This One’ll Talk ‘Til Her Voice Is Hoarse

Take a moment to replenish yourself (as there’s a choice that can end in combat to make shortly), before stepping up to the gravestone (which Roach is already keen on checking out), optionally taking some Florens and a sword, and then reading the inscription. The grave is of a knight around the same age as Pinastri. It appears his spirit’s became the horse-shaped umbra. Of course, Roach already knows this; she’s not a donkey.

A stream of thin ectoplasm forms the shape of the knight himself, who quickly explains the hermit has denied his peace in the afterlife, and needs Pinastri to forgive him. You can ask Marcello’s spirit why he appears as a horse, and the link to him and the hermit, before asking why the hermit’s forgiveness is needed. He tells a tale of a tournament, to where she saw him flog his stallion named Blaze to death. He pleads you to absolve him in Blaze’s name. At this point, you can:

Tell him he’s “not the one you should ask for forgiveness,” pointing out that Roach should decide. He pleads to your horse. At this point, you can ask Roach to “forgive him” (which leads to Ending #1), or that this one “doesn’t deserve mercy” (which leads to Ending #2).

Tell him “you don’t deserve mercy,” and begin Ending #2.

ENDING #1: MERCY FOR MARCELLO

Roach tells the knight he did a rotten thing, but horses aren’t vengeful and don’t hold grudges. The knight feels lightness, and fades from view.

ENDING #2: RETRIBUTION FOR BLAZE

You or Roach tell the knight you’re not about to forgive him for flogging his horse to win a silly tournament. You must now face the Knight’s Spirit in combat.

EPILOGUE: SO MANY POTATOES

Some time later, you return to the hermit, who has also felt the presence lifted, and she rewards you. With potatoes. The effects of the brew now start to fade, and Roach starts to protest; she has so much more she wants to tell you, though the last part is more of a whinny. The quest now concludes.