The Deep Burrows

Category: medium

Prerequisites: complete rivers_of_the_vale

Open the Old Pens

The Wildwarden leans on her staff at the mouth of a caved-in tunnel. "The deep pens are down there somewhere — the moles dug 'em a century back. Clear the mithril seam blocking the way and we'll start."

Objectives:

• MINE: Mithril Ore ×120

Rewards:

• ✨ 7,000 Mining XP
• 3,000 gp

Shore the Shaft

"Loose stone up there'll bury a beast," Bram warns. "Redwood holds where pine snaps. Fell a good stack for the props."

Objectives:

• CHOP: Redwood Logs ×130

Rewards:

• ✨ 70,000 Woodcutting XP
• 3,000 gp

The Squatter Below

An old prospector's been living in the lower gallery, pockets jingling with the menagerie's lost stores. "Lighten his load," the Wildwarden says drily. "It was ours first."

Objectives:

• THIEVE: miner ×150

Rewards:

• ✨ 8,000 Thieving XP
• 3,500 gp

Earn the Burrowers

"Digging out a pen by hand'll break you," the Wildwarden says. "Bond a burrowing beast or two — let 'em mission and grow. Come back when they've got some heft." Raise your pets in the Pets panel.

Objectives:

• LEVEL:

Rewards:

• 4,000 gp

Harder Seams

Past the first collapse the rock turns mean. "Adamantite," Bram whistles. "Your burrowers can smell it. Chip it loose and the gallery opens."

Objectives:

• MINE: Adamantite Ore ×130

Rewards:

• ✨ 8,000 Mining XP
• 3,500 gp

Bars for the Bars

"A pen needs gates, and gates need metal." Smelt the mithril you've hauled up into clean bars for the smith.

Objectives:

• SMELT: Mithril Bar ×40

Rewards:

• ✨ 7,000 Smithing XP
• 3,500 gp

The Runite Vein

Deepest of all, a blue-green glimmer in the dark. "Runite," the Wildwarden breathes. "The old wardens lined the strongest pens with it. Mine enough to do the same."

Objectives:

• MINE: Runite Ore ×120

Rewards:

• ✨ 9,000 Mining XP
• 4,000 gp

More Props, More Pens

Every gallery you open needs shoring. "Cut another stack," Bram says, wiping grit from his eyes. "The burrows never stop wanting timber."

Objectives:

• CHOP: Redwood Logs ×140

Rewards:

• ✨ 75,000 Woodcutting XP
• 4,000 gp

Fittings and Filings

The pen gates eat mithril faster than expected. "Back to the seam," the Wildwarden grunts. "A beast that breaks loose down here is a beast we lose."

Objectives:

• MINE: Mithril Ore ×150

Rewards:

• ✨ 7,500 Mining XP
• 4,000 gp

Bonded Diggers

"Your burrowers are coming along," the Wildwarden notes, scratching one behind the ear. "But the deep work needs deeper bonds. Keep them missioning till they're proper diggers." Level your pets further.

Objectives:

• LEVEL:

Rewards:

• 5,000 gp

The Prospector Returns

The old squatter crept back, fatter pockets than ever. "Persistent," the Wildwarden mutters. "Relieve him again — and this time keep the keys he's carrying."

Objectives:

• THIEVE: miner ×160

Rewards:

• ✨ 9,000 Thieving XP
• 4,500 gp

Adamant for the Deep Gates

The lowest pens hold the heaviest beasts. "Adamantite gates or nothing," Bram says firmly. "Bring up another haul."

Objectives:

• MINE: Adamantite Ore ×150

Rewards:

• ✨ 8,500 Mining XP
• 4,500 gp

The Last Bars

One more smelting and the gatework is done. "Pour clean," the Wildwarden says. "These bars stand between a herd and a cave-in."

Objectives:

• SMELT: Mithril Bar ×45

Rewards:

• ✨ 8,000 Smithing XP
• 5,000 gp

The Deep Pens Open

The Wildwarden runs a hand along a runite-lined gate as the first beast pads into its restored burrow. "A hundred years dark, and you opened it in a season. Line the rest — and the deep menagerie lives again."

Objectives:

• MINE: Runite Ore ×150

Rewards:

• ✨ 9,000 Mining XP
• 6,000 gp
• 💎 35 gems