The Unfinished Tale of Bob the Snail

Bump.

Jay's Curiosity is one confusing hell of a mess. It doesn't help many details are missing from the original narrative.

Perhaps more ideas were planned, but honestly I think Jay's Curiosity would have ended up like most other quests in the game.

To illustrate that, I give an example.

Spoiler: Example

According to the library, Bob is there not only as a mob, but also as an NPC.



Assume he is moved to a map called "Empty Forest".



I'd put a Snail Statue (NPC) at the top platform of Kerning City Middle Forest III, so when I click on it, I'd be warped in to the map to meet him.

Spoiler: Empty Forest

In the original quest, Jay says: "I've seen a place around here that looked just like Snail Hunting Ground I of Maple Island. He's known to be born from that place and he might feel safer to come out if he's there."

In v62, Snail Hunting Ground I looks like this:


I imagine when this quest was written, Snail Hunting Ground was probably described looking more like this:
(credit: Wayback Hidden Street)

Either way, I don't think any maps like that can be found anywhere on Victoria Island. So I'd probably be likely to create a new map inspired by it:



Or, I'd copy the same map used for Snail Hunting Ground I but instead place the portal at the top of the map rather than having it at the bottom right.

What's said last in Jay's Curiosity is: "Just talk to me one more time. Let me look for the directions.". And that obviously doesn't happen.

Here, I'd open a new quest and have Jay tell me where I can find the "Empty Forest". Then, upon getting there, I'd find Bob and complete the task (Jay's Curiosity will still be active).

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From here, Bob could initiate a series of quests, starting with Grendel The Really Old's Glorious Days.

Spoiler: Grendel The Really Old's Glorious Days + Gwin's Thanks

To me, Grendel The Really Old's Glorious Days and Gwin's Thanks seem to fit well because of how I read the last line in Grendel:

"I don't know. I would think Bob is very mad at you at this moment. Maybe you can ease his mind if you comfort him somehow. I wouldn't really know how to [go] about that though."

Once Gwin gives his thanks, return to Bob (at "Empty forest") to begin the other uncoded quests.

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Now, Bob initiates the other quests. Every time a new quest starts, Bob will ask the player to free up one ETC inventory space because you will have to take him everywhere in order to complete the quests.

(In the library, Bob's Snail Shell exists twice. I'd make the "untradeable" version as the item to get from Bob himself.)

Spoiler: The Rememberer's Passion

The Rememberer's Passion
Part 1: Give Bob's Snail Shell
Part 2: Give one Snail Shell to The Rememberer. (Bob is "missing", so you won't need him.)

After the task is completed, return to Bob (at "Empty Forest") who will debrief you on how he "returned" back to his map "safely".

Spoiler: Dances with Balrog's Barbarism

I'd delete the text you read from under the section "Quest Complete", and instead initiate Part II.

Part 1: (talk to Dances with Balrog's)
Part 2: Collect Drake Skull.

Note: Drake Skull is used in Third Material for Building a New House — a quest available only to Magician.

Spoiler: Blackbull's Mistake

Blackbull's Mistake
Pre-requisite: Building a New House For "Blackbull"

Collect Mixed Block.

Note: Blackbull is just looking for "stronger" material to use to build his house.

Spoiler: Cody's Confession

Cody's Confession

Talk to Cody.

Note: Cody doesn't believe in "Bob the Snail".

Spoiler: Bruce's Research + Winston's Scheme

Bruce's Research
Pre-requisite: I Need to Find My Daughter

Talk to Bruce.

Winston's Scheme
Pre-requisite: Bruce's Research

Talk to Winston and collect Skeledog's Bone and Dirty Bandage.

Note: Winston's quests are mostly set in the Excavation Site.

Spoiler: Manji's Approval

Manji's Approval
Pre-requisite: Maya and the Weird Medicine

Collect Wild Boar Tooth, Fire Boar's Tooth, and Iron Boar Armor.

Note: Fire Boar's Tooth is used in Maya's Second Collection — a quest available only to Bowman.

Once all the quests are completed, return to Bob. He will give you a note which you pass to Jay (to complete Jay's Curiosity).