Quest:The Mastermind's Minion

The Mastermind's Minion
Level	...
Type	Solo
Starts with	Waldo Rumble
Starts at	The Party Tree
Start Region	The Shire
Map Ref	[29.9S, 71.5W]
Quest Group	Anniversary Event

Quest Chain

Auto-bestowed

Bree

Methel-stage

[…] Fireworks Exploration
[…] Fireworks in the Shire

The Party Tree

[…] The Mastermind's Minion

Thorin's Gate

Anniversary Gifts Many of the citizens of Eriador are in a gift-giving mood. They request that you deliver a certain item to a person, and in turn, that person asks you to return the favour and give a gift to another person forming a circle of quests that leads you back to the first person. You can pick up the quest at any point and the quests are repeatable every few days.

[…] Gifts -- A Delicate Bracelet - Bree
[…] Gifts -- Delicious Pastries - Combe
[…] Gifts -- Wooden Carving - Combe
[…] Gifts -- A New Hammer - Michel Delving
[…] Gifts -- A Dwarf-shield - Hobbiton
[…] Gifts -- A Lucky Goat's Horn - Thorin's Gate
[…] Gifts -- A Pint of Ale - Thorin's Gate

Horse Races

[…] The Bree-fields Anniversary Run
[…] The Delving Fields Anniversary Run

Walkthrough & Notes

For the first objective, look for the Discarded Scroll at Bag End ^{[29.4S, 71.3W]}
After talking to Lobelia Sackville-Baggins and returning to Waldo Rumble, you must find the following five locations. The clues will appear as items in your inventory; full explanations of the clues can be found on their individual item pages.
1. Discarded Scroll at the Three Farthing Stone, Bywater ^{[32.2S, 69.6W]}
  - Clue: Discarded Scroll
2. Discarded Scroll at the Great Willow, Tookland ^{[33.6S, 70.4W]}
  - Clue: Another Scroll
3. Discarded Scroll at Budgeford ^{[31.4S, 65.9W]}
  - Clue: Yet Another Scroll
4. Discarded Scroll at the Scrag-dells, Greenfields ^{[24.7S, 67.2W]}
  - Clue: Still Another Scroll
5. Ebrulf Sackville at Lob's Grove, Bindbole Wood ^{[26.2S, 72.5W]}
  - Clue: One More Scroll

Rewards
18 14 9 Anniversary Tokens Party Scroll Mysterious Scroll Celebratory Scroll Pile Messy Scroll Pile

Quest Text

Bestowal Dialogue

'Cards, cards, cards! The Party Tree is still bedecked in the things, and the proper procedures for the planning of festival activities have not yet been followed, much to the chagrin of the Party Planning Committee! How long has it been, <name>? I cannot tell you for certain how long we have been occupied with this outrageous occurrence, but it has dominated my every waking moment, I do know that! Why, we are no nearer to learning who has set up this ridiculous endeavour than we were at this time last year!

'Or perhaps not, my friend! In the early morning hours, I beheld a suspicious figure lurking in the vicinity of the Party Tree, and when I approached for a closer look, he fled away up the Hill! It looked to me as if he went up near Bag End, where old Bilbo and young Frodo used to live. If you head up there you might find some sign of our mysterious party-planner!

'Please help, <name>! After all this time I am eager to get to the bottom of this mess!'

Background

Every year in the spring, the Anniversary Scavenger Hunt takes place to celebrate a very special occasion. But who or what has been responsible for these curious occurrences?

NOTE: This quest will be removed from your quest log when the current festival ends.

Objective 1

Search near Bag End for the suspicious figure

Waldo Rumble saw a strange figure lurking near the Party Tree during the early morning hours, but they fled up the Hill toward Bag End when he approached.

A scroll like one of those hanging from the Party Tree has fallen by the path

Objective 2

Pick up the discarded scroll near Bag End

A small scroll has fallen by the path near Bag End. It seems to be very similar to the cards hanging on the Party Tree.

Lobelia Sackville-Baggins gives you a suspicious, untrusting look

Lobelia Sackville-Baggins says, "I beg your pardon! What have you got there?"

Objective 3

Talk to Lobelia Sackville-Baggins

Lobelia Sackville-Baggins has called you over, clearly intending to give you a piece of her mind.

Lobelia Sackville-Baggins: 'What have you got there? I watched you pick something up, and as you can see that is clearly my property. Hand it over or I will summon the shirriffs!

'Wait. Is that one of those terrible cards from the Party Tree? Someone has gone and festooned that old tree with them, and in the process they have created quite an eyesore! I cannot walk out my front door without seeing the gaudy things! It must have been that Frodo or one of his friends... they are trying to lower the quality of the view, and depreciate the value of Bag End!

'Oh, it's terrible, just terrible! I do not want that card, or anything to do with this unwanted festival! Take it away!

Objective 4

Bring the discarded scroll to Waldo Rumble by the Party Tree

Waldo Rumble is by the Party Tree, waiting for some clue to the identity of the suspicious figure he saw.

Waldo Rumble: 'What did you find? A discarded scroll like those hanging from the Party Tree? Why, this could be just the clue we need to learn the identity of this secret party-planner, <name>! Hand it here and I will see if it truly is!'

Waldo briefly studies the scroll, and then frowns.

'There is writing here, but I cannot make head nor tail of it. If we are going to solve this mystery, it looks as if our unseen benefactor is going to make us work for it! Here, I'll give you the scroll so you can try to unravel it. Good luck, <name>.'