Online:The Serpent's Beacon

Quick Walkthrough
#Rescue Captain Ciranya from the Sea Viper camp.
#Free the three other captive members of Ciranya's patrol.
#Collect the materials needed for a potent fire-bomb.
#Acquire a rune from a Sea Viper to pass through the warded lighthouse entrance.
#Ascend the lighthouse and burn the beacon.
#Escape from the tower.

Detailed Walkthrough
Legionary Artaste—one of the survivors|thumb|right
In various places near South Beacon, you may come across three different legionaries who appear to be injured in varying degrees. Legionary Tanacar is on the beach to the northwest of Vulkhel Guard, Legionary Artaste is on the hill above the Sea Viper encampment and Legionary Mincarione is on the beach north of the encampment. Whichever one you speak to, they will say the same thing:
:"They … came from nowhere. By boat, maybe. Never been this far inland. Captain Ciranya …."
:Tell me what happened.
:''"Maormer pirates. They've taken South Beacon. My captain, my crew. All captured. They took control of the lighthouse. This is bad. With South Beacon as a staging area they can raid the Summerset Isles at will."
:Those wounds look bad.
:"I can make it back to Vulkhel Guard. You have to find Captain Ciranya. She'll know what to do.  She's a prisoner at the Maormer camp down the beach. Please … hurry."
:I'll find her. Tend to those wounds.

Rescue Operations
Captain Ciranya can be found in the  sizable Sea Viper encampment. Fight through to a large tent, to where the captain is being held, she will be grateful to see you.
:"Well met, stranger. As you may have noticed, I'm not at liberty to stand and greet you properly."
:Why did the Maormer take you captive?
:"They mean to invade Vulkhel Guard. Their plan is to use the lighthouse at South Beacon to communicate with their fleet. We need to stop them."
:We?
:"You have more important things to attend to? Don't answer, that was rhetorical. Three of my scouts are being held captive. Free them and have them meet me at Skylight Beach. I'll scout the lighthouse and find a way to gain entry."''

The legionaries are all fairly close by, with Uulion to the north, Norfando to the southwest, and Pandetuile further south. Free each from their bonds after defeating the nearby Sea Vipers. They will be appropriately thankful and head off to nearby Skylight Beach. Once all are free, follow them southwest across the bay to find the whole squad resting and licking their wounds. 
thumb|left|The survivors rendezvous at Skylight Beach
Talk to Captain Ciranya, who has some good news:
:''"Tildur, the lighthouse keeper, was spared. I don't think they considered him a threat. He says the Maormer are using the lighthouse beacon to send messages to their ships. We can't wait for reinforcements. We need to take action, now."
:What do you have in mind?
:"The lighthouse is solid stone, but even stone can burn, with the right mixture of kindlepitch and fire salts. Tildur can tell you where to find the necessary ingredients. Use this glass vial. One well-placed fireflask should be just the trick."
:What are you going to do?
:"Tildur says the Maormer placed a magical ward on the lighthouse door. I need to figure a way through it. Go, quickly!"
:Good luck.
:"We haven't much time! You'll need fire salts and kindlepitch to destroy the beacon. Talk to Tildur. He'll know where you can find them."
 

Building a Bomb
thumb|right|The Briny Shank and the lighthouse
You may talk to the soldiers nearby to learn more about their backgrounds and the squad, but to advance the quest, speak to Tildur, who can tell you where to find the materials needed for your fireflask:
:"Rid Auridon of that murderous scum, even if you have to burn my lighthouse to the ground."
:What should I do?
:"A mixture of kindlepitch and fire salts burns bright as the sun. Toss it into the heart of the beacon and the stone will melt like butter on a hearthstone."
:Where can I find fire salts?: 
:"The Maormer use fire salts to warm their food on long voyages. They should have a supply in the hold of the ship moored in the harbor."
:Where can I find kindlepitch?
:"I have stores stashed in a cave on the backside of this island. You'll find a bag of kindlepitch among them. More than enough to reduce the lighthouse to slag."

You can collect the ingredients in any order, but the   are nearest, on board the Maormer ship, the Briny Shank'', to the northwest. It is easy to swim directly from Tildur's location to the dock, avoiding the enemies on the beach. Once on the ship, go belowdecks and proceed through the interior to the far end, where the salts are stored in a chest near the food preparation area. Proceed into the last room to ascend the stairs and exit back out of the ship. Now you can leap off the port-side railing and begin swimming due south towards the lighthouse. 
thumb|left|Location of kindlepitch
Climb up the beach and proceed to circle around the island, fighting through a half-dozen Sea Vipers along the way. Once you make it to the far side of the island, jump down to the sandy area and look for the entrance to a small cave on your left. Inside, find and take half-buried sack of  . Once you have the second ingredient, you will automatically combine them to create the  , return to Captain Ciranya.

When you speak with her, she will have some important news:
:''"You have the necessary ingredients to make Tildur's fireflask? Excellent. I've been watching the Maormer come and go from the lighthouse, and discovered how they get past the ward on the door."
:How do they do it?
:"The Maormer carry a magical rune that dispels the ward long enough to gain entry. Steal a rune from one of their patrols near the lighthouse, use it to dispel the ward, and you're in. You need to hurry! They're nearly ready to signal their fleet."
:Sounds simple enough.
:"Simple, until the lighthouse begins to burn. You won't be able to come out the way you went in, and you can't sprout wings and fly away. Take this teleport scroll. It will transport you back to the rendezvous point at Skylight Beach."''

She will then hand you the  .

Entering the Lighthouse
thumb|left|Fight your way to the lighthouse
From the Skylight Beach, head north to begin ascending a spiral path towards the rocky plateau at the top. There will be many Maormer in your way, who you must keep fighting until one of them happens to drop a  . Once you have acquired it, approach the entrance to the lighthouse, which is blocked off by a magical barrier. Present your rune to dispel the barrier and enter the lighthouse. 

Just inside, you can read an ominous note on the table to your right. Proceeding forward, you will encounter Heculoa and his giant snake Wenyand, a formidable duo. Persevere against them and you are free to enter the door to the lighthouse beacon. Interact with the brazier to hurl in the fireflask, then quickly interact again to use your teleport scroll and escape. The Maormer will be quick to notice the flames:thumb|right|The Beacon is ablaze
:Maormer Pirate: "Did you see that? The lighthouse beacon exploded!"
:Maormer Pirate: "I see it. The … tower is on fire!"
:Maormer Pirate: "How did this happen? What will we do?"

You will appear unharmed back at Skylight Beach, where Captain Ciranya waits to congratulate you: 
:''"This invasion is over! Without the ability to signal their ships, the Maormer won't be able to navigate the shallows. They'll turn around or find themselves swimming back to Pyandonea. All of Auridon is in your debt. Well done!"
:What happens now?
:"We'll head to Vulkhel Guard and return with reinforcements. By this time tomorrow, South Beacon will be ours again and the invaders will be nothing but a bad memory. We couldn't have done this without your help. You won't be forgotten."''

With that, you will receive your reward of a hefty amount of Gold and the First Mate's Leathers.

 

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Quest Stages