Spies Like Them  

Quest Started By:Description:
Where:
Who:
Rating:
*****
Information:
Level:65
Maximum Level:125
Monster Mission:No
Repeatable:Yes
Can Be Shrouded?:No
Quest Type:Task
Quest Goal:
  • Loot
Quest Items:
Related Zones:
Related Creatures:
Related Quests:
Era:Depths of Darkhollow
Recommended:
Group Size:Solo
Min. # of Players:3
Max. # of Players:6
Appropriate Classes:
  • All
Appropriate Races:
  • All
Entered: Wed Sep 14 23:56:06 2005
Modified: Tue Dec 5 05:21:04 2023
You say, 'Hail, Tisthal Gimblecranz'

Tisthal Gimblecranz says 'Diggity dreams! Are you real? Seeing you so reminds me of the lands far above me -- lands I will likely never see again. There is too much work to do here. For example, I'm doing some very interesting studies on dead drachnids. You see, they have this strange ability to use the skins of their victims to take the form of that victim -- I call it 'skinwalking.' I used to know an enchanter by the name of Binzelfal that could use illusions to change his form, but this is much, much different. I need to learn more but have run into a [problem].'

You say, 'What problem?'

Tisthal Gimblecranz says 'The only skinwalkers I have encountered are, well, dead as dirt! This is a problem because death appears to destroy all
enchantments and [preparations] made to the skin that allowed the skinwalking.'

You say, 'What preparations?'

Tisthal Gimblecranz says 'Are you thick or what? I just explained why I don't know. Sheesh. I see Norrathians have gotten no smarter since my departure. Now, listen this time. The skins from the dead skinwalkers have been absolutely no help at all. Get me? I'm sure if I could [gather some skins] that have not been used to skinwalk I could make some leaps in
my studies. Well, hops maybe -- my joints are rusty. Tee hee! I still have my wit even as a tin can . . . Anyway, back to what I was saying. There are likely some [other aspects] involved in using the skins as well.'

You say, 'What other aspects?'

Tisthal Gimblecranz says 'It's my contention that the drachnids are not familiar enough with other races to perfectly impersonate them. They must study the race or have some sort of training. I've been itching to discover where they pick up that knowledge -- or maybe it's just that rust build-up. Ha ha! I did it again. Funny, huh? Where was I? Oh right. Could I get you to [venture] into the hive and see what you can find out for me? If the skinwalkers aren't eliminated, or at least reduced in numbers, their actions could cause disasters beyond your small imagination.'

You say, 'I will venture into the hive.'

Tisthal Gimblecranz says 'I'm not sure what you would be looking for in there so keep your eyes open. If you can find any writings or see any training that would be perfect. Oh, there is probably one [other thing] I should mention.'

You say, 'What other thing?'

Tisthal Gimblecranz says 'You're not exactly the first person to go searching for answers. A friend of mine, Geeble Tripcrank, went in several days ago searching for these skinwalkers. I haven't heard back from him and I'm afraid he might be in trouble. If you could check in on him and see if he's okay I would really appreciate it.'

You have been assigned the task 'Spies Like Them'

If you are not high enough in level...

You say, 'I will venture into the hive.'

Tisthal Gimblecranz says 'I don't know that you have the experience needed to survive an encounter with the skinwalkers. Go gain a bit more experience adventuring and return to me when you feel you are strong enough.

You say, 'I can gather some skins.'

Tisthal Gimblecranz says 'I appreciate your offer to help, but I don't know that you would be able to wrest the skins away from the drachnids. Return to me once you have gained a bit more experience and we may be able to work something out.'

Both denials of help offers came at 62nd level. What level is the minimum?

The Hive - Search for Geeble Tripcrank

Geeble spawns at -325, +520, +27. This is in the tunnel that leads north from the east tower/obelisk to the first hive. Your compass will indicate the direction. Tell Geeble that Gimblecranz sent you.

The Hive - Slay any skinwalkers you find

There are skinwalkers up top at each of The Hive entrances. Kill them until until you see a message saying the task stage is completed. It may be random. When this occurs an Unreadable Book will appear on the cursor of a party member.

The Hive - Find your way into the training chambers of the skinwalkers

Take the group down and past Geeble, then up a ramp to the outside in the next room. Outside, there is a path to the instanced zone.

Coven of the Skinwalkers - Kill all of the skinwalkers in the training session

The zone is The Cocoons on Hard setting.

You have to kill 32 skinwalkers across multiple levels to complete this stage. You should be invisible on zone-in, since one patroller paths past the zone-in. The patroller will occasionally see invisible.

Your task 'Spies Like Them (Hard)' has been updated.

With the elimination of those skinwalkers the threat has been delayed, but as long as their abilities allow them to move undetected as other races it can never be eliminated. Return the book you found to Tisthal, perhaps he can decipher it and figure out a new way to detect the skinwalkers.

You gain experience!!

You have been given: Gemstone of The Faceless Emperor

Normal Reward (Average level less than 68)
Casters: Drachnid Collective Earring
Melee: Hive Sentinel Ring

Normal Reward (Average level 68+)
Casters: Hivegrime Stone of Musing
Melee: Hivegrime Stone of Stamina

Hard Reward
Casters: Hive Silk Mantle
Melee: Viscous Grimcoat Ring

"a wooden chest" Loot
Cocoon Handler Gloves (Normal)
Crimson Stained Amice (Normal)
Crystal Web Mace (Hard)
Crystalline Webbing of Vitality (Hard)
Drachnid Sentry Shield (Hard)
Spun Drachnid Silk Pants (Hard)

On handing an Unreadable Book in to Tishal back in Corathus Creep:


Tisthal Gimblecranz says 'You've undoubtedly saved many people from the trouble those skinwalkers could have caused. With Geeble's return and the information you gathered I should be able to form a much better theory about the process of training a skinwalker -- hopefully enough to create some magic to see through their illusion, or possibly even render it ineffective!'

There is no experience or faction for completing this optional step.

All other information needed: what NPCs are encountered, task update messages, any faction involved, rewards, zones, /loc of quest mobs, etc.
Submitted by: Siega of The Seventh Hammer
Rewards:
Send a Correction
« Previous 1 2
Post Comment
wheres geeble?
# Aug 27 2013 at 11:25 PM Rating: Good
Scholar
41 posts
Geeble will NOT spawn until you kill a few skinwalkers. So if you're WTF'ing over why he's not up --- that's why.

Enter one of the obelisks, go up 1 level, and kill a few shiliskins.

wheres geeble?
# May 17 2014 at 11:56 AM Rating: Decent
Scholar
31 posts
Correct. When zoning in Geeble was not on track. After getting task update on the skin portion of task, Geeble spawned.
Still no hammer
# Jan 15 2010 at 2:01 PM Rating: Default
I've done this quest nine times so far and no hammer! I've seen the pants only drop once. Have mostly gotten aug/shield.

10 times now with shield! :(

Edited, Jan 15th 2010 4:49pm by Vinella
Spwaning Geeble
# Oct 26 2007 at 11:16 AM Rating: Decent
Ok in order to spawn Geeble Tripcrank you must go up 1 lvl in the east tower and kill a few Skinwalkers he spawns in the proper /loc in the north tunnel right of the doorway.
broken?
# Oct 08 2007 at 8:00 AM Rating: Decent
Is this Quest broken? We tried to do this Saturday night 10/06/07 on Povar server. And Greeble did not spawn. We assumed he was triggered by the task start. Or is it simply you have to start killing the skinwalkers and he will eventually pop?
Soloing this mission..
# Jun 03 2007 at 2:46 PM Rating: Decent
Scholar
*
123 posts
Is it possible? With a kiting/root rotting combo?
____________________________
The Rathe / Prexus
Krosar Shadowflame - 105 Necro
Rasork - 105 Druid
Imacatlol - 105 Bard
Yaldax Toknight - 105 Rogue
Savi Yorr - 105 Paladin
The missing dude
# May 25 2007 at 8:07 AM Rating: Decent
25 posts
Cant find the Geeble Tripcrank dude. Went to his spot (since ive done this mission b4 but never finished) and the man is not there!!! what should i do? i waited for 5 minutes b4 i said thats it man. i gotta go to the bathroom...well anyways now...i have no clue what to do but check him out later again...when i dont need to go to the bathroom. hehe
Another Normal Reward
# Jan 27 2007 at 8:57 AM Rating: Decent
The Cocoon Handler gloves drop as a normal reward as of 1/27/2007.




Edited, Jan 27th 2007 11:59am by FireNightblade

Edited, Jan 27th 2007 12:01pm by FireNightblade
Normal reward
# Sep 09 2006 at 1:51 PM Rating: Decent
Had this drop from chest on normal difficulty.

Crimson Stained Amice
MAGIC ITEM LORE ITEM NO TRADE
Slot: SHOULDERS
AC: 16
Skill Mod: Meditate +3%
STR: +10 STA: +13 WIS: +11 INT: +11 AGI: +10 HP: +170 MANA: +170
SV DISEASE: +20 SV MAGIC: +15 SV POISON: +20
Recommended level of 70. Required level of 63.
WT: 0.9 Size: SMALL
Class: CLR DRU SHM NEC WIZ MAG ENC
Race: ALL
Slot 1, Type 7
Normal reward
# Sep 09 2006 at 4:07 PM Rating: Excellent
****
6,998 posts
HohiroFennin wrote:
Had this drop from chest on normal difficulty.

Crimson Stained Amice
MAGIC ITEM LORE ITEM NO TRADE
Slot: SHOULDERS
AC: 16
Skill Mod: Meditate +3%
STR: +10 STA: +13 WIS: +11 INT: +11 AGI: +10 HP: +170 MANA: +170
SV DISEASE: +20 SV MAGIC: +15 SV POISON: +20
Recommended level of 70. Required level of 63.
WT: 0.9 Size: SMALL
Class: CLR DRU SHM NEC WIZ MAG ENC
Race: ALL
Slot 1, Type 7


Added, thanks.
Root/rot + kite-able.
# Sep 04 2006 at 9:15 PM Rating: Good
**
451 posts
1st time I ever joined a "kite" group as a 70 Pal. Did the (hard) version, with 2 necros and a druid. Brought my pally and 70 clr-bot for group heal/rez support. Did this mission on hard with 5 in group.

Necros tag-teamed pet pulls + snare/FD for mostly singles. None of the mobs summoned, which allowed for rooting any adds, while kite team handled snares/DoTs. Really fun mission, w/dynamics allowing non-conventional grouping.

A few deaths along the way, most while breaking the bottom floor of the instance. After nearly clearing the bottom floor, 2 mobs (shiliskin+werewolf models iirc) seemed to repop (the 2 static spawns to the right when zoning in.

After clearing all mobs, with zero repops, seemed more like some sort of agro/warp bug. Mobs from upper levels can warp to lower levels when aggro'd. Be careful on clearing, and this mission is very kite-able after most of bottom floor has been root/rotted clear. Killed all pets, and ensured no aura's, healing ward's, pet hammer or WTD pets were out while killing the final mob. Won it with no complications.

Crystalline Webbing of Brilliance
+70mana/70end aug dropped for us in the reward chest.

Edited, Sep 4th 2006 at 10:22pm EDT by Aegishopi
Drop
# Aug 16 2006 at 2:14 PM Rating: Decent
49 posts
Dropped this today on normal chest:
http://lucy.allakhazam.com/item.html?id=83789
Crimson Stained Amice
Worked for me
# Jul 29 2006 at 5:12 PM Rating: Decent
Did 7/28/06, worked just fine. Normal setting, group was 70 Shaman, 70 Cleric, 63 Warrior, all boxed. Only normal mission offered with that avg group level (67.6). Warrior and Cleric were pretty much just sponging xp, shammy did most of the work.

After getting mission, head to Hive, and zonein. One person needs to invis, enter East Obelisk, go down 2 levels, enter the tunnel you see in front of you. Directly to the right as you enter that tunnel is the gnome you need to hail. There is one wandering spider that sometimes comes down as far as the gnome, which paths up through the web trap in the tunnel, either be prepared to kill it in the tunnel, or time it for talking to the gnome. Hail the gnome, tell him Tisthal sent you, get mission updates. Reinvis, and go back to rest of party at hive entrance. Skinwalkers are up one ramp in East obelisk, there are about 12 of them in that room, in clumps of 3. I tried a pet pull, pet died too fast, got several spiders along with one skinwalker, zoned off aggro, luckily, skinwalker hung around the longest, and cleric was able to root him while shammy was zoning back in. could also clear the bottom floor out and pull em that way, but I was looking to save some time. Happily, book popped off first mob, and task updated, making instance available. Move group down to tunnel where you found gnome before, if spider already dead, run just past web trap, reinvis if needed. If spider not dead, deal with it as you like. Plenty of space past web to stand without aggroing spiders in hive. Move into hive, to the right is a ramp up, go up that to first right, this gets you out to bridges. Take first right on bridges to get to your instanced zone. Zone in invis, there is space to left of door as you enter to root rot wanderer. Cleared remaining mobs on bottom floor, split em by rooting one near entrance, zoning off aggro with rest of group out of the way/invis, zone back in, root rot em to death. After lower floor cleared, worked my way up ramp - each section of ramp has one wanderer, with a room near the top that has 3 - 4 mobs in it, 5 rooms total. 1st room had 4, others had 3. Split these same way. Killed the last mob, got completion text and cursor loot. Priests got a shoulder item (not listed here, I destroyed both, were 120ish hp/mana plus some stats), melee got a ring (not listed, 120ish hp/mana/end, will try to send a link when I get in game to look it up). Can't say about chest loot, as it was REALLY REALLY late, and I completely forgot about about the chest.. Probably that uber item that I really want to upgrade Warrior... :/.

Overall took about 4 hours, maybe 4.5, no mobs summoned, the only ones that were kind of a pain were the skinwalker inquisitors (clerics), as they healed themselves, cured themselves of malos (!), and seemed to be more resistant overall. Other mobs were assassins, agents, adepts, reavers, offhand. I believe there is a nice post listing what all are lower down in this thread. XP was decent, not mind-shattering, but decent. Warrior did get to beat on some stuff, put her to beating on the inquisitors while shammy tanked em, and that helped with keeping em from healing/gating. Most were hitting shammy in the 800 pt range, when War got hit, was about the same. For reference, War is about 1.3k AC/8k HP buffed, shammy about 2k AC/11k HP buffed. War could probably tank these fine in a regular group, but this trio setup doesn't work well for that in terms of DPS I can generate vs healing needed for war to tank em fully. Cleric mobs rot pretty well down to about 50% health, then they start healing, so that's when I started tanking em, mostly on shammy so I could keep 4 dots running on em continuously.

Worked for me
# Jul 30 2006 at 2:13 AM Rating: Decent
Drop for melee was:

Hive Sentinel Ring
Lore/No Trade
AC 10
Str 9 Sta 10 Wis 8 Int 8 Agi 11 HP 110 Mana 120 End 120
Sv Dis 14 Cold 8 Pois 13
Rec 65, Req 58
Wt. .4 size sm
Class: War Pal Rng Shd Mnk Brd Rog Bst Ber
Race: All
Slot 1, type 7

That was for group level < 68.

RE: Worked for me
# Jul 29 2006 at 7:36 PM Rating: Decent
Scholar
***
1,087 posts
Worked fine for us too.
Hard setting. Only got 2 at a time each pull, except when we didn't remember a roamer when I went to grab more. Chanter was on it though.
Suspended pet just before the last mob, just incase.
Total mission time, about an hour, maybe hour and 20 mins.


____________________________
Pain Mistress Okami L`Assundre of Tarew Marr
Dark Elf Shadow Knight
Drinal (Tarew)
Retired after 500 days /played
Deleted
http://eqplayers.station.sony.com/character_profile.vm?characterId=455266869792
Remade
http://www.magelo.com/eq_view_profile.html?num=96950
Retired again
Not fixed
# Jul 07 2006 at 12:21 AM Rating: Decent
Scholar
21 posts
SoE lied. SLT is still bugged. They fixed nothing. July 06 2006
Cocoon Handler Gloves (Normal)
# Jul 06 2006 at 2:07 AM Rating: Decent
Dropped from Normal Mission:



Cocoon Handler Gloves

Magic Item Lore Item No Trader
Slot: Hands
AC 13
Skill Mod: Abjuration +3%
STR +10 DEX +8 STA +9 INT +11 AGI +10 HP +160 MANA +170
SV FIRE +15 SV DISEASE +20 SV COLD +20

Recommended Level of 70. Required level of 63.

WT. 2.1 Size: Medium
Class: NEC WIZ MAG ENC
Race: All
Slot 1, type 7

Sanctum - Level 70 Necromancer
Regnat Populus
Xegony Server
FIXED
# Jul 03 2006 at 4:08 PM Rating: Default
In a recent patch they said that "Spies like them" task has been corrected so the zone can more accurately tell when all npcs are dead. Im assuming that means that having a pet up summoned or non will no longer bug the mission so its inable to be compleated. Everyone rejoice.
Spies Like Them
# Jun 25 2006 at 7:18 PM Rating: Excellent
Level Ranges:

Spies like Them: 69-70
Spies Like Them(Hard): 71-72

--------------------------------
Faction Hits:

Your faction standing with Scions of Dreadspire got worse.
Your faction standing with Shiliskin Empire could not possibly get any better.
Your faction standing with Free Traders of Malgrinnor got better.

--------------------------------
The Mobs:

a skinwalker inquisitor - Cleric

Casts:
Complete Heal
Reckoning
Gate
Annul Magic
Greater Fetter

a skinwalker agent - Warrior

a skinwalker assassin - Rogue

a skinwalker Illusionist - Enchanter

Casts:
Boltan's Agacerie
Wind of Tash
Colored Choas
Madness of Ikkibi
Gravity Flux
Recant Magic
Gate

a skinwalker corpsefiend - Necromancer

Casts:
Insidious Retogression
Annul Magic
Plague
Pyrocuror
Tobas' Venom Blast
Gate
Devouring Darkness
Night Fire
Grip of Mori
Infectious Cloud

a skinwalker reaver

Casts:
Harmtouch

a skinwalker adept - Wizard

Casts:
Draught of Fire
Draught of Ice
Gate
Elnerick's Entombent of Ice
Shock of Magic
Annul Magic
Greater Fetter

Quote:
'Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.
Spun Drachnid Silk Pants
# Jun 25 2006 at 4:12 PM Rating: Decent
Chest drop from HARD mission:

Spun Drachnid Silk Pants
MAGIC ITEM LORE ITEM NO TRADE
Slot: LEGS
AC:21
Focus Effect: Preservation of Solusek
STR: +10 STA: +12 CHA: +10 INT: +15 AGI: +12 HP: +195 MANA: +200
SV FIRE: +20 SV COLD: +20 SV POISON: +20
Required level of 70.
WT: 4.5 Size: LARGE
Class: NEC WIZ MAG ENC
Race: ALL
Slot 1, type 7: empty

Preservation of Solusek
Spell Effect: Lowers the amount of mana consumed when casting most detrimental spells. This effect works on spells up to level 67.

Edited, Sun Jun 25 17:13:55 2006
ummm
# Apr 05 2006 at 5:15 PM Rating: Decent
i completed this back in february and all you have to do is kill pets before the last mob dies, simple as that.
Still bugged
# Apr 04 2006 at 6:50 AM Rating: Decent
I can confirm that this mission is still bugged as of 4Apr06. My group didn't know about the pet thing and went through the mission blissfully unaware.

The nice thing was that the GM who responded to my petition said, basically, "Oh, well, nothing we can do about it. Submit a bug report." Heh. I was not pleased.

So, don't use pets. I can't guarantee that that works, because we didn't run through the mission again, but I have no reason not to believe the other posters.
other part
# Feb 15 2006 at 5:13 AM Rating: Decent
Second instanced is on the living bridges its the first instance from zone in on the right on the bridge
Very buggy
# Jan 31 2006 at 4:07 PM Rating: Decent
**
429 posts
I really hate this particular mission because it's bugged badly. First 2 times we got nothhing because there was still a pet out in the end (first time was back in October, second one was by an obvious nOOb after group was told to kill pet). Just today we finished off the final mob with NO pet and immidiately after I got tsask updated, I was booted to server screen with no error message. When I logged back on I only got Gemstone of the faceless emperor. No aug, no book, nothing at all.

Another bug I noticed was in the Hive after slaying till I got the message, no one got mark on thir compass to find the instanced zone. When I zoned out to lose a see invis mob and returned to the Hive, the compass mark appeared.
walk through
# Jan 28 2006 at 10:08 PM Rating: Decent
18 posts
This mission starts in corathus with Tisthal Gimblecranz who can either give you this mission or Hides You Seek.

After getting the mission go to the normal hive zone. You find Geeble Tripcrank. For us he was in the first hive closest to the stoneroot zoneline. We got onto the living bridge through the cliff side, then went down the first hive past the web. Geeble was up so don't know if there is a timer or something. You tell him "Tisthal Gimblecranz" and you get a task completed notice.

You then get off the bridge & go inside the first building. On the top floor there are several skinwalkers. You basically kill some until after you get a task completion and "An unreadable book" appears on the cursor of your group leader. Then you goto the cocoons which is the same zone as 69.4 DoD mission. The compass does not show the zone line since it is supposed to be a "secret" training center. Easiest way is to get back on the bridge to zone in. When 1 person zones in you get a task complete message.

Then you kill all the mobs in that instanced zone. We did normal so the mobs did not summon, cannot be pacified but can be rooted, snared, and mezzed. In addition to the augs, the chest contained the following item:

Stone Web Arms
Slot: ARMS
AC: 30
Str +10 Dex +10 Sta +10 Wis +10 Agi +10 HP +165 Mana +165 End +165
Sv Fire +20 Sv Disease +15 Sv Cold +20
WT: 3.5 Size Medium
Class: RNG ROG SHM BER
Race: ALL
Slot 1, Type 7
name of the chest
# Jan 20 2006 at 12:29 PM Rating: Decent
41 posts
"a wooden chest" is the name of the chest what pop when cleared cocoons instance.
It was normal version of this mission.
i need space
# Jan 15 2006 at 10:31 PM Rating: Decent
Is there a way to kite the Skinwalkers in the real hive? Didnt see any room to.
whats the second instance?
# Jan 12 2006 at 10:28 AM Rating: Decent
Scholar
*
73 posts
still not sure what the second instance is, the first I guess is the regular hive, is the second one off the living bridge? or under the second hive, then past the Deep Orcs, up the tunnel (same as "The Lost Gnomes")....I dunno
Dialogues with Geeble
# Jan 12 2006 at 1:47 AM Rating: Decent
41 posts
[Thu Jan 12 03:14:19 2006] You say, 'Hail, Geeble Tripcrank'
[Thu Jan 12 03:14:20 2006] Geeble Tripcrank says 'Ah, you scared me! I just about blew a gasket! Hey, you're not a drachnid are you? Who sent you and why are you in here?'
[Thu Jan 12 03:14:20 2006] Your task 'Spies Like Them' has been updated.
[Thu Jan 12 03:14:47 2006] You say, 'Tisthal sent me'
[Thu Jan 12 03:14:47 2006] Geeble Tripcrank says 'That rust bucket finally sent someone to rescue me? I've been trapped here since I started investigating the skinwalkers. I watched a bit of their [training] and believe me, it's surprising the amount they know about everyone. They constantly come and go and there's never been an opportunity for me to leave. My blizzin cloaking unit broke when I slipped on some of the goo on the floor here.'
[Thu Jan 12 03:14:55 2006] You say, 'training'
[Thu Jan 12 03:14:55 2006] Geeble Tripcrank says 'Oh, well, thanks for your interest in my plight. Hmph. Anyway, the drachnids sort of have some How To Be A Skinwalker training! What else would I mean?! There's some going on right now if you just head on into the hive a bit further. Now that you've cleared a way out, I'm outta here. Good luck to you though. You're gonna need it.'
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

He depops after that.
I have no idea about respawn time etc.
He can see through invisible. (No need to drop off invisible buff to get dialogues.)
« Previous 1 2
Post Comment

Free account required to post

You must log in or create an account to post messages.