Menhir Research/Menhir by Efficiency

While originally this quest was an efficient method to obtaining alternate currency between characters, the Casino changes in the Cloak of Darkness patch removed the ability to obtain alternate currency from this quest. It is still a decent source of lower-tier loot, XP, and chances at work 10 salvage bags and Pristine Mana Shards.

Preparation
To run the quest as quickly as possible on multiple characters, you'll want all your characters to:
 * Have portal gems for Rithwic, Yaraq, Shoushi, Yanshi, Holtburg, and Xarabydun.
 * Have Teleportation Devices for the Facility Hub.
 * Have access to a Tursh Totem at mansion.
 * Have Aerlinthe Recall, a Portal to Izji Qo at their mansion, or an available summon, recall, or lifestone tie to the Obsidian Rim.
 * Note: There's a portal to the Obsidian Rim at 5.5N, 87.5W, about a 10-click run from Fort Tethana. This might be the best option for "runner" characters who will only be played for this quest.
 * An available summon or recall to Tufa.
 * An available summon or recall to the Lugian Quarry.
 * An available summon or recall to the top of Mt. Alphus, where Zalphoos has his shop.
 * A buff-bot may help for surviving the run to the Obsidian Rim Menhir Rings, though it's not essential.

Steps
Each character will do the following in order:
 * 1) Use a Xarabydun portal gem to get the  Enchanted Mana Stone from Cara.
 * 2) Use a Holtburg gem to get the Holtburg ring and the two menhir rings directly north from Holtburg, as a straight-line run in order, for 3 fields total.
 * 3) 41.9N, 33.3E
 * 4) New Colier housing portal at 40.2N, 35.1E -> 61.7N, 34.1E
 * 5) Mountain Keep Cottages housing portal at 40.2N, 35.1E -> 51.5N, 32.6E
 * 6) Summon or recall to the Obsidian Rim. Proceed to the two Obsidian Rim menhir rings, recalling to the drop after each ring, for 5 fields total.
 * 7) Use a Shoushi portal gem --> Kara (NE side of Shoushi) --> Lake Thrasyl Cottages Portal (82.9S, 48.0E) --> West Linvak Menhir ring (69.7S, 40.1E), for 6 fields total.
 * 8) Reach Al-Jalima via Umbral Halls --> Al-Jalima (east wing) or via Yaraq --> Khayyaban --> Al-Jalima (8.2N, 5.4E), for 7 fields total.
 * 9) Use the Tursh totem at your mansion and run to the Tumerok Camp menhir ring (82.7N, 21.0E), for 8 fields total.
 * 10) Use a Rithwic gem and run to Rithwic crypt (14.0N, 59.1E), for 9 fields total.
 * 11) Use the Facility Hub Teleportation Device --> Ancient Empyrean Grotto portal (downstairs, west wing) and run to Marae Lassel Menhir Ring (49.2N, 74.6W), for 10 fields total.
 * 12) Use a Yanshi gem and run to the 11.2S, 43.6E - Stone Ring, for 11 fields total.
 * 13) Reach Zaikhal via Yaraq portal gem --> Zaikhal(16.0N, 1.8E), for 12 fields total.
 * 14) Reach Tufa (14.0S, 5.3E) via summon or recall or run from Yaraq, for 13 field total.
 * 15) Summon or recall or Facility Hub --> Bellig Tower Base then run to the top of Mt. Alphus, for 14 fields total.
 * 16) Summon or recall the Lugian Quarry near the East Linvak Menhir ring (65.4S, 52.3E), for 15 fields total.
 * 17) Return to Xarabydun and turn in your  Enchanted Mana Stone with 15 rings lit. You'll be rewarded with XP and a 2-use Golden Key that opens the Golden Chest. You're done!

Alternate method
If you do not have access to recalls at mansions or other ties in the list above, this 15-ring sequence requires an Obsidian Rim tie, a Town Network tie, and a Teleportation Device. It can be done in 35-40 minutes by a character with a buffed Run skill of 380. The list order goes from most difficult to least difficult, and from longest runs to shortest runs. Level 50-80 characters may have the most difficulty with the first five.
 * 1) Recall the Obsidian Rim -> West to 72.7W (entrance to the valley) then north to 46.2S 71.8W (#02)
 * 2) Recall the Obsidian Rim -> East then a bit north to 45.3S 61.1W (#01)
 * 3) Town Network -> Sho wing -> Kara -> Housing portals at 82.9S 48.0E -> Yukikaze portal -> Northeast to 65.4S 52.3E (#04)
 * 4) Town Network -> Sho -> Kara -> Housing portals -> Lake Thrasyl -> Northwest to 69.7S 40.1E (#07)
 * 5) Facility Hub -> Ancient Empyrean Grotto portal (downstairs, west wing) -> South to 49.2N 74.6W (#20)
 * 6) Town Network -> Aluvian -> Arwic -> Housing portals at 32.9N 59.6E -> Dagger Vale -> West to 82.7N 21.0E (#18)
 * 7) Facility Hub -> Bellig Tower Base portal (40+ room) -> North to 21.7N 19.4E (Zabool Tower Base portal) -> Exit portal at the top of the tower -> Take Mount Alphus portal on the corner of the plateau -> Ring at 19.3N 17.7E (#10)
 * 8) Town Network -> Aluvian -> Holtburg -> Ring at 41.9N 33.3E (in town, near the lifestone) (#09)
 * 9) Holtburg ring -> Holtburg housing portals at 40.2N 35.1E -> New Colier portal -> East to 61.7N 34.1E (#08)
 * 10) Town Network -> Aluvian -> Holtburg -> Housing portals -> Mountain Keep -> West to 51.5N 32.6E (#17)
 * 11) Town Network -> Aluvian -> Rithwic -> North to 14.0N 59.1E (#03)
 * 12) Town Network -> Sho -> Yanshi -> Northeast to 11.2S 43.6E (#06)
 * 13) Town Network -> Gharu -> Zaikhal -> North-northeast to 16.0N 1.8E (#12)
 * 14) Town Network -> Gharu -> Al-Jalima -> Northeast to 8.2N 5.4E (can see it from the drop) (#11)
 * 15) Town Network -> Gharu -> Tufa -> Northwest to 14.0S 5.3E (in the crater at the bottom of the waterfall) (#19)