Seeking the Seekers: Recommended Gear

Research Setup All good Seekers require a lab or office in which they can conduct their research. You will need a sturdy desk or lab bench and the appropriate tools to do your work, which may depend on which field you wish to focus on. One can never go wrong with the Research Desk Foreground - a nice solid desk to cover with undecipherable scribbles and unsolveable forumulas! You may want to pick up the book Experiment Notes: Hour 1 to help guide your own note-taking. As we all know, you're only conducting science if you're writing it down!

Supply yourself with a nice, thick notebook, perhaps a Red Notebook, and pen or pencil of choice so you can write down all those new findings and hypotheses you will develop. Its also always nice to have a working shopping list for you next trip to Neopian Foods, too - writing a thesis requires many snacks. What equipment you precisely need will determine on your field, of course. Here we have included a wide variety to get you started, but feel free to contact an appropriate mentor for specifics. Keep a handy Pocket Magnifying Glass in your pocket at all times, to investigate any interesting archaeological symbols or tiny petpetpets you encounter on your journey.

The Pocket Microscope will be an excellent addition to your research desk, allowing you to determine the cellular contents of those rare Doughnutfruits you might collect. For those interested in biology, consider carrying a Petpetpet Travel Cage to contain your findings for further study - now you can safely contain any Moach you find to take home without it getting squished. If you are more interested in the skies, consider an Auto Targeting Telescope, using the finest technology from Kreludor to investigate the stars. Books and Literature
Every Seeker knows that reading is the best way to gain knowledge. Enhance your own learning with a collection of field-specific books and guides, and before you know it, you'll have your own library! Most Seekers are briefly educated about a wide variety of topics, so consider the following texts to enhance your general knowledge: History Textbook, Language Textbook, Math Textbook and the Science Textbook would be an excellent start to your personal library. Of course, you'll want to focus on whichever field interests you the most! Here we will point out a good foundation for some possible academic interests. Biology and science are a large part of many Seekers' lives, with many of these scholars focusing on aspects of anatomy, botany, and petpet behavior. For Neopian anatomy, consider the books Flotsam Anatomy or Gelert Anatomy to learn about your favorite Neopet species. We recommend focusing on at least one aquatic Neopet to fully understand the variation we have in Neopia! For those focused on Petpet studies, Petpet Biology is a great introductory text that will teach you all about Doglefox locomotion and Slorg digestive systems. If you want to study something even smaller, consider Petpetpet Growth Patterns and take a field trip to the Lost Isles to witness the legendary giant Petpetpets of fame. A very well-known Seeker himself, Professor Fairweather has written his own guide to P3s in Professor Hugo Fairweathers Guide to Petpetpets. This text will show you how to conduct observational studies without getting pinched, nipped, or nicked. Other than its diverse life forms, Neopia is also host to a rich history spanning all the way back to Y1! Consulting the library at Faerieland may be a great source of help to learn about Neopia's history. From here you can check out Faerieland: A History to learn all about Queen Fyora and the faerie council, including the Queen's many roles in historic events. We also recommend History: A Brief History of Neovia for those interested in the complex, dark past of a region next to the Haunted Woods.

For the archaeologists and those interested in ancient history, consider A History of the Lost Desert. This region is full of mystery, intrigue, and historical artifacts, attracting many young Seekers to its extensive pyramids and ruins. Learn about Lord Coltzan's reign and more from this hefty textbook. Language and literature are two additional fields making up the fine arts. For those studying languages, there are many interesting topics to pursue. You may want to focus on Extinct Neopian Languages, which details the extensive Tyrannian languages, some of which have been lost to time. Many Seeker linguists travel to Tyrannian to explore these extensive languages, with some becoming fluent in Tyrannian.

Neopet-specific topics also abound, including Lenny Language, which expands on the joke-telling culture of the well-known Lennies. To further pursue the humanities, you may consider Ancient Grundo Literature and Society, a text dealing with the history of Grundos and how they became space-faring. For those interested in folk history, The Giant Omelette: Myths and Folktales may assist in understanding the culture surrounding many Neopian enigmas such as the Omelette. In fact, we still don't know exactly how the omelette appears every day, so consider that a topic for your next thesis. Field Gear While many assume that Seekers spend most of their time sitting around stuffy offices and writing jumbled notes, true Seekers know that nothing could be further than the truth. All Seekers spend some time in the field, whether that be traversing the dangerous jungles of Mystery Island, or interviewing the natives of historical Tyrannia. Seekers are generally not couch potatoes - get out in the elements with the following gear, guaranteed to assist your studies wherever they take you, from the depths of Maraqua to the peak of Terror Mountain. Being a Seeker means exploring the unknown, and they mean this literally. Your knowledge journey may take you to places never before seen by Neopians before, so be sure to come prepared. These Hiking Trail Sticks will assist you on any steep inclines, such as getting to the top of Terror Mountain or Geraptiku. Make sure to take your Explorer Backpack and lots of water, because who knows when we'll be returning to society.

Include your Handy Compass so you never get loss, and you're sure to come back with some new discoveries. Remember to include your trusty notebooks and pencils, because you'll need to take notes wherever you go! Petpet Companions
  You might consider that being a Seeker is a lonely job, but not when you always have a friend with you. We recommend taking a trusted and well-trained petpet on all expeditions. This petpet should have the same yearning for adventure as you do, and their qualities may even help you on discovering something new.

There are many robotic petpets developed at the Virtupets Space Station and Moltara that were designed to assist Neopets with data collection. The Mechanized Laboratory Assistant will provide you with real-time feedback on your lab experiments, possibly preventing you from mixing those two explosive chemicals. The N-4 Info Retrieval Bot is like a walking encyclopedia, proving you information on a number of topics at your fingertips. This could come in handy when you suddenly forget if its best to play dead or hold your ground when encountering a wild Bearog. For those more inclined to the fuzzy, you can't beat the loyalty of a Doglefox. A well-trained Doglefox is excellent at protecting any Neopet, especially when you let your guard down to collect that Cooty from under the leaf brush. This petpet is an excellent and safe companion to have, especially when traversing dangerous areas like the Haunted Woods. They even do well in the snow, and can contact other Neopets for help.

If you are spending a lot of time writing up all those research observations from the safety of your desk, a more comfy companion like a Kadoatie may be your style. Kadoaties will gladly snuggle up on your lab as you spend the day writing away. Just be aware that they will stand directly on your notes if not given enough attention - many famous Seeker's have notebooks filled with stray pawprints. A Mentor Perhaps most importantly, you will need a mentor or teacher to guide you on your journey and teach you the ropes of being a Seeker. Since being in the Seeker's Guild is an esteemed position, it may be difficult to convince a mentor to teach you, but with enough motivation and courage, we believe all Neopets stand a chance. There are many Seekers in Neopia, with not all of them obvious, as some keep their association hidden or secret, so keep your eyes peeled for any opportunities. Here we point out some of the more obvious Seekers to which you can obtain an apprenticeship with. Possible the most well-known Seeker, Professor Lambert of Obelisk fame is also a very difficult one to obtain as a mentor. While always friendly towards fellow scholars, Lambert is especially difficult to pin down in between his teaching at Brightvale University and his personal research regarding the Obelisk. Only scholars of the highest regard can consider working with this Gnorbu professor. Keep your studies broad and well-rounded in all disciplines, with a focus on history and linguistics, and you may have an opportunity. I hear he has a weakness for sweet foods, so consider pushing a Thornberry Krawk Tart his way. Seshatia, also known as the Library Faerie, has less obvious ties to the Seeker's Guild, but anyone in charge of the extensive Faerie Library is guaranteed to be involved in scholarly pursuits. It can be difficult to even find Seshatia, as she is often deep within the labryinth of the library, and you may be searching several floors for several hours before encountering this elusive faerie. Make sure your literary knowledge is top notch before asking to become a mentee of Seshatia, as she is fond of quizzing potential Seekers on their classical Neopian literature trivia. Originating from Brightvale, Clara Chatham the Wocky is a well-known figure in Seeker history, as she worked with Roxton in uncovering the Atlas of the Ancients. She began as a scholar working for the Wise Gnorbu in Shenkuu, and had extensive knowledge of ancient texts. Clara has also had great field experience, riding in hot air balloons and exploring the lost city of Moltara, so she is not to be underestimated. Neopets that are not afraid of getting their paws dirty should apply to work with this experienced Wocky. She focuses on ancient writing and archaeology, so the prepared Neopet should study these topics well. Overall, there are many different paths to becoming a Seeker, and hopefully this guide will start the process for any interested, young Neopet. The Seeker path is not an easy one, but enough determination and focus will lead you there. Following these tips will surely help Neopians begin their scholarly careers, but the only real requirement is passion! Never stop reading, learning, and sharing your knowledge, and you will already be a Seeker.