This Pre-Launch event seems to be only partially implemented, but here is the information we have so far. Big thanks to Test.Rainbowdash who spent hours gathering all this information and sharing it with us!

You can find Magus Burlshin in Erillion, City of Bronze near the blocked caved:





Magus Burlshin says 'Hail, stranger. You look like an adventurer, and I have use for adventurers. I imagine that you noticed all of the crystals falling from the sky, how could you not. Well, we Magus... Magi, are certain that they will be of some use. They hold a bit of power, even the smallest of them. Not enough to do anything on their own. We're hoping to gather enough of them to do... something with them. I'll take any you can gather up. Though I'm not sure we can offer any sort of reward for you now, we'll certainly remember your kindness.'

He doesn't give a quest, but accepts and shards you turn in, and in return gives faction for "Crystal Circle Builders". It takes exactly 21 shard turn ins to hit max Ally. Here is a breakdown of faction turn ins:

Indifferently to Amiable - 1 Shard
Indifferently to Kindly - 5 Shards
Indifferently to Warmly - 8 Shards
Indifferently to Ally - 11 Shards
Indifferently to max Ally - 21 Shards

The shards he is refering to are "Dark Fear Shards". These seem to drop from everywhere in Norrath, but are level restricted. They are stackable and tradeable, and seem to be very rare. When they do drop, they tend to drop in stacks of 2+. The high level one is as follows:



These drop in high level zones, from level 81+ mobs. There are lower level versions that drop from lower level mobs. You can only turn in shards for your level range. For example, if you are level 95, you can not turn in a shard for the level 71-85 gap. You can however delevel to 85, then turn them in. You may shroud to low levels to turn in the low level versions.

As of the time this info was gathered, there is no rewards for this, other than the faction. The vendor is empty at all faction levels, and the Magus gives the same response to hails at all levels of faction. There are a few possibilities - The rewards may be added later, the faction might be useful at some point in the Rain of Fear expansion, or there may be more phases to the pre-launch event. We will keep you updated when we find out more information!