I think you are thinking of the hammer quest, which does request amiable or better faction; the braid quest can be done with dubious faction, so if you can someone to charm Captain Rottgrime (or if you can charm him yourself), you should be able to do those turn-ins and raise your VS faction.
As far as Truespirit faction, what has always worked for me is to go to Butcherblock, kill Pegleg at the bandit camp, and do the quest with the Lesser Spirit that pops. If you don't have good enough TS faction, have an enchanter friend charm him for you first. Get the gem from him, then give it to the guy in Freeport (will need a friend again there to invis you during the turn-in, until your faction gets high enough). It will take several trips back and forth, but it does work.
Dreidel Sarnudossa
75 DE cleric on Druzzil Ro