The Mystery Continues

Alright. To most this story is not interesting, but to me it has been quite an adventure.

Background: A few months ago I bought a book from the broker titled: KODEKS DE AN-RE-SKI-DE BEN-TAS KODEKS KUAR-DE written by a prophet. I thought nothing of the book, and simply added it to my book collection. Yesterday, I received mail from another player explaining that he was looking to purchase these books because they are rare and he’s figuring them out (translating). I was interested, but again didn’t think too much of it.

I then stumbled across this site, which explains the language that the player-written book is written in, gargish, a language from Ultima Online. The book actually talks about some of the lore of UO, in specific their Virtue system. Another guide to help me out with that one.

Turan who is the player on Antonia Bayle who has been contacting me regarding this matter, happened to stumble upon his/her own gem today – this forum post on the SafeHouse forums, which seem to speak about a player run quest that involves the exact same series of books in the gargish language. In specific on that thread there is this entry:

Greetings!

I too am from Morrel Thule. My guild, (Vigils of Norrath),has been attempting to unravel what we believe is a player-run Quest here on Morrel Thule for almost a year now. Below are links to two of the most active forums tryng to unravel it, along with my commentary concerning it. It MAY be just what you are looking for:
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pub149.ezboard.com/feqdru…=1&stop=20

pub70.ezboard.com/fvigilsofnorrathfrm18
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What we know on Morrel Thule:

I have been following this Quest very closely since I first discovered it about nine months ago. I have kept up with the half dozen or so boards (including this one) where the Quest is being scrutinized, as well as making very real efforts in-game to make some progress. The following is a summary of everything I have learned thus far:

Screenshots of Tiliki? I don’t have any, but will make a point of taking one the next time I see her. I personally have encountered her several times over the intervening months. I don’t know if anyone else has any shots, but I can assure you that Tiliki is real. What is less certain is whether the Quest itself is legit.

The Quest has been around since at least last November when we here at Vigils first encountered it. Before that, we had no knowledge of the Quest, so I cannot say exactly how long it has been around; (nine months at a minimum) Since we got involved we know of many others that have also encountered her. She is real, that’s for certain. Like you, Ottoe I also did a Google Search for EQ/Tiliki, and like you Ialso came up with Tiliki Thistledown. We thought we had cracked the case at that point, but alas, it turned out to be a false lead.

(Read through this entire thread here–if you have the time–and you will see our encounter with her.)

pub70.ezboard.com/fvigils…1&stop=157

(BTW Tiliki Thistledowne’s Sig looks nothing at all like our Tiliki. *shrugs*)

There have been rumors from time to time that she has been encountered on other servers, but I believe those are all false. I believe it is fairly certain that Tiliki is unique to Morell-Thule.

That has lead us to the conclusion that this is a player-run Quest. Because of the many references to the Planes, and to deities and legendary heroes, we also believe that this Quest is directed at very high end players. We suspect that it is being run by either a high end guild here on Morell-Thule, or (more likely in my opinion), a small conspiracy of high level players. Various indicators we have gotten, (the wisp issue you mentioned above, as well as several other things that have taken place which are beyond player control), along with the longevity of the Quest, also led us to the conclusion that there is some sort of GM involvement, or at the very least co-operation going on as well.

The fact that Tiliki does not have a green name tag rules her out as a Guide/GM. Her player-like behaviors (using of hot-keys for her text, having to log out, etc.) definitely eliminates her as an NPC. The fact that the Quest seems to have very strong roots in the UO millieu, and the use of Tolkien Elvish, (with the corresponding copywrite conflicts) would rule out official SOE sanctioning. However the complexity and longevity of the Quest, and the number of people who have met and talked with her, establishes the relative stability of the Quest, whether player sponsored or not.

At any rate that is our best guess as to the nature of the Quest as we have sen it unfold. Oh yes, one other thing; the Quest seems to be dynamic in that there have been subtle changes and modifications over time.

As to the efforts to pursue this in-game:

*Finnigan takes a deep breath*

I, for one, have been trying to solve this in-game as well as on the boards, at least as much as my time and other in-game demands permit.

This is what I surmise thus far:

Step One:
Find Tiliki. This is not too difficult, as she seems to be in the Surefall–Qeynos area most often. Although she has been seen other places as well; Qeynos Hills, JaggedPine Forest, all the Plains of Karana, even as far afield as Greater Faydark. Most recently it seems that she has been seen most often at the Nexus and on the Plane of Knowledge.

Her appearances seem to be on a cylce of some sort. She makes an appearance, is seen for roughly a week (off and on), then seems to disappear for 3-4 weeks before the cycle repeats itself. I personally have noted that her appearances seem to (roughly) coincide with major patches or the release of expansions, although it may just be coincidental.

Step Two:
Receive the Quest from her. This starts simply enough, you merely “Hail” her and she then asks you for something to eat and drink. Even though she speaks in Gargoyle, her emotes make it clear what she wants. After that all her discussions even though in Gargoyle, contain at least one word or phrase in [brackets]. Merely repeat the phrse back and she continues until she has sung the whole song; (or at least it SEEMS she has sung the whole song–she really hasn’t though).

She asks you several key questions at the end of the song. One is whether or not you choose to accept the Quest. Once you answer ‘yes’ (‘IN’), she now addresses you as VEST-LEM (‘Seeker’) rather than VAG-LEM (‘Wanderer’). She remembers who has heard her song and will not sing it to them again, but rather asks whether they have brought her the MEK, KAS, EW SEPT (Sword, Crown, and Staff). If not, she sends you back to finish the Quest.

Another VERY key question she asks at the ‘end’ of her song is:
KUA EST DES-IN-TAS DE WE-DE MUR-OM?
(What is the foundation of our society?)

Additionally, she makes it clear that your answer must be spoken in Gargoyle:
U NES LOK LING DE GAR!
(You must speak Gargoyle!)

By some rather impressive deductions and a couple of lucky guesses, Kanae was able to get the correct answer:

BEN-TAS.
(Virtue.)

The reward for this was yet another ‘book’ of the Codex, that is not normally recited. The text of that is in previous posts, but it rather unambigiously lays out the purpose of the Quest, and even the precise way in which to banish Lanys T’vyl!

Step Three:
Find Arepo. Tiliki has said very clearly that a Quester must seek out Arepo:

U NES FER LEM TRAK A-RE-PO ANTE TRAK-EKS-WIS
(You must bring them to Arepo within Takish ‘Hiz)
(The exact meaning of TRAK-EKS-WIS is unclear; I am ‘guessing’ that is is a proper name, like TU-UN-A-RE, rather than a literal translation)

LEM NES VEN MEK, KAS, EW SEPT EW FER LEM TRAK BEN-IN-LEM TE TRAK-EKS-WIS.
(One must [take?] the Sword, Crown and Staff and bring them to the [craftsman?] at Takish ‘Hiz)

U NES FER MEK, KAS, EW SEPT TRAK UL-DUR TER-VAS-ARB!
(You must bring the Sword, Crown, and staff to the Elddar Forest!)
(Once again, the exact meaning of UL-DUR is unclear, but I believe she is talking about the Elddar Forest)

However this leads to a rather emense problem for Questors:
Takish ‘Hiz and the Elddar Forest were destroyed Ages ago.

I have three theories as to where to find Arepo.
1. ‘Tween Earth and Moon, for those that dare…” ( I believe The Plane of Sky)
2. Takish ‘Hiz may still exist as some sort of mirror image on the Plane of Growth, but is currently unaccessible I believe.
3. The ruins of the original Takish ‘Hiz and the Elddar Forest which are in the Deserts of Ro.

Being only 46th level, I cannot investigate either the Plane of Sky, or the Plane of Growth, but I have spent some time poking around in North and South Ro, and in the Oasis of Marr. I have not ventured into the Spectre Tower there or the submerged Tower of the Aqua Goblins, but I have some hope I may turn up a clue or two there. I have also looked around in Befallen as well.

I DO know that there is indeed an Arepo, because I have seen his name come up on a /w all Arepo before. I suspect that he appears (logs on) when Tiliki logs out:

I taur can annin. Ir loston nin gwador eriant. Bado si! Govado hin ennas ned iaurost-nui-fui. Im ambor an ithil ned belegrod or elin. Cuio-mae, u-‘eveditham, namur!

[The forest calls to me. When I sleep my sword-brother arises. Go now! Meet him there in the ancient forest under the night. Between (the) world and (the) great chamber above the stars. Live well (farewell?), we will not meet (again), goodbye!]

Once again a reference to a ‘Ancient Forest’ under the night

I hope this helps any that are trying to find clues like I continue to do.

That’s pretty much all we have as of now; hope that helps.

Finnigan