Blood And Smoke

Overview
Quest Summary:
 * 1) Find Scout Melthoran in the Reed Bog.
 * 2) Find Dark Oak in The Falls to the southwest.
 * 3) Slay Drogo Greatmane.
 * 4) Return the bloody heart to Dark Oak.
 * 5) Return to Deep Root and tell him of Dark Oak's warning.

Obtained from:
 * Deep Root in Ettin's Back (right in front of Ventari's Refuge)

Requirements:
 * Dropping Eaves

Reward:
 * 2,500 XP
 * Warrior: "I Will Survive!"
 * Ranger: Savage Shot
 * Monk: Protective Spirit
 * Necromancer: Barbed Signet
 * Mesmer: Spirit Shackles
 * Elementalist: Meteor

Dialogue
 * "All this talk of traitors worries me. Although I am loathe to do so, it may be time to turn to alternative sources of information. Deep within the forest lives Dark Oak. He does not usually choose to show himself, but perhaps if our need is great he will make his presence known. One of my scouts named Melthoran, who is stationed in the Reed Bog, knows where to find him. We need someone to seek out Dark Oak and obtain his counsel.


 * Will you undertake this task?"

Intermediate Dialogue 1 (Scout Melthoran)
 * ''"You wish to speak with Dark Oak? You're a braver man than I. When he deigns to show himself, he can be found to the southwest in the Falls. Good luck.

Intermediate Dialogue 2 (Dark Oak)

Intermediate Dialogue 3 (Dark Oak)
 * "Let me look into the dark... I see a great beast, a great cat... a lion. This lion hungers.  He is devouring... the forest... the entire forest...  Nay, the entire world!  A host of gleaming angels... no not angels but birds... carrion birds... bright and terrible as the sun accompany this lion.  All falls before his hunger until naught is left but bitter ashes.  That is all I see."

Reward Dialogue
 * "This is a dire vision indeed. The lion he saw is obviously Kryta or the White Mantle but what of the carrion birds?  I must consult with Evennia.  Perhaps she can interpret this vision.  Thank you my friend, for everything you have done for us."

Walkthrough

 * Bring plenty of anti-condition or self-regen. Enemies consists mostly of Maguuma Spider that love to put poison on you.  Bring a counter to this.

If you follow the quest arrow, this quest involves quite a bit of backtracking and killing the same mobs 3 times because of zoning. However, you can kill Drogo Greatmane on your way to find Dark Oak, and then simply deliver the heart to Dark Oak to complete the quest. Drogo Greatmane is located in the south east portion of the Reed Bog, while Dark Oak is a short distance south-west of the entrance to The Falls.

Skill Advantage: Protective Spirit comes in handy with the 55hp Monk (Invincimonk) build since you only receive a maximum of 5 damage per hit, and with 10 pips of Health Regeneration, it's difficult to be killed.