Before even attempting it, please note that this mission is not required to unlock the potion store. The potion store will be unlocked by completing The New Frontier Quest only.
Visit Rabaz in Farmine and ask him for a mission. He needs you to collect samples from rare plant specimen in Zao. Go to the storage room to the west and receive the Botany Almanach. Make sure you have the Botany Almanach in your inventory before you continue.
Leave Farmine to the Zao Steppes. Find the small north-western Lancer Beetle Cave and in it, the Giant Dreadcoil. It's about half way through the cave, here. When you find it, use your Obsidian Knife on it to obtain a sample. The samples do not exist as an item for you to confirm, so watch for the orange text that appears above your character.
Now you must find the second plant, a Giant Verminous. Go to the Zao Wailing Widow Cave, located slightly east of the Zao Orc Land (here).
Inside it, go north-east to find Spider Webs. Use your Fire Bug or a melee weapon on the spider webs to cut through them. Now go north and follow the path north-west and then north-east to find a large pit. On the edge there is a Giant Verminous. Use your Obsidian Knife on this plant and exit the cave. Note that there is a Giant Dreadcoil very close to the giant verminous. You cannot use this dreadcoil.
Now go back to Rabaz and turn in your mission to claim your Sedge Hat.
Transcripts[]
Accepting the mission
Player: mission
Rabaz: Why yes, there is indeed some minor issue I could need your help with. I was always a friend of nature and it was not recently I discovered the joys of plants, growths, of all the flora around us. ...
Rabaz: Botany my friend. The study of plants is of great importance for our future. Many of the potions we often depend on are made of plants you know. Plants can help us tending our wounds, cure us from illness or injury. ...
Rabaz: I am currently writing an excessive compilation of all the knowledge I have gathered during my time here in Farmine and soon hope to publish it as 'Rabaz' Unabridged Almanach Of Botany'. ...
Rabaz: However, to actually complete my botanical epitome concerning Zao, I would need someone to enter these dangerous lands. Someone able to get closer to the specimens than I can. ...
Rabaz: And this is where you come in. There are two extremely rare species I need samples from. Typically not easy to come by but it should not be necessary to venture too far into Zao to find them. ...
Rabaz: Explore the anterior outskirts of Zao, use my almanach and find the two specimens with missing samples on their pages. The almanach can be found in a chest in my storage, next to my shop. It's the door over there. ...
Rabaz: If you lose it I will have to write a new one and put it in there again - which will undoubtedly take me a while. So keep an eye on it on your travels. ...
Rabaz: Once you find what I need, best use a knife to carefully cut and gather a leaf or a scrap of their integument and press it directly under their appropriate entry into my botanical almanach. ...
Rabaz: Simply return to me after you have done that and we will discuss your reward. What do you say, are you in? Player: yes
Rabaz: Yes? Yes! That's the enthusiasm I need! Remember to bring a sharp knife to gather the samples, plants - even mutated deformed plants - are very sensitive you know. Off you go and be careful out there, Zao is no place for the faint hearted mind you.
An Interest In Botany Quest
Completing the mission
Player: mission
Rabaz: Well fantastic work, you gathered both samples! Now I can continue my work on the almanach, thank you very much for your help indeed. Can I take a look at my book please? Player: yes
Rabaz: Ah, thank you. Now look at that texture and fine colour, simply marvellous. ...
Rabaz: I hope the sun in the steppe did not exhaust you too much? Shellshock. A dangerous foe in the world of field science and exploration. ...
Rabaz: Here, I always wore this comfortable hat when travelling, take it. It may be of use for you on further reconnaissances in Zao. Again you have my thanks, friend.
