Attune the Henge Portal (spoiler)

I am finding this quest very hard to do. I know I have to get the three other portals attune before is activates the Henge portal, but I have failed at least 10 times. I read some where that you first attune the center portal then go to the portal on the left attune it then stayed there and fight off all the groups that keeps coming. While I am busy fighting it seems like that guy that is carring that crystal keeps slipping by while I am fighting someone else. I jus want to know if this is the only strategy to complete this quest. If so I just have to keep on trying.

I was having a hard time myself, and with the help of a guildie and friend, we finally pulled it off in HM using this strategy.
One person is just a crystal runner. We first tuned the nearest portal, then the remaining players (along with heros) parked on the bridge to fight off the mobs and enemy runner. I was the crystal runner and kept tuning the far left portal so that the enemy kept alternating between trying to tune the near one and the left one. If they managed to slip past and tune the near one, the left one was still there for a safety. Once they had returned to attune the left one, I had time to attune the near one for safety. Having a minion master is extremely helpful on the bridge along with an earth ele and ward against foes to slow the enemy down. We kept weeding them down until all were killed off eventually and then it was a breeze to kill the Demagoge (sp?) for the bonus and attune the remaining portals.

Here's the easiest possible way to do this. Redo the mission until you find a pig (or whatever the animal is behind the gate where you shrine cap). Kill it within range and use Necrotic Traversal to get to it's corpse. The place will be completely undefended with the exception of the Demagogue who should be by himself back by the White Mantle caravan. Solo him, it should be simple to do so, and then attune the gates at your leisure. Once done you'll see a cutscene and it will warp you and your party to the next area.

Alternatively, you can bring Necrotic Traversal and keep trying for a lucky spawn of the charmable pets in the area, kill the animal and then traverse across the vine gate. (May time many attempts to get the spawn)

I had real trouble with this mission initially. The method I found works best is to just ignore attuning until all the White Mantle (and Demagogue) are dead.

Crippling is probably the most important skill to killing the crystal runner. Make sure you have someone in the party with a (semi-)spammable cripple whose sole job is to cripple and call target on the crystal runner. A Ranger with Pin Down works very well, since they can cripple them early.

Since the White Mantle all run through the centre (and hence bunch up) AoE, Ward and Well spells work incredibly well. For example, a Ward Against Foes can really help to slow down the crystal runner (making it easier to cripple them). Similarly, a Necro with a high Death Magic has a multitude of corpses for minions and Well of Suffering to take out the bunched-up supporting enemies.

The earlier you can take on the White Mantle the less chance the crystal runner will get past, but it means you will be taking on a larger mob (less time for another crystal runner to start and bring their mob).

Bring a gud snare for their runner, and just kill him everytime he goes past... slowly push into their base killing their entire team. Kill the demagogue, and attune the portatle.

M+B in HM with no dramas... although i did it over a year ago, it might have gotten more difficult since then with random buffs etc.

Yes I did it hero hench, with sabway. I had a speed boost on my bar and so ran to the shrines if I had to, but the hench where holding out fine, and eventually we won.

So if I am reading this right I first flag the henchmen and then run back back and grab a crystal and attune the the white mark. Then hurry and grab another crystal then attune the yellow mark. Then start fighting. Is this correct?

No, just leave your H/H there and keep runnig crystals to portal #2 (as long as #1 stays attuned. If you've got a speed boost (skill or consumable), it'll come in very handy to get the job done. You'll know when the baddies are alomst gone when only 1 or 2 come running crystals. A sneaky trick when you've beaten them down is to run to their crystal stand and steal their crystal - then they can't do a thing - but that's kind of an advanced tactic.

If you're still having issues, send me a PM with your IGN here and I'll help you through it.

The easiest way, even in HM that me and a guild mate did it was, attune the first portal, then go straight up middle and wait, the entire group will eventually come down the middle in waves, just kill them all, make sure you have something to snare or knockdown the crystal runners as you see them, when mod's stop coming run up kill boss for bonus, go back and attune, job done.

I agree with this (though it's a bit like cheating ) - requires some luck, but it's really easy and fast. If you are with H&H you can use the "getting-heroes-unstuck" trick to don't fight the demagogue solo too.

Ok. I understand what everyone is saying and I tried again last night and will try again tonight. Getting closer, but my henchmen keeps getting taken out leaving me to defend for myself. I was wondering at what level did you guys beat this quest. I am w/n at level 18 with decent armor and weapons. You guys make it sound so easy to beat swarm after swarm which is killing me.

You need to make sure your heroes/henchies are only fighting one mob at a time, while you run the crystal and re-attune the portal after the mantle have.
For example, using vBeryl's map:-

If you have portal one attuned, and the mantle have just attuned portal 2, they will then head with a new crystal for portal one. Once they are just over half way there, you attune portal 2. Your heroes/henchies will now be fighting one mob of the mantle.

You run back and attune portal 1, then grab another crystal. The mantle will be busy attuning portal 2.

If your heroes/henchies are still busy fighting the 1st mob, attune portal 2 ASAP - the mantle will (usually) re-cap this portal again before heading back to portal 2, which buys your h/h more time to deal with the 1st mob. Rinse and repeat.

The others will need to answer themselves of course, but I'm guessing that most of are talking about level 20 chars with access to heroes (all of my own 'solo' efforts have been with level 20 chars and level 20 heroes). No idea now what level I would have been 1st time through the game as a Prophecies only char, too long ago, but I would have played the mission with guildmates back then.

To clarify one thing, do you have access to heroes (say either with the EotN campaign or Nightfall)? Or are you trying with henchmen only?
If doing this mission in NM (normal mode) it should still be doable with just henchies, using the method in vBeryl's post. Just guessing with that though, as I've always had heroes with me myself.

(btw, if you have the patience to keep re-doing the mission and have the skill Necrotic Traversal, that would be easiest as others have mentioned, I've never had luck with the right spawns to try it, or the patience to keep trying too many times).

Cheers

Just wanted to thank everyone for all thier help. After leveling to 19 I went back and my henchmen was able to handle the attacks while I went back and forth for the crystal. I am glad that is finally over. Thanks again.