Forever Taken = impossible quest!!!

[Bomp]

I did it at 36. The hardest part is the suicidal river run. It's actually rather simple you just have to have some luck on which way the vultures are looking. The first time I tried it, I had agro'd one and taken some damage, and instead of stopping to heal when it lost agro.. I kept going and agro'd a second + a eft. (the efts chase you a little farther but they rarely range attack and are easy to out run.) Ended up dying to 2 ranged attacks from the second bird.

My second attempt to run through, I only agro'd 2 efts (which did no damage) all the birds were looking away and I ran behind them. Vultures = Sight. Run behind or to the side and they won't agro.

Get passed the water and you're in the clear.

[Esthar]

The hardest part is the suicidal river run.

Whoa, I remember that one. Tricky and requires patience and luck.
I was, back then, always hoping for a random party who coincidentially would farm these very mobs.
Never happened of course. (^-^)
Took me 1-2 hours (probably more) in total to get to Mor Dhona and Coerthas.
It was fun, but I'm glad I won't have to do it again for some time.

I think the others answered your questions perfectly already so I won't say anything else. (^,^)

[Reika]

you all made this quest way harder than necessary ^^

[Jynx]

you all made this quest way harder than necessary ^^

Pfft any XI veteran would call this "Suicide run" a stroll in the park compared to some situations they were bound to have been found in the past. Only difference is that everything has a blasted ranged attack!

[Adol]

Pfft any XI veteran would call this "Suicide run" a stroll in the park compared to some situations they were bound to have been found in the past. Only difference is that everything has a blasted ranged attack!

This is true, but it's balanced somewhat by mobs having a very short aggro time before they give up chasing.
I also found getting to the Sylph village in the northeast of the Black Shroud was difficult to get to alone, though I managed it in the end after dying 3 or 4 times.