This mission begins by right-clicking 'Eewatt Halmoore (Raid Recruiter)', located in South Ro at the LDoN camp. Despite being a "Raid Recruiter," he responds to right-clicking, as LDoN group adventure recruiters do, and not hailing, as LDoN raid recruiters typically do. In order to be granted the mission you must be in a raid formation containing between 7 and 12 characters. All characters present must be level 65 (exactly? tested with level 70 shrouds and was denied; level 65 shrouds worked; levels below 65 untested), and also have done at least a small number of Rujark LDoNs (was denied access on characters with zero Rujark LDoN wins; was granted access on characters with as few as 4 wins/473 points in Rujark theme). These LDoNs are from the commonlands LDoN camp, not the South Ro LDoN camp.
Right-clicking Eewatt Halmoore displays an Adventure window with the text:
Quote:
"Thank Goodness you have arrived! We are very concerned about two members from the Eldritch Collective that have not returned from an important conference. We are not sure what has happened to them, but we fear the recent orc raids in the commonlands might have something to do with it. If you and your friends are able and willing to help, please let me know!"
Quote:
"The Eldritch Collective needs help. One of their most respected engineers, a wizened gnome named Bartleby Beckelbracker, has not returned from a conference on the use of clockworks in library management in Odus. Rujarkian orcs have been raiding the Commonlands in the last few weeks and I believe that they are responsible for the missing gnome I believe these orcs are based in the Drudge Hollows. You can find the entrance be travelling to a cave in Southern Ro. Please rescue Bartleby and his assistant, Bomo."
After requesting/entering the Adventure using a raid of 7-12 people, you may disband the raid and make one or two separate groups. These groups can use mercenaries, however there can not be more than 12 characters, including mercenaries, present in the zone.
Upon zoning in to a version of 'The Rujarkian Hills: Drudge Hollows,' a Gnome named 'Bomo' ( https://eq.magelo.com/npc/539869 ) will be present in the first room, as well as some hostile Orcs. Hailing Bomo reveals the following information:
Quote:
You say, 'Hail, Bomo'
Bomo says, 'Oh, thank you for rescuing me! I'm certain that those foul beasts meant to kill me! I've never seen such brutality. Why, what they've [done] to Professor Bartleby is just too shocking to think about!'
You say, 'done'
Bomo says, 'I said it was too shocking to think about!' Bomo pauses and recovers his composure. 'I'm sorry, it's just that I've been so scared for the last three weeks. They've taken the professor and sealed him into his own [clockwork]. I don't think they've even thought about providing a method for feeding him. He'll surely starve to death soon.'
You say, 'clockwork'
Bomo says, 'Oh, yes, I guess you wouldn't know about what's happened here. Let me try to explain. The professor and I were headed back home, crossing the place they call the Commonlands, though I can't understand why they call it that, when a dozen huge orcs led by wolves appeared over a hill and charged us. The Professor is a great gnome. I'm certain that he could have defeated those orcs, but he was so worried about my safety that he surrendered to them without a fight.'
Bomo says, 'Well, they bound us up like so much loose wire and ran off with us to this place. I was expecting to be a snack for their wolves, but the professor convinced them that eating us would be a waste of good resources. It turns out that a few of these orcs can read. They got a hold of some of the professor's notes and realized that he is an expert mechanician. In exchange for our lives, at least in the short term, the professor promised to build a clockwork for them that would help them defeat the adventurers that they have been fighting so much lately.'
Bomo says, 'Well, the professor had no intention of making a killing machine for these monstrosities. Clockworks should never be designed to do harm. In this case, the professor broke that rule a little. When the startup codes are given to the clockwork it will begin attacking orcs and only orcs! We had hoped to make our escape during the battle, but these orcs are smarter than we thought.'
Bomo says, 'I think a few of them actually speak gnomish! I got that impression because most of them would beat us if they caught us talking to each other in our own tongue, but a few of their priest-types would sometimes be standing nearby and would do nothing. We assumed that they just didn't care because they were not afraid of us, but now I think they were eavesdropping!'
Bomo says, 'We finally finished the device yesterday. The Professor punched out the startup codes onto an appropriate strip of metal and we told their leader that we were done. We offered to show them how to work the device if they let us go. Obviously they refused. The leader yanked the startup codes out of the Professor's hands and gave them to one of his generals. The general ripped the metal into three pieces with his bare hands!'
Bomo says, 'Then their leader, something-or-other Steelcrown, took the pieces and gave one to each of his generals. There's the really strong one, then the leader of their priests, and the one that handles all their wolves. We need to get those codes back! Well, I mean, you need to get those codes back. I'm just a small gnome in the bigger scheme of things and I don't think I would be of much help. If it's alright with you, I'd like to get out of here now. You can [handle the codes].'
You say, 'handle the codes'
Bomo says, 'That part is easy. Find a metal press. There was one in our gear. I'm sure the orcs still have it. Put all three of the code pieces into the press and jump up and down on the handles. Well, you're stronger than I am so you probably won't have to jump up and down on them. Just press them together real hard. That should hold the metal together long enough to feed it into the clockwork. Give the clockwork the code and it will come to life and teach these orcs a lesson! Then you should be able to rescue the professor. Can I [go] now? This place scares the grease out of me.'
You say, 'go'
Bomo says, 'Thanks!'
Bomo says, 'Oh, thank you for rescuing me! I'm certain that those foul beasts meant to kill me! I've never seen such brutality. Why, what they've [done] to Professor Bartleby is just too shocking to think about!'
You say, 'done'
Bomo says, 'I said it was too shocking to think about!' Bomo pauses and recovers his composure. 'I'm sorry, it's just that I've been so scared for the last three weeks. They've taken the professor and sealed him into his own [clockwork]. I don't think they've even thought about providing a method for feeding him. He'll surely starve to death soon.'
You say, 'clockwork'
Bomo says, 'Oh, yes, I guess you wouldn't know about what's happened here. Let me try to explain. The professor and I were headed back home, crossing the place they call the Commonlands, though I can't understand why they call it that, when a dozen huge orcs led by wolves appeared over a hill and charged us. The Professor is a great gnome. I'm certain that he could have defeated those orcs, but he was so worried about my safety that he surrendered to them without a fight.'
Bomo says, 'Well, they bound us up like so much loose wire and ran off with us to this place. I was expecting to be a snack for their wolves, but the professor convinced them that eating us would be a waste of good resources. It turns out that a few of these orcs can read. They got a hold of some of the professor's notes and realized that he is an expert mechanician. In exchange for our lives, at least in the short term, the professor promised to build a clockwork for them that would help them defeat the adventurers that they have been fighting so much lately.'
Bomo says, 'Well, the professor had no intention of making a killing machine for these monstrosities. Clockworks should never be designed to do harm. In this case, the professor broke that rule a little. When the startup codes are given to the clockwork it will begin attacking orcs and only orcs! We had hoped to make our escape during the battle, but these orcs are smarter than we thought.'
Bomo says, 'I think a few of them actually speak gnomish! I got that impression because most of them would beat us if they caught us talking to each other in our own tongue, but a few of their priest-types would sometimes be standing nearby and would do nothing. We assumed that they just didn't care because they were not afraid of us, but now I think they were eavesdropping!'
Bomo says, 'We finally finished the device yesterday. The Professor punched out the startup codes onto an appropriate strip of metal and we told their leader that we were done. We offered to show them how to work the device if they let us go. Obviously they refused. The leader yanked the startup codes out of the Professor's hands and gave them to one of his generals. The general ripped the metal into three pieces with his bare hands!'
Bomo says, 'Then their leader, something-or-other Steelcrown, took the pieces and gave one to each of his generals. There's the really strong one, then the leader of their priests, and the one that handles all their wolves. We need to get those codes back! Well, I mean, you need to get those codes back. I'm just a small gnome in the bigger scheme of things and I don't think I would be of much help. If it's alright with you, I'd like to get out of here now. You can [handle the codes].'
You say, 'handle the codes'
Bomo says, 'That part is easy. Find a metal press. There was one in our gear. I'm sure the orcs still have it. Put all three of the code pieces into the press and jump up and down on the handles. Well, you're stronger than I am so you probably won't have to jump up and down on them. Just press them together real hard. That should hold the metal together long enough to feed it into the clockwork. Give the clockwork the code and it will come to life and teach these orcs a lesson! Then you should be able to rescue the professor. Can I [go] now? This place scares the grease out of me.'
You say, 'go'
Bomo says, 'Thanks!'
From this point on you must progress through the zone, killing hostile enemies, and seeking the following items:
- Part One of the Startup Code ( https://everquest.allakhazam.com/db/item.html?item=47238 ) - Dropped by 'Gorgo the Jailer' ( https://eq.magelo.com/npc/539867 ). This NPC may also drop 'Blood-Spattered Chainmail' ( https://eq.magelo.com/item/55697 ) or 'Grisly Halberd of War' ( https://everquest.allakhazam.com/db/item.html?item=58861 ).
- Part Two of the Startup Code ( https://eq.magelo.com/item/55709 ) - Dropped by 'Ralgnar the Jailer' ( https://eq.magelo.com/npc/539862 ). This NPC may also drop 'Enchanted Goblin Knuckle Necklace' ( https://eq.magelo.com/item/55699 ).
- Part Three of the Startup Code ( https://eq.magelo.com/item/55710 ) - Dropped by 'Eraiga the Jailer' ( https://eq.magelo.com/npc/539865 ). This NPC may also drop 'Battle-Scarred Visor' ( https://eq.magelo.com/item/55701 ).
After obtaining the three pieces of the startup code, you must obtain a container called 'Metal Press' ( https://eq.magelo.com/item/55707 ), dropped by 'Grotai Steelcrown' ( https://eq.magelo.com/npc/539859 ). This NPC may also drop 'Belt of Slaying' ( https://eq.magelo.com/item/55705 ).
The three named "Jailers" are stronger than the base population of the zone, but not particularly difficult; having about 300k HP. 'Grotai Steelcrown' is quite a bit more challenging, having something like a million HP according to my logs of the event. Grotai also casts (at least) the spell 'Experimental Contamination' ( https://everquest.allakhazam.com/db/spell.html?spell=4411 ).
Depending on what combination of shrouds, mercenaries, or actual level 65 characters you have to work with, none of these NPCs are too much of a problem, though.
Combining the three pieces of the startup code within the container yields an item called 'Reconstituted Startup Codes' ( https://eq.magelo.com/item/62530 ). Upon handing this item to the large clockwork NPC 'Clockwork Monstrosity' ( https://eq.magelo.com/npc/539863 ), the following emotes transpire:
Quote:
The device starts to move with a shudder. Smoke and steam begin to pour from seams and exhaust tubes with a loud hissing. You can barely hear the high-pitched screams coming from someplace inside the massive machine, and you fear for the Professor, who may have been roasted alive when the device started up.
After a few moments of shaking the clockwork suffers from one more massive tremor that shakes pieces free from all over the device, even knocking over a few nearby barrels. You recognize a flash of color in the debris as the professor is thrown to the ground. The machine suddenly seizes up and there is an eerie silence for a moment.
(The Gnome NPC 'Bartleby Beckelbracker' appears at this time)
Incomplete and inappropriate activation codes. Internal damage reported. Explosion imminent.
Explosion imminent. Expected destructive force incalculable by this unit. Please leave the area for your own safety.
Explosion anticipated in twenty minutes. Expected destructive force incalculable by this unit. Please leave the area for your own safety.
After a few moments of shaking the clockwork suffers from one more massive tremor that shakes pieces free from all over the device, even knocking over a few nearby barrels. You recognize a flash of color in the debris as the professor is thrown to the ground. The machine suddenly seizes up and there is an eerie silence for a moment.
(The Gnome NPC 'Bartleby Beckelbracker' appears at this time)
Incomplete and inappropriate activation codes. Internal damage reported. Explosion imminent.
Explosion imminent. Expected destructive force incalculable by this unit. Please leave the area for your own safety.
Explosion anticipated in twenty minutes. Expected destructive force incalculable by this unit. Please leave the area for your own safety.
Hailing 'Bartleby Beckelbracker' reveals the following:
Quote:
You say, 'Hail, Bartleby Beckelbracker'
Bartleby Beckelbracker says, 'Have you come to rescue me? You must get me out of this horrid place! Lead on, and I'll be right behind you the whole way!'
Rondor says, 'Hail, Bartleby Beckelbracker'
Bartleby Beckelbracker says, 'Hopefully the adventurer I'm following can get us out of here. I'd hate to be stuck here any longer.'
You say, 'Hail, Bartleby Beckelbracker'
Bartleby Beckelbracker says, 'Lead me out of this terrible place! I can't stand to be trapped here any longer!'
Bartleby Beckelbracker says, 'Have you come to rescue me? You must get me out of this horrid place! Lead on, and I'll be right behind you the whole way!'
Rondor says, 'Hail, Bartleby Beckelbracker'
Bartleby Beckelbracker says, 'Hopefully the adventurer I'm following can get us out of here. I'd hate to be stuck here any longer.'
You say, 'Hail, Bartleby Beckelbracker'
Bartleby Beckelbracker says, 'Lead me out of this terrible place! I can't stand to be trapped here any longer!'
Unfortunately, Bartleby refused to ever actually follow anyone, despite attempting many different hails, trigger phrases, leaving the zone and coming back, etc. Possibly due to the fact that the first person to hail him had a pet at the time? Although it seemed that Bartleby was reset after zoning out, and would begin his speech about following a new person afterwards, he still refused to ever move. Many hostile orcs spawned upon exiting the room Bartleby was in. I suspect that this would continue to happen as you lead Bartleby to the exit, if he were actually following you there.
Due to the failure of Bartleby to ever follow anyone and allow the task to proceed, the following failure emotes eventually occured:
Quote:
Explosion anticipated in ten minutes. Expected destructive force incalculable by this unit. Please leave the area for your own safety.
Explosion anticipated in five minutes. Expected destructive force incalculable by this unit. Please leave the area for your own safety.
Explosion anticipated in eight minutes. Expected destructive force incalculable by this unit. Please leave the area for your own safety.
(yes, eight minutes was seen after five minutes)
Explosion anticipated in seven minutes. Expected destructive force incalculable by this unit. Please leave the area for your own safety.
Explosion anticipated in six minutes. Expected destructive force incalculable by this unit. Please leave the area for your own safety.
Explosion anticipated in five minutes. Expected destructive force incalculable by this unit. Please leave the area for your own safety.
Explosion anticipated at any moment. Expected destructive force incalculable by this unit. Please leave the area for your own safety.
Explosion anticipated at any moment. Expected destructive force incalculable by this unit. Please leave the area for your own safety.
Explosion anticipated at any moment. Expected destructive force incalculable by this unit. Please leave the area for your own safety.
A tremendous booming sound rolls through the caverns. Rocks and dirt are shaken from the roof as it rolls past. You are nearly knocked off your feet by the power of the sound. A moment later a wave or flames follows it and your flesh starts to boil from your bones.
Clockwork Monstrosity begins casting Massive Explosion.
A massive explosion consumes your body.
Rondor is caught in a massive explosion.
Explosion anticipated in five minutes. Expected destructive force incalculable by this unit. Please leave the area for your own safety.
Explosion anticipated in eight minutes. Expected destructive force incalculable by this unit. Please leave the area for your own safety.
(yes, eight minutes was seen after five minutes)
Explosion anticipated in seven minutes. Expected destructive force incalculable by this unit. Please leave the area for your own safety.
Explosion anticipated in six minutes. Expected destructive force incalculable by this unit. Please leave the area for your own safety.
Explosion anticipated in five minutes. Expected destructive force incalculable by this unit. Please leave the area for your own safety.
Explosion anticipated at any moment. Expected destructive force incalculable by this unit. Please leave the area for your own safety.
Explosion anticipated at any moment. Expected destructive force incalculable by this unit. Please leave the area for your own safety.
Explosion anticipated at any moment. Expected destructive force incalculable by this unit. Please leave the area for your own safety.
A tremendous booming sound rolls through the caverns. Rocks and dirt are shaken from the roof as it rolls past. You are nearly knocked off your feet by the power of the sound. A moment later a wave or flames follows it and your flesh starts to boil from your bones.
Clockwork Monstrosity begins casting Massive Explosion.
A massive explosion consumes your body.
Rondor is caught in a massive explosion.
'Clockwork Monstrosity' rapidly casted the spell 'Massive Explosion' ( https://everquest.allakhazam.com/db/spell.html?spell=5148 ) many times, which was enough to ensure the death of everyone present. This also caused Bartleby to fall down, as though dead or FD'd. Shortly afterwards, the Monstrosity and Bartleby both despawned.
I would presume that, should Bartleby follow you as he is intended, you would have twenty minutes to fight your way back to the entrance. Possibly a reward chest would appear at that time should you succeed. Unfortunately, Bartleby didn't function properly.
Edited, Apr 19th 2021 12:05pm by Xikteny
Edited, Apr 19th 2021 1:17pm by Xikteny
