The Let's Play Archive

Divinity II: The Dragon Knight Saga

by Stabbey_the_Clown

Part 61: High Hall




Chapter 45 – High Hall



The Road to High Hall
Here There Be Trolls
High Hall Mine



Yara’s Current Auras



Music: Majesty of the Fjords



Video: The Road to High Hall


The road out of Champion Harbour is one of the first things I usually do, it’s more level appropriate. Above Yara’s head you can just see a bridge in the distance. We’ll be walking there.





In Ego Draconis, these roads used to be full of Imps. Packed full. If you started from Champion Harbour at Level 21 exactly, and walked to the bridge, you would reach level 22 from just that bunch of imps alone.

You would have EARNED that level, because it was seriously very hard and you risked death multiple times in every fight.

In DKS, the imps are basically all gone, replaced by some goblins. It’s easier and there are fewer of them. But it’s probably a bit less frustrating, and even at level 24, three levels above these goblins, they still give out a ton of experience.






Thousand Strikes

Increased from Rank 5 to Rank 6.
Damage Multiplier (per strike): 1.3
Mana Cost: 166 -> 178
Knockdown Chance: 30% -> 35%




Alright, I reached the other path. I think the road hugging the cliff goes up to High Hall.




Music: Troll Village


Video: Here There Be Trolls


That looks like a Champion soldier, and… is that a goblin hut? Never mind that.




(Quintus) You’re a welcome sight, stranger! From the looks of you, you’ve seen some combat and we sure…




(Nero) TROLLS!!
Not again! Come on men, once more unto the breach!






You have my thanks, friend! I do not think we would have been able to stop yet another assault!
I wouldn’t have thought a handful of trolls could pose a threat to Aleroth Champions.
A handful? No. An army? Yes! We have been fighting waves of them for more than a day now and I’ve lost a few fine men! Curse that magic-dabbler Mundus! I just know he’s behind all this!
Who’s Mundus?
Mundus is an Earth-Mage, or at least that’s what he calls himself. He lives deep in the mine. He usually keeps to himself – only shows up to buy supplies.
Did anything happen that might have made him angry?
His field of study is the power of runes; he uses them as gateways of a kind, from which he conjures whatever takes his fancy. But a few days ago, he caused swarms of aggressive gnats to terrorize this place. Since the incident, the villagers have refused to sell him food and other necessities. I’m afraid this may be his revenge. Please friend, you’ve shown us what you’re capable of. Go to the mine and stop these attacks. We can’t hold on much longer.
(-300 XP) Quintus can’t stop thinking of trolls, which annoys him tremendously.
Can you tell me more about Mundus?
He moved here a few years ago, from where I do not know, only to settle in the mine. He’s rather full of himself and swears by the Earth-Magic he practices, whatever that really means. Once, one of my men told him ‘surely water is a more powerful element’. Oh boy, if looks could kill!
What do you know about this Rune magic?
Not much. I’m a soldier by trade, not a magician. The runes grant powers, it seems, to those who know how to handle them. But what strange books or old witchcraft one has to turn to, I have no idea.
Good day, officer.
I wish you well, friend.

The Runes of Wrath
There are multiple possible solutions to this quest. It will be up to you which one I choose. See the choice at the end of the update.

You can ask for soldiers to accompany you, but if they die, your reward is reduced, and even in Ego Draconis the enemies aren’t dangerous enough to you to make it worth reducing your reward.




(Caligula) Time to hunt some troll! I’ll trample them under my soldier’s boots!
(Nero) Let’s get those trolls! Tonight I’ll fiddle as their carcasses burn!






(Gwyn) Why do you approach me, human?
Human… I don’t think I still qualify.
Good! I don’t much like humans. They always pick on us poor goblins. But you won’t, will you? You won’t pick on poor Gwyn!
Why do you think you’re a goblin?
Think? Human tricks! I knew you would, but I’m too shrewd. Gwyn is to smart!



(-1200 XP) Gwyn is laughing to himself, assured no one can guess the password to his chest: Rumplestiltskin.
I’m sorry, Gwyn. Of course I know you’re a real goblin.
Good! The human is kind. Gwyn will pray for it at the totem!
Do you speak the goblin language? Can you write it?
Of course Gwyn can! He’s a true Goblin, is Gwyn! Why does it need to know?
I want you to go to the goblin village. They need you there?
But… it’s dangerous. Gwyn is not welcome, though he doesn’t know why. He’s a goblin after all.
Groth the Storyteller asked for you personally.
Groth asked for Gwyn? Praise be to the totems, they have heard my prayers! I’m off, I’m off!






Gwyn has this in his chest.






(Nicolas) Blast them trolls! They’ll ruin my business!
What business is that?
General goods and merchandise. Come see me when the trolls are gone, yes?
(-1200 XP, 25% discount) Is hiding a key under your pillow a good idea? Yeah, nobody will look there. My cellar is safe.
Hmmm… Interesting…




Hello, what’s this?

Drudanae, a Manual


I think I should check out his cellar.




This isn’t a cellar, it’s a tunnel, going… up?!




“A Puff of Drudanae” complete! Quest Reward: 4500 XP, 800 Gold. Bonus Chosen: 2250 XP.






Basically there’s nothing to do in the village until the troll quest is solved – not that there’s much to do AFTER that, either. There’s a teleporter which only goes to the harbour, and a bit farther on is…



The third and final Teleporter Shrine in the Fjords. This can be used to reach Champion Harbour quickly, but so can the Red Hammer shrine.




Yara headed for the mine.

Music: Dungeon Heat



Video: High Hall Mine






The chest is locked. I can see the key, but I’m not sure I care to try and reach it.

This is another really dickish jumping puzzle. You need to jump to land on that column to reach the key for the chest. Miss, and you die. Try standing on the chest to make it. There’s also a Dragon Skill book here.







Here’s another piece of the Aleroth Archmage Set. I don’t know why it has a skill for bow-users, since the skill has a warhammer as its set weapon.






The troll dropped a pair of orbs.

There’s something familiar about those. Where have I seen them before?




I can’t get in here, but I think that’s an elevator shaft in the distance.



Disgruntled Missive





I’ll put an orb on the other marker.








(Mundus) Hahaa! Come forth from the earth, my trolls! Claim this territory as yours! But… Who are you?
I’m from the earth-is-for-softies-fire-is-the-real-deal foundation and we’d like you to sign our charter.
When I meet people like you, I wish I could kill just by looking at them! And why are you really here? To stop me, no doubt! Never! Those backward peasants dared to refuse me and now they’ll suffer for it!
(-2400 XP) It’s a good thing I painted that Friendship Rune on the portal, otherwise these trolls would be out of control!






The Road to High Hall
Here There Be Trolls
High Hall Mine


The Maps








Troll Village


Dungeon Heat



Once I hit level 26, and after I finish Wesson’s first quest, I’ll start taking on the Flying Fortresses.


Yara’s Current Auras / Equipment Updates

I am uncertain how current these really are. I should check this before my next update.







(Quintus) You have my thanks, friend! I do not think we would have been able to stop yet another assault!
Where are these smelly brutes coming from?
What cesspit they crawled out of I cannot say, but it must be somewhere in the mine. Curse that magic-dabbler Mundus! I just know he’s behind all this!
Why makes you say that?
There never were trolls near High Hall before he showed up.

Why does he live in the mine?
He’s a recluse, so he chose an abandoned tunnel as his den.


(Quintus) You have my thanks, friend! I do not think we would have been able to stop yet another assault!
Good thing Lieutenant Brutus sent me to help you.
He did? Fantastic! Divine knows we can use the extra sword arm against these damned trolls! Please friend, you’ve shown us what you’re capable of. Go to the mine and stop these attacks! We can’t hold on much longer.
How about sending some of your men in the with me?
They’ve had a hard time as of late, but I think they’re up for it. I must warn you, though: Lieutenant Brutus won’t be happy if they should die!
They’ll be fine, Quintus.
All right: Nero, Caligula, to the mine. You’ve got some trolls to hunt!




(Nicolas) Blast them trolls! They’ll ruin my business!
I’ll still trade with you!
That’s good to know, but I have to fight the trolls now. If ever they’re gone you’re more than welcome!




You can be a jackass to Gwyn and still complete the quest.

(Gwyn) Why do you approach me, human?
Excuse me?
Don’t play games with me, human! We goblins are too shrewd to be toyed with! Daft humans! Always picking on goblins. But you won’t, will you? You won’t pick on poor Gwyn!
Why do you think you’re a goblin?
Think? Human tricks! I knew you would, but I’m too shrewd. Gwyn is to smart!
Next question: why aren’t you in an asylum?
*hiss* Nasty human! Just like all of their kind. Poor goblins. Poor Gwyn.
Do you speak the goblin language? Can you write it?
Of course Gwyn can! He’s a true Goblin, is Gwyn! Why does it need to know?
I want you to go to the goblin village. They need you there?
But… it’s dangerous. Gwyn is not welcome, though he doesn’t know why. He’s a goblin after all.
Get going or I’ll bring your heart to Champion Richard!
*hiss* Richard! I spit on him! Nasty, nasty! You’re nasty too! *spits*




If you go to the Red Hammer Cave after being nasty…

Oh, it’s nasty Richard-friend. *spits*
What are you doing lingering by the door?
Groth is waiting for the human. Don’t know why he wants the nasty human!




I have come to put a stop to your little rune-play. / You have about two seconds to restrain those pests of yours.
Never! Those backward peasants dared to refuse me and now they’ll suffer for it!



Reader Participation

1. How should we deal with Mundus?

a) “Come on now, an intelligent man like you must see reason!” (Default) = 1 Vote
b) “Then you leave me no choice! Prepare to die!”
c) “Let’s see what your lovely pets make of you after I get rid of that Friendship rune!”

The Quest Reward is better  if you choose a peaceful resolution. .