Source of the Issue

Source of the Issue

Year

1325 AE

Storyline

Personal story

Chapter

The Teachings of Ventari

Location

Venlin Vale
(Brisban Wildlands)

Level

20

Race

Sylvari

Choice

"Where life goes, so too, should you"

Preceded by

An Unknown Soul

Followed by

Snuffing Out Embers

API

227

The path in the water to the objective

Source of the Issue is part of the personal story for sylvari characters who have selected "Where life goes, so too, should you" as the most important of Ventari's teachings, and who selected Caithe's plan to uncover Malyck's origin.

Objectives

Meet Malyck and Caithe at Venlin Vale.

• Travel to Venlin Vale.
• Follow Malyck as he retraces his steps.
• Defeat the Nightmare Courtiers.
• Proceed down the river as Malyck begins to remember.
• Examine the strange seedpod.
• Defeat the Nightmare Courtiers.

Rewards

Click here to edit the reward data

All professions

• 2,808 
• Basic Salvage Kit
• Bag of Loot (4)

Profession-specific

• One of the following: Malign Chain Legs, Mighty Chain Legs, Resilient Chain Legs
• One of the following: Malign Seeker Pants, Mighty Seeker Pants, Resilient Seeker Pants
• One of the following: Malign Embroidered Pants, Mighty Embroidered Pants, Resilient Embroidered Pants

Walkthrough

Enter the instance at the bridge north of Mrot Boru Waypoint. Speak with your allies on the bridge and follow them as they make their way up the river. You come across a group of Nightmare Court at the on the riverbank which you must dispose of.

Swim along the river, killing any Skale you come across. Stay away from the river bank on the left since there are a few more members of the Nightmare Court, and some champion Inquest golems in the far distance - you can avoid these entirely by staying to the right when in the water.

At the end of the river you find Malyck's pod, which Caithe remarks upon as being very strange. As you examine the pod, a cutscene starts and the Nightmare Court emerge from the shadows and lay claim to Malyck. Defeat them to finish the mission. Note that this final group of Nightmare Court inflict quite a few conditions which may warrant bringing a condition removal skill if available. Also avoid straying too far to the north along the river - the champion Knight of Embers casts a spell similar to Fireball at you if you get too close, and she does not have to be killed during this mission anyway.

NPCs

Allies

Sylvari

• Malyck
• Caithe

Skritt

• Skritt Forager
• Skritt Lobber

Foes

Ambient creatures

• Coho Salmon

Golems

• Champion Mark II Golem

Hylek

• Hylek Nahualli

Insects

• Firefly

Nightmare Court

• Knight of Embers
• Nightmare Court Apprentice
• Nightmare Court Bowman
• Nightmare Court Ebon Knight
• Nightmare Court Executioner
• Nightmare Court Marquis
• Nightmare Court Page
• Nightmare Court Squire

Skale

• Brackish Skale
• Ridgeback Skale

Dialogue

Upon speaking to Caithe:

Caithe: Malyck is most interesting. His tale reminds me of some of my first discoveries when I began to explore Tyria. Speak with him, and we'll begin.

Indeed.

Upon speaking to Malyck:

Malyck: Caithe is a strange conversationalist. She has so many questions, and gives so few answers.

That's Caithe for you. Tell me, is this the bridge you remember?

Yes. There's a path to the river. Follow me. I'll lead you as best as I remember.

I'll be right behind you.

Speaking with Caithe before Malyck reaches the area below the bridge:

Caithe: I trust Malyck because you do.

Thank you for that, Caithe.

Upon Malyck remembering:

Malyck: I remember this mushroom patch. A skritt crushed them underfoot when I was last here. We should head to the river.

Good memory!

Upon arriving at the river (non-cinematic):

Malyck: The nightmare court found the place before we did. How do you want to handle it?

Caithe: We kill them—painfully.

Malyck: Caithe, you and I are going to get along just fine.

Upon defeating the nightmare court:

Malyck: These foul courtiers are a bad sign. We must hurry. Head upriver till you see a cave.

I'll take the lead. Stay close.

Speaking with Malyck after entering the river:

Malyck: The path is dangerous, but we cannot turn back. The answers are here. I know it.

The waters in this area belong to hylek—dangerous frog-beings. Be careful.

Now that you mention it, I recall large red frogs after I awoke. They kept their distance, and they weren't happy to see me.

You're very lucky. Come on, let's go.

We'll find them.

Upon arriving at Malyck's Pod (non-cinematic):

Malyck: There it is. The pod in which I awakened. That's where my life began.

Malyck: That's my pod. Judging from your expression, I assume there's something wrong about it?

Caithe: Yes. Everything is wrong about it.

Knight of Embers: Don't listen to her. It is magnificent.

Cinematic confronting the Knight of Embers:

Knight of Embers: There he is! The harbinger. Success! All that is left is to bring him before the Duchess Faolain.

Malyck: You are one stubborn weed, lady, and you're doing a bang-up job of getting on my bad side.

Malyck: Who are you, and why do you want me?

Knight of Embers: I am the Knight of Embers. I was born dreaming of you, and it has been my life's ambition to draw you into nightmare.

Malyck: Why? Why do you want me so badly that you would waste lives just to capture me?

Knight of Embers: Because you are the key to our freedom from Ventari's false laws. Your coming marks the turn of the tide between Dream and nightmare.

Knight of Embers: With your appearance, the truth grows ever closer. Come, the grand duchess awaits in the Venlin Vale.

Malyck: She can keep waiting. We destroyed your courtiers—you'll do no better. Defeat me if you can!

Prior to fighting the Knight of Ember's courtiers:

Malyck: You'll die, like all those who harm my friends!

Caithe: Quickly, eliminate them, and protect the pod.

After the fight with the courtiers:

Knight of Embers: You fight well, harbinger, but you will be even stronger in nightmare!

Knight of Embers: You may have the upper hand today, harbinger, but I will keep hunting you. I will never give up!

Cinematic after the Knight of Embers flees:

Malyck: The Knight of Embers is a fool. Whatever this "nightmare" is, it led her to obsession and madness. Is your "Dream" the same?

<Character name>: No. The Dream is a vision of hope and a feeling of purpose. It guides us toward the light, not into evil.

Malyck: I wish I could say that I understood the difference, but I don't.

<Character name>: So, Caithe? Can you tell how this pod got so far from the Pale Tree?

Caithe: That is not the right question. Ask instead, "How did this pod get so close to the Pale Tree?"

<Character name>: I don't understand. What do you mean?

Caithe: I must speak with the Mother Tree—but first we must be certain that the Knight of Embers does not report to Duchess Faolain. If she studied this pod, as I did...

<Character name>: But what about Trahearne—we were to meet him at the Pale Tree.

Caithe: We have no time for meetings or explanations. The Knight of Embers must be stopped.

Malyck: Then we head to Venlin Vale—and to battle. Let us end this knight's threat once and for all.

Additional dialog options after completion:

Caithe: We can't allow the Knight of Embers to carry this news to the Nightmare Court. I'll send word to Trahearne. We'll need his help to stop her.

Indeed.

Malyck: The Knight of Embers said I was her Dark Hunt. Caithe has often mentioned her Wyld Hunt. Are these the same?

They are like Night and Day. Our Wyld Hunts benefit Tyria. Their are destructive.

How certain of that are you?

You only need to see what the courtiers do to know they are nothing like us.

I'll bear that in mind. You've been kind, while those courtiers bring suffering. So I can agree.

I'm glad.

The two concepts share origins, but ours come from the Dream. Theirs spawn from the Nightmare.

I do not wholly understand the difference, but I see that it means a great deal to you.

You have seen the terrible things courtiers do. Let that be any proof you require.

I'll bear that in mind. You've been kind, while those courtiers bring suffering. So I can agree.

I'm glad.

You have much to learn. The Dream guides us. Reach out, and it may guide you as well.

I have tried, but to no avail. Your "Dream" eludes me, and I'm left wonder if it and nightmare are the same.

They are not. Those courtiers are evil. The firstborn are good. This is the truth.

I'll bear that in mind. You've been kind, while those courtiers bring suffering. So I can agree.

I'm glad.

No Malyck. But we'll save it for a larger discussion...some other day.

My story

“ Caithe, Malyck, and I discovered Malyck's pod in Venlin Vale. Although it was similar to those from the Pale Tree...there was something very different about it. The Knight of Embers discovered this information as well, and now we must stop her before she carries that news to the Nightmare Court. — My story

Notes

• The Inquest champions provide no drops, so there's no incentive to approach them.

Bug:

Walking too far past Malyck and Caithe before they reach the first group of Nightmare court can cause the objective "Follow Malyck as he retraces his steps" to stay active until the end of the mission.

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Sylvari storyline