Talshak the Mystic

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Talshak the Mystic is a contact in The Hollows in the Grendel's Gulch section 138 yards northeast of the southwesternmost Tunnels entrance. His coordinates are (271, -250, -1181).

Background

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.

Contact Introduced By

• Julius the Troll

Store

Inspirations

• Luck: 50
• Catch a Breath: 50
• Enrage: 50
• Insight: 50
• Respite: 50
• Awaken: 250
• Break Free: 50

Enhancements

Training Enhancements

Level	Name	Function	Cost
10	Training: Accuracy	Enhances Accuracy	1,056
10	Training: Damage	Enhances Damage	1,000
10	Training: Defense Buff	Enhances Defense Buffs	700
10	Training: Endurance Reduction	Reduces Endurance Cost	930
10	Training: Healing	Enhances Heal	1,000
10	Training: Hold Duration	Enhances Hold Duration	660
10	Training: Range Increase	Enhances Range	800
10	Training: Recharge Reduction	Increases Attack Rate	930
10	Training: Resist Damage	Enhances Damage Resistance	660
10	Training: Disorient Duration	Enhances Disorient Duration	730

Dual Origin Enhancements

Level	Name	Function	Origins		Cost
15	Crowley's Coin	Enhances ToHit DeBuffs	Natural	Magic	3,173
15	Nectanebo's Book	Enhances ToHit Buffs	Natural	Magic	6,118
15	Nectanebo's Ankh	Enhances Taunt Effectiveness	Natural	Magic	2,993
15	Crowley's Bracelet	Enhances Slow Powers	Natural	Magic	4,370
15	Crowley's Jewel	Enhances Sleep Duration	Natural	Magic	4,370
15	Li Tieh Kuai's Goblet	Enhances Running Speed	Natural	Magic	3,951
15	Nectanebo's Scroll	Enhances Endurance Recovery	Natural	Magic	5,267
15	Li Tieh Kuai's Bottle	Enhances KnockBack Distance	Natural	Magic	2,273
15	Nectanebo's Phylactery	Enhances Jump	Natural	Magic	3,352
15	Li Tieh Kuai's Sheath	Decreases Interrupt Time	Natural	Magic	3,591
15	Crowley's Gate	Enhances Intangibility Duration	Natural	Magic	3,562
15	Li Tieh Kuai's Lens	Enhances Immobilization Duration	Natural	Magic	4,370
15	Li Tieh Kuai's Gem	Enhances Flight Speed	Natural	Magic	3,771
15	Crowley's Wand	Enhances Fear Duration	Natural	Magic	4,682
15	Nectanebo's Cup	Enhances Endurance Drain	Natural	Magic	2,341
15	Nectanebo's Gloves	Enhances Defense DeBuffs	Natural	Magic	4,370
15	Li Tieh Kuai's Band	Enhances Confuse Duration	Natural	Magic	5,364
15	Crowley's Necklace	Enhances Cone Range	Natural	Magic	5,283

Missions

Mission 1

Mission 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?

Mission Acceptance

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.

Mission 2

Mission 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 Troll's drug distribution ring. That means less violence in the Hollows, and a chance for me to finally locate that gateway. Will you help me?

Mission Acceptance

The Trolls will not part with their narcotics easily. You have a long, hard battle ahead of you.

Mission Objective(s)

• Defeat base leader and his men, destroy Superadine stashes
• Defeat 2nd base leader and his men, destroy Superadine stashes, and find clue

Clue: 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.'

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.

Mission 3

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.

Mission Acceptance

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 10 Minions of Igneous

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.

Mission 4

Mission Briefing

I have spent the morning at divination, and I have uncovered a most valuable secret. I know where the Troll's leater, 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.

Mission Acceptance

In my mind, I have seen Atta's den, and I must warn you: it is a death trap. Be ready for anything.

Mission Objective(s)

• Defeat Atta and his guards

Clue: 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.

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.

Mission 5

Mission 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.

Mission Acceptance

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

Clue: 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 Cirlce 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.

Mission 6

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.

Mission Acceptance

Do not be afraid of Karsis. He is under my control, at least for now.

Mission Objective(s)

• Speak to Karsis

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.

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.