Stormsong Cavern

Leona

A shadowy woman awaits you just inside the cavern. She tells you her name is Leona, and that a group of devious Lescanzi witches have taken a few legionnaire survivors deeper into the cavern for “questioning.” Time is short, and Leona won’t say much about her purpose or motives—she only offers you a key, which she tells you will open the imprisoned legionnaires’ cages.

Beware the spell circles that Lescanzi witches cast on the ground—stepping within these summons groups of skeletal warriors. Skirt these circles until they dissipate.

Stormsong Cavern is crawling with Lescanzi mercenaries—the same sort that you sliced through on your way here. Some enemy patrols include dangerous Lescanzi witches as well—beware their powerful spells and dodge past frontline foes to dispatch witches with urgency.

When confronted by a fork in the path, call up the quest guide to see which route will take you toward your objective. Then ignore that route and explore the side passages instead—this will lead you to an assortment of valuable treasure. Refer to the cavern’s map and raid these caves thoroughly to claim plenty of worthy gear.

Boss Battle: Vera

In a pinch, step into summoning circles to spawn skeletons, then quickly defeat these lowly foes to obtain Health Orbs.

A formidable Lescanzi witch named Vera awaits you in the bowels of the cavern, and she can’t be talked out of a fight. Vera’s spells are similar to those of other Lescanzi witches you’ve faced up to this point, only Vera has had far more practice, and she casts them in lethal volleys. Dodge just before a spell strikes you—you’ll avoid taking damage if you time it right. Keep away from those skeleton-summoning spell circles and simplify this fight by eliminating Vera’s coven of lesser witches first.

Free the Prisoners

The demise of a witch of Vera’s power will surely loosen the Lescanzi’s grip on the valley. Make a thorough sweep of Vera’s chamber for treasure, then approach the two nearby cages and open them both to at last free the two surviving legionnaires.

Party Member 2

The right cell contains a character who eagerly joins you as a new party member. This new party member will vary depending upon the hero you’ve chosen to play. If the character is Anjali, tell her that she “wanted justice” for the Lescanzi’s terrible slaughter at the Montbarron Estate—this will gain you some Influence with the archon. Or, if the character is Lucas, say, “The Legion protects,” to gain Influence with him instead.

Armand du Blanc

After freeing your new party member, open the cell on the left to liberate a young legionnaire named Armand du Blanc. Armand recounts that he was captured while trying to defend some injured men back at the Montbarron Estate—question him to learn more before he departs.

Escape the Cave

Assign points to your new companion’s abilities, proficiencies, and talents, then check their equipment to see if they can use any of the gear you’ve acquired thus far. Consider upgrading your comrade’s healing and defensive traits first to give them a fighting chance—it’s a good hike back to civilization.

Leona Returns

You don’t get far before Leona appears and congratulates you on your victory. She then asks if you’d be willing to repay her generous assistance by banishing the undead inhabitants of the nearby Gunderic Manor. The task won’t be easy, but Leona hints that she can offer you additional aid if you’re kind enough to do this favor for her. Probe Leona for information regarding the Gunderics and their haunted homestead, then agree to help her to gain a new and profitable side quest.

Leona hands you a key before she departs—use it to open the far door and begin your daring escape from the cavern. Open the treasure chests that lie just beyond the door and inspect a scroll on a nearby table to acquire a new piece of lore for your collection.

The Mysterious Stranger Returns

The stranger you met in the square at Raven’s Rill greets you again as you flee through the cavern. The stranger is glad that you managed to rescue your comrades but isn’t prepared to join the Legion’s ranks just yet.

Fight your way out of Stormsong Cavern, letting the quest guide light your path. A large group of Lescanzi villains ambushes you at the mouth of the cave—unleash powerful anti-group attacks and abilities to tear them apart. Then decide your next move: either make your way back to the Legion chapterhouse to inform Odo of your success, or visit the nearby Gunderic Manor to take Leona up on her intriguing offer.

Side Quest: Gunderic Manor

Turn right after exiting Stormsong Cavern and follow the path to reach Gunderic Manor. Save at the courtyard beacon, then use the key that Leona gave you to enter the estate. Keep a lookout for two treasure chests while making your way to the manor.

Investigate Gunderic Manor

Leona wants to take possession of Gunderic Manor, but a dangerous presence still resides in the house. She has asked you to investigate the manor and make it safe for habitation.

A haunting female voice cries out as you enter the manor, begging you for help. Not exactly a pleasant welcome! Inspect the placard near the finely crafted painting that dominates the foyer to learn that it’s a likeness of Alise Gunderic, Lord Stephan Gunderic’s beloved daughter. Could it have been her voice that cried out to you just now?

Follow the Cries for Help

Venture upstairs to explore the manor’s second floor—the first floor’s only door won’t budge. Go left when you reach the top of the stairs and explore the servants’ quarters. Suddenly, a door opens of its own accord—gather your courage and investigate the room beyond to locate the source of the haunting cries.

Alise Gunderic

The gossamer specter of Alise Gunderic, daughter of Lord Stephan Gunderic, floats listlessly inside her quiet bedchamber. Alise tells you that the manor’s evil spirits serve her father, and that defeating the fallen lord is the only way to set them free. Alise is cursed by something different, however—something powerful and old. She begs you to destroy this force, whatever it might be, and deliver her soul to rest.

Save your progress after speaking with Alise—you’re ambushed by a mob of powerful undead when you exit the bedchamber. These twisted souls are not to be trifled with—dodge to avoid their vicious offense, and focus on dispatching the fragile red-hooded shamans first. Beware the skeleton warrior’s fierce spin attack and ample HP—time this adversary’s moves and strike when openings present themselves.

Enter the East Wing

Alise told you that her fallen father resides in the depths of the manor, and she’s given you a key that grants access to the east wing. Inspect the nearby office to discover a new piece of lore, then venture down the hall near the stairs to obtain another lore entry from an open book that lies on the ground.

When playing as Lucas, roll to swiftly close on gargoyles. Back them into walls and corners, then slay them with fast attacks.

Gargoyle statues line the walls ahead, springing to life as you approach. Use ranged attacks to dispatch these swift sentries from afar. Retreat several paces each time you awaken a gargoyle—you don’t want to stir more than a few of these dangerous beasts at once.

Purge the hall of gargoyles, then lay waste to more undead warriors and shamans as you loot the side chambers for lore entries and valuables. Carefully inspect the far room’s bookshelves to discover a secret alcove with treasure inside, along with an interesting note.

Loot Lord Gunderic’s study to acquire more lore entries, some goods from a chest, and a vital key.

By now, you’ve likely discovered a note or lore entry in which a secret password is revealed. Even if you haven’t found the password, you can try to guess it. Speak with the magical door guardian in the second floor hall and utter the password “Nagog” to gain entry to Lord Gunderic’s secret study. If you haven’t found the password, just keep guessing until the door guardian bursts into laughter and lets you pass. The manner in which you solve this little puzzle determines the type of Deed you receive at this point.

Deed Gained—
Solver of Ciphers - Agility +2

You discovered the password to the magically sealed door in Gunderic Manor.

Deed Gained—Trial and Error - Stamina + 2

Your unwavering determination finally won over the magical guardian in Gunderic Manor.

With the second floor fully frisked, return to Alise Gunderic’s bedchamber and save your progress before venturing back downstairs. A host of undead shamans and warriors have taken up residence here—slay them all, retreating upstairs if matters become dire.

The key Alise gave you unlocks the first-floor door, granting you access to the manor’s east wing. Cut through additional hordes of undead as you fight your way through a dining area and series of cellars. You eventually reach a lavish basement area called the Gunderic Library of Arcana. Clearly, Lord Gunderic had more than a passing interest in the arcane arts—something worth remembering.

Enter the Vault

Save at the beacon within the Gunderic Library of Arcana and inspect the nearby table to claim another scrap of lore. Examine the lever near the far gate to learn that something appears to be missing from the mechanism—the lever won’t budge. Inspect the surrounding shelves afterward for yet more lore entries.

A secret door bursts open as you examine the area to the left of the gate, and a horde of undead descends upon you. Fall back and dodge to avoid damage as you tear the fiends apart. Fight your way up the secret passage afterward, clearing out more ghouls and finding more loot and lore in the large room beyond.

Proceed through the far door and slaughter a few more undead in the passage beyond. Loot the side rooms to obtain lore logs and valuables as you progress toward a frightening encounter.

Boss Battle: Mire Hulk Horror

Deep in the bowels of Gunderic Manor, undead shamans have summoned a terrible monstrosity. Fortunately, the Mire Hulk is a simple brute with predictable attacks. Use the ample amount of room to outmaneuver the Mire Hulk, and stay out of its range until you’ve eliminated all of the shamans. Then turn your efforts to slaying the nightmarish creature that the shamans have called forth.

Slaughter the vulnerable shamans first to simplify the fight.

When victory is at last yours, search a nearby corpse to obtain a vital item called a Coalfire Stone. This is just the thing you need—explore onward to find your way back to the save beacon and gate. Save your game, then insert the Coalfire Stone into the lever near the gate to repair the mechanism. Pull the lever afterward to open the gate so you can advance to the Inner Sanctum.

Defeat Lord Gunderic

Search the Inner Sanctum’s desks and bookshelves thoroughly for additional lore entries, then proceed to the hub chamber that follows. First, go right and loot a side room to obtain some new gear. Then exit the side room and go right again to at last encounter the lord of the manor.

Boss Battle: Lord Gunderic

Lord Gunderic suffered greatly in life—perhaps this is why he can withstand so much punishment in undeath. Exploit the fallen knight’s plodding movements by evading and running circles around the generous chamber. Attack Lord Gunderic from range if possible, or unleash fast combos up close before dodging away to avoid his predictable—yet crushing—counters. Be sure to collect the loot that Lord Gunderic leaves behind.

Keep away from Lord Gunderic to avoid his defensive area attack.

Leona Appears

Having sensed the estate’s cleansing, Leona appears and thanks you for a job well done. The helpful witch is eager to take control of the manor and learn from its secrets, and she’ll reward you with a special artifact if you agree to hand over the property here and now.

However, if you like, you may instead choose to displease Leona by keeping the valuable manor under Legion control—this upsets Leona a bit, but she remains loyal to the Legion and rewards you for clearing out the manor anyway. The choice is yours, and it determines the Deed that you receive at this point in the adventure.

Deed Gained—
Lescanzi Ally - Will +3

You ceded control of Gunderic Manor to the Lescanzi witch, Leona.

Deed Gained—
Legion Caretaker - Stamina +3

You decided that the Legion should retain control of Gunderic Manor.

Side Quest: A Wayward Soul

You’ve cleansed Gunderic Manor of its unsettling presence—now you must decide Alise Gunderic’s fate. Use the key you found in Lord Gunderic’s second-floor study to enter the remaining side room. Here, you discover a wondrous artifact that radiates intense and magical light.

The Heart of Nagog

The spirit of Alise Gunderic is trapped in Gunderic Manor. She asked you to find and destroy the artifact that binds her soul to this world.

The artifact is called the Heart of Nagog, and it’s the cause of Alise Gunderic’s continued, tortured existence. Either attack the Heart of Nagog to destroy it and send Alise’s poor soul to rest, or leave it intact and continue to doom Alise to undeath. You must destroy the Heart of Nagog to free Alise, complete her side quest, and earn your loot and XP rewards. It is possible to leave the Heart of Nagog intact, but there is no benefit to doing so; destroying it is recommended.

Side Quest: Hiding Out

Make your way back to Raven’s Rill after concluding your business at Gunderic Manor. A troubled woman named Tatyana cries out to you as you pass her by in the street. Tatyana has a favor to ask, but you can’t complete this side quest for a while yet. Still, agree to help Tatyana to receive an important item that will come in handy later.

Find Niku

Niku is hiding in a cave in the East Forest. Without supplies, the town constable will surely perish. Niku’s wife has asked you to bring him a package of food and blankets.