Do you remember: Chipped Bone Rod

[stormlord]

I started Everquest I think March 21 1999. After playing some months I left. I came back in 2001. I'm fairly confident I saw chipped bone rods in 1999. I think most of us didn't use them, but I think I did once or twice, I'm just not sure if it was 1999 or 2001. I do know it was early on when I knew about them.

How many people have forgotten about these? The downside was the cost. For a new player it was high.

I foudn this on allah:
http://everquest.allakhazam.com/db/item.html?item=3616

As early as Jan 2001 a player is saying they were on a merchant in Kelethin. Me, I played in Qeynos mostly, and I'm sure I saw them on a merchant somewhere. I wish I could find concrete evidence.

[Pokesan]

on my live cleric i decided to hunt TD raptors

it ended extremely poorly and my corpse ended up in the ocean

bless my guildmate who saved me with A CHIPPED BONE ROD

[loramin]

I'm sure I saw them on a merchant somewhere.

Thurgadin, in the shop on the left when you head to the church. I've had to run there on multiple occasions to buy these amazing rods, as they are life savers when you die unexpectedly and there's no necromancers or shadow knights around to help.

[Nitholias01]

also they drop off shadowknight in befallen

[stormlord]

Why can't I edit my OP? I posted just a few minutes ago. Whats up with that?

So I wanted to post about the fact the original Everquest manual has a picture on hte back of a $14.95 guide named "EVERQUEST: THE OFFICIAL PLAYERS GUIDE". It's "DIMENSION P-U-B-L-I-S-H-I-N-G" and "989 Studios". Someone somewhere has to have one of those buried in their attic. If that doesn't mention the corpse rods, I don't think anything will, since this precedes launch and corpse rods SHOULD be in a guide.

The old phone number: 916-989-0171. So anyway, I'm certain this question has been definitely answered by someone!? There'd be a s****load of people to remember and have specifics.

EDIT: Oh and I'm sorry I'm remiss to mention I posted because the wiki leads me to believe the corpse rods only drop in befallen and only sell in W Karana or Thurgadin:
http://wiki.project1999.com/Chipped_Bone_Rod

Based on the Allah link and my own memories, I beg to differ?

[AkashicRecord]

Ah, I was just thinking about these the other day... (And not because I was slain by a griffon or anything.)

[Lhancelot]

Ah, I was just thinking about these the other day... (And not because I was slain by a griffon or anything.)

I think I typically seen them on random vendors, I am guessing they must have been sold by players now that I see where they come from.

[stormlord]

Ok. Update. I looked up "www.everlore.com" on the internet archive. I used to go there.

Here's a snapshot for May 12 2001. However, the comments below are from 1999:
http://web.archive.org/web/20010512114301/http://www.everlore.com:80/items/items.asp?mode=show&IID=1799

Some example comments:
10/13/1999:
you can also buy this item from the merchant nearest the bank in kelethin

but use it wisely...

keep it in the bank...heh

and 5 or 6pp was what he wanted for it...if memory
serves
10/16/1999:
These items can also be bought for under 5pp in the herb shop in South Qeynos (behing the bank).
Handy little item.
The question is are these looted and sold to merchants, or part of the merchant's default item table?

I've now seen multiple references to a merchant behind/near hte bank in S qeynos selling them. I've also seen multiple references to them being sold in Erudin. Now, if these only drop in Befallen and are only sold in W Karana and Thurgadin, it makes me wonder how they get to Qeynos or Erudin merchants? Why would a player sell a rod to a merchant unless it was either out of charges or it was loot? If it's loot, it makes me think the person who wrote--in the above link--they dropped on a Necro bat/pet in Erud's Crossing could be a possible explanation due to proximity.

[fadetree]

No, they used to be sold from multiple poison/herb vendors, the ones that also sell the cloudy potions, etc. I also noticed that 'only in Thurgadin' wasn't correct for the era as far as I can remember, they should be available elsewhere as real inventory rather than sold by players.

[Bummey]

As a rogue, chipped bone rods always had, and still have, a place in my inventory; a dedicated 10 slot bag full of them when I had the inventory space not already occupied by various click items and spent more time in larger zones where they were most useful. All my characters have a few in the bank for corpse runs that require them.

[Bummey]

quote is not edit

[loramin]

EDIT: Oh and I'm sorry I'm remiss to mention I posted because the wiki leads me to believe the corpse rods only drop in befallen and only sell in W Karana or Thurgadin:
http://wiki.project1999.com/Chipped_Bone_Rod

Based on the Allah link and my own memories, I beg to differ?

Ok. Update. I looked up "www.everlore.com" on the internet archive. I used to go there.

Here's a snapshot for May 12 2001. However, the comments below are from 1999:

Two possibilities here: the wiki is wrong or the game is wrong. I tend to blame the wiki first: if I were you I'd head to one of the places that is supposed to have the rod (but isn't mentioned in the wiki) and see if it's sold there. If so feel free to correct the wiki because ... well, it's a wiki.

If the rod isn't in-game I'd make a new post to the Bugs forum with the evidence you've collected.

[stormlord]

Loramin, I haven't collected enough convincing evidence the rods were sold by default. I'm confident the people running this server have good reason to put rods on merchants in W Karana and Thurgadin. Right now, the comments are alluding to possible rods being sold in Kelethin, Erudin, Qeynos and maybe a few other cities, maybe all near the bank. Why near the bank? I've tried to find more comments in the internet archive, but so far the well is dry.

On p1999, I checked some of the merchants behind the bank in Qeynos and saw no chipped bone rods. I suspect the wiki is accurate and they're only sold in W Karana and Thurgadin.

You said there're two possibilities: the wiki is wrong or the game is wrong. The wiki is probably not wrong. And the game doesn't have to be wrong if the wiki is right. The third possibility is the comments I've read were incorrect about the items being sold by default. They were sold to the merchants and the players erroneously concluded it was sold by default.

I will continue to pursue this.

[Raavak]

From what I recall they were on limited merchants at release and additional ones at some future time.

[stormlord]

No, they used to be sold from multiple poison/herb vendors, the ones that also sell the cloudy potions, etc. I also noticed that 'only in Thurgadin' wasn't correct for the era as far as I can remember, they should be available elsewhere as real inventory rather than sold by players.
Do you mean "only in Thurgadin and West Karana"?

Regarding the merchant type, at least in Qeynos, it seems this might be true. I haven't checked Erudin or Kelethin yet to see if those references are linked to herb or potion sellers.

I imagine hte answer is out there, but it has to be found painfully dug up.

[Raavak]

https://www.project1999.com/forums/showthread.php?t=80130

[katrik]

I just camped Befallen for a Marnek Dag; I remember looting a few of them there.

[fadetree]

https://www.project1999.com/forums/showthread.php?t=80130

Right, but we are arguing that that is not correct.

[dbouya]

it is possible to replace the sense heading training trick with a macro for /loc and then make a tiny window that displays similar messages. that way you always have your loc on death, as long as you hit walk forward sometime around the time you died (which is fairly reliable).

[stormlord]

I'm new to this and oft clumsy. Please forgive any stupidity on my part.

Here's the link:
https://web.archive.org/web/20010427001556/http://eqbeastiary.allakhazam.com:80/search.shtml?id=600

Aright, here's the deal, I've been looking at the internet archive records for "everquest.allakhazam.com" and I've been scratching off possible evidence once after the other, since almost all the NPCs only show chipped bone rods being sold Nov 2002 and after. I made the mistake of looking at the "items sold" perhaps too frequently, since I may have missed a couple of the images. And here's the rub, I was about to leave because Sharin Denuen didn't have a items sold list in the snapshots, but then I looked at the image. I realized it probably showed a chipped bone rod. So I thought, wait how old is this image? So I brought up the earliest snapshot. Guess what? It's Apr 27 2001.

What's so special about this image? First, it existed at least Apr 27 2001. Second, it clearly shows Sharin Denuen. It looks like a legit screenshot. And from what I understand, the old client shows the DEFAULT items first--topdown. There's a wand-looking item in the 4th position, and it's showing potions with greater positions, meaning it's probably a default item. From what I gather, that wand-looking thing is probably a chipped bone rod.

Here's the image of the chipped bone rod. It looks the same:
http://everquest.allakhazam.com/db/item.html?item=3616

One more thing. The image caption on the new Sharin Denuen page says "Uploaded July 24th, 2007", but this is probably because the address for the page AND the image changed--I confirmed this. The snapshot shows this image existed in 2001 on a different domain. When the addresses changed, they re-uploaded the image to the new page and the date was inserted.

That's the best evidence I have so far, I think, if I haven't missed anything.

Here's the roughdraft list of NPCs I've collected:
Merchants listed as having Chipped Bone Rod on modern Allakhazam:
(confirmed) = on p1999
Alchemy = potions and few components (Mistletoe, Sandalwood, Dufrenite )
Alchemy Supplies = potions and many/some components
Date = the last recorded archive link when chipped bone rod is present

Ak'Anon
(confirmed pre-luclin) Nov 2002 - Alchemy Supplies - a clockwork alchemist (891, -301; lower level of tower on lake near palace)
https://web.archive.org/web/20021106141037/http://eqbeastiary.allakhazam.com:80/search.shtml?id=72
Erudin Palace
(confirmed pre-luclin) Apr 2001(!?) - Alchemy Supplies - Sharin Denuen (661, 539; bottom floor of palace)
https://web.archive.org/web/20010427001556/http://eqbeastiary.allakhazam.com:80/search.shtml?id=600
Firiona Vie
Alchemy - Shrub Marwood (956, -3323)
Kelethin/Greater Faydark:
(confirmed pre-luclin) Alchemy Supplies - Merchant Kaeluase (-272, 51)
(confirmed pre-luclin) Nov 2002 - Alchemy Supplies - Merchant Ueaas (-85, 601; near bank)
https://web.archive.org/web/20021116100643/http://eqbeastiary.allakhazam.com:80/search.shtml?id=1264
Halas
(confirmed pre-luclin) Aug 2006 - Alchemy Supplies - Murtog MacYee (124, -364; Yee Majik shop)
https://web.archive.org/web/20060830211756/http://eqbeastiary.allakhazam.com:80/search.shtml?id=1469
Neriak Commons
(confirmed pre-luclin) Nov 2002 - Alchemy Supplies - Marza T'Kix (Neriak Down Under)
https://web.archive.org/web/20021118003257/http://eqbeastiary.allakhazam.com:80/search.shtml?id=2296
Neriak - Foreign Quarter
(confirmed pre-luclin) Nov 2002 - Alchemy Supplies - Gambel Quick (253, -60; Gambels' Greens)
https://web.archive.org/web/20021116100133/http://eqbeastiary.allakhazam.com:80/search.shtml?id=2221
Paineel
(possible seller in a shop called Poison Petal)
Rivervale
(confirmed pre-luclin) Nov 2002 - Alchemy Supplies - Kizzie Mintopp (-229, -217)
https://web.archive.org/web/20021118002432/http://eqbeastiary.allakhazam.com:80/search.shtml?id=3169
(confirmed pre-luclin) Apr 2005 - Alchemy - Byl Babbinsbort (-146, -114; near Misty exit)
https://web.archive.org/web/20050404055613/http://eqbeastiary.allakhazam.com:80/search.shtml?id=3162
(confirmed pre-luclin) Alchemy - Bimble Babbinsbort (-162, -118)
South Kaladim
(confirmed pre-luclin) Nov 2002 - Alchemy Supplies - Baldoleky Rockfinder (254, -186)
https://web.archive.org/web/20021116100524/http://eqbeastiary.allakhazam.com:80/search.shtml?id=1765
South Qeynos
(confirmed) Nov 2002 - Alchemy/Spells - Caleah Herblender (Herb store by bank)
https://web.archive.org/web/20021118004346/http://eqbeastiary.allakhazam.com:80/search.shtml?id=2804
(confirmed) Sep 2003 - Alchemy Supplies - Drawna Opimsor (Herb store by bank)
https://web.archive.org/web/20030914111003/http://eqbeastiary.allakhazam.com:80/search.shtml?id=2801
Nov 2002 - Alchemy/Spells - Khensol Undesta (Caster's guild: 288, -623)
https://web.archive.org/web/20021118003819/http://eqbeastiary.allakhazam.com:80/search.shtml?id=2828
Southern Felwithe
(confirmed pre-luclin) Nov 2002 - Alchemy Supplies - Merchant Yisasan (440, -800)
https://web.archive.org/web/20021118002158/http://eqbeastiary.allakhazam.com:80/search.shtml?id=841
Thurgadin
Alchemy Supplies - Frundle Frenkler (-390, 505; next to The Holy Harbinger)
West Cabilis
Alchemy - Jondin (-36, 508)
West Freeport
(confirmed pre-luclin) Nov 2006 - Alchemy Supplies - Olyna Mudel (255, -1847; Torlig's Herbs and Medicines)
https://web.archive.org/web/20061103162249/http://eqbeastiary.allakhazam.com/search.shtml?id=1161
(confirmed pre-luclin) Mar 2007 - Alchemy Supplies - Torlig Mudel (265, -1837; Torlig's Herbs and Medicines)
https://web.archive.org/web/20070319212007/http://eqbeastiary.allakhazam.com:80/search.shtml?id=1166

[stormlord]

Hey has anyone else noticed the project 1999 page for Caleah Herblender lists a chipped bone rod:
https://wiki.project1999.com/Caleah_Herblender

There's no chipped bone rod in-game on her.

[Raavak]

I'm pretty sure we need to find out when the item was put on more vendors. It might be in the Live patch logs.

[Dulu]

I vaguely remember them being on p99.

Have you tried killing stuff in Befallen to see if they drop?


Chipped Bone Rod

Charges: 3

Clicky Effect: Locate Corpse

[Dulu]

Right, but we are arguing that that is not correct.

It's possible back when this game had thousands of players on at a time, people just vendored them at the nearest NPC (the bank?) en masse. Which explains why they were always available for the select few who actually used them.

[stormlord]

I'm pretty sure we need to find out when the item was put on more vendors. It might be in the Live patch logs.
I looked at patch logs here:
http://everquest.allakhazam.com/history/patches.html

Not able to find anything on "chipped" or "bone rod" or "alchemy" or "corpse". Maybe they used obscure wording, like "Added something new to the merchants, why don't you find out what's on them?"

The best evidence I've found so far is that image from 2001. So nothing new yet.

Still pursuing.

[kaev]

My memory is unreliable and utterly worthless, of course. Still, as I recall, the Chipped Bone Rod was sold player-to-player in gBay, er, Greater Faydark, just like all the other useful dropped loots. This was back in the day that the Bone Bladed Claymore was desirable enough and available enough to be known and sold by its initials, clearly players were farming the hell out of Befallen.

It wasn't until Velious that the Chipped Bone Rod disappeared from the player market because it became available as stock on vendor(s).

But wtf do I know? (i.e. I've been proven wrong by in-era evidence before.)

[Boyblunder]

I thought there was a compass was sold in the commons that actually worked.

[fadetree]

It's possible back when this game had thousands of players on at a time, people just vendored them at the nearest NPC (the bank?) en masse. Which explains why they were always available for the select few who actually used them.

Yeah, possible, but I'm "sure" that they were sold as regular items at the poison/potion vendors. Don't remember the era, though.

[fadetree]

I vaguely remember them being on p99.

Have you tried killing stuff in Befallen to see if they drop?

They drop in befallen off of 1 particular mob.

[stormlord]

My memory is unreliable and utterly worthless, of course. Still, as I recall, the Chipped Bone Rod was sold player-to-player in gBay, er, Greater Faydark, just like all the other useful dropped loots. This was back in the day that the Bone Bladed Claymore was desirable enough and available enough to be known and sold by its initials, clearly players were farming the hell out of Befallen.

It wasn't until Velious that the Chipped Bone Rod disappeared from the player market because it became available as stock on vendor(s).

But wtf do I know? (i.e. I've been proven wrong by in-era evidence before.)
If they were available on merchants in Velious then they should probably be available on Project 1999.

While I don't have proof, I suspect they were available earlier than Velious. Why? Because so much of the player reports are tied to the potion/alchemy vendors. Why so consistent?

[stormlord]

Updating with my latest "find". It has to do with the post I made about Sharin Denuen:
https://www.project1999.com/forums/showpost.php?p=2606889&postcount=20

The Sharin Denuen snapshot from Apr 27 2001:
https://web.archive.org/web/20010427...h.shtml?id=600

In that post, I made the argument the image, existing Apr 27 2001 or earlier, shows evidence of hte chipped bone rod being a default item on the vendor list. The image is below:
https://www.project1999.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=253&pictureid=1119

While I haven't found any similar images pre-luclin, I did find this one, dated at the latest Jun 25 2002:
https://web.archive.org/web/20020625204600/http://eqbeastiary.allakhazam.com:80/search.shtml?id=4677
https://www.project1999.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=253&pictureid=1118

Now, if the wand-looking thing was just loot sold by players to the vendor, why're the loot items exactly the same in both pictures? And why're the item images the same as the default items? I don't see a single non-default item. This supports the conclusion they're default items. Remember, the old client showed items topdown, starting with the default items (available on reset), and ending with player loot.

The chipped bone rod looks the same as the wand-looking thing:
https://web.archive.org/web/20011223095945/http://everquest.allakhazam.com:80/db/item.html?item=3616

It's also almost certainly the case the "Uploaded July 24th, 2007" shown on Sharin's modern allah page is the result of switching domains and/or large scale updating in the site. This is because I found other examples of older images in the snapshot archive being shown as "Uploaded July 24th, 2007" on the new Allah pages.

Here's an example from a Jul 31 2001 snapshot:
https://web.archive.org/web/20010731211623/http://eqbeastiary.allakhazam.com:80/search.shtml?id=4901

The new page shows "Uploaded July 24th, 2007":
http://everquest.allakhazam.com/db/npc.html?id=4901

Don't forget the addresses for the images (and the pages) are different as well. I also strongly suspect everything is copied and stored by the internet archive servers. I say all this to deny any possibility these images aren't somehow matching the date of the snapshot. In all likelihood, these images existed long prior to the snapshot.

This is my latest draft of all the vendors said to have chipped bone rods by Allah:
Merchants listed as having Chipped Bone Rod on modern Allakhazam:
(confirmed) = on p1999, but may or may not have chipped bone rod
(confirmed pre-luclin) = existed on live pre-luclin, but may or may not have chipped bone rod
Alchemy = potions and few components (Mistletoe, Sandalwood, Dufrenite )
Alchemy Supplies = potions and many/some components
Date = last recorded snapshot when chipped bone rod is present in the sell list
Date(!?) = last recorded snapshot when chipped bone rod might be present in the image

Ak'Anon
__(confirmed pre-luclin) Nov 2002 - Alchemy Supplies - a clockwork alchemist (891, -301; lower level of tower on lake near palace)
____https://web.archive.org/web/20021106141037/http://eqbeastiary.allakhazam.com:80/search.shtml?id=72
Erudin Palace
__(confirmed pre-luclin) Apr 27 2001(!?) - Alchemy Supplies - Sharin Denuen (661, 539; bottom floor of palace)
____https://web.archive.org/web/20010427001556/http://eqbeastiary.allakhazam.com:80/search.shtml?id=600
Firiona Vie
__(confirmed pre-luclin) Alchemy - Shrub Marwood (956, -3323)
Kelethin/Greater Faydark:
__(confirmed pre-luclin) Alchemy Supplies - Merchant Kaeluase (-272, 51)
__(confirmed pre-luclin) Nov 2002 - Alchemy Supplies - Merchant Ueaas (-85, 601; near bank)
____https://web.archive.org/web/20021116100643/http://eqbeastiary.allakhazam.com:80/search.shtml?id=1264
Halas
__(confirmed pre-luclin) Aug 2006 - Alchemy Supplies - Murtog MacYee (124, -364; Yee Majik shop)
____https://web.archive.org/web/20060830211756/http://eqbeastiary.allakhazam.com:80/search.shtml?id=1469
Neriak Commons
__(confirmed pre-luclin) Nov 2002 - Alchemy Supplies - Marza T'Kix (Neriak Down Under)
____https://web.archive.org/web/20021118003257/http://eqbeastiary.allakhazam.com:80/search.shtml?id=2296
Neriak - Foreign Quarter
__(confirmed pre-luclin) Nov 2002 - Alchemy Supplies - Gambel Quick (253, -60; Gambels' Greens)
____https://web.archive.org/web/20021116100133/http://eqbeastiary.allakhazam.com:80/search.shtml?id=2221
Paineel
__(possible seller in a shop called Poison Petal) // on allah the only alchemist merchant has no chipped bone rod
Rivervale
__(confirmed pre-luclin) Nov 2002 - Alchemy Supplies - Kizzie Mintopp (-229, -217)
____https://web.archive.org/web/20021118002432/http://eqbeastiary.allakhazam.com:80/search.shtml?id=3169
__(confirmed pre-luclin) Apr 2005 - Alchemy - Byl Babbinsbort (-146, -114; near Misty exit)
____https://web.archive.org/web/20050404055613/http://eqbeastiary.allakhazam.com:80/search.shtml?id=3162
__(confirmed pre-luclin) Alchemy - Bimble Babbinsbort (-162, -118)
South Kaladim
__(confirmed pre-luclin) Nov 2002 - Alchemy Supplies - Baldoleky Rockfinder (254, -186)
____https://web.archive.org/web/20021116100524/http://eqbeastiary.allakhazam.com:80/search.shtml?id=1765
South Qeynos
__(confirmed) Nov 2002 - Alchemy/Spells - Caleah Herblender (Herb store by bank)
____https://web.archive.org/web/20021118004346/http://eqbeastiary.allakhazam.com:80/search.shtml?id=2804
__(confirmed) Sep 2003 - Alchemy Supplies - Drawna Opimsor (Herb store by bank)
____https://web.archive.org/web/20030914111003/http://eqbeastiary.allakhazam.com:80/search.shtml?id=2801
__(confirmed pre-luclin) Nov 2002 - Alchemy/Spells - Khensol Undesta (Caster's guild: 288, -623)
____https://web.archive.org/web/20021118003819/http://eqbeastiary.allakhazam.com:80/search.shtml?id=2828
Southern Felwithe
__(confirmed pre-luclin) Nov 2002 - Alchemy Supplies - Merchant Yisasan (440, -800)
____https://web.archive.org/web/20021118002158/http://eqbeastiary.allakhazam.com:80/search.shtml?id=841
Thurgadin
__(confirmed pre-luclin) Alchemy Supplies - Frundle Frenkler (-390, 505; next to The Holy Harbinger)
West Cabilis
__(confirmed pre-luclin) Jun 25 2002!? - Alchemy - Jondin (-36, 508)
____https://web.archive.org/web/20020625204600/http://eqbeastiary.allakhazam.com:80/search.shtml?id=4677
West Freeport
__(confirmed pre-luclin) Nov 2006 - Alchemy Supplies - Olyna Mudel (255, -1847; Torlig's Herbs and Medicines)
____https://web.archive.org/web/20061103162249/http://eqbeastiary.allakhazam.com/search.shtml?id=1161
__(confirmed pre-luclin) Mar 2007 - Alchemy Supplies - Torlig Mudel (265, -1837; Torlig's Herbs and Medicines)
____https://web.archive.org/web/20070319212007/http://eqbeastiary.allakhazam.com:80/search.shtml?id=1166

I'll stop this post by quoting what someone said Sep 12 2001 about finding the Harvest Crystal:
ttps://web.archive.org/web/20020112012855/http://everquest.allakhazam.com:80/db/item.html?item=3645
"Well, someone has to click on all the vendors to find ths stuff.

I have no idea which vendor in Kelethin sells this, although I know a number of
vendors around the world that do. Generally, I would expect this to be sold in
the same shops that sell other magic items, like the gate potions, potions of
invisibility, the chipped bone (locate corpse) rods, the cancel magic stones, etc.
There is generally a vendor (sometimes several) in each of the major cities that
sells this. While I know where several vendors are that sell this, describing how
to get to them without going into the game is not easy, and I don't have a lot of
time right now to try to remember where they are located. The one I've most
recently used, though, is Frundle F-something in Thurgadin, I've bought invis
potions there, and she's also the quest NPC that gives the container for making
the Thurgadin gate potion for one of the Coldain quests."

[Jimjam]

I also remember one of the rods (dropped or vendors, don't remember which way round) had 5 charges, whereas the other had 3.

[stormlord]

I've been visiting the usenet group alt.games.everquest, looking for references.

Fun fact, these initially sold for 6000+ plat at merchants--a bug:
https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topicsearchin/alt.games.everquest/bone$20AND$20rod$20AND$20before$3A2001$2F09$2F30/alt.games.everquest/EmAxqb1gmvw

Verant fixed it--no later than May/06/1999, according to this poster:
https://groups.google.com/d/msg/alt.games.everquest/Dpll6SJU8fw/af_l-Ov_wu4J

I looked for references players made about chipped bone rods possibly being sold at merchants. I used "bone AND rod" and searched for anything before Sep 30 2001:
https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topicsearchin/alt.games.everquest/bone$20AND$20rod$ 20AND$20before$3A2001$2F09$2F30
"Hi,

Does anyone here know if you can purchase Chipped Bone Rods from
any vendors in the Erudin or Tox areas? Or perhaps in Felwithe?

I have looked around these places a bit, but have not seen any.

I do know where you can get them in Qeynos, but I am not sure
about these other locations.

Many Thanks,

- Mike Dorr"
link: https://groups.google.com/d/msg/alt.games.everquest/NqEojrx2X7k/mP2TTgD965IJ
date: 7/09/2001

"I don't know where you can get them in Erudin or Tox, but in Freeport
they are sold by the potion vendor, so you might want to look for one of
them."
link: https://groups.google.com/d/msg/alt.games.everquest/NqEojrx2X7k/SACOd_hHgswJ
date: Jul/09/2001

"Also sold in Kelethin next to the bank"
link: https://groups.google.com/d/msg/alt.games.everquest/NqEojrx2X7k/5wlXcVzYwy4J
date: Jul/09/2001

"It's been a while, but in Erudin I think they are sold by one of the vendors
on the bottom floor of the palace, in back of one of the gem/jewellery
shops."
link: https://groups.google.com/d/msg/alt.games.everquest/NqEojrx2X7k/P5ZwKjMo9d4J
date: Jul/09/2001

"Every city has a potion vendor who sells these. In Erudin its in the
back room of the shop 'Vials of Vitality' in the basement of the palace.

I don't know about Felwithe, but theres a potion vendor in Kelethin."
link: https://groups.google.com/d/msg/alt.games.everquest/NqEojrx2X7k/Dwh_S1yUVfUJ
date: Jul/10/2001

"If you're still around Oggok go in & find the potion vendor. He/she will
also sell Chipped Bone Rods which have either 3 or 5 charges of Locate
Corpse. Buy a few of them.

...(continues to explain how to get the corpse.)"
link: https://groups.google.com/d/msg/alt.games.everquest/AgRGx7JHsAg/kiITDWmeNbAJ
date: Sep/26/2001

"When you get to level 4, and after you have bought your most important
level 4 spells (and any level 1 spells you want but hadn't gotten around
to buying), look around the vendors in your starting city and try to
find which one sells chipped bone rods. (Probably the one that sells
potions). A chipped bone rod sells for about 6 or 7 plat, and has 3
charges of "locate corpse". Scout this out ahead of time, so that if
you are in danger of losing a corpse that does have something on it you
care about, and can't find a necro or bard to help, you can quickly buy
a rod and find your own corpse. After you find your corpse, gate home,
and go put the rod in the bank (hopefully, with 2 charges left for
future emergencies). (I mention level 4 because before you've bought
your level 4 spells, it's probably better to lose the corpse rather than
spend 7 plat on a rod)."
link: https://groups.google.com/d/msg/alt.games.everquest/bb70T5f8naM/oqEbBX0te_8J
date: Nov/09/2000

"I helped a poor druid that died on level 3 and had trouble finding
the corpse, a check with a cracked bone rod (sold at same place
as potions, crystals etc, has 3 charges of locate corpse) had me
pointing to no regular part of the dungeon. A quick check of the
cat room and there it was!"
link: https://groups.google.com/d/msg/alt.games.everquest/pU2UJ_hjLYU/nGCZEL7IyWMJ
date: Dec/01/1999

"There is one in the wood elf city, for 6963 P 8 G 12 S and 2 C

my jaw dropped when I saw it....it is by the bank."
link: https://groups.google.com/d/msg/alt.games.everquest/_fSmlwvT6R8/d0EF8X74Z6kJ
date: Feb/04/1999
It aligns well with everything I've learned so far. The consensus in comments on multiple sites--and this usenet group--is they were sold on potion merchants--almost always with some herbs.

Below is my latest reference list of all candidate vendors (added Grobb):
Merchants listed as having Chipped Bone Rod on modern Allakhazam:
(confirmed) = on p1999, but may or may not have chipped bone rod
(confirmed pre-luclin) = existed on live pre-luclin, but may or may not have chipped bone rod
Alchemy = potions and few components (Mistletoe, Sandalwood, Dufrenite )
Alchemy Supplies = potions and many/some components
Date = earliest recorded snapshot when chipped bone rod is present in the sell list
Date(!?) = earliest recorded snapshot when chipped bone rod might be present in the image

Ak'Anon
__(confirmed pre-luclin) Nov 2002 - Alchemy Supplies - a clockwork alchemist (891, -301; lower level of tower on lake near palace)
____https://web.archive.org/web/20021106141037/http://eqbeastiary.allakhazam.com:80/search.shtml?id=72
Erudin Palace
__(confirmed pre-luclin) Apr 27 2001(!?) - Alchemy Supplies - Sharin Denuen (661, 539; bottom floor of palace)
____https://web.archive.org/web/20010427001556/http://eqbeastiary.allakhazam.com:80/search.shtml?id=600
Firiona Vie
__(confirmed pre-luclin) Alchemy - Shrub Marwood (956, -3323)
Grobb
__(confirmed pre-luclin) Dec 2012 - Alchemy Supplies - Raztara (215, -215)
____https://web.archive.org/web/20121217195809/http://everquest.allakhazam.com/db/npc.html?id=1341
__(in Feb 2003, this npc was extinct and Grobb became "Gukta, Outpost of Marr.")
__(unsure if this npc was selling alchemy supplies pre-luclin)
Halas
__(confirmed pre-luclin) Aug 2006 - Alchemy Supplies - Murtog MacYee (124, -364; Yee Majik shop)
____https://web.archive.org/web/20060830211756/http://eqbeastiary.allakhazam.com:80/search.shtml?id=1469
Kelethin/Greater Faydark:
__(confirmed pre-luclin) Alchemy Supplies - Merchant Kaeluase (-272, 51)
__(confirmed pre-luclin) Nov 2002 - Alchemy Supplies - Merchant Ueaas (-85, 601; near bank)
____https://web.archive.org/web/20021116100643/http://eqbeastiary.allakhazam.com:80/search.shtml?id=1264
Neriak Commons
__(confirmed pre-luclin) Nov 2002 - Alchemy Supplies - Marza T'Kix (Neriak Down Under)
____https://web.archive.org/web/20021118003257/http://eqbeastiary.allakhazam.com:80/search.shtml?id=2296
Neriak - Foreign Quarter
__(confirmed pre-luclin) Nov 2002 - Alchemy Supplies - Gambel Quick (253, -60; Gambels' Greens)
____https://web.archive.org/web/20021116100133/http://eqbeastiary.allakhazam.com:80/search.shtml?id=2221
Rivervale
__(confirmed pre-luclin) Nov 2002 - Alchemy Supplies - Kizzie Mintopp (-229, -217)
____https://web.archive.org/web/20021118002432/http://eqbeastiary.allakhazam.com:80/search.shtml?id=3169
__(confirmed pre-luclin) Apr 2005 - Alchemy - Byl Babbinsbort (-146, -114; near Misty exit)
____https://web.archive.org/web/20050404055613/http://eqbeastiary.allakhazam.com:80/search.shtml?id=3162
__(confirmed pre-luclin) Alchemy - Bimble Babbinsbort (-162, -118)
South Kaladim
__(confirmed pre-luclin) Nov 2002 - Alchemy Supplies - Baldoleky Rockfinder (254, -186)
____https://web.archive.org/web/20021116100524/http://eqbeastiary.allakhazam.com:80/search.shtml?id=1765
South Qeynos
__(confirmed) Nov 2002 - Alchemy/Spells - Caleah Herblender (Herb store by bank)
____https://web.archive.org/web/20021118004346/http://eqbeastiary.allakhazam.com:80/search.shtml?id=2804
__(confirmed) Sep 2003 - Alchemy Supplies - Drawna Opimsor (Herb store by bank)
____https://web.archive.org/web/20030914111003/http://eqbeastiary.allakhazam.com:80/search.shtml?id=2801
__(confirmed pre-luclin) Nov 2002 - Alchemy/Spells - Khensol Undesta (Caster's guild: 288, -623)
____https://web.archive.org/web/20021118003819/http://eqbeastiary.allakhazam.com:80/search.shtml?id=2828
Southern Felwithe
__(confirmed pre-luclin) Nov 2002 - Alchemy Supplies - Merchant Yisasan (440, -800)
____https://web.archive.org/web/20021118002158/http://eqbeastiary.allakhazam.com:80/search.shtml?id=841
Thurgadin
__(confirmed pre-luclin) Alchemy Supplies - Frundle Frenkler (-390, 505; next to The Holy Harbinger)
West Cabilis
__(confirmed pre-luclin) Jun 25 2002(!?) - Alchemy - Jondin (-36, 508)
____https://web.archive.org/web/20020625204600/http://eqbeastiary.allakhazam.com:80/search.shtml?id=4677
West Freeport
__(confirmed pre-luclin) Nov 2006 - Alchemy Supplies - Olyna Mudel (255, -1847; Torlig's Herbs and Medicines)
____https://web.archive.org/web/20061103162249/http://eqbeastiary.allakhazam.com/search.shtml?id=1161
__(confirmed pre-luclin) Mar 2007 - Alchemy Supplies - Torlig Mudel (265, -1837; Torlig's Herbs and Medicines)
____https://web.archive.org/web/20070319212007/http://eqbeastiary.allakhazam.com:80/search.shtml?id=1166

Dubious possibilities but not supported on Allakhaam:
Eastern Commons
__(single comment of a seller at the Hidden Inn) // cannot find a seller anywhere
Paineel
__(single comment of a seller at the Poison Petal) // on allah the only alchemist merchant has no chipped bone rod
Oggok
__(suggestion of a potion seller being there) // no indication a potion or chipped bone rod seller exists there

[heyokah]

I remember these dropping in befallen too. Too lazy to research it atm.

[Raavak]

Feb/04/1999 would be a beta date, prior to launch.

Nice work.

[Jimjam]

I remember these dropping in befallen too. Too lazy to research it atm.

They drop from the first shadow knight. Obtainable on p99 that way.

[MappaEQ]

Used to carry one of these on every toon back in the day... just in case.