Bertoxxulous Initiate  

Quest Started By:Description:
Where:
Who:
Rating:
*****
Information:
Time:4 hours
Level:8
Maximum Level:125
Monster Mission:No
Repeatable:Yes
Can Be Shrouded?:No
Quest Type:Quest
Quest Goal:
  • Experience
  • Faction
  • Loot
Factions Raised:
Factions Lowered:
Quest Items:
Related Zones:
Related Creatures:
Era:Original
Recommended:
Group Size:Solo
Min. # of Players:1
Max. # of Players:1
Appropriate Classes:
Appropriate Races:
Entered: Fri May 3 19:38:58 2002
Modified: Tue Dec 5 05:21:04 2023
Evah Xokez is a cleric guildmaster on Dark Reflection faction in the Mines of Malfunction in Ak'Anon (/loc?).

You say, 'Hail, Evah Xokez'

Evah Xokez says 'Be wary, ______, there are unseen powers within these mines that can destroy the strongest warriors or the wisest seers. Do you find the rust that corrodes the mechanisms around you and the decaying forms that wander these tunnels pleasing?'

You say, 'I find it very pleasing.'

Evah Xokez says 'Then perhaps you share the vision of we who have made these mines our home. We are the Dark Reflection and our perceptions have been refined to allow us to see the poisons and disease coursing through every creature's veins and the decay afflicting all forms of matter in Norrath. I can teach you to harness the powers of our divine benefactor if you are [willing to learn] through service to the Dark Reflection.'

You say, 'I am willing to learn.'

Evah Xokez says 'Then your first lesson shall be the fulfillment of spreading infection and disease. Some of the best carriers of infectious diseases are rodents. Take this vial containing a slow and painful infection and give it to one of the pregnant giant rodents that can be found outside in the Steamfont Mountains. This way you can spread the disease to not only those creatures which cross the mother's path but also to those who cross the paths of her future offspring. Bring me the empty vial when the task has been completed.'

You receive a Vial of Infectious Disease. Find "a female rat" in Steamfont Mountains. Handing it the vial, you see the following:

a female rat ingests the virulent substance and becomes ill.

You receive an Empty Infectious Vial back. The female rat changes into a "diseased female rat." Killing it spawns 5 of "a young plague rat."

Take the Empty Infectious Vial back to Evah Xokez.


Evah Xokez says 'I hope you enjoyed the thrill of your first lesson and the awakening of your vision. Now you must prove your utility to our society. Take this airtight container and gather the [components] for another dose of the plague rat disease.'

Your faction standing with Dark Reflection has been adjusted by 50
Your faction standing with Eldritch Collective has been adjusted by -5
Your faction standing with Gem Choppers has been adjusted by -5
Your faction standing with Deep Muses has been adjusted by -5
You gain experience!!

You receive an Airtight Metal Box.

You say, 'What components?'

Evah Xokez says 'The recipe we use to make the plague rat disease is fairly simple. We could easily extract the fluids from the infected rat livers but that would be counterproductive to our cause since it would require the deaths of our rodent carriers. Instead, I need you to collect two parts diseased bone marrow, one sprig of wormwood and one part gnomish spirits to be used as a medium. When you have combined all the components in the container I have provided, return it to me so that we may continue to spread the disease!'

Combine the ingredients in the box to create a Container of Infectious Reagents, which you should then hand back to Evah Xokez.

Evah Xokez says 'It appears that you truly seek to expand your vision into the Dark Reflection, ______. I grant you the Initiate Symbol of Bertoxxulous!'

Your faction standing with Dark Reflection has been adjusted by 25.
Your faction standing with Eldritch Collective has been adjusted by -2
Your faction standing with Gem Choppers has been adjusted by -2
Your faction standing with Deep Muses has been adjusted by -2
You gain experience!!
Submitted by: Foil
Rewards:
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Faction
# Feb 22 2018 at 2:13 AM Rating: Good
Scholar
Avatar
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192 posts
After handing in the vial to the female rat and then returning the empty vial to the Guild Master Evah you get the following faction hits:

Dark Reflections +50
Eldritch Collective -5
Gem Choppers -5
Deepmuses -5

After handing her the container of infections reagents you get the following faction:

Dark Reflection +25
Eldritch Collective -2
Gem Choppers -2
Deepmuses -2
Deep Muses faction raised?
# Apr 10 2014 at 6:15 PM Rating: Good
Scholar
**
265 posts
Both faction hits show DeepMuses got worse. Derp.
____________________________
Uxtalzon

Povar
fixing faction
# Nov 11 2011 at 5:10 PM Rating: Decent
Sage
***
1,065 posts
after handing in the box of infections reagents, it only took 2 kills of aqua goblins to re-max gem chopper faction
Summary
# Sep 19 2011 at 5:48 PM Rating: Excellent
Scholar
33 posts
Having just completed this quest with my old-world Gnome Cleric, I thought I'd share a tip for the hardest part: the beginning. As in, finding that darn rat.

When Evah Xokez gives you the vial, you need to find a female rat in Steamfont and trade it to her in exchange for an empty one. This rat still spawns even after the zone revamp and can be found in one of two different places: the area directly northwest of the windmills (650.00, -450.00, 55.00) or the area around the northwestern-most kobold camp (1500.00, 900.00, 30.00). Most people tend to look for her at only one spot, hence the trouble finding her. She has the appearance of a normal rat and can wander a bit, but generally stays close to her spawn point. If you don't see her in either location, kill everything in sight, since she doesn't seem to have a set placeholder, and she'll hopefully spawn in no time at all.

Edited, Sep 19th 2011 7:51pm by Rokon
quest info
# Jul 03 2011 at 5:12 AM Rating: Good
Sage
***
1,065 posts
[Sun Jul 03 06:41:31 2011] Logging to 'eqlog.txt' is now *ON*.
[Sun Jul 03 06:41:33 2011] You say, 'Hail, Evah Xokez'
[Sun Jul 03 06:41:33 2011] Evah Xokez says 'Be wary, Shuraz, there are unseen powers within these mines that can destroy the strongest warriors or the wisest seers. Do you find the rust that corrodes the mechanisms around you and the decaying forms that wander these tunnels pleasing?'
[Sun Jul 03 06:42:01 2011] You say, 'i find it very pleasing'
[Sun Jul 03 06:42:01 2011] Evah Xokez says 'Then perhaps you share the vision of we who have made these mines our home. We are the Dark Reflection and our perceptions have been refined to allow us to see the poisons and disease coursing through every creature's veins and the decay afflicting all forms of matter in Norrath. I can teach you to harness the powers of our divine benefactor if you are [willing to learn] through service to the Dark Reflection.'
[Sun Jul 03 06:42:07 2011] You say, 'i am willing to learn'
[Sun Jul 03 06:42:07 2011] Evah Xokez says 'Then your first lesson shall be the fulfillment of spreading infection and disease. Some of the best carriers of infectious diseases are rodents. Take this vial containing a slow and painful infection and give it to one of the pregnant giant rodents that can be found outside in the Steamfont Mountains. This way you can spread the disease to not only those creatures which cross the mother's path but also to those who cross the paths of her future offspring. Bring me the empty vial when the task has been completed.'

This is where I received the vial of infectious disease
Handing the vial to a female rat gained experience and no faction and you get back an emty vial. You also see: a female rat ingests the virulent substance and becomes ill. The female rat then changes into a diseased female rat. It will just wander off if you leave it. When I killed it, it spawned 5 'a young plague rat'. Handing in the empty vial to Evah Xokez gets you the following:

[Sun Jul 03 07:00:33 2011] Evah Xokez says 'I hope you enjoyed the thrill of your first lesson and the awakening of your vision. Now you must prove your utility to our society. Take this airtight container and gather the [components] for another dose of the plague rat disease.'
[Sun Jul 03 07:00:33 2011] Your faction standing with Dark Reflection got better.
[Sun Jul 03 07:00:33 2011] Your faction standing with Eldritch Collective got worse.
[Sun Jul 03 07:00:33 2011] Your faction standing with Gem Choppers got worse.
[Sun Jul 03 07:00:33 2011] Your faction standing with Deepmuses got worse.
[Sun Jul 03 07:00:33 2011] You gain experience!!
[Sun Jul 03 07:00:47 2011] You say, 'what components'
[Sun Jul 03 07:00:47 2011] Evah Xokez says 'The recipe we use to make the plague rat disease is fairly simple. We could easily extract the fluids from the infected rat livers but that would be counterproductive to our cause since it would require the deaths of our rodent carriers. Instead, I need you to collect two parts diseased bone marrow, one sprig of wormwood and one part gnomish spirits to be used as a medium. When you have combined all the components in the container I have provided, return it to me so that we may continue to spread the disease!'

It takes time to collect the components, but once you do and combine it and go hand it in, you get:

Evah Xokez says 'It appears that you truly seek to expand your vision into the Dark Reflection, Shuraz. I grant you the Initiate Symbol of Bertoxxulous!'
Your faction standing with Dark Reflection got better.
Your faction standing with Eldritch Collective got worse.
Your faction standing with Gem Choppers got worse.
Your faction standing with Deepmuses got worse.
You gain experience!!

Now I just wish there was a better way to raise Deep Muses back up.

The name of the vial you get back is 'an empy infectious vial" ( not just an empty vial. I noticed this when I was re-reading what I wrote)

the name of the rat is 'diseased female rat' (not a_diseased_female_rat) and I made a correction of a typo without noticing. the actual text for when you turn it in is: a female rat injests the virulent substance and becomes ill. (injests is actual text)
Edited, Jul 3rd 2011 7:35am by Shuraz

Edited, Jul 3rd 2011 8:39am by Shuraz
No Female Rats
# May 13 2004 at 1:06 PM Rating: Decent
I spent Close to an hour with a Tracker lookin for Female rats in steam front. but nothing is up. any clues, broken?
RE: No Female Rats
# Oct 24 2004 at 4:46 AM Rating: Decent
I just finished the bottle part of it on MR-the Female Rat was right behind the windmills. When I gave her the bottle, she respawned as a Diseased Female Rat-yellow to a level 5- and she and a cat add smoked me.
Wormwood
# Nov 08 2002 at 5:32 AM Rating: Decent
Ok, give me wormwood works, but there is a twist. The NPC does not respond to every request. Just keep trying and eventually you get given a sprig. Very odd.
RE: Wormwood
# Jan 31 2003 at 12:48 AM Rating: Decent
Hah!! You CAN'T have her targeted when you ask her "What about Wormwood. " If you have her targeted she will give her standard response.

So I repeat DON'T Target Her!

Kath

PS: I love mine =)
How to trigger wormwood
# Oct 28 2002 at 4:15 AM Rating: Decent
I cannot get this working. Does anyone have the exact words necessary to get the sprig of wormwood?
Female rats!
# Oct 12 2001 at 5:12 AM Rating: Default
I made a point of killing nothing with my new cleric on FV (especially rats) and ran straight to a female rat. I only conned Dubious so gave her the flaks no probs.
Now I just have to get the rest of the ingredients.
FYI
# Aug 10 2001 at 5:21 PM Rating: Decent
Dubious to you huh? Had my faithful She aggroed on my faithful human Priest of Bertoxxulous last night; if it was'nt for the fact that I had a druid ready to charm her by the Lesser Faydark entrance, I might've got killed, since she was red to me. Had the druid charm her, fed the female rat the vial, and the damn thing aggroed on me again. By the way, this thing will infect you with the PlagueRatDisease if it gets a successful hit on you and you fail to resist it.

As for the brittle skeleton, the thing conned red to me at five and blue to my high elf magician pal at nine, so I'd probaly say the level of this quest should be at least six or seven; just my two cents worth.

Baelros Bonecracker
Human Priest of Bertoxxulous
Quellious Servor
No charm necessary here
# Aug 03 2001 at 11:43 PM Rating: Good
29 posts
I did up to giving the rat the vial tonight, with my Erudite Necromancer. The female rat conned dubious, handed it the vial, and got experience and the empty vial, and lo and behold the infected female rat now conned indifferent. Hadn't read about the quest at all was just hailing people in the necro guild so i could try to raise my faction some there....



RE: No charm necessary here
# Sep 10 2001 at 1:40 AM Rating: Good
I can confirm that the female rat does not need to be charmed when it cons dubious. She conned yellow/dubious to my gnome warrior yesterday. I gave her the vial, got back an empty vial and xp, the rat became infected and attacked. After getting the watchman to despatch the rat for me, I went to Evah Xokez and completed the first part of the quest without a problem.

finnished
# Jul 31 2001 at 8:03 PM Rating: Decent
Well, just finished this one. The symbol is pretty nice for a lowbie, if only in the feeling of accomplishment later in levels. After killing my first two brittle skels, I was lucky that both of them had a diseased bone marrow each, and 2 bone chips to boot. Then I found Ennixy.
Ennixy Frennor can be found North-northeast of the windmills at location POS 1350, NEG 830, not north west as previously reported. She is a vendor and apparently sells necro and nasty goo-goobler things for such. Hailing her, she says something like "you'd better have something intresting to tell me..." or whatever. just ask her "what about wormwood?" and she gives you a sample sprig to try. this is what you need to combine with the other components for the symbol.
Lastly, I have used the proc on this device well over a dozen times, so I dont think it has a set number of charges, which if for only the whole 'effect' is also pretty slick.
I hope this helps - enjoy!

Frumpelstilskin
8th level cleric of Bertoxxulous
E Marr
NO NEED TO CHARM!
# Jul 29 2001 at 2:30 PM Rating: Default
I just finnished giving the infection to the female rat. SHE DOES NOT NEED TO BE CHARMED. she conned blue/dubious to me and afterwards attacked me as an infected female rat. I also obtained the exp change. I am going back to finish the job.

Frumpelstilskin
8th level Cleric of Bertoxxulous
E Marr
Um... maybe I'm wrong but...
# Jul 26 2001 at 2:43 AM Rating: Decent
But as i have noticed, whenever you're invis, you can give things without being spotted. That's how I got my wolf-hide boots as a necro in Qeynos hills. If you give the required items and money to the Miller while invisible, they will give you the item, even they're KOS to me. So, can't you go invis and give the vial to the female rat?

Sebbal
15 Gnome Necro
Inorruuk
Success!
# Apr 05 2001 at 3:48 PM Rating: Default
I'm a 16th level Gnecro on Ayonae Ro - successfully completed the first part of this quest last night! Got faction and xp upon infecting the rat AND returning the empty vial. Got me a hi-lvl Ranger to Charm Animal, I think a druid or bard would do nicely too - there's plenty o female rats by the Lfay zone.

RE: Success!
# Apr 06 2001 at 11:32 AM Rating: Default
Me again - finished part 2 last night. Ennixy (the wormwood lady) can be found by walking away from the windmills, into the valley of pumas. Its a 2fer - brittle skels run around her like puppies. Combined the goods, and the airtight metal box became "a box of infectious reagents" (or close, 1lb., Med, all/all) Turned it in to Evah, got xp, faction, and the ISoB.
Initiate of Brell
# Feb 11 2001 at 11:44 PM Rating: Default
Do Dwarf Clerics get any initiate quest at all?
RE: Initiate of Brell
# Jul 20 2001 at 10:57 AM Rating: Default
Update! Yes, there is now an Initiate of Brell Serilis quest in place (and a second quest is in as well, with hints that a third will soon follow). Go see the fellow in the back of the warrior guild in Kaladim. (Yeah, the warrior guild. Sheesh.)
RE: Initiate of Brell
# Mar 05 2001 at 1:46 PM Rating: Default
No, at the moment only clerics of evil gods (Bertox, Innoruk and Cazic) get such quests. Not sure why, perhaps to balance the fact that they have more faction problems for a good clerics of the same race.
Breaking news! Disciple Symbol! 10/27
# Oct 27 2000 at 8:39 PM Rating: Default
Cut/paste from EQ.Stratics cleric forum:

WELL!
I did my own legwork since nobody else seems to have any useful info..

Made a new gnome cleric of bertoxx on test server. And guess what! New Gnome Cleric with bertoxx faction(dark reflection) standing there next to Sanfyrd!!!! When hailed, he askes you to leave him to his 'meditations' to his god.

So, there's the answer to my own question. I'm sure you get sent to him next for the Disciple Symbol of Bertoxxulous quest. One little problem... I couldn't figure out his key trigger phrase.
And I'm NOT going to do the initiate quest over again just to try and see if they put in new bracketed words.

But now I know the reason I couldn't find my symbol was because it wasn't in the game. Please spread to word to others to check the test server for new priests. (like perhaps Prexus will have a symbol now)


Wyld Will
need symbol
# Feb 17 2001 at 2:25 PM Rating: Default
please somone try to figure out the key word(s) are this could be very useful.
No new key words
# Dec 20 2000 at 7:38 PM Rating: Default
I just completed the quest for the Initiate Symbol, and there did not seem to be any key words or mention of the new Cleric by Sanford. I don't know what is next...
RE: No new key words
# Jan 28 2001 at 8:09 AM Rating: Default
Isn't that guy for one of the epic quests?
#Anonymous, Posted: Nov 18 2000 at 1:28 PM, Rating: Sub-Default, (Expand Post) Just ignore the second post, stupid website.
RE: Breaking news! Disciple Symbol! 10/27
# Nov 18 2000 at 1:27 PM Rating: Default
Well, the gnome next to sanfyrd is also amiable to necros who follow bertox, plus he's right next to what also is the necro guild. He's buck naked, so I wouldn't be making any suppositions just yet. Might not be a cleric.
#Anonymous, Posted: Nov 18 2000 at 1:27 PM, Rating: Sub-Default, (Expand Post) Well, the gnome next to sanfyrd is also amiable to necros who follow bertox, plus he's right next to what also is the necro guild. He's buck naked, so I wouldn't be making any suppositions just yet.
RE: Breaking news! Disciple Symbol! 10/27
# Nov 20 2000 at 11:06 AM Rating: Default
he casts yaulp, cleric spell
Disciple Symbol?
# Oct 17 2000 at 1:17 AM Rating: Default
Any leads on the Disciple Symbol yet? I completed this one finally (pain in the ********** but when I turned in my results and got my reward... she said nothing that lead me to believe she gave out a second quest... nor did she refer me to any place else... so where else can I go to check? I'm currently hailing all the bloodsabres without luck. Any other Bertoxx hangouts?
RE: Disciple Symbol?
# Oct 26 2000 at 8:50 PM Rating: Default
Shouldn't there be a set of Bertoxx NPCs in the Qeynos Sewers area? For budding Qeynos Shadow knights and clerics?
Hunt for Bertoxx
# Oct 27 2000 at 7:27 PM Rating: Excellent
cut/paste from EQ Stratics Cleric webforum:

Yes there is a bertoxx temple in Qeynos... that's actually the hub of all plaguebringer activities. Anyway, I'm a gnome, but went there to check it out. Hailed everyone, including merchants. Asked questions about the dark reflection, bertoxxulous, bloodsabres, "I am an initiate of Bertoxxulous", "I am an initiate", "I am a bertoxxulous initiate" etc. No responses from anyone. My SK regularly visits this temple, so I'm fairly familiar with it.

I was hoping that since that is a bertoxx shrine, I'd find some further info there. Only thing I found was the new NPC for the SK quest and a some new mobs, seppsis rats. (something to do with the harpy's head tavern epic quest most likely)

I'm a little bit upset that after obtaining the first symbol, I'm not directed in any way to any place else. Take a look at all the other symbol's quest. The next step is fairly obvious for them. That doesn't seem the case for Bertoxx. Hailing all gnomes in the mines of malfunction and probing for quests with them yielded no results. The gnomes don't even mention betoxx, and although they worship the same god as the humans in qeynos, there is nothing that ties them together. (humans want to bring about the avatar of Bertoxxulous so he can destroy and rot away the world. Gnomes are looking for a way to make viral weapons and spread the plague. Both are secrative.

I would like to know if anyone knows of any other pockets of Bertoxx worshippers...

--------------THE HUNT FOR BERTOXX--------

Akanon mines of Malfunction: Dark Reflection

Qeynos: Blood Sabres, Shrine to Bertoxxulous

East Commons: Plague condemned village (but no NPCs or hints)

Paineel: ?? possibly, but it's really a town for Cazic worshippers...bertoxx likes things alive but decaying. Not already dead stuff.

Freeport: the "evil" underground is ruled by the Dismal Rage, with no ties to decay or bertoxx. Nothing there.

Erudin: Diseased Shark for barnacle breastplate quest exists in this zone. (how did it get dieseased?) also plague shark in Erud's crossing. These indicate plague is near, but these zones are also fairly close to Qeynos. (Like the rabid animals in qeynos hills are because of the Bloodsabres).

Highhold: this areas's underground is held by smugglers and rogues, not plague.

Neriak: in 3rd gate, the necro/sk guild exists, but nothing decayed. Only dead.

Rivervale, Felwithe, Kelethin: nothing in these towns, these are happy shiny people and decay does not exist here.

Kaladim: fungus farms and a rogue cleaner clockwork are about as close as you get to decay in this zone. Probably nothing here.

Halas: most likely nothing here, it's too darn cold

Unrest: full of the already dead. Should be of no interests to Bertoxx, but exploring it results in nothing except the gnome spelunker and a new named NPC for a bard quest.

Befallen: already dead/undead

Guk: already dead/undead

Deserts: already dead/undead


---------------------------------------------

Remember, Bertoxxulous followers do not like to kill, they like to make things rot. Mobs with "diseased, infected, plague" are good indicators that Bertoxx is near. (avoid the obvious, decaying skeletons are in tons of zones and just happen to be named that, they have no connection to bertoxx)

Also, remember that this should be a lowbie quest... it takes around level 10 to complete the initiate symbol of Bertoxx Quest.
So this item(dsiciple of Bertoxx) deals with mobs probably in the mid to upper teens range.

If anyone knows of any specific NPCs (other than Akanon and Qeynos) that mention Bertoxxulous, please post.


Wyld Will



RE: Hunt for Bertoxx
# Nov 27 2000 at 9:13 PM Rating: Default
Actually for the Dark Elves it is not blatenly obvious. However, when you do hail the guy that gives them (Disciple and Regent) he responds. There is not a bracket to clue you but you simply answer your standing (initiate, disciple).

I would think that for Bertox clerics it is like that, or close. However, it took forever to get even one dark elf cleric quest, so you Bertox followers may have to wait a bit longer to get the rest of the Symbols.

And remember, not all of our evil brothers and sisters have the full range of symbols yet. I have not seen a Regent Symbol of Cazic-Thule, just as an example.

Any way, I have created myself a gnome cleric (named Toxis, fitting eh) to work on this. If ever I find anything I will let you all know.

Zheldon Ha'Catha
Regent Cleric of Innoruuk
Dark Elf (Quellious server)
Faction
# Sep 26 2000 at 1:28 PM Rating: Default
I am a Dwarf Cleric and I can't seem to talk to Evah Xokez. She cons Dubious to me. If you have completed this quest please post your race or what you had to do to raise your faction. Thanks...
RE: Faction
# Sep 29 2000 at 5:05 PM Rating: Default
You need to be a gnome or human cleric worshipping Bertoxxulous to do this quest. Dwarf clerics can't use the item, so don't even bother. = P

BTW, to raise faction with Evah, you can kill the animals in the Ak'anon zoo.
neeneenoonoo
# Sep 24 2000 at 4:16 AM Rating: Default
Wow this is a complicated quest.. The first in the line of Tribunal necklaces consists of hailing 3 people and takes 10 minutes, and that's only because you need to run from Halas to Qeynos.
Not sure if I feel lucky or jealous =|, the part about needing an enchanter to charm the rat seems pretty hard though. =(
RE: neeneenoonoo
# Oct 15 2000 at 7:25 PM Rating: Default
Don't worry too much, druids can charm animals, and there's never a shortage of them in Steamfont. Whether you can peel them away from the gnome-slaughter is another story. ;)
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