The first contract players receive inStoneshardis randomly chosen from a handful of quests. One of them is called “Captive Emissary”. The objective is simple: rescue a captured emissary from the den of the ne-er-do-wells that captured him.
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Stoneshardhowever joins a longlist of richly-detailed survival RPGswhere simple tasks prove to be surprisingly difficult to complete. It takes more than blindly following map markers to complete this quest, and a little preparation goes a long way.
Preparation
As soon as the quest is accepted, it starts counting down a 4-day time limit. So, rather than pick up this quest, players should start bycompleting some side quests around townif they haven’t already. The blacksmith, Jebar, offers a quest to gather swords, and the herbalist, Frid, offers another to collect some herbs.
After attaining at least level 2, go around town to pick up some equipment. Consider grabbing the following items:
Once properly prepared, head to the largest building near the center of town. Odar is on the top floor, scribbling in this ledger. He gives the player one of four quests: “Hapless Peasant”, “Captured Merchant”, “Captive Emissary”, or “Stolen Goods”.
If he sets the player on “Captive Emissary”, he describes the situation and asks the player to go liberate the emissary from bandits. The actual name of the den is randomized, but it’s a bastion on the map.
Get To The Bastion
The road to the bastion is fraught with perils. There are bandits, wolves, snakes, boars, and bears. Be weary of the zero and four-legged threats at this point in the game. They can be taken down, and it is possible toskin animals inStoneshardfor pelts, but they are quite a challenge. At level 2, players shouldn’t have much of an issue getting through a few bandits though.
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The map tile with the bastion will be approximately three map tiles away. The specific location will vary as the location is spawned randomly. Travel between map tiles by using the arrows at the edge of each map. While moving through these tiles, hold down Alt to highlight any useful items along the way.
Clearing Out The Bastion
The layout for every Bastion is randomized. This is one of the waysStoneshardstands out amongsurvival games with great replay value, but there are some basics that will mostly be the same. The Emissary, Rickerd, is being held prisoner in a cell somewhere in the Bastion. The player must kill the bandit leader, retrieve the key, and unlock the cell to free the emissary. It isn’t necessary to wipe out all the bandits, but doing so nets more loot and experience.
The Bastion will be occupied by about a dozen bandits spread out through 10-20 rooms. The best way to handle the bandits is to bait them into doorways to take them on one-by-one, but be careful not to alarm enemies in adjacent rooms.
There will be locked doors and treasure chests along the way and plenty of barrels and crates to break open too. Keep an eye out for secret rooms. They only have a 5% chance of spawning, but they hold unusually good treasure. Use theExamine Surroundingsability anywhere that might be capable of concealing a doorway.
There may also be traps, which can also be discovered withExamine Surroundings. Be especially careful around these since even a failed disarming attempt can be a death sentence. Remember that water can be poured from Waterskins or Flasks to put out fires.
If the player finds the emissary before they’re able to unlock his cell, he’ll mention a key that’s in the hands of the bandits’ leader. Keep searching to find the leader and take his key.
The leader will be in a large room with one or more guards around him. His guards can be baited away from him and taken on separately. A good thing too because he has 75 health and hits hard. It’s best to get in a few shots at range if possible to make him easier to take down in melee.
Take the key from the leader and bring it back to Rickerd’s cell. Unlock the door, and he’ll begrudgingly offer his gratitude.
Turn In The Quest
Head back to Osbrook and go to Odar. He’ll issue a reward of 455 crowns. He has another contract to accept too, but hold off and take this opportunity to rest and resupply.
Head back to The Black Boar inn and head upstairs. Rickerd is there, preening and complaining as he does. He has a task available, which he gladly sets the player on before sitting down at the table. He will remain there for all characters, and his quest will be taken out of rotation for other characters. That is, until he’s captured again.
