The Defenders of the Forest

Overview
Summary
 * 1) Speak to Klaus in Drazach Thicket.
 * 2) Speak to Leiber in Drazach Thicket.
 * 3) Speak to Ex-Redemptor Berta in Drazach Thicket.
 * 4) Keep all 3 volunteers alive.
 * 5) Escort Klaus, Leiber and Ex-Redemptor Berta to the Eternal Grove.
 * 6) See Baron Mirek Vasburg for your reward.

Obtained from
 * Count zu Heltzer in House zu Heltzer

Requirements
 * Befriending the Kurzicks

Reward
 * 4,000 XP
 * 1,250 Kurzick Faction
 * 150 Gold
 * 1 Skill Point

Dialogue
 * "Danika speaks highly of you, . You might not be a Kurzick by birth, but you are fast proving yourself worthy of becoming an honorary Kurzick."


 * "By the grace of the gods, we Kurzicks have found a way to create juggernauts. For years, they have proven effective in defending our forest from the Luxons, but recently, those heathens have begun overpowering our juggernauts. The redemptors have prayed on the subject for weeks now, and at last, they say the gods have spoken to them: we must develop new, more powerful juggernauts."


 * "You must gather three volunteers who are willing to become juggernauts, and escort them to the Eternal Grove, where the sacred transformation will take place. Head to Drazach Thicket and gather volunteers Klaus, Leiber and Ex-Redemptor Berta. Then, take all three of them to the Eternal Grove. Do you think you can handle this task? I cannot stress enough that failure is not an option."

Intermediate Dialogue 1
 * Klaus:"Oh hello. Are you here to escort me to the Eternal Grove? Well...I can't say I'm not nervous, but I know I'm making the right decision. This is the first time in my life I've ever felt so of myself."

Intermediate Dialogue 2
 * Leiber: "So, it's time is it? Very well, let me say farawells to my wife, and we shall be off."

Intermediate Conversation 2
 * Leiber: "Anya, they've come for me. It's time to say goodbye.  You know that I'm not a man of many words, but please remember that I love you, and that I do this for our family."
 * Anya: "Oh Leiber, I know that. I shall miss you so much, but I have never been more pround of you, and I shall make sure that our people never forget you and the sacrifice you have made."
 * Leiber: "Remember me, but don't mourn me, Anya. I want you to find happiness again...."
 * Anya: "Don't say that, Leiber! You'll always be my husband."
 * Leiber: "I need to know that you'll move on, Anya! I can't do this if I know you'll be mourning me forever. Please, promise me you won't do that."
 * Anya: "I promise, Leiber. But know that I will always remember you.  I love you...."
 * Leiber: "I love you, too, Anya. Farewell.... Well, I suppose this is it, then.  Let's go."

Intermediate Dialogue 3
 * Ex-Redemptor Berta:"You are here to take me to the Eternal Grove? Good. I am very eager to get on with this and once again gain the favor of the gods and my people. I shall find redemption and wipe away my sins..."

Intermediate Dialogue 4
 * Sergeant Geinrich:"Thank you for safely escorting these volunteers, . Leiber, Berta, Klaus...I am honored to meet all of you. The sacrifice that you make today proves that your souls are pure, and that you are worthy of walking among the gods. Forevermore, you shall be known as saints among your people. Let me know when you wish to enter the Eternal Grove. Baron Mirek Vasburg is waiting."

Reward Dialogue
 * ", it is our duty as Kurzicks to keep the Eternal Grove secure at all costs. We've received word that the Luxon raiders are on their way to this area. We must not let them destroy this grove and the Forever Trees. Do you understand? Make your preparations, and I will see you inside the grove. If we survive, you have my word that the Great Houses will do as you ask."

Followup
 * The Eternal Grove (Mission)

Walkthrough
Just follow the red path on the map, provided at the top of this page, to each of the three volunteers. The optimal route is from the southwest exit of Brauer Academy; head west through point 2 (right past Leiber) to point 1, pickup Klaus, return to point 2 and pickup Leiber, then travel to point 3 and pickup Ex-Redempter Berta, finally travel to the end of the red path and speak to Baron Mirek Vasburg to complete the quest and gain access to the Eternal Grove.

It is worth noting that you can talk to the volunteers in any order, but the marker for the next volunteer will only update if you speak with the previous volunteer. Upon speaking with any volunteer they will join your party as an ally, fighting with you against foes, taking damage and requiring healing. Henchmen healers will heal them. All three volunteers must survive to complete the quest.

Along the path, the second volunteer at point 2 (Leiber) will take some time to speak with his wife. You will need to wait for him to finish talking to her or he will be left behind.

Also, just prior to the last volunteer, there is an area with a stream that is swarming with Mantis. That area has a 'trap' where a group of mantises will spawn from above next to the Mesmer boss. Be careful that they do not surprise you. It is possible to lure the boss out alone, kill him, then return and 'trip' the trap, lure the 4 mantises that spawn without aggroing any thing else, finally returning to kill the other groups. Furthermore it is sometimes possible to hug the wall next to the waterfall, just off the path to the south, near the boss and squeeze past avoiding both the boss and the Mantis 'trap'.

The safest approach is to follow the path, eliminating all mobs, BEFORE speaking to the volunteers. Then go back and speak to them. The Drazach Thicket portion of the Charting the Forests quest leads near the locations of the NPCs.