Part 1: Kidnapping or Poisoning
Elms’ Reach
The Warrior’s Hall
When you enter the Warrior’s Hall (1) in Elms’ Reach, you find a warm, inviting structure full of Three-Tusk Firstblades, Warrioresses, Wilderwomen, and Wildermen with their Stelgaer companions. Head to the back of the room and speak with the grizzled old elf, Simoc (2). You can ask him about Blood Sands, Three-Tusk Stelgaer, and what he does. His current business involves discussions of the Hollowborn. As you sap the conversation options, Simoc eventually tells you that they are currently fostering the Anamfath of Fisher Crane’s youngest child, planning for this “bog child” to take his place. Inquire about the bog child and he eventually asks for your help. He wants the infant’s soul passed to one of his own offspring and says the druids of Blood Sands have a way to do this. Accept the offer to help and he gives you the Rusty Key.
If Grieving Mother is in your party, she voices her strong dislike of where this particular quest is heading and promises that she will not stand by you if you do this evil.
New Quest: Sacrificial Bloodlines
Objective: Fetch the Orlan child from a house in southeast Hearthsong
Simoc’s son, Lliras (3), stops you on your way out of the Warrior’s Hall. Listen to what he has to say. He expresses his concern for the small child, Vela—the target of your objective. When you ask him for alternative solutions, he suggests you poison his father instead. If you like, agree to do this for him and save the child. You can always change your mind later, but you will have to kill Lliras as soon as you take Vela. Otherwise, you are to get Bledha’s (5) help in Golden Grove. She will brew the poison.
Part 2: Robbing the Cradle
Hearthsong
Exit the Warrior’s Hall and leave Elms’ Reach to travel to Hearthsong. Use the Rusty Key to unlock the door on the easternmost house in Hearthsong (4). Inside are a few containers to loot, an Orange Tabby Cat to acquire if you wish, but most importantly, a cradle to rob. Take Vela from her crib. If you are planning on poisoning Simoc, then put the child back and leave.
Task Updated
Objective: Deliver the baby to Blood Sands
Lliras waits for you outside Vela’s home if you told him you’d poison his father. You must fight him to the death.
Elms’ Reach
Blood Sands
Now head back to Elms’ Reach and go to the cave (6) to the north. This is Blood Sands. Enter Blood Sands through a southeast entrance (7), and Keeper Garost (8) is just a few steps away. Ask him questions about Blood Sands if you wish to learn more about the place. Head left out of this first chamber and continue turning left until you reach a small dead-end chamber with the elderly dwarf, Keeper Wrdha (9).
Speak to her and ask about Blood Sands, or what she does, but most importantly, select “I’ve brought a child on behalf of Anamfath Simoc.” Do this only if you are prepared to sacrifice the child and lose the partnership of Grieving Mother. Because if you hand over the child, it’s the last time you will see her. She will just drop everything and leave. In exchange, Keeper Wrdha hands you the potion for Simoc. Exit Blood Sands and head back to Simoc in Elms’ Reach.
Task Updated
Objective: Give the essence potion to Simoc
Part 3: Potion or Poison
Elms’ Reach
Golden Grove
If you are considering taking Lliras’s advice and poisoning his father, Simoc, instead of sacrificing an innocent child, then head to the Golden Grove and speak with Bledha (5). Select one of the choice poisons: concentrated carow golan, undistilled spider venom, rotten blood moss extract, or cave coral and Skaenbone. They all sound really yummy, but it doesn’t matter which one you purchase because it’s going to come down to your Deception skills.
Task Updated
Objective: Trick Simoc into drinking the poison
Part 4: Conclusion—the Delivery
The Warrior’s Hall
Enter the Warrior’s Hall (1). If you are going to try fooling him into drinking poison instead of a potion, then you must have Resolve 19 or Intellect 19 at the minimum. If you are just shy of these numbers, search your inventory (or go to a shop) and wear items that raise these stats (like rings or neckwear). Then talk to Simoc (2). You can now do one of the following:
- Give Simoc the essence potion.
- Give Simoc the poison. (You must have Resolve 19 or Intellect 19 to pull this off; otherwise this ends in a battle.)
- Or, be honest and tell him “Lliras asked me to kill you.”
