Paying 40$ a month just to get good items is not worth it. However the GMs do a good job: events are usually pretty funny imho. But don't go to an event for the reward: usually there is not enough items for everybody, so some people end up without reward besides the fun and XP. Which is pretty good I think...
Drops from a skeletal pirate in east Freeport. I was quadding deep blue cons ( at least I thought all 4 were deep blue) outside the gates. I am lvl 57, and I heard the blue conning ones werent up too often, but I must have caught a good night because 50% of them were blue to me. Anyways I noticed one skellie died very quickly compared to the other 3, so figured I had accidentally picked up a greenie witht the other 3. After killing the remaining ones, I go back to loot the green con skellie and I found this ring. Also looted the shimmering garnet ring about 1 hr before that, so I was pretty lucky I guess. Good luck all.
The quest items for the Protection of Cabbage spell quest are all no drop, and purchased from a vendor for the rip-off price of 200+pp. So some no drop items are available from vendors.