The Claw of Vulkoor

The Claw of Vulkoor is the 2nd quest in The Red Fens story arcStory arcs are chains of quests that make up a story line. Completing everything in a story arc often yields a nice reward..
The first three quests can be completed in any order to unlock Into the Deep.
Fathom the Depths • The Claw of Vulkoor • The Last Stand • Into the Deep

The Claw of Vulkoor has appeared deep inside territory belonging to the local fire giants.

Requires access to adventure pack
Definition: Adventure Pack
A list of all adventure packs
: The Red Fens

The Claw of Vulkoor
Heroic level:	9
Epic level:	21
Duration:	Medium
Heroic XP:	♣1,712Solo/Casual ♦3,016Normal ♥3,178Hard ♠3,340Elite
Epic XP:	♣8,204Solo/Casual ♦14,136Normal ♥14,597Hard ♠15,059Elite
Takes place in:	Claw Canyon
Bestowed by:	Croaker
NPC contact:	Croaker
Quest acquired in:	The Red Fens
Patron:	House Kundarak
Base favor:	4
Purchase:	The Red Fens or VIP
Extreme Challenge:	No

Loading screen

Overview

The Claw of Vulkoor has appeared near the Raveneye refugee camp. The Claw bestows a blessing upon any drow who uses it, but unfortunately it has appeared in territory belonging to hostile fire giants.

Croaker wants you to travel to Claw Canyon, west of the drow camp, and try to negotiate passage through the fire giants' territory.

Spoiler Warning: Spoiler material below this point!

Objectives

Speak with priestess Ionna
Help the Drow find the Claw of Vulkoor
Defeat the warlock, Sobrien
Speak with cursed Ionna
Retrieve Ionna's staff
Gather the cursed scorpions
Break the curse on the Drow
Stick Ionna's staff into the octagon
Don't leave Ionna's staff behind
Climb to the top of the Claw of Vulkoor
Break the curse on the Drow
(Optional) Defeat the Chieftain Uggorn (rare) — Bonus (10%): Heroic( ♣171 ♦302 ♥318 ♠334 ) Epic( ♣820 ♦1,414 ♥1,460 ♠1,506 )
(Optional) Pass unnoticed by scorpion guardians — Bonus (15%): Heroic( ♣257 ♦452 ♥477 ♠501 ) Epic( ♣1,231 ♦2,120 ♥2,190 ♠2,259 )
(Optional) Pass unnoticed by roaming scorpions — Bonus (20%): Heroic( ♣342 ♦603 ♥636 ♠668 ) Epic( ♣1,641 ♦2,827 ♥2,919 ♠3,012 )
(Optional) Pacify all the scorpion guardians (all 7 guardians) — Bonus (10%): Heroic( ♣171 ♦302 ♥318 ♠334 ) Epic( ♣820 ♦1,414 ♥1,460 ♠1,506 )
(Optional) Pacify the first scorpion guardian — Bonus (1.5%): Heroic( ♣26 ♦45 ♥48 ♠50 ) Epic( ♣123 ♦212 ♥219 ♠226 )
(Optional) Pacify the second scorpion guardian — Bonus (1.5%): Heroic( ♣26 ♦45 ♥48 ♠50 ) Epic( ♣123 ♦212 ♥219 ♠226 )
(Optional) Pacify the third scorpion guardian — Bonus (1.5%): Heroic( ♣26 ♦45 ♥48 ♠50 ) Epic( ♣123 ♦212 ♥219 ♠226 )
(Optional) Pacify the fourth scorpion guardian — Bonus (1.5%): Heroic( ♣26 ♦45 ♥48 ♠50 ) Epic( ♣123 ♦212 ♥219 ♠226 )
(Optional) Pacify the fifth scorpion guardian — Bonus (1.5%): Heroic( ♣26 ♦45 ♥48 ♠50 ) Epic( ♣123 ♦212 ♥219 ♠226 )
(Optional) Pacify the sixth scorpion guardian — Bonus (1.5%): Heroic( ♣26 ♦45 ♥48 ♠50 ) Epic( ♣123 ♦212 ♥219 ♠226 )
(Optional) Pacify the seventh scorpion guardian — Bonus (1.5%): Heroic( ♣26 ♦45 ♥48 ♠50 ) Epic( ♣123 ♦212 ♥219 ♠226 )
(Optional) Do not rob the giant's tomb — Bonus (30%): Heroic( ♣514 ♦905 ♥953 ♠1,002 ) Epic( ♣2,461 ♦4,241 ♥4,379 ♠4,518 )
(Optional) Face the wrath of Prince Gornard — Bonus (8%): Heroic( ♣137 ♦241 ♥254 ♠267 ) Epic( ♣656 ♦1,131 ♥1,168 ♠1,205 )

What to Expect

Overlapping floors
Spawning/respawning monsters

Known Traps

Trap DCs

Fire jets (fixed, some appear only on certain difficulties)

Tips and Misc

One of the few quests where you get significantly more XP by being stealthy. (About 89% optional XP, and 7% bonus XP for a completely stealthy approach versus 8% optional XP, and 25% bonus XP for killing and smashing everything in your path.)
- This optional for this quest is, essentially, Stealthy Repossession with scorpions. However, instead of a fail mechanic, you can get significant optional bonus XP if you do not kill the scorpions.

If you try to stealth the quest, memorize the paths of the wandering scorpions, and either stay out of their way or get to one side and hold still before they get close. For the nesting scorpions, stay as far away as possible. In either case, they may be less inclined to react to a failed Listen check than a failed Spot (invisibility is useful) check, so if you have to get close, stay behind them.
If you think you've failed and are about to be attacked, get as far away from the Guardians (or break line of sight) before you are forced out of Sneak mode. You can kill lots of monsters and still succeed (20 monsters is low enough for the 5% Discreet award), but you can lose out on XP for several optionals, may lose out on an optional chest.

Nesting scorpions heal other nearby scorpions nearby. If fighting a group of scorpions, take out the "cleric" first!
When you use the staff on one of the floor runes, the staff is left stuck in the rune. Be sure to retrieve it each time, as this is one of the mandatory objectives (and it also helps with the doors).
For a successful stealth run:
- Do NOT bring hirelings or summon anything. This should be an obvious point, as anything that will be seen will blow at least one of your objectives.
- ALL members in the party MUST have sufficiently high Hide and Move Silently scores. Invisibility alone NEVER works alone against the Listen checks of all scorpions.
- Have the capacity to use Invisibility at-will and while still in Sneak for close-range sneaking to and away from octagons. The quest consists of narrow passages where enemies will always be too close for Hide alone to work on its own against the high Spot of the scorpions. The Ninja Spy's Shadow Veil, Invisibility potions may work. Scrolls may take you out of Sneak, so use carefully.
- Bring the capacity of True Seeing (Heroic only) or high Search skill (Epic). True Seeing will not auto-detect hidden doors on Epic level.
- Bring the capacity to distract the last two guardian scorpions and any minders away from their octagons. Rogues can use Noisemaker traps. Others can use the Distract ability from Feydark Illusionist by targeting an object or enemy that's opposite of line-of-sight of the octagon.
Sobrien is a mage. He's a pushover on Heroic but on Epic he does throw death spells and is reasonably durable.
Bug: Recent updates have resulted in the Drow-turned-scorpions still roaming about, failing to disappear, after you interact with each to "gather them" into your backpack. They do appear to be seen by the nearby giants, so be mindful after opening the first door if they begin to wander out.
Directly at the first door with a lever are 2 secret doors. One leads into a tunnel where an optional Fire Giant 'Chieftain Uggorn' may spawn in front of the Mirror Door when the nearby Rest Shrine is used. At the end of this tunnel is a third secret door. The fourth secret door is in the chamber of Prince Gornard. You must be able to either search and open the secret door in Prince Gornard's chamber in order to finish the quest, or loot the treasure to spawn Gornard (the passage will open upon his defeat).
Avoid the fire trapped passage by taking the first secret door on the left, opening the hatch and dropping into the Mirror room where there is a shrine. The end of this passage comes out next to the end of the fire trapped passage, bypassing it. You will have to fight a few extra giants in this passage but it's much easier than running the fire traps in the other passage.
If you can sneak up on the Fire Giant in the down-sloping tunnel before he can reach the lever, the fire traps will not go off.
The sixth Guardian requires a distraction that won't reveal you, such as a Noisemaker trap, or Feydark Illusionist's Distract enhancement.
After getting past the sixth Guardian, you'll come across a fire giant kneeling next to some lava near a resurrection shrine. There's a rest shrine directly above it, which can be gotten to by following the ledge up.
If you cannot find the secret door in the burial chamber, triggering and killing Prince Gornard (see next) will open that door.
If you decide to loot the chests in the burial chamber (the clam counts as a chest), the skeleton of Prince Gornard will spawn. He is a giant skeleton who likes throwing blade barriers. On hard mode also several Scorpions will arrive as soon as he is defeated. If you open the secret door in Prince Gornard's chamber before defeating him, the last guardian will rush in after the fight and you will not be able to do the pacify guardian optional for him.
- Note: Upon quest completion, this 'area' gets deactivated if skipped.
To pacify the final scorpion guardian standing on the octagon, there are three ways to try.
- (1): As long as there are no champions with True Seeing or See Invisibility near:
  - Get to a safe spot and use an Invisibility potion/scroll/clicky.
  - Hide and move within sound detection range near the guardian, then unhide and move backwards. (You'll stay invisible, the guardian will hear your footsteps and start moving towards you)
  - Jump away from the guardian towards the staff octagon and hide mid-air.
  - (NOTE: As of Update 63, changes in the game may make the one-footstep distraction technique above impossible to perform – especially since there is often one healing scorpion nearby the guardian.)
- (2): While in Sneak mode you can also place a Noisemaker within the sound detection range.
  - Until the Noisemaker activates, you can take a good position for sneaking to the octagon, after the guardian moved towards the noise.
- (3): The Feydark Illusionist's Distract can be applied to another enemy scorpion or object nearby to move the guardian off the octagon.
- Stealth to the octagon for success.
You can actually use Ionna's Ancestral Staff as a weapon during the quest, but it will drop from your inventory upon completion.
Wilderness area note: Upon finishing the mission, one or more Blessed Drow Scorpion Warriors will spawn in the Red Fens Wilderness Area. While they do not leave their location, they assist the party in combat if enemy mobs are drawn close enough.

Bonus XP

Devious bonus: 12 or fewer monsters killed +7% Bonus.( ♣120 ♦211 ♥222 ♠234 )
Aggression bonus: 27 or more monsters killed +10% Bonus.( ♣171 ♦302 ♥318 ♠334 )
Onslaught bonus: 54 or more monsters killed +15% Bonus.( ♣257 ♦452 ♥477 ♠501 )
Conquest bonus: 81 or more monsters killed +25% Bonus.( ♣428 ♦754 ♥795 ♠835 )
Tamper bonus: 2 or more traps disarmed +10% Bonus.( ♣171 ♦302 ♥318 ♠334 )
Ingenious Debilitation bonus: 4 or more traps disarmed +30% Bonus.( ♣514 ♦905 ♥953 ♠1,002 )
Observance bonus: 1 or more secret door discovered +8% Bonus.( ♣137 ♦241 ♥254 ♠267 )
Mischief bonus: 26 or more breakables smashed +8% Bonus.( ♣137 ♦241 ♥254 ♠267 )
Vandal bonus: 34 or more breakables smashed +10% Bonus.( ♣171 ♦302 ♥318 ♠334 )
Ransack bonus: 42 or more breakables smashed +15% Bonus.( ♣257 ♦452 ♥477 ♠501 )

Loot

Chests: Zero to a possible maximum of 5 (Very difficult to get all, as you need to both be lucky enough to get the rare, stealthy enough, and strong enough to kill the skeleton)
- 2 chests and several gold piles for stealing from and slaying Prince Gornard (both can drop Dampened Cacophonic Verge^*))

(* Note – It's possible to get this item to drop in both chests, however, it is exclusive)

1 optional chest for passing unnoticed by roaming scorpions (chance to drop Dampened Shatterbow)

(Note – This chest will spawn next to the last pressure plate and can be easily overlooked)

1 optional chest for pacifying all scorpion guardians
1 chest for slaying the rare spawn Chieftain Uggorn, spawns out of mirror by first shrine
1 additional Epic chest with Fragments of a Token of the Twelve on Epic difficulty only

Collectables: Three
- Colossal Clam at the very bottom of the pit, behind some rocks
- Colossal Clam in the water near the western shrine
- Colossal Clam in the final chamber
NPC rewards: Selection of 4 Random items with total enchantment bonus of +1 to +5, from a Helm of Inner Focus (Concentration +3) to a Clever Ring of Doom (+2 Int, Doom 3/day), BtA, less minimum level than usual – maximum ML:5.

Unique Rewards

Last Edited	Item	Type	Enhancements	ML	Bind	Quests
Update 48.2 3 years, 4 months, and 4 days BugTime	Sacred Band ^(edit)	Ring	Divine BlessingDivine Blessing: 2 Pieces Equipped: +2% Artifact bonus to Light, Alignment, and Positive Spellcrit Chance +10 Artifact bonus to Light, Alignment, and Positive Spellpower Lesser TurningLesser Turning: Increases total number of Turn Undead uses by 2, once wielder rests. If you unequip the item you will lose these turns. Wisdom +5 Wisdom +5: This item makes the wearer more in tune with her surroundings, granting a +5 enhancement bonus to Wisdom. Heal +10Heal +10: Passive: +10 Competence bonus to the Heal skill.	7	Bound to Account on AcquireBound to Account on Acquire: This item is Bound to Account on Acquire	The Claw of Vulkoor, End reward
Update 48.2 3 years, 4 months, and 4 days BugTime	Gloves of the Claw ^(edit)	Gloves	Vulkoor's MightVulkoor's Might: 2 Pieces Equipped: +20% Artifact bonus to Threat Generation +3 Artifact bonus to Attack +3 Artifact bonus to Damage Strength +5 Strength +5: This item gives the wearer the power of Ogre Strength, granting a +5 enhancement bonus to Strength. Intimidate +10Intimidate +10: Passive: +10 Competence bonus to the Intimidate skill.	7	Bound to Account on AcquireBound to Account on Acquire: This item is Bound to Account on Acquire	The Claw of Vulkoor, End reward
Update 58.1 1 year, 1 month, and 7 days PurpleSerpent	Necklace of Venom ^(edit)	Necklace	Vulkoor's CunningVulkoor's Cunning: 2 Pieces Equipped: -20% Artifact bonus to Melee Threat Reduction +5 Artifact bonus to Melee and Ranged Power You gain On Vorpal: You apply a Vulkoorim Constitution Poison Proof Against Poison +6 Proof Against Poison +6: This item grants its wearer immunity to natural poisons. This item also grants a +6 Enhancement bonus to saving throws against magical poisons, and the wearer does not fail saving throws against them on a roll of a natural 1 (this renders the wearer immune to magical poisons with a DC of less than 7 + their Fortitude save). False Life +17 False Life +17: +17 Enhancement bonus to hit points.	7	Bound to Account on AcquireBound to Account on Acquire: This item is Bound to Account on Acquire	The Claw of Vulkoor, End reward

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Named Chest Drop

Last Edited	Item	Type	Enhancements	ML	Bind	Quests
Update 56.0.1 1 year, 7 months, and 13 days PurpleSerpent	Dampened Cacophonic Verge ^(edit)	Eternal wand	DampenedDampened: This item has been in a wet environment for too long and its original power has been weakened. Combine it with a Token of Vulkoor at the Altar of Vulkoor in the Red Fens to restore it back to its former glory.	5	Bound to Account on Acquire, ExclusiveBound to Account on Acquire: This item is Bound to Account on Acquire This is an Exclusive item. You may only carry one at a time.	The Claw of Vulkoor, Prince Gornard's chest
Update 48.4.3 3 years, 1 month, and 3 days BugTime	Dampened Shatterbow ^(edit)	Long Bow	DampenedDampened: This item has been in a wet environment for too long and its original power has been weakened. Combine it with a Token of Vulkoor at the Altar of Vulkoor in the Red Fens to restore it back to its former glory. +1 Enhancement Bonus+1 Enhancement Bonus: +1 enhancement bonus to attack and damage rolls. ScreamingScreaming: Screaming weapons emit a piercing screech whenever they are used to make a successful attack. This screech does an additional 1 to 6 sonic damage. Construct BaneConstruct Bane: A bane weapon excels at attacking one type or subtype of creature. Against Constructs, this weapon's effective enhancement bonus is +2 better than its normal enhancement bonus. It deals an extra 2 to 12 points of damage against the foe. Move Silently -5Move Silently -5: Passive: -5 penalty to the Move Silently skill.	7	UnboundUnbound: This item is Unbound, and may take permanent damage.	The Claw of Vulkoor, Scorpions optional chest (don't kill scorpions)

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Monsters

Name ^{( picture )}	CR	Type	Race
Chieftain Uggorn ^{( view • edit )}	♠21Elite	Giant	Giant
Fire Giant ^{( view • edit )}	♦10Normal ♥12Hard ♠15Elite ●♦25Epic Normal	Giant	Giant
Nesting Scorpion ^{( view • edit )}	♠14Elite	Vermin	Scorpion
Prince Gornard ^{( view • edit )}	♠17Elite ●♦24Epic Normal ●♥33Epic Hard	Undead	Skeleton
Roaming Scorpion ^{( view • edit )}	♠13Elite	Vermin	Scorpion
Scorpion Ambusher ^{( view • edit )}	♠14Elite	Vermin	Scorpion
Scorpion Guardian ^{( view • edit )}	♠16Elite ●♦23Epic Normal ●♥32Epic Hard	Vermin	Scorpion
Warlock Sobrien ^{( view • edit )}	♠16Elite ●♦23Epic Normal ●♥32Epic Hard ●♠48Epic Elite	Giant	Giant