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Overview
In this chapter you'll need to complete the Oracle's second task -- to track down the
Book of the Serpent from the fortress ruins in the Blood Mountains south of Ferdok. This is covered in the quest entry for
The Stolen Knowledge.
While in the Blood Mountains, you'll need to ally yourself with either the local witches or with the Inquisition. Choosing one side will make you the enemy of the other, and so you should ponder the situation carefully. In general, the witches are the "good" side, and allying with them will give you an easier path through the chapter.
Note: Some events and quests (such as Knowall's quest at #10) can become unavailable when you pick a side, and so you should travel through the forest and visit all of the notable NPCs before making a decision.
1 - Yasmin
Yasmin is a swineherd and a witch. She'll offer to help you get into the fortress ruins (#2), provided that you help her in return. This is covered in the quest entry for
The Stolen Knowledge.
2 - Fortress Ruins
The ruins will start out surrounded by a magic barrier, and you won't be able to get inside. To lower the barrier, you'll need to ally yourself with the witches of the Dark Forest or with the Inquisition. This choice is covered in the quest entry for
The Stolen Knowledge.
3 - Robber Ambush
When you reach this spot on the road, no less than two robber gangs will demand that you lay down your arms and give up your gold. This encounter will trigger the quest "Robbers and Bandits."
You'll have three ways of dealing with the situation. You can side with Ronkwer's men, you can side with Humbert's men, or you can attack both sides. If you choose a side, then you'll earn 10 experience points at the end of the battle, and you'll receive new objectives to meet with each of the robber leaders (#14 and #16). Each meeting will earn you 10 additional experience points, so if you choose a side then you'll earn 30 experience points total. If you attack both sides, then you'll earn 20 experience points at the conclusion of the battle, and the quest will end right there.
Your decision here won't make much of a difference. Regardless of who you attack or don't attack, you'll still be able to choose either side in the conflict between the robber bands, and groups of Ronkwer's cronies will still attack you as you explore the area.
4 - Main Praiot Camp
You'll meet a few people of interest inside the camp:
- Praios Devotee Warina. She'll try to recruit you to join the Inquisition against the witches. See the quest entry for
The Stolen Knowledge for more information.
- Quartermaster. He'll have a basic selection of items to sell you. This selection will improve if you join the Inquisition.
- Grand Inquisitor da Vanya. If you side with the Inquisition, then da Vanya will give you some tasks. See the quest entry for
The Praiots in the Dark Forest for more information.
If you end up allying yourself with the witches against the Inquisition, then the entire camp will turn hostile towards you, and you'll no longer be able to go inside.
5 - Danos
Danos is a farmhand at Darkforest Manor (#6). He's involved in the quests
The Witches of the Dark Forest and
The Praiots in the Dark Forest.
6 - Darkforest Manor
You'll meet a few people of interest at the manor:
In the kitchen of the manor you'll find a chest containing 500
Old Bread Rolls, which you can turn around and sell for 5 ducats. If you're on the side of the Inquisition, then you'll also find a
Bewitched Cooking Pot in the kitchen, but you won't be able to do anything with it.
7 - Woodcutters' Camp
When you talk to the woodcutters here (#7), you'll learn that a woodcutter named Holdwin left to fetch some lunch, but that he hasn't been seen since. If you agree to look for him, then you'll trigger the quest "The Woodcutters' Lunch."
You'll find Holdwin to the east (#7a), surrounded by a half dozen of Ronkwer's cronies. No matter what you say to them, the encounter will turn violent. After the battle, Holdwin will give you a
Pack of Provisions, and he'll make his way to Darkforest Manor (#6) to have his wounds tended. You'll also receive 15 experience points.
When you deliver the provisions to the woodcutters, you'll receive 20 experience points and 10 ducats.
8 - Alvina
Alvina is a witch. If you side with the witches in the quest
The Stolen Knowledge, then she'll teach you A Helpful Paw, Aimed Shot, Balm of Healing, Dodge I, Dodge II, Eye of Eagle Ear of Lynx, Hawkeye Marksmanship, Marksman, Meek You Be, Rain of Arrows, Seduce, Sleep of a Thousand Sheep, and Thunderbolt.
Next to Alvina you'll find a chest containing
Alvina's Diary. You might need the diary for the quest
The Praiots in the Dark Forest.
Pick Pocketing Note: Alvina will drop
Instructions for Longbow.
9 - Witch Trees
Depending on which side you take between the witches and the Inquisition, you'll either need to defend the witch trees in the quest
The Witch Trees, or attack them in the quest
The Destruction of the Witch Trees.
10 - Knowall
You'll meet a talking toad named Knowall here (#10). He'll ask you to bring him some
Firefly Meat, and he'll offer you a "lovely ring" in exchange. If you agree to the deal, then you'll trigger the quest "The Salmon Pool."
To the east (#10a), you'll encounter lots of fireflies, including a fat firefly that will drop
Firefly Meat when it dies. You'll receive 10 experience points when you pick up the meat, and then when you deliver it to Knowall, you'll be rewarded with 10 experience points plus
Knowall's Ring.
Note: You won't be able to complete Knowall's quest if you join the Inquisition against the witches.
11 - Saphira
Saphira is a witch. To get to her, you'll need to climb the hill slightly to the east and then head west. She'll sell you a variety of Alchemy items, including several recipes. Saphira is also involved in the quests
The Witches of the Dark Forest and
The Praiots in the Dark Forest.
If you side with the witches, then Saphira will also offer to teach you some talents, including Alchemy, Animal Lore, Attribute Restoration, Clarum Purum, Corpofrigo Cold Shock, Paralysis Stiff as Stone, Plant Lore, Plumbumbarm Heavy Arm, Survival, and Treat Poisons.
12 - Inquisition Camp
If you side with the witches, then you'll need to infiltrate this camp during the quest
The Witches of the Dark Forest.
13 - Witches' Dancing Ground
You'll find a large campfire surrounded by five witches' monuments here. You'll need to visit this spot at the end of the quests
The Witches of the Dark Forest and
The Praiots in the Dark Forest.
Note: To reach the dancing ground, you'll need to take the path starting at the northwestern corner of the plateau, near one of the witch trees (#9).
14 - Humbert's Camp
Humbert will ask you to kill Ronkwer (#16), just like Ronkwer will ask you to kill Humbert. If you agree to help Humbert, then you'll receive the quest "Intruders."
You'll find Ronkwer in his camp, with a few cronies around him. When the fight starts up, you should take down the cronies first and then concentrate on Ronkwer. When Ronkwer dies, he'll drop 6 ducats, a
Brabak Mace, and a
Ronkwer Wanted Poster, and you'll also receive 40 experience points. Then when you return to Humbert, you'll receive 10 additional experience points plus a
Robber's Key. The key will unlock a chest in the fortress ruins (#2).
Later, after returning to Ferdok, if you inform Duke Growin (in the Ducal Residence in the Ducal Citadel) about Ronkwer's death, and if you still have the wanted poster, then he'll reward you with 60 ducats.
Pick Pocketing Note: Humbert will drop a
Humbert Wanted Poster, 1 ducat, and more.
15 - Berndrik's Camp
When you arrive at this camp, you'll discover Praios Devotee Berndrik and a few Rays of Light defending themselves against several (bear) nature spirits. If you leap to their rescue then you'll receive some experience for each spirit that you kill, but you won't receive a reward at the end of the battle. As far as we can tell, Berndrik can't be killed by the spirits, so to make the fight easier, just attack whichever spirit he's attacking, and let him take the brunt of the damage.
Berndrik is involved in the quests
The Witches of the Dark Forest and
The Praiots in the Dark Forest. If you join the witches, then Berndrik will leave his camp, and you won't be able to battle the spirits.
16 - Ronkwer's Camp
Ronkwer will ask you to kill Humbert (#14), just like Humbert will ask you to kill Ronkwer. If you agree to help Ronkwer, then you'll receive the quest "A New Power."
You'll find Humbert in his camp, surrounded by robbers. When the fight starts up, you should take down the robbers first and then concentrate on Humbert. When Humbert dies, he'll drop 20 ducats, a
Robber's Key, and a
Humbert Wanted Poster, and you'll also receive 40 experience points. The key will unlock a chest in the fortress ruins (#2).
After killing Humbert, when you return to Ronkwer, you'll receive 10 additional experience points, but Ronkwer will refuse to give you a reward. If you take offense, then Ronkwer and his cronies will attack you, and the battle will go about the same as it did with Humbert, except that Ronkwer will probably do more damage. When Ronkwer dies he'll drop 6 ducats and a
Ronkwer Wanted Poster, and you'll also receive 20 experience points.
Later, after returning to Ferdok, if you inform Duke Growin (in the Ducal Residence in the Ducal Citadel) about Humbert's death, and if you still have the wanted poster, then he'll reward you with 60 ducats. If you killed Ronkwer as well, then you'll only get credit for Ronkwer's death, and you'll get the same reward.
Pick Pocketing Note: Ronkwer will drop a
Ronkwer Wanted Poster, three
Pills of Endurance, and more.
Exits:
- World exit.
