Part 1: Forging Ahead
First Fires
Crucible Keep
In First Fires, enter the Crucible Keep (1) and head northeast into the war room to converse with Commander Clyver (2). Ask if there’s more you need to do, and the Commander has another mission for you to undertake. Following the successes of the Forge Knights, the High Justice wants to build more of them at Fleetbreaker Castle (which is out of your adventuring area). You are to deliver the research to one of the commanders who is meeting you at the treacherous coastal cove known as Anslög’s Compass.
New Quest: Winds of Steel
Objective: Travel to Anslög’s Compass
Leave the keep and exit First Fires, bringing up your World Map. You may have visited Anslög’s Compass before (if you completed “A Mother’s Plea”), in which case you can directly reach this location on the western side of the map. If you haven’t explored Anslög’s Compass yet, transition to Magran’s Fork. Head south through the forest, back to the World Map, and enter Anslög’s Compass from this direction.
Part 2: The Dirty Dozens
Anslög’s Compass
Quest Updated
Objective: Meet Aranroed by the dock
Standing on the sand (3), take your party east until you reach a Drake skeleton. Head south to the edge of the water, before adjusting to a southeasterly path along the water’s edge. Expect constant intrusions from Xaurips along the way (unless you cleared them in “A Mother’s Plea”). Continue to the dock (4), where a woman yells whether Commander Clyver sent for you. Meet her on the dock. Find out more about Fleetbreaker Castle if you wish, then hand over Vianna’s research to Aranroed.
Though you’re hoping to return to the castle before these plans are discovered, your clandestine task is uncovered by a sextet of adventurers from Expedition Hall. The Dozens, led by Padebal, are here to make sure you don’t survive! Your conversation falls on deaf ears and you must slay him and his five Mercenary crew. Once this altercation ends, Aranroed quickly sets sail for Fleetbreaker Castle, while you are urged to return to the keep.
Quest Updated
Objective: Return to Crucible Keep
Part 3: Conclusion: More Research Needed
First Fires
Quest Updated
Objective: Defeat the rogue Forge Knights
Be ready for a rather rude welcoming committee when you journey back to First Fires and attempt to enter Crucible Keep; there’s a rogue Forge Knight (5) waiting to attack you on the front steps. Demolish this bag of bolts and enter the keep.
Crucible Keep
Prepare for more protracted combat once you’re inside the keep. The carnage you see here is courtesy of more Rogue Forge Knights. Enter each chamber, checking the corpses of the Knights for any items you wish (ransack the place), and mop up any malfunctioning automatons that you can.
Quest Updated
Objective: Speak to Commander Clyver
Once the keep is clear, return to the war room and consult with Commander Clyver (2), who obviously isn’t pleased by these events. You can:
- Agree that additional research into crafting these Knights (so they don’t attack friendly forces) is the best course of action.
- Conclude that additional research isn’t a good use of the Knights’ now-stretched manpower.
Despite these setbacks, you have proved a worthy ally to the Crucible Knights. You’re now able to tell the Crucible Knights faction (Commander Clyver specifically), “I understand that the Crucible Knights are attending the animancy hearings at the palace.” This will secure your allegiance with the Crucible Knights.
