A Nest Above the Clouds

Part 1: Pray to Hylea

Elms’ Reach

Teir Evron

When you are ready to select a god, head to Elms’ Reach and enter Teir Evron (1). Once inside, take the Luminescent Adra Shard from the altar (2) on the room’s right side and use it to activate Teir Evron via the crystal on the island (3) in the middle of the room. This starts the “Council of Stars” main quest. This side quest is one of four side quest options that are a requirement for completing “Council of Stars.”

“A Nest Above the Clouds” is the side quest dealing with the god Hylea. Hylea’s shrine (5) is to the southwest (around the seven o’clock position). Before you interact with the shrine, go to the shelf (4) on the chamber’s west side and take the book, “The Midwife’s Memoirs” from the bookshelf. Inside is the answer to which ritual words would be best spoken to Hylea. Now activate Hylea’s shrine, and when asked to recite the ritual words, select number 4: “Live every note of life’s song.” This begins the side quest without having to battle four Wind Blights, which you would have had to do if you got the answer wrong.

Pray to Hylea once more. This time you have a vision about being in an open-air temple built on a mountain summit. Hylea voices a single request: “Restore my temple.” Exit Teir Evron and enter Oldsong.

New Quest: The Nest Above the Clouds

Objective: Travel to Hylea’s temple

Part 2: To Slay a Dragon

Oldsong

Once in Oldsong, stop by Hylea’s shrine (6) and speak with the wood elves Onwˆen and Casfath. They can explain the winged terror and the temple of Hylea to you, but eventually you must tell them that Hylea bid you to speak with them about the menace that settled over her temple. They seemed bewildered that Hylea contacted you and also express their concern that she sent such a small party to battle a dragon. She gives you the directions to the nest. You can ask many more questions if you wish. Now head to the stairs at the end of the pathway (7). From the World Map, select Northweald.

Northweald

You enter Northweald via the southwest trail (8). Follow the trail north, take a right at the fork, and turn left at the next junction. Follow this to another fork, and take a left. You end up at the Pilgrims’ Shrine (9) in the northwest. Along the way, you battle three Stone Beetles, a Bear, and two Young Bears. When you reach the shrine, you must battle an Adragan, two Adra Beetles, and two Stone Beetles.

With the enemies defeated, select the staircase on the left before the large stone staircase. Not too far along the path, your progress is interrupted by a large boulder. If you choose [Examine], you will find a narrow space just wide enough to allow access to the other side. Select [Push the boulder out of the way]. Choose a party member who has Might 16 or greater to push the boulder. Once it’s out of the way, you find yourself at the base of a final twisting set of steps that lead to Hylea’s Nest.

Quest Updated

Objective: Confront the beast

Part 3: How to Train a Dragon

Hylea’s Nest

From the base of the nest stairway (10), if you head east along the dead-end pathway, you can find a Cloudsinger Songbird in a nest on the side of the stone wall. This is a collectible for the Songs of the Wild task. Follow the path west, ascend the stairs, and head east on the platform.

Continue to the large circular emblem (11) on the ground, and you confront the Sky Dragon. The dragon accuses you of invading her nest and threatening her hatchlings, and she threatens to feed you to her young. You can ask her various questions; the last option is to attack the dragon. There are two ways to handle this and neither option is a bad choice. Your decision should be based on your experience. Can you defeat this dragon at your current level? If you think you can, then attack. The experience will be well worth it. Otherwise, there is a peaceful solution.

Talking Your Way Out

If you are pretty sure you won’t survive a battle with the Sky Dragon, then follow these conversation steps:

• First response option, select: “You have young here?”
• Second response option, select: “Hylea is the goddess of motherhood, actually.”
• Third response option, select: “Is that why you came here?”
• Fourth response option, select: “Then you should stay. Raising your offspring here would honor Hylea.”

With that, the Sky Dragon thanks you. Your next objective is to return and explain to a god why you disobeyed a command. Make sure to loot the two Bone Piles and the Wurm’s Nest for the great items before you leave.

Quest Updated

Objective: Petition Hylea at Teir Evron in Elms’ Reach

Part 4: Conclusion

Elms’ Reach

Teir Evron

Pray to Hylea’s shrine (5) and select the second conversation option if you allowed the dragon to stay: [Whistle to the bird]. Hylea states you journeyed to her temple and found the dragon. Yet instead of driving it off, you allowed it to stay. Your reply should be:

• “Dragons, like birds, are creatures of the skies. Every life bears a cost.”

Hylea then asks, “What does a dragon create?”

• Answer: “Beauty. Great and powerful and colorful, they are a marvel to behold.”

Hylea says, “Their might inspires countless songs and tales, and the span of their wings fills canvases across Eora.” Now you know you got her hooked and you’re going to get away with taking the coward’s way out. From here on out, it’s a cakewalk. Ask for her aid or just continue listening to what she has to say. When prompted, ask, “How could I return things to the way they were?”

She wants you to guide the trapped souls back to the bodies they were stolen from. Instead of questioning her request, respond: “Thank you, Hylea. I will continue to Sun in Shadow.” Do this if Hylea is the god you want to follow going into Act IV. Finally, respond, “I swear to return the souls to the Hollowborn children of the Dyrwood.” This completes the side quest and updates the “Council of the Stars” main quest.