Bones in the Sand

Bones in the Sand
Two stones of the essence were required to reactivate the Nexus back to full power - they were marked on ancient maps and had to be found.
Starts and ends at:	Mulandir - The Nexus
Additional information
Location:	Mulandir Aonir's Blade
Rewards:	One Nexus Stone One of the following items: -Superior Cervelliere of Physical Acuity -Superior Kettle Hat of Physical Acuity -Superior Hounskull of Physical Acuity -Superior Sallet of Physcal Acuity -Small Shield of the Fox -Rallying Kite Shield -Round Shield of Collective Restoration - Light in the Dark
Connected quests:
Previous:	The Secret of the Shapers
Next:	The Sellswords The Protectors Terror from the Deep Blood of My Blood

After the Corporal had aquired at least one supporting army, he and his companions would decide upon the next steps. The Nexus of Mulandir still needed to be reignited with two Nexus Stones.

One was rumored to be in Aonir's Blade at the Iron Falcons' fortress. Another was lost in the Black Sea but a few years back a scholar in Everlight was supposed to have found ways to get there.

Both stones needed to be collected in order to continue, the order did not matter.

Traveling to Aonir's Blade

At Aonir's Blade Corporal Tahar and his companions were able to observe that something was wrong. There was an Iron Falcon soldier heavily wounded on the path who died due to his wounds and lots of undead were roaming the path into the canyon. The group had to fight its way through their ranks in order to find out what had happened.

Meeting Katras and Teranor

Deeper down the canyon they then met with Keeper Teranor, one of the Iron Falcon officers. He was in charge of keeping the northern passageway safe from the undead.

“	You folk would kill for your formalities and traditions - even if it means sacrificing your own troops to a group of undead.	”
	— Katras ridiculing the Iron Falcons

According to him lots of undead rose from the sands recently and were wreaking havoc among the paladins. There had been an organization called the Deathmen who offered their help although they demanded a price in return: Niethalf's Helmet which could be found inside the fortress.

“	There is no way on Eo that the Iron Falcons will cooperate with a bannerless army, Deathmen or yours. The canyon is out responsibilitiy.	”
	— High-Keeper Arenor stating her terms

At this time High-Keeper Arenor arrived along with Katras of the Deathmen. The two of them were arguing about the further steps. The High-Keeper did not want any outsider forces to be involved while Katras was extremely pragmatical. He alone would not make it into the fortress either and he was depending on help.

The undead have overrun the fortress of the Iron Falcons in Aonir's Blade.

High-Keeper Arenor and Katras want to free the fortress - but because of different reasons.

Choosing a side

The Corporal had to choose which side he wanted to support in the battle for Aonir's Blade. He could either talk again with Keeper Teranor to discuss further steps with the Iron Falcons or he could abandon them and head over to the Deathmen camp to talk with Katras.

If you chose to support Keeper Teranor this would start the sub-quest The Protectors while supporting Katras would start the sub-quest The Sellswords. One of the two quests has to be concluded in order to succesfully finish this quest.

The Iron Falcons had their campsite in the southeast of the great fortress.

The Deathmen led by Katras were having their campsite in the southwest.

Provisioning

Next to either the Iron Falcon or the Deathmen camp there was a small barricade which the Corporal could deliver valuable resources to. If he chose to support his allies, they would dispatch stronger units in combat. This can be done two times!

Edit: This has now been updated in Reforced Edition to be having 5 sets of resources to be sent. Each of these sets will increase the size of the allies army, and upon the 5th set of resources sent, will send this army against the fortress though the canyon.

Iron Falcons Army: 5 Heriophants, 5 Keepers, 15 Champions. (This is after the 5th set of resources have been delivered.)

Deathman: 18 Ravagers, 4 halberdiers, 3 Protectors, 1 wanderer, 1 Guardian, 1 Brute. (This is after the 5th set of resources have been delivered.)

If you chose to support your allies, the stress on your own troops will lessen considerable - although the costs are not to be underestimated.

• Rank 1: Increases the maximum amounts of units dispatched per attack wave.
  Costs: 22 , 40
• Rank 2: Unlocks stronger units that accompany each attack wave of your allies.
  Costs: 15 , 45 , 25

Reforced Edition:

• Set 1: Costs: 20 , 40
• Set 2: Costs: 20 , 40
• Set 3: Costs: 30 and , 50
• Set 4: Costs: 35 and , 60
• Set 5: Costs: 40 and , 80

The Towers and the Siege Apparatus

Along the passage to the great fortress there are huge Hybernian towers which were corrupted by evil magic. Instead of obliterating the undead, they were now turned against the living. While it was certainly possible to destroy them with brute force, there was a slightly better alternative.

“	There is an old catapult up to the northwest - when that whole "Bloodburn" mess started, we pushed it up there to take out clusters of undead but we were forced to retreat. If you can reclaim it, we can use it to out advantage	”
	— Keeper Teranor about the catapult

On the northern mountains of Aonir's Blade, northwest of the great fortress, could be found an ancient catapult. It was unmanned but still intact. If the Corporal could take control of it, he would be able to attack the towers from safe range without having to endanger his troops.

The Defiled Falcon Watchtowers are extremely dangerous fortifications against your troops.

The catapult in the northwest could be used to attack the towers without endangering your troops.

Inserting the stone(s)

Back in Mulandir the Corporal had to enter the Nexus again and interact with the shrines next to Isgrimm. This would start the follow-up quest Blood of My Blood once the other stone obtained during The Prodigal Son was inserted too.

Tips and tricks

• The Iron Falcon fighters are comparably stronger than the Deathmen fighters dispatched. Especially after having completed the Provisioning, this would turn out extremely because the Hierophants are extremely effective against the undead and the Deathmen have nothing comparable! (Reforced edition does not send allied waves of troops out, instead one big army at the end of the Provisioning quest, in which the Deathmen have the better, and larger, army.)
• Try to get the Provisioning done as soon as possible. The stronger allied units will push back the undead into the canyon and you can then build up your army much more undisturbed. (Changed in Reforced Edition to not have waves of allies troops sent out.)
• You should try to get rid of the Tribe-Eater demon appearing during Terror from the Deep as soon as possible. The demon will otherwise destroy a huge part of your base and army.
• Try to save the dwarves Rorik, Jagrimm and Vandarr from the undead. That way you will get another trader with great epic equipment and possibly artefact gear once you have Bartering level 3.