Raid Expedition: The Roots of Evil  

Quest Started By:Description:
Where:
Who:
Rating:
*****
Information:
Level:90
Maximum Level:125
Monster Mission:No
Repeatable:Yes
Can Be Shrouded?:No
Quest Type:Expedition
Quest Goal:
  • Advancement
  • Loot
Quest Items:
Related Zones:
Related Creatures:
Related Quests:
Era:House of Thule
Recommended:
Group Size:Raid
Min. # of Players:6
Max. # of Players:54
Appropriate Classes:
  • All
Appropriate Races:
  • All
Entered: Fri Dec 17 18:39:42 2010
Modified: Tue Dec 5 05:21:04 2023
This raid expedition begins with Therys the Botanist in The Grounds (located at the zone-in).

Pre-requisites for requesting this raid:
- Giladan the Botanist's task arc (Giladan's Assistant; What a Mess; It Only Gets Worse)
- The Gardener (group mission)
- Completion of the "Tick Tock" and "Ritual of Terror" raids
- Ritual of Terror

Pre-requisites for participating in this raid:
- Completion of at least one of the Tier 1 raids ("Tick Tock"; "Ritual of Terror")

You say, 'Hail, Therys the Botanist'

Therys the Botanist says 'It's fantastic, isn't it? Whoever built this place must have a strange sense of how to organize a garden. I've found perennials and quadrennials mixed together in ways which can lead to the loss of the plants, not to mention the fact that the sentient varieties of plant life here seem to be growing out of control, and disposed to murdering humanoids. No one remains here to tend this garden, if ever there was a gardener to begin with. These concerns, however, pale next to the real [threat] I've discovered here.'

You say, 'What threat?'

Therys the Botanist says 'The living heaps in the southwestern edge of the garden are growing at a prodigious rate. They are the new scourge of every garden and forest since adventurers brought their seeds back from the Plane of Earth; they grow out of control and usually must be burned away to prevent them from ruining their surroundings. Overgrown fibrous weeds, if you ask me. They should all be destroyed. I don't understand how they can sustain themselves for very long unless they overrun the entire garden and break free somehow. They must spread in order to thrive, but if they [spread], they will soon take over.'

You say, 'How do they spread?'

Therys the Botanist says 'Their biology is out of balance with nature, which is perhaps why the Rathe Council never saw fit to release them from their chamber. They lay roots and tendrils all around themselves with lightning-fast rapidity, they grow to prodigious sizes given more than the tiniest amount of sunlight, nutrients, and water, and their rate of multiplication could allow all of Norrath to be scourged by the things in less than a year. Unfortunately, the largest of the living heaps, who calls himself Thornbustle, has grown to the point of having intelligence. I was able to speak to it about what it wants, hoping to reason with it, but alas, it only wants to spread into Norrath and destroy those who would stand in its way, including me. I'm afraid it will take a force of determined adventurers to successfully deal with this matter. Will you and about fifty of your friends [intervene]?'

You say, 'We'll intervene'

Therys the Botanist says 'I am pleased. Help is on the way, and now this wretched garden may not end up being the birthplace of the end of Norrath as we know it! Just let me know when you're ready to [go].'

Therys the Botanist says 'Good luck to you then.'

This zones you into the instance.

Therys the Botanist is also inside the instance. You can zone out again by speaking to her.

You say, 'Hail, Therys the Botanist'

Therys the Botanist says 'How is the battle going, friend? Will you need to [retire] for a time? Say the word, and I will send you to safety.'



Summary

- Move quickly to the southwest area of the Grounds.
- If you don't make it there before the rotdogs spawn, you can either kill them or use a guild banner to port in.
- Clear an area around Thornbustle (mulch heaps are mezzable; brambly heaps are not).
- Kill Thornbustle while being careful of its damage shield and AEs.

Note: There are three similar nameds (Koransander, Beritoza, and Haelgord) in other parts of the zone, but Thornbustle is the only one that has any known bearing on the lockout and chest spawning.



Location & Setup

See this map for location information.

Shortly after you zone in, you'll see this emote:

Thornbustle says, "I've been patient with you lot, now you've gone too far. I'm the new Groundskeeper in this garden, and I'm releasing the hounds on you! In a short amount of time, my rotdogs will be gnawing your bones!"

Soon after you see that, rotdogs spawn all over the place, so you'll need to move to Thornbustle's area quickly or you'll have to clear a path.



Trash Mobs

Trash mobs hit for a max ~18,000.

Dire rotdogs cast "Deep Rotdog Bite", "Heinous Rotdog Bite", and "Rotten Rotdog Bite":

Deep Rotdog Bite: Single Target, Magic (-670)
1: Decrease Hitpoints by 18000 per tick (6 ticks)
2: Improved Spell Effect (Rotting Spinal Infection) (Triggers 28-second stun if not cured)

Heinous Rotdog Bite: Single Target, Magic (-670)
1: Decrease Hitpoints by 15000 per tick (5 ticks)

Rotten Rotdog Bite: Single Target, Disease (-670)
1: Decrease Hitpoints by 12000 per tick (6 ticks)
2: Increase Disease Counter by 25

Quick rotdogs cast "Rotten Rotdog Bite" and "Vicious Rotdog Bite":

Vicious Rotdog Bite: Single Target, Magic (-670)
1: Decrease Hitpoints by 16000 per tick (5 ticks)

Mulch heaps cast "Slime Stream":

Slime Stream: Directional 100', Disease (-670)
1: Decrease Hitpoints by 23000 per tick (5 ticks)
2: Decrease Movement by 50%
3: Increase Disease Counter by 40

Brambly heaps cast "Rotten Lettuce-Throw":

Rotten Lettuce-Throw: Single Target, Magic (-670)
1: Decrease Hitpoints by 24000 per tick (2 ticks)
2: Improved Spell Effect (Lettuce-Wrapped) (40k DD and snare if not cured)
3: Increase corruption counter by 25

There are also regular Grounds trash mobs all throughout the zone. All or most see invisibility.



Thornbustle

Thornbustle is NOT perma-rooted, but is leashed to a small area around his spawn point. If pulled out of this area, he resets aggro. He hits for a max ~20,000; flurries; single-target rampages; and occasionally AE rampages for full damage. He casts a non-dispellable damage shield on himself called "Thornbustle Reflection":

Thornbustle Reflection: Self 0', Magic (0)
2: Increase Damage Shield by 1200

Thornbustle also AEs "Slime Stream" (same as above trash mobs) and "Composting Funk" and casts "Vegetentacles" I-IV on his target:

Composting Funk: PB AE 40', Magic (-670)
1: Decrease Hitpoints by 30000 per tick (5 ticks)
2: Increase Poison Counter by 30
3: Improved Spell Effect (Methane Explosion)

Vegetentacles I: Single Target, Magic (-670)
1: Decrease Movement by 100%
2: Decrease Hitpoints by 12000 per tick (2 ticks)
3: Increase Poison Counter by 20

Vegetentacles II: Single Target, Magic (-670)
1: Decrease Movement by 100%
2: Decrease Hitpoints by 16000 per tick (4 ticks)
3: Increase Poison Counter by 20

Vegetentacles III: Single Target, Magic (-650)
1: Decrease Movement by 100%
2: Decrease Hitpoints by 21000 per tick (6 ticks)
3: Increase Poison Counter by 20

Vegetentacles IV: Single Target, Magic (-670)
1: Decrease Movement by 100%
2: Decrease Hitpoints by 28000 per tick (8 ticks)
3: Increase Poison Counter by 20

If you don't cure "Composting Funk", you'll be hit with "Methane Explosion":

Methane Explosion: Self, Unresistable (-670)
1: Decrease Hitpoints by 50000



Death Limit

You are restricted to a certain number of deaths (around 30). If you hit the limit, the event resets.

For every death (including those to trash mobs and DOTs, but not pet deaths), you see this:

Ahhh... I have absorbed the soul of a fallen interloper! I shall use its energy to defend this place, for I am Thornbustle, Master of the Garden! All shall quaver in awe as I grow ever stronger, my branches and vines ever more impervious to attack!

After you hit the limit, the event resets and everyone alive in the zone is ported back to the zone-in.



Event Completion

Kill Thornbustle for the win.

Thornbustle has been slain by _____!
Thornbustle's corpse collapses in a pile of dying vines and woody tentacles.

Thornbustle says, "So this is death. . . But what will become of the garden without me. . . My life-force held this place together and gave it order ever since the strange ones stopped. . . stopped their. . ."



Known Loot

Loot includes 2 Esoteric Remnants (first list) + 2-3 other items (second list) + 4 Dream Fragments (any type) + 2 Rusty Gate Keys (flag for next tier) + 0-1 Lucid Globe of Phantasmic Power (cultural aug) + 0-1 bonus item (third list):

Esoteric Remnant of Desire
Esoteric Remnant of Devotion
Esoteric Remnant of Fear
Esoteric Remnant of Greed
Esoteric Remnant of Knowledge
Esoteric Remnant of Survival
Esoteric Remnant of Truth

Belt of Pruning
Beritoza's Bangle of Bixielording
Celestial Labrys
Earmark of the Pumpkin Patch
Ethereal Dreamspear
Gardener's Bixie-Pollen Mask
Gardener's Thicket Club
Glittering Gutripper
Haelgord's Talisman
Rotdog Trainer's Belt
Scintillating Cape of the Garden Grove
Spaulders of the Topiary
The Gardener's Ring

Devious Felblade
Mournful Axe of Trapped Souls
Remains of a Well Victim



The Unknown Mobs

None of the following is known to have any bearing on the event.

In addition to Thornbustle, there are three other similar nameds in other parts of the zone:

- Koransander (a treant in the far eastern part of the zone)
- Beritoza (a bixie in the bixie fort)
- Haelgord (a large peponnite in the pumpkin patch)

Each of these nameds is surrounded by several trash mobs of the same type. Some of the bixie mobs drop "Malodorous Bixie Pollen"; some of the treants drop "Massive Rotten Apple"; and some of the peponnites drop "Twinkling Pumpkin Pulp". The use of these items is unknown, and the purpose of these NPCs (if any) is unknown.
Rewards:
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Changed raid or bugged...?!
# May 07 2021 at 5:23 PM Rating: Good
Scholar
**
326 posts
First: Direct kill of Thornbustle - FAIL:
If you kill the event slowly does not spawn a chest.
If you kill the event superfast does not spawn a chest.
It seems they changed this raid mob.

I tried on the third try:

1. Haelgord - Scarecrow
2. Koresander - Treant
3. Beritoza - Bixie
4. Thornbustle - Shambling Mound
-> SUCCESS -> Chest spawned!

Raid setup was full burn on Thornbustle at the end (complete level 115 overkill and a group of level 85 for the loot).



Changed raid or bugged...?!
# Nov 03 2022 at 12:52 PM Rating: Decent
12 posts
Must have been bugged. I just did the raid in 13minutes. I did kill a lot of rotdogs, and trash around him with a few deaths though.
Not sure if Ritual of Terror is required
# Sep 11 2020 at 8:12 AM Rating: Good
Sage
***
3,014 posts
Interesting, the quest-giver will speak to me and the dialogue goes all the way thru but at the very end she advises me to speak to the Gardener. So the saga continues...

The only quest the Gardener gives is The Gardener and I've got that achievement.

So I wonder if this is a veiled way to tell me either I need Ritual of Terror, or I need the partisan and mercenary achievements from the previous zone, The Feerrott: The Dream.

This is very annoying...

I will do The Gardener again just to be sure I have that flag covered.

Edited, Sep 11th 2020 9:19am by Sippin

Edited, Sep 11th 2020 9:23am by Sippin
____________________________
Sippin 115 DRU **** Firiona Vie ****Agnarr
FV: 115 WAR ENC CLE MAG WIZ SHD SHM Master Alchemist ROG Master Tinkerer & Poison-Maker
Master Artisan (300+) * Baker * Brewer * Fletcher * Jeweler * Potter * Researcher * Smith * Tailor
Agnarr: 65 DRU ENC SHD MAG CLE ROG WIZ BRD WAR
Not sure if Ritual of Terror is required
# Mar 20 2021 at 8:01 AM Rating: Decent
I'm going back to HoT to get old, still relevant, melee disciplines. I completed Tick Tock (raid) and "The Gardener" (group) both within the last half hour, but still cannot request the raid. I'm guessing Ritual of Terror (Raid) is actually required.
Requirements still exist for requesting the raids
# Jan 31 2017 at 12:18 PM Rating: Good
Scholar
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326 posts
Wanted to maqke the raid for our little ones but requesting was not possible:

Have:
- Giladan the Botanist's task arc (Giladan's Assistant; What a Mess; It Only Gets Worse)
- The Gardener (group mission)
- Completion of the "Tick Tock"

Missing the "Ritual of Terror" raid. Requesting was not possible. Strangle he said that I should visit Gardener Aerith before "we talk further" but I have "The Gardener".

Bad because the Ritual of Terror is really annoying because of that stupid porting around in the whole zone and fear even for level 105 :(
Requirements still exist for requesting the raids
# Feb 01 2017 at 1:09 AM Rating: Excellent
Fayman wrote:
Wanted to maqke the raid for our little ones but requesting was not possible:

Have:
- Giladan the Botanist's task arc (Giladan's Assistant; What a Mess; It Only Gets Worse)
- The Gardener (group mission)
- Completion of the "Tick Tock"

Missing the "Ritual of Terror" raid. Requesting was not possible. Strangle he said that I should visit Gardener Aerith before "we talk further" but I have "The Gardener".

Bad because the Ritual of Terror is really annoying because of that stupid porting around in the whole zone and fear even for level 105 :(


Thanks, added to the pre req's.
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Tier 1 Raids No Longer Required to Participate
# Nov 23 2013 at 10:59 PM Rating: Good
Scholar
*
53 posts
It appears the HoT zones have been deflagged. My group got into the "Roots of Evil" instance, and only I have won Tick Tock/Ritual of Terror.
Tier 1 Raids No Longer Required to Participate
# Mar 19 2015 at 5:31 PM Rating: Decent
Avatar
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309 posts
Antibane wrote:
It appears the HoT zones have been deflagged. My group got into the "Roots of Evil" instance, and only I have won Tick Tock/Ritual of Terror.


What about requesting the raids?
Tier 1 Raids No Longer Required to Participate
# Sep 06 2020 at 9:19 AM Rating: Good
Sage
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3,014 posts
Baeddon wrote:
Antibane wrote:
It appears the HoT zones have been deflagged. My group got into the "Roots of Evil" instance, and only I have won Tick Tock/Ritual of Terror.


What about requesting the raids?


I want to do these old raids for nostalgia. I have done Tick Tock but not Gardener Aeriht's mission and she wouldn't give me the raid. She referred me to Gardener Aerhit.

Now HE won't give me the mission! He says to come back when I'm less wet behind the ears! So I have to backtrack further...


Edited, Sep 6th 2020 10:25am by Sippin
____________________________
Sippin 115 DRU **** Firiona Vie ****Agnarr
FV: 115 WAR ENC CLE MAG WIZ SHD SHM Master Alchemist ROG Master Tinkerer & Poison-Maker
Master Artisan (300+) * Baker * Brewer * Fletcher * Jeweler * Potter * Researcher * Smith * Tailor
Agnarr: 65 DRU ENC SHD MAG CLE ROG WIZ BRD WAR
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