The Spirit of the Swarm

Walkthrough

The Spirit of the Swarm
Quest giver	Master Alchemist Baruk
Previous quest	Tylazik`s Remains' quest
Starting Zone	Grobb
Suggested Level Range	65 plus
Quest items used	Spiritual Residue Deep Fungus x 2 Swarmborn Pineal Gland Flesh of the Creator or Scale of Taeshlin Kolomber's Vanishing Ointment Essence of Fire
Item Reward(s)	+2% Innate slow

Find Master Alchemist Baruk (Grobb  at 222, 98  •) .

You say, 'Hail, Master Alchemist Baruk'

Master Alchemist Baruk says, 'Hullo, <Player Name>. Welcome to Baruk's shop. Hey, dat is a nice mask you have der. Can I see it fer a second?'

You say, 'Uh, sure.'

Master Alchemist Baruk says, 'Hum.. Is very gud tribe spirit mask. Very strong. Has spirit of swarm, yus?'

You say, 'Right...'

Master Alchemist Baruk says, 'Yus, is very old type shaman mask. Shamans have long tradition of spirit masks. Elder teach Baruk all 'bout 'em. And 'bout alchemy, other long shaman tradition. Two tings is related, yus? Spirit mask prob'ly made wif alchemy. But you know, elder teach me that spirit mask is prob'ly use to give powers one not hab. You know what I meaning?'

You say, 'Could you explain it a little more?'

Master Alchemist Baruk says, 'Well, you shaman need swarm spirit mask because you shaman no have swarm spirit in you. Unnerstan'? If spirit is in you, mebbe no need mask. Is like mask of courageous warrior, yus? On weakling, mebbe give courage -- but courage in mask, not in weakling. If weakling lose mask, weakling lose courage. If courageous warrior lose mask, still is courageous warrior. Unnerstan'?'

You say, 'I suppose so. But uh, courage isn't exactly the same thing as an essential spirit of nature.'

Master Alchemist Baruk says, 'Is true, swarm spirit no easy ting to get. No like courage, which can get wif trial of courage. This mask of you's though -- swarm spirit is def'nit'ly in mask. Me tink me can take spirit out of mask and gib to you wif alchemy ritual. Is no easy ting though. Not many alchemist know spirit mask ritual deez days. No one collect ingredients for it any more. Is very rare to begin wif.'

You say, 'Go on.'

Master Alchemist Baruk says, 'Well, if you's interested, we needs do two tings. First, we need make ritual potion. Baruk can make, but you will need get der ingredients. If hab right ingredients, potion will be able to hold swarm spirit. Is dangerous, but only way to get swarm spirit into you. 'Fore we can make potion though, we need get spirit out of mask. Baruk not sure how do this, but Baruk hab idea.'

You say, 'What do you have in mind for getting the spirit out of the mask?'

Master Alchemist Baruk says, 'Baruk not sure how best to take spirit out of mask -- Elder gud wif putting spirit into mask, not pulling spirit out of mask. But mez hear of deez Unbinder folk in other towns. Mebbe dey know how get spirit out of mask? Jes make sure we can take spirit out of mask here in Baruk's shop -- can't take spirit out before wez ready.'

You say, 'What ingredients do you need for the potion?'

Master Alchemist Baruk says, 'For potion, need three main ingredients.'

You say, 'What's the first ingredient?'

Master Alchemist Baruk says, 'Elder once tell Baruk that swarm spirit naturally embodied in great swarm insect in land of plagues. All swarm spirit come from deez insect originally, he say. When dey die, dey become pure swarm spirit which yous shamans invoke in battle. Me tinks swarm spirit naturally be comfortable in deez great insect bodies. Wif a piece of one of der bodies, maybe we calm swarm spirit. Very important to have calm spirit to imbue potion wif. Elder tell Baruk that deez great swarm insect bodies very fragile though, and too close to spirit of plagues. Der bodies decay too fast when swarm spirit leaves dem. Need take part of der body while dey still alive... Not really safe job for shamans, yus? Mebbe you knows someone better for dose kind of tings, yus?'

You say, 'What's the second ingredient?'

Master Alchemist Baruk says, 'Dis kind of potion based mainly in broth of fungus. Need very gud, strong fungus for dis, though. Kind of fungus that grows very big and strong wifout ever seeing light of day. Two of deez dark fungus should be 'nuff.'

You say, 'What's the third ingredient?'

Master Alchemist Baruk says, 'Dis is hard part. Very hard ingredient to get, but we hab option here. First option is scale of powerful dragon. Scale of wyrm is no gud -- need scale of dragon wif very willful spirit. If dis option no good, can use flesh of very powerful mage, too. Like scale, need to be from mage wif very willfull spirit. Piece of scale or flesh not have full strength of spirit, but still strong enough to overwhelm swarm spirit when wez extract it from mask. Dis ingredient will be use to prepare broth of swarm spirit before wez add it to drinkable fungus and swarm insect potion.'

You say, 'Is there anything else?'

Master Alchemist Baruk says, 'Das it. Is much work for yous, but should make yous more powerful, an' more unity with spirits always gud idea for shamans, yus? If yous forget what yous looking for, come back and ask Baruk. For Baruk part, mez be honored to help fellow shaman. Besides, is gud to challenge self, yus? Mebbe even be gud for business!'

Your journal has been updated. [The Spirit of the Swarm]

You say, 'Hail, Erella the Unbinder.'

Erella the Unbinder says, 'Greetings to you. I am the Guild Unbinder, a type of artificer. I specialize in lifting the bonding enchantments of certain magical artifacts, and am capable of either unbinding or unenchanting such items.'

You say, 'Um... do you know if you can help me remove a spirit from my mask?'

Erella the Unbinder says, 'Um, what? Spirits? Er, that's not really the same kind of thing as enchantments. Aren't you a shaman? Isn't this more YOUR kind of thing..?'

You say, 'Do you know anything about it or not?'

Erella the Unbinder says, 'Well, minor enchantments can be removed with a quick spell, usually. But with really resilient enchantments, the process is as much chemical as magical. You actually might be more familiar with the chemical portion than I am -- for tough jobs we usually use a mixture made from vanishing ointment and some essence of fire as the active agent, plus another passive agent. This agent varies depending upon the type of enchantment, though. On a steel breastplate with a really strong defensive enchantment, it'd probably be some pure iron ore. For you, maybe you could use some kind of basic.. spiritual.. thingy? I'm not really sure how that stuff works... And if YOU don't know, maybe you should try looking somewhere where the whole primitive shamanistic culture thing is still going strong? Most shamans these days are either adventurers or quiet alchemy shopkeepers -- kinda losing touch with your roots, you know? Just a thought. Good luck with all that.'

Your journal has been updated. [The Spirit of the Swarm]

You say, 'Hail, Master Alchemist Baruk.'

Master Alchemist Baruk says, 'Hey der <Player Name>. Back so soon? Yous hab question? Or hab tings?'

Gather and give Master Alchemist Baruk:

• Deep Fungus x2
• Scale of Taeshlin or Flesh of the Creator
• Swarmborn Pineal Gland

Master Alchemist Baruk says, 'Ah! Yous do very gud, <Player Name>. Dis scale hab very willful spirit, but small enough for mez to dilute and control as wez need. Other ingredients look perfect too. Now wez just need der solution to get spirit out of mask! Baruk'll hang onto dez bits and prepare the potion for when yous get the last tings.'

Your journal has been updated. [The Spirit of the Swarm]

Gather and give Master Alchemist Baruk:

• Essence of Fire
• Kolomber's Vanishing Ointment
• Spiritual Residue

Master Alchemist Baruk says, 'Oh, dis is what wez need to take spirit out of mask? Unbinder says so? Ok den. Great! Wez hab all we need den. When yous ready, gib Baruk the mask and we begin the ritual. Only begin if yous very sure -- mask be useless after ritual.'

Your journal has been updated. [The Spirit of the Swarm]

You say, 'Hail, Master Alchemist Baruk.'

Master Alchemist Baruk says, 'Are yous prepared?'

You say, 'I am prepared.'

Baruk hands you the dark broth. You hold the cup in your hands for a few moments. You can sense the awoken spirit of the swarm trapped within the viscous and vaguely unsettling liquid. After a deep breath, you bring the cup to your lips and take in the mixture. You hear a far off sounds as of the buzzing of a swarm of flies as it creeps down your throat. Only a supreme effort of will prevents you from vomiting up the stuff. As it settles into you, you close your eyes and enter a deep trance. After a few minutes, you open them again, feeling serenely calm. Baruk smiles at you proudly. The Spirit of the Swarm flows through your fingers.

You have completed a quest. [The Spirit of the Swarm]

NOTE: Your spirit is now one with the Spirit of the Swarm, granting you an innate bonus [+2] to the percentage of any slowing spell you cast.

You gain 200,000 experience!