Trial of the Scholar
by ValerieRose

Level: 35

Requirements: none

In-game description: Every Magus must pass the Trial of the Scholar. Passion and humility are essential to success.

Start location: Dion, Temple of Einhasad, Magister Mirien

Type: One-time quest

Rewards: 159814 adena / 876963 EXP - 56877 SP / Mark of the Scholar

Races: Human, Dark Elf, Elf

Classes: Wizard

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This long and VERY annoying quest (yes, you've been warned!) starts in Dion, at the Einhasad Temple. You must talk to Magister Mirien, who will explain to you a little about the Trial of the Scholar. She will send you to the High Priest Sylvain, who is in the same temple.

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Sylvain's going to tell you that some spirits need purification, and that he needs your help with the purification of the Execution Grounds. You're in for a bit of back-and-forth NPC talking for a while. He'll tell you that Maria, the girl at the Grocery Shop at Dion, can create the Crystal of Purity that you need for the purification ritual.

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Luckily (for now...), Maria's also in Dion, at the Grocery Store. She seems very nice and agrees to help you, but... it seems that the recipe for the Crystal of Purity has been stolen, so she'll send you back and forth to some NPC's to check if they found anything out about the case.

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She sends you to Captain Lucas first, and as of CT2, his location has changed due to the Kamaloka instanced dungeon. He can now be found in the middle of Dion, closeby to the Grocery Store. You shouldn't have any problems finding him. But... he says that the investigations could not find the recipe for the Crystal, and maybe it'd be a good thing to ask a fortune teller.

So now it's back to Maria, who tells you that without the scrolls to create the Crystal, she can't help you. But she tells you about Astrologer Creta, who might be able to help out.

Creta's located in Floran Village. With the CT2 patch, all ports under 40 are free, but you still get dimensional diamonds. This would be a good time to use some to buy a Scroll to Floran, since there are no direct ports to Floran Village at all, and depending on your server, getting there running could result in a PK or something. I'd suggest you buy a Scroll of Escape to Floran. Once in Floran, Creta's behind a building, closer to the Warehouse. She has two options on her dialogue, of course, you must click on "quest". After much talking, she'll tell you she needs a clue to try and find out more about the thief. She'll send you back to Maria.

Back to Dion, to Maria at the Grocery Store. You'll have to ask her more about the incident of the stolen Scrolls. A lot of chat at this part of the quest, really. She'll tell you more about how the scrolls got stolen, and make reference to a handbag, which could be the clue.

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Now it's time to use those dimensional diamonds again (if you don't want to run) and go to Floran to speak to Creta again. With the handbag clue, she'll finally get a vision that can help figure out who stole the scrolls. She'll draw the vision and hand it to you, of course, the quest doesn't tell you where to go next, but you should bring the painting to Maria again.

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Maria will then send you to Captain Lucas (again!), since he's more likely to figure out who stole the scrolls.

Show the picture to Lucas, and he will FINALLY tell you that the thief is actually one of the Leto Lizardmen. A Leto Lizardman Warrior, more precisely.

Before you actually can go hunting the Lizardmen, you must talk to Maria again. Don't ask me why, I really have no clue. But you have to. So go back to the Grocery Store. She'll then send you on your way to hunt the Leto Lizardman Warriors.

Port directly to Oren if you're level 40 or under, since ports are free since the CT2 update. If you're higher than 40, use your dimensional diamonds. The Leto Lizardmen Warriors can be found at the Plains of Lizardmen. It's a direct port from Oren, and the mobs you need aren't far from the port point.

Be careful if you're still 35, this is a dangerous place with a lot of aggro mobs. They're all higher level than you here if you're still 35. Bring potions and/or friends to help you out if you think you can't make it on your own. You will need 5 scroll scraps, but they've enhanced the quest drop rate a lot on CT2 for the class changing quests, so you only need 5 lizardmen. Once you have all 5, go back to Maria. She'll accuse you of tearing up the scroll, and I really wanted to tell her that it came in pieces anyway, but... in any case, it won't really matter. She'll then finally create the Crystal of Purity for you, and then you must go back to Sylvain, at the Dion Church.

He'll congratulate you and talk about giving you the mark. Don't be fooled, the quest is far from being over. He'll send you to Mirien, always in the same temple.

Mirien will then send you to Grand Magister Jurek, who will be your next trainer.

Jurek's in Giran, at the Magic Guild, behind the Einhasad Temple. He will give you another test, of course. You need to investigate magic-using monsters, and he'll give you a list: Monster Eye Destroyers, Breka Orc Shamans and Shackles. The two first are easy at your level. Shackles, however, are red.

The Monster Eye Destroyers can be found at either the Wastelands or Plains of Dion. They are aggro, but you shouldn't have much trouble hunting them. You'll need 5 Monster Eye Destroyer skins. Drop rates have been increased, so you only need to hunt 5 monsters.

The Breka Orc Shamans can be found at Breka Stronghold, which is a direct port from Giran. They're fairly easy, but be careful because Overlords are aggro and other Orcs around there are social. Again, you need 5 necklaces, which means 5 Shamans.

Now the Shackles are the worst ones, since they are red to you at 35. They are more dangerous than the others, and can be found either at the Dragon Valley (which is a much safer spot), or at the Ivory Tower pit. They are aggro and should be red to you at 35 and will take more than one nuke to kill, so be careful and bring potions. You need 2 of their scalps, and with the CT2 changes in the quest drops, you need to hunt 2 Shackles.

Once you're done, go back to Jurek in Giran. He'll take your quest drops and send you back to Mirien, since you completed his test. No, don't be happy yet, the quest isn't over.

Mirien will tell you there's one final challenge for you in order to obtain the Mark of Scholar. You must go to Hunter's Village and speak to Elder Cronos. You can either use your dimensional diamonds, or port, since it's free. If you choose to port, you must go to either Oren (from Dion), then Hunter's Village, or go to Giran-Hardin's Private Academy-Hunter's Village. It doesn't really matter, since the ports are free until lvl 40.

Elder Cronos will then have a series of dialogue answers for you to pick. It doesn't really matter which one you choose, I chose "For no reason in particular". But all answers will take you to the next step on the quest, so don't worry. Actually, any of the answers will have the same result, even in the following windows, so pick any. After MUCH insisting, he'll tell you about your next test, which is finding a book that he wrote 100 (yes, a HUNDRED) years ago. He'll send you to Dieter to know more about where to go looking for the book. Dieter is in Giran, at the Magic Guild.

Dieter actually doesn't know where the book is either. But, you take matters into your hands and go find Creta again, since she is a fortune teller. He gives you a key that might help Creta finding out where the book is. So yes, now you have to go back to Floran. Use your dimensional diamonds if you don't want to run there.

Creta will tell you that this time, unlike the Scroll robbery, there were many other creatures involved, one of which might be a human. She sends you back to Dieter so you can ask him more about the case.

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Dieter will then remember how things happened. The people that robbed the book were actually a Dwarf, two humans and a Dark Elf. He doesn't remember much more, but apparently the thieves stayed in an inn. He'll send you to Edroc for more information, since he's the innkeeper's son.

Edroc is a trader at the Weapons and Armor shop in Hunter's Village. He explains that 20 years ago, the group that stayed at the inn forgot a letter along with the bill. He gives you the letter, which says "Warehouse Keeper Raut". That means that after you get the letter, you must head to Gludin to talk to Raut.

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Raut is at the Warehouse in Gludin. He explains that 20 years ago, a strange man ordered the group to steal the Scriptures that Elder Cronos wrote, but they never really delivered it to the man that ordered them. He gives you one of the chapters and explains that his brother might know more. His brother's Drunkard Tiff, and he can be found at Gludin Harbor.

Triff is at the Gludin Harbor, not far from Gludin Village. Once you arrive at the Harbor, go inside and up north until you reach the last pier. He's to the left, it shouldn't be hard to find him since you have an arrow above your head. At first he won't talk, but after you give him the drink, he'll tell you where to get the other chapters. One was stolen by a Grandis, and the other two are with Warehouse Keeper Valkon in Giran, and Blacksmith Poitan in Dion.

The order doesn't matter, I went to Giran first, to talk to Valkon. He says that he can't give the book without having Triff pay the debt with him. Don't worry, although you offer to pay it, Valkon doesn't take money, he asks you a favor instead. He asks a Purifying Crystal in exchange for the Chapter II. He says only one person can make it. Although the quest doesn't really tell you who can make them, it's intuitive. Purifying Crystal... Crystal of Purity... that means Maria, in Dion, since she was the one making a Crystal of Purity before. So yes, you must go back to Dion to talk to her.

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Maria doesn't really have any objections, since you helped her, and just gives you the Crystal of Purity.

You must then go back to Valkon in Giran. It's pretty simple, you give him the Crystal, he gives you the book. And on to the next part.

As I said before, the order doesn't matter. I went to Dion to save time, since one of the monsters you'll need to hunt next is also found at the same place as the Grandis, so it saves you a port. Blacksmith Poitan can be found at the Blacksmith Shop in Dion, and he'll tell you he no longer has the book. He sold it to a Sage. Turns out to be Elder Casian... So you must head to the Wastelands to find him.

Many people seem to have trouble finding Casian at the Wastelands. I'll tell you an easy way to find him. From Gludin, port directly to the Wastelands, and head north from the port point. You'll get to a point where you'll find Basilisks and some Monster Eyes. Turn right and go straight ahead, follow the arrow above your head until you reach two rocks with an opening in between. Casian's right below if you go through the opening. In either way, the arrow will guide you, so I suggest using it. You'll have to fight some of the monsters there, as they're all aggro, but it shouldn't be too much of a problem.

He tells you that he can give you the scriptures, but needs to make a copy to himself using magical ingredients. Yes, he'll send you to hunt some monsters. More specifically, Ghouls, Medusas, Fettered Souls and Enchanted Gargoyles (the quest says Enhanced Gargoyles, it's probably a typo). While hunting the Fettered Souls, you can also hunt the Grandis that drop the last chapter you need.

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Ghouls can be found at the Execution Grounds. Be careful though, since in many servers, that is a pk spot. Always make sure you have your blessing of protection, just in case. You need to hunt 10 Ghouls for 10 Ghoul Skins.

The Medusas can be found at Gorgon's Flower Garden, close to Giran Castle Town. You need 12 bottles of Medusa's blood, which correspond to exactly 12 medusas.

The Enchanted Gargoyles are perhaps the most dangerous of the monsters. They are blood red to a lvl 35, and they have the chance to stun. They hurt quite a lot, so be careful. They can be found at the Ivory Tower Crater, and be careful with them. Bring healing potions, or better yet, a friend to help you out. The good part is that you only need 5 of them, for 5 nails.

I left the Fettered Souls for the last, since you can hunt Grandis at the same spot, and save time. Both of them can be found at Hardin's Private Academy or Death Pass. I always go to Hardin's, since they're easier to find there. Just go straight ahead from the port point, and you'll find the monsters there. The Grandis will directly drop you the one of the chapters, while you need 5 Fettered Souls Ichors to give to Casian. Should take you 1 Grandis for the Chapter, and 5 Fettered Souls to get the items.

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After you get all the items, you must go back to Casian in the Wastelands. He'll say something's wrong and there are two volumes missing. You'll have to go back to Elder Cronos in Hunter's Village to find out about it. Don't worry, the quest is finally almost over.

You'll find out that Cronos' book is a copy of the secret to Absolute Geometry, taught to the Giants by the Gods. If you like the Lore, I suggest reading his explanation. After explaining about the books, Cronos will give you his mark, and that's the last one you need. Go back to Mirien in Dion once you finish talking to Cronos. It's the very last part of the quest.

Go back to Mirien, and she'll finally give you the Mark of Scholar.

Congratulations! You've made through this very long quest and your rewards are, as of the CT2 update, 159814 adena, 876963 exp and 56877 SP. Finally a good reward for this very annoying quest.