View source for The Root of the Problem

{{Quest Header|nd
| Start = Chumimi
| Start Location = {{Location|Heavens Tower|map=Basement}}
| Start Location Add = at the Star Tree Farm
| Type = AF
| Requirements=[[Black Mage]] Level: 50+
| Items Needed=[[Silk Cloth]]
| Description = The cause of the star trees' poor growth seems to lie in the Toraimarai Canal. First, bring some silk cloth to Professor Koru-Moru so he can improve his magic doll. Then take the magic doll into the Toraimarai Canal to carry out an inspection.
| Title=Paragon of Black Mage Excellence
| Repeatable=af
| Rewards=[[Wizard's Petasos]]
| Previous=[[Recollections]]
| Next=
}}

[[Image:ToraimaraiCanal1.png|thumb|[[Toraimarai Canal]]]]
[[Image:InnerHorutotoRuins4.png|thumb|Gate of Earth]]
[[Image:Toraimarai Composite.PNG|thumb|Composite map to Toraimarai Canal]]
==Walkthrough==
*Talk to [[Chumimi]] in [[Heavens Tower]] to get a cutscene. Zoning out of [[Heavens Tower]] is required after finishing the [[Recollections]] quest. You will need to be [[Black Mage]].
*Then talk to [[Koru-Moru]] at ({{Location Tooltip|area=Windurst Walls|pos=E-7}}) in [[Windurst Walls]] and trade him a [[Silk Cloth]].
*Go back to [[Chumimi]] for another cutscene.  You will receive a {{KeyItem}}[[Sluice Surveyer Mark I|Sluice Surveyor Mark I]], which is a magic doll.
*Head into [[Toraimarai Canal]] via the [[Three Mage Gate]], or through [[Windurst Walls]] if you have the {{KeyItem}}[[Rhinostery Certificate]].
**You must stay on BLM while investigating the first two ???s. At one point the magic doll will tell you to use your "BLACK POWER," and you will need to use [[Manafont]]. You can change to any job afterwards.
** [[Tractor]] doesn't work to by-pass the Rhino gate. The other side of the gate is protected from it.

==The ??? Locations==
*The first ??? is at ({{Location Tooltip|area=Toraimarai Canal|pos=H-7}}) of the first map of the [[Toraimarai Canal]], fairly close to the Horutoto entrance. 
**These are not the sparkling ???'s. Check it and get a cutscene where the doll absorbs the magic.  To get the cutscene, you must be on the same side of the gate as the ???- you can receive text from either side, but only one side will give the cutscene.
*The second ??? is at ({{Location Tooltip|area=Toraimarai Canal|pos=I-9}}) on the same map, on the west side of that gate. Check the ??? for a cutscene, use [[Manafont]], and check the ??? once again for a second cutscene. [[Manafont]] requires you to be BLM.
'''Note: From this point on you can be any job to do the NM fight.'''
*Head to the third ??? at ({{Location Tooltip|area=Toraimarai Canal|pos=J-8}}). When you examine it, the NM [[Magic Sludge]] will spawn.
*There are two ??? at the ({{Location Tooltip|area=Toraimarai Canal|pos=J-8}}) spawn point less than a half-inch apart. If you receive the message "There is nothing out of the ordinary here" and you successfully eradicated the first two magic stagnations, you may be trying the wrong ??? and simply need to look carefully at which one you have selected.

==The Fight==
*It is highly recommended that you clear the room of any regular mobs before popping the NM and then pulling the NM into the hallway to avoid aggro once the mobs respawn.
*The NM is like all other elementals in that it's highly resistant to physical attacks, but is also resistant to magic. Some ways to get around the damage resistances are:
**a MNK with [[Chi Blast]] or [[Formless Strikes]]
**Any sword user using [[Spirits Within]]
**A SMN using [[Diabolos]]'s  Blood Pact [[Nether Blast]]
*While the NM may have some magic resistance, a 75BLM or RDM is easily able to nuke the NM with little resistance.
*You also may choose to use some [[Poison Potion]]s if you want to reduce the danger of the [[Sleepga]] it can cast.
*You do not have to kill this once per [[Black Mage]]; simply clear the area and have each BLM pop the Magic Sludge with sneak letting the elemental depop each time. Then when the last BLM pops kill Magic Sludge then have all Blms examine the ??? for the CS. Meaning you only have to fight once. It takes 3 minutes to depop, and you must wait 3 minutes after that to repop it. (Confirmation needed - just completed this for 2 people and only had to pop and fight the NM once)
*Defeat [[Magic Sludge]] and click on the [[???]] again for a cutscene.
**If you wipe while trying to kill the NM, simply raise up, wait for full heal, and pop the ??? again. You are not required to go and check the other two ???'s again before repopping [[Magic Sludge]]. You do not have to redo the first two ??? if you have to home point. 
{{testimonials}}

==Completing the Quest==
'''NOTE (4/10/2024):''' This optional section does not appear to be possible on Horizon at this time.

*'''(Optional)''' Zone into [[Inner Horutoto Ruins]] from [[Toraimarai Canal]] for another cutscene about an unclassifiable sealed area.
**You can skip this cutscene by warping out or exiting through the Priming Gate into [[Windurst Walls]]. You can exit through it even if you lack the {{KeyItem}}[[Rhinostery Certificate]] to use it as an entrance. You will still get your hat, but cannot proceed with the remaining cutscenes in the Optional section.
*Head back to [[Chumimi]] in [[Heavens Tower]] for the required cutscene to receive your reward.

==Optional==
*'''If you received the [[Inner Horutoto Ruins]] cutscene''' Talk to [[Kupipi]] in [[Heavens Tower]], she is behind the reception desk near the Starway Stairway door, and receive an {{KeyItem}}[[Earthen Charm]].
*Head back into Horutoto and click on the ''Gate of Earth'' {{Location|Inner Horutoto Ruins|map=Rose Tower 2|I-7}} in the room full of [[Wendigo]]s to get the real final cutscene.

**You can head past the [[Three Mage Gate]] or if you have the {{KeyItem}}[[Rhinostery Certificate]], head through the ''Priming Gate'' at {{Location|Windurst Walls|H-3}} into [[Toraimarai Canal]].

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