[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/#!to...st/EmAxqb1gmvw

Verant fixed it--no later than May/06/1999, according to this poster:
https://groups.google.com/d/msg/alt....w/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/#!to...2001$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....k/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....k/SACOd_hHgswJ
date: Jul/09/2001

"Also sold in Kelethin next to the bank"
link: https://groups.google.com/d/msg/alt....k/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....k/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....k/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....g/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....M/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....U/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....8/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