Investigate The Troubling Rumors is the first objective in The Alchemist’s Rumors, a quest Balthazar hands you once he’s set up at your base. The Alchemist has picked up word that a band of Scavengers in the Springlands are abusing Elixir and running cruel experiments, and he wants their camp cleared. The target is the Hill of Scavengers, and the real fight there is a mini-boss called the Scavenger Gorger Matron.
Quick answer: Fast travel to the Ancient Spire – Springlands, glide northeast across the Shroud to the Hill of Scavengers, break into the camp, and kill the Scavenger Gorger Matron. Her death completes the objective.
Before the quest appears
The Alchemist won’t offer The Alchemist’s Rumors until a few earlier threads are done. You need to have rescued the Alchemist, crafted the basic Grappling Hook at the Blacksmith, and rescued the Carpenter and summoned him to your base. With all three in place, talk to the Alchemist and the quest unlocks, starting you on Investigate The Troubling Rumors.
You keep the base Grappling Hook you crafted at the Blacksmith. You’ll feed it back into the recipe for the improved version later, so don’t throw it away.
Getting to the Hill of Scavengers
Once the camp is marked on your map, the fastest approach is from above. The Ancient Spire – Springlands sits high enough that you can glide most of the way to the objective in one go.
The Advanced Glider makes this crossing far safer because of its extra range and speed. If you have it, equip it before you jump.
Breaking into the camp
The wooden palisade is destructible. Equip any chopping tool, such as the Scrappy Axe, and cut through the fence to open a gap, then climb the wooden walkways up into the settlement.
Inside, you’ll meet scavenger fighters, ranged attackers on raised platforms, and wolves around the campfires. Clear the ranged enemies first and use the high platforms as cover against the rest. A staff loaded with Fireball II works well for grouped enemies while you finish stragglers with a melee weapon. Look for a chest in the rock tunnel on the way up, which can hold a Hatchet.
Defeating the Scavenger Gorger Matron
The Scavenger Gorger Matron is a high-health elite that waits in the middle of the camp, often along the elevated wooden bridge. She deals poison damage and spits toxic vomit that leaves lingering pools on the ground. Keep moving, step out of the pools the moment they land, and chip her down with ranged spells and melee hits.
When she falls, a “Recipe Unlocked: Improved Grappling Hook at Carpenter” message appears and the quest ticks over to its second objective. Be sure to check the cave beneath where she fought, which holds a silver chest and The Gorger! lore page.
Matron loot and quest rewards
Interact with the Matron’s body to collect her drops. This also unlocks the Scavenger Matron Trophy recipe at the Hunter. The exact loot is below.
| Drop | Amount | Type |
|---|---|---|
 Metal Scraps | 12 | Material (Level 5) |
 Scavenger Matron Helmet | 2 | Material (Epic) |
 Legendary Runes | 10 | Currency |
 Shepherd’s Staff | 1 | Mage staff |
The Shepherd’s Staff is a Mage ranged weapon that spans item level 1-55. It carries Mana Leech 3, Mana Currents 1, and Critical Strike Chance 4%, and casts spells when paired with Spell Charges and Mana. Those perks are what you’re really here for beyond the quest progress.
Finishing the full quest (after the next step) pays out the Scavenger Matron Helmet, the Improved Grappling Hook, and 100 XP.
Craft The Improved Grappling Hook to finish
Killing the Matron swaps the objective to Craft The Improved Grappling Hook. Fast travel back to base and speak to the Carpenter, who can now build the upgraded tool. It uses the following materials.
- 1 Shroud Core
- 2 Shroud Liquid
- 3 Shroud Spores
- 1 Grappling Hook
Shroud Liquid comes from chopping plants inside the Shroud, and Shroud Spores drop from enemies killed there. A Shroud Core drops from elite Shroud enemies, or the Alchemist can craft one from 10 Shroud Spores and 10 Shroud Liquid. Crafting the tool completes the quest.
The base Grappling Hook uses 40 stamina each time, but the Improved Grappling Hook takes 30 and works from farther away, so crossing chasms uses less stamina.
| Tool | Rarity | Stamina cost | Made at |
|---|---|---|---|
 Grappling Hook | Uncommon | 40 | Workbench |
 Improved Grappling Hook | Rare | 30 | Carpenter |
How to confirm it worked
You’ve cleared the first objective when the on-screen “Quest Updated: The Alchemist’s Rumors” banner fires and your Journal now lists Craft The Improved Grappling Hook as the active step. The Recipe Unlocked prompt for the Improved Grappling Hook at the Carpenter confirms the same thing. Once you craft the tool at the Carpenter and it lands in your inventory, the whole quest closes out and the XP and rewards are paid.
