Investigate the Factions

Quest Overview

 * You must complete this quest as a prerequisite before being able to join any of the three factions. Note that now that the factions are in game, it was discovered you only need to do the task for the faction you want to join, you don't have to do all three if you don't want to. For example, if you are joining Celestial Hand, you just need to do Joku Shunja's task. Keep in mind though, that doing only one part will bug your character and you'll be unable to join another Society if you wish to switch without the help of an envoy to reset your flag, therefore it is recommended you complete the quest in its entirety.

Walkthrough

 * 1) Speak to Jondor Torgren at 13.6N 0.7E in Zaikhal. For the following steps you can do all three factions (more xp) or just the one you will join (faster). No part of this quest obligates you to any faction.


 * 1) Radiant Blood - Travel to east side of Graveyard and speak to Jawaq ibn Janath at 65.3S 42.3W. Kill the Blight Lictor amongst the Blight Revenants in the Blight Revenant Pit just south of him.
 * 2) Radiant Blood - Give the Blight Lictor's Head to Jawaq for the Radiant Blood Letter of Introduction.
 * 3) Eldrytch Web - Go to the north side of Graveyard and speak to Kousu Temo at 64.2S 44.0W. Look for the Large Blight Rat in the Blight Rat Bunker at 64.0S 44.2W who drops the chest key, then get the Scepter of Menilesh from the Blight Rat Chest. (Alternatively you can just pick the chest, it's resistance 300.)
 * 4) Eldrytch Web - Give the scepter to Kousu for the Eldrytch Web Letter of Introduction.
 * 5) Celestial Hand - Go to the west side of Graveyard and speak to Candrus Steady-Hand at 65.8S, 45.3W. Kill eight of the Blight Spirits at the Congregation of Blight Spirits just west of him.
 * 6) Celestial Hand - Talk to him again for the Celestial Hand Letter of Introduction.
 * 7) You should now have three letters of introduction (or one if just doing the minimum to join a faction), take them to Ayan Baqur and give to their respective faction NPCs for the books describing the operating principles and ethics of each faction.
 * Celestial Hand - Joku Shunja at 60.1S 88.0W
 * Eldrytch Web - Qurakh al-Taal at 59.9S 87.9W
 * Radiant Blood - Vierana du Canamorra at 60.0S 87.8W
 * 1) Take the three books back to Jondor Torgren in Zaikhal for xp (you get to keep the books for reference). Note that if you hand the book a 2nd time you will lose it (Jondor Torgren tells you, "You've already shown me this book. I don't need to see it again, I've already made my copy.  You weren't trying to hornswoggle more experience out of me, were you?")

Lore & Dialog
Jondor Torgren tells you, "Perhaps you could help a simple scholar... I've been told that strange landscape formations have appeared around the Empyrean graveyard, and that scouts from mysterious new secret societies have taken up positions at these sites. There are scouts at these formations to the north, east, and west of the graveyard."

Jondor Torgren tells you, "I would be most indebted to you if you could somehow gain the trust of these scouts and bring me whatever written materials you can about the beliefs that their societies espouse. I would reward you with a bit of practical knowledge for any manifestoes that you could bring me.  I have also heard that there are more senior representatives of each society in Ayan Baqur, but I doubt they'll talk to you until you've won the confidence of the scouts by the graveyard.  Good luck!  And be careful about straying into the graveyard itself!"

Jawaq ibn Janath tells you, "Ah, that Arcanum scholar sent you to find out what you could from me, eh? Well, there may be a way for you to prove yourself worthwhile to me, and to my superiors. Down in this pit nearby is a foul, diseased creature known as a Blight Lictor. It is a symptom of the contamination that is creeping across this land. Bring its head to me and I will give you a letter of introduction that you can present to my field commander."

You give Jawaq ibn Janath Blight Lictor's Head. Jawaq ibn Janath gives you Radiant Blood Letter of Introduction. You've earned 13,782,125 experience. Jawaq ibn Janath tells you, "I am well pleased. It brings a savage joy to my heart to see that foul creature's severed head.  Allow me to reward you with some practical knowledge.  I should also give you a letter of introduction to bring to my commander, Vierana du Canamorra in Ayan Baqur.  You may be worthy to one day become a member of the Radiant Blood..."

Kousu Temo tells you, "Ah, so that curious Arcanum scholar sent you. I would be willing to give you the knowledge you seek on his behalf, if you would simply retrieve an artifact for me from this infected pit here before us..."

Kousu Temo tells you, "In that crypt below, there is a chest that contains an ancient scepter. The scepter is an artifact that is of some interest to my superiors.  Find the key among those creatures milling about in the pit, unlock the chest, and bring me the scepter.  That will prove you worthy, and I will write you a letter of introduction to bring to my commander."

You give Kousu Temo Scepter of Menilesh. Kousu Temo gives you Eldrytch Web Letter of Introduction. You've earned 13,782,125 experience. Kousu Temo tells you, "Ah, the ancient scepter of Menilesh... Barely recognizable under the dust and decay of the millennia. Still, my masters will be pleased to see that I have recovered it.  I will reward you with some practical knowledge.  I will also give you a letter of introduction to bring to my commander, Qurakh al-Taal in Ayan Baqur.  In time, you may prove yourself worthy of the Eldrytch Web..."

Candrus Steady-Hand tells you, "Old Jondor sent you looking for me, eh? I have little to hide, and perhaps you would some day be a worthy compatriot in our service, but first I think you must prove your mettle, for we all face dangerous times.  Down in this strange pit is a nest of revenants, foul even by the standards of the undead.  These Blight Spirits are a symptom of the disease that is spreading across our beloved Dereth!  Slay eight of them for me and I will write you a letter of introduction to bring to my superior."

You have killed 8 Blight Spirits! Your task is complete! You bring Blight Spirit to a fiery end!

Candrus Steady-Hand gives you Celestial Hand Letter of Introduction. You've earned 13,782,125 experience. Candrus Steady-Hand tells you, "Excellent work! You have served Dereth well today, slaying those tainted spirits and freeing their corrupted energies to the mana streams once more.  Allow me to reward you with some practical knowledge.  I should also give you a letter of introduction to bring to my commander, Joku Shunja in Ayan Baqur.  Some time in the future, you may find yourself joining the Celestial Hand in defense of the realm..."

You give Joku Shunja Celestial Hand Letter of Introduction. Joku Shunja tells you, "So, Candrus tells me in this note that you helped him with that infestation of blight spirits. Well done!  We welcome your service to the greater good of all Dereth.  A spirit as noble as yours may one day find welcome in the ranks of the Celestial Hand, who act to defend all the inhabitants of Dereth from the ancient evils that besiege it.  We are not accepting new members at the moment, but we have taken notice of you.  For now, allow me to present you with a book on the principles that guide our actions as a group." Joku Shunja gives you Principles of the Celestial Hand.

You give Qurakh al-Taal Eldrytch Web Letter of Introduction. Qurakh al-Taal tells you, "Young Temo's note tells me that you helped him recover the scepter of Menilesh... We thank you for your devotion and your interest in the glories of ages long past. Perhaps, in time, you can join the Eldrytch Web and do your part to bring those glories back to Dereth, from the ruins and forgotten memories of the present day.  We are not accepting new members now, but your assistance in this matter has been noted, and will not be forgotten.  We will watch you with interest from this day forward.  For now, perhaps you would wish to look through this book and learn some more about the Eldrytch Web." Qurakh al-Taal gives you Canon of the Eldrytch Web.

You give Vierana du Canamorra Radiant Blood Letter of Introduction. Vierana du Canamorra tells you, "I see you have been of use to one of my scouts. That Jawaq always was a little weak in the sword arm, if you know what I mean.  Well, if you did what he could not, perhaps, in time, you may be useful to me.  The Radiant Blood is not accepting more members yet, but we may in the not-too-distant future... Suffice it to say you have been noticed, and may be watched.  For now, allow me to present you with a book on the tenets of our society to see if your heart belongs with us." Vierana du Canamorra gives you Tenets of the Radiant Blood.

You give Jondor Torgren Tenets of the Radiant Blood. You've earned 6,891,063 experience. Jondor Torgren tells you, "Excellent! This is just what I was looking for.  Most fascinating..." Jondor Torgren gives you Tenets of the Radiant Blood. Jondor Torgren tells you, "There, I've copied what I need. I thank you for all your assistance in this, ahem, delicate matter."

You give Jondor Torgren Canon of the Eldrytch Web. Jondor Torgren tells you, "Excellent! This is just what I was looking for.  Most fascinating..." Jondor Torgren gives you Canon of the Eldrytch Web. You've earned 6,891,063 experience. Jondor Torgren tells you, "There, I've copied what I need. I thank you for all your assistance in this, ahem, delicate matter."

You give Jondor Torgren Principles of the Celestial Hand. Jondor Torgren tells you, "Excellent! This is just what I was looking for.  Most fascinating..." Jondor Torgren gives you Principles of the Celestial Hand. You've earned 6,891,063 experience. Jondor Torgren tells you, "There, I've copied what I need. I thank you for all your assistance in this, ahem, delicate matter."

Jondor Torgren tells you, "If you have a manifesto that you would be willing to allow me to copy, I will reward you with practical knowledge. Just hand it over to me for a few moments and I'll be quite happy."

Update History

 * If you wish to change societies, you can reset your faction loyalty by handing 100 MMD Notes to Gaston Shadowbound in Ayan Baqur.
 * Some people have experienced an issue where they have not done the quest, but cannot get the NPCs to interact with them (even though they spoke to Jondor). An envoy can reset your flag via Urgent Assistance. If you can't get an envoy's help, a work around is to have another character complete the tasks and then pass the letter to the character you want flagged, then hand the letter in to Jondor. It is believed this occurs when someone talks to Jondor then doesn't complete the quest within the repeat time period.