Tumerok War Taiaha Quest

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Note: This article is for Unreleased Content.

This is an unfinished and unreleased quest. The starting item for this quest became available in The Changing of the Ways, when Exploration Society agents would give players the Exploration Society Token when given a stamped gold letter. The agents would direct you to bring this token to Bach Lien, in the Explorer Society Outpost on the road between Rithwic and Dryreach. Unfortunately, no such NPC or outpost existed. Turbine confirmed this was a bug. This was later reiterated in the Flesh and Blood State of the Code.

This quest was partially developed, and some of it exists in the content cache. Bach Lien exists and has several interactions, along with most of the objects needed for the quest.

Bach Lien directs players to follow some escaped Tumeroks. Portals to dungeons called Tumerok Cave and Tumerok Cavern exist in proximity to Bach Lien (in the content cache), but both portals go to the North Vanguard Outpost.

Also near Bach Lien are two special Tumeroks, a priest and a gladiator, that both drop the same Tumerok Altar Key. This key is used to open both the Altar of the Tumerok Spear and the Altar of the Tumerok Figurine. These chests contain the Tumerok Spear and Wooden Tumerok Figurine.

Bach Lien will interact with both of these objects, suggesting you combine them. The items are not craftable, however, the result is almost certainly supposed to be the Tumerok War Taiaha. This weapon is a reward itself, but can be given to Bach Lien for an alternative reward of experience and potions.

The general layout of the quest and the various names and descriptions of the NPC and items makes it clear this was the basis for Aun Tanua's War Taiaha Quest:

  • Bach Lien's name is similar Bachus Flufens, and some of their dialog is the same.
  • The dungeon names are the same.
  • The two base item names are the same - Wooden Tumerok Figurine and Tumerok Spear.
  • In both quests, you visit two dungeons, kill a boss to obtain a key, unlock a chest, and gather a wooden figurine and a basic spear.
  • The Tumerok War Taiaha states in the description that it is Aun Tanua's War Taiaha.

Related Articles

NPCs

Items

Exploration Society TokenFile:Tumerok Altar Key Icon.png Tumerok Altar KeyFile:Altar of the Tumerok Figurine Icon.png Altar of the Tumerok FigurineFile:Altar of the Tumerok Spear Icon.png Altar of the Tumerok SpearFile:Wooden Tumerok Figurine (Unreleased) Icon.png Wooden Tumerok Figurine (Unreleased)File:Tumerok Spear (Unreleased) Icon.png Tumerok Spear (Unreleased)File:Tumerok War Taiaha Icon.png Tumerok War Taiaha

Images

Dialog

Exploration Society Token Dialog, Dai Ya the Scholar

You give Dai Ya the Scholar Stamped Samsur Lucky Gold Letter.

Dai Ya the Scholar tells you, "Thank you, you must have journeyed far to get here. You are a true Explorer!"

Dai Ya the Scholar gives you An Explorer Ring of Quickness.

Dai Ya the Scholar tells you, "We could use more explorers such as yourself here in the Society. Perhaps you could aid Bach Lien, a friend of mine? A few days ago, she wrote that she is investigating rumors of a war spear guarded by Tumeroks in the area near Dryreach. Fantastical story, I'm sure! But nonetheless, I daresay she could use the help. She's stationed in the Explorer Society Outpost on the road from Rithwic to Dryreach. Show her this token and she will know I sent you."

Dai Ya the Scholar gives you Exploration Society Token
Exploration Society Token Dialog, Lord Aleval

Lord Aleval tells you, "Excellent! Now that you have proven yourself, perhaps you could help Bach Lien, who is monitoring Tumerok activities near Dryreach. A short time ago, Ardry, Bach Lien, and I captured an excursionary band of Tumerok scouts. They escaped, but not before telling us of a legendary spear enshrined in one of their caves nearby. She is now at the Explorer Society Outpost on the road between Rithwic and DryReach. This token will serve as an introduction."

Lord Aleval gives you Exploration Society Token
Opening Dialog, Bach Lien

Bach Lien tells you, "Take care as you travel down this road to the south. The Tumeroks seem to be heightening their activities near Dryreach!"
Giving Exploration Society Token to Bach Lien

You give Bach Lien Exploration Society Token.

Bach Lien tells you, "My requests for assistance has been heard! I have been here keeping an eye on Tumerok movements ever since Ardry, Aleval, and I captured a band of Tumerok scouts. We interrogated them for their dealings with the Virindi, but all they told us was a story of a legendary spear weilded by one of their reknowned heroes...Little did we realize that their babble was but a smokescreen before they attempted escape! We gave them chase, past the (Insert landmarks here), but lost them near the (landmark). I suspect the story was nothing but lies, but could I ask you to investigate this matter while I transcribe my fieldnotes? Let me know of anything you find."
Giving Tumerok Spear to Bach Lien

You give Bach Lien Tumerok Spear.

Bach Lien tells you, "Ah, so there was something to their story after all...What an interesting find! But look here...Doesn't these slots along this side suggest it that it is missing a part? Perhaps the answer could be discovered out around the caves near the (landmark) to the (direction) where I last spotted the TumerokS gathering."

Bach Lien gives you Tumerok Spear.
Giving Wooden Tumerok Figurine to Bach Lien

You give Bach Lien Wooden Tumerok Figurine.

Bach Lien tells you, "I have never seen an artifact such as this before...Some sort of Tumerok figurine? Ah...But it seems as if it is not in its entirety...Perhaps it should be married to another piece? If you bring me back the completed artifact, I will surely reward you!"

Bach Lien gives you Wooden Tumerok Figurine.
Giving Tumerok War Taiaha to Bach Lien

You give Bach Lien Tumerok War Taiaha.

Bach Lien tells you, "A Tumerok War Taiaha! One of the first examples of Tumerok war craft that we have found. I must send this on to Aliester--he will be delighted to further his research on Tumerok culture. I and the Society thank you!"

Bach Lien gives you 3 Stamina Elixirs.

You've earned 2,000 experience.

Developer Comments

Date Unknown - Link Unknown

The search for Bach Lien is a bug. We apologize for the inconvenience that is has caused any of you. Perhaps some time in the future the complete iteration of her tale will reach the loremasters of Dereth but for now she will remain a mystery.

Allan Maki
Community Representative
Turbine Entertainment Software
January 25, 2002 - Link

Q: I have heard some reference to a mysterious Bach Lien. However, I can find no such person anywhere in the game. Does she really exist?

A: Although she is mentioned as an extension to the Exploration Society Letters quests, the search for Bach Lien is a bug, as she does not appear in the game. We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused. Perhaps some time in the future the complete iteration of her tale will reach the loremasters of Dereth but for now she remains a mystery.

After posting this write-up on the Asheron's Call subreddit, the original developer commented:

October 5, 2020 - Link

Wow, you are GOOD!

I never imagined I’d find a write up for this in my feed… my flub up’s finally revealed! You are absolutely right. The infamous Bach Lien mystery was my fault. I was a newbie designer, initially hired to start content design for AC2. As a ramp up project, my first assignment was to design a simple quest for AC Live that would go out in that month’s prop. For some (i.e. dumb) reason I thought it would be a good idea to insert my quest plug into an existing NPC (Dai Ya) rather than create an entirely new one, and merrily went on designing the rest of the quest wdfs.

As the month went on, we had some organizational changes among the teams, I was switched over to Dark Majesty and took my quest with me. I gave the spear to Aun Tanua, (who I eventually trapped in Portal Space). Thing is, I forgot to back out Dai Ya’s quest string, and when the Live Team propped for the month, he started sending newbies off to Dryreach, which as I recall, was a level 30(?) region at the time. My first “quest” in AC Live was essentially an uncompletable suicide mission for anyone who undertook it at the correct level. My content debut was essentially a disaster - only the first of many, of which I’m sure you all know about since you’ve been with the game so long.

Thank you for making my day - so many memories!