Lair of the Homunculus

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The town crier's demeanor become dark and sinister.
Town Crier tells you, "Dread be hidden in the pockets of the shadow worshippers. They are displaced from their homes and seek dark powers from graven idols. You are warned!"
Town Crier tells you, "Woo! That was strange. Have a nice day."

The Lair of the Homunculus gem is one of the rare drop portal gems introduced during the Pillars Made of Sand event. It drops off either an Enthralled Zealot or an Enthralled Idolator. These Mosswarts can be found in the swamps near the VoD (you can also reach them via the Kivik Lir Temple mansion portal). When you use the gem, you'll be portaled inside a dungeon, the Lair of the Homunculus!

Note: make sure you're outside on a flat area before using your rare gem! You may wish to test the area with a starter town gem before using your Lair of the Homunculus quest gem!

Map: Lair of the Homunculus
Creatures: Enthralled Zealot, Enthralled Idolator, True Believer, Dread Idol, Homunculus

Buff for slash, piercing, acid and cold. Bring a fire weapon to fight the mosswarts and a cold weapon to battle Mr. Big Head.

The entrance to the dungeon is safe. Once inside you'll be heading deeper and deeper in. At first the dungeon may be confusing, but it's symmetrical throughout, with identical sections to the north, south, east and west. After you jump down into the first pit, pick a one of the 4 routes and hug the left wall, first crossing a bridge, then going down three ramps to the next pit.

Again, jump to the lower level. If you're having trouble jumping into the small opening, stand backwards on the ledge and hold down the shift key as you jump. Once you've jumped, again take any of the four passages. I'll use the east passage for these directions. At the first split make a right into a small room, then a left out of a room to a 4 way intersection. Make a left heading north, then keep to the right until you come to a large open room. Exit to the east and you'll be at an overpass.

Jump to the level below. Head north, then keep the left until you reach another overpass. Once you've jumped down to the lowest level you won't get lost! The passages at the splits all lead to a large room full of Mosswarts and the Homunculus! Kill the Homunculus (use cold attacks) and retrieve his head! The head has a 14 day timer. In the final room, you'll find a Runed Chest (no lockpick).

Note: the lair itself is a great place to hunt for more Lair of the Homunculus portal gems. You may wish to stay and fight to replace the one you used up getting there!

The head by itself can be hooked as a housing item. When used, it casts 4 spells increasing your magic skills by +2 points for 1 hour. The four spells -- Consecration, Divine Manipulation, Fanaticism, Sacrosanct Touch -- are stackable. Anyone may use the hooked head, even if they have not completed the quest themselves.

Head of the Homunculus cast Fanaticism on you
A fervent need for destruction increases your War Magic skill by 2.
Head of the Homunculus cast Sacrosanct Touch on you
You feel urged to bless the worthy and punish the unworthy. Increases your Life Magic skill by 2.
Head of the Homunculus cast Divine Manipulation on you
The power to show creatures the way surges through you. Increase your Creature Enchantment skill by 2.
Head of the Homunculus cast Consecration on you
The innate magic of the Homunculus enhances your Item Enchantment skill by 2.

But there's more! Take the head to Grearrk, Mosswart Emissary outside Sawato at 29.0S, 58.2E if you have no use for the housing item. He'll transform it into a casting orb and give your further instructions. Or, er, instructions about what not to do!

You give Grearrk, Mosswart Emissary Head of the Homunculus.
Grearrk, Mosswart Emissary tells you, "Yes, Grearrk know this. It like god things some brothers and sisters make. They do bad things for these. You not listen to bad stone head. I fix it so it can't see you. Make it safe."
Grearrk pries the eyes from the head and smashes them with a rock.
Grearrk, Mosswart Emissary tells you, "Lucky good you talk to me. Stone heads no good. It blind now, don't worry. I help you, you kill evil banderlings. Everyone happy. Except evil banderlings, but that ok."
Grearrk, Mosswart Emissary tells you, "Whatever you do, don't put eyes back in. They make stone head wake up. Big evil power. You better off without that."
Grearrk, Mosswart Emissary gives you Head of the Homunculus.

If you want to tempt fate, replace the eyes with Idol Gems. For each eye you add, the orb becomes more powerful, as well as level restricted. Adding Idol Gems requires a skill check. The first eye has a War Magic skill check, and the check is Item Magic for the second.

You fit the Idol Gem into the right eye socket, which begins to glow an ominous red. You sense something probing your thoughts. Suddenly the eye glow fiercely, mesmerizing you.

You allow Grearrk, Mosswart Emissary to examine your Head of the Homunculus.
Grearrk, Mosswart Emissary tells you, "Why you not listen. I warn you, it evil head. Now it waking up, You keep bad head away from me."

When you wield the orb, you'll hear it tempting you with power if you ignore Grearrk's warnings.

The red glowing eye locks you in its gaze.
You hear a faint whisper as the power of the head infuses you.
A voice seems to whisper in your ear, "Another eye and I may bless you with more power."

The following message is a failure message for the second eye. Note: If you fail the skill check, the idol is destroyed, but the head remains intact for another attempt.

You fit the Idol Gem into the left eye socket, which begins to glow an ominous red. You feel a burst of pain in your head and the gem shatters in a flare of red light.

When you succeed, you'll get this message:

You fit the Idol Gem into the left eye socket, which begins to glow an ominous red. You sense something probing your thoughts. Suddenly the eyes glow fiercely, mesmerizing you.

You allow Grearrk, Mosswart Emissary to examine your Head of the Homunculus.
Grearrk, Mosswart Emissary tells you, "You have learning problem? I say no and you do anyway. I say evil head and you act like it your best friend."
Grearrk, Mosswart Emissary tells you, "You must be listening to head. You leave now, take head, find a lost place."

The head may be given, so idol gems may be added to the orb by other people. Take note, however: when you add the first eye, the spells can only be activated by the person who added the gem. After added the second eye, it can be activated by anyone.

The final 2 eyed orb also whispers messages in your ear:

Your rightful power returns as you heft the Head of the Homunculus. A quiet peace rests upon you and you are ready.
A voice seems to whisper in your ear, "Find the others. Bring them to worship..."
You stare into the glowing eyes of the Homunculus. Such a beautiful light. You feel its magic wash over you, cleansing you of doubt.
A strange faint voice whispers in your ear, "... believe in me."

Eskarina sends this information on the skill checks involved:

"I had 433 War and had 98% chance on the first eye.
I had 351 Item and had 82% chance on the second eye.
(Also, my friend had 377 Item and had 91% chance on the second eye.)"
 

Homunculus: "a miniature adult that in the theory of preformation is held to inhabit the germ cell and to produce a mature individual merely by an increase in size." --Merriam Webster

Thanks to Magicpipe II of TD,  Ks Babe of FF, Dallimar Goldenleaf of FF, Alaric III of LC and Golden Blood of HG, Deven-Kenyon of SC, Damien Saren of FF, Rasulis of DT, Carexium of LC, Omni Oni of HG, Thase Skotoso, Evil Mage of Dearth, Trunkz, The Jaff, Chupon of LC, Talissa of MT, Arch Magi of HG, Belltheo of MT, Arakn Winfield of MT