i think i'm a pretty thorough adventurer and have just finished ToB
from a starting character in BG - very satisfying to say the least and i love the array of magic items that have joined my parties and quests
i know of the few things i missed along the way except for in this final chapter
cespenar asks me for two things; heart of the damned for the sword of grief, and the skull of a lich for the spectral brand - of which i have neither :U
does anyone have any insight into this matter..?

Dont kick urself but they are in the same area. In Sendai's Lair the heart of the damned is dropped by the lich, the skull is also in that area in a trapped container. Definitely get these 2 the 2nd time through the game. They make their respective weapons much more powerful, especially the Spectral Brand, it is awesome.

Wouldn't it have made more sense for BioWare to have swapped the locations of those 2 items?

ha yes you'd think they would
forgive me...but where is sendai's lair again..?
is that in the drow 'palace'..?

That is the drow palace.

yeah what a dumbo - sorry
went back and grabbed the skull, but i guess the heart would be gone if it was on the lich's 'person' - the sword of grief is already +5, that's too bad i missed it; what improvements does it make {have always liked the poisoned weapons - 'specially for mages ;)
now in my rummaging i've found the eye of tyr - mayhaps i've missed something else..?
i also thought cespenar had already used the heart of the damned for something else, but i guess that's probably not possible...

Don't count on it--some unique items can be used to upgrade more than 1 other item, meaning you'll have to choose which item you want to improve.

Spoiler
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The Heart of the Damned can be used to upgrade either the Short Sword of Mask, or the Sword of Grief.

ah alas thank you dundee and ozz and 6oS
so i did use it for the sword of the mask
cheers all - now i am complete
{except for the eye of tyr..?}
and what does the heart do for the sword anyway...it seems pretty stand up on its own :]
i really enjoy this forum, thank you all for making it that way