Quest:Book 1, Chapter 3: In the Damp and the Mud

Book 1, Chapter 3: In the Damp and the Mud
Level	10
Type	Solo
Starts with	Merion
Starts at	Mossward
Start Region	Mossward
Map Ref	[60.7S, 34.1W]
Ends with	Tegwyn
Ends at	Wadewater
End Region	Swanfleet
Map Ref	[53.9S, 34.4W]
Quest Group	Before the Shadow, Book 1

Quest Chain

Previous: Before the Shadow, Prologue

Before the Shadow, Book 1

[8] Chapter 1: In The Wizard's Employ
[9] Chapter 2: Start of a Grand Adventure
[10] Chapter 3: In the Damp and the Mud
[11] Chapter 4: Uruks in the Elf-city
[12] Chapter 5: Bregoleth
[13] Chapter 6: Celebrimbor's Citadel
[13] Chapter 7: The Giver of Gifts
[13] Instance: The Giver of Gifts
[14] Chapter 8: The Grasping Hand
[15] Chapter 9: The Hall of the Swift River
[15] Chapter 10: On the Precipice of Danger
[16] Chapter 11: The Crossing at Tharbad

Next: Book 2, Chapter 1: Something Creeps in Tharbad -- Before the Shadow, Book 2

Walkthrough & Notes
River-avanc can be found throughouth Wadewater. The sword can be found at the edge of the water at 54.2S, 33.2W. Tegwyn can be found by a square red rock at 53.8S, 34.4W.

Rewards

90
2 Iron Coin of Cardolan

Selectable Rewards:

Quest Text

Bestowal dialogue

'You say the boy might have found Uruk tracks leading north? If he goes that way he is likely to blunder into the Wadewater. Children of the village are forbidden from going there, but I will not seek to tell you that it has prevented the more adventurous sorts from exploring that marsh. If Tegwyn tried tracking the Uruks there... well, there are plenty of dangers in the Wadewater to begin with, let alone our recent troubles!

'You should follow the road north-east to the Dunlending town of Lhan Garan. It sits on the eastern side of the Wadewater, and their scouts may have seen the boy. Perhaps he went to speak with the Dunlending villagers there, and is even now enjoying their hospitality or their tales? We should not leap to judgement too soon; he may be in no danger at all.'

Background

Merion told you that children of the village are forbidden from venturing into the Wadewater... which makes it very likely to have been Tegwyn's destination.

Objective 1

Visit Lhan Garan on the eastern edge of the Wadewater and learn if there was any sign of Tegwyn

The Dunlending village of Lhan Garan is north-east of Mossward, on the eastern side of the Wadewater. It would be a good place to start looking for Tegwyn.

Meneldir has come to Lhan Garan ahead of you

Objective 2

Talk to Meneldir at Lhan Garan

Meneldir has come to Lhan Garan on the Wadewater's edge.

Meneldir: 'I heard Tegwyn has gone missing, <name>. With Uruks in Swanfleet, I felt it wisest to begin the search as soon as possible.

'That said, if he has truly made for the Wadewater, I think Uruks may be the least of his problems. The footing there is unsteady, and like any marshland the depth of the pools may be deceptive. There are creatures in the Wadewater that would love nothing more than to make a supper of anyone who strays too near their domain. The most dangerous of these are the avanc, and we should hunt them as we seek the boy.'

Objective 3

Defeat avanc in the Wadewater (0/6)

Avanc in the Wadewater would be a real danger to Tegwyn. Defeating any of them you encounter can only help in your rescue efforts.

Objective 4

Talk to Meneldir in the middle of the Wadewater, west of Fangsettle

Meneldir is in the middle of the Wadewater, west of Fangsettle.

Meneldir: 'No sign of Tegwyn? I have seen nothing either. I was trained in the art of tracking, but this marshland has put my skills to the test.

'Let us listen for some sound of the boy. We must use all of our senses on this hunt.'

Objective 5

Listen for Tegwyn

Meneldir asked you to listen for Tegwyn

You hear the sounds of life in the marsh but nothing out of the ordinary.

Objective 6

Talk to Meneldir in the Wadewater

Meneldir is in the middle of the Wadewater, west of Fangsettle.

Meneldir: 'Nothing. Let us continue our search further to the west.'

Objective 7

Search for Tegwyn further to the west in the Wadewater

Meneldir suggested you continue the search for Tegwyn further to the west.

A worn wooden sword stands in the mud.

Objective 8

Examine the abandoned wooden sword

You found a worn wooden sword abandoned in the mud of the Wadewater

This certainly appears to be Tegwyn's sword, abandoned in the Wadewater

Objective 9

Talk to Meneldir by the abandoned wooden sword in the Wadewater

Meneldir has joined you in the Wadewater by an abandoned wooden sword.

Meneldir: 'This does seem to be Tegwyn's sword....

'That is not a good sign, <name>. Let us listen once again, and hope this time we hear something. He may not have much time left.'

Objective 10

Listen for Tegwyn

Meneldir asked you to listen for Tegwyn.

You hear very faintly, someone calling for you to the north-west.

Meneldir: 'Is that Tegwyn? Someone calls out to the north-west!'

Objective 11

Search for Tegwyn to the north-west in the Wadewater

You heard a faint voice calling for you to the north-west in the Wadewater. Is it Tegwyn?

You found Tegwyn in the Wadewater!

Objective 12

Talk to Tegwyn in the north-western reaches of the Wastewater

You found Tegwyn in the Wadewater, safe and sound.

Tegwyn: 'I'm here... I'm here, <name>!

'Your adventuring lessons were not complete! You didn't mention how cold and damp it would be, or how often things would be trying to kill me! I stayed away from the avanc, because I'm no fool, but even the turtles here tried to snap at me!

'Still... it was quite an adventure, for my very first! If you're planning to scold me, you can forget about it... because I learned something important! I know where the Uruks are going!'