Quest:The Master's Dilemma

The Master's Dilemma
Level	115
Type	Solo
Starts with	Skerri
Starts at	Lake-town
Start Region	Eryn Lasgalen
Map Ref	[17.1N, 27.3W]
Ends with	Dagrun
Ends at	Lake-town: The Master's Manor
End Region	Eryn Lasgalen
Map Ref	[17.3N, 26.8W]
Quest Group	The Dale-lands
Quest Chain	Trail of Rust

Quest Chain

Trail of Rust Quests below take place in Eryn Lasgalen [115] An Absence of Supply [115] The Mysterious Thief [115] Instance: The Mysterious Thief Quests below take place in the Dale-lands [115] Covert Operations [115] The Bones of Esgaroth [115] Smaug's Remains [115] The Master's Dilemma [115] A Question of Bloodline [115] The Underbelly of Deceit [115] Easterlings in the Dale-lands [115] Life After Rhûn [115] The Jangovar Threat [115] Akshir the Unrelenting [115] The Weeping Warrior [115] Instance: The Weeping Warrior Quests below take place in Erebor [115] Concerning Dragons [115] The Teeth of Scatha [115] Scatha's Legacy [115] Instance: Scatha's Legacy [115] Epilogue: Trail of Rust [115] Thorog's Legacy [115] Instance: Thorog's Legacy [115] Bregmor's Legacy [115] Instance: Bregmor's Legacy

Walkthrough & Notes
The Master's Murder quest arc can be started by speaking with the Lake-town guard in front of the main bridge leading to Lake-town. [17.1N, 27.8W]

Rewards
42  35   Increased Reputation with Men of Dale ( 700 ) Legendary Item Experience Steed Experience 3 Tokens of the Lake and Rivers  Tracery, Lvl 106 Uncommon

Quest Text

Bestowal dialogue 'You're not one of those lot, then? Good. Why they wish to dredge up those bones and bearing them here to New Lake-town, I can't say! It was that dragon, after all, as set Old Lake-town ablaze. Or have they somehow forgotten the tales of their grandmams? 'If you think you can make some sense of such rot and bother, go talk to Stafhild, over there. At the very least, he'll try to tell you why they believe the things they do.' Background There is a lively debate among its residents about transporting Smaug's bones to Lake-town. Objective 1 Talk to Stafhild Stafhild can be found in the unruly group in Lake-town. You should hear what Stafhild has to say. Stafhild: 'Why bring the bones here? Well, they're doing no one any good out there in the Lake, for one. And they have great value, or so I've heard tale. They could bring great wealth to Lake-town. Or put them up somewhere, and travellers like yourself will come from leagues away just to see them. 'Don't you lecture me of that rot about ill luck. Why, that's a real bit of Smaug at the Dragonbone Inn... isn't it? I've always thought so, at any rate. The clear thing is whoever begun this talk was thinking with his head for a change, and that's just the sort of thing Lake-town needs. 'Really, someone ought to bring a petition to the Master!' The Master of Lake-town should hear of this. That much is true. Objective 2 Find the Master of Lake-town Find the Master of Lake-town. The Master's Manor stands before you Objective 3 Complete 'The Master's Murder' quest arc You should assist the Men of Lake-town. The Trail of Rust quest arc will continue after completing The Master's Murder quest arc which begins with the Lake-town guard in front of the Master's Manor in Lake-town. Objective 4 Talk to Dagrun You should speak with Dagrun, who can be found in the Master's Manor in Lake-town. Dagrun: 'Ah, <name>. This has been an eventful day for you and for me and for Lake-town, has it not? But what is it? Is there some other matter about which you wish to speak?' You tell her briefly of the strange puzzle you followed from Loeglond, to Esgaroth, and finally to Lake-town. 'Your problems and my own are much akin, friend. It would seem, new as I am as Master, that I have more than my fair share of opposition, and it has taken the form of such grumbling in the street as you have witnessed over Smaug's bones.' Dagrun pauses and looks towards one of the windows Objective 5 Talk to Dagrun again You should speak some more with Dagrun, who can be found in the Master's Manor in Lake-town. Dagrun: 'I have dwelled all my life among the folk of Lake-town, and never has the gossip in the market been so pernicious and full of lies as these days. 'Why, they say I am of the bloodline of Othur! You know of Othur, do you not? He was Master of Lake-town in the time when Bard the Bowman was not yet king and Smaug slept, then awoke. Othur stole from Lake-town and fled, and his name is one of infamy and shame. They say his stolen wealth was not lost, but that I have it now and conceal it from all. 'This is all nonsense, of course! But if I am to assist you in your puzzle, I must ask you to assist me in mine. I should not be at all surprised if they were somehow linked.' Objective 6 Complete 'A Question of Bloodline' Complete 'Underbelly of Deceit' Dagrun can be found in the Master's Manor in Lake-town. You should assist Dagrun with her troubles. Completed: A Question of Bloodline Completed: The Underbelly of Deceit Objective 7 Talk to the crowd gathered outside the Manor about Smaug's bones A crowd of people are gathered outside of the Master's Manor in Lake-town. With Dagrun's reputation improved, now would be a good time to speak to the Men of Lake-town about Smaug's bones, on behalf of the Master. This is a good place to speak to the crowd You chatter away to anyone willing to listen. The crowd has heard your words to leave Smaug's bones be and agrees Objective 8 Talk to Dagrun You should speak with Dagrun, who can be found in the Master's Manor in Lake-town. Dagrun: 'Thank you once again, for all you have done, <name>. You have been most helpful in assisting the best interests of Lake-town.'