Under the Black Rose

One of My Little Indulgences my be started in order to gain access to this quest.

You must have completed Steak in order for Mira to offer the second part of this quest as well (after killing the spider). Steak is a quest randomly offered by Mira and may not be offered until you respawn the Vah camp several times. Keep respawning the camp and hailing her through her dialogue until Steak is offered.

Also known as the Vah Assassinations, Mira Shahar wants you to give the Black Rose (and death) to a number of targets. These assassinations have special rules: you must hand a Black Rose to your target, you kill it before killing any minions, the target must die in the same room they spawn in, additionally the area near your target must be peaceful for at least five minutes before you strike.

Pacify and Feign Death can really help with these turn-ins.

Under the Black Rose
Quest giver	Mira Shahar
Next quest	Steak The Liar and the Whore
Previous quest	One of My Little Indulgences (Completion not required)
Starting Zone	Southern Waste of Tarhyl
Ending Zone	Southern Waste of Tarhyl
Other Zone(s)	Tunnels of Lasanth Cyrtho Malath Kedge Keep Fire Grottos Dragon Necropolis
Suggested Level Range	65 plus
Quest items used	Black Rose Black Rose x 4
Item Reward(s)	Order of the Black Rose
Related overview	Farmer Tenkin's Crops When a Cat is Cornered There's More To Be Found Rescuing the Vah - Set One Set One (Hidden Presences) Saving Ryhajin Kajek Saving Araghin Vahl Saving Mira Shahar Rescuing the Vah - Set Two Set Two (Hidden Presences) Saving Shaylan Nairu Rescuing the Vah - Set Three Set Three (Hidden Presences) Saving Hyvek Vahl Saving Verjya Hakahm Saving Vyre Sraen Saving Sorysia Laythen Oracle Eyes Sane Madness Collecting banners (may start after receiving the Rehn Banner) Standard of the Vahir The Trapped Vahir Set Four (Shir Blades) Saving Vahir Rahkahl Saving Vahir Ghan Standard of the Vah Sraen Sins of the Father Standard of the Vah Kajek Deaf Leading the Blind Standard of the Vah Hakahm And You Thought Darkwoods Was Bad... At Any Price Standard of the Vah Rashaam Yejhana's Lodestone quest Until There Is No Enemy Standard of the Vah Shahar One of My Little Indulgences Under the Black Rose Strange Appetites The Liar and the Whore Standard of the Vahl The Liar and the Whore The Vah - Final Quest Additional sidequests (Optional goodies) Eye Spy Unlocked after Rescuing the Vah - Set One Cube Gigging Building the Future Unlocked after Rescuing the Vah - Set Three Arrows Don't Grow on Trees Unlocked after The Trapped Vahir - Set Four Shir Blade (Paladin) quests Shir Blade (Shadowknight) quests

Walkthrough

Find Mira Shahar (Southern Waste of Tarhyl  at -1236 1357  • Vah Rehn camp) .

You say, 'Hail, Mira Shahar'

Mira Shahar pats the ground next to her. 'Hail, pet. Have a seat, let's chat a while.'

You say, 'Er, what about?'

Mira Shahar tells you, 'Oh, this and that.' She favors you with a toothy grin. 'My situation and your part in it, for example.'

You say, '-Sit down.-'

Mira Shahar tells you, 'Close enough, I suppose.' She flicks an ear at you. 'What is your part in this? Why did the Vahl trust you to come for me, and how did he know where I was?'

You say, 'That's quite a lot of questions. Why are you asking me all this?'

Mira Shahar tells you, 'Why *not* ask you, pet? Answer them, if only to say that you don't know.'

You say, 'You don't seem to trust me. I saved you from the tunnels of Lasanth, isn't that enough?'

MISSING TEXT

You say, 'Those are some very good questions. I can answer the first two, but I've got no idea about the last one.'

MISSING TEXT

You say, 'My part in this is pretty accidental.'

Mira takes her tail in one hand and toys with it idly. 'Do tell.'

You say, '-Relate the story of how you met Harhyn, then recovered Lyjan and Nevaldan from Grobb.-'

Mira Shahar says, 'Hrnn, it seems Harhyn has the next piece of the puzzle for me.' She seems to unwind, losing the coiled-serpent demeanor she'd possessed a moment ago. The shift in mood is subtle but intense.

You say, 'Why the sudden change in attitude?'

MISSING TEXT

You say, 'He wasn't very forthcoming with me. Since I gave you his name, could you relay anything he says back to me?'

Mira Shahar shakes your hand. 'We have a deal. And pet,' her warm, furred grip tightens around your hand. ' I trust you'll keep whatever I tell you to yourself. When I find a name, and I eventually will, it wouldn't do to set them about watching their back.'

You say, 'Of course. Stow the theatrics.'

Mira releases your hand and dips her head. 'As you wish, pet. It's so nice to see someone here who appreciates the finer things. Like, for example, the theater. Of course, one who watches theater overlong must be careful that they can tell the difference between it and reality--and between what's idle and what's earnest.' She pats your hand. 'Still, there's no reason to be hostile, is there? I will speak with Harhyn and learn what I can and we can go from there.'

You say, 'Hail, Mira Shahar'

Mira Shahar pats the ground next to her. 'Hail, pet. Have a seat, let's chat a while.'

You say, '-Sit down.-'

Mira Shahar tells you, 'Close enough, I suppose.' Mira sighs. 'Like most things here.'

You say, 'I take it you don't approve of the camp?'

Mira Shahar tells you, 'Hrrn, it's not quite that. Not exactly.' Mira shrugs. 'The camp is well enough built considering what the Rehn have on hand. This isn't it, mind you--these are tents stolen from orcs. The camp itself is hidden in the Tarhyl mountains. Still... It's a step down. Several large steps down.'

You say, 'You mean for your people?'

Mira Shahar tells you, 'That too, yes.' She shakes her head. 'But not just that. There are still factions, but they are few and their disagreements minor. There's only one real house, with everyone huddled under it. I feel like a star without a sky. It's... *dull*. I wouldn't expect you to understand, pet.' The smirk returns to her voice. 'Not yet, at least.'

You say, 'Have you learned anything from Haryn?'

Mira Shahar tells you, 'No, I haven't spoken with him yet.' Mira sighs, stretching and flexing her fingers. 'I'll get to it soon, but for now, I'm still getting acclimated to this place.'

You say, 'Do you know the significance of a wild, black rose?'

Mira Shahar tells you, 'Mrr, yes I do.' Her expression is unreadable. 'Now why would you want to know about a thing like that?'

You say, 'For Araghin's scented vial.'

Mira chuffs, but that chuff quickly becomes full-out laughter. 'Th--that!, hhh' she suppresses another giggle. 'I'm sorry, it's just that I thought you meant something completely different. So tubby wants to smell the rose again, does he? And I suppose you're looking for a wild, black rose, then.'

You say, 'Why? What did you think I meant?'

Mira Shahar tells you, 'There are three ways to read those stars, pet. I'm much more used to the first two than the one you wanted.'

You say, 'Yes, if you don't mind.'

Mira Shahar tells you, 'Not at all. I have a few, but it's not as simple as giving you one. I have an oath to uphold. If you want a rose, you must earn it--one way or another.' Mira grins. 'Hrnn... When you were in the mines of Lasanth, perhaps you came across the queen of the spiderkin there, yes?'

You say, 'No, I never saw her there.'

Mira Shahar tells you, 'Then you must look harder, pet.'

You say, 'Where did you get them?'

Mira grins. 'You might say some of us are born with them, pet, but the truth is much more complex. Someday I may share it with you.'

You say, 'I know of her.'

Mira Shahar tells you, 'Good. Kill her.'

You say, 'She has a rose?'

Mira Shahar tells you, 'Not yet. It's not that simple, pet. You must kill her without killing any of her minions--her entire brood must be alive both when you attack and when she falls. Next, nothing near the target area can be disturbed for at least five minutes before attacking the queen, and she must still be in her home. Lastly, when you attack her, you must give her this rose. Have you got all that?'

You receive Black Rose from Mira Shahar.

Your journal has been updated. [Under the Black Rose]

 

Journal Text: Mira gave me a black rose and told me to bring it to the queen of the spiderkin in Lasanth. I'm to show her the rose, then kill her, while all of her minions are still alive. The area near the spiderkin domain must be peaceful for five minutes before I strike and she must still be in her home.

You say, 'That's a tall order.'

Mira Shahar tells you, 'It's a very nice rose.'

You say, 'You already gave me the rose. Why can't I just give it to Ryhajin?'

Mira Shahar tells you, 'Like I said, pet: no one gets a rose they haven't earned. One way or another.'

Queen of the Spiderkin

Note: This assassination must be completed before the other assassinations are offered.

Note: Once completing this assassination as well as the Steak quest randomly offered by Mira, she will then offer the next set of assassinations which can be done in any order.

Find Si`Thl`Li`Thara (Tunnels of Lasanth  • Deep in pool area) .

Give Si`Thl`Li`Thara:

• Black Rose

Si`Thl`Li`Thara looks contemptuously at the rose in your hand. 'What is this, some manner of trick?'

You have fulfilled the first part of Mira's requirements.

Si`Thl`Li`Thara returned Black Rose to you.

Kill Si`Thl`Li`Thara without killing her minions.

Mira Shahar slips out of the shadows near Si`Thl`Li`Thara. 'Effective, if a bit messy. Still, a commendable job for someone with no real training. Come speak with me.'

You say, 'Hail, Mira Shahar'

Mira Shahar says, 'You're free to give that rose to Ryhajin, pet.' Mira flicks an ear at the spiderkin queen's corpse. 'Now that the intended is dead, it's just another flower. Have you any questions before I take my leave?'

Your journal has been updated. [Under the Black Rose]

 

Journal Text: I assassinated Si`thl`li`thara  [sic] via the rules laid out by Mira Shahar. The rose she gave me is now mine to do with as I please. I can continue reconstructing the scent for Araghin.

You say, 'Why did I have to show her the rose?'

Mira presses one ear out to the side and flicks the other at Si`Thl`Li`Thara's corpse. 'Because this one made her home in a dank cave with no proper doors to affix it over. Death follows in the shadow of the Black Rose. It is warning, message, calling card, and sorcery all at once.'

You say, 'Why did you have so many restrictions on the way I dealt with her? Dead is dead.'

Mira Shahar says, 'Perhaps you're simply not cut out to carry the rose, pet. Few people are.' Her ears flick briefly to the sides.

You say, 'Despite the restrictions, this seemed a bit brutish.'

Mira grins at you. 'Aye, that it does... Perhaps later I'll find someone more fun for you to kill, pet.'

Your journal has been updated. [Under the Black Rose]

 

Journal Text: I assassinated Si`thl`li`thara  [sic] via the rules laid out by Mira Shahar. The rose she gave me is now mine to do with as I please. Mira also hinted that she may have more targets for me in the future, but for now, I can continue reconstructing the scent for Araghin.

You say, 'Let's go.'

Mira Shahar says, 'Aye, let's.'

Note: If you missed dialogue you may speak to Mira back in the camp.

Return to Mira Shahar (Southern Waste of Tarhyl  at -1236 1357  • Vah Rehn camp) .

You say, 'Hail, Mira Shahar'

Mira Shahar pats the ground next to her. 'Hail, pet. Have a seat, let's chat a while.'

You say, '-Sit down.-'

Mira Shahar tells you, 'Close enough, I suppose.' Mira flicks an ear at you. 'I have a surprise for you.'

You say, 'Oh? What's that?'

Mira gives you four black roses and a small parchment with a list of names on it.

You receive Black Rose from Mira Shahar. x 4

Note: You do *NOT* get a note despite the text implying that you do.

You say, 'What's this list for?'

Mira Shahar tells you, 'So you know who to kill, pet.' Mira grins at you. 'That is, if you're up to the challenge.'

You say, 'Why should I kill these people?'

Mira Shahar tells you, 'That's not the right way to think, pet. Perhaps you are not ready.'

You say, 'Can you tell me who the people on the list are?'

Mira Shahar tells you, 'That's the right way to react. Who do you want to know more about?'

Your journal has been updated. [Under the Black Rose]

 

Journal Text: Mira Shahar gave me a list of more targets to eliminate and a set of rules to kill them by. The Eternal One in Kedge Keep, Assassin Lord Zyk in the Dragon Necropolis, Maklathi the Thought Mage in Crytho Malath, and Advisor Garathor in the Fire Grottos. I'm to take them using the same guidelines I used for the spiderkin queen: All of the creature's immediate companions left alive, nothing else in the area alerted within the last five minutes, and the creature must remain where it lives--all of these must be true when I strike. I'm to give each target a black rose from the four Mira gave me.

You say, 'I assume these have the same restrictions you put on the spiderkin queen?'

Mira's ears flick once. 'Aye, pet, but I wouldn't call them restrictions. More... guidelines, as it were. Encouraging you to do what you ought to do anyway. Killing someone in their safe place is caprice. Evading their guards is stealth. Sparing their companions is precision. All are boons.'

Assassin

You say, 'Who is Assassin Lord Zyk?'

Mira Shahar tells you, 'A Grey knifehand who resides in the Dragon Necropolise in the wastes. Be wary: he's recently upgraded his security. It's as if he senses something coming. You need not avoid alerting his guard, since he lives in isolation with only his closest companions--however, if his assassins sense an intruder, he does tend to go into hiding for a few minutes, and you cannot simply kill his guard. That would defeat the purpose.'

You say, 'Why do you want him dead?'

Mira Shahar tells you, 'Why not?' Her grin is almost Cheshire. 'But in truth, you have neither the rank nor the oath to know the answer to that question.'

Find Assassin Lord Zyk (Dragon Necropolis  at 547, 437  • Underwater passage in the rat tunnels) .

Give Assassin Lord Zyk:

• Black Rose

Assassin Lord Zyk says, 'What's that? I think I've heard of these somewhere before... how did you come to have it?'

You have fulfilled the first part of Mira's requirements.

Kill Assassin Lord Zyk without killing his minions. All rats in this area need to stay alive including the ones roaming outside his room.

Mira Shahar walks into Assassin Lord Zyk's hideout. 'A good kill, pet. Already you're getting into the spirit of things--why, you've even picked up a professional rivalry. Come speak with me, <Player Name> .'

You say, 'Hail, Mira Shahar'

Mira Shahar says, 'Give me the rose, pet.'

Give Mira Shahar:

• Black Rose

Mira places the rose on the wall of the tunnel. 'We and the Grey have always had a longstanding rivalry. We killed their leaders, they killed ours. Zyk must not have had a good history tutor.' Mira's laugh is brief and bitter.

Advisor

You say, 'Who is Advisor Garathor?'

Mira Shahar tells you, 'An efreeti advisor to Melwin himself, deep in the bowels of the Fire Grotto. Melwin and his door guard must be alive, mind. Your quarrel is only with Garathor.'

You say, 'Why do you want him dead?'

Mira Shahar tells you, 'Why not?' Her grin is almost Cheshire. 'But in truth, you have neither the rank nor the oath to know the answer to that question.'

Find Advisor Garathor (Fire Grottos  at -1423, -339  •) .

Give Advisor Garathor:

• Black Rose

Advisor Garathor recoils from the rose. 'I knew she'd find a way to get to me someday! No matter that the Lands of Magic are destroyed, no matter that she should be long-dead, she claws at me still! You'll not have me that easily, you hear me? DO YOU HEAR ME?!'

You have fulfilled the first part of Mira's requirements.

Kill Advisor Garathor without killing his minions - do not kill the Door Guard, the fire elementals next to Melwin, or Melwin. Advisor Garathor spawns fire elemental adds, these may need to stay alive as well. Make sure to keep him in the small room he spawns in to kill him, do not pull him out into the hallway.

Mira Shahar slips into Garathor's room. 'Understand that not all the people on the list I gave you deserve death. Understand also that this one did. Come speak with me, <Player Name> .'

You say, 'Hail, Mira Shahar'

Mira Shahar says, 'Give me the rose, pet.'

Give Mira Shahar:

• Black Rose

Mira places the rose above Garathor's doorway. 'Death may claim any one at any time. Her reach finds even those who consort with demons. The Black Rose nurtures that equality and death rewards us with her blessing. We prune what needs pruning, and neither coin nor sorcery nor force of arms may stop us.' Mira flicks an ear at the efreeti. 'Sometimes some people simply *need* to *die*.'

Mage

You say, 'Who is Maklathi the Thought Mage?'

Mira Shahar tells you, 'An old Ysthar in the depths of Crytho Malath. Those two Ysthar slithering back and forth near his chambers are close enough to him to count, mind you--you must leave them alive, pet, but you must also avoid alerting them before you engage Maklathi.'

You say, 'Why do you want him dead?'

Mira Shahar tells you, 'Why not?' Her grin is almost Cheshire. 'But in truth, you have neither the rank nor the oath to know the answer to that question.'

Find Maklathi the Thought Mage (Cyrtho Malath  at -140, 420, 265  • Cmal 1) .

Give Maklathi the Thought Mage:

• Black Rose

Maklathi the Thought Mage hisses at you. 'How did you--no. It is no matter. You will die in this place, assassin.'

You have fulfilled the first part of Mira's requirements.

Kill Maklathi the Thought Mage without killing his minions. All the snakes in his room must remain alive, as well as the 2 snakes roaming outside his room. Make sure to kill Maklathi in his room.

Mira Shahar stalks out from behind a pillar, more of a hateful sashay than a walk. Fury rolls off her bearing like heat waves on a dune. 'This was a long time in coming, pet. Of everyone on this list, Maklathi was the one I most wanted dead. Come speak with me, <Player Name> .'

You say, 'Hail, Mira Shahar'

Mira Shahar says, 'Give me the rose, pet.'

Give Mira Shahar:

• Black Rose

Mira places the rose above the Thought Mage's doorway. 'It's touching that he remembered me all the way to his dying breath.' She gives his corpse a firm kick. 'This has been a long time coming, snake. Fitting that you should die at the hands of an apprentice.'

Eternal

You say, 'Who is The Eternal One?'

Mira Shahar tells you, 'An old fishman hiding in the depths of the Kedge, atop a raised dias in the back of the keep. All the fishmen under his direct supervision must be alive when you take him. The fishmen in his room can be attacked, but those outside his immediate chamber must be peaceful, as must the other nearby creatures of the kedge.'

You say, 'Why do you want him dead?'

Mira Shahar tells you, 'Why not?' Her grin is almost Cheshire. 'But in truth, you have neither the rank nor the oath to know the answer to that question.'

Find The Eternal One (Kedge Keep  at 283, -290, -73  •) .

Give The Eternal One:

• Black Rose

The Eternal One regards the rose curiously. 'What is this you have brought me? A gift?'

You have fulfilled the first part of Mira's requirements.

Kill The Eternal One before killing his minions - all the fishmen around this series of rooms need to stay alive. Keep The Eternal One in his room when killing him. You can potentially have someone feign his adds to the side then hide up at the top of his room, pacify him and his 2 adds, and turn in without getting aggroed. Make sure he dies in the smaller room he spawns in.

Mira Shahar swims down from the ceiling of The Eternal One's chapel-room. 'So, pet, I imagine this was more of a challenge than the spiderkin queen, yes?' She grins at the corpse. 'And more fulfilling for it. Come speak with me, <Player Name> .'

You say, 'Hail, Mira Shahar'

Mira Shahar says, 'Give me the rose, pet.'

Give Mira Shahar:

• Black Rose

Mira swims down to the pedestal, then places the rose gently on it. The currents stir it somewhat from the stone, but it generally remains still. 'The rose is a courtesy, a warning, and a focus all in one. The legends about the Black Rose serve to imbue the roses with power, when held by the right hands. The rose brings death more truly than most people know.' She looks to you. 'This kill was satisfactory, <Player Name>.'

Conclusion

Once all of your targets have been assassinated, return to Mira Shahar (Southern Waste of Tarhyl  at -1236 1357  • Vah Rehn camp) .

You say, 'Hail, Mira Shahar'

Mira Shahar pats the ground next to her. 'Hail, pet. Have a seat, let's chat a while.'

You say, '-Sit down.-'

Mira Shahar tells you, 'Close enough, I suppose.' Mira grins, getting the routine out of the way. 'Excellent job on the list, pet. You've proven yourself a worthy apprentice and put an end to some very old, very bad blood. Here.' Mira pulls out another black rose, but this one is different--stronger, somehow. 'With this rose I induct to our Order and bind you to me as apprentice. You will swear the Oath when you are made a full member.' Mira looks down. 'Of course, with our civilization gone, I fear apprentice is the only rank you'll ever attain. It's all I'm empowered to give. Take this Order and accept with it your new identity.'

You receive Order of the Black Rose from Mira Shahar.

You say, 'Did you give me your Order?'

Mira's ears flag. 'No, pet. Mine is a full Order of the Black Rose. Yours is an apprentice's. I... happened to have one, which I gave to you.' Seeing your expression, she flicks an ear at you and puts the other down. 'No, that debt is settled now. Know that you have earned your Order legitimately, even by the old ways. That will be enough.'

You say, 'So I'm an assassin now?'

Mira Shahar tells you, 'Not quite, pet. You're an apprentice to one.'

You say, 'Can you tell me more about the people I killed?'

Mira Shahar tells you, 'Yes, though there's not much to tell. Who would you like to know about?'

You say, 'Who was Assassin Lord Zyk?'

Mira Shahar tells you, 'I know little of him, save his position. That was enough. His successor will be more careful.'

You say, 'Who was Advisor Garathor?'

Mira Shahar tells you, 'An efreeti who lived nearly the longest among efreeti who all, as a people, live too long. As I said, pet, death comes to anyone. Fools who purport to immortality without paying the price of undeath will, sooner or later, find themselves in the shadow of the Black Rose. It is part of the terms of the pact we made with death itself. The Oath would bind you to that pact, were I capable of administering it.'

You say, 'Who was Maklathi the Thought Mage?'

Mira Shahar tells you, 'Another very long-lived being, but he did not die for that.' Mira growls, long and low in her throat. 'I will not speak of it. It would not be fitting. The matter is past, and suffice it to say that he is the reason I had an Order to spare for you. I could have killed him myself, yes, but this was far more fitting.'

You say, 'Who was The Eternal One?'

Mira Shahar tells you, 'A good man. Protective of his friends and his home, sage, healer to the sick.' Mira flicks an ear at you. 'The Black Rose demands much, pet. He did not deserve death. The only reason he is now dead is for that rose you carry. We kill who we kill for reasons beyond your knowing, but we can be wrong. The test always includes one man we *know* to be innocent. Thus, all of us are guilty of murder. All of us share the sin and the blame.'

Note: This quest will never be completed from your quest journal. Feel free to use #journal disable <#> to move it to the Inactive category.

Switching versions of Order of the Black Rose

Give Mira Shahar:

• Order of the Black Rose

Mira takes the rose and changes it slightly, almost imperceptibly, before handing it back.