Branith's Shirt & Blazing Staff
Mite Queen's Staff & Discus

Hobbies

Quests

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Drudges aren't the only creatures in Dereth who steal items from the human inhabitants. Those pesky Mites also share the tendency towards sticky fingers. In this great quest for mid level mages, you can recover the Shirt and Staff that Mites stole from Branith. You might consider bringing some friends (and earplugs!) along on the adventure as the mites you must battle can be ferocious.

During the Discoveries event, the Mite Maze was updated with higher level mites and a new Mite Warrior Queen. Defeat her for additional rewards: 250 Discuses, and the Mite Queen's Staff.

To begin the quest, speak to Mae Lilidag in Arwic. She'll sell you a rumor about two young lovers who ran off together when the girl's father forbade them to marry. The couple set up shop near the Mountain Shortcut, doing business with the mites. They sell a rumor about Branith and his legendary Blazing Staff.

Rumor: Lost Wish Lovers

To reach Surnad and Denterra's cottage (41.1N, 56.4E) take the Mountain Pass Shortcut (35.0 N, 56.0 E) from Arwic. You'd exit at 41.0 N, 56.0 E within sight of the cottage.

Denterra the Healer tells you, "Good day, gentle friend! It's wonderful to have a visitor. Tell me, did you come through Arwic? Did you see Dragando the Leech -- is he doing well?"
Denterra the Healer tells you, "Walk a careful path in these lands, gentle friend. Steer clear of MacDugal's crew of ruffians at the Bandit Castle. And try not to get on the bad side of the Mite Queen. She's civilized, for a mite, but I don't entirely trust her ..."

Surnad the Peddler tells you, "Welcome! Welcome to our little outpost! What's your pleasure on this fine day? Perhaps some lockpicks, aye? Finest in the land, so they are! The mites love them! All jingly and glittery ..."
Surnad the Peddler tells you, "Remember, that comes with a guarantee - if it breaks, I guarantee I'll be here to sell you another! Heh. That's a joke, friend. Feel free to laugh. The Mite Queen loves my jokes!"
Surnad the Peddler tells you, "You keep yourself safe out there. If you go east to the Eotensfang portal, stay away from Bandit Castle! Since MacDugal's mob returned, it's been nothing but trouble between them and Tallial of Neydisa. And don't bother the mites none, either. They don't bother us; we don't bother them."

Rumor: The Blazing Staff of Branith

The Mite Maze
Both the Shirt and the Staff can be found within the Mite Maze (41.1N, 57.3E), just a short run from Surnad and Denterra's cottage. Then dungeon is restricted to levels 8+. Inside you'll be fighting Gold Wasps (Level 53), Royal Mite Squires (Level 58) and Royal Sentries (Level 53), Royal Mite Matrons (Level 61), and the Mite Warrior Queen (Level 71). You'll also have to fight your way past one Tusker Redeemer (Level 61).

Map: Mite Maze

It's not called a maze for nothing! The twisting corridors and passageways can be extremely confusing and it's easy to get hopelessly lost. There is, however, a "short and simple" path to get to the items you desire. Once you enter the dungeon through the portal, head East until you hit a wall, then head South. You'll be fighting numerous Gold Wasps along the way, and an occasional Mite Sentry or Squire. Once you begin heading South, hug the right wall until you find yourself going up. From there hug the left wall until you reach the room with Branith's Shirt. It spawns right on the floor and is guarded by a Gold Wasp. 

Branith's Staff 
To reach the room with Branith's Staff, first make your way to the room with Branith's Shirt. From there, hug the right wall all the way back down. Continue hugging the right wall until you come to a room with a surface portal. Ignore it for now. You'll continue to hug the right wall until you find yourself going down. Head either North or East. Do not take the other passage up. Eventually, you'll come to a large open room with a Tusker Redeemer within. 

After killing the Tusker, you need to head to the Eastern part of the room and find the passage on the South wall. Take this and it will lead you to the Staff area. Near the entrance of the Staff room, you'll encounter more fierce Mites. You must battle your way through a few Sentries, several Royal Mite Matrons, and finally the wise and beautiful Mite Warrior Queen. The Queen carries the Mite Queen's Staff and 250 Discuses. She also drops A Crumpled Letter written by Elysa which describes her experiences as queen and how she was able to convince shopkeepers to stop charging a tax on trade notes from other towns!

Text: A Crumpled Letter

When you've cleared the area of these pests, you'll see a square room with 4 passages. Take the SW corridor to find the room containing Branith's Staff. It will spawn on the floor next to some cream colored vases. 

To exit the Maze, work your way back to the surface portal you passed on the way down. There's a portal back to Arwic nearby at 40.9N, 55.8E. Or you can continue exploring. Just a word of advice: don't kill the Reedshark!

If you return A Cumpled Letter to Alatar, he will simply thank you.

You give A Crumpled Letter to Alatar Locke.
Alatar Locke tells you, "What's this? A letter? Oh, from Elysa! Such a dear girl. I'll read this later. Thank you."

Discus can also be obtained in Xarabuydun on the Gem of Impulse quest.

Mite Maze

For an alternative map of the Mite Maze, go here.

Special thanks to Nayt al-Yad for help with this quest. Thanks to Absolution and Baldrex of FF, Dark Valkyrie of TD, Holyrage of HG, Saagn of HG and Carsten, and  Wong' of FF for updated information.