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Comment by Quizno

This leads into the quest that gives you the ability to fly in Northrend (http://wotlk.wowhead.com/?spell=54197)

Comment by Nightx

You've seen this quest before way back in Lakeshire. Bring a water breathing potion or a warlock for convenience.

Comment by Lovett

You have to open the Raised Mud piles. Just about all of them will give you a hostile mob called Siltslither Eel. Just keep going to mounds.

Comment by cluelessnoob

Strong new candidate for the Worst Quest Ever award.

Underwater - where you move slow, can't eat, and can't drink? Check.

Endlessly clicking piles of crap hoping to find a quest item? Check.

Constantly ambushed by pointless spawned mobs? Check.

Annoying mobs that just get in the way and respawn quickly? Check.

The gnome who gives you this quest gives you a water breathing buff item with 3 charges of 3 minutes each. Don't assume that 9 minutes is going to be way more than enough time to complete the quest.

Comment by netnusa

For mages out there who don't feel like killing the endless eels, blink just after opening and head to the next pile unagro'd.

Comment by elilla

If this happens, and you truly are the most unlucky person out there...

There are times I'm the most unlucky person out there. I'm sure others have been in the same boat with various quests going, I'm sure I'm cursed. This drop rate is terrible, blizzard hates me. Just one more and I'll have it. It's only 12am...no wait 2am...

Just to add in a small bit of irony, it took me around 17 mins to get the keys.

Comment by Xebtria

got it after my 5th attempt. seems to be the standard 20-%-ish dropchance of quest items.

Comment by Kidavenger

Almost 3000 quests done to this point, this is the worst far and away.

Worse than hecular's rod, seriously...

Comment by Sulph

10/10 for this quest. Don't worry im not biast cause i got the key from the first mudpile srsly!

Comment by Melchizedeke

I hate this quest, whoever thought of this at Blizzard should be shot in the face at close range. after questing for the last 8 levels I dont need stupid quest that take forever to do. Worse quest ever, I am sorry they should take it out the game.

Comment by Mieto

I dont see the big problem at all, i went down the lake, and the first mud i looked in, i found the keys ..

Good luck..

Comment by dustdog

got it first try; might have been changed.

Comment by taytck30692

Nope still got at least 15 eels before finding the keys.

Comment by Evgeny

Spent about 20 min with no luck. Logged out, logged in, got on first try. So, if you're unlucky, try relogging maybe?

Comment by Norseguy

Getting alot of skins at least.

Comment by Wombatcowboy

If you can grab Jaloot from the oracles before you attempt this he gives you 100% swim speed!

Comment by Southwind

well only took me 2 goes and got the key about 2-3mins job i most be lucky lol

Comment by Micke

Yeah, Southwind, you were pretty lucky because this is anoying quest. Even though wowhead says its 100% droprate, it aint.

Comment by ipatchofsaul

I know this comment is gonna get rated negative...

But I got it on the first pile of mud.

Comment by nightshifter

Spent an hour at this, filled up my bags with leather and gray items, but no keys. relogging didn't work. gave up to try later.

Comment by retpallyftw

This quest really !@#$ed me off because it took forever but in the end it paid off with the xp

Comment by Mustacious

Rofl... i killed maybe 5 of the eels,and got the keys.Really easy for me atleast :)

Comment by lampaso

After killing and searching everything in the lake for 12 min..I found the Key in a dirt pile at 47,63

Comment by Savalina

I was dreading this quest as I read everyone's comments. All I could think of was the frustration and aggravation that was about to consume the next hour of my life....so I went in the lake prepared to be there for a while.....5 minutes later (exactly my 3rd dirt mound) I found Vic's keys...people say "LOL" all the time, but seriously I really did laugh out loud.

Comment by Presian

at River's Heart at 48,64 use the item providing you underwater breathing and start examining the dirt piles on the bottom of the lake i found the key after 5th-6th try

Comment by Tullisar

Better yet, bring a skinner along with you so you get something valuable out of the whole quest.

Both the Eels and the Threshers can be skinned. No scraps either out of the 30 or so eels I killed.

Comment by Factsfountain

Found the keys in three tries and didnt even know i had an air tank. This quest is all about chance. If you're lucky, you can easily get the keys in the first dirt pile you check.

Comment by Danielfboone

I got it from the first dirt pile I saw--didn't know it was so hard to find--lol

Comment by Reanimation

Got my key at the 3rd Mud Pile, my breath didn't even reach 50%. :P

Comment by Mazater

If you're a part of the oracles, get yourself Jaloot's crystal (From Soo-say in the nearby village) and summon him up, Jaloot's buff happens to increase your swimming speed by 100%, pretty neat.

Comment by Heatnix

A nice tip for rogues and druids, just stealth as soon as you've opened the mud pile and you won't have to fight the eels that come out of it. Saves quite some time since you won't have to do any fighting in between opening the piles.

Comment by Pachiita

Got it after my first mudpile! =D

Comment by Horgande

Same here, also got it first mound.

Comment by SenorDavid

not sure if this is important, but once my Water breathing tank ran out of time and i was running on breath, i got the keys... test this out, see if it helps. Could be a coincidence.

Comment by Werlwind

Got it after 3rd mud, so random loot is random.

Comment by brianhendren21

lmao i got it on the second mound
happy hunting

Comment by stathisdjs

This is 100% easyer if you still have the Nagrand Beries(Horde).

Comment by HinataArygos

19 minutes if you run outta the water the fish reset and stop anyone else from getting the next dirt pile to spawn

Comment by fulgericus

you dont have to worry about breathing under water if you have http://www.wowhead.com/?item=44050

Comment by Blackboy0

Took me about 15 mounds to finally get the Key. I also got a Golden Engagment Ring though, so I'm good xD

Comment by easymodenub

Got it on my 2nd eel :)

Comment by easymodenub

lol I meant mound*

Comment by CapObvious

Druids may use Aquatic form to recover their breathe.
CaptainObvious

Comment by zztopdown

Found at 48, 63

Comment by Random0107

I had equal troubles for this blasted quest too, but I noticed something...

At 47,63 in the lake is a very small cove that's formed by a fallen tree trunk that sticks out of the water.

After going through endless mounds, I came upon the mound that is nestled inside that cove, and thought to myself "Now, there's no WAY that it's in there."

To my astonishment, it was. Can we get more confirmation?

Otherwise the actual pile for this quest is at 47,63.

Comment by martinu

if you managed to empty the breathing tank, simply re-take the quest

Comment by TyrsHound

Warlocks can use their Voidwalker to take all the agro as you you collect everything.

Comment by Felpuppies

I got the key second mound :D

Comment by Sjakki

Took me forever to find this, but I feel don't think it should be any easier, after all, finding a god-damn key in a lake is like finding a needle in a haystack - it's supposed to take forever!

Comment by sirhelmet

1st mound.... with 2 characters...

Comment by loxmup

Got it on 2nd try!

Comment by sarasgirl

Coordinates would be helpful.... so...it's in the Lakeside Landing area, just so you don't go around all over the lake like I did wondering where the heck the keys could be...Only makes sense, since it's where you pick up the quest...duh

Comment by Dworkins

It seems to me, that keys spawn when you have used all of 3 charges Air Tank. Did this quest 2 times and in both cases keys droped immediately after using 3rd charge.

Comment by masterjuggalo

Got mine in the third mud pile, did not even have to use any airtank.

Comment by TemperedCheap

I got this key on the first mud on the second day that I decided to try again...

Comment by lollyjuice

Got this on first mud pile after i got the quest. Talk about lucky.

Comment by Odinsparks

OMFG wot is that quest about...at lvl 77..i have so much to do levelling wise..the last thing i need is to be splashing around for yeah no joke 1hr and 16 mins and STILL not find that key....I officially give up on this pointless quest...and yeah it definitely is a winner for WORST QUEST EVER

Comment by Khaloc

I got the keys in the first mud pile I looked in. Its just a random occurrence. Kill the mobs and look in the mud until you find it.

Comment by Ugar

Key came out of the 37th mud pile on one character, 24th mud pile on another, and 41st mud pile on the last.

Only reason to do this quest is the semi-neat afterquest for it. Otherwise, you may as well gather up a pack of gorillas and AOE them down, it's the same experience and far less frustration.

Comment by onemoretrip

The small sand heaps in the River's Heart (48,63).
I got the key on the 6th try. Didn't even need to use the Air Tank.

Comment by Gogetaex

I got it 4th mound tbh :o.

Comment by CornPopss

Lucky me, i still have my Nagrand Cherry. :D

Comment by Necrophagos

I guess I got lucky. As an Undead I had already the racial advantage of 10 minutes underwater breathing, so I didn't have to use Vic' emergency air tank. At the first three heaps I was attacked by the eel, but at the fourth I found the keys. Quick quest for me, but as I said: I guess I got lucky...

Comment by SharkBait

lol Key on first try :)

Comment by Avalone

Not that anyone cares, but the quest name has a typo in it. It's embarrassing, not embarassing. I was trying to look it up on Wowhead and couldn't find it because I was spelling it right. lol

Comment by kakaruote

oh it is cool !but i think i can get more in www.ign5.com

Comment by Kurge

I carry my Hydrocane for farming and quests like this.

Have to admit...for 12 gold it seems a bit overkill, the drop rate is so low.

Comment by Leydara

it only took about roughly 7 minutes for me to find the key...found it on the south side of the lake after 3 piles and a few invaders.

Comment by Genemos

haha for the first time in my wow playing time I got lucky, or so it seems, got it on the second pile of mud ^^
well gl all peeps with this quest. Btw, I had tua'kea's breathing bladder on me (got it from a quest in dragonblight)
http://www.wowhead.com/?item=37265
So even if I hadn't found it so quickly I would have been able to breathe underwater for quite some time. Sometimes it can be good to save such stuff...

Comment by yellowdove

i left the water after looking through about 6 mud piles, then went back in. the first one i visited had the key. maybe it was luck, i dunno. but worth a shot to exit the water and go back in.

Comment by Euglenarubra

Please Listen to Above Last posts. I am a 77 Druid and I looted 6 mud piles. No key. I exited the water and read WoWhead. Posts said leave water and next drop will be key.

It Happened. My next drop upon reentering the water was a mud pile with a key.

Good luck! :)

Comment by Eveena

I finally found them in the lake, under a rock outcropping at 46/64. Don't know if they are always there or not. I believe the flight point opens up once you are done, just like the one at Nesingwary Base Camp.

Comment by fmneto

Took me no more than a Nagrand Cherry (5 min) to do it. I've seen much worse...

Comment by Venusaur

it took me 4 min. so i guess im lucky

Comment by Evervescent

Wowhead.com is magic. I hunted like 100 piles (not exaggerating) and kept getting those F***ING eels, and finally I decide that "I'm gonna go check Wowhead and see if I'm doing something wrong." ... So wowhead tells me to keep doing it I'm doing it right. "Darn." I say to myself. "Guess I'll just have to keep at it..."

... First pile after that. Wowhead is magic. *bows*

Comment by Syntec

as of 3.1 you can see that the mound with the key is the one that show the quest progress in the tooltip.

Comment by Alessiaroga

Perhaps this was improved some. Took me only 12 attempts. Still, as "cluelessnoob" observed, it was not enjoyable.

Comment by Ellion

Is there a prerequisite for this quest? This quest just isn't available for me.

Comment by A2Panther

One of the benefits of keeping up your fishing profession, is to obtain the "Mastercraft Kalu' ak Fishing Pole." 186.5 damage per second and amongst other things, 'Allows for Underwater Breathing.' That said, I equipped my fishing pole, put Misdirect on my Cat, and went to it. 15 mudholes later, found the key. I plowed the mobs with saronite arrows. Hope that helps a few of you!

Comment by Virtute

I'm fairly sure that if you have QuestHelper installed you can save a great deal of time on this quest. When you mouseover most of the mud piles, the tooltip will be the vanilla Blizzard tooltip. However, when you mouseover the mud pile with Vic's keys in it, the tooltip will display the QuestHelper objective.

Comment by wowhead100

What an annoying quest, took me like 32 trys to get the key....

Comment by l3ardoc

Haha. I was looking at the comments and I got scared that I'd have to wade for an hour in water. So I closed my quest log, sucked in some nice air, and dove into the pond. In about 5 seconds I was at my first dirt pile. Boom! Vic's Keys!

I was so happy. I'm sorry to hear that you guys had to take so long, but the best advice I could give is to use your own breath to the end, then use the item, then use your breath again, rinse and repeat. Good luck! It's possible to get it quick!
=p

Comment by Odene

I don't know if this was pure chance, but after opening the mud piles for a while and getting eels, the little Blizzard version of Quest Helper showed up saying "Loot for Vic's keys" on one pile, and not the others. Maybe it was here from the beginning but try looking for it in the center of the lake.

This could just be a total fluke too.

Comment by defleppard1981

LOL ROFL i killed two thresers went to the first pile it didnt uncover a mob but i did get the key all in all it took maybe 5 mins,good luck to yall and i hope many others get this result as im usually not that lucky.

Comment by Krateros

I can confirm that being a druid does not help or make this quest enjoyable in any way.

Comment by iked

THis quest is dull. Not only do you move slowly underwater but you have to open tonnes of them before you get it. If someone else is doing it - come back later.

Took me 27 mounds before i got it.

Comment by laylac

got it on the third try :)

Comment by ribbad1881

As you may all of noticed in 3.2 or possibly 3.1 I forget, blizzard added a questhelper feature that when you scroll over mobs it tells you if they drop a quest item. I noticed today while doing this quest all the Dirt Mound's said nothing when I scrolled over them, then one of the dirt mounds said 'Vic's Key'. Opened it and BAM! Vic's key first try. GL And Happy Questing! =]

Comment by 0930715

I believe the drop rate was buffed in 3.2, I see a post from 3.2 saying they got it on their third try and I personally got it on my 5th.

Comment by Tgump

That's freaky. Yesterday, I tried for half an hour with no luck and come back today for one last try and get it the first time.

Comment by Zorotaur

why is it that why when i go into the lake and come to one of the mounds of dirt it doesnt let me open it or anything its just there and i get no action at all from putting my mouse on it.

Comment by Tissmee

Hi did this quest today 13th Sept 09 if you can find a safe place just mouse over the mounds and a pop up will apear saying Vic's Keys. All will say mud mound but the one with the keys in says so. did it in about 2 mins try it ! thanks

Comment by Slawter

got it on my first mound at 48,62

Comment by Urbanmech

I seriously just opened every damn mud pile TWICE and nothing. no tooltip, no keys. NOTHING.

Took me 22 min. I was on my druid, so i ran around in aquatic form opening the dirts and running from the eels. The tooltip trick does work... but it doesn't work if NONE of the piles have the goddam key

Comment by sskain

found it at the first mudpile I looked ^^

Comment by d0zer1984

I found vics key at 47.91-63.06

Comment by limgrace77

14 flippers and 10 jaws

Comment by Ropez

25 mins later, still no key... I suggest everyone simply mass abandon this quest as a sign of protest to fix the drop/find rate for this quest. :/

Comment by Vissari

i got it off the first mud pile.... HAH

Comment by Konani

Wait... i just did this quest, and i just dove right into the middle of the lake, found one of these sparkly mounds, and picked up my key. Needed to kill one mob diving at me, but that was it.
-You sure it's hard to get?

Comment by AMCope

Got keys on my second mound and also got some nice gloves to sell on Auction. So either I am extremely lucky or something.

You receive loot: .
Stranded Thresher dies, you gain 953 experience.
You receive loot: .
You receive loot: .
You receive loot: .
You receive loot: .
You receive loot: .

Comment by kotte

Got mine on the first lol

Comment by goreblade

odd, i have always gotten it on my first try on all my toons...guess i figured out where all my luck goes/

Comment by crazyppleater

idk if all u ppl have bad luck, or if i just got lucky, but i got my key on the second pile i tried :)

Comment by Omgtessa

I don't know about anyone else, but I had a hell of a time completing this quest because all of the underwater mobs kept "evading" when I would try to fight them. I ended up having to just let them beat on my pet while I opened the mud piles. -.-

Comment by Whiterock

The Snows of Northrend Quest Tree From Whiterock
#)Where in the World is Hemet Nesingwary?──>a)Welcome to Sholazar Basin

b)Venture Co. Misadventure a)Need an Engine, Take an Engine
b)Wipe That Grin Off His Face b)Have a Part, Give a Part b)Engineering a Disaster
├──┬──────────────────────────┘ ├>e)Aerial Surveillance
| c)Kick, What Kick? └>e)An Embarassing Incident
| c)The Great Hunter's Challenge e)Reconnaissance Flight Force of Nature*
|
├───────────────────────────────────────────┐
c)Dreadsaber Mastery: Becoming a Predator c)Rhino Mastery: The Test
| ├──┬───────────────────────────┘ | |
| | e)Some Make Lemonade, Some Make Liquor | d)A Steak Fit for a Hunter
| | e)Still At It |
| | e)The Taste Test |
| | #)Fletcher's Lost and Found | a)It Could Be Anywhere!
| └──────┐ |
| e)Crocolisk Mastery: The Trial |
| e)Crocolisk Mastery: The Plan |
| ║ | |
f)Dreadsaber Mastery: Stalking the Prey ║ | d)Rhino Mastery: The Chase
| ║ ╔══╝ | ║ |
| ╚═>Lakeside Landing*<══╪══╝ |
| | |
f)Dreadsaber Mastery: Ready to Pounce | e)An Offering for Soo-rahm
| | e)The Bones of Nozronn
| e)Crocolisk Mastery: The Ambush f)Rhino Mastery: The Kill
| | |
├────────────────────────┬───────────────┴───┬────────┘
| | |
g)Sharpening Your Talons g)Securing the Bait g)In Search of Bigger Game
├───────────────────────┬┘
| ├>h)Reagent Agent g)Burning to Help
i)A Mammoth Undertaking └>h)My Pet Roc
i)Post-partum Aggression

Legend:
# means Other Zones
* means another Quest Tree.

Comment by Rexall

This quest Blows, just one to slow down your lvling..Skip this crap quest!

Comment by Shashos

Came here to see if the quest was bugged. Wow, I've never had so much trouble getting this quest finished over the course of 10+ alts. D: Nearly 30 mud piles looted and several rounds around the pond later, I finally got the keys.

This one really does give the quest in Howling Fjord to get the Northern Barbfish a run for its money as most frustrating quest in Northrend, hehe.

On the plus side, 2 stacks of leather in the process is nothing to sneeze at. :)

Good luck to everyone!

Comment by ziggy29

31 mounds turned up, 31 eels killed (in addition to the other mobs), no quest item. Time to move on, nothing to see here. Does Blizz really think this sort of thing is *fun*? I tried it with a warrior who sometimes hear "need more rage"... I don't know, after more than a dozen tries were under my belt there was plenty of rage...

Comment by Wikiileaks

i was lucky tried 3rd mould and the key droped :D

Comment by shnutzer

I kept trying and trying 3 same moulds and kept gettings those eels. Finally, I found a 4th mould under a log at 43.5 63.5 which had a questhelper tooltip and immediately gave me the key. If you haven't seen this mould yet, try it. Who knows, maybe it works for you just like it worked for me... Anyway, good luck!

Comment by csch

got it first try.. I never have this much luck.

Comment by PraetorAuron

Found it at 47,62 in a mudpile after killing 15 eels. is definitely random, but dont get frustrated!

Comment by maryalice

WOW! what a horrible quest! I killed 3 generations of threshers and at least 30 eel's before the stupid key finally popped up. Either I am really really unlucky, or this quest is messed up.

Comment by CPayton

Blizzard hasn't fixed this quest. My advice is to skip it.

Comment by Pepperkin

Read that keys were in mound at 47, 62 or 43.5, 63.5. Was in the first one but I understand from other comments that it can move. I drank my own Elixir of Water Breathing and walked in from rock on the beach. Easy for Druids as we can morph into Cat and be invisible with Prowl. Lucky first mound but thresher attack AFTER I had the keys. I am 77 so was able to win battle and then mount up and fly to quest giver. If you have an invisibility skill, potion, etc and are at a lower level, give it a try (if you don't mind dying) as I did receive over 23,500 XP.

Without a pal or two or potions, this would be a frustrating quest and I can sympathize with those who chose not to complete it. If I hadn't thought of the Cat strategy I wouldn't have done it either. Best of luck and thanks to those who left comments.
Pepperkin
Mynish on Farstriders

Comment by cutelilrikki

After hovering over every little mound of mud to see the tooltip of "Vic's Keys" that people reported in 3.2+ ... None of them had it. Ever. After fighting with this quest for 45 minutes, I finally got the stupid keys.

Comment by hewlac

Found mine at 49, 64, so I'm guessing it can really be at any mound. took me 20+minutes to get it, but get it I did.

Comment by ensorceled

The nice thing about CRZ is now I know how terribly bad my luck I is on this quest. 5 different people popped in and found the keys, and left before I did. Twice I saw the "Vic's Keys" hover before somebody else grabbed it.

I used up all the charges in my tank and the bulk of a charge of my potion of water breathing before finding it.

Comment by GitGudGuides

An Embarrassing Incident http://youtu.be/pTeZ6j4IEP0

Comment by WoWGnGP

I made i playthrough of this quest if anyone wish to see how to do it :)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yAlur0sCLCU&feature=youtu.be

Comment by Boxofbeer

An Embarrassing Incident http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GBij4U4UxVU

Comment by allOf

An Embarrassing Incident https://youtu.be/Z7HjHXLQEr4

Comment by Vulkara2068

This quest should be an embarrassment for the wow dev team. It's a perfect mix of RNG stupidity and poor design. It's not even worth the measley 11.75k experience. ONLY and I repeat, ONLY do this quest if you A) Hate yourself. B) Love farming (see A). C) Need to do it for Loremaster achievement. That is all. You dun goofed with this one Blizzard

Add to list...Links

An Embarrassing Incident

Look for Vic's Keys inside the lake at River's Heart.

	Vic's Keys

Provided item:

	Vic's Emergency Air Tank

Description

There's one little problem we have to solve before we head out. You see, I can't seem to find the keys to my flying machine.

I've looked pretty much everywhere for them... maybe you can give me a hand. Only place I haven't looked yet is inside the lake.

I'll even give you my very own air tank. It's almost empty, but it's got a couple of hits left.

Progress

Completion

Rewards

You will receive: 7 40

	Vic's Emergency Air Tank

Gains

Upon completion of this quest you will gain:

10,270 experience

Series

1.	An Embarrassing Incident
2.	Reconnaissance Flight