You can find Drake at the edge of the platform that is suspended high above the training grounds (where you might have first appeared if you started your character in the Shadowlands. Strike up a conversation and you will discover that Drake has a series of tasks for you to perform:

• Test of Strength
• Test of Agility and Stamina
• Test of Sense
• Test of Psychic
• Test of Intelligence

They can be done in any order but lets take a look at them in turn...

Test of Strength

This test requires you to hunt down and kill three different creatures and shouldn't be too much of a hard job even for the lowest level of characters. The three mobs that need dispatching to mob heaven are:

• Deceitful Weaver
• Shining Coiler
• Beit Gras

All three can be found in and around the platform area and are easy kills, you must take them out in the correct order though so check your mission for details and wait for it to update before moving on. You are given half an hour to complete this test which shouldn't stretch even the slowest amongst you!

Test of Agility and Stamina

This test can actually be a tricky one due to the time limit imposed. Like the previous task it involves locating three mobs, but instead of killing them you have to just tag them with a bio-mark sensor that Drake will give to you, the catch is that you have to complete the taggings within a strict time limit of two minutes (for each leg) which given lowbie run speeds can be a pain. It is sometimes possible to tag all three mobs actually from the platform by moving your camera view about but its not always possible. The three mobs this time are:

• Hungry Predator
• Sullking Chimera
• Pond Dryad

All three can be found in the area directly below the platform by the watery swamp like area. Run around tag the three mobs in sequence (again consult your mission for details of the order) and run back to Drake when finished.

Test of Sense

Another easy one - all you have to do is locate a creature called a Shadowleet. The catch is that they are invisible! However its easy to find them using the 'search' command as shown below

You can find the Shadowleets in the area where the causeway from the platform joins the mainland (by Sundance Smith the newbie vendor). Simply search until one appears and then target it for a few seconds and the mission should update and head back to Drake to complete.

Test of Pyschic

This quest introduces you to the redeemed and unredeemed factions in Shadowlands, Drake will send you to meet with two differing faction leaders one in a set of ruins to the east and one to the west then you will have to decide on which of the two to help.

The first ruins entrance can be seen below

Inside you will find this guy:

He will ask you to help locate a young silvertail that has become lost nearby, which is another tag like task that is easy to complete and probably the easier of the two options, but before doing anything head over to the other camp as shown below

Inside is the unredeemed mob who will ask you to dispose of the Silvertail instead.

Either way once you have chosen which task to perform head back to Drake to finish the test. One thing to note is that although you are presented with the option neither task actually effects your faction ratings that become important later on so don't worry on that front.

Test of Intelligence

This time out Drake sends you to find one his fellow researchers in a cave to the west of the zone the only problem is that the cave is guarded by an Imp that won't let you past and is unkillable! Help is at hand though in the form of Assistant Brad Willis, you will find him loitering about a short distance from the cave entrance, speak to him and he will volunteer to keep the imp occupied

While good old Brad is slugging it out with the Imp head inside and speak to the researcher and deliver the supplies that Drake gave you for her - easy as that - return to Drake to complete the test.

Final Test

Once all the tests are complete speak to Drake and ask him whats going on - he will explain about the brink area and ask if you could investigate it. This is Drakes final test - head into the brink area and look for a mob called the Heckler of Evolution, kill it and loot an ancient device that it drops. Take the device back to Drake and tell him you have something he might be interested in, when prompted pass him the device to complete this final test

The rewards

Other then out of the kindness of your heart why do these quests? Well other then some exp and creds Drakes tasks also result in some neat, if not spectacular, rewards. In doing the first five tests you will be rewarded with a ring that adds to nano resist, a campfire kit with 50 charges, a shirt of exploration, the map nano for nascense and a bracer of strength. Nothing stand out amazing (although its the only way of getting campfire kits that I am aware off) but some nice to haves all the same.

If you are a Shade or a Trader you get a different reward instead of the shirt, Shades get a funky tattoo and Traders their very helpful utility belt.

The final test rewards you with a neat backpack that when worn has a light source attached - perfect for those dark nights fighting in the brink!

Mostly these tests are a good way for newbies to get used to the game and gameworld and get a few useful items early on.