Bixie Distraction

Head to Rivervale and into The Pot of Gold.

Hail Neeta Cabbageleaf at -61, -17, -7.

Neeta says, "Hiya Neeta Cabbageleaf at your service, what can I do for you on this fine day?"

You respond, "Cabbageleaf...are you related to the Cabbageleaf family who used to make jewelry recipes, long before the Shattering?"

Neeta says, "Hey, how did you guess? My grandmother was Rebecca Cabbageleaf.  She was a great explorer, and loved to talk to folks she met on her travels.  She brought home lots of new recipes and ideas to the family when she came home to visit."

You respond, "What kinds of recipes did she bring home?"

Neeta says, Oh, she was real big on quiche, never been that fond of it myself, frankly. And picnics by Karana, halflings all over the world still talk about my grandmother's famous picnics! Oh, and she did some jewelry work too. And this great jumjum pie...I can just taste it now!"

You respond, "Did I hear jumjum pie mentioned?"

Neeta says, "Oh, aren't they the most delicious thing? I was going to make a fresh batch today, but I've run out of jumjum, which is quite a catastrophe, because the fellow who usually gets me my distilled jumjum has gone off to explore that new Kunark place for a few weeks."

You respond, "Is it something I can gather for you? It won't be the first time I've harvested jumjum berries."

Neeta says, "Oh, would you mind? That would be wonderful!  Only, this jumjum isn't the normal berries you pick from bushes - I can get those easily enough myself.  This is the distilled jumjum essence that the bixies manufacture in their hive.  Their purifying process distills it a hundredfold, they use it to nourish the Queen.  But you'd have to go into the hive itself, which is pretty dangerous."

You respond, "I don't think I'm ready to fight an entire hive of bixies for your distilled jumjum. Is there some way to sneak in?"

Neeta says, "Well...I guess you could create a distraction at the entrance, to give you time to run in and get the jumjum. But I don't know what kind of distraction would work on bixies, they're pretty single-minded.  Maybe you should ask an expert - I know the fae over in Kelethin have a pretty big bixie problem, they might have some ideas.  Why don't you ask the matron of the nursery how she keeps the nursery safe from those pests?  Just catch the boat from the docks in Nektulos Forest."

You say, "I hope she'll be able to help, I'll go track down the matron."

Head to Greater Faydark where you must consult the Matron of the Nursery to see if she has any advice on dealing with bixies.

Hail the Matron of the Nursery at -121, -43, -791.

Matron of the Nursery says to you, "Hello there, traveller! Can I help you with something?"

You respond, "Excuse me, are you in charge of this nursery?"

Matron of the Nursery says to you, "Yes I am, can I help you with something?"

You respond, "I hope so, a halfling in Rivervale said you have troubles with bixies around here, and she thought you might have some ideas for how to create a distraction that would get them out of the way."

Matron of the Nursery says to you, "Why yes, actually, we have to use a variety of tricks to keep the bixies away from our growing spirit buds here in the nursery. For the kind of thing you mentioned though, you might want to try a new smoke bomb technique that they've recently developed in Gnomeland Security. I have a contact there who supplies all our similar needs, I'll give you his name."

You respond, "Thank you."

Head to Steamfont Mountains where you must consult the gnome called Maladominus at Gnomeland Security.

Hail Maladominus Poxbringer  at -528, 175, 990 in Gnomeland Security.

Maladominus Poxbringer says to you, "Darn it, the fizzwoggler just won't interface properly with the cogwoozle!"

You respond, "Er, hello there?"

Maladominus Poxbringer says to you, "Eh? Oh! Did you want something?"

You respond, "The Matron of the Nursery in Kelethin recommended you. I'm looking for a smoke bomb or something similar that I can use to distract bixies in a large hive."

Maladominus Poxbringer says to you, "How big is the hive? Do you have an approximate estimate of the internal volume of the hive?"

You respond, "Er ..."

Maladominus Poxbringer says to you, "Hm, and are they Antonican or Faydwer bixies? What's their average flight speed?"

You respond, "Laden or unladen?"

Maladominus Poxbringer says to you, "Oh, never mind...tell you what. I'm not sure a smoke bomb will work, if you can't give me the cubic volume and the average flight speed of the bixies. But I could tinker up an aerated dispensorator system for a bixie-specific soporific agent, if that would help."

You respond, "Bixie-specific soporif...you mean...it puts bixies to sleep?"

Maladominus Poxbringer says to you, "Yes yes, of course! It wouldn't be much good if it put you to sleep too, now would it? There's a nasty plant that grows over in the Loping Plains that I've found has that effect on bixies, among others. You'll have to go get it for me though, I don't have time to run around on errands."

You respond, "Okay, what does it look like?"

Maladominus Poxbringer says to you, "[scribbles on a piece of paper] Here, there's a description for you, stick this in your notebook there. And pick up some extra pieces from the scrap heaps around here too, on your way back to me. And watch out for the kobolds, their bite is worse than their bark. Now where did I put that fizzwoggler..."

You respond, "Thanks, I'll be back."