Better Off Buried  

Realm:Midgard
Start Zone: Muspelheim
Start NPC:Gudlor
Class:All
Type:Regular
Related Quests:
  Lover's Circle
  Living Warning
  Sugnhild's Revenge
Min Level:27
Max Level:50
Grants XP:Yes
Grants Coin:No
Rating:
*****
(Average from 2 ratings)
Related NPCs:
  Agnor Crusher
  Boreal Cockatrice
  Strykel
Last Updated:Fri Mar 19 05:46:36 2010
DISCLAIMER: Your Steps and Tasks may be different

*Formerly known as Strykel one time drop*

You must complete Lover's Circle (15), Living Warning (21) and Sugnhild's Revenge (22) before you will get this one.

Gudlor says, "You did a great job getting rid of that infamous Blodfelag camp. I hear they may be making other plans now, so be wary."

Gudlor says, "Welcome back. I have not seen you in a long time. I hope all has been [well] with you."

Gudlor says, "Sadly, we have had our share of problems here in Huginfell. The Svartalf raids continue daily but we have managed to survive. There has been something else that has been plaguing my mind, but before I tell you what it is, I must tell you another older story. Do you have some time to listen?"

Dialog box: Do you desire to help Gudlor in his quest to rid the town of evil?

You have been given the Better Off Buried quest.

Gudlor says, "Good! The story starts many years ago when Huginfell was first being settled. Back then, the Blodfelag had not yet banded together and Redhands was still just another misguided warrior with a [few followers]."

[Step #1] Learn the tale of the book av den dode from Gudlor in Huginfell.** (note: why there are two stars there I do not know)

Gudlor says, "Redhands began gathering more followers and set about his plans to take over the local ruffians. It is told that he sent his men into the far reaches of Raumarik seeking something to give him enough power to take complete control of the area. His men returned with an ancient [tome of runes]."

Gudlor says, "The tome was said to have some of the most powerful runes in existence. They were called the runes of creation, which were used in the formation of Midgard itself. Unfortunately, most of the runes in the book were beyond the understanding of mere [mortal] men."

Gudlor says, "Redhands called upon Lord Loki to aid him in his quest and a child came to him, bearing a dark ring. The child told Redhands the rind was cursed and somehow gave its bearer the power to read the tome. Redhands called upon his most trusted Runemaster and had her [wear the ring]."

Gudlor says, "She screamed and fell to the ground as a rotting corpse. Next, Redhands called on his second most trsuted Runemaster and ordered hiim to wear the ring. He slipped the ring on and began to decipher some of the tome, learning its [dark secrets]."

Gudlor says, "The first ones he learned about were the rune of power and the rune of damnation. The Runemaster attempted to craft a crown with the rune on it, but could not master the skills needed. He did, however, create a crown that made its bearer extremely strong and qucik but slowly drove them [insane]."

Gudlor says, "Redhands knew a good use for such a cursed item. He gave the crown to the leader of the Blodfelag as a gift. The Blodfelag Commander wore the crown and was slowly [driven mad]."

Gudlor says, "The Commander's men could no longer trust him to make good decisions and Redhands was more than willing to take control in his place. Redhands ordered the Commander to give up his crown or die. The Commander was not willing to give up his cherished crown and was last seen heading into Muspelheim, vowing to [never surrender] his crown to anyone."

Gudlor says, "He is probably still there with that cursed crown on his head. Next, Redhands turned [his attention] to us."

Gudlor says, "He had his Runemasters carve Runes of Damnation around the town to summon and control legions of dead to attack us. If not for Sugnhild's brave husband, Fridgier Gestsson, we would have been [surprised] and the town lost."

Gudlor says, "Fridgeir managed to alert his wife just as the last symbol was carved and we hunted the Runemasters, slaying them. The shadows rose from the mists and started slaying who stood against them. That was the longest [night]of my life."

Gudlor says, "The battle lasted until dawn when the shadows were driven away by the morning light. I went searching for survivors and only [found this]."

You receive the book av den dode from Gudlor!
You feel a bone-penetrating chill as your hand closes around the book.

Gudlor says, "I honestly do not know if this book can be destroyed. I pray to Odin every night, hoping that someone will be able to take [the book] from me without taking my life. Only time will tell though."

Gudlor says, "Now you need the rinf that came with the book. I gave it to Agnor Crusher so I would not be tempted to use the book. He hates protecting the ring but I can trust no other with it. You can find him guarding the northern part of the town from the Blodfelag. Thank you, my friend, for undertaking this dangerous quest."

[Step #2] Visit Agnor Crusher, the guard in the northwest corner of Huginfell, and learn more about the curse that plagues Huginfell. You must also get the ring av den dode from him.

Agnor Crusher says, "Hello again! I remember you. You gave me proof that the sprites were planning something. The other guards were beginning to think I had lost my mind. You look like you have done really well for yourself as well. What can I [do for you]?"

Agnor Crusher pales slightly and prays under his breath.

Agnor Crusher says, "I knew this day would come. You are taking the book to destroy it? I hope you are strong enough not to give into the temptation that has claimed the others. I have been wearing this cursed ring since Gudlor asked me to [protect it]."

Agnor Crusher says, "I swear, I think that some of the creatures around here know I have it. The way they look at me makes me very nervous and paranoid. The ring is not even quenched and it still bothers me. I will tell you what I have learned about [the ring]."

Agnor Crusher says, "To quench the ring you must travel into Uppland, place the ring on your finger and then slay a boreal cockatrice. The ring will only be fed if you are wearing it when the creature dies. Be very careful, the ring will make you feel much weaker while wearing it. Once you have quenched its thirst, return here and I will tell you how to destroy the book. May Odin smile upon you, my friend."

Agnor Crusher slips the ring from his finger and hands it to you.
You receive a Ring av den dode from Agnor Crusher!

The Ring av den dode, is -30 STR and -200 hits and you HAVE TO wear it when you kill your target. Not everyone will receive the same target in Uppland.

[Step #3] Journey to Uppland, wear the ring and slay a boreal cockatrice. They can be found on the road that leads from Svasud Faste.
  • loc=30000,42500


  • Go through gates and follow the road til it Y's, go left a hop and a skip, BAM! A boreal cockatrice will find you, heh.

    [Step #4] Return to Agnor Crusher, the guard in the northwest corner of Huginfell, and learn how the book av dev dode may be destroyed.

    Agnor Crusher says, "Good, you have returned. I was getting worried that you may have fallen to the ring's evil powers. If you do not destroy the book soon, I fear it may destroy you. To find where the book was buried, you must first go to the ridge just west of here and follow that southwest until you are over the Blodfelag's camp. Look for [a boulder] near the top of the ridge."

    Agnor Crusher says, "The book was actually found there and not in Raumarik. I think that is the best place to try destroying the book. I will know you have failed if the ring appears back on my finger. If the our plan fails, just return the book to Gudlor and we shall try again. I think he was planning on sending you after that cursed crown as well. The ring can only be used to read the book near nidnight. Just stand next to the boulder and wear the ring, then read the spell from the book. Anyway, you should be off. Time is short and you do not want to have both the ring and the book on you any longer than you have to. Trust me, bad things may happen to you if you delay too long."

    [Step #5] Follow the ridge located west of Huginfell to the southwest. The small boulder is on top of the ridge north of the Blodfelag camp. You will receive a message when you find it.

    Loc of the small boulder is 15k, 35k, it is just North of the Blodfelag camp, by the lake, that Thegn Aki is in.

    You have found where the book was buried. You can only attempt to destroy the book near midnight.

    [Step #6] Wait here until midnight. Then equip the ring av den dode and and [use] the book av den dode to cast a spell that may destroy the book.

    Ok, here's how to use the book. Drag it from your inventory to a slot on your quickbar (for instance, 8). Wait 'til between 23:45 and 0:15. Have the ring equipped. Then, hit the 'E' key, then the quickslot number. The ring has to be equipped. So if I used slot 8, I hit e, then 8. That uses the book. Then, about six or seven dark summoners spawn. They despawn about 10 seconds later. My thinking is that if you try to attack one of them (I didn't have a chance), there might be a better alternate ending, but I didn't have that chance.

    You begin to chant the words from the book.

    Dark Summoner begins to cast a spell!

    [Step #7] Return the book av den dode to Gudlor in Huginfell so he may once again protect it from the Blodfelag.

    Gudlor says, "Greetings. I can tell by the look on your face that you were not able to destroy the book. Hand me the book and we shall see about sending you somewhere you can make a difference."

    You hand the book av den dode to Gudlor.

    Gudlor says, "Thank you. At least you tried and that is what truly counts. There is another thing that remains undone. The [evil crown] of the Blodfelag still exists."

    Gudlor says, "Someone must go and get the crown back so innocents are not controlled by its twisted powers. I think that person is you. You should be able to get where the crown is with little danger because of your strong will. In any case, it will be safer with you. Legends say the Blodfelag king, Strykel, went deep into Muspelheim to hide. I do not believe he made it very far before he was completely [taken over] by the crown."

    Gudlor says, "It changed him into a demonic monster and he is said to roam a fiery island just east of the Muspelheim gate. By Odin's will, you should be able to find Strykel and release his spirit to the gods. It shall be left to you how to guard the crown. Perhaps we shall try to destroy this book again another day. Until then, I shall guard it with [my life]."

    Gudlor says, "Go now and one warning. If you are slain while wearing the crown, it may have the power to animate your corpse and slay your friends. Be forewarned, the crown is truly twisted evil. Safe journey to you, my friend."

    [Step #8] To finish your quest, journey to the island of fire, in Muspelheim, and slay the twisted Blodfelg king, Strykel. The island of fire is located just east of the entrance to Muspelheim.

    Kill Strykel, a named Plasmatasm (Giant), and get the Crown of Insanity. He spawns at night in the pit with Sulphine, Olash, and Bright Flame. Approx /locs:
    6k, 22k
    16k, 41.5k

    Strykel says, "No! Please, I must protect my crown."

    You receive a Crown of Insanity from Strykel!

    You have finished the Better Off Buried quest.
    You get 650,XXX experience points.



    Reward:
      Shining Crown of Insanity

    \n
    Post Comment
    problems on step 3
    # Jan 08 2010 at 1:39 PM Rating: Decent
    hello, i search the boreal cockatrice now the third day in a row, where are they? running through uppland all the time, all i found are the alpine cockatrice near the relic gate and the aged boreal cockatrice southeast of fensalir... any suggestions?
    on the posted loc are only normal wyverns and other mobs, no little boral cockatrice
    step 3
    # Aug 26 2005 at 10:18 AM Rating: Excellent
    *
    169 posts
    Step #3 Journey to Uppland, wear the ring and slay a northern light. Some can be found to the south of Mjollner Pass near Fensalir Plain and Upper Hjemsokt Wood. /loc 30000 42500
    dont waste u time
    # Jan 11 2004 at 7:05 AM Rating: Decent
    I did the quest and recived the nuthat and all the minuses on it works great, but i dont get the str-bonus it promis...did anyone have that prob too.....all in all its a ****** up quest and really not worth the agrovation.
    shitty service
    # Jan 09 2004 at 8:44 AM Rating: Decent
    Im confused,what excatly do we pay the monthly fee for?...I have a friend who cant get the book thing to work (we try'd everything)then i read post's here motnth old who have the same complains. Why dont they fix it?..its that kind of arrogance that make me concsider taking my play elsewhere
    the book
    # Nov 01 2002 at 12:56 AM Rating: Decent
    Forgot one thing, when you actually finally get the book to work. A bunch of green shadow type monsters spawn. I tried to fight my way out-Killed five-zerked-Killed two more. And then the rest came and aggroed. :( I got my butt kicked by like 10 or so greens. Moral is, DO NOT TRY TO FIGHT UR WAY OUT. Just run run run. There's no way you'll make it out.


    GO MIDGUARD!!!
    Deathcovenant
    Lvl 35 zerk
    450 wep craft (rank 99)
    Coterie of Shadows
    Morgan Le Fay

    The Actual Loc
    # Oct 31 2002 at 2:43 PM Rating: Decent
    loc is wrong, confused the heck outta me until i finally found him
    real loc is more like 16k, 41.5k for strykel
    (10/31/02)

    GO MIDGUARD!!!
    Deathcovenant
    Lvl 35 zerk
    450 wep craft (rank 99)
    Coterie of Shadows
    Morgan Le Fay
    Using the book
    # Sep 20 2002 at 5:29 PM Rating: Default
    Ok, here's how to use the book. Drag it from your inventory to a slot on your quickbar (for instance, 8). Wait 'til between 23:45 and 0:15. Have the ring equipped.

    Then, hit the 'E' key, then the quickslot number. The ring has to be equipped. So if I used slot 8, I hit e, then 8. That uses the book. Then, about six or seven dark summoners spawn. They despawn about 10 seconds later. My thinking is that if you try to attack one of them (I didn't have a chance), there might be a better alternate ending, but I didn't have that chance.

    Bohklane Thunderstrike
    Igraine


    RE: Using the book
    # Sep 27 2002 at 4:57 PM Rating: Default
    These instructions worked great, thx.
    Abkar
    # Sep 17 2002 at 7:50 PM Rating: Default
    Same problem here. I tried every conceivable way to USE the book and nothing happened. All from 23:45 to 1:00 Must be bugged.
    I Know How You Feel
    # Sep 07 2002 at 1:11 AM Rating: Default
    I have the same problem - I waited SEVEN game days by the bleeping rokck, appealed and was told how to do it....and...NOTHING please someone help
    Going insane on a rock
    # Aug 30 2002 at 1:39 PM Rating: Default
    How do you get from step 6 to 7????? I found the rock, I put on the ring and get a message about power flowing through me, but the book doesn't do anything at midnight. I've tryed using it with the USE key with it, I've put it in my quick bar and clicking on it, I've tried saying USE out loud. None of it works. I've tried all the above in every position on and around the rock.

    What the hell am I suppose to do??????????
    Or do I have a bug?

    PS: I hate, Hate, HATE time specific quests
    RE: Going insane on a rock
    # Aug 31 2002 at 3:53 AM Rating: Default
    I've tried the quest step 6-->7 yesterday and i have the same problem.
    I can t do it.
    i think we don t have bug !!
    it's the new version, surely !!

    I play on french server Broceliande !

    The list of quests
    # Aug 29 2002 at 8:57 AM Rating: Default
    Here is the chain of quests to get this quest.
    1. Lover's Circle-Lvl 15
    2. Protect Huginfell-Lvl 16
    3. Living Warning-Lvl 21
    RE: The list of quests
    # Aug 29 2002 at 2:41 PM Rating: Default
    You missed one...Sugnhild's Revenge - Lvl 22
    erm...
    # Aug 14 2002 at 10:57 PM Rating: Default
    i was in musp an i killed this guy, i got the crown and it said you have completed the crown of insanity quest. i am very confused. i didnt even have the better off buried quest at the time. heres a tip tho, sometimes strykel runs into a giant called gokstorm who is a bit lower than him. wait til he kill gokstorm, its a close thing and strykel dosnt have much health left so u can then finish him off.
    Re: Can't get quest
    # Aug 06 2002 at 10:43 AM Rating: Default
    For those of you haing Problems, you need to do the Living Warning Quest AND Sugenhild's Revenge quest in ADDITION to the Protect Huginfeld (the one where you all killed Thegan Aki) to have this quest assigned. Check the quest notes on those other 2 quests, complete them, and THEN talk to Guldor. You should be all set.
    can't get quest
    # Aug 04 2002 at 2:26 AM Rating: Default
    I have also killed the Blodfelag guy for the Aki helm then i want back to Gudlor and all he says is thanks. I then did the paranoid gaurd quest and still just a thanks from Gudlor. any suggestions?
    New quests
    # Jun 14 2002 at 11:14 PM Rating: Decent
    I got my crown when it was a one-time drop, but I'll be damned if this isn't a lot cooler. It's a bit of a pain to have to go through a whole quest to get an item, but some of the stories they think up are actually pretty good. Kudos to Mythic for adding some more spice to the game!
    damn quest!
    # Jun 10 2002 at 2:27 PM Rating: Default
    talk to gudlor? TALK TO GUDLOR???
    i talked to him. told me to kill some guy at the blodfelag fort. k. killed him. went back. talked again to gudlor. said nothing to me. k. gone to crusher. got paranoid guard quest. argh. waitet hours for this little fairy to kill. killed her. went back. talked again to him. nothing. gone to gudlor. talked to him. nothing.

    WHAT HAVE I TO DO TO GET THIS (/&³äü/'## QUEST???

    lvl30 troll zerker
    RE: damn quest!
    # Jun 11 2002 at 10:45 PM Rating: Default
    Sounds like you got the Living Warning quest. Was the guy you were sent to kill Fridgeir Gestson? When he dies he asks you to tell his wife (Sugnhild in Huginfell) the he loves her. Go tell her "love" and you get the Sugnhild's Revenge quest (to kill Redhands). Seems this is the next quest in the chain of Blodfelag quests centered in Huginfell.
    insane
    # Jun 07 2002 at 6:14 PM Rating: Default
    i talked to gudlor and he gave me a quest to kill this bloodfelag i killed him and got the helm of aki after this he would not give me any other quests i am a 28 zerker who really wants this crown if anyone knows whats wrong here please respond i wqould be very grateful
    A long quest...
    # May 27 2002 at 3:35 PM Rating: Default
    The new quest is called "Better off Buried" I believe. It starts out with Gudlor in Huginfell. He tells you to talk to Agnor Crusher, where he gives you a ring and tells you to kill a Boreal Cockatrice in Yggdra. The ring does -30 strenth and -200 hit points, which makes it hard to solo. (Luckily I did this quest at 41, so it was a one hit kill anyway :)) After that you recieve a book, and you have to find a rock. The rock is up on the ridge above the Bloodfelag city on the road from Huginfell to Raumarik. At midnight you have to use it (by putting it on your quickbar and pressing 'E' then the number). Midnight is defined by 23:45 to 0:15, so you have about 30 seconds to do this. Afterwards you return to Gudlor and he tells you to kill Strykel. Kill Strykel in Muspelheim and you recieve the Crown of Insanity.

    This may not be entirely accurate as I did it from memory and I completed the quest a couple weeks ago. If you would like to do the quest yourself and post a complete walkthrough it would be appreciated.
    quest change
    # May 24 2002 at 11:01 AM Rating: Default
    The crown is no longer a one time drop. Talk to Gudlor in Huginfel to start the quest. There's a new, unpleasant twist to this one especially for soloists :-(
    I'm fucking pissed
    # May 18 2002 at 9:22 AM Rating: Default
    I killed him and didnt get ****. Can someone explain? I now have to wait for night again.
    dfijergdvfv
    # Apr 24 2002 at 11:07 AM Rating: Default
    The directions are dead on! He spawns right there, you can wait on the first bridge, he will eventually walk over near you, and you can pull him in.

    He is also a pretty fast spawn, if you kill him, or someone else does, he will respawn if it is still night. If you get there just after sundown you may have to wait awhile - the mephitic ghouls and fire whatevers will pop first, you can entertain yourself with them while waiting.

    Xoebe, Galahad
    Strykel Spawn
    # Mar 20 2002 at 11:20 AM Rating: Decent
    If you cross the bridge near the soot harvesters, Strykel will walk by there at night. You have to be quick, because he will aggro the hounds that spawn there and then you won't get your hat. Have to be at least level 27 to get it.
    right name
    # Mar 20 2002 at 6:14 AM Rating: Decent
    10 posts
    The right name is Strykel. He is a named Plasmatasm and spawn at night in the pit with Sulphine, Olash, Bight Flame.

    Approx /loc 6k, 22k
    ____________________________
    --

    Maximilia - Percival
    Post Comment

    Free account required to post

    You must log in or create an account to post messages.