Bard Epic 1.0

From EQ KnowledgePit

Most of this guide is taken directly from the EQDiva site and is archived here for purposes of retaining the information should the site become unavailable, the original walkthrough can be found at EQDiva Archives: Epic Walkthru

Singing Short Sword

1 General
2 History
3 Walkthrough
4 Quest Completion
5 Lore
6 See Also

[edit] General

The Singing Short Sword acts as a 1.8 modifier to all instruments.
The Effect: Dance of the Blade is a proc that lasts 2.5 minutes and adds 55% haste, 30 Strength, and 30 Attack.
The gathering of components can be started at any level, but several key turn-ins require level 51.

[edit] History

Introduced September 19, 2000 (between Ruins of Kunark and Scars of Velious) the Singing Short Sword was the first non-instrument item that acted as an instrument. In fact, it acts as a 1.8 modifier to all instruments (meaning it increases the power of modifiable song components by 80%).

The quest was bugged at first and remained unsolved until the NPC Serra was added to the Estate of Unrest shortly after the epic quests were introduced.

[edit] Walkthrough

[edit] Getting Started

To start, go to the Dreadlands in the temple around location (750, 9650) (circled red) and talk to Baldric Slezaf.

Location of Baldric Slezaf

“	You say, 'Hail, Baldric Slezaf' Baldric Slezaf says 'Hello ______. Don't you think this would be a wonderful place to perform a [symphony]?' You say, 'What symphony?' Baldric Slezaf says '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.' You say, 'What snags?' Baldric Slezaf says '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]!' You say, 'What pages?' Baldric Slezaf says '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.' You say, 'Who is Forpar Fizfla?' Baldric Slezaf says '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.' You say, 'What music?' Baldric Slezaf says '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.' You say, 'How will you repay me?' 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.	”

“

You say, 'Hail, Baldric Slezaf'

Baldric Slezaf says 'Hello ______. Don't you think this would be a wonderful place to perform a [symphony]?'

You say, 'What symphony?'

Baldric Slezaf says '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.'

You say, 'What snags?'

Baldric Slezaf says '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]!'

You say, 'What pages?'

Baldric Slezaf says '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.'

You say, 'Who is Forpar Fizfla?'

Baldric Slezaf says '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.'

You say, 'What music?'

Baldric Slezaf says '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.'

You say, 'How will you repay me?'

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.

”

He needs four things...

The items that Baldric requests come in four different pieces:

[edit] Page 24 - Top

This portion of the epic simply involves a lot of running (or porting) around and talking to NPCs, there is no killing involved to get the top half of page 24.

NOTE: despite the sense of urgency in the quest text, there is no timer and the turn-ins can be completed as leisurely as you like.

Konia Swiftfoot

This section starts with Konia Swiftfoot in the Western Plains of Karana at location (-500, -2500)

“	You say, "Hail, Konia Swiftfoot" Konia Swiftfoot says, "Hello there ________. I am hosting a relay running contest. Would you like to participate?" You say, "Yes I would like to participate." Konia Swiftfoot says, "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." You say, "I am ready." Konia Swiftfoot says, "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!"	”

“

You say, "Hail, Konia Swiftfoot"

Konia Swiftfoot says, "Hello there ________. I am hosting a relay running contest. Would you like to participate?"

You say, "Yes I would like to participate."

Konia Swiftfoot says, "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."

You say, "I am ready."

Konia Swiftfoot says, "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!"

”

At this point you receive the Torch of Misty

Fajio Knejo

Now head to Misty Thicket (post-revamp) at location (-100, 600) near the entrance to Runneyeye Citadel you'll find Fajio Knejo. Hand him the Torch of Misty

“	Fajio Knejo says, "Run onward, my friend, to the far off Desert of Ro and give this torch to Andad Filla."	”

He'll hand you back the Torch of Ro.

Andad Filla

Head to the Southern Desert of Ro near the zone to Innothule Swamp and there you'll find Andad Filla. Hand him the Torch of Ro

“	Andad Filla says, "You still have a ways to go! Seek out Misty Tekcihta near the arena at Lake Rathe. Run like the wind!"	”

He'll hand you back the Torch of Rathe

Misty Tekcihta

Off you go again to Lake Rathetear near the entrance to the arena to find Misty Tekcihta. Hand her the Torch of Rathe.

You got no verbal acknowledgment, but she hands you back the Proof of Speed.

Take this Proof of Speed back to Konia Swiftfoot in the Western Plains of Karana.

“	Konia Swiftfoot says, "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."	”

At this point you receive the Maestro's Symphony Page 24 Top, the first of four turn-in pieces you need to complete your epic.

[edit] Page 24 - Bottom

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[edit] Page 25

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[edit] Mystical Lute

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[edit] Quest Completion

Upon turning in all three page segments and the lute...

“	Baldric Slezaf looks shocked as you hand him the pages and the mystical lute. 'I will put on a symphony the likes of which the gods have never seen. Thank you so much, Soandso. Please take this sword as a token of my gratitude.	”

[edit] Lore

Much uncertainty surrounds the origin of this artifact, though one myth has survived the chaos of Norrath's history. Long ago, when the world was new, a human bard by the name of Kimrick set out for the knowledge to create the finest weapon he could. His search took him to the very edges of Norrath and eventually to the stronghold of Qeynos.

While traveling through the city, admiring its clear fishpools and pristine buildings, he heard a voice on the wind unlike any he had heard. Following it, he came to a small pond where a maiden sat. She looked longingly into the water, singing a melody so sweet that Kimrick was moved to tears. The maiden stopped, embarrassed that her singing had gained the attention of a traveling stranger.

It took no more than a week before the two became inseparable. Ruinwyn and Kimrick made solemn vows to one another, forsaking all others. The rather self-centered young man had found his muse, and her voice, her beauty and her goodness inspired Kimrick to work even harder on his quest. He spent nearly all his waking moments now fashioning a blade, lovingly crafting the short sword until its shine rivaled that of Ruinwyn's eyes and its strength matched the loyalty in her heart. No better sword had been crafted in Qeynos.

Unfortunately, as his obsession with perfecting the blade and his self-absorption grew, the time he spent with Ruinwyn dwindled. She took to walking the streets, speaking with strangers and hearing tales from far off lands--perhaps, she felt, if she gathered enough gossip and foreign news for her love, she could better entertain him.

Sadly, Kimrick was blind to her true intentions and mistook her streetwalking for betrayal. He began to follow her through the city, watching her smile and charm the travelers that passed through. Her voice would leave them spellbound and men gathered to woo her. Though her heart remained true, Kimrick knew only jealousy in his heart. In his mind, her sweet words to him were dripping with lies and her eyes spoke of infidelity.

She returned one evening to find Kimrick waiting up. Full of rage, he accused her of betrayal and, without waiting for an explanation, buried the gleaming short sword in her chest, watching her slump to the ground in anguished confusion. Some say that, at this moment, Ruinwyn cried out to the heavens for vengeance, and that it was Innoruuk, the Prince of Hate himself, who heard her plea. At that moment, her spirit left her body and fused with Kimrick's shining blade.

In a panic, Kimrick disposed of the body and lost himself in wine and debauchery. One evening as he returned home in a drunken stupor, he drew the sword from its sheath. Into his mind came the song of Ruinwyn, the very tune he had heard upon their first meeting. So horrifying it was now, yet so beautiful still. Day and night the melody filled his mind, slowly expanding into a virtual symphony, until he had to sit down in his study and began to write the music that would not let him rest.

Day and night he spent writing Ruinwyn's symphony, so persistent it was. Her spirit would not let him rest and the melodies consumed him, feeding his selfishness and his anguish until he turned to the gods themselves and demanded freedom. Innoruuk's ear is ever open to despair and pain, and, pleased with Kimrick's pitiful cries, he took the bard into his realm, twisting him into the very image of ugliness that his former murderous act warranted. A Maestro he had become, and now he dwells in Innoruuk's hateful realm, replaying the haunting song for eternity.

The sword and symphony were lost over time--until another bard, Baldric Slezaf, happened upon the blade in the possession of a traveling merchant. The same merchant offered him the pages of the symphony as well. Much to Baldric's chagrin, however, the symphony was incomplete. He spent the next few years hunting down the missing pages and gathering up lost information regarding the tragedy of Kimrick.

The blade has been in Baldric's possession since, and some say he would trade the Singing Short Sword itself for the missing pieces of Kimrick's "Woeful Symphony." Rumor has it that Baldric's obsession with the melody has clouded his mind over the years, and that any who come in contact with the bard risk suffering a fate similar to that of Lady Ruinwyn.