Gem Quest: The Monastery

Gem Quest: The Monastery is one of the main quests in Solasta: Crown of the Magister. It is unlocked automatically when the player completes the previous main quest and grants certain rewards upon completion.

You will have a critical character following your party for the duration of this quest and her fragility (14 AC and 24 hit points, later 40 hit points) means you will have to make sure that she is in a safe position during fights. Additionally you get access to two more Major Gates, in Coparann and in Fortress of the Shield.

## How to obtain the quest

You get this quest after completing the Gem Quest: The Dark Castle.

## Objectives and quest log entries

**Gem Quest: The Monastery**

* You arrived at the location of the Crown’s signal, and found the ruins of a Tirmarian monastery.

**Explore the Ruins**

* You are close to the origin of the signal that the crownbearer feels. Find out what this is about.
* You found a Solastan mausoleum and figured you needed to find out what was inside it.

**Inspect the Structure**

* Inspect the elvish structure near the Solastan building; it might be a magical puzzle of sorts.
* You discovered a strange set of stones that looks like a magical mechanism; probably designed to provide entry to the mausoleum.

**Wait for the Moon**

* Apparently, you need the moon to shine in order to use this magical device. Wait until then. You can rest or sit on the bench nearby to wait.
* You waited until the moon was in the sky and the magical stones were illuminated. You need to solve the magical puzzle while the moon is shining on the stones.

**Solve the Puzzle**

* Down in the ancient mausoleum, you have found an elf woman named Kythaela, who seems to have been asleep since before the Cataclysm. Her memories seem confused, but she knows the Crown and might be able to lead you to one of the gems.

**Find the Copper Vale of Remembrance**

* Escort Kythaela to Coparann and use every opportunity to help her recover her memories.
* While traveling with Kythaela, you came across a Manacalon ruin that she remembered, but it's not the place she is looking for.

**The Oracle**

* Whilst traveling with Kythaela, you found the ruins of a Manacalon oracle. She seemed to remember the place. Search it for any information regarding the Crown – but be careful, as Orcs seemed to have settled nearby.
* You visited an old imperial Oracle but didn’t find anything useful about the Crown, so you went on your way. Kythaela seemed very confused. Will she ever return to her former self?

**Find the Copper Vale of Remembrance**

* Escort Kythaela to Coparann and use every opportunity to help her recover her memories.
* While traveling with Kythaela, you came across a Manacalon ruin that she remembered, but it's not the place she is looking for.

**The Prison**

* Kythaela asked you to stop at another Manacalon ruin – apparently some kind of prison. Again, check to see if there is any useful information inside.
* You visited another ruin that Kythaela seemed to remember from before the Cataclysm. Then you resumed your journey to Coparann, hoping she will eventually lead you to one of the Crown’s gems.

**Find the Copper Vale of Remembrance**

* Escort Kythaela to Coparann and use every opportunity to help her recover her memories.
* While traveling with Kythaela, you came across a Manacalon ruin that she remembered, but its not the place she is looking for.

**Explore the Area**

* You came across a merchant caravan – a rare thing in the Marches. Find out who’s in charge.
* You helped caravan master Galar Goldentongue to fend off a couple of bandits. Now he’s asked you to take the news of someone’s death to Coparann.

**Reach Coparann**

* Despite the events at the caravan camp, your main goal is still to follow Kythaela and find out if she can lead you to one of the Crown’s gems. Continue to Coparann.
* You finally reached Coparann.

**Return Belongings**

* You have brought the dead soldier’s belongings to Coparann. Give them to Sergeant Nikannen as Galar Goldentongue asked.
* You gave Roald's belongings to sergeant Nikannen as Galar asked.

**Deliver Letter** (Optional)

* Galar Goldentongue asked you to take a letter to Wilf Warmhearth in Coparann.
* You delivered the letter to Wilf Warmhearth as Galar asked

**Talk to the Ceannard**

* Talk to the Ceannard at Coparann.
* You gained the Ceannard’s trust and learned that the Sorr-Akkath may have infiltrated Coparann.

**Find the First Clue**

* Listen, observe, and find out if something’s wrong in Coparann. Start with the tavern’s customers.
* You heard the barmaid complaining about her boyfriend ignoring her.

**Find the Second Clue**

* Listen, observe, and find out if something’s wrong in Coparann. Try the tavern’s staff.
* You heard the tavern’s owner complaining that the Baron has started keeping his soldiers away from the tavern.

**Find the Third Clue**

* Listen, observe, and find out if something’s wrong in Coparann. Try the caravan merchants.
* You heard a merchant speak of a client who can’t come to collect a wedding ring he ordered because he’s been assigned to guard duty the whole week.

**Find the Fourth Clue**

* Listen, observe, and find out if something’s wrong in Coparann. Try the townspeople chatting around the keep.
* You heard the townspeople discussing the recent lack of contact between the Baron and the Ceannard, despite their close friendship.

**Find the Fifth Clue**

* Listen, observe, and find out if something’s wrong in Coparann. Try talking to the storekeeper.
* Wilf Warmhearth the storekeeper told you a strange story. The Baron threw a gang of bandits in jail, instead of just hanging them as usual.

**Find Sergeant Nikannen**

* Tell the Sergeant what you learned during your walk around town.
* Nikannen seems to share your fears, and told you that the Baron’s behavior has changed a lot lately.

**Meet the Baron**

* Meet the Baron and see how he reacts.
* The Baron has rejected Kythaela’s request and threatened you.

**Go Back to Sergeant Nikannen**

* Nikannen is certain that the Baron is an impostor of some kind

**Take a Long Rest**

* Follow Nikannen’s plan and wait until tomorrow before talking to the Baron. Spend the night at the Tavern, or outside of the town if you prefer.
* A new day is here. Meet Nikannen at the Baron's throne room.

**Go to the Basement**

* Kythaela’s belongings are in the basement of the keep. Go down there and find them.
* The "Baron" turned out to be a Sorak and trapped you in the basement of the fortress. You defeated him and his pawns, and saved the real Baron.

**Survive the ambush!**

* In the keep's basement, you were attacked by a group of Soraks, along with some of their pawns. One of them had taken the appearance of Baron Stonefist, but you killed him, too.

**Free the Real Baron**

* The real Baron is somewhere in the cells. Release him.
* You have freed the real Baron!

**Find Kythaela's Belongings**

* You've found Kythaela's belongings and can continue your journey.

**Check Out the Imperial Door**

* In the secret room in the basement, near Kythaela's belongings, you saw a magnificent door of high imperial style. Behind it was a small room containing a Major Gate – one of the ones you were told could be used to teleport as far as Caer Cyflen, provided you had the right command word.

**Go to the Throne Room**

* You have accomplished what you came for, now go to see the Ceannard in the throne room before resuming your quest for the gems.
* In the basement of Coparann's keep, you found Kythaela's belongings, as she expected. Despite her somewhat strange behavior, she seems to be a powerful wizard.

**Find the Gem’s Location**

* Follow Kythaela in her search for the gem’s location.
* You have reached the foot of a hill with a large tower in the distance. This could be the right place.

**Explore the Surroundings**

* Explore the area around the hill to see if this is the place you are looking for.
* You have found the entrance to a tower protected from time by powerful magic, but you cannot enter it yet.

**Wait for the Moon**

* You wake up during the night and can now hope to return to the tower.

**Find a Way to Enter the Tower**

* Activate the correct stones to open the tower doors.
* You managed to open the doors, but broods attacked you, hoping to take advantage of this opportunity to enter themselves.

**Enter the Tower**

* Get inside the tower before more broods attack you.
* You entered the tower, but you saw a strange mist following you. Could it be related to the broods that attacked you outside?

**Find the Gem**

* Visit the tower to find Kythaela’s master and hopefully one of the Crown’s gems.
* You have found the master of Kythaela, who holds the gem.

**Kill the Defiler**

* Razan is no longer a threat. You met Adrasteia, Master of Abjuration, who entrusted you with the gem.

## Walkthrough

============Editing in PROGRESS by MacLord=============

### Journey & Arrival

* Prepare your party for a trip lasting approximately a week.
* On your way to The Monastery, you may take a short detour to Caer Lem and a medium one to the Manacalon Ruins to complete the additional secondary quests: Ancient Knowledge and Origins of the Crown.
* During your travels, you will be molested by several different minor enemies.

**FIGHT (6 Badlands Spiders) -**

**FIGHT (2 Thugs, 4 Bandits) –**

**FIGHT (5 Goblins, 2 Wolves) – 87 XP**

* Eventually, you arrive nearby a scenic waterfall.
* Follow the water downstream and don’t let that half sunken boat frighten you.
* At the cliff, drop a stone block and move northeast, jumping from rock to rock beneath the waterfall.
* Use cautious mode when climbing the plant tendrils on the other side.

**FIGHT (3 Goblin Cutthroats, 2 Tiger Drakes) – 562 XP**

* Check the boxes on top of the wall remains.
* To the east you find a chest high up on a plateau at the mountainside. Use Spider Climb to enable one of your heroes to reach it. On the way back, he can drop the stone nearby, making it possible to jump over to the high wall. If you don’t have Spider Climb available, move the other stone below that arc and climb up to the plateau along the backside.
* Go on using cautious mode, and you may avoid the large group of enemies at the cemetery.
* Move southeast past the mausoleum.
* At the campfire, you may have a long rest.
* Follow the path behind the campfire, and you’ll reach an old and forgotten and inaccessible temple.
* In front of it, two Minotaurs stand guard.
* Initiate a surprise attack.

**FIGHT (2 Minotaurs) – 350 XP**

* Collect the loot and carry on.
* You are now southwest of the Mausoleum, where you find a small depression. The rotten remains of a boat indicate, that it used to be a pond or some deeper part of a river…
* In the box next to the boat you’ll find the Tirmarian Master Smiths Memoirs, some primed weapons and crafting books.
* Now it’s time to remove the goblins guarding the ruins next to the cemetery.
* Use cautious mode, advance from the east (Mausoleum) and initiate a surprise attack.
* Use a Fireball spell (first attack!) on the Goblin Shaman on top of the lower wall to kill him and an additional Goblin Cutthroat instantly and hurt another one severely.

**FIGHT (2 Goblin Shamans, 5 Goblin Cutthroats) – 787 XP**

* Take out the second Goblin Shaman fast to remove the healing capabilities of your enemies.
* Engage the targets on ground level with your melee fighters and the enemies on high ground with your ranged fighters.
* Focus your attacks to prevent wounded enemies from healing.
* Collect the loot and check the containers located at the cemetery. You’ll find the Journal of Emtan Darwaz.
* With an athletic character, you’ll be able to loot the basket on that rock outcropping below the waterfall…
* Checking the gravestones at the graveyard, you’ll learn some names of people (maybe real people?) who lived and died between 1940 and 2014. One of them, a guy named Emtan Darwaz born in 1980, has no entry for the year of his demise; his grave is connected to the Apostasy background quest.
* Now the outside area of the Mausoleum is cleared, and you may try to solve the ‘Mausoleum Puzzle’.

#### The Mausoleum Puzzle or First "Moonlight Puzzle"

To solve this puzzle, you need to wait for moonlight.

* Use the bench nearby and the time will skip to midnight.
* You have to activate only the correct columns to project the moonlight onto the wall of the Mausoleum in a specific pattern. The low stone in front of the three columns shows the picture you need to produce. Touch the three adorned stones in the following sequence to unlock the Mausoleum: right, middle (don’t touch the left one).
* You make an acquaintance with Kythaela. She’ll join your party.
* Leave the area.
* Travel to Coparann.

#### Way to Coparann: First stop (THE ORACLE)

During your journey, Kythaela ask you to stop at some old ruins…

* You cross the stone bridge, jumping over the gap.
* Down low, in the water, you spot a chest.
* Position your party at the southern side of the bridge and activate the cautious mode.
* Use your rogue to unlock the chest in the water.
* Several orcs appear at the southern edge of the area.

**FIGHT (1 Orc, 1 Orc Shaman, 1 Orc Berserker, 1 Orc Archer) – 437 XP**

* The orcs appear in a tight formation. Use a Fireball spell to maximize DMG on your enemies.
* Rush the orcs with your melee fighters.
* Kill the shaman fast, or he will heal wounded enemies.
* Again, go for the chest, pick up all loot.
* Leave via the southern exit (blue box).

#### Way to Coparann: Second Stop (THE DUNGEON (Prison))

Again, Kythaela ask you to stop. This time at some dungeons…

* Inside, you find a chest and see rune markings carved into the stone of the western wall, similar to the Depleted Rune you found in The Master’s Maze. You can’t use this one. Did you bring the Depleted Rune from the first gem quest?
* Leave the area (blue box).

#### Way to Coparann: Third Stop (IMPERIAL OUTPOST RUINS, Caravan Camp)

You stumble over a camp of travelling merchants’ caravan.

* Enter the camp to arrive at the very moment when some mercenary assassins are trying to kill the caravan leader, Galar Goldentongue.

**FIGHT (2 Veterans [human, blue possessed eyes], 1 Darkweaver [Elf, high DEX]) – 800 XP**

* This fight can be tricky if you don’t focus your attacks. The Veterans are usually easier to start with as they will spawn right next to your starting point while the Darkweaver spawns at the exit of the camp and will need two turn to get close enough to use melee attacks.
* The Darkweaver has a very high DEX ability. He can even dodge a Fireball (dead center), suffering no DMG at all!
* After your victory, Galar Goldentongue is grateful for your help and asks you to report this incident and the demise of poor Corporal Roald to Sergeant Nikannen in Coparann. Of course, you shall be rewarded for bringing back his belongings and delivering the message. These tasks appear in your journal upon your arrival in Coparann (as steps of this Gem Quest).
* Before you leave via the northwest exit, you may inspect the ruins to the south closely to find a chest and then sell all the unnecessary stuff from your inventory to Galar.

### In Coparann

You meet Sgt. Nikannen at the guardhouse after your approach to the gate.

* He asks you to report to the Ceannard, who is not the Baron… which is weird in itself.
* You’ll spot Wilf Warmhearth easily. Go talk with him, deliver the letter and receive your reward. He’ll offer to trade, but he’s got only simple stuff in his store.
* You may want to report to Milan, the local Scavengers official, to check on your scavenger business.
* Talking to the Ceannard reveals some background information about the city’s history, as well as provides the possibility to update him on the ‘Sorak’ situation. He also asks you to get an impression of the actual situation in the city by talking to the townsfolk.
* Go to the people marked with “!” (refer to the map).
* Listening to (or even eavesdropping on) several citizens will allow you to gain the following information:
	+ The guard personnel is on heavy duty. They get assigned long shifts on patrol or on guard duty, and are not allowed to go for some R&R or to visit their families for weeks.
	+ The beer barrels are stacking up at the tavern because the guards have no sparetime to “ensure the normal flow of consumption…”
	+ Something’s odd in the city…

* Report your findings to Sgt. Nikannen. He points out that someone could have impersonated Roald (the slain Corporal) and he mentions a certain change in his personal relations with the Baron.
* Find out more by talking to the Baron and then to Sgt. Nikannen again.
* It’s becoming obvious that something is not right: the Baron is either being blackmailed or has been replaced with a Sorak.
* Get ready to meet the Baron again and uncover his schems. To do this, take a room for a night at the tavern and meet the Baron the next day in a more formal setting, as envoys of the Legacy Council…

**FIGHT (1 False Baron – Sorak Infiltrator, 1 Sorr-Akkath Saboteur, 4 Sorr-Akkath Warriors, 1 Sorr-Akkath Assassin, 4 Coparann Guards [dwarves, possessed blue eyes]) – 900 XP**

* Joris Nikannen (a critical character who is a Fighter with 60 hit points, roughly 16 AC and 2 attacks per turn) starts in the northern half of the room. This is in between the False Baron and the initial spawn location of the Sorr-Akkath so while it may be tempting to attack the northern archer Coparann Guard, it may be safer to have him take the Dash action and run around to the party.
* The False Baron is by far the hardiest foe in this encounter, with 78 hit points and two attacks per turn.
* The Coparann Guards are weaker but the melee variant is fairly durable with 37 hit points while the archer variant only has 20 hit points.
* At the start of this fight, use area of effect spells to damage or disable the grouped up False Baron and melee Coparann Guards.
* The first Sorr-Akkath enemies won't spawn until the end of the first round, with the Saboteur appearing nearby the northern archer Guard and the Assassin and 1 Warrior appearing at the northern end of the room. After that 2 Warriors will spawn at the northern end of the room at the end of separate turns. A few turns later the last Warrior spawns at the southern end of the room which will most likely place it near your backline.
* Focus on taking out one enemy after another.
* Release the real Baron from his cell and solve the second “Moonlight Puzzle”.

#### Second "Moonlight Puzzle"

In the basement (prison) of Coparann’s Keep, you’ll see four columns which you can activate (similar to the ones you found at the Mausoleum).

* From left to right: activate the first, third, and fourth column; do not activate the second one.
* A secret door opens, and you find Kythaela's heirlooms, as well as some additional loot and an Imperial Major Gate.
* The Gate can only be used if you know the secret password. Kythaela will trade it for your continued compliance and help in her quest.
* (optional) Activate and deactivate the columns until you project another symbol onto the wall. The correct symbol is drawn on the half-destroyed stone. This will open another secret door in the back of the cell with the chest. Now you can loot it.
* Go back to the Baron’s throne room.
* You receive generous rewards for saving the Baron’s life and removing the enemies from Coparann. In addition, you are granted permanent citizenship of Coparann and you may use their Major Gate any time you wish.
* Thanks to your help, an alliance between Coparann and the Legacy Council is to be established in the near future.
* On your way out of Coparann, Bitterroot (an acquaintance of Arwin Merton) asks you to deliver a message and a sword. You’ll receive a treasure map as a reward.
* Travel to the Master’s Fortress.

**FIGHT (4 Tiger Drakes) – 450 XP**

### The Master’s Fortress

* You approach the ruins of The Masters’s Fortress coming from the woods south of it.
* At some points, you literally have to hack your way through the jungle-like bushes.
* At the Main Alley, you encounter some wolves
* Use cautious mode to get in position, then launch a surprise attack (Fireball) on that Winter Wolf.

**FIGHT (3 Dire Wolves, 1 Winter Wolf) – 325 XP**

* The Winter Wolf can be tough, so take him out fast (Fireball :-)).
* To the west of the wolves, you will encounter some Tiger Drakes.

**FIGHT (4 Tiger Drakes) – 450 XP**

* There are also two containers to be looted here.
* Inside the larger structures, you’ll engage several Broods…
* Take a short rest or a long rest (at the campfire) and make sure it is daytime when you enter these ruins… (this will give disadvantage to the undead and sunlight will hurt them).

**FIGHT (1 Brood of Blood, 2 Brood of Dread) – 800 XP**

* Inside the eastern structure, another Brood is lurking in the dark…

**FIGHT (1 Brood of Blood, 1 Brood of Flesh) – 900 XP**

* Check the northeastern one…

**FIGHT (1 Brood of Blood) – 450 XP**

#### Third "Moonlight Puzzle"

* Before trying to solve this puzzle, you may want to have a long rest.
* After completing the left part of the puzzle, you’ll be attacked by several undead creatures.

**FIGHT (1 Brood of Blood, 2 Brood of Dread, 3 Brood of Flesh) – 2,150 XP**

* This fight is tough.
* In the first round, use area of effect spells to deal DMG to multiple enemies. Then take them out one by one.
* Watch Kythaela’s health. If she dies, you’ll lose the game.
* Activate the other half (right side) of the puzzle and enter the tower.

### Inside the Tower

* Before you enter the tower, you may want to have a long rest at the campfire in the east.
* Inside, you encounter a defiler who flees upon your entry. Loot all containers and gather your heroes in the center of the room.
* You are teleported somewhere…
* You can choose to go either northwest or southeast.
	+ Southeast, you’ll find two small rooms which are populated with some spectral servants. Here you’ll find some loot and a campfire.
	+ Northwest, you’ll find a room with a Major Gate, a library with good loot and a secret lever inside.
	+ The laboratory opposite the library can be opened only with a secret lever located in the library.
	+ But be careful: Pulling this lever makes the spectral servants at the laboratory attack your heroes. While they aren't particularly sturdy and only attack once per turn they deal a sizeable average of 17 damage if they hit.
	+ Beware of the trap on the chest in the laboratory.

**FIGHT (4 Spectral Servants) – 1,100 XP**

* In the library, don’t forget to loot the upper bookshelves. Use Fly to reach them.
* Moving northwest, you need to find the hidden lever to unlock the iron bar gate. The lever is nearby (highlight with an Alt-key) in the hand of one of the statues.
* Cross the bridge, and you’ll reach the double doors to the Master’s Chamber (Master Adrasteia).
* If your heroes are still healthy and their most powerful spells are still available, carry on with opening the double doors to the Master’s chamber. If not, have another long rest before you open this door.
* On your entry RAZAN, the defiler who fled when you entered the fortress, will ambush your party.

**FIGHT (RAZAN (defiler), 1 Brood of Flesh, 1 Brood of Blood, 1 Brood of Dread) – No XP besides story progress**

* Use high DMG area of effect spells to inflict DMG to multiple targets.
* Take out the Broods first. Then focus on RAZAN.
* Have Counterspells prepared on your Wizard or Sorcerer. Whenever RAZAN tries to use one of his Legendary actions, you may cancel his spell.
* At some point, when you inflict enough DMG to RAZAN, Master Adrasteia will awake and force him to run.
* You’ll be rewarded with the Gem of Abjuration (green), the Sigil Ring of Abjuration and Adrasteia’s Plea.
* You’ll be charged to hunt down RAZAN (secondary quest: Shadow of the Defiler).
* You learn that Kaseinax’s (former Magister and creator of the crown) soul resides inside the crown.

**GEM QUEST: The Monastery** is completed at this point.

* Leave the tower.

## Rewards

* **Relationship Gain:** Principality of Masgarth, Scavengers
* **XP Gain:** approx. 10,600 XP

## Loot

* Gem of Abjuration (green), Sigil Ring of Abjuration, Journal of Emtan Darwaz, Tirmarian Master Smiths Memoirs,
* Several crafting manuals, spell scrolls.
* Some interesting journals, notes, and letters.

## Maps

TIRMARIAN RUINS: CliffTIRMARIAN RUINS: Cemetery & MausoleumTHE ORACLE: First Stop, Imperial RuinsTHE DUNGEONS: Second Stop, PrisonIMPERIAL OUTPOST RUINS: Third Stop, Merchant's Caravan