Alaine the Apprentice tells you, "Hello! If you are willing, we have a task for you."
Alaine the Apprentice tells you, "The Arcanum lost some important research when Martine raided our Research Facility near Al-Jalima. Martine seems to be gone now, but his minions remain, preventing us from retrieving the decanters we need."
Alaine the Apprentice tells you, "If you can go there and find the decanters, then you can journey to the Fathomless Chasm, a wellspring of pure mana, and use the decanters to collect the essence there. This essence is required to forge the new pyreal weapons, which we are calling Isparian."
Alaine the Apprentice tells you, "Here -- I have literature that explains all this."
Alaine the Apprentice gives you Isparian Arms.
Alaine the Apprentice gives you Treatise on Essence.
Alaine the Apprentice tells you, "The locations of the Research Facility and the Fathomless Chasm are written on the flyleaves."