Trials of Cernunnos

Quest Activation

Visit Cernunnos after completing the Embodiment of the Elder Druidae quest.

Cernunnos says to you, 'Playername.'
Cernunnos says to you, 'I see you have spoken with the Great Druid in the form of a crow.'
Cernunnos says to you, 'By freeing him, you have proven your druidic wisdom and benevolence.'
Cernunnos says to you, 'You are now ready for a new series of tests.'
Cernunnos peers at you quizzically.
Cernunnos says to you, 'Do you feel that you are prepared for the challenge?  If so, say yes.'

You say 'yes'
Cernunnos says to you, 'A wise choice, Playername.'
Cernunnos says to you, 'We shall see how true you are to the path of the Druid.'
Cernunnos says to you, 'If you manage to pass my trials, I will reward you with knowledge and power.'
Cernunnos stares at you intently.
Cernunnos says to you, 'As you know, certain herbs and leaves are held in high regard by Druids.'
Cernunnos says to you, 'Your first task will be to visit an old friend of mine, Dobra, the Eldest.'
Cernunnos says to you, 'She lives within a cabin in the Forgotten Woods north of Darkhaven.'
Cernunnos says to you, 'Purchase some peppermint leaves from her and bring them back to me.'
Cernunnos turns away.
Cernunnos says to you, 'If you should need me to repeat the details of your trial, ask me to do so.'

Visit Dobra, the Eldest

Go visit Dobra, the Eldest in The Forgotten Woods and buy a peppermint leaves from her. You only need one.

Directions

• ZMud: #8 n;ne;w;n;ne;nw;e;ne;n;e;ne;#2 n;#2 ne;#2 e;n;#3 ne;e;ne;e;ne;nw;sw;n;ne;n;ne;#2 w;chop;se;chop;sw;chop;w;chop;w;chop;s;chop;sw;chop;w;chop;nw;chop;w;chop;w;chop;nw;chop;w;chop;nw;chop;sw;rap n
• MUSHClient: #8n (ne) w n (ne) (nw) e (ne) n e (ne) 2n 2(ne) 2e n 3(ne) e (ne) e (ne) (nw) (sw) n (ne) n (ne) 2w (chop) (se) (chop) (sw) (chop) w (chop) w (chop) s (chop) (sw) (chop) w (chop) (nw) (chop) w (chop) w (chop) (nw) (chop) w (chop) (nw) (chop) (sw) rap n
• General: 8n, ne, w, n, ne, nw, e, ne, n, e, ne, 2n, 2ne, 2e, n, 3ne, e, ne, e, ne, nw, sw, n, ne, n, ne, 2w, (chop through the following dirs) se, sw, 2w, s, sw, w, nw, 2w, nw, w, nw, sw, rap n

• ZMud without chopping: #8 n;ne;w;n;ne;nw;e;ne;n;e;ne;#2 n;#2 ne;#2 e;n;#3 ne;e;ne;e;ne;nw;sw;n;ne;n;ne;#2 w;se;sw;#2 w;s;sw;w;nw;#2 w;nw;w;nw;sw;rap n

Return to Cernunnos and give him the leaves.

You give peppermint leaves to Cernunnos.
Cernunnos sniffs the peppermint and a brief smile crosses his face.
Cernunnos says to you, 'Very good, <playername>.'
Cernunnos says to you, 'You have passed the first trial.'
Cernunnos says to you, 'Say the word "trial" when you are ready to learn about your next task.'

Kill the Shadowshark

You say 'trial'
Cernunnos says to you, 'Here are the details of your current trial.'
Cernunnos begins speaking slowly and clearly.
Cernunnos says to you, 'Druids must prove their dominance over nature and over all that may'
Cernunnos says to you, 'defile the natural order of the world.'
Cernunnos says to you, 'One of the great symbols of chaos is the notorious shadowshark.'
Cernunnos says to you, 'Your second task will be to venture into Antall.'
Cernunnos says to you, 'Be sure you are stocked up on mana potions for this trial.'
Cernunnos says to you, 'The shadowsharks will be calmed in your presence, yet still formidable.'
Cernunnos says to you, 'Find and kill a shadowshark, then return to me.'

Go to Antall, the Lost Harbor to kill the shadowsharks. They wander the maze so it may be best to spell up just outside. Two kills may be necessary.

Directions

• General: 6s, ne, 2s, se, 2e, s, 2sw, s, 2e, u, 3e, 2s, se, 6e, 3se, 3s, sw, 2s, se to go straight into "the dark, scarlet main" maze
• ZMud: #6 s;ne;#2 s;se;#2 e;s;#2 sw;s;#2 e;u;#3 e;#2 s;se;#6 e;#3 se;#3 s;sw;#2 s;se to go straight into "the dark, scarlet main" maze
• MUSHClient: #6s (ne) 2s (se) 2e s 2(sw) s 2e u 3e 2s (se) 6e 3(se) 3s (sw) 2s (se) to go straight into "the dark, scarlet main" maze

A somewhat ominous feeling over comes you as you enter the maze.

A dark, scarlet main
Scions of some twisted, evil mechanism reach towards an indifferent sky,
only to discover that they must now retreat back down towards a home that
never gave them more than a brief, uncaring moment of attention...
Exits: north east south west northeast northwest southeast southwest 
You feel a chill up your spine as you prepare to finish Cernunnos's task.

A shadowshark is DEAD!!
You lay the killing blow upon the shadowshark and it fades back
into the scarlet waters, causing a ripple effect.
You momentarily glimpse the image of Cernunnos watching you, a pleased
expression upon his face.
A fin is sliced from A shadowshark's dead body.
A shadowshark's blood slowly clouds the surrounding water.
A shadowshark has no gold.
The corpse of A shadowshark holds:
     Nothing.

Return to Cernunnos once they are dead.

(Hide) The Dark Lord regards you with a stoical gaze.
Cernunnos says to you, 'You have bested the shadowshark and proven that you can fight back'
Cernunnos says to you, 'against the forces of corruption.'
Cernunnos says to you, 'I commend you, <playername>.'
Cernunnos says to you, 'When you are ready for your next trial, let me know.'

Slay the Spyder-Fiends

You say 'trial'
Cernunnos says to you, 'Here are the details of your current trial.'
Cernunnos begins speaking slowly and clearly.
Cernunnos says to you, 'You did well by dispatching the shadowshark, <playername>.'
Cernunnos says to you, 'Unfortunately, defilement and corruption run rampant across the Realms.'
Cernunnos says to you, 'Another perversion of nature is embodied by the spyder-fiends.'
Cernunnos says to you, 'These monsters have taken up residence in a cave in the Forgotten Woods.'
Cernunnos says to you, 'Your third task will be to find the cave and enter it.'
Cernunnos says to you, 'You must slay 5 of the spyder-fiends.'
Cernunnos says to you, 'Once you have done so, return to me.'

Find the Spyder-Fiends in the Spider Cave within The Forgotten Woods. I recommend being invis.

Directions

• ZMud: #6 n;#3 nw;n;n;nw;nw;n;ne;n;ne;n;n;ne;ne;n;n;ne;n;nw;nw;#3 n;ne;n;nw;#3 n;ne;ne;n;nw;w;nw;nw;w;nw;s;e;#4 ne;enter
• General: 6n, 3nw, 2n, 2nw, n, ne, n, ne, 2n, 2ne, 2n, ne, n, 2nw, 3n, ne, n, nw, 3n, 2ne, n, nw, w, 2nw, w, nw, s, e, 4ne, enter

After killing 5 spyder-fiends you should see the following.

You summon the forces of nature to assail a spyder-fiend.
Your dorn nadur thrashes a spyder-fiend!
A spyder-fiend is DEAD!!
You have killed 5 spyder-fiends for the trial of Cernunnos.
You have completed your task.  Return to Cernunnos to complete
this trial and face the final test.
A spyder-fiend's shell remains.
A spyder-fiend has no gold.
The corpse of A spyder-fiend holds:
     Nothing.

Return to Cernunnos once they are dead.

(Hide) The Dark Lord regards you with a stoical gaze.
Cernunnos says to you, '<playername>, your actions with the spyder-fiends will give us Druids a greater'
Cernunnos says to you, 'chance of restoring peace and harmony to that part of the world.'
Cernunnos says to you, 'Congratulations on reaching the fourth and final trial.'
Cernunnos says to you, 'I will tell you more about it when you are ready.'