Isparian Weapons

Difficulty:  Minimum to survive
Level Restriction:  20+ 
Timer:  3 Weeks
Can be Solo'd?  Yes if below 80
Rewards:  Isparian Weapons, Isparian Weapon Modification Tool

Sadly, Atlan Weapons just aren't what they used to be.  Isparian Smiths and dilapidated Empyrean equipment can't produce the quality of weapons used during the height of the Shadow War.  However, the Arcanum may have an answer...

Note - this quest is much much much easier to do at low levels.  If you want to make Isparian Weapons, I suggest leveling a character to 35 or so.  The higher the level, the harder it is to complete this quest.

Step 1:  Preparation.  If you are below level 80, you may (emphasis on MAY) be able to solo this quest.  If you are above 80 though, it's next to impossible, so gather a group and be sure half of them have Healer's Hearts.  Your first stop is Xarabydun - either buy a portal gem or run.  Outside the town, you will find the Arcanum's research facility.  Find and greet Alaine the Apprentice and he will flag you to enter the first dungeon.

Step 2:  Arcanum Research Facility.  Head to Al Jalima (there's a portal in Arwic) and then run to 5.8N 6.3E, which is just outside the town.  You might as well buff up now - you'll be fighting Simulacra in this first dungeon, so put up your protects and choose your favorite weapon.  The dungeon is small - from the drop, take the north door on the west wall (which is just behind you) and follow the corridor to a small room with two exits.  Pick one and follow the corridor to a large room.  You will find many Empty Decanters on the ground here - everyone should pick up 10.  When you have your 10, it's time to leave.

Step 3:  Fathomless Chasm.  Now it's time to fill the Decanters.  That means heading to the Fathomless Chasm.  This dungeon is located at 36.9S 63.4E, which is along the ridge west of Shoushi.  The Chasm itself has no monsters in it and is basically a staging ground where the quest is divided up by level.  You should rebuff here (even though you probably haven't burned much time on your original buffs), but those buffs depend on your level.

20-39:  Devex - Frost Elementals and Glacial Golems.  Glacial Golem Margrave

40-49:  Clough - Fire Elementals and Magma Golems.  Magma Golem Exarch

50-59:  Plummet - Acid Elementals and Obsidian Golems.  Coral Golem Viceroy

60-79:  Descent - Electrical Elementals.  Diamond Golem Suzerian

80+:  Abyss - Dual Elementals.  Crystal Golem Imperator

Each dungeon has a boss and several elemental minions in the final room protecting a Mana Stream.  When that boss dies, the all the minions die too, allowing you some time to gather your Mana unhindered.  Unfortunately, the Crystal Golem Imperator is basically unkillable, so your best bet is to have half your group stay up top and spam heals with the Healer's Heart while the rest of the group jumps down.  You might want to kill a few of the Duals in the pit, but don't bother with the Imperator.  When enough are dead, start harvesting the mana.  Use your Decanters on the Mana Stream(double-click decanter, single-click the mana stream) - you may have difficulty because the stream is hard to target.  When the first half of the group has filled their decanters, take the exit portal and switch jobs.

Step 4:  Rewards.  Now that you have your Mana, you'll need to gather the other components.  That means getting 16 motes and Diamond Powder, as well as a very talented alchemist.  Have your alchemist combine the motes to make a Quality Ingot and then use the Mana on the Diamond Powder.  Success will make Thick Diamond Oil but a failure will make Thin oil.  If you make Thin Oil, throw it away - it's useless.  Now use the thick oil on the Quality Ingot. You will either get a Superb Ingot (failure) or a Perfect Ingot (success).  The Superb Ingot is also pretty much useless unless you want a junky weapon.  Both of these checks are exceptionally difficult, so make sure your alchemist is up to the task!  Once you have your Ingot, it's time to head to Crater Village and Silencia's Magma Golem.  Buy a blue 'New' glyph (as opposed to the gray glyphs used to make Atlan and Chorizite weapons) and stamp your glyph.  This step used to have a very difficult skill check, but now the only thing that matters when making a weapon is the quality of the Ingot.  If you have a perfect ingot, you will get a perfect weapon. 

While you have your alchemist available, bring her some Medium-grade Ground Chorizite (from the Lugian Quarry) and a Diamond Heart.  Use your Mana Decanter on the Chorizite and you will produce Oil of Nullification.  Now use that Oil on the Diamond Heart to produce a Treated Diamond Heart.  Now you need to find a skilled lockpicker to carve the heart.  Success will create an Isparian Modification Tool while failure will destroy the heart.  This tool will allow you to change stones in your weapon.

The unaltered Isparian Weapons are basically useless - their damage is low and they don't have any useful properties.  However, you may add elemental Atlan stone to the weapon to add an Elemental Slayer property (Acid Slayer if you add a Lighting Stone, etc) as well as elemental status for melee weapons, the opposing elemental protection, and an attribute buff.  You cannot add the Blackfire Stone, unfortunately, but you can use the Heart of the Innocent!

Optional - Step 5:  Prismatic Isparian Stone.  This short side-quest is ideal for a small group, as you will get many Prismatic Stones for a single key.  Pick up a carved Singularity Key and head for Martine's Retreat in Rithwic.  Find Josef and give him the key.  In exchange, he will give you Gaerlan's Key.  Now find Gaerlan's Study, which is down a long ramp and across a false floor.  Here you will find Gaerlan's Chest.  Unlock it and take an Unfashioned Prismatic Stone.  It is unusable in its current state - you will need to carve it with an Intricate Carving Tool.  There is no skill check, but it will destroy the tool.  The carved stone may be added to Isparian Weapons (not Atlans or old-style Shadow armor) and will add an Elemental Slayer property, which makes them ideal for use against Dual Elementals.  The Prismatic Stone does not add any elemental status, so your weapon will do physical damage only.