Talshak the Mystic
Overview
Talshak the Mystic is a hero contact in the Grendel's Gulch neighborhood of The Hollows at coordinates (271, -250, -1181).
Introductions
Contact Introduced By
New Contact(s)
Talshak does not introduce you to any new contacts, but after completing his last mission, you may accept the Cavern of Transcendence Trial from Karsis.
Information
Mystic
Very little is known about Talshak the Mystic. The only thing that is certain is that he is bent on protecting the mystical gateway that is rumored to exist deep within the Hollows. Does Talshak want to prevent the gateway from being used, or simply reserve it for himself? No one knows for sure. Talshak has been quite adept at weaving distracting spells to keep the Circle from its goal. However, the thickheaded Trolls have proved more difficult to dissuade. Talshak is happy to provide heroes with details of the Trolls' activities, in exchange for help in driving the gangsters away.
Initial Contact
Greetings. I am Talshak the Mystic, and I am older than I look.
Too Busy
I can help you no more, Character. You will have to seek greater challenges.
Store
- Inspirations
- Level 10 Training Enhancements (100% base costs) (Power 10 only)
- Level 15 Natural/Magic Dual Origin Enhancements
Missions
Defeat some Trolls
Briefing
I have watched your exploits in the Hollows for quite some time. Yes. I know everything that goes on in the Hollows. Almost everything, that is. I have not yet been able to locate the mighty gateway that calls to all of magic blood. But rest assured, I will. The only thing standing in my way is this cursed infestation of evil-doers. At the moment, the greatest threat is the Trolls' continued tunneling. Will you defeat some of their members, to show them that their kind is most unwelcome here?
The Trolls tunneling continues to destabilize Cherry Hills and the area nearby. If the Trolls were to accidentally expose the gateway, it would be devastating. The Circle would descend like a knife.
Mission Objective(s)
- Defeat 10 Trolls
Debriefing
Excellent. The Trolls have felt your might, and they have become afraid. I believe you can do great things for the Hollows. I am sure I will have need of you again shortly.
Destroy the Trolls' Superadine
Briefing
If you are willing to help, I have urgent work for you. The Trolls have been using a pair of local caves as storehouses for their Superadine shipments. If you could infiltrate their warrens and destroy that Superadine, it would put quite a crimp in the Trolls' drug distribution ring. That means less violence in the Hollows, and a chance for me to finally locate that gateway. Will you help me?
The Trolls will not part with their narcotics easily. You have a long, hard battle ahead of you.
Mission Objective(s)
Empty Superadine ampoules litter the cavern floor.
- Defeat base leader & his men
- Destroy 4 Superadine stashes
You have destroyed the Superadine in the first Troll base.
Page from a strange diary | |
You found this scrap of paper while clearing out a Troll Superadin storehouse. It reads:
' 'Aga' means 'our.' I am sure of it. Day by day, I understand these minions of Igneous more intimately. They will not leave my dreams!' |
Notable NPCs
- Muggnor (Boss) (Trolls Caliban)
Enemies
Mission Objective(s)
Moisture seeps from the cavern walls.
- Bust 2nd base leader & his men
- Seek clues, 3 Superadine stashes to destroy
You have destroyed the Trolls' Superadine.
Page from Sam Wincott's diary | |
This tattered diary is missing many pages. The last entry is dated one week ago, and reads:
'They're moving me again tomorrow. To another slave camp? I don't know why they've singled me out, but I'm determined not to let them frighten me. Maybe it's the tension, but my dreams are getting stranger now. In them, I have deciphered another word from the strange language of the Igneous: 'Golapo.' I believe this is the name of their species.' The passage is signed 'Sam Wincott.' |
Notable NPCs
- Grondor (Boss) (Trolls)
Enemies
Debriefing
It will take the Trolls some time to recoup their losses from today. That diary you found certainly is interesting. Didn't you tell me you were looking for a young man named Sam Wincott? We haven't found him, but at least we know he's probably still alive. I'm sure that in itself will be quite a comfort to your old mentor, Lt. Wincott.
Defeat Igneous in Grendel's Gulch
Briefing
Are you familiar with the creatures known as the minions of Igneous? They are most insidious. They disguise themselves as simple rocks, but when approached, they become fearsome monsters. I would like you to go out into Grendel's Gulch and defeat these creatures. The area is deadly enough without them.
Your Paragon City police are already fighting a war on two fronts in the Hollows. The Igneous creatures can only exacerbate that problem.
Mission Objective(s)
- Defeat Igneous in Gulch
- Defeat 10 Minions of Igneous
You have decreased the number of Igneous minions in Grendel's Gulch.
Debriefing
The Igneous are deadly creatures, never forget that. You have made great strides today, but it will be some time before the threat is truly contained.
Defeat Trolls' leader, Atta
Briefing
I have spent the morning at divination, and I have uncovered a most valuable secret. I know where the Trolls' leader, Atta, makes his home. It is a cavern deep within the Hollows, where many of Atta's bravest Trolls dwell. If you can defeat Atta, the Trolls will have a hard time recovering.
Atta is one of the few Trolls with any reason remaining. For that reason, he is far more deadly than his brethren. I must recommend putting a strong team together before facing him.
In my mind, I have seen Atta's den, and I must warn you: it is a death trap. Be ready for anything.
You sniff the air: Superadine, Troll sweat and a burning scent you can't quite identify.
Mission Objective(s)
- Defeat Atta and his guards
Enemies
Notable NPCs
- Atta (Elite Boss)
Atta's Story | |
After you defeated Atta the Troll, he told you:
'Ok, ok. Yeah, we had boy. But, see we lost him. You heard of Circle? Scary magic dudes? They said they give us big magic in exchange for boy, but then they just take him! I no know what they wanted with him, but that's where he gone.' |
Debriefing
Atta's loss is one the Trolls will feel for a long time, my friend. But if Sam Wincott really is in the Circle's hands, then we had better move quickly. I don't know what the Circle wants with that young man, but I know they have only one goal here in the Hollows: finding the Cavern of Transcendence. Perhaps they plan to use Sam Wincott in a dred ritual to uncover its location.
Template:Clue The Heart of the Hollows
It began when the wise mystic, Talshak, divined the location of the Troll leader's den. The mighty Troll, Atta, was said to be behind all the havoc that the Superadine-crazed gangsters wreak on the Hollows. Perhaps he would know the whereabouts of Sam Wincott, the young man who went missing long ago. You battled through Atta's lair and defeated him, but Sam Wincott was not to be found. You learned that the Circle of Thorns had taken the boy from the Trolls.
Retrieve Sam Wincott
Briefing
We need to move quickly on the information you got from the Trolls' leader, Atta. If Sam Wincott really is in the Circle's clutches, we've got to retrieve him at once. The Circle has been seeking the Cavern of Transcendence for years. It could be that, in Sam Wincott, they've found their key.
More than one person has died in the search for the gateway at the heart of the cavern. I'd hate to see Sam Wincott join their ranks.
Mission Objective(s)
- Defeat all villains in caves
Enemies
Notable NPCs
- None
The mage's story | |
One of the Circle mystics you defeated told you:
"From the moment Sam Wincott stepped into the Hollows, we could taste the magic in his blood. That's why we manipulated the Trolls into capturing him. Sam's magic blood keeps reaching out to all magical creatures around him. Creatures like the minions of Igneous. The entire time he's been here, he's been learning about their culture through his dreams. Eventually, he learned the gateway's location. It was then a simple matter to perform a ritual that would extract this secret from him. But we didn't realize that the creatures would respond to his distress. We performed the ritual, we learned the secrets, but we lost the boy himself!." |
Sam Wincott's story | |
After you rescued Sam Wincott, he told you:
'Those crazy mystics said they could sense the magic in my blood. They put me into some sort of weird trance, and I drew all these crazy maps. That's what started this whole battle! I'm lucky to be alive! |
Debriefing
So, the Circle used Sam Wincott's inherent magic abilities to uncover the location of the Cavern of Transcendence. This is bad. This is awful! As we speak, the Circle is probably moving on the cavern. And Sam Wincott remains in the hands of the Igneous!
I have a plan. I believe I can use magic to force one of the Circle mages to give up the location of the Cavern. He will not be willing, you understand. But he will help you to get the job done.
(ERROR: Despite the Clue text, Sam Wincott is nowhere to be found in this mission: it will end as soon as you defeat the last enemy. You will have to run the Cavern of Trascendence Trial if you want to actually rescue him.)
Go to Karsis
It was difficult, but I have managed to subvert the will of one of the Circle mystics. He will remain under my control long enough to guide you to the Cavern of Transcendence. Please go to him now. He cannot harm you, though I expect he would wish to.
Do not be afraid of Karsis. He is under my control, at least for now.
Mission Objective(s)
- Speak to Karsis
Debriefing
Foolish mortal. Yes, I will guide you to the Cavern, because I have no choice. But I will never forget this slight. Be warned: you will never be free of the Circle.
Debriefing
Excellent. As I expected, Karsis is fully under my control. You will have to gather a full team if you expect to enter the Cavern of Transcendence. But at least now you will have a guide.