First Steps

Wise Old Man: Good, you've got the basics under your belt, but now the guide ropes are off. Taking down a dragon won't be easy, but you've got the skills you need to do it. Well... almost.

Wise Old Man: We need to start thinking long term. Bramblemead village is an excellent place for an outpost, even if it's a little overrun with goblins right now.

Wise Old Man: Not finished yet? The longer you leave things, the more likely you are to become a dragon's dinner.

Wise Old Man: Good, you've built a shelter. I mean... it could do with some work, we're gonna be here a while. Have you considered the decor at all?

Wise Old Man: We should build our new base of operations here. By we, I mean you - bad back.

Wise Old Man: We should build our new base of operations here. By we, I mean you - bad back.

Wise Old Man: Maybe some better lighting? Curtains? A single potted plant? *Sigh* no, no, you're right. It's not important. Why live it up when there's so much squalor to enjoy?

Wise Old Man: Doesn't need to be fancy -- though style is always worth pursuing -- but it needs to be functional. Make a shelter, some foundations, walls, and a roof, and then build and claim a bed in it.

Wise Old Man: Doesn't need to be fancy -- though style is always worth pursuing -- but it needs to be functional. Make a shelter, some foundations, walls, and a roof, and then build and claim a bed in it.

Wise Old Man: Anyway, look, we're set up here, but there's one of our number missing. Young Cathan, an adventurer in training who came along with us.

Wise Old Man: You can go bigger, of course - let your inner architect run wild - but a bed's the bare minimum we need to get started. Go on, hop to it. Get!

Wise Old Man: You can go bigger, of course - let your inner architect run wild - but a bed's the bare minimum we need to get started. Go on, hop to it. Get!

Wise Old Man: He disappeared after we got the lodestone working, vanished before you arrived. I'd like to track him down. To do that I need to cast a locator spell.

Wise Old Man: I'm just missing one ingredient, which I'll need from you. Antlers. You can get them from deer, hunt one and bring me the antlers. Then we'll get started. But first, here, take this.

Wise Old Man: I've got something to give you, but you've got your hands full. Go clear some space and then come back to me.

Wise Old Man: I've got something to give you, but you've got your hands full. Go clear some space and then come back to me.

Wise Old Man: Welcome to Ashenfall, sorry about the mess. Had a bit of a dragon problem, that's why we've called for you.

Doric: Strange place this. Ashenfall, I mean. Could make a real home here if things stopped trying to kill us.

Wise Old Man: You've come at a great time. Heroic opportunities await. This long-forgotten place is just screaming to be explored.

Doric: Gathering resources and crafting items, that's the basics of survival in this place. Seek out new resources to discover new recipes.

Doric: Oh dear, you just walked right past the Wise Old Man. He won't like that. Best go back and say hi, eh?

Doric: Me? Name's Doric. I'm just a stupid old blacksmith who got swept up by tales of adventure. Trying to win back me glory days.

Doric: It's a wild place this. Beasties everywhere, and no civilisation in sight. Just the remnants, ghosts of the past.

Wise Old Man: But before all that, how about we take you through some survival basics?

Doric: Left my son behind to watch the shop. Good lad, gonna do good things. Hope he's not too worried about his dad.

Doric: But you see that great tower, off in the distance? That's dragonkin that is. Means there's probably stuff worth finding about this place.

Doric: Ah, but you've got a good head on yer shoulders. I see you've already got some water, so you won't die of thirst.

Doric: Aye, that's a fine club you got there, but even the best weapons break over time. When that happens use a crafting bench to repair your gear.

Doric: Still, no point lollygagging around. I'll catch my breath and then explore these new lands. Who knows? Might find something.

Wise Old Man: You'll want to get to grips with gathering and crafting first, Doric can help you with that.

Wise Old Man: Fair enough, I do like someone that can show initiative.

Doric: Still, it's going to be tough surviving this place with a dragon about.

Doric: By Saradomin's big bushy beard! Just our luck, a great ruddy dragon. Think it were him that got the others - may they rest in peace.

Doric: Ah good, you've got some water. Bit dirty, I know, but better than nothing. Be careful though, the water's tainted and it'll make life difficult if you drink too much.

Doric: Now you've got something to fight with, go chat to Vannaka over to the north east, he can teach you how to keep fighting fit.

Doric: Oh, you made a dagger, not a club? Aye, it's a nice piece of work, not what I asked for, but that's fine.

Doric: You'll want to build yourself a crafting table. Then once you've done that craft yourself a stone club.

Wise Old Man: You'll find him outside the temple. Check your map if you get lost, but he should be easy to spot.

Wise Old Man: But not here. Come find me in Bramblemead Village, and we'll get you started.

Doric: And look at ya! Not a knife to yer name, no, no, we can't be doing with that. Come on, let's get you prepared. You need to go and craft a stone club.

Doric: But look at you, all skin and bones. Must be proper parched after a journey like that.

Doric: Zanik says boiling it sorts it out. So, might want to give that a look later, when you've got a chance. Anyway, time we got you all set up to survive this harsh land.

Doric: I've marked two ponds on your map: to the northwest and south of us. Grab some water from there and bring it back here. Then I'll teach you what you'll need to survive.

Doric: Ah, good, you've got some nice clean water there. The water in lakes and rivers tends to be dirty, tainted by something nasty that will make life difficult if you drink too much.

Doric: Before you go, here, something to help you on your way.

Doric: Now, even the best weapons break over time. When that happens use a crafting bench to repair your gear.

Doric: Both require stone and ash logs, which you'll find scattered all over the ground around here.

Wise Old Man: He's the only dwarf on the continent, that we know of anyway, can't miss him.

Doric: It won't kill a dragon, but it's better than nothing and it'll help you live a bit longer, giving you time to make something better.

Doric: Dehydration and starvation are deadlier than dragons, so you're going to need to keep an eye on your basic needs, like hunger and thirst.

Doric: And look at ya! Not a knife to yer name, no, no, we can't be doing with that. Come on, let's get you prepared. You need to go and craft a stone club.

Doric: You'll need to gather stone and ash logs, which you can find laying around, then you'll want to build a crafting table to craft the club.

Doric: I've marked two ponds on your map: to the northwest and south of us. Grab some water from there and bring it back here. Then I'll teach you what you'll need to survive.

Doric: It won't kill a dragon, but it's better than nothing and it'll help you live a bit longer, giving you time to make something better.

Doric: Oh dear, you seem a little overburdened at the moment. Come and see me when you've got some space free in your backpack.

Doric: Oh, I'm Doric by the way. Resident blacksmith and craftsperson on this expedition. Nice to meet you. Now, stop standing around and go make that club!

Doric: If you see a redberry bush along the way, grab yourself a handful. Not much of a meal, but a little food is better than no food at all.

Doric: You'll need to gather stone and ash logs, which you can find laying around, then you'll want to build a crafting table to craft the club.

Doric: Oh, I'm Doric by the way. Resident blacksmith and craftsperson on this expedition. Nice to meet you. Now, stop standing around and go make that club!

Zanik: There are secrets hidden all over Ashenfall, I'm sure of it. Look around, explore, and see what you can find.

Zanik: I think someone is looking for you. Mentioned a task they needed you to complete. Check your map for where to find them.

Zanik: Vannaka was looking for you, mentioned something about fine dining?

Zanik: Right, now that you've learned the basics, it's time to get started. The Wise Old Man is waiting for you just outside Bramblemead Village. Follow your compass to find him.

Zanik: Better not keep him waiting too long, he gets real cranky.

Zanik: Great work! Runes are the lifeblood of magic, you'll need them to cast spells and use magic staves. A well placed spell can make all the difference.

Zanik: Not made the runes yet? You'll need to mine essence from the floating geysers and then craft air and astral runes either by building a rune altar or by siphoning from nearby Anima Vents.

Zanik: You'll unlock new spells as you improve your skills. Here, this book should help you toward that. Have a play around with them, you'll find they can be incredibly useful.

Zanik: Right, now that you've learned the basics, it's time to get started. The Wise Old Man is waiting for you just outside Bramblemead Village. Follow your compass to find him.

Zanik: Better not keep him waiting too long, he gets real cranky.

Zanik: Oh wow, bit of a packrat are we? You're carrying too much right now, come back and chat with me when you've cleared some space from your backpack.