Online:Buried in the Past

Gain access to the ancient ruins at Sunscale Strand. Zone: Shadowfen Objective: Sunscale Strand — Uncover ancient Argonian secrets in Sunscale Strand. Quest Giver: Looks-Under-Rocks, Barvyn Location(s): Sunscale Strand Next Quest: The Fangs of Sithis Reward: High Leveled Gold XP Gain: High XP

Take the pirates' Argonian relics.

Researchers seeking ancient relics around the xanmeers found Renrijra pirates camped in the Argonian ruins they were planning to search.

Quick Walkthrough

1. Talk to Barvyn and Looks-Under-Rocks.
2. Recover the puzzle stones.
3. Find Looks-Under-Rocks at the top of the xanmeer.

Detailed Walkthrough

To begin the quest, speak to Looks-Under-Rocks. He waits at a campsite about halfway between Percolating Mire and Sunscale Strand.

"You're not with the Renrijra pirates, are you? No, you don't have their stink.

I could use some help, and I swear by the sap of my Hist that it won't do your purse any harm."

What do you mean?

"The Renrijra are 'stab first, talk later' types. You're something else.

What a pity. If you were a pirate, you'd know how to get what Barvyn and I came here for."

You're after the pirates' treasure?

"Believe it or not, Barvyn and I are researching Argonian ruins, and the pirates are in our way. I'm sure they have plenty of loot, but that's not what we're after.

If you're interested, ask Barvyn to fill you in. He's watching the lower road."

I'm interested.

"Barvyn is near the log bridge to the pirate camp. He's been watching them, waiting for our chance to get those relics."

Tell me more about these relics.

"I would if I could!

The relics here date from before my people stopped building xanmeers and started living in mud huts. We know they're an important link to my people's past."

Barvyn is waiting on the road, nearer to the Sunscale Strand map marker. Speak to him:

"Those pirates are digging ... and drinking. We can take advantage of that."

Are you Barvyn? Your partner, Looks-Under-Rocks, sent me.

"About time he found someone to help. I'm glad you're here!

We've traveled all over Black Marsh searching for ancient Argonian relics. We finally get a solid lead, only to find pirates ahead of us with a treasure map."

If they have a map, they'll find the treasure.

"Maybe not. This 'map' is a stone puzzle in three pieces. When you find one piece, it finds the next. The pirates don't know what they've got, but my partner, Looks-Under-Rocks, does.

Get those pieces to us at the xanmeer, and we're in. And you'll get a cut."

Tell me more about these relics.

"I don't know as much as Looks-Under-Rocks, but just look at these ruins! Xanmeers, the Argonians call them.

The lizards' ruins go way back, and this one's old, real old. Anything from that time must be valuable ... I mean, significant."

Advance into the pirate camp, and begin killing pirates and looting the bodies. Eventually, you'll find the Green Puzzle Stone. Once you've looted it, you'll get an interact prompt to use it. Do so, and a blue ball of light will appear and fly off in the direction of the Blue Puzzle Stone. It will speak to you as it departs:

Hist Guide: "Follow me."

The ball of light will eventually lead you to a small rowboat; inside, there sits a lockbox containing the Blue Puzzle Stone. Take the stone, and you'll get an interact prompt to use it. Do so, and another ball of light will appear, leading you to the west and speaking:

Hist Guide: "Follow me."

You'll find the Red Puzzle Stone hidden in a supply crate. Take the stone, follow its interact prompt, and follow the Hist Guide one last time. It'll lead you to the top of a nearby xanmeer — and to Looks-Under-Rocks. Speak to him to complete the quest:

"Excellent. You found all three puzzle stones and learned how to use them.

Barvyn and I slipped past the pirates while you fought your way through the camp."

What do we do with the puzzle stones now?

"The Hist led us here. Maybe the stones sought me out because I know how to use them.

Give them to me. I can make them work, I know it. The relics must be nearby."

Here you are.

"Just as I thought. Combined, the stones become a single object: a Hist key!

Barvyn found what looks like an entrance into the ruins below, but it's magically sealed. I think this will open the door."

What will we find?

"Ancient relics. But know this: the creations of my ancestors are not toys. Many possess aspects of the Hist that were dangerous even then.

I thank you for what you've done so far, but the danger isn't over. We must proceed carefully."

Quest Stages

Buried in the Past
Finishes Quest	Journal Entry
	One of the researchers, Barvyn, has been watching the pirates. He may have useful information. Objective: Talk to Barvyn
	The pirates have stumbled on the key to a great treasure, but they don't know it yet. I need to recover something called a green puzzle stone. I can use it to find another piece of the puzzle. Objective: Recover Green Puzzle Stone Objective Hint: Search Pirates for the Green Puzzle Stone.
	The green puzzle stone can lead me to the next clue, but I have to be careful. The pirates camped here might be drunk, but they aren't blind. Objective: Use the Green Puzzle Stone
	The pirates have definitely found the clues to entering the Argonian xanmeer, but haven't put them together yet. I need to find the next puzzle stone. Objective: Retrieve Blue Puzzle Stone Objective Hint: Follow the Hist Guide, Avoid Pirates
	At least one pirate thought the blue puzzle stone was important enough to lock up. I should use the stone to find the last of the three. Objective: Use the Blue Puzzle Stone
	Another stone was hidden away by the pirates. I need to find the Red Puzzle Stone. Objective: Find the Red Puzzle Stone Objective Hint: Follow the Hist Guide, Avoid Pirates
	That's the last of them. I'd best watch my step, or I'll draw the pirates' attention. Objective: Use the Red Puzzle Stone
	I need to see if the Argonian on top of the xanmeer knows about the puzzle stones and how they relate to the xanmeer. Objective: Talk to Looks-Under-Rocks
Finishes quest	The puzzle stones are now something called a Hist Key. Keys unlock things, but what lies behind the lock? I need to talk to Looks to find out more. Objective: Talk to Looks-Under-Rocks

Notes

* Any text displayed in angle brackets (e.g., <Alias=LocationHold>) is dynamically set by the game and will be filled in with the appropriate word(s) when seen in game.

• Not all Journal Entries may appear in your journal; which entries appear and which entries do not depends on the manner in which the quest is done.
• Stages are not always in order of progress. This is usually the case with quests that have multiple possible outcomes or quests where certain tasks may be done in any order. Some stages may therefore repeat objectives seen in other stages.