Bramble Walls

Bramble Walls

Year

1325 AE

Storyline

Personal story

Chapter

Justice for Riannoc

Location

Overlake Haven
(Giant's Passage)

Level

30

Race

Sylvari

Preceded by

A Splinter in the Flesh

Followed by

The Blossom of Youth
Secrets in the Earth

API

239

Loading screen at Overlake Haven

This quest is selected by choosing Iowerth's plan during A Splinter in the Flesh. As a member of the Durmand Priory, Iowerth plans to use experimental Asuran golems to defend the haven rather than risk any soldiers.

Objectives

Retake Overlake Haven from the Risen.

• Meet Iowerth at Overlake Haven.
• Defeat the Orrian undead outside Overlake Haven.
• Defeat the Risen in the courtyard of Overlake Haven.
• Clear the Risen from the haven's ramparts.
• Speak with Iowerth.

Report back to the order representatives.

• Speak with the Pale Tree.
• Decide your next course of action.

Rewards

Click here to edit the reward data

All professions

• 4,957 
• Bag of Loot (4)

Profession-specific

• One of the following: Strong Iron Mace, Strong Iron Sword, Strong Simple Scepter
• One of the following: Strong Iron Mace, Strong Iron Sword, Strong Iron Axe
• One of the following: Strong Journeymen Longbow, Strong Iron Mace, Strong Iron Rifle
• One of the following: Strong Iron Shield, Strong Iron Rifle, Strong Iron Pistol
• One of the following: Strong Journeymen Longbow, Strong Iron Axe, Strong Iron Sword
• One of the following: Strong Iron Dagger, Strong Simple Short Bow, Strong Iron Sword
• One of the following: Strong Simple Staff, Strong Simple Scepter, Strong Iron Dagger
• One of the following: Strong Simple Staff, Strong Simple Scepter, Strong Iron Pistol
• One of the following: Strong Simple Scepter, Strong Iron Axe, Strong Iron Dagger

Walkthrough

Use the mini-golem's skill bar to throw mine in front of or under undead groups. Wave your arms (skill 4) to attract their attention and they will run up to the mines taking about 75%-100% damage. Be sure to take out the groups up the hill by the door before hitting the group at the far end. After a short cinematic, use the golem the same way by throwing mines on groups inside the courtyard. Lastly, take out groups on the second level of the keep.

Defeating the last undead triggers a cinematic showing a lich lord. Then after some chatting, you must go to the Grove and talk to the Pale Tree, to choose your next mission, Cai's plan The Blossom of Youth, or Iowerth's plan Secrets in the Earth.

Note that the Valiant doesn't have to do any combat in this mission; it's all done remotely control by golems.

Tips

See also: Mini-Golem#Skills

You have three types of mines available: Mini Mine, Triple Mine, and Mega Mine. Skill 1, Mini Mine, throws a single mine to the location you target. This skill has a short cooldown, once the channeling is finished, you can immediately throw another mine. Skill 2, Triple Mine, throws a group of 3 mini-mines that land randomly around the area you target. This skill has a couple of seconds cooldown time, during which you can use other skills but you can't throw another Triple Mine. Mega Mine is a big mine that is always placed right in front of your golem, and several sections place, during which the golem is immobile and cannot use any other skills. After placing a big mine, all your skills go on cooldown for a couple of seconds.

Mines detonate when a Risen enters or moves within the white circle around the mine. An important point is that all mines thrown by a skill number detonate at the same time. So if you throw 100 Skill 1 mines around yourself, then throw a single Skill 1 mine at a Risen at maximum range, all the Skill 1mines will explode simultaneously, even the ones near you and not near any Risen. Because of this, you should probably choose a single mine type to use defensively near your golem, and use the other types to throw at the feet of Risen. For example, use mine number 3 to make a minefield near your golem in case Risen come at you, and use mine number 1 and 2 to throw at Risen far away. Mine number 3 can't be thrown, so it is a good option for defensive minefields. Note: the mines are only triggered when a Risen moves into or inside the radius, so a mine thrown under a Risen that is standing still, or that is attacking an NPC while stationary, will not trigger the mine explosion. This can be used to pepper the area under a group of Risen with mines, then wave (hotbar 4) to get their attention or simply wait for any of them to move, and the entire minefield will explode at once, killing the entire group.

Your golem can pick up loot from dead Risen. Note, however, that any damage taken by the golem will cause it to detonate, killing any nearby Risen, but forcing you back to your own body and requiring you to use the quest terminal to spawn a new golem. There's no limit on the number of golems spawned, however.

NPCs

Allies

Asura

• Kekt

Sylvari

• Iowerth

Human

• Amanda only appear after the mission is completed
• Brandon only appear after the mission is completed
• Caitlin only appear after the mission is completed
• Deputy Jenks

Various

• Lionguard

Foes

Risen

• Risen Thrall
• Risen Brute
• Risen Abomination
• Mazdak the Accursed cinematic only

Dialogue

Overlake Haven

Upon starting the mission:

Kekt: I've finished calibrating the powder-to-payload ration. Oola's schematics were vague, so I improvised.

Iowerth: Ah, splendid. Here's the herald now. Are we ready to proceed?

Kekt: Be sure to observe all safety protocols...as soon as I make them up.

Initial cinematic:

Iowerth: Glad to see you, Herald. Here we stand, safe and sound above Overlake Haven while the undead march on the field. We're outnumbered twenty to one.

<Character name>: You sound cheerful, despite the hopeless odds. Are the golems ready?

Iowerth: I'd say the odds are in our favor, actually! It doesn't take a thousand soldiers to win a battle, it just takes one very smart researcher.

Kekt: Priory explorers do a great deal of, ah, research, into abandoned laboratories, ancient ruins...

Kekt: Tomb-crawling! Dungeon-running! Ah, that's the good life.

Iowerth: Yes, yes, Kekt, that will be quite enough. You see, Kekt found the original schema for these munitions golems. He's very excited to see them in action.

<Character name>: As am I. Is everything ready to go? Those undead are getting a little too close for comfort.

Iowerth: Ah, yes, sorry. Allow me to explain. These golems were originally created for subterranean expansion. They enter a tiny tunnel and then explode, creating a widened area.

Iowerth: Kekt and I fitted these models with deployable landmines. We pilot them remotely, right into the massed undead below.

<Character name>: Sounds brilliant. Let's see how they work.

During cut-scene of the undead attacking the haven:

Kekt: Don't worry. We're quite safe up here, I assure you.

Kekt agrees with <Character name>.

Talking to Iowerth and Kekt before deploying the golems:

Iowerth: Hop to, Herald! Interact with the console near Kekt, and you'll deploy a mine golem onto the battlefield. Speak to Kekt if you have questions.

Can you tell me more about the Lionguard first?

They hail from Lion's Arch—hence the name. Their havens keep travelers safe across Tyria.

They sound like good folk.

Looking forward to it.

Kekt: The mini-golems were my design. I'd be glad to answer questions or bask in your compliments.

Tell me about their mine-laying capabilities, please?

You can toss out several small mines at once, or drop a single large one. The "mega mine" is too large to throw.

I have another question, if you please.

Thanks for the info.

The undead are sieging the haven. How do I get them to attack me instead?

Wobble around and look helpless. You'll get their attention swiftly, to be sure.

I have another question, if you please.

Thanks for the info.

What does the Aetheric Cloak button do?

A last-minute feature! Takes a bit of time to activate, but if it does, you'll be temporarily undetectable. Nice, right?

I have another question, if you please.

Thanks for the info.

Wait—that button says "self-destruct!"

Calm down, Valiant! These golems were made for deep-mine excavation.

What is deep-mine excavation?

The asura send these into small crevices to go deep into the ground. Then...bam! A clear passage.

May I ask you another question?

Wow—blast-o-riffic. Thank you for the information.

Uhm...you're amazing? Thanks, Scholar Kekt.

Upon interacting with the console to deploy a golem:

Kekt: Remember, lay down the landmines before you're mobbed. Durability—not one of the golems' strong points.

When a golem is destroyed:

Iowerth: Blew up, did it? Don't worry; we have plenty of these things.

After clearing out all the undead outside the haven:

Iowerth: Well done! See if you can get the gate open and we'll check on the interior of the haven.

Deputy Jenks: Listen up, Lionguard! These folk are from the Durmand Priory. With their help, we're going to take back the haven!

After clearing out all the undead inside the haven's courtyard:

Iowerth: Almost done! Get up on those ramparts and finish them off.

Deputy Jenks: We've got the upper hand! These golems are amazing!

After killing all of the undead attacking the haven:

Iowerth: Well done, well done! The munitions golems performed splendidly.

Iowerth: Herald, wait! Look, over there. Do you see that?

Kekt: Most intriguing.

Post victory cinematic:

Iowerth: Utterly explosive! That should be all of them. Overlake Haven will be safe, with no loss of life.

Iowerth: Magnificient work, Kekt. The munitions golems served their purpose admirably.

<Character name>: I'm extremely impressed, Iowerth. The Durmand Priory's clearly an organization that values cleverness.

Iowerth: You're quite correct. And this is only a taste of what the Priory offers. Think of it! Shelves as high as an oak tree, filled with lore and wisdom.

Kekt: Adventure! Experimentation! Ancient tombs, rich with...er, exploration.

<Character name>: I see. Tell me, with your vast knowledge, could you identify that strange-looking creature on the road? I've never seen anything like it before.

Iowerth: Sadly, no. I was wondering the same thing. If Zhaitan has spawned some new horror, we must discover its nature.

<Character name>: Agreed. Let's return to the Grove. The Pale Tree is waiting for our report.

Speaking to your allies after the cinematic:

Iowerth: Well done, <Character name>. You have a knack for cutting-edge technology—you're a natural!

Can you tell me more about the Lionguard first? (same as previously)

Did you see that unusual creature on the road, at the end of the siege?

I did, but I'm not aware of his specific classification. Wight? Lich? Otherwise? We'll need to ask the Pale Tree.

Good idea. Let's head back.

Why did you join the Durmand Priory?

I joined the Priory after my Wyld Hunt was over. I found myself deep in charr lands, fighting the Branded, and...well, it's best not to think on it.

Are Branded creatures like the Risen?

Oh yes, and they're quite awful. I realized then that all Tyria needed our help—not only the Grove.

But shouldn't we help the Grove first, and clear the Caledon?

Helping Tyria does help the Grove! The dragons won't be defeated one minion at a time. We have to think bigger, Valiant.

Makes sense. May I ask something else?

That's one way to look at it. Thank you for explaining.

I'll take that into consideration, Josir[sic]. Thanks for explaining.

It's been a pleasure working with you.

Kekt: Amazing! They worked! And Gixx said it couldn't be done without losing fingers and toes! Ha ha!

Who's this Gixx?

Our illustrious leader, Steward of the Priory. If you join us, you'll meet him. You are joining the Priory, right?

I really hadn't thought about it...

Well you should! By all means, you must!

I'll remember that. Thank you.

It was a pleasure working with you.

Deputy Jenks: So you're the individual controlling those golems? Well done, and not a scratch on you. Thank the gods for the Durmand Priory!

It was our pleasure.

The Omphalos Chamber

Upon entering the Omphalos Chamber:

Cai: Whisper agents report a strange creature leading the attack on Overlake. Know anything about that, Iowerth?

Iowerth: Our scholars are looking into—hey! You said your people weren't going to be there!

Cai: I said we wouldn't be involved, not that we wouldn't watch. Do you have a problem with that?

Iowerth: Your order's the most untrustworthy, cowardly lot of reprobates in Tyria.

Iowerth: Pardon me, I have quite a bit on my mind. So troubling...

I understand.

Cinematic with the Pale Tree:

<Character name>: I have good news, Mother Tree. Overlake Haven is safe, and the undead have been driven away.

Trahearne: Valiant, I was told about the strange undead you saw on the battlefield. I think I can help you.

Trahearne: The creature sounds like a lich. From the description I was given, I think I can identify it as Mazdak the Accursed.

Avatar of the Tree: Mazdak the Accursed? I know that name. One of my firstborn, Riannoc, went to destroy Mazdak many years ago.

Avatar of the Tree: I armed him with a thorn from my own bough, a mighty sword named Caladbolg. Both were lost, never to return to the Grove.

Avatar of the Tree: Herald, it seems you have a chance to discover the fate of my lost son and perhaps even avenge Riannoc's death.

Cai: Legend says that Riannoc chose a human to be his squire. If that squire survived, the Order of Whispers could find him.

Cai: The Order is very good at tracking people down - even when they don't want to be found.

Iowerth: Untrustworthy, as always. I have an alternate suggestion. As you may know, the Durmand Priory specializes in researching and recovering lost knowledge.

Iowerth: This sounds like an exciting opportunity to experiment with a ritual we've uncovered. If cast, it lets you witness the last moments of a person's life.

Trahearne The mystery of Riannoc's death has pained the sylvari since the days of the firstborn. Knowing his fate would help to heal that wound.

<Character name>: Branthyn? Does the Vigil have any suggestions?

Branthyn: Information-gathering isn't our strong suit. Instead, I'll go ask my superiors how to kill a lich. I'll meet you back here when you're done.

Avatar of the Tree: Very well. Herald, the choice is yours.

Speaking to the others before making your choice:

Avatar of the Tree: Choose carefully. Both orders have the potential to discover the truth. I have faith in your decision.

Can you tell me about Caladbolg?

It was the only weapon I have ever made, and doing so took a great deal of spirit. It was meant to be the blade of heroes.

What happened to the sword?

I created it for Riannoc, one of the Firstborn. When he died, the blade was in his possession. It has not been seen since.

That's a tragedy. May I ask you another question?

Thank you. I will find out the truth.

Will you tell me a little about Riannoc, Mother?

My initial twelve children are called the Firstborn. Riannoc was brother to Caithe, Trahearne, and the rest. He was as valiant as the shining sun.

What happened to him?

He traveled far to the north, to face an evil. When he died—the sun dimmed, and the Dream wept.

I'm so sorry, Mother. What should I do to help you?

Discover the truth, my Herald. Return the sword. That will bring me peace.

I understand, Mother Tree. May I ask you something else?

I will, Mother. I swear it.

Thank you for your trust, Mother.

Branthyn: Good luck, Valiant. I'm sorry the Vigil can't lend assistance on this one.

Why not? What's going on with the Vigil?

Some of the undead rousted from the haven are causing trouble on the coast. The settlements have requested Vigil reinforcements.

I'm glad the Vigil is helping the settlers. Fair fortune to you!

Cai: This sounds like it could bear investigation, hm, Herald?

I agree. How do we find out what happened?

I know a human settlement north of the Caledon. Waine has friends there. He may have told them what really happened.

How will we get the information?

Infiltration, espionage and good old-fashioned arm twisting. Are you in?

Sounds like my kind of fun. I'll meet you there.

I'm not sure. Let me think about it.

Sounds like my kind of fun. I'll meet you there.

I'm not sure. Let me think about it.

What do you think of the Priory's idea?

Iowerth's order has a lot of toys, but they're useless if you can't rely on them. His ritual is a dice-toss. We need information, not hypotheses.

That does seem reasonable. Tell me about your plan. (Same as "I agree. How do we find out what happened?")

All right. I'm convinced. We'll do things your way.

Let me think about this decision a bit longer.

Can you tell me more about the Order of Whispers?

The Order of Whispers is the oldest older in Tyria. We knew about the dragons long before anyone else.

So, what have you done to fight them?

You've got the wrong idea. The dragons can't be destroyed. We must do what the heroes of old did: put them to sleep.

Very interesting. How do you plan to do that?

We have plans within plans, my friend. Just wait and see.

Interesting. Can I ask you another question?

I'll remember you said that. Thanks, Cai.

Caithe: These are dark tidings, <Character name>. Riannoc was the first sylvari to meet death. We never knew what happened...

How well did you know Riannoc?

He was one of the Firstborn, alive when there were only twelve sylvari in the world. I knew him well. We all did.

What happened to him? The Pale Tree says he vanished?

Precisely. We all felt it when he died. It was like a part of the Dream was torn away—but we never knew why. Or how.

How tragic. Caithe, may I ask you something else?

That must have been awful. I'm sorry.

Who is this "Mazdak," and what does he want?

Mazdak the Accursed is a lich, a powerful one, in the service of Orr. I do not know his true history.

We'll have to find out more. Can I ask you another question?

I'll look into it.

Which order's plan should I choose?

Strength lies not in the plan, but within you. Choose whichever you feel called to enact.

I'll do that. Can I ask another question?

Wise words. Thank you.

I'll find out what happened to Riannoc. I promise you that.

Iowerth: I'm glad to see you examining the more inventive route! I assure you, you won't regret it!

You said you had some kind of magical ritual to see the dead?

Not death, Herald—we can see the last minutes of life. Be witness to the events immediately before Riannoc's death. Think of it!

I'm thinking. How easy is it to do?

Well, it's a bit dangerous. A lot dangerous, actually. But you can experience the events as they unfold. Isn't that exciting?

Very. I'm in, Iowerth. Let's do the ritual.

Exciting...but dangerous. I'll have to think about it.

What do you think of the Order of Whisper's plan?

Asking a bunch of miscreants and bandits? Feh! You'll find yourself shivved, mark my words!

So, you think we'll learn more about Riannoc's death with the ritual? (Same as "You said you had some kind of magical ritual to see the dead?")

That's a fair point. All right, let's try your ritual.

Let me consider my options.

Eh...I'm not convinced. Let me think about it.

Trahearne: Ah, Riannoc. I warned you—told you not to go alone. But you did not listen. We were all so confident. So unafraid of death...

You told him not to go?

I did. But he would not listen. He said that Mazdak was too great an evil to leave unchallanged.

In that, I suppose he was right. How sad, that it ended up this way.

When choosing the Priory over the Order of Whispers:

Cai: Rituals and magical hooey? Well, I can't fault your sense of adventure. Good luck!

Thanks, Cai.

Iowerth: Fabulous! I've been eager to try this ritual for two whole years, but no one was brave enou—I mean, I'll meet you near Lychcroft Mere!

I appreciate the enthusiasm. See you there.

When choosing the Order of Whispers over the Priory:

Cai: Wise decision. We've tracked the squire to a camp in the Wenon Steps. Meet me there, and we'll infiltrate.

Cai: Make for the border, south of Robbari's bandit camp. I'll just go get a few items we'll need, and then meet you there.

See you soon.

Iowerth: The ritual goes back on the shelf, then. A pity. Best of luck to you with the Order of Whispers!

Thanks, Iowerth.

My story

“ Overlake Haven was saved, but I saw a strange and terrible creature among the undead. No one there had ever seen anything like it. I wonder what that portends? I returned and told the Pale Tree about the creature I saw. Trahearne believes it is a lich called Mazdak the Accursed. Mazdak was involved in the death of Firstborn Riannoc, the first sylvari to die. The Pale Tree had given Riannoc a magic sword formed from her own thorns, but with Riannoc's disappearance, the sword has never been found. The Pale Tree has asked me to recover the sword, Caladbolg, and find out what happened to Riannoc. — My story

Notes

Anomaly:

The subtitles for Branthyn's last line say "Information-gathering", but the voiceover says "Gathering information".

• This mission can be completed without the mini-golem device, using only the normal profession-related skills. However, this will not affect any post-victory dialogues.

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Sylvari storyline