View Full Forums : Earring of the Solstice/Xanthe's Earring of Nature *Updated*


Xiggin
05-12-2002, 08:42 PM
LATEST NEWS AND NOTES- June 9-16, 2002

1. The reward was changed:
From Earring of Solstice
5 int, 5 wis, 40 hp, 40 mana had been changed to the following:

Xanthe's Earring of Nature
AC 5, str 8, sta 8, wis 10, hp 55, mana 55, sv fire/cold/magic 7
Lore - Druid Only
Effect: Circle of Combines

2. Also, you can trade Xanthe's Earring for a trade-in and this way a Druid can get two nice earrings and a non-druid the FT1 version:

Trade-In Reward
Earring of the Solstice: NO DROP. AC 5, STA 5, WIS 8, INT 8, HP 55, mana 55, sv fire 5, sv cold 5, sv magic 5, recommended level 51, flowing thought 1, tiny, wt 0.1, ALL/ALL.

<H3>QUEST AT A GLANCE</H3>
Overview

We congratulate Xanthe on the achievement of being the first to solve this quest. We also thank Niami Denmother and all of the Eqtraders community for allowing us to use the information contained herein. All the credit goes to them and to the Grovers who worked hard on getting this information so fast.

The quest involves collecting 9 items that require an extensive knowledge in tradeskills. The nine items are labeled "gifts". However, each ONE of the 9 gifts can be combined by someone else. This means that ALL items are tradeable and can be bought in part or in packages.

1. First Gift of the Elves: Demi-Sec Champagne
2. Second Gift of the Elves: Mistletoe Cutting Sickle
3. Third Gift of the Elves: Golden Idol of Tunare
4. First Gift of Mankind: Blessed Fishing Pole
5. Second Gift of Mankind: Star Ruby Encrusted Stein
6. Third Gift of Mankind: Ceremonial Solstice Robe
7. First Gift of the Halflings: Lotus Pie
8. Second Gift of the Halflings: Misty Thicket Picnic
9. Third Gift of the Halflings: Lucky Cabbage

The final step requires to combine all nine items in a forge and is currently a no-fail combine.

Final Rewards

1. Xanthe's Earring of Nature
AC 5, str 8, sta 8, wis 10, hp 55, mana 55, sv fire/cold/magic 7
Effect: Circle of Combines
Druid Only - Lore

2. Protection of the Cabbage spell scroll
Protection of the Cabbage
Increase Armor Class (AC) by 24 (L59)
Increase Total Hit Points from 467 (L59) to 470 (L60)
Increase Current Hitpoints from 467 (L59) to 470 (L60)
Regeneration for 6000 Mana in 1000 ticks

lvl 59 spell, no drop, 500 mana.

<h3> DETAILED SPOILER</h3>
The Nine Gifts

1. First Gift of the Elves: Demi-Sec Champagne

Combine: 1 Champagne Magnum + 1 Soda Water + 1 Wine Yeast + 2 Grapes (unstacked) (brew barrel) = Demi Sec Champagne

Other combines you need:
Champagne Magnum = 1 Enchanted Gold Bar + 1 Opal + 1 Bottle (jewellery kit)
Soda Water = 1 Soda + 1 water (brew barrel)

2. Second Gift of the Elves: Mistletoe Cutting Sickle

Combine: Blessed Sickle Blade + Blessed Sickle Hilt + Blessed Sickle Pommel + Smithy Hammer (forge) = Mistletoe Cutting Sickle

Other Combines you need:
Blessed Sickle Blade = Sheet of Metal + Smithy Hammer + Emerald + Curved Blade Mold + Celestial Essence + Blessed Dust of Tunare + Mistletoe Temper (forge)
Blessed Hilt = Sheet of Metal + Smithy Hammer + Ruby + Hilt Mold + Celestial Essence + Blessed Dust of Tunare + Mistletoe Temper (forge)
Blessed Pommel = Sheet of Metal + Smithy Hammer + Sapphire+ Pommel Mold + Celestial Essence + Blessed Dust of Tunare + Mistletoe Temper (forge)
Celestial Essence = 1 Celestial Solvent + 1 High End Research component (rune, word, Scent of Marr) (mortar and pestle)
istletoe Temper = 1 Celestial Essence + 1 Elven Wine + 1 Mistletoe (brew barrel)
Blessed Dust of Tunare = 1 Imbued Emerald + 1 Celestial Essence + 1 Jar of Acid (kiln)

3. Third Gift of the Elves: Golden Idol of Tunare

Part A: Combine: 1 Gold Bar+ 1 Idol Sketch + 1 Large Magic Block of Clay + 1 water + 1 Celestial Essence + Sculpting Tools + 1 Vial of Distilled Mana + 1 Imbued Emerald = Unfired Golden Idol of Tunare(pottery wheel)

Part B: Then combine Unfired Golden Idol of Tunare + Divine Crystalline Glaze + High Quality Firing Sheet (kiln)

Other combines you need
Celestial Essence = 1 Celestial Solvent + 1 High End Research component (rune, word, Scent of Marr) (mortar and pestle)
Divine Crystalline Glaze = 1 Permafrost Crystals + 1 Iron Oxide + 1 White Lead + 1 water (glaze mortar)
White Lead = Lead Sulfide + Limestone (mortar and pestle)

4. First Gift of Mankind: Blessed Fishing Pole

Combine: Branch of Planar Oak + Celestial Essence + Blessed Dust of Karana + Spool + Line (tackle box) = Blessed Fishing Pole

Other combines you need
Celestial Essence = 1 Celestial Solvent + 1 High End Research component (rune, word, Scent of Marr) (mortar and pestle)
Blessed Dust of Karana = 1 Imbued Plains Pebble + Celestial Essence + Jar of Acid (kiln)
Spool = 1 Sandalwood + 2 Velium Bits (unstacked) (forge)
Line = Silk Cord + Dragon Egg Oil (sewing kit)
Silk Cord = 3 Silk Threads (each made from 2 spiderlings silks) (sewing kit)
Dragon Egg Oil = Dragon Egg + water (brew barrel)

5. Second Gift of Mankind: Star Ruby Encrusted Stein

Part A: Combine: Lacquered Star Ruby + Large Block of Magic Clay + Sculpting Tools + Ceramic Lining Sketch + water + Celestial Essence (pottery wheel) = Unfired Star Ruby Encrusted Stein

Part B: Combine: Unfired Star Ruby Encrusted Stein + High Quality Firing Sheet (kiln) = Star Ruby Encrusted Stein

Other combines you need:
Lacquered Star Ruby = 1 Star Ruby + Jar of Lacquer (jewellery kit)
Celestial Essence = 1 Celestial Solvent + 1 High End Research component (rune, word, Scent of Marr) (mortar and pestle)

6. Third Gift of Mankind: Ceremonial Solstice Robe

Combine: Gem Studded Chain + 3 Sacred Tunarean Silks (unstacked) + Tunic Pattern + Embroidery Needle (sewing kit)

Other combines you need
Gem Studded Chain = Worked Silver Chain + Sapphire + Ruby + Emerald (jewellery kit)
Worked Silver Chain = 1 Enchanted Bar of Silver + 1 Metal Bits + water (forge)
Tunarean Silk = 1 Silk Swatch + Celestial Essence + Blessed Dust of Tunare (sewing kit)
Celestial Essence = 1 Celestial Solvent + 1 High End Research component (rune, word, Scent of Marr) (mortar and pestle)
Blessed Dust of Tunare = 1 Imbued Emerald + 1 Celestial Essence + 1 Jar of Acid (kiln)
Embroidery Needle = Needle Mold + water + Metal Bits + Celestial Essence(forge)

7. First Gift of the Halflings: Lotus Pie

Combine: Thick Lotus Paste + Dough + Pie Tin (oven/spit) = Lotus Pie

Other combines you will need
Thick Lotus Paste = 1 Sweet Lotus Sap (Lotus Petal and Sticky Sap work too) + Allspice + Flour + Cream (oven/spit)
Cream = Benzoin + 2 Milk (unstacked) + Dairy Spoon (mixing bowl)
Dairy Spoon = 2 Metal Bits (unstacked) + Scalar Mold + water (forge)
Dough = 1 Egg of whatever kind + Milk + Flour (mixing bowl)

8. Second Gift of the Halflings: Misty Thicket Picnic

Combine: 1 Picnic Basket + 1 Marmalade Sandwich + 1 Jumjum Spiced Beer + 1 Jumjum Salad + 1 Royal Mints + 1 Mature Cheese + 2 Slices of Jumjum Cake (unstacked = Misty Thicket Picnic (oven)

Other combines you will need
Picnic Basket = 1 Woven Mandrake + 1 Steel Boning (sewing kit)
Woven Mandrake = 2 Mandrake Roots (unstacked) (sewing kit)
Steel Boning = 1 Small Brick of Ore + 1 File + water (forge)
armalade Sandwich = 1 Apricot Marmalade + 1 Loaf of Bread (mixing bowl)
Apricot Marmalade = 3 Frosting (unstacked) + 1 Fruit (oven)
Jumjum Spiced Beer = Barley + Hops + Spices + Water + Bottle + Jumjum Stalk
Jumjum Salad = 1 Vegetables + 1 Lettuce + 1 Fennel + 1 Jumjum Stalk (mixing bowl)
Royal Mints = Eucalyptus + Frosting (mixing bowl)
ature Cheese = Rennet + 2 Milk (unstacked) + Dairy Spoon (mixing bowl)
Dairy Spoon = 2 Metal Bits (unstacked) + Scalar Mold + water (forge)
Slices of Jumjum Cake = 1 Jumjum Cake (oven/spit)
Jumjum Cake = Jumjum Stalk + Frosting + Clump of Dough + Winter Chocolate + Cake Round (spit/oven)
Winter Chocolate = 1 Brownie Parts + 2 Frosting (unstacked) (mixing bowl)


Picnic basket = 10
Royal Mints = 10 or 20 ?
Baking jumjum cake yields 10 or 20 cakes
Jumjum cake makes 10 slices when placed in an oven.
Thick paste makes 6 Lotus Pies and you get the pie tin back.
Brewing the beer results in 10 jumjum beers
6 Apricot Marmalades and 12 Marmalade Sandwichs are the results
ature cheese =10

9. Third Gift of the Halflings: Lucky Cabbage

Combine: 1 Wild Cabbage + Blessed Dust of Karana (mixing bowl) = Lucky Cabbage

Other combines you will need
Blessed Dust of Karana = 1 Imbued Plains Pebble + Celestial Essence + Jar of Acid (kiln)

The Sacrifice of Nine

Place all of your finely crafted nine gifts into a forge, and hit combine.

Reward 1:

Xanthe's Earring of Nature
AC 5, str 8, sta 8, wis 10, hp 55, mana 55, sv fire/cold/magic 7
Lore - Druid Only
Effect: Circle of Combines

Note : This can be traded for a FT1 Version
Earring of the Solstice: NO DROP. AC 5, STA 5, WIS 8, INT 8, HP 55, mana 55, sv fire 5, sv cold 5, sv magic 5, recommended level 51, flowing thought 1, tiny, wt 0.1, ALL/ALL.

Reward 2: Protection of the Cabbage spell scroll
lvl 59 spell, no drop, 500 mana.
<H3>SCROLL ONLY VERSION</h3>
This part starts in the Luclin zone of Fungus Grove.

Quote:
-----------------
You say, 'Hail, Rebecca Cabbageleaf'

Rebecca Cabbageleaf seems lost in thought and looks up only briefly from her work. "Oh, hello Cryth, welcome to the New Thicket Inn! If you'll excuse me, I'm a bit busy copying this new [scroll]. I'll be with you in a moment to chat, or to trade if you've come about the [earring]."

You say, 'What scroll?'

Rebecca Cabbageleaf looks up again with a quiet smile, "I'm making a copy of a new Protection spell, it's very exciting! The druids of Norrath have just completed an important ritual, and the gods have blessed us with this new spell! I'd be happy to scribe you a copy, if you were to fetch me the [ingredients]."

You say, 'What ingredients?'

Rebecca Cabbageleaf says, "Oh, let me see... I'll need a sheet of fancy Blessed parchment, a small flask of Dark Root ink, and of course a large quill. I think a Stormraven's quill would be best, certainly better than this one I've been using so far. Bring those items to me and I'll be happy to make you a copy for yourself. I'm not sure where you'll find all of those, I seem to have bought up the last of the stock in several places. Someone's bound to have them for sale, good luck with it!"

Rebecca Cabbageleaf smiles warmly, "Brilliant, you've brought me some more supplies! Here, please take this last copy I've made. I'd planned to use it for myself, but I'll let you use it so you don't have to wait for me to make a new one. I do hope you enjoy it!"

You gain experience!
-------------------

1. Blessed Parchment is purchased in Rivervale. The merchant's name is Byl Babbinsbort at loc -140, -120.

2. Dark Root Ink is purchased in Greater Faydark at Kelethin. Near the druid guild is a store called Bilrib's Smithy. Instead of going through the door, edge around the right side of the building where you'll find Bilrio Surecut at loc 645, 385.

3. Stormraven Quill is purchased in Surefall Glade in the druid guild. The building has a sign which reads Jaggedpine Treefolk. At the back counter is a merchant named Sequea Erthinon who sells the quill.

I paid roughly 284pp for the parchment, 252pp for the ink, and 261pp for the quill. This was with 100+ charisma and with apprehensive, ally, and amiable faction respectively. (I'm a Wood Elf so naturally the Kelethin folks will like me more).

Your price may vary depending on charisma or faction, but expect to pay between 750-800pp for this spell.

The reward is a spell scroll:

Protection of the Cabbage (NO DROP)
Level 59, 500 mana
Single-target version of Protection of the Glades
<H3>TRIVIALS</H3>
As of 6-7-2002, the final combine is still a no-fail proposition while each of the nine gifts' combines is at 250 or ABOVE. Most ancillary trivials are much lower.

1. First Gift of the Elves: Demi-Sec Champagne

Combine: 1 Champagne Magnum + 1 Soda Water + 1 Wine Yeast + 2 Grapes (unstacked) (brew barrel) = Demi Sec Champagne

Other combines you need:
Champagne Magnum = 1 Enchanted Gold Bar + 1 Opal + 1 Bottle (jewellery kit) TRI = 195-196
Soda Water = 1 Soda + 1 water (brew barrel) TRI=58

2. Second Gift of the Elves: Mistletoe Cutting Sickle

Combine: Blessed Sickle Blade + Blessed Sickle Hilt + Blessed Sickle Pommel + Smithy Hammer (forge) = Mistletoe Cutting Sickle

Other Combines you need:
Blessed Sickle Blade = Sheet of Metal + Smithy Hammer + Emerald + Curved Blade Mold + Celestial Essence + Blessed Dust of Tunare + Mistletoe Temper (forge) TRI=184
Blessed Hilt = Sheet of Metal + Smithy Hammer + Ruby + Hilt Mold + Celestial Essence + Blessed Dust of Tunare + Mistletoe Temper (forge) TRI=184
Blessed Pommel = Sheet of Metal + Smithy Hammer + Sapphire+ Pommel Mold + Celestial Essence + Blessed Dust of Tunare + Mistletoe Temper (forge)TRI=182
Celestial Essence = 1 Celestial Solvent + 1 High End Research component (rune, word, Scent of Marr) (mortar and pestle)
istletoe Temper = 1 Celestial Essence + 1 Elven Wine + 1 Mistletoe (brew barrel) TRI=136
Blessed Dust of Tunare = 1 Imbued Emerald + 1 Celestial Essence + 1 Jar of Acid (kiln) TRI=122

3. Third Gift of the Elves: Golden Idol of Tunare

Part A: Combine: 1 Gold Bar+ 1 Idol Sketch + 1 Large Magic Block of Clay + 1 water + 1 Celestial Essence + Sculpting Tools + 1 Vial of Distilled Mana + 1 Imbued Emerald = Unfired Golden Idol of Tunare(pottery wheel) TRI=222-242

Part B: Then combine Unfired Golden Idol of Tunare + Divine Crystalline Glaze + High Quality Firing Sheet (kiln)

Other combines you need
Celestial Essence = 1 Celestial Solvent + 1 High End Research component (rune, word, Scent of Marr) (mortar and pestle)
Divine Crystalline Glaze = 1 Permafrost Crystals + 1 Iron Oxide + 1 White Lead + 1 water (glaze mortar)
White Lead = Lead Sulfide + Limestone (mortar and pestle)

4. First Gift of Mankind: Blessed Fishing Pole

Combine: Branch of Planar Oak + Celestial Essence + Blessed Dust of Karana + Spool + Line (tackle box) = Blessed Fishing Pole

Other combines you need
Celestial Essence = 1 Celestial Solvent + 1 High End Research component (rune, word, Scent of Marr) (mortar and pestle)
Blessed Dust of Karana = 1 Imbued Plains Pebble + Celestial Essence + Jar of Acid (kiln) TRI=122
Spool = 2 Sandalwood (unstacked) + 2 Velium Bits (unstacked) (forge) TRI=182
Treated Silk Fibres = Silk Cord + Dragon Egg Oil (sewing kit) TRI=150
Silk Cord = 3 Silk Threads (each made from 2 spiderlings silks) (sewing kit) TRI=26
Dragon Egg Oil = Dragon Egg + water (brew barrel) TRI=150

5. Second Gift of Mankind: Star Ruby Encrusted Stein

Combine: Lacquered Star Ruby + Large Block of Magic Clay + Sculpting Tools + Ceramic Lining Sketch + water + Celestial Essence (pottery wheel) = Unfired Star Ruby Encrusted Stein

Then combine: Unfired Star Ruby Encrusted Stein + High Quality Firing Sheet (kiln) = Star Ruby Encrusted Stein
Other combines you need:
Lacquered Star Ruby = 1 Star Ruby + Jar of Lacquer (jewellery kit) TRI=110-157
Celestial Essence = 1 Celestial Solvent + 1 High End Research component (rune, word, Scent of Marr) (mortar and pestle)

6. Third Gift of Mankind: Ceremonial Solstice Robe

Combine: Gem Studded Chain + 3 Sacred Tunarean Silks (unstacked) + Tunic Pattern + Embroidery Needle (sewing kit)

Other combines you need
Gem Studded Chain = Worked Silver Chain + Sapphire + Ruby + Emerald (jewellery kit) TRI>250
Worked Silver Chain = 1 Enchanted Bar of Silver + 1 Metal Bits + water (forge) TRI=111
Sacred Tunarean Silk = 1 Silk Swatch + Celestial Essence + Blessed Dust of Tunare (sewing kit) TRI=135
Celestial Essence = 1 Celestial Solvent + 1 High End Research component (rune, word, Scent of Marr) (mortar and pestle)
Blessed Dust of Tunare = 1 Imbued Emerald + 1 Celestial Essence + 1 Jar of Acid (kiln)
Embroidery Needle = Needle Mold + water + Metal Bits + Celestial Essence(forge) TRI=122

7. First Gift of the Halflings: Lotus Pie

Combine: Thick Lotus Paste + Dough + Pie Tin (oven/spit) = Lotus Pie (miraculous meal btw)

Other combines you will need
Thick Lotus Paste = 1 Sweet Lotus Sap + Allspice + Flour + Cream (oven/spit) TRI=157
Cream = Benzoin + 2 Milk (unstacked) + Dairy Spoon (mixing bowl) TRI=83
Dairy Spoon = 2 Metal Bits (unstacked) + Scalar Mold + water (forge)TRI=86
Dough = 1 Egg of whatever kind + Milk + Flour (mixing bowl) TRI=17

8. Second Gift of the Halflings: Misty Thicket Picnic

Combine: 1 Picnic Basket + 1 Marmalade Sandwich + 1 Jumjum Spiced Beer + 1 Jumjum Salad + 1 Royal Mints + 1 Mature Cheese + 2 Slices of Jumjum Cake (unstacked = Misty Thicket Picnic (oven) TRI>203

Other combines you will need
Picnic Basket (10)= 1 Woven Mandrake + 1 Steel Boning (sewing kit) TRI=76
Woven Mandrake = 2 Mandrake Roots (unstacked) (sewing kit) TRI= 66
Steel Boning = 1 Small Brick of Ore + 1 File + water (forge) TRI,44
armalade Sandwich (12)= 1 Apricot Marmalade + 1 Loaf of Bread (mixing bowl) TRI<111
Apricot Marmalade (6)= 3 Frosting (unstacked) + 1 Fruit (oven) TRI<111
Jumjum Spiced Beer (10)= Barley + Hops + Spices + Water + Bottle + Jumjum Stalk TRI=162
Jumjum Salad (10?)= 1 Vegetables + 1 Lettuce + 1 Fennel + 1 Jumjum Stalk (mixing bowl) TRI=142
Royal Mints (10?)= Eucalyptus + Frosting (mixing bowl) TRI=83
ature Cheese (10) = Rennet + 2 Milk (unstacked) + Dairy Spoon (mixing bowl) TRI=84
Dairy Spoon = 2 Metal Bits (unstacked) + Scalar Mold + water (forge)
Slices of Jumjum Cake (10)= 1 Jumjum Cake (oven/spit)
Jumjum Cake (10 or 20) = Jumjum Stalk + Frosting + Clump of Dough + Winter Chocolate + Cake Round (spit/oven) TRI=152
Winter Chocolate = 1 Brownie Parts + 2 Frosting (unstacked) (mixing bowl) TRI=95

[b]Baking Yields[/b]
Do not get too frustrated when considering the above list...almost all baking combines will yield gargantuan results. This means that the chores can be distributed easily among a few questers:

[i]
Baking jumjum cake yields 10 or 20 cakes
Jumjum cake makes 10 slices when placed in an oven.
Thick paste makes 6 Lotus Pies and you get the pie tin back.
Brewing the beer results in 10 jumjum beers
6 Apricot Marmalades and 12 Marmalade Sandwichs are the results
ature cheese =10 [/i]

9. Third Gift of the Halflings: Lucky Cabbage

Combine: 1 Wild Cabbage + Blessed Dust of Karana (mixing bowl) = Lucky Cabbage TRI=180-184

Other combines you will need
Blessed Dust of Karana = 1 Imbued Plains Pebble + Celestial Essence + Jar of Acid (kiln) TRI=122

[b]Final Step: The Sacrifice of Nine[/b]

NO CHECK = NO FAIL - YIPEEE!
<h3>COSTS</h3>
y current guesstimate is about 3.5K in Store Bought materials, 15K if you buy all the finished products from tradeskillers. The costs below only include Store Bought Components, it assumes you've foraged and farmed anything that is foragable and farmable (except gems). It also assumes NO fees for enchanter services and subcomponent pottery combines etc.
The absolute minimum cost, assuming bought gems, is about 2.5K with no failures anywhere. If all the gems are farmed (good luck), the minimum can drop to below 1K.

Here's some notes:

1st Gift of Elves - Demi-Sec Champagne
A 250 brewer has a 95% success rate. Cost of materials per champagne is about 35pp

2nd Gift of Elves - Mistletoe Cutting Sickle
A smith with effective 255 skill seems to succeed 1 in 3 (based on 24 combines, 8 successes). Often 1 subcombine failure in the attempts. This works out to a raw cost in materials of about 1200pp for a success.

3rd Gift of Elves - Golden Idol of Tunare
Trivial at 242 pottery skill, success rate at 250 pottery a little better than 50%. Cost per attempt about 225pp, but be prepared to provide 3 sets of components, or just pay the potter 2-4K for a finished idol (market price depends on server). 200 skill potters have about 15% success rate.

1st Gift of Man - Blessed Fishing Pole
Raw cost per attempt is about 175pp. Not a lot of data on this. Guessing about 50% success rate for a 200 skill fisher.

2nd Gift of Man - Star Ruby Stein
Raw cost per attempt is about 75pp. At 250 pottery skill success rate is about 50%. Be prepared with 3 sets of components or just pay the potter 1-4K for a finished stein (market price depends on the server). 200 skill potters have about 10% success rate.

3rd Gift of Man - Ceremonial Solstice Robe
About 300pp for first attempt, 40pp per attempt thereafter. Could get really expensive since there are not a lot of 250 tailors out there. Guessing about 1K average for a 200 tailor. I've heard of a 232 tailor charging 1K for success if you bring components.

1st Gift of Halflings - Lotus Pie
Raw cost per attempt is low (50pp?). I've seen people selling finished Pies for 500-1K, seems to be standard on our server.

2nd Gift of Halflings - Misty Thicket Picnic
Raw cost per attempt a few pp (approx). I've seen finished ones sell for 500pp-1K. However, after patch the quantities have increased, hence the price should be lower by now.

3rd Gift of Halflings - Lucky Cabbage
Raw cost per attempt < 10pp.

So the conclusion is... farm and forage everything, pay the cost of gems and other store bought materials, find 250 skill tradeskillers for each item, and you should be able to get away with about 3.5K average cost.

<h3>FOR NON DRUIDS</h3>
If you are not a Druid and you've completed the PoTC quest, go and speak with Rebecca Cabbageleaf in Fungusgrove - She's more than happy to give you something you'll be able to use instead of Xanthe's Earring.

If you're one of the few people who did the quest twice and lost an earring due to it being made lore, petition in game and a GM will reimburse you with the nine ingredients needed to make another earring after verifying your loss.

If your Xanthe's Earring is out of charges, trade it in with Rebecca Cabbageleaf in Fungusgrove, and she'll give you one that has charges. When items that didn't have an effect are retroactively changed, it sometimes causes the "out of charges" bug.

To trade the earring in with Rebecca, give her your Xanthe's Earring and she'll give you an alternate kind of earring. Give her back the alternate earring, and she'll give you a fully charged Xanthe's earring back.

Miss Foxfyre
05-12-2002, 09:50 PM
<H3> COMPONENT LOCATOR </h3>
Second Volume:
Soda: Shadow Haven (River Mudhands in the Dorf cave off the spires)

Third Volume:
Celestial Solvent:
-The Bazaar off the spell component vendor
-Shadowhaven, off spell component vendor
istletoe: Shadow Havem - Kolburn Inglewort (176, 632), Zimloro Jalobottle (-414, 1426)

Jar of Acid: various smithing merchants (NFP for sure, 2 Smithy named vendors in ShadowHaven, Sateal Deirosap (-670, -35) in the Bazaar.
Gems: jewelcraft vendors

Fourth Volume:
Poison Vial: various poison merchants (Dagnor's Cauldron for sure)
ortar and Pestle: Sold in Dagnors and in Thurgadin
Lead Sulfite: N. Kaladim (Myre near Bank)
Limestone: N. Kaladim (Myre near Bank)
Permafrost Crystal: ground spawn in Permafrost
Iron Oxide: ground spawn in Steamfont

Fifth Volume:
Sandalwood: alchemy merchants (select few potion vendors, Thurgadin, Cabilis)
Dragon Egg: foraged in ToV or WW
Allspice: alchemy vendors
Brown Algae: Cobalt Scar vendor
Velium Bits: Crystal Caverns and Velketor's Labyrinth

Sixth Volume:
Jar of Laquer: same merchants with Jar of Acid and other dye items
Gems: jewelcraft merchants
Sculpting Tools: pottery merchants
Ceramic Lining Sketch: pottery merchants
Plains Pebble: foraged from Karanas and imbued by hobbits!
Planar Oak: Plane of Growth

Seventh Volume:
Fungus Compost?: foraged in Fungus Grove
Sweet Lotus Sap : drops from Deep Cavern Lotus

Eighth Volume:
ixing Bowl: various baking merchants
Dairy Spoon: smithed
Rennet: ShadowHaven - Granger Kenforth (16, 1166)
Eucalyptus Leaf: alchemy supply
JumJum Stalk: Rivervale Merchants (it does work)
Fennel: alchemy merchants
andrake Roots: alchemy merchants
Benzoin: alchemy merchants

Ninth Volume:
Wild Cabbage: foraged in the Karanas

Alchemy Trade Supplies

Since we have lots of references to Alchemy vendors, here is a short zone list with vendors carrying the needed supplies. I have eliminated zones like Cabilis, Oggok, and other zones not typically frequented by Druids.

Felwithe
ˇ sandalwood - Merchant Yisasan (shop just inside S. Felwithe zone)

Firiona Vie (docks) (Kunark)
ˇ mandrake root, allspice, benzoin - Marlyn McMerin (building at -3898, 1663)

Freeport
ˇ sandalwood - Olyna Midel , Torlig Mudel (79, -899, W. Freeport)

Halas
ˇ mandrake root, allspice, benzoin - Dargon (outside Shaman guild)
ˇ fennel, eucalyptus leaf - Spirita (outside Shaman guild)
ˇ sandalwood - Murtog MacYee (Yee Majik)

Kaladim
ˇ sandalwood - Baldoleky Rockfinder (252, -191, S. Kaladim)

Katta Castellum (Luclin)
ˇ fennel, eucalyptus leaf, sandalwood - Margy O'Koyle (233, -1163)
ˇ mandrake root, allspice, benzoin - Morfesh O'Koyle (252, -1147)
ˇ sickle leaf - Sharra O'Koyle (277, -1170)

Shadow Haven (Luclin)
ˇ sandalwood - Kolburn Inglewort (176, 632), Zimloro Jalobottle (-414, 1426)
ˇ Mandrake Root, Allspice, Benzoin - Callowolf MacFuller (122, 1236), Lemsen Frostherb (122, 1216)
ˇ fennel, Eucalyptus Leaf, Sandalwood - Polson Medicinal (133, 1196)
ˇ Sickle Leaf, - Steaon Alarenier (272, 1560)

Steamfont Mountains
ˇ jar of lacquer, resin, empty vials, jar of acid - Godbin Strumharp (windmill at /loc 51, -611) used to make dye

Thurgadin (Velious)
ˇ mandrake root, allspice, benzoin - Hulda (bank)
ˇ fennel, eucalyptus leaf - Brynjar (bank)

Niami DenMother
05-13-2002, 12:04 AM
I *hope* to work all this lovely information up into something coherent for the Quests section of EQTraders Corner once the dust has settled a bit more.

y congratulations to Xanthe (and my heartfelt apologies for the gender-confusion on my site).

y congratulations and thanks also go out to this community - I know we'd not have sorted it out as quickly if not for both communities working on this one.

When I'm less buried (and less sleep-deprived), I'll stop by here and compile any new information from here with what's over on EQTC and try to do something similar to the shawl guides with it.

Xiggin
05-14-2002, 09:10 AM
<H3>NON BOUGHT ITEMS</H3>

This will also be added in the final spoiler. Here we can list foraged items, ground spawns and other looted items.

Iron Oxide
Visual cue: these look like red lumps on the ground. (See pictures below)
<img src = http://www.eqtraders.com/pics/oxides.jpg>

Locations:
Ground spawn around the huge gears on the ground near the minotaur caves. There are 5 spawns. One under the half buried gear and 4 around or on the broken gears. You can also get Iron Oxide from the steam and earth elementals in Steamfont, in the Hole and Najena.

Permafrost Crystals in Permafrost
Visual cue: look like the Iron Oxide.
Locations: On the ground in the dire wolf pens in Permafrost, as well as on the ground in various spots of the "Goblin Castle", left of the "Flag Room".

Permafrost Crystals also drop from the Ice Goblins in Permafrost (about 1 per 20 kills). I had them drop off Ice Goblins and Ice Goblin Wizards. They probably drop off the other types as well.

Jumjum stalk
Spawns in front of druid guild in Rivervale. The spawns are on a 12-13 minutes timer and look like the typical bag.

Lotus Sap
Looted from the Deep Lotus Vine in Fungus Grove. Best strategy to kill is to have someone chain stun them. Very annoying mob. They can also be bought on vendors in FG as people dump them there.

Foraged Items
Pebble Stones in Karana
Wild Cabbage in South Karana
Branch of Planar Oak - Plane of Growth
Dragon Egg - Western Wastes, Temple of Veeshan
1 vegetable
1 fruit




....more to come.......

Llyath
05-14-2002, 01:22 PM
The fourth gift's "Spool" requires only one piece of Sandalwood

Scirocco
05-16-2002, 09:35 AM
Permafrost Crystals also drop from the Ice Goblins in Permafrost (about 1 per 20 kills). I had them drop off Ice Goblins and Ice Goblin Wizards. They probably drop off the other types as well.

Bizitt
05-18-2002, 07:55 AM
Are either the oxide or the crystals forageable as well (as are yew leaves and Misty acorns)?

Aidon Rufflefuzz
05-20-2002, 12:28 AM
The 4 ground spawns at the steam in Steamfont are not iron oxide. They are moss covered drake scales. And after an hour or so I never did see iron oxide spawn at the gears.

darklumina2
05-20-2002, 12:34 AM
I have finished the POTC quest on Tholuxe Paellis, think I am the first to do so. I used up 17k of my money to raise tradeskills and cost of failures. Took a full week to get all of this together, was well worth it. Thanks for the information.

Aidon Rufflefuzz
05-20-2002, 04:19 AM
oh yeah, you can also buy Mistletoe at one of the vendors in the main lodge area in SFG. Probably the easiest place for us to get em.

CountessKrak
05-20-2002, 06:10 AM
It costs this poor guy 16K to make a spell that is a single person version of PotG? Is Verant on crack or what? After the patch it will probably be on vendor for 200pp. Glad I was smart enough to wait. :-) Man Verant has their heads firmly planted where the sun don't shine that is for sure. Glad they at least recognized it this time and corrected this most egregious error before 6 months had elapsed like they have done every other time they have made such a blunder.

Xiggin
05-20-2002, 06:54 AM
CountessKrak, you seem to miss several points here:

1. Spending money to raise tradeskills has SEVERAL other benefits. Expect the game to require MORE and MORE tradeskills to finish quests, especially the high-end quests.
2. Some people like to the challenge of solving and finishing quests... as in EverQuest.
3. The reward of the the quest is the POTC scroll PLUS a very nice item for a slot that is not well-served.

This game is not about seeking every shortcut you can find. The purpose is to have fun. For some people that means raiding every night, for some other people that means working on silly quest.

Baragon
05-20-2002, 08:49 AM
"The only NO DROP piece in the entire quest (besides the results) is the spool for the fishing pole."

So by this, should I infer the 9 gifts themselves are no drop (too bad I'm reading this at work, I could check my champaign).

I coulda sworn though, the champaign was tradable.

Tatankawd
05-20-2002, 09:03 AM
> This game is not about seeking every shortcut you can find. The purpose is to have fun. For some people that means raiding every night, for some other people that means working on silly quest

Xiggin, I agree with your 3 points above, but I disagree with this. For some of us, finding the shortcuts is the fun =)

Tat

Scirocco
05-20-2002, 11:50 AM
LOL...good point. Sometimes the most fun is found in finding the shortcuts, whether it be finding some way to take on a tough mob, or figuring out a way to stack spells...

Xiggin
05-20-2002, 03:49 PM
"The only NO DROP piece in the entire quest (besides the results) is the spool for the fishing pole."

So by this, should I infer the 9 gifts themselves are no drop (too bad I'm reading this at work, I could check my champaign).

I coulda sworn though, the champaign was tradable.

The RESULTS of the quest are the POTC scroll and the earring.

The champagne is indeed tradeable as are the other 8 Gifts.

Xiggin
05-20-2002, 04:00 PM
[/i]Note that the Steamfont ground spawn for iron oxide WAS on a 21-22 hour timer ... so it *may* still be there, we're just not timing it right. Add iron & stone guardians in Nektulos to the possible sources for iron oxide.[/i]

Niami, we almost had a double post regarding the tradeable items!

Regarding the Iron Oxide, I can confirm that the ground spawns in Steamfont are still working. I picked up 3 Iron Oxide this morning.

However, I do not know what the story is about the Stone and Iron Guardians in Nektulos Forest. I tracked the whole zone and especially the locations that were known in the past and I did not see any of them. It is possible that they are very camped and insta-killed but I am also wondering if the mobs did not get changed when they upgraded the zone. Does anyone know?

Xiggin
05-20-2002, 04:22 PM
<h3>SHOPPING CART</h3>
INIMUM INGREDIENTS NEEDED FOR QUEST

This may help organize the hunt a bit. We now have several formats that accomplish the same thing. Hopefully, this helps a bit.
As usual, Thurgadin and Shadow Haven are best sources for most components. This list does not account for failures!

Celestial Essence/Enchanted Dust:
21 celestial solvent - Bazaar spell component vendor
21 high end research components - Scent of Marr in E Commons
8 jars of acid

Jewelcraft:
1 enchanted bar of silver - need Enchanter lvl 8
1 enchanted bar of gold - need Enchanter lvl 24
1 gold bar
3 opals - cleric gem vendor in Firiona Vie
7 imbued emeralds - need Tunare druid lvl 29
2 imbued planes pebbles - need Karana druid lvl 29
2 emerald
2 rubies
2 sapphire
1 star ruby

Brewing:
3 elven wines
2 bottles
1 soda - Shadowhaven, River Mudhands
13 water
1 wine yeast
2 grapes - Rivervale
1 barley
1 hops

Baking:
7 frosting
1 loaf of bread
1 spices
3 jumjum stalk - Rivervale
1 lettuce - Rivervale
6 milk
2 eggs - snakes in Misty Thicket
1 brownie parts - dead brownies hehe
1 cake round - smithed or pottered
3 flour
1 sweet lotus sap - Fungus Grove
1 pie tin - smithed or pottered

Foraged:
1 branch of planar oak - Plane of Growth
1 dragon egg - Western Wastes, Temple of Veeshan
1 vegetables
1 fruit
1 wild cabbage - Karanas

Alchemy:
2 sandalwood
3 mistletoe
1 benzoin
1 rennet
1 fennel
1 eucalyptis
2 mandrake roots
1 allspice

Tailoring:
6 spiderling silks - Various spiderlings (Feerrott, Steamfont)
1 tunic pattern
3 silk swatches - (Upper Guk, E Karana)

Pottery:
2 sculpting tools
1 needle mold
1 jar of lacquer
1 ceramic lining sketch
1 idol sketch
2 enchanted large blocks of clay - need Enchanter lvl 8
2 HQ firing sheets

Poison:
1 poison vial
1 lvl 39 ENC Distill Mana spell - Brownie merchant in L.Fay

inerals:
1 Lead Sulfite - N. Kaladim (Myre near Bank)
1 Limestone: - N. Kaladim (Myre near Bank)
1 Permafrost Crystal - Permafrost ground spawn
1 Iron Oxide - Steamfont ground spawn

Smithing:
7 small bricks of ore
2 velium bits -
1 Smithy hammer (is returned)
6 metal bits - smithed
1 curved blade mold
1 hilt mold
1 pommel mold
1 file - smithed
2 scalar molds

darklumina2
05-20-2002, 08:51 PM
+ Extras Xiggin, as failing is definately unavoidable (with robe and gemmed chain especially)

Ainalda
05-20-2002, 11:27 PM
So, the final combine can be failed ?

Guess I gotta start smithing...

Tatankawd
05-21-2002, 04:51 AM
I think darklumina meant that a lot of the intermediate steps will probably fail. From what I have heard the FINAL combine is a no skill combine (can't fail).

Tat

Merlman
05-21-2002, 05:09 AM
Well almost all the gifts are not trivial at 250 skill. Sooo yes you will have failures. I ran out of cash doing this quest and only got 2 gifts, 1 and 9. Unless they change the trivials I think Ill wait for the bought version. But I like quests like this so who knows. May have to just do one gift at a time as I get money for attempts.

Scirocco
05-21-2002, 05:50 AM
I did 7 of the 9 gifts myself (on the final combine for each gift). The two I farmed out were the champagne and the sickle. The hardest series of combines was the Misty Thicket Picnic (1 in 20 attempts). Total cost for the quest was about 10,000 plat. Don't start this quest without substantial cash reserves.

I have since made 3 more Ceremonial Solstice Robes with leftover parts. Any druid on Drinal that wants one for cost (which ended up being about 1500 plat), send me a tell.

I also have a spare Golden Idol of Tunare. Same deal.

Flatlands3
05-21-2002, 07:05 AM
I am having the tuffest time finding the Iron Oxide - tried SF ground spawns - only find the moss covered scales - also killed a ton of elementals in Najena the last few days. Cant find any guardians on track in Nek. Thinking I might need to head to the hole. Anyone have any advice?

Hallwin

Sumlain
05-21-2002, 09:42 AM
I've heard that iron oxide is a 21 hour spawn in steamfont and that there is only one spot in steamfont that spawns it. I don't know if that's true or what exact spot it spawns in.

A friend of mine gave up after getting his third one on Bristlebane this week. He was tired of leaving his character there since he wasn't a druid (was needing them to work on pottery skill) and didn't have self gate/port capability.

darklumina2
05-21-2002, 12:11 PM
Go kill elementals in steamfront or in the hole (hole is nerfed btw, so lower level mobs). Your best chance to get iron oxide is there (even check vendors).

Niami DenMother
05-21-2002, 07:07 PM
Add elementals in Najena to the list for iron oxide as well, but the drop rate is low, and the spawn time is slow. :)

Deliafangz
05-21-2002, 10:18 PM
the oxide in the Hole is actually dropping more from golems than elementals on Emarr at least

Relbeek Einre
05-22-2002, 07:18 AM
Jumjum stalks may be purchased. I note someone said you had to get the ground spawn in Misty, I didn't see anyone make the correction.

Jumjum stalks can be purchased in Rivervale from Daleen Leafsway at the Tagglefoot farm, or in Shadow Haven at the Lost Turnip in the Stout quarter.

--Relbeek Einre, Brell's first (and thus far only) Cabbage-bearer, and Brell's second 8th shawl bearer

Relbeek Einre
05-22-2002, 07:18 PM
Oh, I forgot to mention:

Yes, the jumjum dropped by Nillipuss, the jumjum sold by merchants, and the jumjum that spawns on the ground in Rivervale are al different jumjums.

However, I can personally testify that at least the latter two forms of jumjum both work in all the recipes. I could test the former (I have eight stalks of jumjum from Nillipuss) but I don't wanna. :)

tinsi
05-27-2002, 09:45 PM
I tested Nillipuss-jumjum a while back, didn't work.

Alliey Mistwalker
05-28-2002, 02:46 AM
I am doing this quest on The Tribunal now and wow is it tough!

Failed 25 times in a row on the Stein :(

But had a guildie give me the idol, picnic basket and pie (thanks Burro)

Also, I failed once on the Gem Studded Chain.



I know these trivials are crazy and we are spending a ton of plat, but I kinda hope they keep this quest just the way it is. When we get the spell, we have a great sense of pride in getting it.




As an aside note, I think for the time and plat spent, the earring should have some AC on it :p



Alliey, Hierophant (http://www.magelo.com/eq_view_profile.html?num=95634) <Revolution (http://pub52.ezboard.com/brevolutiontribunal)>
elodymaker, 47th Bard (http://www.magelo.com/eq_view_profile.html?num=95644) <Revolution (http://pub52.ezboard.com/brevolutiontribunal)>
The Tribunal (http://pub101.ezboard.com/bthetribunaldotorg)

MoonDancer
05-28-2002, 08:52 AM
I just finished this quest on BB yesterday:) wow i had a blast doing it one of my favorite quests to date.

If anyone on BB needs help or has questions about the quest feel free to ask:) And i can do both the smithing and the fishing part of the fishing pole if you bring me the matierals:)

-MoonDancer

Nyteschade
05-28-2002, 01:11 PM
Well on Karana, the vender who you get the Rennet from is no longer in SH. Petitioned about it and the GM said they killed him and will not be coming back, yaaa VI

Nytes
The Rez'n Druid of Illuminatus

tinsi
05-28-2002, 04:26 PM
He'll be back, just -after- they make sure you no longer can get stinking rich sitting in SH making mature cheese and selling it back to the vendor.

So - he'll probably be back after the patch.. You know, the patch where they change the quest. The people on the servers where he's been killed and who still haven't purchased a truckload of Rennet are kinda SoL if they were doing the quest for the "old" reward. :(

ELITWO
05-29-2002, 06:33 AM
if you are stuck on the cheeze (god that sounds corny)
remember - all those poeple making money SOLD that cheez to a vender. so - wander around SH and bazaar and you can probly find/buy all the cheeze you want.

tinsi
05-30-2002, 01:29 AM
About the shopping cart:

"7 imbued emeralds - need Tunare druid lvl 29"

..or tunare cleric lvl 29 :)

Small correction, but very nice to remember when you have a pocket Tunare cleric like I do. Took her FOREVER to imbue two stacks at level 29 though, but it sure beats bugging guildies for days on end.

Kaidian Blade
05-30-2002, 06:22 AM
I have two quick questions here:

1) Is Sticky Lotus Sap the same as Lotus Sap that is needed for this quest?

2) Where or who (besides Thistle Underbrush) drops Brownie Parts? The Brownie Scouts in LFay drop nothing and I am amiable to the Brownies at the little camp in this zone.

Xiggin
05-30-2002, 06:39 AM
Both those Saps will work the same.

Brownies are found in Lfay at the camp, and, albeit more elusive, the Brownies can be found in Gfay and also on the those new Mountaineer Brownies in Steamfont.

Orolmy
05-30-2002, 10:52 PM
Nillipuss in Rivervale also drops Brownie Parts.

tinsi
05-31-2002, 02:26 PM
YES! Finished the quest a couple of hours ago, and half of Mith Marr are currently walking around with cabbage buffs on. I have had a blast!

Anyway, I don't post only to brag, but to say that not only sweet lotus sap and sticky lotus sap work for the pie combine, but just about everything looted off those buggars can be used to make this pie.

Now, back to drive-by-buffing. Fun Fun!

tinsi
06-01-2002, 06:50 AM
Mature cheese in stock at vendor?

Either that, or someone has REALLY been selling a truckload of Mature Cheese to Ralshalod in SH. Worth looking into for those who are stuck at that part.

Abru
06-01-2002, 11:12 AM
"The faithful shall receive"

What exactly does that mean? What makes you faithful?

Kaidian Blade
06-03-2002, 07:39 AM
I can confirm that the vendor-bought Jum Jum Stalks work in ALL COMBINES for Misty Thicket Picnic part of this quest. However... the Sticky Lotus Sap does not seem to work. Perhaps it is just the Sweet afterall.

Oh, and it turns out there are new Brownies used in the newbie quests in Ak'Anon that spawn in Steamfont now. Also, the Brownie Outcasts in LFay drop the parts each and every time. Thanks everyone!

mystearia
06-05-2002, 09:21 AM
Hail,
Well those that avoided doing this quest before may want to reconsider since the rewards are now much sweeter. I managed to get on for 5 minutes between patches to check and this change made my day :)
The earring of solstice formerly 5 int, 5 wis, 40 hp, 40 mana has been changed to the following:

Xanthe's Earring of Nature
AC 5, str 8, sta 8, wis 10, hp 55, mana 55, sv fire/cold/magic 7
effect: circle of combines

Keryia Winterwolf
06-05-2002, 09:53 AM
Ok maybe it is just the day but I have a really dumb question. I thought I read somewhere (but for Tunares sake I can't find it) that when you do the combine on the robe the gem-encrusted chain is returned on a failure. I can't seem to locate a tailor close to 200 on Karana and I am not that close yet but I may need to make some sort of attempt when I get closer.

Keryia

Deliafangz
06-05-2002, 12:09 PM
you are correct The neck and the needle as well were both returned on failure. This is pre 6/5/02 information

ELITWO
06-05-2002, 01:02 PM
pre 6/5 - yes u get it back.
in fact the tailor druid making mine has decided this
is a great way to skill up tailoing.
he is 1 for 38 on them at 190 +5% item.

Niami DenMother
06-05-2002, 11:50 PM
As mentioned in the first post in this thread, you can trade in Xanthe's earring if you're a non druid (or if you're a druid wanting a bit of variety ...)

The trade-in version of the earring is: Earring of the Solstice: AC 5, STA 5, WIS 8, INT 8, HP 55, mana 55, sv fire 5, sv cold 5, sv magic 5, recommended level 51, effect: flowing thought 1, tiny, wt 0.1, ALL/ALL, NO DROP.

Additionally, after the patch today, the spool recipe for the fishing pole returns a tradeable "spool". (Before it was mistakenly returning a Sacred Spool of Coldain Thread, which is a no drop quest component for the 6th Coldain Prayer Shawl.)

~sleepy DenMom, owner of one Earring of the Solstice and ... 3 cats who say it's time for me to shut off the computer and give them their before-bed treats NOW

Twiggie Tymberwolf
06-06-2002, 10:09 AM
I am doing this quest on The Tribunal now and wow is it tough!

Failed 25 times in a row on the Stein

Star Ruby Encrusted Stein is trivial over 250. If you aren't at least 220+ in pottery don't even bother, it will be luck if you get one made. There have to be a few potters on your server selling these for 500-1k each, I know I sell them for 500pp on Brell. You will save money by just buying one. At 226 skill I fail about 50% of the time still.

Sayleth
06-06-2002, 12:28 PM
Is there any faction required for the quest? IE. Can a DE Necro do it?

Thanks
Sayleth

Stormhaven
06-06-2002, 01:22 PM
Post 6/5 patch (ie: today) you still get both the needle and the chain back after attempting to make the Ceremonial Solstice Robe. I shoud know, took me like ten combines at 158 skill to get the )#*$)#@( robe :)

tinsi
06-06-2002, 02:30 PM
DE necro can do it, the NPC that gives you the all/all earring talked to my BFs DE Necro just fine today.

FireCaller01
06-07-2002, 12:49 AM
Stormhaven, count yourself lucky, I'm currently at 34 failures making the robe at 192 (not including a geerlock and 255 wis).

It really seems like the robe is my sticking point and everyone and their brother is doing this quest now, ported into EK for a last attempt before sleeping and no spiders whatsoever were up. /shrug

Good luck to all druids that are gonna try to attempt to get both earrings, I know I'll need the luck simply to keep my sanity.

Stormhaven
06-07-2002, 03:29 AM
I am PotC'd!
The robe does seem to be a problematic combine, however my fellow druid and I weren't too successful on the Misty Thicket Picnic either. We had about five successes between us on about 50+ combine attempts. We were both under trivial for this though - 187-190 area.

Just adding a few notes for my observations so far:

Halfling Gifts:
Lotus Pie: The Sweet Lotus Sap and the Sticky Sap worked for me. The sap makes only one paste, but the paste makes four pies on a successful combine.
Picnic: Hard as heck - as I said above, about a 188ish skill, 40+ combines yielded about three successes. However each success yielded four (I think) MTPs.
Lucky Cabbage: No problem with 188 skill.

Elvish Gifts:
Demi-Sec: Was given to me by a friend.
The bottle was easy to make with 191 jewelcraft skill. The combine failed at 168 brewing (trivial is 250+). The bottle is eaten upon an unsuccessful combine.
istletoe Cutting Sickle: The various parts (blade, hilt, pommel) were all trivial and easy to make at 175 smithing. I got *very* lucky and got a sickle to combine on my first try. I failed two other combine attempts with extra parts I had.
Golden Idol of Tunare - Dunno, bought this one too.

Human Gifts:
Blessed Fishing Pole: The spool was trivial at 175 smithing, and the tailoring was trivial at 158. The pole was trivial at 191 fishing skill.
Star Ruby Encrusted Stein: No idea, bought this.
Ceremonial Solstice Robe: Pain in the @$$. The good news is that the needle and the Gem Studded Chain *are* returned upon combine failure. It's definately not trivial at 158 skill. My current ratio is about 1:6. The Gem Studded Chain seemed to go through streaks as well - a GM Jeweler friend of mine (250 skill) had a good run of 4:5, then bad runs of 1:5. The Worked Silver chain was trivial at 191 jewelcraft and easy to make.

Gaimon
06-08-2002, 12:18 AM
just to clarify:

Can you trade in your Xanthe's Earring of Nature, to get the FT1 earring and then do the quest again to get a 2nd Xanthe's Earring of Nature - so in effect you would be wearing the Xanthe's Earring of Nature as well as the FT1 earring?

Gaimon
www.magelo.com/eq_view_pr...l?num=4615 (http://www.magelo.com/eq_view_profile.html?num=4615)

tinsi
06-08-2002, 05:52 AM
Gaimon,
Yes.
I have both, and got them exactly the way you describe.

Rewena
06-08-2002, 08:48 AM
Whoot!!!

That answers my question =)

Khrono85
06-08-2002, 02:38 PM
Question now. To get the earring(s) you must do the quest right? All 9 gifts? And if so, Are these 9 gifts; ie. each one, tradeable? or are they no drop? And if so that means you can dish out pp to each qualified skillsman to get the 9 gifts, and then hand them in and combine for earring?

If anyone knows if the gifts are tradeable please let me know, heh if not then everything I asked was useless. If not, then the people with high enough skills can make tons of cash for each gift. I know I would pay people for each one.

anyways, let me know if these 9 gifts are tradeable or no drop. I haven't really looked into this quest to much. Thanks

Khrono

Miss Foxfyre
06-08-2002, 08:15 PM
All 9 gifts? And if so, Are these 9 gifts; ie. each one, tradeable? or are they no drop? And if so that means you can dish out pp to each qualified skillsman to get the 9 gifts, and then hand them in and combine for earring?

It's all in the quest spoiler. Yes, they are tradeable.

Nuvian Caelestis
06-09-2002, 06:04 AM
Great quest, did it twice last night, totally worth tracking down tradesmen for, the port effect could be something better (or at least faster than 24.0) but thats my only complaint, and a really minor one at that. GG VI~

Xiggin
06-09-2002, 10:29 AM
QUOTED:

COSTS
y current guesstimate is about 3.5K in Store Bought materials, 15K if you buy all the finished products from tradeskillers. The costs below only include Store Bought Components, it assumes you've foraged and farmed anything that is foragable and farmable (except gems). It also assumes NO fees for enchanter services and subcomponent pottery combines etc.
The absolute minimum cost, assuming bought gems, is about 2.5K with no failures anywhere. If all the gems are farmed (good luck), the minimum can drop to below 1K.

Here's some notes:

1st Gift of Elves - Demi-Sec Champagne
A 250 brewer has a 95% success rate. Cost of materials per champagne is about 35pp

2nd Gift of Elves - Mistletoe Cutting Sickle
A smith with effective 255 skill seems to succeed 1 in 3 (based on 24 combines, 8 successes). Often 1 subcombine failure in the attempts. This works out to a raw cost in materials of about 1200pp for a success.

3rd Gift of Elves - Golden Idol of Tunare
Trivial at 242 pottery skill, success rate at 250 pottery a little better than 50%. Cost per attempt about 225pp, but be prepared to provide 3 sets of components, or just pay the potter 2-4K for a finished idol (market price depends on server). 200 skill potters have about 15% success rate.

1st Gift of Man - Blessed Fishing Pole
Raw cost per attempt is about 175pp. Not a lot of data on this. Guessing about 50% success rate for a 200 skill fisher.

2nd Gift of Man - Star Ruby Stein
Raw cost per attempt is about 75pp. At 250 pottery skill success rate is about 50%. Be prepared with 3 sets of components or just pay the potter 1-4K for a finished stein (market price depends on the server). 200 skill potters have about 10% success rate.

3rd Gift of Man - Ceremonial Solstice Robe
About 300pp for first attempt, 40pp per attempt thereafter. Could get really expensive since there are not a lot of 250 tailors out there. Guessing about 1K average for a 200 tailor. I've heard of a 232 tailor charging 1K for success if you bring components.

1st Gift of Halflings - Lotus Pie
Raw cost per attempt is low (50pp?). I've seen people selling finished Pies for 500-1K, seems to be standard on our server.

2nd Gift of Halflings - Misty Thicket Picnic
Raw cost per attempt a few pp (approx). I've seen finished ones sell for 500pp-1K.

3rd Gift of Halflings - Lucky Cabbage
Raw cost per attempt < 10pp.

So the conclusion is... farm and forage everything, pay the cost of gems and other store bought materials, find 250 skill tradeskillers for each item, and you should be able to get away with about 3.5K average cost.

Miss Foxfyre
06-09-2002, 04:17 PM
So the conclusion is... farm and forage everything, pay the cost of gems and other store bought materials, find 250 skill tradeskillers for each item, and you should be able to get away with about 3.5K average cost.

3.5kpp average cost and time spent farming the components.... That's not that much if you think about it, especially for such an earring. And you don't need to try to motivate your guild to help you with a raid.

Stormhaven
06-09-2002, 08:52 PM
3:3 on the fishing pole with 190 skill in fishing.

Fayne Dethe
06-09-2002, 10:18 PM
Getting people to combine items who have 250 tradeskill costs money too ;p. Most guilds tend to have 250 jewelcraft people who will do combine for free, but not necessarily so with other tradeskills, especially smithing and tailoring. I personally spent 2k to have a smith try to make the sickle for me after handing him the components. Overall, it cost me around 10k to get the earring, but it was still worth it for that price.

Alliey Mistwalker
06-10-2002, 08:05 AM
There is a guildie of mine who has gone 5 for 5 on sickles.
He is 255 skill in smithing

Also, people on The Tribunal are charging 1500pp to hit the combine button, this is on a success with you having the materials.

I thought that was a bit steep.

I had a 232 tailor fail 20 out of 21 robes for me this weekend and after all that failing, I ended up paying 2kpp for the stein and ultimately my new earring.

Fun quest, although you can and might pull some hair out due to fails in combines.

I have 2 very sweet earrings now so I am happy.

Thanks Druids Grove for all the info.



Alliey <Revolution>
The Tribunal

Nuvian Caelestis
06-10-2002, 12:17 PM
251 tailor made 2/4 for me, and 2/3 for Rombus, so if you get a high enough tailor it's not too bad.

Tesssai
06-10-2002, 06:52 PM
The Solstice earring isn't a bad hybrid ear =P. Almost done making mine.

Ligge
06-11-2002, 07:20 AM
One down :) 4/9 done on the second one. Woot!

Kinare
06-11-2002, 08:11 AM
I have heard serious paranoia about tomorrow's patch reguarding this quest. Many people think it will get nerfed since the quest is so "easy". While I disagree about the ease of the quest for the average tradeskiller, several people across servers (including me) are taking advantage of this.

I charge 5k per successful robe combine on Rodcet Nife (or bring me stuff I need for the quest). Some people will bring a stack of laquered star rubies (I hate running around if I don't have to). Others trade me a sickle for a successful robe.

I have heard of people selling POTC "kits" for as much as 100k pp. I have sold one for 80k on Rodcet. The guy even asked what the quest was and asked for a link. Just when I was sure I would lose a sale, he said "I am too damn lazy to do this myself. Come to the bank."

Ligge
06-11-2002, 08:18 AM
lol thats insane

Fennin is a much friendlier place :)

1k on the hard combines with success and you bring the materials.

100k would have paid for me to raise all my tradeskills on all my characters to 175+ and then I could have bought a Lodizal shield after that with the extra.

I wouldnt be too shocked if they made the final combines nodrop, or they pulled the second earring completely. Thats one reason I busted all weekend to get the FT1 done. If they pull Rebecca as was hinted already we can still do earring #1 if the supplys are available, but then they would have to make PotC available another way or just remove her last sentence about the earring I guess...

frisleafshadow
06-11-2002, 10:35 AM
I suspect a nerf as well, but its not too much different then people buying armor thats better then ToV stuff now.

Tudamorf
06-14-2002, 05:55 AM
Xiggin says: So the conclusion is... farm and forage everything, pay the cost of gems and other store bought materials, find 250 skill tradeskillers for each item, and you should be able to get away with about 3.5K average cost.

That sounds about as much fun as "hiring" a guild to kill a dragon for you then grabbing the loot. Without effort put into an epic quest, the reward is meaningless.

Quaras Shadowscythe
06-14-2002, 06:02 AM
I think that this is more of a bargainer's quest than an epic quest. Theoretically, I could have tried to make each piece myself, but was instead content to trade and swap items. My particularly speciality is robes and I was offering to swap robes for sickles, misty picnics etc. I also have offered to combine any robes on my server (Bristlebane) for free. Unlike the shawl quest, this one is much more of a collaborative effort by design and I am happier to meet grandmaster tradeskillers in different areas and collaborate with them in terms of reward than doing the entire quest solo.

Batou062671
06-14-2002, 07:37 AM
I have to agree with Quaras. My guild worked up several trade skillers and we traded around pices and helped the sickle and stein people with the pieces we couldn't make. Met a lot of really nice people who all ended up working together to get everyone the quest completed in a few days time. Was rather fun.

Xiggin
06-14-2002, 10:31 AM
Tudamorf, regarding Xiggix said: that is should say Xiggin quoted.

ost of the contents of the text below the spoiler and in the spoiler itself are simply quotes and answers. This reflects the community effort that helped the DG make this quest easy. If at the end, we provided alternatives for people who lacked the skills but had a big account, that is good. If we provided the incentives to work on your skills, we even accomplished a loftier goal. There are different ways to skin a cat and there are different ways to have fun or find a sense of accomplishment in this game. As far as I am concerned, people are free to choose the way that suits their needs the best.

Enjoy!

Ligge
06-14-2002, 10:39 AM
Yep yep - single most socializing and meeting new people encourager I have been a part of in 3 year in Norrath.

For that alone, this quest should stay active.

Seriena
06-16-2002, 06:28 PM
agree Ligge. It's amazing to see people on Fennin actually being nice to each other for a change ;) I'm having a blast with this quest and it's given me something to do when I get online late and everyone else is busy already.

Lindam Mystfyre
06-17-2002, 03:51 AM
I had a bunch of fun helping guildie's gather components and meeting new people while getting the gifts for this quest. This has been one of the funnest, most interesting quests i've ever worked on.

Ligge
06-17-2002, 06:59 AM
omg

8 earrings down, please pull this quest so people will quit asking me for help!

Actually give me a day to pass one to my enchanter first :p

cjell
06-17-2002, 12:55 PM
Wanted to say that a great location to get iron oxides are from the efreetie camp in sol b. I was there the other day, and tons were dropping. Since it seems as though many other places have had the drop rate decline, I thought I would mention this location. Also, I was in Steamfont this weekend, and all of the ground spawns that used to have either iron or russet oxide are now not there. Right in front of the mino caves, are 2 large pieces of scap metal, the one on the right(when facing the mino cave) used to have a static oxide spawn on the top of it, which is no longer there. I also checked the other spawn locations that I used to get the oxides from, and the entire weekend of looking yeilded nothing. Hope this helps.

Qrystaal Bladefyre
Erudite master tradesman

ccLothar
06-18-2002, 10:44 AM
I suck at the trades, but my forage skill is 200. I can't help but press forage. Go raid WW or ToV and get the eggs. Spend a night in PoG and the karanas. Kill a load of spiders or pay someone to do it for you. Gather a load of ore in Steam or elsewhere. I'm working on trading for my earrings with a very nice tradesman. I'd think if you offer them enough supplies for the both of you, that you would be able to get your combines done.

This is a social quest. I hated it at first and now all I have to say is that I take every bad thing I said about it back. I love it.

Great job on this one, VI.

Miss Foxfyre
06-24-2002, 02:58 AM
Total spent: 9kpp.

So burnt out on this quest and running around that I don't see myself finishing earring #2 although I have 4/9 gifts for it. Maybe after a long break.

Quigsby
06-24-2002, 10:02 AM
Spent 14k and got 16/18 gift (going for two earrings). Missing two idols. Basically started a tad on Saturday night, and spent all day sunday on it.

Was really fun - a nice change of pace.

BTW, huge thanks to Pixal - he helped me out a lot!

Clakar
06-25-2002, 06:34 AM
What do you think the going rate would be if you wanted to buy all 9 gifts?

Just curious if anyone has done that yet

Ligge
06-25-2002, 07:03 AM
I sold the last two for 25k and have turned down numerous offers for more.

If you buy them all separatly you can get them cheaper on Fennin but people are lazy and liek the fact they can get it all at once and be done.

I am about finished with set #9 or 10, I have lost count and will sell it probably and be done for good.

I have been selling a ton of pies, champagne and picnics though. Its nice because I want to be a GM baker anyway so making some cash along the way has been a very cool bonus.

Someone posted that they were seeing 75k for the sets on their server. Due to the stats of the earring I can see that, but due to the cost of each piece individually thats insane lol

Miss Foxfyre
06-25-2002, 07:43 PM
75k -- that's frickin' ridiculous!

Here's a quick rundown of what prices are out there on my server:
picnic 500pp
pie 500pp
champagne 500pp
idol 2,000pp
sickle 3,000-5,000pp
robe 3,000-5,000pp
pole 1,000-3,000pp
stein 2,000-3,000pp
cabbage 200-500pp

On a bad day you would spend 15kpp on gifts. Some have been selling the entire package for 35kpp, but I doubt they get many buyers since the individual gifts' total price is less than half that. Any retail markup is understandable if the quester has zero involvement in the quest and just wants the quick bang for the buck, but 35kpp is already ridiculous.

One of the more popular sellers of idols has made over 20,000pp in a short time, and he doesn't even sell all day every day. I imagine makers of robes and sickles are getting much more for their finished products. ;)

Tatankawd
06-26-2002, 12:12 AM
Started Friday with 500pp to my name, gathering components for the fishing poles.

As of tonight, I have 2 of the picnic, cabbage, and pie, 1 stein, and 5kpp in the bank. And I bought RotG for 3400pp, and 6 of the Geerlock devices (all but brewing, already had that one) for 3250pp in the last two nights. Have two Blessed poles on me and most of the components to make 8 more.

Good news: Boy am I glad I raised fishing to 200 in my younger days, when I did my "casting parties" to raise casting skills.

Bad news: Wish I had realized earlier than last week that there was something I could do tradeskill-wise to help do the quest and make some money. I was avoiding the quest cause I thought I'd have to come up with all the cash for the gifts, and I'm always broke.

On 7th Hammer, if you just pay standard asking prices for the gifts, it's about 12-13kpp per set. Haven't really seen anyone charging extra for "full kits", even though there are some guys selling all the different gifts.

Tat

Mistryl Corazon
06-26-2002, 05:38 AM
This quest has been great for the people who put the time into tradeskills! There is an SK in my guild who has worked on her baking for a long time -- even though a lot of us poked a little fun at her. :) She began making picnics before the quest to continue skilling up, and once the market hit for POTC she began auctioning the picnics, pies, and occasional cabbage.

When she was done after about 4 days of skilling and selling, she had raised her skill to 202 and was 60kpp richer.

We don't make fun of her anymore. :p

After starting with 0pp in the bank and no earrings, thanks to some time spent getting my fishing up, now I have two earrings and 8kpp back in the bank. (I'd say I spent 8-9kpp on both earrings combined.) Just ran out of velium for the poles but I still get asked about them frequently. As much stress as it was running around to get everything, I really enjoyed getting to know the other tradeskillers on the server! Overall, a very enjoyable quest for me.

Scirocco
06-26-2002, 06:16 AM
When the FT 1 earring craze hit, I started offering Robe trades. One robe for a gemmed chain and 40 sacred tunarean silks (about 13 combines), which gave me enough to make the next robe (on average...sometimes I had a longer string of failures). A pretty good deal for the person with the components since I absorbed all combine failure risk.

However, there are a lot of people allergic to silk farming and making CEs, it seems, as I kept getting requests to buy the robes for plat. I resisted, because I was basically working from robe to robe, and tried to set the price high enough to discourage plat buyers. My asking price per robe jumped from 5K to 10K to 12K to 15K in a matter of a day or two. The highest price per robe at the height of the frenzy was 20K.

I wasn't out to make more plat since I already was into six figures, and I really didn't want to sell the robes. But when folks came up with the asking price, a deal's a deal. So I added another 100K to my bank (although most folks have done the trades, which I have continued to offer...in fact, I've lowered the STS requirement to a single stack, since my success rate is so high).

I did only one complete set trade, and that was before the FT 1 earring was introduced. I traded the 9 gifts for Mask of the Stalker...:)

Ligge
06-26-2002, 07:53 AM
Yeah those prices are about the same as Fennin.

I do get more for the champagne, picnics and pies than that on average 750p each, but 2 for 1000p. I still make those 3 items and will until I am maxed on skills/trivials.

I have sold out all my extra items finally, but 1 sickle and some gem studded chains I will probably have made into robes again or just give to guildmates.

Quigsby
06-26-2002, 12:13 PM
Curious what people are seeing for Sickles and Cabbages?

Miss Foxfyre
06-26-2002, 09:00 PM
I have seen three or four smiths selling sickles for 3k-5k, and I even saw one selling a sickle for like 1.5kpp, which I thought was low! LOL. Cabbages seem to go for less than 500pp--way less if you consider how easy it is to get wild cabbages.

I've had a little bit of luck playing the middle market in the quest. While the top-end tradeskillers get the most money, I have done interim combines and also sold a lot of imbued emeralds, permafrost crystals, plains pebbles, cabbages, and other random items both questers and tradeskillers need to continue making items -- it's stuff people would usually hate to farm, including myself.

y experience has been mostly positive (80%) with this quest, but there have been a few times when players were greedy and very ugly.

AzariahTunare
06-27-2002, 08:19 AM
For what its worth, for those of you that are poorer than the average druid (like myself) you might try this approach.

y guild pooled money, items, and trade skills to get 30 copies of this earring. 2 for each druid, and 1 for each other participant.

The people leading this effort required 1,500 pp per earring and asked for assistance in gathering items (but not required). So far, we have 8 of the 9 gifts done for everyone, and the last one just needs a few combines. The druid's, including myself, contribution was primarily foraging, especially those horrid planar oak branches.

At this point, the people leading this effort in my guild are even expecting to return some cash to those participating.

Turnaround time for this effort has been about 2 weeks, which I don't think is bad at all. Plus it is an effort that promotes strong teamwork in your guild, without any fights over "uber" loot.

Azariah
59 preserver
Tunare Server

Tasu Sylvereyes
06-28-2002, 02:30 AM
I'm doing the same thing for my guild (doing all the organizing for it). We're about midway through getting 15 kits together, most of us were dead broke to begin with so we focussed on the items that required more time and less money and have been trading / selling those for the items we couldn't afford.

Its working well for us and I must say we're all having a blast doing it.. its rather nice to keep logging in to the same group of people all working hard at a common goal like that, I think this quest is actually teaching us all a little something about teamwork :)

Thumbs up VI!