonica have this effect on them long ago. I'm quite sure it is just a bug.</p>

[Noaani]

<p>That effect was first in game with DoF, the mobs near the end of the Sanctorum have it.</p>

[BleemTeam]

<p>K'dal does it to you in t5...when he commands you to kneel and be silent, you get that crap on your head.</p><p>and yes, in dof, like I said</p>