Whispers from the Crypt – A Project 1999 Event

[DesterWindall]

Across Norrath, the graveyards stir. Whispers rise on the autumn winds — names long forgotten, grief never laid to rest. The voices are not of the dead, but of one who mourns them still.

The Mourner calls.

Once a priest, now something far darker, he believes grief is memory, and memory must never fade. His design is terrible in its simplicity: to bind all sorrow into one vessel, a mortal who will carry the grief of all Norrath. Through this vessel, the veil between life and death will shatter.
But not all see this as salvation. To some, it is a curse beyond imagining — a world drowned in endless mourning, where no loss ever heals and no joy survives.
Two factions rise:

The Hand of Decay, who embrace the Mourner’s vision. To them, suffering proves love, and memory eternal is worth any cost.

The Order of Stillness, who resist with equal fervor. To them, silence is mercy, and forgetting is the only true release.


The season of shadows has returned. Will grief endure, eternal and unbroken? Or will silence fall, final and absolute?
The choice, and the burden, belong to you.

Happy Season of Spooks and Frights, Norrathians!
“Whispers from the Crypt” is a P99 special event for this Halloween season! This event features multiple components through November 12th, sure to put a little extra spook in your step, including:


Corrupted Body Parts have been unearthed by The Mourner and his minions, and will begin dropping from non-trivial kills across Norrath. These body parts can be turned into Emissaries of the Mourner, representing the Hand of Decay, or Penitent Cryptkeepers, representing the Order of Stillness. Either of these factions are sure to appreciate your support, as they hope to either embrace the Mourner’s suffering or let the dead finally rest.

Characters who turn in at least 10 Corrupted Body Parts to one of the sides will be entered into a raffle at the end of the event for a temporary title on the character! However, be sure to pick a side and stick with it! For every turn-in completed for the opposite faction counts against your total.

Two phases of the event, complete with a unique quest per phase. As the Mourner’s power grows and he gets more desperate later in the event, you may even see unique undead monsters brought to life across Norrath.

On both the Blue and Green servers, the event will include a PvPvE showdown, where the Hand of Decay and Order of Stillness will face off, once and for all!


Prepare yourself, for the battle to let the dead rest is upon us, and only you can help determine the fate of Norrath!

[boromn]

Awesome! Glad I didn’t miss it as my client crashed right as the graves were awaking lol.

[Ekco]

neat.

[Moll]

Coolio!

[Ike R Umba]

Eep!

[Raikn Onikra]

sooooo, what are the jewelry pieces of mourning for?

[eqtime]

Very cool and a lot of work. Thank you to those involved.

[TheBardo]

sooooo, what are the jewelry pieces of mourning for?

this!!

[TheBardo]

i've tried to hand in the jewlry to the evil npc outside najena and got no response.

Handing in corrupted body part to the same guy rewarded me with a ivu pot

[IanelarAzure]

OH YEAH!!

[Moll]

There is an interesting NPC hanging out around the Toxx druid rings that might have some info ...

[busted]

Handed in a "ring of mourning" thing to the mob in kael at EW zoneline and he just ate it.

Looks like you need all the lore items to get something?

[Xulia]

Let's go!

[spoil]

Handed in a "ring of mourning" thing to the mob in kael at EW zoneline and he just ate it.

Looks like you need all the lore items to get something?

No idea.

Handed a locket to the chronicler or whatever NPC at toxx druid rings and he ate it.

[Staffman]

"These body parts can be turned into Emissaries of the Mourner, representing the Hand of Decay, or Penitent Cryptkeepers, representing the Order of Stillness."

Are the jewelry items the "body parts" or are there actual body parts dropping?

[OrchardTowers]

I’ve managed to loot 3 “mourners” items (ring, necklace, and locket) so far, and also 2 “body parts” (which stack) so it feels like they are for separate quests….

But my “feels like” isn’t incontrovertible proof of anything.

Anyone have personal experience they can share please?

Thanks.

[Divinitous]

I’ve managed to loot 3 “mourners” items (ring, necklace, and locket) so far, and also 2 “body parts” (which stack) so it feels like they are for separate quests….

But my “feels like” isn’t incontrovertible proof of anything.

Anyone have personal experience they can share please?

Thanks.

Handed three trinkets to the DE at EW zoneline in Kael. He ate em. No response.

[Staffman]

The guy at the druid ring in Tox (aged something) is the turn in guy for the 3 jewelry pieces (ring, locket, and necklace). He gives a worn note AND 2 corrupted body parts. The initial post from the GM indicates they are turned in to either the emissary or the other guy, depending on which faction path you want to follow.

[Centurionx]

The guy at the druid ring in Tox (aged something) is the turn in guy for the 3 jewelry pieces (ring, locket, and necklace). He gives a worn note AND 2 corrupted body parts. The initial post from the GM indicates they are turned in to either the emissary or the other guy, depending on which faction path you want to follow.

Aww man, I gave the 3 pieces to the dark elf at the Najena zone and didn't even say thabnk you lol. I'll give em to the tox guy next go round.

Thanks =)

[classiceq4me1980]

My interactions so far with this super confusing event:

3x Mourner jewelry pieces (ring, locket, necklace) to an Emissary of the Mourners outside Najena and nada, no reply, nothing.

1x Mourner jewelry piece and 1x Body Part to a Penitent Cryptkeeper in Thurgadin and he gave me 1x IVU pot and ate the other, not sure which I handed in first.

FYI: There is a Penitent Crpytkeeper in WFP outside the Cleric's guild.

Also, the original message announcing this says only drops off mobs of non trivial challenge seems incorrect, got a mourner jewelry item off orc pawns.

[Infectious]

Best community and guides in the game. Thank you for taking your time to offer an event for everybody. Happy halloween

[shovelquest]

God bless our hard working american guides!

[Valakut]

so the jewelry is useless and the body parts are the only thing that matter?

[commandojonesy]

so the jewelry is useless and the body parts are the only thing that matter?

Hand ALL three jewelry pieces to the aged chronicler

[Staffman]

handed all 3 jewelry (ring, necklace, and locket) to Aged Chronicler, got the note and 2 corrupted body parts...all no drop (body parts stackable)

Do the body parts also drop from mobs?

[Nilstoniakrath]

handed all 3 jewelry (ring, necklace, and locket) to Aged Chronicler, got the note and 2 corrupted body parts...all no drop (body parts stackable)

Do the body parts also drop from mobs?

Did this, and then turned those items (note + 2 body parts) to the dark elf npc in West Karana. All one at a time

the parts resulted in a gem, and got wolf form cast on me, from the two parts. Both gave faction hits also

the note, he just ate

No idea what the note is for, the chronicler didnt give any useful, i e bracketted, dialogue when I hailed him after receiving

Yes, the body parts drop from mobs also, both xp and green mobs can drop in my experience

[Aelzrith]

Hand ALL three jewelry pieces to the aged chronicler

This!

Hand ALL three jewelry pieces to the aged chronicler - You will get a note (and maybe some bodyparts)

turn the bodyparts into the cryptkeeper or the other guy

no idea what the note is for yet

[thomasamar]

Where is the aged chronicler?

[Staffman]

Where is the aged chronicler?

Tox Dru rings

[Valakut]

cryptkeeper looking like Snackies

[IzHaN80]

Is this quest worth it? I mean, what are the gifts/rewards?

[Fingurs]

Of course, not only that: Its really well done / fun.

Highly encourage it :)

[honloro]

an aged chronicler says 'Whispers carry more than fear. They carry memory.'

You say, 'Hail, an aged chronicler'

an aged chronicler The old man startles, blinking against the snow.
an aged chronicler says, 'Do you hear them? The whispers that slip beneath the wind? They are not the dead, no… they are one man’s grief, stretched across Norrath like a funeral shroud. Fenrial, he was once named — a priest who buried too many of his flock with his own hands. Silence broke him, and from his sorrow rose the [Mourner].'

You say, 'what mourner'

an aged chronicler says, 'His grief hardened into obsession. He feared the gods would let the dead be forgotten. So he swore none would fade, not while he yet wept. He turned relics of his loss into anchors of memory, binding his sorrow into the world itself.'

an aged chronicler says, 'If you wish to understand the Mourner, you must recover what he left behind. A locket, prayer beads, and a simple ring — three keepsakes of the ones he lost. They are scattered now, carried by the restless dead who answer his call.'

[Sirquestalot]

<deep breath>
Have you guys ever PLAYED Everquest before this? The note.... has anyone tried READING it? This ain't your momma's WoW easy mmo... .you're supposed to use your brain just a little bit sometimes, and not expect everything to be spelled out on the wiki for you.

Sadly, I have had to spend time going to work and have not been able to put enough time into the game yet to get all 3 of the trinket items, so I haven't had the chance to acquire the note and attempt to read it for myself. But if someone has the note and would like to enlighten the rest of us with what is says, that would be GREAT! Thanks.

(Yeah, the first paragraph of this should probably be in Rants and Flames, but ... well, yeah...)

[Ekco]

^this

first thing i'd do is cast identify on the items also to see if they put any info in there.

[Moll]

But if someone has the note and would like to enlighten the rest of us with what is says, that would be GREAT! Thanks.



A Tattered and Worn Note

"They told me silence was mercy. They told me stillness was peace. But silence does not speak the names of the dead. Stillness does not remember their faces.

If the living forget, then let the dead rise. Let them whisper. Let the world hear their grief as I do.

When many carry the wound, none survive. When one carries it, the world remembers.

--The Mourner--"

[kus]

Seems like Corrupted Body Part is super ultra rare: I've killed perhaps 200 dark blue (exp-giving) mobs and seen not a single Corrupted Body Part drop. Nada. Zilch.

In those 200 kills I've seen several Prayer Beads, as well as 2 Lockets, but not a single Ring, either. I've killed over 400 greenies (no exp) to see if my luck might change, but seen nothing whatsoever drop from them. Not a single item of any kind.

Sad to say it, but pursuing seems like a colossal waste of time. At the current rate, it could take literally several months of playing 12+ hours a day before I might get 10 body parts. I'm not sure I have the stamina to forego sleep and up my play time to 20+ hours a day. :P

[Sirquestalot]

Thank you, Moll, seems the note is just flavor and no apparent information regarding further questing or the teased event toward the end of the week, but it's nice to see what it was.

And yeah, kus, I feel your pain. But the reward for 10 turn-ins of body parts is just entry into a raffle for a temporary title, so unless that's your thing, it's not that big a loss.

Interestingly (to me), I got a ring drop from a level 1 super duper green kill, so it seems body parts only drop from non-trivial but ... unless this is what they patched... the trinkets can drop from any mob in the world. (?) Maybe that's why you need 3 and have to travel to the end of the world to get the 2 body parts from the turn-in.

All told, it's nice to have an event, much thanks to the hosts, staff and volunteers who are dedicated to making p99 great. I know we don't say it enough, so ....
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! (infinity)

[Moppelchen]

Re quest rewards - here's what I've gotten so far on my bard (30 parts handed in):
4x wolf form illusion
3x antiweight potion
1x flawless diamond
5x ivu potion
3x invis potion
1x Black Marble
2x Crushed Flame Emerald
1x Diamond
1x Exquisite Silver Turquoise Ring (shitty bard ring)
4x skeleton illusion
1x some other illusion (skelly illusion blocked it)
2x imp illusion
1x Throat of the Sirent (shitty bard neck)
1x Blue Diamond

[Arcturius]

Do you hand in the ring, the locket and the necklace to the aged chronicler all at once or one at a time?

[WiseFrob]

^this

first thing i'd do is cast identify on the items also to see if they put any info in there.

I did that but I'm not at my computer to get the exact text.

The beads mention that they are colorful and belong to a little girl.
The locket mentions that it contains a message for a son.
The ring is a woman's diamond wedding band.

Strangely, when you turn them into the chronicler he says its a daughters locket and a parishioners beads. Probably just overlooked but maybe the chronicler is lying to us.

[kus]

All told, it's nice to have an event, much thanks to the hosts, staff and volunteers who are dedicated to making p99 great. I know we don't say it enough, so ....
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! (infinity)

I would absolutely like to second that! The work that went into this, including the writing (posting of the event announcement and the in-game dialog) is really well done, and the idea behind the two factions is a nice dip into philosophical territory, too. My hat's off to everyone involved in this event!

[p99Crooks]

Do you hand in the ring, the locket and the necklace to the aged chronicler all at once or one at a time?

All at once.

[Ennewi]

Agreed, 100% worth acknowledging the quality writing scattered throughout this event. Despite the fact that players are known to skim or skip over quest dialogue, there's a lot of classic flavor there. /applaud

[kus]

Do you hand in the ring, the locket and the necklace to the aged chronicler all at once or one at a time?

Correct, all 3 at the same time. I have no clue if this can be MQ'd.

FWIW, I've finally got 1 Corrupted Body Part to drop and looted a rotting ring to complete the set of three, so now I have 3 body parts. Progress!

[IanelarAzure]

Correct, all 3 at the same time. I have no clue if this can be MQ'd.

FWIW, I've finally got 1 Corrupted Body Part to drop and looted a rotting ring to complete the set of three, so now I have 3 body parts. Progress!

I can't say I have scientific proof behind it, but it "feels" like relogging in may give you a different chance at the drops. I played almost all day yesterday, 8+ hours, and got 1 corrupted body part. I played about 6 hours today and had 5 drop.

[Moll]

A Tattered and Worn Note

"They told me silence was mercy. They told me stillness was peace. But silence does not speak the names of the dead. Stillness does not remember their faces.

If the living forget, then let the dead rise. Let them whisper. Let the world hear their grief as I do.

When many carry the wound, none survive. When one carries it, the world remembers.

--The Mourner--"

Upon handing all three pieces of jewelry to an aged chronicler:

an aged chronicler lays the relics in the snow, his hands trembling.
an aged chronicler says, 'These were not treasures of gold or glory, but of memory. A daughter's locket. A parishioner's beads. A wife's ring. Each loss tore him apart, until silence was no longer mercy. He bound their grief into himself, and when his arms could carry no more, he sought a vessel that could'
an aged chronicler presses a tattered note into your hands and says 'Read his words. Know why the dead no longer rest.'

You then receive the Tattered and Worn Note mentioned above as well as two corrupted body parts. Just some extra info for anyone interested.

Makes me wonder though. The Mourner sought a vessel.

"When one carries it, the world remembers."

I wonder if we'll meet this vessel.

/shrug

[wuanahto]

Can this event end tomorrow on a tuesday? the level 60s flooding exp zones looking for junk to get a rock, illusion or other misc things is starting to take a toll

thanks for the thing but this is one of those unintended consequences things where the cons outweigh the pros due to humans being humans.

[Goregasmic]

I can't say I have scientific proof behind it, but it "feels" like relogging in may give you a different chance at the drops. I played almost all day yesterday, 8+ hours, and got 1 corrupted body part. I played about 6 hours today and had 5 drop.

Killed a couple hundred exp mobs over multiple sessions and got 2necks, 1 ring, 1 locket and 1 body part. I think RNG gonna RNG and sometimes you get lucky.

[Jimjam]

Can this event end tomorrow on a tuesday? the level 60s flooding exp zones looking for junk to get a rock, illusion or other misc things is starting to take a toll

thanks for the thing but this is one of those unintended consequences things where the cons outweigh the pros due to humans being humans.

Go kill sub 40 xp mobs?

[Staffman]

Can this event end tomorrow on a tuesday? the level 60s flooding exp zones looking for junk to get a rock, illusion or other misc things is starting to take a toll

thanks for the thing but this is one of those unintended consequences things where the cons outweigh the pros due to humans being humans.

I'd suggest removing yourself if "humans being humans" bothers you.

[hockeymaniac911]

I just want to say in the chance that any of the staff / volunteers / guides / GMs read through this thread, I really appreciate the effort you guys put into this event. It's like a better version of the event last year with way more story, lore, and quest steps that is typical in nature for a quest in Everquest. It really feels like someone put a decent amount of their time into the lore and as a holiday event has been enjoyable as an addition to the game in the spirit of similar events in the past. Thank you for adding something to the server I'm committed to, the game I'm addicted to, and the community I am a part of. I'm sure there are others that feel this way as well.

[IanelarAzure]

I just want to say in the chance that any of the staff / volunteers / guides / GMs read through this thread, I really appreciate the effort you guys put into this event. It's like a better version of the event last year with way more story, lore, and quest steps that is typical in nature for a quest in Everquest. It really feels like someone put a decent amount of their time into the lore and as a holiday event has been enjoyable as an addition to the game in the spirit of similar events in the past. Thank you for adding something to the server I'm committed to, the game I'm addicted to, and the community I am a part of. I'm sure there are others that feel this way as well.

Agreed! These events have been the most fun in EQ since 1999!

[WiseFrob]

Excited to see the next lore drop tomorrow? Hopefully I get more than 1 set of quest items on my grind from 58 to 59. The drop rate is wild. Would love to see a compilation of loot drops. Heard monks get a sick 20sv all ring. A little better than the 8ac 5str 15hp braces warriors seem to get ��

[Vagaron]

I just want to say in the chance that any of the staff / volunteers / guides / GMs read through this thread, I really appreciate the effort you guys put into this event. It's like a better version of the event last year with way more story, lore, and quest steps that is typical in nature for a quest in Everquest. It really feels like someone put a decent amount of their time into the lore and as a holiday event has been enjoyable as an addition to the game in the spirit of similar events in the past. Thank you for adding something to the server I'm committed to, the game I'm addicted to, and the community I am a part of. I'm sure there are others that feel this way as well.

We do read it, thanks for the kind words and glad you're enjoying it. The events team worked hard on it!

[DesterWindall]

Agreed, 100% worth acknowledging the quality writing scattered throughout this event. Despite the fact that players are known to skim or skip over quest dialogue, there's a lot of classic flavor there. /applaud

Thank you! We do read the feedback and work to make each one better... like from last years christmas event, we know not to shout anymore as our primary chat channel during a CSR event.. oops! We try to learn, lol. Really want to give props to Nilbog and Tellin who worked tirelessly on the coding and adding other ideas. You have no idea how many hours they put into it... and there is more still yet to come!

[OriginalContentGuy]

Thank you! We do read the feedback and work to make each one better... like from last years christmas event, we know not to shout anymore as our primary chat channel during a CSR event.. oops!

The assembled server heckling Frost elves in West Commons was a singular joy I will carry forward always unto all time.

[WiseFrob]

Looking forward to the rest of the lore dump for phase 2. I've enjoyed the snippets of story we've had and am curious of the roles the two factions played in the death of Fanriel's family. I can't wait to slap around some Hand of Decay dorks in the PvPvE event as well.

[OriginalContentGuy]

I heard there was some dude interested in the body parts outside the cleric temple in Freeport and this story checked out. I'm sure there was an explanation from the gentleman I didn't catch but he transformed me into a skeleton to the bones for all to see in exchange for a body part he asked for. Awesome as this was I proceeded to give my second part I had found and next I was a wolf.

Not sure about this whole business but I'm a busy professional and walked away to my next appointment. Hope he isn't a jerk or I'll kick his butt. Also got a note from some wizard in Toxxulia Forest after I gave him three Jewelry Pieces but it makes about as much sense as anything else when body parts start appearing.

Huzzah!

[Fingurs]

Wanted to come on here and add:

This is the best event in my 8 years on p99. Truly exceptional, considering the neat trinkets. So many of us have done everything 100x over.

To be able to login and not know whats coming, and to be met with new items, its truly awesome.

Yes I know some are not considered great, but there are some that are neat and unknown.

This is fantastic. Big kudos to the team. The whole guild is out farming. Good times.

[Medris]

A cool wind rustles the leaves gathered by your feet, carrying with it the sound of single, heartbroken sob.

You begin to feel the ground slowly twitching, as though it is being upturned in places all across Norrath.

Something is amiss, as you feel the veil between life and death slightly thinning.

The "Whispers from the Crypt" event has now entered it's second phase.

[Sarkis]

Killed a Crypt Matron and received a Fragment of Defiance, not sure where to turn it in atm.