The Orchard

Overview
Summary
 * 1) Bring Mary's apple basket from the nearby orchard back to her.

Obtained from
 * Mary Malone in Regent Valley just outside Fort Ranik

Requirements
 * none

Reward
 * 250 XP
 * Focus Item (Energy + 3)
 * Battle Axe (Slashing Damage 4-8)

Dialogue
 * "Ah, I'm so glad you happened along. Could you help me, please? I was out here picking apples... I'd almost filled my basket when the spiders...ugh, they were everywhere! It must have been the scent of the apples that attracted them. Anway, I dropped my basket and ran! What else could I do? But I won't get any wages for today if I don't get that basket back. Can you go into the orchard and get my basket for me? Those spiders won't give you any trouble, I'll warrant."

Walkthrough
Head south from Fort Ranik until you see a road to the east. Head down that road to the apples. There will be several groups of River Skales and Spiders on the path that you'll need to dispatch. The basket of apples is a special "two handed" item, one of many you'll encounter in future quests and missions. While you hold the basket, you cannot use any weapons, you lose the benefit of any shields or focus items, and your rate of movement is slightly reduced. You are able to use any skills you possess (as long as they do not require the use of your weapons) but you need to drop the item before you can engage in melee combat, which you will have to do numerous times on your trip back to Mary, as lots more spiders will appear and attack. Return the basket to Mary for reward.