I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to The Dakster. When he says he will help you out if you are ever on, he is not kidding. The story I posted here is completely true. He sent me an in-game tell in the afternoon yesterday and asked me if I was still going to do the quest. I told him yes and he said he would be on later to help me out. After the servers came back up last night, he sent me a tell and told me he would meet me at the Gully. We knocked this thing out in about 30 minutes.
Then, as if helping this much wasn't enough, he offered to have one of his guildmates make me some armor. I told him I was going to make my own. He said ok and we parted.
About two hours later, I get another tell letting me know that my armor is ready! What?! Are you serious?! Yes, he was. Full set of pristine carbonite plate. I now look like a friggin bomb shelter.
Thank you Dak. Thank you Warmaiden. And thank you Rebels of the Sacred Heart. You truly make EQ2 an enjoyable endeavor.