Alright. I've discovered the entire solution to the Sir Ariam Arcanum quest, and it was a slap in the face when I found it. It's actually described in detail in the EverQuest RPG book on page 358 (not an advertisement for the book, but it's a good STRATEGY guide overall).
Anyhow, here are the full details of the quest, as written from the book. What you MUST say to the ghost will be in bold.
As Vagner began to kick the piles of bones to one side of the tunnel, a glowing mist began to issue forth from a small vent in a rockfall that blocked one portion of the tunel. Vagner shoved Halwain back three steps and stood his guard between the cleric and the billowing mass that slowly formed into a humanoid shape. When the mist resolved, it was clear the warrior and cleric faced a ghost, for it possessed a soft white luminescence and hovered a foot off the grime-covered floor.
The benevolent, clearly elven face put Halwain at ease, but Vagner was not impressed and remained poised to counter any attack.
Halwain nudged the warrior aside and spoke directly to the apparition. "I sense a deep pain within you, ghost. Is there some way I might assist you so that you may find eternal rest?"
Thrning, the figure inspected Halwain for a moment, and then replied in a faint, reverberating voice, like that of one who spoke only softly and from the opposite end of a great hall. "Out time is short, hero, for the minions of the Burning Dead will soon sense something amiss here. Will you perform a task so we might lay to eternal rest the evil that dwells within Befallen?"
Over Vagner's growled warning, Halwain hurriedly replied, "I will perform any task that will cleanse this place."
"Then take this," the ghost said, bringing forth a rolled parchment from the deep recesses of its faintly glowing form. "This must be delivered to the paladins of Marr in the city of Freeport. It details a terrible plan to restore to life a foul necromancer called Marnek. The Burning Dead must not be allowed to achieve this goal."
Halwain accepted the scroll with some surprise at its weight, and then responded. "But who or what are you?"
"I was Sir Ariam Arcanum, a paladin of Tunare. There is no time for my own story, which in any case is of little account." The ghost paused. "But if you wish to know more of me, and to do me a personal favor after you've traveled to Freeport, then please seek out my family in Felwithe. Will you travel there?"
"There is evil enough here to busy us - but, yes, we will travel to Felwithe as soon as we are able," the cleric answered smoothly.
"Then deliver this to my family. It is my love for them that binds me here. Deliver my sister's token," said the ghost. The ghost carefully removed a necklace and handed it to the cleric. Immediately, the ghost vanished, though its gentle radiance shimmered faintly for several moments afterward.
"May your journey take you through the Plane of Health, there to lighten your soul," Halwain intoned, "and then on to your place beside the Mother of All."
Soon, the ghostly paladin's glow was gone entirely, and the grip of the dank tomb closed in on Halwain and Vagner. Both men squinted, muttering oaths to return some day, and then turned their backs on the evil and prepared to seek a paladin in the city of Freeport.
END OF MESSAGE
The only differing parts of the story from the actual quest are that you can either deliver the note to Knights of Truth in Freeport or to the Necromancer's guild in Neriak. That should take care of any confusion you may have. Any questions, go ahead and contact me.
Edited, Wed Oct 9 11:00:12 2002