Bard Epic Quest:

The Singing Short Sword

             The bard epic quest results in the most important item in a bard’s life.  The Singing Short Sword (SSS) has the usual epic stats, resists, and snazzy group haste, strength & attack buff proc that lasts 2½ minutes.  However, it also counts as a store bought instrument of every type as well as boosts singing skill based songs.  This allows bards to increase the efficiency off all their songs and use songs that normal require an instrument without swapping (i.e. Shauri’s Sonorous Clouding).  This guide will provide the information needed to complete this quest and my opinions and experiences I had when completing it.

Overview

The bard epic quest is really not overly hard with the exception of a couple of items.  Of course, the same could probably be said of all epics.  I actually started my epic at level 33 and completed half of it.  The quest begins and ends in Dreadlands in the Lost Valley near the Wizzy Spires and Druid Rings.  The first two portions consists of running across a couple of continents and ends with one fight.  The second half consists of gathering items from various critters; some hard, some not so hard.  There is only one planar item, but a drop from both a red and white dragon.

Parts

There are four items needed to receive the SSS.  These items are:  Top of page 24, Bottom of page 24, Page 25, and the Mystical Lute.  The Top of page 24, Bottom of page 24, and Page 25 are all easy to get.  The mystical Lute is the tough part to get. 

The Beginning

The first step is to seek out Baldric Slezaf in Dreadlands.  He can be found in one of the back pyramids in the Lost Valley between the Wizzy Spires and Druid Rings.  Once near the pyramids you can track to Baldric Slezaf.  Hail him and the conversation runs:

 Baldric:  Hello Jarroll.  Don’t you think this would be a wonderful place to perform a [symphony]?

 Jarroll:  What symphony?

Baldric:  It has been my dream for years to perform a symphony that would be remembered for ages to come.  I have run into a few minor [snags] however.

Jarroll:  What snags?

Baldric:  Several years ago I bought sheets of the most beautiful sounding music from a traveling merchant.  He did not know the author of the work as it was simply signed ‘the Maestro’.  The melody I played from them was wondrous and invoked feelings in me I have never felt before.  However, as I reached the middle of the music, I discovered it was missing two [pages]!

Jarroll:  What pages?

Baldric:  The pages that were missing were pages 24 and 25.  I have been searching the world for a spot to hold my symphony and I have finally found it.  Without the music and a new lute crafted by the famous instrument maker [Forpar Fizfla], I do not think I can pull it off.

Jarroll:  Who is Forpar Fizfla?

Baldric:  Forpar Fizfla is an eccentric instrument maker from Ak’Anon.  He makes enchanted instruments that enhance the sound of the [music].  If I am to perform the concert of all concerts, I must have one of his instruments.  I went to Ak’Anon, seeking to purchase an instrument from him but he wouldn’t even speak to me.

Jarroll:  What music?

Baldric:  It makes me sad to know that the pages of this music may be spread across the world or destroyed.  If you find and bring me the two missing sheets as well as a new lute, I would be happy to [repay] you in some way.

Jarroll:  How will you repay me?

[emote]  Baldric Slezaf pulls a fantastic looking sword from its scabbard and says, “I might be willing to part with this wonderful sword if I were able to perform this symphony.  You would also gain recognition at the opening of the symphony.”  Baldric sheathes his sword and begins to hum a haunting melody.

Top of Page 24

This part of the quest can be done solo at a very early level.  This item is the result of a simple relay race across the main continent of Antonica.  It starts ins West Karana with Konia Swiftfoot.  Konia can be found in the first guard tower if you are coming from Qeynos.  The loc is –516, -2434 (www.eqdiva.com).  Hail Konia and have the following conversation:

Konia:  Hello there Jarroll.  I am hosting a relay running contest.  Would you like to [participate]?

Jarroll:  Yes I would like to participate.

Konia:  Great!  The prize will be this silly old music sheet.  Let me know when you are [ready] and I will pass you the torch and tell you where the first stop is.

Jarroll:  I am ready.

Konia:  Here you go.  Run with this torch as fast as you can to the misty thicket and hand this torch off to Fajio Knejo.  He will tell you where to go from there.  Hurry!  You do not have much time!

[receive torch]

            Fajio Knejo is found in Misty Thicket near the Runneye zone.  The loc is –120, -54 (www.eqdiva.com).  Hail Fajio and have the following conversation:

Fajio:  Greetings, Jarroll.  I hope you are having a fine day.

[give torch to Fajio]

Fajio:  Run onward, my friend, to the far off Desert of Ro and give this torch to Andad Filla.

[receive torch]

            Before you ask, no you can not give the first torch to the last person and skip all this fun.  Andad can be found in South Ro near the zone into Innothule Swamp.  The loc is –3032, 1216 (www.eqdiva.com).  Hail Andad and you get the following conversation:

Andad:  Hello traveler, please do not bother me right now.  I am waiting for someone.

[give torch to Andad]

Andad:  You still have a ways to go!  Seek out Misty Tekcihta near the arena at Lake Rathe.  Run like the wind!

            Isn’t it nice of VI tells you exactly where to go?  And running like the wind is what bards do best.  Head to Lake Rathe.  Near the arena zone.  The loc is 2419, 2583 (www.eqdiva.com).  Do the every popular ‘hail’ and Misty is nice and says nothing.

[emote]  Misty Tikcihata smiles and taps her foot.

[give toch to Andad]

[emote]  Misty Tekcihta hands you a small ring

[receive Proof of Speed ring]

            Take the ring back to Konia Swiftfoot in West Karana to receive the Top of page 24. 

[give Proof of Speed ring to Konia]

Konia:  Excellent!  You are quite a runner.  Here is half of the sheet music.  I decided to keep the other half because it has this wonderful signature.  I think it might be quite valuable.  It is probably worth as much as an instrument the great Mahlin used.

[receive Maestro’s Symphony Page 24 Top]

Bottom of page 24

            This part of the quest starts in Unrest by talking to the zombie Serra.  If you are the impatient type, you can skip to a later part since the only thing from Serra is information.  Please note that the following text comes from the submission of Kyrisha Soerbaird of the Bertoxxulous server and was originally posted on www.eqdiva.com. 

Serra says 'H..h..hello? Can you help me? I lost [something] and I need it so I can go back home.
You say, 'what something did you lose?'
Serra says 'I never got my doll for my birthday. Before he could bring it to me I was h..hurt by the bad man. I cannot leave without my doll. Will you please help me?
You say, 'What doll?'
Serra claps her hands. 'Oh goody! But... I cannot seem to remember his name. He gave me this note before I...'
At this point, she hands you a Ripped Qeynos Bards Guild Flyer.
You say, 'what note?'
Serra says 'I hope it will help you out. Please find him so I can leave this place?
At this point, I headed to Qeynos and the Guild.
You say, 'hail Belious Naliedin'
Belious Naliedin says 'Welcome, my name is Belious Naliedin of the League of Antonican Bards. A few years ago, I finally saved up the money and bought this place. I settled in and have been working here ever since.
You say, 'I was given a ripped Qeynos Bards Guild Flyer.'
and
You say, 'I seek a famous Bard'
both resulted in...
Belious Naliedin says 'A famous bard, you say? Why you must be seeking none other than the great Baenar Swiftsong! He is not here as you can see. Mayhap you seek an audience with him? He is a busy man and has not the time to speak with everyone who wishes to preoccupy his time with useless prattle! You are many and he is but one! Leave him be, I beg of you, to continue his songwriting in peace.'

Give him the Flyer and he says the exact same thing as above and you get experience.

You say, 'I seek an audience with him.'
Belious Naliedin says 'Ah! In order to gain an audience with him, you must have a letter of introduction from me, otherwise he will not give you the time of day. 'Belious laughs briefly.'
You say, 'Give me a letter of introduction.'

Belious Naliedin looks around. 'Well, you want a letter of introduction, eh? I think that fifty shiny platinum pieces sounds like a good introduction to me, my friend.'

Hand him 50pp and he continues:
Belious Naliedin says 'Ah! Here is that letter of introduction I was looking for! Baenar likes to frequent a serene fountain in the southern Karanas. He finds the peace there accommodating to his work. He may even sing a tale for you if the mood strikes him.

You receive A Letter of Introduction and some experience gain. Next stop, South Karana.

You say, 'hail Baenar Swiftsong'
Baenar Swiftsong says 'Please, I am trying to work here. If you bother me I will write a horrible song about you and sing it from the mountain tops!
Various phrases about the letter of introduction and Belious were tried, but to no avail. I finally handed him the Letter of Introduction:
Baenar Swiftsong says 'So, Belious Naliedin sent you, eh?' Baenar shakes his head. 'I hope your letter of introduction did not empty your purse. You have the audience you seek. What is your [request]? A song perhaps? To immortalize your heroic deeds in song? How about an epic battle with a gnoll pup? I'll make you famous.'
You say, 'I request a song' (in fact, I tried several requests, but they all resulted in the same response)
Baenar Swiftsong says 'You have no request for me? How odd. Well, then. Perhaps a tale of [history] will do?
You say, 'tell me some history'
Baenar Swiftsong strums his lute and clears his throat. 'Here is a tale of the place of torment from which souls good and bad have come to call home upon this earthly [realm].'

And this, my fellow Bards, is where the real trigger comes into play.

You say, 'What realm?'
Baenar Swiftsong says 'The place I speak of is the Estate of Unrest. It is a place that the dead roam and the living detest. Garanel Rucksif was his name, a name that no longer came to be . A name that Quellious herself saw fit not to let anyone see, for a cleric loyal to her called the lands home. Open to all, the Fier'Dal, Koada'Dal and even the occasional [gnome].
He continues at length about the history of the Estate of Unrest.
You say, 'what gnome'
Baenar Swiftsong says 'A mansion built by the cleric with care For he came to spread the word of Quellious to Faydwer. Garanel mad with rage, killed his wife and children three. From his dwarven homelands he now will flee. Upon this place of tranquility he stumbled upon. He tortured and killed the cleric and his kin by morning's dawn Within the sacred chapel walls the bloodshed took place. Eyes wild with rage, madness and blood upon his [face].
You say, 'face'
Baenar Swiftsong says 'Quellious enraged by this act of violence and murder, decreed that this would continue no further! Garanel was struck down, his soul cursed forever more, to haunt the grounds of the defiled estate, guarding its bloody floor. Undead monsters, ghosts and [ghouls] slaughter all those who stray. They say his undead power grows within him to this day. This sad tale, my friends, is the Legend of Unrest.
You say, 'what ghouls'
Baenar Swiftsong says 'I've even heard of the ghosts of poor children haunting the estate. Have you ever [seen a child's ghost]?
You say, 'I have seen a child's ghost.'
Baenar Swiftsong says 'You have? Did it speak to you? What did it say? Only the essences of those unjustly wronged or the vilest of souls are bound to this realm and sometimes end up in that accursed place. Only that which binds them to this realm may set them free. Curse those who would harm an innocent child! I knew of one such unfortunate child. I was to bring her a [doll] for her birthday but she fell to a thieving cutthroat's sword!' Baenar's eyes fill with tears. 'Pardon me, friends, she was like a daughter to me. I loved her as I would my own!

          For those that are impatient (not like me at all…./em whistles innocently), head to South Karana and look for Braenar Swiftsong.  If you are coming from North Karana, veer diagonally left from the bridge and you should pick Braenar up on track soon.  The loc is -21, 88 (www.eqdiva.com).  Hail him and have the following chat with him:

Baenar:  Please, I am trying to work here.  If you bother me I will write a horrible song about you and sing it from the mountain tops!

Jarroll:  What doll?    (see above section on how this phrase is derived)

Baenar:  What’s that you say?  You wish to have the doll I was to give her?  Whatever for?  Bah!  Nevermind me.  I rant like an old woman sometimes.  I should let her memory go but I would stop my heart from beating before I forgot that child.  Here, take this invoice.  I have no further use for it.  Give it to Marfen Binkdirple.

[receive invoice]

          Now comes the first fun part (at least if you are level 33 like I was).  Go to Sol A.  Marfen Binkdirple is the same gnome that sells the Tinker’s bag.  He can be found at –304, -1083 (www.eqdiva.com).  If you need a map, I recommend www.eqatlas.com. 

            I created on of my favorite trains on this expedition.  I was heading down invisible when a caster saw through it.  I continued on down anyways since I figured it was just the one goblin near the gnomes.  I got down to Marfen, got the doll and went to head out.  I then figured out I had 4 on me.  On the way out I was getting low on health so I used fear to get them off of me.  This served to agro every goblin anywhere on the way out.  I had one pulse of fear that hit 13 different goblins at once.  I was the only one in the zone so no problem.  Just as I was heading down the final tunnel before the zone I saw someone zone in just as I zoned.  All lived so it was fun in the end.

            When you get down to Marfen, give him the invoice:

[give invoice to Marfen]

Marfen:  Ah!  ‘Bout time ye got yer lazy bones down here!  I was beginnin’ ta worry bout ya.  Thought ye’d never pick the doll up.  Me kin worked and toiled over this thing fer days.  That Baenar was sure exact in every detail.  For a special child, he said.  Must be some child.  He spent all he had and some he didn’t.  Still owes us a show!  Anyway, I heard she passed away some time ago.  Give the lad muh regards.

[receive doll]

            Head to Unrest (back to Unrest if you did the part the impatient ones skipped).  The zombie Serra can be found via an underwater passage to the right of the mansion.  Hand her the doll to hear the following:

Serra:  Oh!  You have the dolly!  Thank you!  Thank you!  Thank you!  I can go home now.  Please give this to my father, Baenar.  He will understand when he gets it.

[emote] Serra begins to fade away.

Serra:  Bye, bye!

[receive note]

            Head all the way back to South Karana (I was still using boats for all my traveling when I did all these parts btw).  Find Baenar again and give him the note to continue your journey:

[give note to Baenar

Baenar:  A note for the child?  How can that be!  How could she know I was her father?  Unless?  Cyrah told her.  Forgive me.  Cyrah was the name of the woman to whom I was betrothed.  Unfortunately her parents forbade her from marrying a lowly bard such as myself.  Her father married her off to a young merchant in Qeynos named Maligar.  She married him only out of respect to her father.  Her heart was truly mine, at least, so she always said.  When Serra was born, I visited them both often.  She was like no other, so innocent and sweet.  In those few years I watched her group up to be more and more like her mother and I saw none of the father in her appearance.  I do not like Maligar, but the least we can do is inform him of his child’s death.  I saw his caravan pass by not more than a day ago headed to Qeynos.

[receive note]

            Its about time we get to a fight in the bard epic quest.  I have done this part of the epic a total of about 6 times on many different occasions.  The first time I was level 34 and had 2 groups all with people 50-60 except for me.  I believe the fight took a whole 6 seconds.  Remember, there is no such thing as overkill; only misappropriation of available resources.  Most of the other times there was one group of 50ish folks.  I have done this fight with a 52 bard (me), 49 cleric, 51 druid and had no problems.  I would also like to point out that the Maligar’s Doppelganger can be spawned multiple times if needed.  Even if you mess it up, Maligar will respawn in about 20 minutes. 

            Finding Maligar seems to be a challenge for some folks.  If you followed the road in North Karana and zone into West Karan, just go straight and you should pick him up on track soon enough.  He is near some bandits and his 3 lackys are all named.  You should be able to find him on track without too much trouble.  For those that want the easy way, the loc is 1179, -10878 (www.eqdiva.com).

            Maligar has three lackys (two of them have pets)  near him that need to be pulled first.  They can be single pulled by a 52 bard with no problems.  I solo’ed all the lackys without losing a quarter of bubble of health.  Maligar was KoS to every bard I’ve seen try to do this turn in.  Many places say to use the faction song.  I always found that he would agro on me before I could get in range to use it though.  I had an enchanter charm Maligar and then I did the faction song.  On other occasions, I have charmed Maligar and once charm wore off, the other bard charmed him and did the turn in.  If you want to see the text after the turn in, I suggest having your log turned on since the fight begins immediately.  Maligar uses blind and fear.  He also threw a couple of other spells, but nothing to get excited about.  I’ve seen the fight done good old standard Main Tank, heal, fight, nuke at half; Nuke to death from start; and fear kited him.  The only kink is that Maligar will also attack you in addition to the enraged doppelganger.  Either keep him charmed or have an enchanter keep him mezzed.  All in all, I’ve seen harder fights in regular groups.

[give note to Maligar]

Maligar:  Hmmm.  What’s this?  A note from that silly bard Baenar?  I wasn’t aware that those of his kind could write, much less read. 

[emote] Maligar lets out a deep laugh.

Maligar:  I see you do not share my sense of humor.  Let’s read it shall we?  Oh, no!  She’s dead?  I knew that already, you fool.  It was by my hand she died!  Ooops!  Did I let that slip out?  Silly me.  I guess I will have to kill you now!

            Maligar enrages at this point and you and your companions can do the slaughter routine on him.  Loot his head once he’s dead.  Take the head back to Baenar in South Karana.

[give head to Baenar]

Baenar:  That vile dog!  I knew there was something not right with him, the way he stared at everyone with contempt!  Even his own wife!  I curse him!  I curse him to stay upon the realm and deny him what he most desires!  This is too much!  I cannot play or write this day.  The sadness overwhelms me.  In honor of Serra, the daughter that was denied to me in spirit, I vow never to play this instrument again!  It was her favorite and she listened to me play for hours on end.  Here take it!  Take it out of my sight!  Leave me be with my grief and my loss.

[receive Mahlin’s Bongos’s]

            Take the drums to back to Konia Swiftfoot in West Karana (bard that you started the relay race with) and give her Mahlin’s Bongos’s Drums to hear the following:

Konia:  Mahlin’s bongos!  Here, take the other half of the sheet music.  I can not really make out what the signature was anyway.

[receive Bottom of page 24]

Page 25

Page 25 is fairly straight forward and doesn't involve a lot of running around.  You have to collect 3 wurm guts from various named wurms.  This part starts in South Karana with Kelkim Menkia.  You can find her near the centaurs along the eastern edge of the zone.  Hail her and have the following conversation:

Kelkim:  Kelkim Menkia sighs as she looks over her lute.  My lute was mangled by those damnable gnolls.  I have no idea how I'm going to get a new set of strings for it.  They were so [rare].

Jarroll:  What rare strings?

Kelkim:  I only use the finest lute strings on my lute.  My uncle got them for me from across the world.  His name was Zendrik the Wurmslayer.  As his name implies, he killed many wurms and drakes.  The strings for my lute were all made from the guts of the [wurms and drakes] he slew.

Jarroll:  What wurms and drakes?

Kelkim:  The strings were from a chromadrac, a red wurm, and a huge onyx drake.  It always sounded so wonderful.  Kelkim sighs, looking off into the horizon.  As she shakes her lute angrily, she says "I'll kill all of you dirty gnolls!"

Ok, time to go hunting.  You need to kill Blackwing in Rathe Mountains, Nezekezena in Burning Woods, and Eldrig in Skyfire. 

Blackwing is the easiest of the three and can be done solo around level 45.  Head to the mountain area with Zazamouhk who is an evil sphinx NPC and her pet.  If you use dark elf illusion and are agnostic, you'll be ok, otherwise you'll be KoS like I was.  This isn't a problem, just avoid the spinx.  Now comes the boring part.  Start slaughtering everything that moves in the area. If it moves (aside from Zazamouhk and her pet) kill it.  I've done this part a total of 3 times.  When I did it for myself it took just a bit over an hour.  When I was there helping others it took 15 minutes one time and 45 minutes the other.  If you get a couple of friends to help you can kill more PH'ers that much quicker.  Once Blackwing spawns, kill him and loot.  At level 46 I fear kited him.  I got enough resists that I only sang snare/slow and fear.  With a couple of people he went down quickly.  The only other thing worthy of mention here is that an SK epic mob also shares the same placeholders.  Rharzar is a nasty, evil critter that can spawn while you are working this area.  Of the three times I did this part I only saw him once.  We had to leave and came back later when he had despawned or had been killed.

Nezekezena in Burning Woods needs a decent low 50's group.  You can try fear kiting if you really want, but I didn't have much luck with it.  He casts and summons (and gates), so other kiting methods aren't a good idea either.  I suggest getting a group together to do this.  Mages are usually willing to help as they have a rare drop off either Nezekezena or Phurzikon (the other named wurm) for their epic.  Get your group together and head to the north eastern part of the burned area in BW.    The loc is -470, n2550 (www.eqdiva.com) for those needing the exact location.  Everything around her wanders, so start killing everything until stuff starts spawning at the spawn point.  The spawn time here is about 2 minutes, so it is a fast paced area.  Be prepared for adds from the other wandering critters as well.  The guts do not drop every time, but I've the most I've ever had to wait was the 4th Nezekezena kill.  Many times I've seen 3 out of 4 kills have the guts. 

Eldrig is one of the more difficult pieces for the epic.  Not because he is a hard fight, but many people have such a hard time getting him to spawn.  Like in BW, everything here wanders around. Everything in the area is on a 10-15 minute spawn time, so its fairly quickly.  The exact location of his spawn point is 500, -4000 (www.eqdiva.com).  If you head north from the OT zone, you'll come to a graveyard looking place.  This is the area you need to be in.  Many people use Song of Highsun to gate the wanderers back until the find the exact spawn and then just kill the placeholders until Eldrig spawns.  Even doing this, many report it taking hours to get Eldrig to spawn. 

While one of my guild's clerics was camping Ragefire for the cleric epic, I took a group of folks to this area and set up an exp group.  After several hours of exp'ing, Eldrig popped and we killed him easily.  Before that, I use to just pop into the zone and ask in the shout channel if anyone saw him up on track.  I was able to get Eldrig for my friend this way.  Every time I was in the area I just popped in to check.  He was finally up, told my friend and we popped in and killed him.  As to the actual fight, he is a bit tough.  Fear kiting can be tricky since there are so many wandering critters.  I charm kited him solo once and found this method to work rather well.  With a single group, Eldrig is a piece of cake.  He does dispell, gate, summon, and DoT, so be carefull.

When you have gathered the three wurm guts, head back to South Karana and give them to Kelkim Menkia.

Kelkim:  Kelkim Menkia snatches the gut strings from your hand and immediately begins to string her lute.  "This is wonderful, I will be able to play my lute again soon!  Take this old sheet of music I found - I don't think I will have much use for it.  My new desire is to bash gnoll heads in with my lute.  Safe travels to you, Jarroll."

[receive Maestro's Syphony Page 25]

The Mystical Lute

Congratulations, you've finished the easy part of the epic now.  You only have to get the Mystical Lute and you're done.  If only it were that simple.  The real fun begins now.

When you ask Baldric Slezaf in Dreadlands about the lute, he tells you that Forpar Fizla has this lute but will not speak to him.  Of course, when you head to Steamfont, Forpar won't talk to you either (sucks to be you I guess).  You need to get one of his friends to tell him to talk to you.  You can find one of his friends on the Butcherblock docks.  Look for Vedico Windwisper in one of the shops on the docks themselves.  Hail her to discover her problem which you must fix.

Vedico:  Hello Jarroll.  Have you seen the port master?  I am here to complain about the [shoddy service].

Jarroll:  What shoddy service?

Vedico:  I was sailing from Freeport on one of the boats when a [giant cyclops] attcked the boat!  No one lifted a finger as he stole the horn I was playing and ran off.  Someone here has to answer for the loss of my horn.

Jarroll:  What giant cyclops?

Vedico:  He was a huge cyclops!  He came rushing up out of the water and stared at me with his big eye and said, 'Me like horn.  Me take and play pretty music!'  before he snatched my horn and disappeared back under the waves.

Ok, retrieve little bard's horn for her so life can continue is the name of the game.  Catch the boat to the Ocean of Tears and get off on Seafury Cyclops Island.  There are usually a couple of groups around doing various xp groups.  The horn is NO DROP, so if someone kills him, they will usually let a bard have it for free.  He spawns frequently and has the normal cyclopses are PH'ers.  He hits for a bit over 100 on his hard hits.  I suggest chant kiting him if you are doing this solo.  He also tries to drain your mana (oh no, anything but that!).  He does not always have the horn, but when he does you can see him holding it.  Once you get the Alluring horn, take it back to Butcherblock and give it to Vedico.

Vedico:  Where did you find this?  I thought the cyclops took it.  I am in your debt

Jarroll.  This horn has always been special to me.  Vedico reaches into her pack and pulls out a note. Do you think you could deliver this to my gnome friend Forpar.  I have not spoken to him in a while and unfortunatly I will be unable to make the trip to visit him.  If you are looking to have an instrument made he is the man to ask.

[receive note to Forpar]

Off to Steamfont you go.  Forpar can be found in one of the windmills in the middle of the zone.  If you have bad faction, use the faction song to raise it.  Give him the note.

Forpar:  So you know Vedico!  How is the lass!  If Vedico would give you the time of day, you must be something special.  What can I do for you?  I hope you have not come to have me make another [mystical instrument].

Jarroll:  What mystical instrument?

Forpar:  I have made many mystical instruments in the past.  Each one seemed to be better then the last.  I have always had a dream of building the world's best lute, but I have yet to find someone brave enough to gather the components needed to make the instrument.

Jarroll:  I can gather components

Forpar:  To make a mystical lute I will first need to make several pieces.  If you bring me the backbone of an ancient fishman, a strong tentacle from one of the long lost amalgyms, and a petrified skull of a lycanthrope I may be able to create the head and neck of the instrument.  If you go out and gather these things make sure to bring me the note I gave you or I might forget who you are.  I am getting quite old you know.

[receive Forpar's note to himself]

Now begins the group and raid fights.  The petrified skull of a lycanthrope is the petrified werewolf skull that drops off the Drolvarg Warlord in Karnor's Castle.  Many times there is a group fighting down there for xp or a monk after their epic drop.  It takes a well balanced group to hold the room.  Multiple warlords can be up at once, but generally I saw one every other set of the room spawn.  The skull drops frequently, but not every time.  One day I had no luck on it, the next day I got it on the first warlord. 

The Amalgym Tentacle comes from the Amygdalan Warriors in the Plane of Fear.  They are a common critter and the tentacle drops fairly frequently.  I actually got this on my first trip to fear, but I have heard of some bards going to three fear raids before they saw this item.  In the course of a normal fear raid, these creatures will be pulled and killed.  Most of the time I'm on raids I'll be the only bard so getting the item was no problem.

The backbone of an ancient fishman is the backbone from Phinigel Autropos in Kedge Keep.  This was the second hardest item for me.  I went on 18 Phinny raids before I saw this item drop.  Most say this item should drop 1 in 4 or 1 in 5 times.  Most others I've heard from agree with this.  My luck just happened to be 1 in 18.  Phinny tactics vary.  Phinny has several epic items and is generally killed very soon after he spawns.  Most of the time there will not be any bards or the bards may already have this piece.  I got to tag along on several Phinny raids by other guilds since they didn't have any bards and the mana, enduring breath, and invigor songs are all nice here.  If you are looking to set your own Phinny raid up, there are a number of good guides out on the internet that are better than anything I could put together.

When you've gathered all three of these items head back to Steamfont and turn them in along with Forpar's note to himself.

Forpar:  Wow!  I didn't think a Human like you would be able to gather all of those things.  Forpar rambles around and works with small tools for a good ten minutes before handing you a very fine looking lute head.  Now, do you want to gather the [next pieces] for me?

Jarroll:  What next pieces?

Forpar:  The next pieces are a little harder to come by than those.  To make the body of an instrument that will last for ages to come, I need something very special.  The scales of a big red dragon and the scales of a big white dragon will make it unbreakable, as well as giving it a unique look.  Some metal bits will allow me to hold the body together.  Please, if you gather up these things, bring them to me as soon as possible.  I have not felt this good in years!

The metal bits can be made by any blacksmith as they trivial at 21.  Put two pieces of ore (do not stack them) and a flask of water in a forge to make the metal bits. 

The red scale can be found from a number of dragons.  Naggy, Ragefire, Nortlav Scalekeeper are all sources of red scales.  If you are under level 53 Naggy is the way to go.  The red scale is used for the warrior epic as well as the bard, so be prepared to have to compete with others for the scale.  I'm working on a Naggy guide that will be ready sooner or later.  Ragefire is for the last part of the cleric epic in Skyfire.  Offering to sit with a cleric on the Ragefire camp will generally allow you a roll on the scale, just ask and see what the cleric says.  Nortlav Scalekeeper is in the Hole and is a bit tougher.  I've only fought him once and it was ugly.  All in all, I recommend Naggy, since there are always Naggy raids going on.  I'd estimate the scale drop is about 1 in 3 or 1 in 4 on Naggy.  Start attending Naggy raids as soon as you are able to and you'll get one eventually.  For those of you with lots of money (I'm a poor bard) the red scale is generally fairly affordable on most servers.

The white scale was the bane of my epic as you can probably tell from my main page.  I will not ramble on about how many Vox raids it took, just understand that the white scale is the bottleneck for the bard epic.  I have written a Vox guide that can be found on my site.  Again, like Naggy, get in on these raids as soon as possible.  The only other source of the white scale is from Gorenaire in Dreadlands.  I hate Gore as she is more trouble than she is worth in my opinion.  Prices on the white scale on my server of Xegony were 80K-120K.  Other people complain on the bard message boards about their server setting the price around 20K-60K.  Again, I've never had over 3K so I had to do it the hard way.  Many of the servers have Manaburn squads that regularly kill Gore, so maybe getting a scale will be easy for you.  Good Luck.

When you get both scales and the metal bits (one item by the way), head back to Forpar and give them to him.

Forpar:  Woooooo!  You are doing a wonderful job Jarroll.  I wish I could go out and gather these things myself*.  Forpar sits back down at his desk and pulls several very strange looking tools out.  Eventually he looks up at you and says, The body is done!  Onely one more piece to go.

[receive Mystical Lute Body]

*yea right!

One more piece to go and you will be an epic'ed bard.  Unfortunately, this last item is from a triggered version of Trakanon.  Getting to Trak's lair is a challenge unto itself.  A very, very, very nice person who was in my guild that joined an uber guild called in uber_guild_02 to do this part for me.  There are many tactics on Traknon and guides on how to get to him.  I am waiting on permission to post one such guide on my site. 

When you get to Trak's lair with the Undead Bard hail him and have a nice chitchat with him:

UDB:  Hail Jarroll.  Are you perchance a minstrel?

Jarroll:  I am a minstrel.

UDB:  I too am a bard, or was rather.  I have been cursed by that blasted pile of bones who calls itself [Trakanon].

Jarroll:  Who is Trakanon?

UDB:  He is the undead dragon who rules this realm.  I came on a quest seeking strings fro my [new instrument].

Jarroll:  What new instrument?

UDB:  I sought to create a [magical lute].

Jarroll:  What magical lute?

UDB:  One that would make me the greatest bard in all the lands!  Are you on a similar quest?

Jarroll:  I am on a similar quest.

UDB:  Well then, I would ask you a favor for one in return.  If I bring that cursed dragon here, will you kill it for me?

Jarroll:  I will kill it for you.

UDB:  Excellent.  I have stayed here far too long and I wish to go to my eternal slumber.  But before I do so, I ask for [one last request].

Jarroll:  What is your one last request?

UDB:  Give me the Mystical Lute Body you have.  I will return it, don't worry.  I only wish to hold an instrument one last time before I leave.

Give the UDB your Mystical Lute Body and he will enrage and attack you.  Have the raid pummel him.  Once the UDB is killed, Trakanon will spawn.  The trick to Trak is kill him very, very quickly.  When Trak is dead, loot the guts.  Trak will also drop one class breastplate.  Take the guts, mystical lute body and head back to Steamfont and give them to Forpar to receive the completed Mystical Lute.

The last hoop to jump through

Finally, you've gotten everything you need.  Take the top of page 24, bottom of page 24, page 25, and the Mystical Lute back to Baldric Slezaf in Dreadlands to receive you Singing Short Sword aka Blue Notes.

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