Quests

Task: Offer "Indeed, as it happens, there IS something you could assist me with. I am preparing one of my daughter's favorite dishes, but it requires a particular wine, Calimport Vandalian Red, and I fear I have run out. If you could find me a bottle of it, I would pay generously for it."

Task: More Information "I usually purchase it from Rip's Wretched Brewery, north of here. Speak to the bartender, he should have some. In fact, if you are the adventurer you appear to be, you should familiarize yourself with his stock. In particular, many of those new to Ascension tend to favor Avat's Unending Cosmic Suicider. It is truly wretched on the tongue, but has magical properties which toughen the skin against blade and claw alike."

Task: Offer "Most serendipitous indeed!. I do have need of some assistance, in fact. I'm hosting a delegation of traders for dinner in the green room soon, and am hoping to impress them with some exotic fare. I have a truly amazing recipe for bison stew, but no bison meat to make it with."

Task: More Information "The Northern Trader, just west of here, once brought me some. He makes regular trips between here and the colder climes to the north, where bison can be found."

Task: Offer "Yes indeed! A party of hunters will be coming soon for their yearly trip, and I would like to find something to impress them. Last they were here, they spoke of a spotted leopard, but were unable to locate the beast - it is believed that they can only be found in the woods near the ruins of the old Anduin temple, but no one knows how to get there. If you could procure me some spotted leopard meat, I could ensure their continued patronage for years to come!"

Task: More Information "The last time I was in Rip's to buy some wine, a trader in there was offering the usual gossip, and described something that might have been the temple, though he didn't seem to realize it. Perhaps you could start your search with him?"

Task: Offer "Perhaps, yes. An old recipe book I recently acquired from the Sage makes mention of a delicacy that was once famous in these parts, toad legs. Apparently there were mines near the old Anduin temple, around where you found the leopard, and within them, spitting cave toads could be found. Should you happen across one, I would pay you very well for it."

Task: Offer "Dining too often on something can spoil its - oh, you were making a joke. My daughter tells me I have no sense of humor. I do have a job for you, if you are interested. One of the local farmers, Rendish, has not been heard from in some time, and his yearly shipment of peppers has not yet arrived. Do you think you could find him, or at least his peppers? I use them in many of my dishes, and they will suffer without them."

Task: More Information "He is a bit of an eccentric, and has a curious sense of humor. He set up a one-way portal in the crop field in town. All I know is that it requires a port gem, as well as something else, in order to use it. You are familiar with port gems by now, I would think, yes? Some clever crown seeker came up with the idea nearly a generation ago, as an easy way to return to Ascension after a Crown hunt - you can buy them in the Merchant's Emporium in Town. As for the other item, I have no idea, but you might ask Farmer Bob - he was friendly with Rendish."

Task: Offer "As it happens, I do. I find myself in need of occumroot, but the only places it grows nearby are in shadowed forests, full of danger, which is why I have hesitated to ask you to find some before now. There is a trick to finding it, however. Look for purple blossoms, by !search-ing. [To use the !search command, simply hit enter to type text, type '!search', and then hit enter again. You'll be given a command targeter item if you don't have one. You then use your command targeter to choose the place you want to search.]"

Task: More Information "Indeed I can. I know the root can be found in the woods to the northeast of the town's druid grove, north of here. Beware, though - there is a clan of very unfriendly elves in that area, and they recieve trespassers poorly."

Task: Offer "No, my friend, you have found me all the ingredients I could have hoped for. I do, however, have a task that might be worthy of your skills. I have heard tell of a Zhentarim outpost nearby, one that is home to a brewmaster of particular skill. I would be most interested in procuring his recipe book, for, as you can see, I am a brewer myself."

Task: More Information "It is east of town, and north, that much I know. It will be somewhere hidden, not easily found, but I assure you, I will pay you enough to make the finding worth it."

Task: Offer "As it happens, I do. In the recipe book, the brewmaster made mention of certain drow spices he uses in making his brews. I would very much like to get my hands on such spices, if you think you are up to the task."

Task: More Information "Well, I have heard from several crown-seekers that there is a small city of them somewhere far below, in the Underdark, but I am afraid I can not tell you any more than that."

Task: Offer: "Sure'n you could, laddie, though not from the bar. Seems I've gone and left me teacup in the Wandering Wyrm, up north in town proper. Any chance you'd be willing to fetch it back for a tired old lady like poor old Aura?"

Task: More Information: "*Cackles* Oh, no, not a beastie, child, just a place where adventurers like yerself like to meet after their exploits. They even have a market for them to put items up for sale to other adventurers, as well as rooms for splitting up their hauls after killing actual beasties. You can find the Wyrm on the east side of town, just before you get to the eastern gate. Anyway, if my poor old mind remembers right, I left my cup by the fireplace there, I did."

Task: Offer: "Mayhap I do, at that. There be an herb known as baleweed, used in a number of unguents, found to the west of town, near the old boat ramp. Bring me some, and I'll have a fair bit of coin for ye. Be wary, though - there's bandits in them hills. Oh, and dearie - you'll have to !search for it - it looks like a fern, but the fronds have many small, round leaves. [To use the !search command, simply hit enter to type text, type '!search', and then hit enter again. You'll be given a command targeter item if you don't have one. You then use your command targeter to choose the place you want to search.]"

Task: Offer "No, lassie, but I do have a task for you, if yer willing. I get a shipment regular-like from up north, on the northern traders route, from a lad who braves the Orcish blockade of the city to bring me ice peppers and other herbs. He's late, and I need those herbs. Do you think you could find him for me?"

Task: More Information "Alls I know, girlie, is that he travels the route known as the Frozen Road, well north of the docks where the norther trader makes his stop. He could be anywhere along there, he could."

Task: Offer "As it happens I do. My supply of willow bark is running low. Could you be a dear and fetch me some more? There be a willow or two in the Dead Wood, east and north from town, though don't ye be venturin' too far north, into the Blood Moors. Ye'll have to !search to find some suitably dry bark."

Task: Accepted "Bless you child, but aren't you a helpful one. I'll be here holding this bench down when you return."

Task: Offer "Hmm. Now you mention it, there do be a thing you could fetch for old Aura. There be a particular kind of moss that grows far to the east o' town, in the dark glade past Fox Ridge. It be called shadow moss, and old Aura wasn't old, the last time I laid hands on some. I could give you quite the reward, I could, for some of that moss."

Task: More Information "It do be growing only shade, on the southern side of some of the largest, oldest trees in the glade. Ye'll have to !search for it, ye will."

Task: Offer "Sure'n I do, lassie. Up roundabouts the same area I sent you last time, there's said to be a hidden cave with a spring in it. It's waters are said to have natural healing properties, they are. I'd pay you a pretty penny for a vial of that water, sure'n I would."

Task: More Information "Oh no, dearie, old Aura wouldn't send you back there. It's close though, somewhere near Fox Ridge or Fox Trail, it is said to be."

Task: Offer "Well, dearie, that depends. I know you're none too fond of them drow beasties, but there be a very valuable opportunity in those parts, so hear old Aura out afore ye be decidin. Past that glade I sent you to, there be a series of tunnels leading deep into the earth. Somewhere down there, 'tis said there be a colony of myconids. Whilst ye should be avoiding those like the plague, there be colonies of semi-sentient mushrooms growing nearby the entrance. If you could find old Aura one of those, why, I could make us all wealthy, I could indeed. What say you? Ye'll have to !search for them, as they tend to hide behind the others."

Task: More Information "Oh no, lassie, they not be so smart as to be fretting over it - it's those myconids that are the brains of the bunch, but as I say, you should NO go near those - they be extremely powerful beasties. These other mushrooms, growing outside the myconid caves, though, they be harmless, and not even as smart as a hare, so you needn't trouble yerself over thoughts of murder and such. Old Aura wouldn't ask that of ye, she wouldn't."

Task: Offer "That I do, lass, that I do. Seeing as you're becoming something of an expert drow handler, this shouldn't be quite so terrifyin to ye. It's back down in those same tunnels. I had that whippersnapper Zeke over by the Moon scry up some eversleep for old Aura, and sure n' true, there be some down there."

Task: More Information "Turns out them drow beasties have moved themselves right in and set up shop, they have. Built theyselves a wee war camp right in the cavern where the eversleep is. Think yer up to the task, lassie?"

Task: Offer "Aye, lass, that I do. Old Aura has one last task for ye, if ye dare. My old master, may he rest in peace, once ventured down even further than ye have, and brought back with him some wondrous mushrooms of incredible potency. He called them evernight redcaps. If you could bring me one of those, I would be able to reward you very richly indeed, lassie. Ye'll be havin' to !search real careful-like for em, they be hard to spot."

Task: More Information "He spoke to me of a great city of drow, did my master, and of series of tunnels just outside its docks. T'was there, he told me he found these mushrooms."

Task: Offer "Work? Oh, um, that's an interesting notion. Let me see. Hmm. Mmph. Yes, I believe I do have something you could do for me - something not too complicated for you, I hope. I happen to require a bifurcated lever joiner. Fetch me one and I'll make it worth your while."

Task: More Information "A BI-FUR-CAT-ED LEV-ER JOIN-ER. I swear, one might think you'd never heard of such a thing. Ha! Anyway, there should be one down in the cellar of Rip's, just north of the armorer in town. The bartender said I could have it, but I haven't had time to fetch it just yet, don't you know? Speaking of knowing things, did you know there's a secret door down there? Looks to lead to a room full of liquor and such, though I didn't take a close look. Amazing what you can find if you look - though if you're not actively searching, you could pass it right by, just like that. Hmph, just like people not to take the time to properly examine something, you know. That's why I carry this magnifying glass with me wherever I - er, what were we talking about? Oh, yes, the joiner lever. It's tucked away in one of the broken barrels, the bartender told me."

Task: Offer "Wha? Oh, you mean - why yes, as it happens I do. I, uh, set loose a contraption of mine a while back, the Ratcatcher Mark Seventeen, and, well, it seems to have gone rogue. I really need those parts for Eighteen, so you'll get them for me, won't you?"

Task: More Information "Regret asking? Whyever would someone ever regret asking anything? Questioning is the spirit of scientific inquiry! And - oh, you thought it would be in the sewers - heh. No, Seventeen isn't designed for sewer work - too much water, rusts the gears, don't you know, and plays havoc with the manifo - er, what were we - oh, yes. It's designed to kill tomb rats, much larger and nastier than sewer rats, don't you know. It should be somewhere on the first couple levels of the crypts in the graveyard to the east - and do mind the foward slicers - don't want them getting bent on your armor, do we?"

Task: Offer "Disassembled, heh - what you did was actually much more like dismantling, which is of course similar to disassembly, but completely different, since assembly or the reverse requires an intricate knowledge of schematics, as well as - oh, speaking of disassembling, since you're just standing there with that vapid look on your face, why don't you make yourself useful and fetch me some sewer piping. I seem to remember you wanting to spend time down there anyway - no? I guess you just look like that's your natural environment, I suppose. Anyway, just fetch me some sewer piping, about this wide *he holds his hands apart*, and be quick about it, else I won't be able to finsih this self-heating soup toureen."

Task: More Information "Yes, YES, now go, already. You adventurers are a dreadfully, um, slow breed, aren't you? Ah well, it's to be expected, one supposes, what with all the knocks to the head."

Task: Offer "Pfft, no. That snooty Amir and his MAGIC and his this MAGIC that and his creepy invisible servants. Thinks he's all high and mighty and doesn't need my ingenious designs. Just no vision whatsoever, I tell you. I wouldn't be surprised to learn he was once an adventurer - just don't tell him I said so - wouldn't want to offend him, you know. Then again, you probably don't know, being an adventurer, with no real sense of propriety. Anyway, since you seem to be standing there catching flies yet again - likely some inborn predisposition to laziness, not your fault you're so laggardly, really - I'll do you a favor and put you to work. I have something right up your alley - no, not the one you doubtless live in, I was speaking metaphori- oh, sorry, I tend to forget, use small words with the common folk - what was I saying? Oh, yes, I need the central motivator from an iron golem."

Task: More Information "No, not motives, you nonce, a motivator. The thing that makes the shiny thing move? Yes, I see you understood shiny, at least. It looks like so *he traces outlines in the air* and is warm to the touch. The most likely place I can think to find one is the golemn sanctuary, off the swamp north of town. I tried sneaking in there once myself, but it was a little...hostile. You'd think they'd have a little more respect for those who make them, but noooo. Nearly flattened me like I was some common adventurer."

Task: Offer "Back again? Must be my magnetic personality. Did I ever tell you I was once nominated for a mayorship? Self-nominations were strictly forbidden, but they, clearly in anticipation and desire for my brilliance, failed to forbid nomination by construct. I lost, but only because the election had more rigging than a Gondian airfloat, obviously. And my opponent equally full of hot air. Oh, speaking of which, I need a heat source for that tureen. Go fetch me some lava, won't you? I have this handy little heat-resistant container for you to use."

Task: More Information "Oh come now, what would an adventurer need fingertips for? Worse comes, I can always build you a mechanical hand to hold your bangstick, or sword, or whatever you call it. It's not like you need to perform delicate operations of the type I regularly engage in, now is it? Losing limbs and such is just your lot in life, so you'd better get accustomed to it if you intend to get serious about being an adventurer, hadn't you? What good fortune for you you have me to tell you such things - I can only imagine how hopelessly lost you'd be without my expert guidance. In any event, to answer your question, there's a clan of fire giants somewhere near the old Anduin temple. They hollowed out an old caldera, and I'm quite sure you can find some there. It's nice and glowy, after all."

Task: Offer "Why is that difficult to believe? You are, after all, an adventurer, and I a purveyor of adventures. You like shinies, and I have shinies. The prospects for efficient transactions are enormous! In fact, I have a new project now - no no, don't ask, it's quite secret, you see. The first thing I'll need is some adamantine ore. I did some research, and it looks like there was an old mine where the Anduin temple is now - the temple and its catacombs were constructed in it, but there may still be some uncovered mining tunnels with raw ore exposed. You'll have to !search for it, but being an adventurer, you really don't have anything better to do, so off with you!"

Task: More Information "Ore is rock. I can see why your choice of professions was a limited one, adventurer. Look for big piles of loose rock on the ground. You understand? Big piles...rock. All one syllable. If it has dark silvery streaks in it, that should be the stuff. SHINY STREAKS."

Task: Offer "What? He told you about the toureen? That insufferably idiotic, monkey-brained, greasy, gearless excuse for a merchant! I mean, really, what's a little burnt dung smell next to a self-heating toureen? Clearly he had a sudden need for money, or he never would've returned it. Claiming shoddy worksmanship, and then trying to ruin my good name by gossiping to adventurers of all people? Hah! Proof positive the imbecile doesn't have the slightest grasp of merchanting - thinking adventurers were my sales demographic. Eh - you're still here? Oh, yes, work for shinies. Well, I do need something, but it's pretty far outside your forte. I need a BOOK. You know, parchments with funny scribbles on them, stacked? I need one on coldforging."

Task: More Information "Yes, coldfo-. A book on making bangsticks without fire. I asked about, and it turns out the only people in this region likely to have anything of the sort is the shadow elves, northeast of town, past the Dead Wood. I'd go myself, but they're supposedly not a very friendly lot. But, that's what adventurers are for. Just try not to bleed on it, hmm?"

Task: Offer "Back again, are you? Terribly sorry about my last outburst - very uncharacteristic of me, really. Anyway, I have another errand for you, if you're interested. I'm working on another, um, project, yes, and I need some more ore. This time it should be MUCH safer - really, probably no reason to even bring your bangs-, er weapons. There used to be an darksteel old mine in the glade at the end of the east road. Records indicate it was mined out, but there should be an exposed vein or two left. Bring me a chunk of it, and I'll reward you as only one of my financial standing can. Not that you don't have lots of shin-, er wealth too. So, um, what say you?"

Task: More Information "Uh? Oh, uh...well, I'm terribly busy you see. It's not as if there's some dangerous dark e-, er beasties waiting to feats on your innards or anything. Yes, I'm just terribly busy or I would certainly go without a doubt. Oh, yes, most certainly."

Task: Offer "I, uh, oh, it's you! Uh, friend. As it happens, I have a real project I need one more part for. I can afford to be very generous too. And, since you have experience fighting drow... Well, um, yes, to the point then. The drow possess a certain device, in their sewers, that they use to regulate them, somehow. I need the automatic leveling pressure gauge from it. And, um, of course, there will be hazard pay, given the um, hazardous circumstances of the locale."

Task: More Information "Um, uh, er...certainly not! I swear to you, I had no idea! In any event, we know about them know, so it's steam through the valve, so to speak yes? I promise, I'll make this worth your while."

Task: Offer "Actually, what I need at the moment is even easier. Grab me a potion of lesser restoration from the store in the druid grove northeast of town, and I'll give you this pack of speed potions I have laying around - they're worth a good bit more than the cost of the restore potion."

Task: More Information "They and their ilk no longer see eye to eye with me - let's just leave it at that. Their potions are still handy in a pinch, though, especially around these parts. You should probably grab a few yourself, if you've coin to spare."

Task: Offer "I do, in fact. I need a boar's head, sooner the better. You can find suitable beasts in the wilderness just west and south of town."

Task: Offer "I do. Something a little more exotic, this time - I need a krenshar skull for a collector."

Task: More Information "I do, in fact. North of town, and east of the goblin encampment, is their favored stalking grounds. You'll need to kill the prideleader - the other skulls are too small for display."

Task: Offer "Interesting, huh? Feel like you're coming into your own on the stalk, do you? All right, then, here's one most would shy away from. It's been open for ages, but who knows. A wizard client needs umber hulk eggs."

Task: More Information "Normally they're migratory, but it's rumored that there's a large pack of them laired under the old Anduin temple - perhaps the remnants of a pack bred to guard it, so the speculation goes. Anyway, you should be aware that the beasts set out false eggs to fool predators - they keep the real ones inside a hollow space in their shells until nearly ready to hatch."

Task: Offer "This commission isn't for the faint of heart. There's a breed of giant spider that makes its lair in the blood moors north and west of the dead wood, called a bloodback spider. I need one of their silk sacs, intact."

Task: Offer "Heh, so eager, are you? Last ones sting you? Now you mention it... Tell you what, bring me the venom sac from a black predator spider. You can find them in a cave off of Fox Ridge, east of town. Be wary, though, stalker, that's a huge nest of spiders, and vicious. Their venom is especially nasty, which is why I want it - makes for very effective traps."

Task: Offer "Hmm. Maybe I do, hunter, maybe I do. I have a buy interested in some yuan-ti scales - I didn't ask why, never do, but I figure he's making himself a set of scalemail. You up for it?"

Task: More Information "Sure - there's a small group of them below the town sewers. They try to keep a low profile, but I tracked one back there, through a trapdoor in the sewers, which you can reach via the town's old well - one reason I only drink from my skin here in town. Anyway, you'll need to kill a warrior-caste yuan-ti - only their scales are suitably large."

Task: Offer "It isn't. Rather, it's something I've been after for years. Dangerous though - a drow slaver's cage. They're enchanted, and designed to hold up to surface light, unlike most of their crafting. You manage to haul one of those back to me, and I'll pay handsomely indeed."

Task: More Information "There's rumored to be a large settlement of drow somewhere in the region. That's all I can tell you, though, hunter - I never had the guts to try tracking one of them dark buggers, though I have spotted them a few times, far to the east of town, in a dark glade."

Task: Offer "Mosst obsservant, adventurer. Perhapss you would bbe sssuitable, yess, so long ass you don't pesster me with needlesss, time consssuming quessionss, yess? Ssssquidly here is all the dissstraction an old man like me can manage, I fear. First, sssomething ssimple, I think. When I come to town, I do ssso by means of gemss of teleportation I buy from the Merchantsss' Emporium. Handy little thingsss, if you haven't seen one yet. I usually pick one up on my way from the town to here, but Sssquidly disstracted me and I neglected to do sso today. And, I do sso dissslike going in there - get me one, and I'll reward you for it - it ssso happensss I have a Ssssaintsblood Pearl I found - dissgusssting thingsss, but ussseful to your sssort, yesss? In any event, I ssugesst you buy ssome port gemsss yoursself, when you're able, and alwaysss try to keep one on hand - it will greatly ssspeed your travels hither and thither"

Task: More Information "Remember my warning about needless quessstions, yess? Although I ssuppossse I invited that one - very well. You simply use them, pinching them in your fingerss - ah, but the merchant will sshow you. In any event, they sssimply bring you from anywhere you might be, to a sspot in front of that great tree in the center of town, ssso long as the sspot you are in isssn't ssshielded from teleportaion magicss."

Task: Offer "I do, yesss. I need you to fetch me a burial pall - a new, unused one. There ssshould be plenty in the storage room in the Crypt Funeral Hall, in the cemetary to the easst. Mind the undead, though."

Task: More Information "Remember, NO QUESSSTIONSSS! Mmm, he isssn't a very good lisstener, is he, Sssquidly? I won't remind you again."

Task: Offer "Ah, yes, dissscretion, ssuch a wonderful word. I think she iss learning, Sssquidly. In point of fact, I do. I find myssself in need of ssome grave dussst. You ssshould be able to find some in the appropriately-named dussty crypt, in the sssmaller graveyard located in the town proper."

Task: More Information "Quesstionss, quessstions, how she loves to ask quesssstions! But ssseeing ass you aren't trying to pry, I will ansswer. Yess. In fact, there will be undead in many of the placesss I plan to sssend you. If you are like the woodssman over there, you're probably already ussing potionsss of ressstoration to deal with the unwanted sside effects of travel in thesse partss. You will find, however, as you gain in experience, that you can learn to ussse other thingsss insstead, like pearlsss of resstoration. Much lesss weight to tote around for an old man like myssself, eh Sssquidly? You can find thesse pearlsss in the ssame ssstore I ssent you to for the gem, the Merchant's Emporium, ssshould you want to purchassse a few to carry with you on your travelsss."

Task: Offer Yess, I did - I think. Sssquidly? [the thing on the table wiggles its tentacles]. Yess, it ssseemss I did. There iss a canyon - you know the goblin encampment north of town? Wesst of there, yes, called Rift Canyon. There isss a thinnesss to the planess, there - but no matter. A particular type of undead, a riftwalker, can be found there on occasssion. I need you to bring me a sswath of itsss flessh.

Task: Offer "Sssh, adventurer, disscretion, remember? [he looks around, furtively, you think, though you can't see much of his face] I do have a tassk for you. There isss an ancient tomb beneath thiss town, where a wizard was buried. At some consssiderable difficulty, I located hiss corpsse. It isss in the largessst sseparate burial chamber within, a room with two giant ssswordss driven into the ground, and three ssssarcophagi. !Search along the walls for a sskeleton, and bring me a finger bone from it. [To use the !search command, simply hit enter to type text, type '!search', and then hit enter again. You'll be given a command targeter item if you don't have one. You then use your command targeter to choose the place you want to search.]"

Task: Offer "Yess, yess I do. Ass it happens, a bit below that place I sssent you last time, there liess a large cavern, and within, a tower - the tower of the ssso-called Corpselord. I require a book from it, the Codex Necromantica. I will pay well, of courssse. Sssquidly! Back from the candle, fool creature - you'll ignite!"

Task: More Information "[He frowns] Quessstionsss...but you have proven ussseful, and I see no harm in it, eh Sssquidly? [the creature's tentacles remain still] Sssuidly was once an alhoon... an undead illithid, yesss? One who deemed fit to pessster me. He has sssince learned better, though, haven't you Ssssquidly? [the tentacles quiver] Yesss, that'sss a good Sssquidly. Other than an occasssional ssssuicide attempt, he isss quite a ssssuitable companion."

Task: Offer "Your timing is excellent. The tassk thisss time isss sssomewhat more challenging. There is a place, under the Anduin temple, known asss the Hallss of the Dead. There, the priessstss sset pressserved corpssesss asss guardianssss - mummysss, yess? There are four canopicsss, at least one of which will contain ssssome mummy dussst. It isss thissss dussst I require."

Task: Offer "Excellent! There isss a ruined tower along the northern sside of the road eassst of town. You know the one, yesss? It is home to a number of fasscinating sspecimens, one of which I require for further sssstudy. You will find animated, dissmembered armsss ssstalking the ruinss under the tower. Dissable one, and bring it to me, and I will pay you well, asss alwayss"

Task: Offer "Yess, I do, ass it happenss. The sssshadow elvess, they have a ssspecial sacremental fluid that they drink during their ritualsss. I require a sssample of thiss fluid."

Task: More Information "They make their home in the treetopsss to the northeasst of the dead wood, itself northeasst of town. The fluid sssshould be in the preissst's belongingss, or in their temple."

Task: Offer "You are, are you? Very well, then. I do have need of ssseveral more things - Ssquidly, where's that lisst I had you ssscribe? You ate it? Fool creature - give it here. Ah, yesss. Thisss next item iss dangerouss, adventurer, but the pay will be good, I asssure you. I need the fang of a fressshly turned vampyr."

Task: More Information "Follow the east road out of town to the crosssroadss, then turn north, and you'll find Cassstle Gaobin. Sssearch that area, and you'll eventually find one. Mind you, it mussst be fresshly turned, or you won't have time to extract the tooth before it dissintegratessss."

Task: Offer "Indeed I do. You remember the sssshadow elvess, yesss? I have been able to discover some interesssting thingss about their little sssacrement and itsss roots in hisstory. I now require you to find sssomething elsse of theirsss - in a tomb sssouth of their village, in the eassstern part of the Dead Wood. Sssomewhere in that tomb, called the Tomb of Ssssshadowss by the elvess, there ssshould be a red gem, one apparently made of glassss. Bring it to me, and I will reward you well."

Task: Offer "I'm afraid I wasss a bit carelesss with my utensssilss, and left it within tentacle'ss length of him. He's alwaysss trying to ssstick himsself with thingsss, and now he'sss finally gone and done it, ssstupid creature. Good help isss sso hard to find, yesss? He'sss a little off, now - I'm afraid there'sss nothing for it but to take him on a trip to the Pillar of Ssskullss. [the tentacles twitch, if a bit languidly] You sssee, Ssssquidly, I TOLD you I could find other ussses for you if you misssbehaved. Ssstupid creature. But I digresss - I have one final tasssk for you, adventurer. I have need of the wing of an elder deepbat."

Task: More Information "Deepbats are, asss their name indicatesss, creaturesss of the deep. There isss a great cavern underground, near the city of the drow, and it issss near that cavern you will find them."

Task: Offer "Hmm - you've a silver tongue for one of the common folk, I'll grant you that. Perhaps - yes, I do so tire of waiting for the other merchants to attend to my needs. There is in fact a matter in which you can assist me. I will of course pay you a wage, as I would any common laborer. I have ordered a gold-glass still from the alchemist in town. Bring it to me, and in exchange, I'll give you a pack of heal potions worth far more than the fee he asks. They've been setting around collecting dust, and are unlikely to be of use to me. You HAVE been to his shop, haven't you? A rather remarkable place, for such a small and, um, rustic hamlet such as this."

Task: More Information "He stocks quite a few different types of potions, to answer many of the needs an adventurer, such as I presume you are, judging by your attire. He even carries convenient 10-dose sizes of some, and, should you be a dabbler in the arts of alchemy and potioncraft as I, he also carries huge quantities of emtpy potion bottles, suitable for whatever brews you might wish to make. Most convenient of all, he carries racks of 10, for quick brewing. You simply cast the appropriate spell at the rack, and you get 10 doses of the potion, instead of one."

Task: Offer "Ah, 'tis you! I had hoped you might stop by - as perverse as it sounds to say such a thing of a commoner. I have need of your particular talents as a seeker of adventure. Specifically, I need some ichor of greem slime for a potion I am brewing. Fetch me some and I'll page you a handsome wage."

Task: More Information "Sadly, the sewers of this hovel - and such a curiosity that it has sewers, like a proper town - are rumored to have some lurking about, if you know where to look. As a genteel man of learning, it is my duty to instruct those beneath me, so I will also give you this warning - beware swinging at the creatures with your weapons, as they are extremely corrosive, and likely to destroy them. You may want to bring along spare weapons to use, if you care about the ones you have."

Task: Offer "Yes, yes I do. I need an iceblossom bulb, and that cursed geriatric that passes for this town's herbalist refuses to get me one, since I did not deign to explain my need of it. You will fetch me one instead, won't you? The grow in the icy foothills near the old Anduin temple. If you can get there and get me one, I'll make it worth your while."

Task: More Information "The temple's location is a bit of a mystery. I did, however, hear a traveling merchant speaking of it, last time I had to set foot inside the brewery, up north in town proper. Apropos, that it is named 'Wretched.' The iceblossom is a blueish flower found only in cold climes. You'll have to !search for it. [To use the !search command, simply hit enter to type text, type '!search', and then hit enter again. You'll be given a command targeter item if you don't have one. You then use your command targeter to choose the place you want to search.]"

Task: Offer "I do, in fact. It turns out I need a particular kind of brazier to transmute that bulb. I had the traveling magician downstairs do a scyring - and may I say, he was unstinting in his demands for coin, VERY vulgar - and it seems the closest to be found is again nearby the temple - a perfect task for you, now that you've found it, yes? In any event, it's somewhere below the temple, this time, nearby or in a coven of Rakshasa. I will of course pay more, to cover the added risk, but I very much need this brazier. Can you get it?"

Task: Offer "Yes, indeed. I've begun another project, and find myself in need of a particular kind of green quartz. It can only be found in the foothills of Mount P'Reeth - usually in streambeds. You'll have to !search for it."

Task: More Information "Other than being somewhat menial for my tastes, those hills are infested with vampyrs - not something I'm prepared to risk. I'm sure your skills will be up to the challenge, though."

Task: Offer "I suppose so, yes. I find myself in need of the lure glands of an adult watershrike. If you retrieve some, I can reward you handsomely."

Task: More Information "Are you familiar with old Rendish's farm? It's abandoned now, but it's still accessible via a portal he set up in Farmer Bob's cornfield. It requires a port gem, available in the Merchant's Emporium, and some other item as well - you'd have to ask Farmer Bob, such peasant concerns are of course beneath me. In any event, there is, to the north of the farm, a despoiled lake, which the shrikes have made their home. You will need some form of water-breathing magic if you wish to enter their lair."

Task: Offer "Yes, indeed, and this time, no carving! Though 'tis curious, I had thought those of lower birth accustomed to such, uh, visceral tasks. In any event, I find myself now in need of a particular kind of heat-loving fungus. It grows near volcanic vents, but only those deep within the earth."

Task: More Information "No good one, I'm afraid. I do know that there's an entrance to the underdark to the far east of town, along the East Road and beyond. That's as likely a place as any to start looking, though remember, it only grows fairly deep below ground."

Task: Offer "Ah, yes, indeed I did. It is a... uh, nevermind. I just hope you can manage this without arousing undue notice. I have a gentleman's reputation to maintain, after all. There is an orange liquid used by drow slavers - I would like to procure a sample for analysis. Do you think you can manage to find me some?"

Task: More Information "This, uh, liquid, is considered illegal in most places. It is known as aphrodin, and it renders most humanoids submissive to suggestion. I assure you, however, my aim is noble: to formulate an antidote."

Task: Offer "Heh, sharp eye there, landlubber. Old Obi does keep a few pots stirrin', that be a fact. Speakin' of, ye do look like the adventurous type - one o' them as is huntin' the crown, less I miss me guess. I hit a spot o' trouble last week, when one o' me package boys n'er did show up. I be thinkin' he got hisself waylaid by those damn lizards off west from town. Most of his lot was junk, but thar was a cask o' Thayvian Firewine I be dearly missin'. Ye fetch it back, and I'll pay ye a pretty bit o' coin, aye?"

Task: More Information "Eh? No, no, the wee ones, uh... kobolds, they be called, I reckon. Nasty lil' buggers too. They's as been hasslin' me boys for some time, so bad I e'en went an paid out for some magic bags, to help em carry more without gettin' loaded down. Adventurer like yerself could actually mebbe use sommat like that, no? If'n so, they sells em at that shop in town...Merchant's, umm, Emporeum, that be the place."

Task: Offer "Well, seein' as the wee folk don't seem to trouble ye none, mayhap I do. Damned goblins, this time. Several months back they ran off with a cartful o' goods, they did, includin' a crate o' mine. Most of the lot was rubbish, but I did 'ave a bundle o' dreamleaf I'd pay well to get returned...if'n they ent, uh, desecrated on it, if'n ye know what I mean."

Task: More Information "They be up north o' town just a spot - I don't know landlubber reckonin'. Has themselves a camp, they do. If'n my stash still be around, there's the place to start lookin'."

Task: Offer "No at the moment, not a one. I do have a task for ye, 'owever, if'n yer up for it. Yesee that thar crossbow on me desk? I keep it handy-like, for'n some customer be thinkin' te rob me. And, uh, I like to give the bolts a special coating, fer t'insure they don't be tryin' it twice. *his voice drops to a whisper* Tha secret do be gnoll dung, see? Most vile stuff this side o' the Sea o' Fallen Stars, see? Wee bit on a bolt, and tha bastard be down for weeks with the shakes. Thinkee can get me some?"

Task: More Information "No, by Storm Lord's beard, I swear it, lubber. The gnolls, they be up north o' town a spot. I can give ye a sack - all ye has to do is fill it with gnoll droppins. Simple as that, and I'll pay ye good coin, I will."

Task: Offer "Ha! I be understandin', lubber. Just so happens I do 'ave need o' ye. Another o' me runners just missed 'is drop. Says frost orcs, up near Bywater, on the Northern Trader's route, did be ransackin' his wagon. That wagon did be havin' a valuable shipment o' mine, it did, and I'd pay well to have it."

Task: More Information "Sure'n I do. He did be runnin' tha orc blockade of Bywater, bringin' me all sorts o' exotic vittles 'n such - folk in these parts pay well for 'em, they does. My coin is on tha shipment bein' somewhere in their caves, if'n they've not ransacked it. Just head along until ye come to tha orc fortificaions, and ye be there."

Task: Offer "Nay, lubber, this be somethin' different, though still of a lubberly way. I've a client who's wantin' some doxy's kiss - I see by yer beffudled look ye know not of what I speak. 'Tis a plant, a fern, that be growin' only a few places. So far as I be knowin', tha only place 'round these parts to find some is in the Dead Wood, up north and east of town."

Task: More Information "Well, looks like much'n every other fern, ceptin' it has smaller leaves, like, finer. Ye'll be knowin it when ye sees it. Ye'll be havin' te !search for it, though. [To use the !search command, simply hit enter to type text, type '!search', and then hit enter again. You'll be given a command targeter item if you don't have one. You then use your command targeter to choose the place you want to search.]"

Task: Offer "Aye, that be the truth, it do. T'was my pride n' joy, she was, and sad was I te see the day we parted, on the rocks. But Obi do no be thinkin' ye came to chat about the Crow, eh, lubber? A job on yer mind, mebbe? Well, I'll not disappoint ye. Ye remember the dung I had ye fetch? Well, I went and had a better idea, seein' how you handle yerself an' all. There's a poison the pointy-ears call the Long Sleep - one bit in a scratch and yer out like a candle in a tempest. I been thinkin' how sommat like that could prove even better than wot I got. So, if'n ye find me some, I could pay well indeed for it, I could. It be evaporatin' in air too quick to be useful in yer trade, but I could keep it right by my bow o'er yonder, and ready at a moment's notice. Never know wot scurvy dog's gonna come along and try to nick old Obi's stash, eh?"

Task: More Information "Well, that's the thing o' it. One o' me runners does a bit o' business with them 'shadow elves' up nor'east o' where I sent ye for the doxy's kiss. He be tellin' me they have some of the stuff t'was what prompted me te ask ye."

Task: Offer "Ha, lubber, ye threw me for a second! Sounded like one o' me old mates. Anyhow, I do have work for ye, and not a moment too soon. One of me lads 'as up an gone missin', he 'as. I be wonderin' if ye might help me find 'im. He's a good sort, and handy, and were carrying a packful of valuables my way, he was."

Task: More Information "Oh yes indeedy. He was one of the wee folk, the, uh, halflings. He was doin' a bit of subterranean trade for me, as he was extra good at sneakabout. He'd occasionally 'acquire' some pretties from the dark elves, and sell at a reduced price. If'n he's anywhere, he'll be hidin' in the tunnels in tha cave off'n the dark glade at the end of the trail east of town. How far down, I be havin' no way o' knowin'."

Task: Offer "Oh? Well, lubber, ye've been a great help to me, thar be no denyin' that. I do 'ave two jobs of a more delicate nature, and I think ye've proven yer mettle aplenty. Back in me ole days o' captaining, I used t' stash me coin in safe spots, instead o' levin' it aboard tha ship. Good thing, too, or I woulda lost it all when she wrecked. Anyhow, I did already reclaim most o' tha booty, but thar be one spot I did be unable to get to, as some crazed undead thing had moved hisself in an' started animatin' undead minions. Not somethin' a simple ship's captain be suited to deal with, aye lubber? Anyhow, if ye're able t' find it, I'd pay ye well indeed for its return."

Task: More Information " 'Tis well tucked away fer certain. Ye know of ole Rendish's farm? 'Tis abandoned now, but 'tis still connected ta town by way o' a magic portal he set up in Farmer Bob's cornfield - don't be askin' me the whyfor o' that, lubber, I just be tellin' what I knows. It takes a port gem t' access, o' tha sort sold in the Merchant's Emporium, and some other thing too - ye'd be havin' ta ask Farmer Bob. Anyway, thar do be a lake up just a ways from tha' farm. Ye'll be needin' some form of water-breathing magic, as tha booty do be in the flooded crypts IN the lake. A fine hidin' place, no, lubber? Tha booty do be in tha third tomb on yer left, in tha back, under a round seal. Ye'll be havin' ta !search real careful to find it - old Obi doesn't stash his coin just any ole place. Oh, don't be tryin' ta open tha chest, neither - 'tis trapped."

Task: Offer " 'Tis a dangerous thing, but I be thinkin' yer up fer it. There be a certain type o' incense burned by the dark elves - them evil pointy-ears, aye? It be used in their ceremonies an such. Me old mother, may she rest in peace, did be burnin' such incense, and I'd be payin' a great deal o' coin ta have some o' it. Accourse, layin' hands on it be a wee more difficult than the speakin'"

Task: More Information "Well, rumor be havin' it that thar be a city o' tha dark ones somewhere below. I be guessin it be havin' a temple to their dark god somewhere innit - that be where I'd be lookin' first, methinks."

Task: Offer "Hm, well, I'm about to scribe a scroll of lightning bolt, so I suppose I'll be needing that eel vellum. Yes, I do have something for you. Fetch me the eel vellum I ordered, and I'll give you a freshly-scribed pack of resurrection scrolls, worth a good bit more than that vellum."

Task: More Information "Oh! So I didn't - how silly of me. I really am quite terrible at conversations, you see. In any case, I ordered it from the item shop in town proper. Have you been there? Wonderful place, really, with all sorts of scribing supplies. They have large sheaves of scrolls that you can break apart as needed for scribing spells. The packs of 50 are especially nice, as they break down into five stacks of ten, and when you cast a spell once at them, you get ten scribed scrolls - quite a timesaver. Oh, and they have a fair selection of scribed scrolls as well, which are no doubt of interest if you're one of those seekers of the Immortal Crown."

Task: Offer "Interrupting me - blast! [the tip of her quill breaks off] Now you've done it. Well, since you're asking - go upstairs and fetch me a new feather off the pole. You'll have to !search the pole for the one with the narrowest quill. I do have other work no doubt - I'll draw myself up a list while you're at it. [To use the !search command, simply hit enter to type text, type '!search', and then hit enter again. You'll be given a command targeter item if you don't have one. You then use your command targeter to choose the place you want to search.]"

Task: Offer "I did? Oh, yes, sorry, I was distracted for a moment. I find myself in need of a raven's feather - various scrolls require various writing implements, you see. I saw some ravens just over in the cemetary to the east - do you think you could nip over there and grab one of their feathers for me? I will, of course, pay you well - catering to the needs of so many seekers for the Crown is very lucrative, you see."

Task: Offer "I require the belly of a blotter beetle. They are somewhat more dangerous than ravens, I'm given to understand, but you look up to the task."

Task: More Information "Indeed I do. Rosset's on Insectae Gigantica indicates that such creatures prefer to live amongs other larger-than-normal beetles. Apparently they are quite cowardly for their size, and seek safety in numbers. They're even known to spray out a slippery oily substance from their bellies - the very stuff I'm after, as it happens - when confronted with danger. You know, a sort of fear reflex. Further, A Topographical History of Ascension, volume 3, indicates there is a cave full of beetles to just to the west of town - in fact, you can see their burrow-holes all alongside the road. I suggest you begin your search there."

Task: Offer "I require some fennis root sap for a project. Black's on Herbology insists that it is superior to oak - oh, but you wouldn't care about that, of course. I do tend to lecture, I apologize. In any event, Zolgrin's Fieldbook to Herbology indicates that fennisroot is almost exclusively found underground, and almost always in orc dwellings - caves and the like. Would you be willing to fetch me some?"

Task: More Information "Topographical History volume 4 puts a series of caves to the west of town as a likely place for numerous humanoid dwellings, given proxiimity to surface trade roads, access to water, and size. I would start your search there, though I fear the underground cave complex in that region is immense. Oh, I should mention that, according to Black's, fennisroot is most often found in offal heaps - it feeds off the nutrients therein, it seems."

Task: Offer "Oh! Yes, good. Sorry, you gave me quite a start there - this tome on taxonomy is rather engrossing, I must say. What were - oh, yes, of course, please excuse my absentmindedness. I require some minkberries. Do you think you can fetch me some?"

Task: More Information "Oh, you've not heard of them? They're orangy-red berries, that grow on medium-sized bushes. Flora of the Inner Sea Region says they're uncommon, but often found in forests. And, serendipitously, it specifically mentions the forest to the north of here - the Forgotten Forest, it's called. You'll have to !search it to to find the berries - just keep an eye out for bushes with reddish-orange berries on them."

Task: Offer "Bwah! Oh...goodness. You scared the words right out of me! I'm afraid I'd make a terrible adventurer - even reading about these beasts sets me on edge, nevermind how distracted I can become when pursuing a piece of knowledge. Zoarander's Zoology's descriptions are QUITE vivid, I must say. But yes...let me think - oh, right. I have need of a piece of graphite from an elemental composed of the stuff."

Task: More Information "Yes, just so. Unusual, no? I hadn't heard of such a thing until I struck upon this recipe for ink, here. In any event, Topology volume 6 indicates large deposits of the stuff near the old Anduin temple, though it appears the pass that used to lead there is now closed off - you'll have to find a new route, one which I'm afraid isn't detailed in any of my volumes. I did find records in Journeys: An Acolytes's Journal, however, indicating that the priests of that temple once animated earth, stone, and other elementals to guard its lower reaches, which apparently touch on a vaster system of caves, part of the Underdark. One surmises that these elementals were freed when the temple was destroyed, at least those not destroyed with it. I imagine you'll find some roaming free in the rocky regions near the temple. Elements of Elementals says the creatures prefer natural surroundings to man-made ones, so they're probably no longer below the temple."

Task: Offer "Uh, oh, hello again. I'm not certain that I - oh, jobs, yes, of course. One of the projects I'm working on requires some cave troll skin. If you can fetch me some I could pay generously for it."

Task: More Information "Well, Huthbert's Underdark Fauna didn't have much to offer, despite a lengthy section on their breeding habits which I nearly skipped in spite of myself - filthy creatures. Rizban's Aberrant Physiologies suggests, however, that cave tolls require more dark and damp than most of their breed. And Licentus the Second noted in his travel journal that - oh, I suppose that isn't relevant to the question. Mulis' Travels in the Dark notes that they're commonly found in very deep caves, and, most importantly, the Acolyte's Journal mentions a pack of them dwelling someplace below the Anduin temple, or the ruins, I suppose they are now."

Task: Offer "Oh! Um, I did? But I don't need any more ingredien - ahhh, of course, how forgetful of me. Yes, there's something you can get for me. There is a book I would like to look at, called On the Preservation of Parchment, Vellum, and other Writing Media. I would very much like it if you could obtain a copy for me. I've already checked with the Sage in town, however, and he has no such volume. He suggested, however, that someone search the library in Castle Gaobin. He warned me not to go myself, though, saying it was full of undead creatures. A good thing he warned, me, too, because even the most recent volume of my histories doesn't mention the fall of the castle."

More Information "I think he mentioned something about vampyrs, actually, though I'll admit I was only listening with half an ear after he told me I might find it there."

Task: Offer "Oh! You again. I, uh, well, yes, there is. It so happens that, after having perused my latest tome, I find myself in need of two ingredients, after which I shall be occupied for quite some time. The first is the blood of a yuan-ti. In particular, their preistesses should be quite suitable for this. I know it sounds a little, uh, sanguine, but they really are dreadful creatures, so I can't really make myself feel bad for asking."

Task: More Information "Oh, well, that's easy, you see. Topography had nothing of use, but I DID manage to find something, in the most obscure place! It's really quite fascinating what one can turn up if one understands the mind - er, sorry, lecturing again. I, uh, found an interesting passage in the town ledger of all places. Seems there was a cult of them engaged in worship beneath the city. They were sealed off some years back by means of an arcane seal, though I'm afraid I couldn't find any more specific information with regard to the method of undoing such a seal."

Task: Offer "Oh, yes, thank you for reminding me. My mind wanders so easily at times... I don't suppose I gave you any hint as to - oh, of course. There is a kind of ore, which according to Silveraxe's Guide to Smelting, is usually called 'deepsilver'. It isn't just silver ore, mind you. Anyway, Topography didn't make any mention of it, but I found some old mining charts that indicated a number of veins of ore in the deeper caverns off to the east. In particular, they speak of a great cavern, far beneath ascension, and adjacent to a large drow city. There is apparently a vein of this deepsilver in or near this cavern - the miners that attempted to mine it were slaughtered by dark elves before they could."

Task: More Information "Yes, I'm afraid so. They don't take kindly to strangers - I don't even need a book to tell you that - so you will have to remain hidden if you wish to avoid confrontation, as only seems prudent."

Task: Offer "Indeed it is! Between ordering stock, attending to the guests, and playing barkeep, I barely have a moment to myself. Oh, pardon, I suppose that came out wrong - I am always happy to converse with a patron so handsome as you. [she smiles brightly] Our guests can be demanding, but at least they are predictable - all of our rooms are filled with long-term boarders, mostly merchants of one sort or another come to do business with all the seekers of the Crown. And then, of course, there's our banquet hall, the Green Room, which we often rent out for gatherings. Oh! That reminds me, I still haven't procured fresh table settings! An innkeep's work is truly never done. I don't suppose you'd have a moment to spare to help out a damsel in distress, would you? I'm in need of some maiden's kiss flowers to make arrangements for an upcoming gathering. [she flashes a winning grin at you]"

Task: More Information "Hah, indeed it is not. I spotted some on the road to town just west of town proper, the other day, but I didn't have time to pick them. The are lovely, longstemmed flowers with greenish-white petals and red centers. You'll have to !search the flora a bit to find some suitable for a centerpiece. [To use the !search command, simply hit enter to type text, type '!search', and then hit enter again. You'll be given a command targeter item if you don't have one. You then use your command targeter to choose the place you want to search.]"

Task: Offer "So sweet of you to ask. [she beams at you] You have the look of a crownseeker about you. Maybe you COULD help me with something, if you are not adverse to a little excitement. You see, the entire reason my father came to this town so many years ago was to find the final resting place of one of our ancestors. I think that, as the years slid past, he became preoccupied, first with the running of the inn, and later with his cooking. I do not think the desire has stayed with him, but it is still quite strong with me - you see, I have never seen our homeland, and some link to my past, however distant, would be most welcome. I do not wish to bore you with my girlish dreams of home, but, with the help of Zeke over there, I have managed to locate what may be a breadcrumb on the path to finding my ancestor. There is apparently a family locket in an urn in the crypts to the east of here. It was probably given to a wife or lover, rather than resting with a direct descendant, but I would still very much like to have it. Apart from its sentimental value, it may well hold a clue to finding my ancestor's resting place."

Task:More Information "I do, thanks to Zeke. His scrying tells me that it rests in a glassteel urn - bright white in color, with an irregular shape, in a tomb roughly in the center of the second level of the crypts."

Task: Offer "Aren't you a dear. [she flashes a grin] Actually, there is a matter than has been troubling me of late, and causing problems for the inn. You see, one of our guests was robbed on their way out of town. Of course, we would neve allow something like that under our roof, but we still feel it reflects badly on the Inn when one of our guests leaves town in such a terrible way. I have asked Zeke to scrye out the location of our guest's belongings, and it turns out they're in a crate not far north of town, in a cave full of bugbears. I would be ever so grateful if you could retrieve them for us, so that we might return them to the guest. The Silver Moon must ever shine brightly, after all. [she flashes a fetching smile]"

Task: More Information "In his earlier days, before settling down, my father often found adventure as he sought clues about our family ancenstry. Shortly before he retired from that life, he found the orb that sits in the common room, all ablaze with silvery light. He was quite taken with it, and arranged to have it moved here. He named the inn for its likeness to a silver moon. You should ask Zeke if you want to know more. Aside from studying various methods of divination, he's undertaken an extensive study of the moon, hoping to discover its original purpose."

Task: Offer "A most gentlewomanly offer. Perhaps you recall the locket I asked you to retrieve? It turns out it did provide a breadcrumb after all. The symbol of the old Anduin Temple was engraved on it, marking it a work commissioned by the temple. It seems likely that one of my ancestors was a priest there, or at least affiliated with them in some way. Our family is said to be far older than the temple, but it might offer another breadcrumb up, if you were to find and !search the temple records, should any books remain."

Task: More Information "It lies somewhere near Ascension, though apparently the pass that connected it to the town has long since been closed by a rockslide. The barkeep at Rip's, who is fond of spending his off-hours drinking here, tells me the traveling merchant that frequents that brewery likes to brag of having found an alternate route to the ruins of the temple. Perhaps you might ask him."

Task: Offer "No, not yet, I'm afraid, but thank you for asking. I'm still in the process of translating it. Only more time will tell. Still, though...I do have a favor to ask, if you have the time. There is a wizard to the east of town, in a strange tower just east and south of the town's eastern gate. He is not a particularly agreeable sort in the best of times, and in recent days has formed an alliance with a group of humanoids - hobgoblins or orcs or something of the sort, apparently with plans to launch raids on the town. Obviously the town watch won't stand for this. I understand they're planning to assault the tower at some point. This wizard, however, has a spellbook of particular interest to my father and I - we are both accomplished in the arcane arts, in case my father's kitchen helpers hadn't tipped you off. Spellbooks are fragile things, and there's a good chance it would be irreparably damaged in the guard's assault - assuming they don't just plan to bring the tower crashing down with seige weapons, as Captain Borian seems to want. If you could retrieve it before that happens, I would be most grateful indeed."

Task: Offer "Some, yes, and it is kind of you to ask. Actually, I had hoped you might be of further assistance in this regard. It turns out that one of my later ancestors was, in fact, a priest at the temple. He too, it turns out, was investigating our family's history. In particular, he had traced the family line to one Zafir Omand, who apparently had served in some capacity in a watchtower not far from present-day Ascension. Are you familiar with the ruined tower that looks out over the road just east of town? I believe that to be the tower he is referring to. If you could investigate that tower for any trace of Zafir Omand, I would be extremely grateful to you. You need only look for this symbol, his personal seal, to know you have found something of his."

Task: Offer "Indeed it did! Two, in fact. While there was no information about his parentage or close family of any kind, Zafir Omand was himself researching our family - it seems a family pastime, though an understandable one, for who does not yearn to learn where they come from? In any event, he had tracked down two possible burial sites for a truly ancient member of our line. The first location...is somewhat troubling. I must know, however, so I am asking you to search the Tomb of Shadows for anything that bears the old Omand seal, like so. [she shows you a page from Zafir's journal] I truly do not hope you find anything there, but Zafir seemed quite sure that he had traced our seal to that location. You'll have to !search all the corpses in the wall alcoves. I know it is a distasteful task, but one necessary to my piece of mind."

Task: More Information "You do not know the Tomb of Shadows? It is a dark and evil place, now claimed by the Shadow Elves - it is located in the Dead Wood just north and east of town, south of the Shadow Elves' lands. As for why it would trouble me, it was apparently a dark and evil place during the time of Zafir, and before. To think that my ancestor would have associated with such people...[she shudders]"

Task: Offer "Very generous of you to offer. [she smiles] Yes, that would be very nice. The other place that Zafir mentioned was an old temple, a place founded during the time of something called the Axerian Empire. I already had Zeke scrye what he could, and he has located such a temple, though it is nearly flooded. If you could go there and seek out any trace of my ancestors, I would be immensely grateful. It is located just above an ancient submerged city."

Task: More Information "The best that Zeke could tell me was that it lay to the east, and that the fastest route was through a portal in Farmer Bob's cornfield. Apparently another farmer placed it there - I'm not sure why - and it requires one of the portal gems they sell in the shops in town, and a piece of Farmer Bob's corn from the bin near his field, in order to trigger the portal. The farmers around here certainly are strange folk, aren't they?"

Task: Offer "Hah, you take me for the generous self-sacrificing sort, do you? [he grins] If I did, I'd probably go take a peek myself. Perhaps we can still help each other, though. Most of my time of late has been getting spent studying the Moon, crafting other orbs to attempt to dupilicate it, research, and the like. I could speed things along nicely if I had someone who could bring me the occasional item. Right now, for example, I'm in need of a perfectly clear ice crystal, and the only place I could think of to get one is on the Northern Trader's trade route. If you could get me one of those I could give you my old ring set - very handy for adventuring."

Task: More Information "Just talk to the northern trader, just outside in the docks. He can take you. I seem to recall some suitable ice formations quite close to the place he docks."

Task: Offer "Sure enough. I'm in need of a particular kind of crystal, one charged with a bit of electricity. The crystals I'm speaking of are exceedingly rare, and the only place I know of where they can be found is a small, crystal-filled cave complex in the network of caves that runs under down. The most direct cave entrance is to the west, I think. The only trick is that the beetles eat the charged crystals whenever they can find them - or maybe they form naturally in their stomachs? I don't rightly know. Either way, I DO know that only the REALLY large beetles have them, in their innards, and that I need one. Think you're up to it? I can offer several more rings, this time - ones that guard against physical attacks."

Task: More Information "You'll want a bit of electrical resistance to deal with the beetle with the crystal. Past that, I would look out for acid - some beetles like to spit."

Task: Offer "Sure do, a number of things yet. Let's see... I could use a third crystal, actually - you wouldn't believe how much varying refraction patterns can affect a scrying enchantment. Small wonder, really, that most people stick to using formed glass spheres. Pah! Anyway, the crystal I need is in a badlands near the ruins of the Anduin temple, according to my scrying. It's a place tainted by some illness, perhaps connected to the destruction of the temple. There are a number of large crystal structures protruding from the ground - one of the smaller crystals from any of them should suffice."

Task: More Information "Oh, its quite real, I've scryed it. How to get to it, though, is another matter. Apparently some fool down at Rip's in town has been blathering about a secret route there. You could try asking around there, but beware charlatans - many a one has sought to seek advantage from overly credulous crownseekers over the years."

Task: Offer "Heh - not crystals this time, but something a little more unusual. It happens I'm in need of a beholder eyeball - just from one of the stalks, mind you, not the big one - and it doesn't matter which stalk. I know this is a bit more dangerous than my last requests, but I'm hoping you're up for it nonetheless."

Task: More Information "I figured you might ask that, so I did a bit of scrying, and it looks like there's a fair-sized hive of them closer to town that I would've expected. It's up just a bit north of town, and, if I calculate correctly - is actually UNDER the gnoll fort in that area. Not where you might expect, but there it is."

Task: Offer "Actually, this time, I need one intact. Ever heard of a crystalweaver spider? The webs they spin may be just what I need. In any case, I need you to capture one alive - I can give you a wand that will hold it in a kind of stasis, if you agree to go look."

More Information "There's a large cave complex to the east, known as the Web to the adventurers who've braved it and lived to talk. It's quite deep, but these spiders only dwell on the upper level, close to the surface. You'll be able to recognize their webs, since they're much smaller than those of the other spiders in the area."

Task: Offer "Indeed. There are two more, in fact, and I'm hoping a third, but that will depend. Both are much more specific than the others, and, I'm afraid, more difficult to obtain. The first is a headpeace worn by Tulkis Gaobin, a part-time wizard and full-time undead wretch. You'd be doing the world a great favor, as well as me, by eliminating him."

Task: More Information "You've probably heard it bandied about town some. It's the name of a family who has a castle east and north of town, just north from the crossroads. They have a long history of tragedy, ending when they all became vampyrs. You'd be doing them a favor, too, come to think on it."

Task: Offer "It's a holy symbol of the deity Sseth. Mostly worshipped by the yuan-ti and other reptilians, but I won't bore you with the lore. It will look something like this. [he holds up a sketch of a twisted dragon symbol]. I had to scrye extensively, but I managed to locate it fairly precisely - turns out there's a pack of yuan-ti with one right under the blasted town. It never ceases to amaze me what comes out of city sewers. Anyway, it's likely going to be on some sacred object down there, I couldn't tell where it was precisely. Bring it to me and I'll make it worth your while."

Task: Offer "Ah, there you are. Yes, indeed, happy news. It turns out that the Silver Moon here is linked to another orb elsewhere. It defies scrying quite strongly, but I've seen dark elves in it in brief glimpses. Those two facts lead me to conclude that it is in a dark elven city, somewhere shielded by powerful magics. If you could find this linked orb, it would probably provide the key I need to understanding the Moon here, and I would of course pay generously. Think you're up to it? I know it's no small thing I ask."

Task: More Information "Well, I know there've been reports of drow sighted to the east of town, and I know there's a cave complex there that used to be a mine - likely it has links to the underdark. As for where in the city it might be, well, for an object of this uniqueness and potential power, I suspect they'd have it kept somewhere for study. More than that, I can't guess."