When the Cold Sets In

Quest giver: Haurchefant
Location: Coerthas Central Highlands (X:26.7, Y:17.4)
Quest line: Seventh Astral Era
Level: 50

Experience: 2,340
Gil: 827
Previous quest: Heretical Harassment
Next quest: Brave New Companions
Patch: 2.3
Links: EDB GT

“

Lord Haurchefant awaits confirmation of the reason for your visit to Camp Dragonhead.

— In-game description

Rewards

Choose one of the following options:

Walkthrough

???

Steps

Speak with Drillemont at Whitebrim Front.
Speak with the mistreated merchant.
Search the wilds of Snowcloak and defeat any heretics you encounter.
Speak with the House Durendaire knight.
Speak once more with the House Durendaire knight.
Speak with Drillemont.
Speak with Haurchefant.
Report to Slafborn at Revenant's Toll.

Journal

Lord Haurchefant awaits confirmation of the reason for your visit to Camp Dragonhead.

A staunch supporter of the frontier effort in Mor Dhona, Lord Haurchefant eagerly shares with you what little information he has regarding the heretics and their mysterious leader, the Lady Iceheart. Reasoning that your best chance to track down the supply thieves lies in Whitebrim and its heretic-infested environs, the garrison commander suggests you bring the matter before Lord Drillemont. Make your way west to Whitebrim Front, and speak with the head of House Durendaire.

Upon explaining your mission to Lord Drillemont, he responds with an ominous description of the heretics' heightened fanaticism and rigid discipline. As fate would have it, it appears a recent victim of a heretic attack is presently resting within the outpost's infirmary. Visit the injured merchant and listen to his tale.

You listen to the merchant's matter-of-fact account of the heretics' brutal robbery, and learn where his attackers were likely headed with their haul. Travel into the wilds near Snowcloak, and defeat any heretics you come across.

You have slain the heretic ambushers. Head towards the frozen wall of Snowcloak and speak with the knight of House Durendaire.

As the knight tells you of his patrol's travails, you spy a woman gazing down from near the top of the cliff. Though she quickly disappears from sight, you have some suspicions as to the figure's identity. Speak with the knight of House Durendaire once more.

The knight appears shaken by your glimpse of whom he assumes to be Iceheart herself, and wonders what terrible dangers lie hidden behind the frozen facade of Snowcloak. Take the young gallant's advice and return with your discoveries to Lord Drillemont.

Perturbed by the defeat of his elite soldiers, Lord Drillemont cautions you against rushing into what may well be a veritable den of heretics for the sake of a few provisions. Return to Camp Dragonhead and report this turn of events to Lord Haurchefant.

After hearing your tale of what transpired at Snowcloak, the head of House Fortemps insists that the matter be turned over to the authority of the Temple Knights. Before sending you on your way, however, Lord Haurchefant promises that another shipment of supplies will be sent to Revenant's Toll. Travel back to Mor Dhona and report to Slafborn.

Slafborn appears relieved to hear of Lord Haurchefant's generosity. He warns, however, that the growing prosperity of Revenant's Toll will require that everyone─Alphinaud's new recruits included─remain vigilant against the schemes of the unscrupulous.

Dialogue

Haurchefant: Furtive bands of men have been spied by patrols out of Whitebrim Front. Mayhaps Lord Drillemont will know more of the brazen heretics we seek.

Drillemont: [Forename], welcome, welcome. You'll be pleased to know that the repairs to Stone Vigil proceed apace. We shall rebuild sure and strong, that the Dravanians might batter themselves senseless against our shield in the west.
Drillemont: ...I would venture, however, that matters of masonry are not what brought you to Whitebrim.
Drillemont: [Forename], is there aught you would ask of me? Pray speak plainly─I am a man of action and need no honeyed words.
Drillemont: ...On the trail of a band of thieving heretics, you say? By the Fury, but you do seem destined to cross paths with those villains.
Drillemont: I must confess, then, 'tis a sad truth that the wilds hereabouts have indeed grown thick with their number. They strike swiftly, without warning, and are canny enough to evade our most able trackers.
Drillemont: But 'tis not merely their newfound organization that confounds us: the heretics themselves seem somehow changed.
Drillemont: I know not what manner of influence this Iceheart wields, but the men we face seem utterly lost in the grip of righteous fervor. 'Tis an unsettling and unnatural zeal.
Drillemont: Mayhaps you would care to question one of their recent victims? As fate would have it, your arrival came moments after a trader was waylaid on the road.
Drillemont: A patrol found the unfortunate fellow lying senseless in the snow, and carried him to our infirmary. Assuming he has regained the use of his faculties, the merchant might recall some small detail that could aid you in your task.
Drillemont: Will you speak with the merchant in our infirmary? The account of his unpleasant experience may aid you in chasing down your quarry.

Mistreated Merchant: Tell you what happened? Why, yes, of course! I am quite recovered enough for that! Anything to help catch those cowardly blackhearts!
Mistreated Merchant: I was traveling my usual route to Whitebrim Front when a sudden blow sent me reeling...
Mistreated Merchant: The next thing I knew I was on the ground, and several heretics were rifling through my cargo─arms, armor, crystals...they were taking everything.
Mistreated Merchant: 'Twas then that one of them noticed my bleary gaze, and stalked over to better acquaint my head with his mace. Before darkness claimed me, however, I distinctly heard the words, “return to Snowcloak.”
Mistreated Merchant: I daresay that is where they were hauling my goods, but you'll not catch me rushing off in pursuit! They tell me 'twas a miracle I survived at all, and I'll not trust my thick skull to save me a second time!
Mistreated Merchant: 'Tis likely they've taken my cargo to Snowcloak─hardly the most hospitable of places at the best of times. No, I believe I'll cut my losses rather than risk meeting with those bloodless fiends again!

The snow crunches under the tread of heavy boots...

Loyal Heretic: Your end is come...
Loyal Heretic: The cold salves my pain...
Loyal Heretic: Surrender the crystals...
Loyal Heretic: My life belongs to the Lady...

Lancefer: Thank the Fury you've come! I saw them, the heretics! They were just over yonder. Please, you must help our knights in their hunt!

Ourdilic: Shhh! Hold your tongue! Would you bring the heretics down upon us!?

House Durendaire Knight: Gah! Draw your weapon, foul─ Wait, I recognize you, adventurer. You are come seeking heretics?
House Durendaire Knight: Then we share a common purpose. We were on patrol when we chanced across one of their raiding parties, and pursued them here.
House Durendaire Knight: By rights, we should have had them cornered in this ravine...and yet, they are gone. Vanished, like icy wraiths.
House Durendaire Knight: You glimpsed a woman atop the cliff? Could it be Iceheart herself come to sneer at our folly!?
House Durendaire Knight: And to where did she disappear? The heretics must have discovered a passage through the frozen wall─some hidden tunnel that escaped our notice.
House Durendaire Knight: We have not the men to risk further investigation. 'Twould be best were we to return to Whitebrim Front, and lay our suspicions before Lord Drillemont.
House Durendaire Knight: We cannot risk rushing blindly into ambush. Lord Drillemont must be informed before we proceed any further.

Drillemont: [Forename], it appears I owe you my thanks once again. The surviving knights spared no detail in their report.
Drillemont: The men you found out near Snowcloak were some of my finest. That they should be bested so handily... I fear I have woefully underestimated the threat these heretics pose.
Drillemont: While I understand you might balk at the notion, I must ask that you put aside your mission and consider the stolen provisions lost to us for now. 'Twould be ill-advised to blunder unprepared into what may well be the very lair of our enemy.
Drillemont: Pray return to Dragonhead and inform Lord Haurchefant of your discoveries. He will wish to plan contingencies of his own.
Drillemont: As for Iceheart and her fanatics...the freezing heights of Snowcloak will not shield them from our justice for long!
Drillemont: Return to Camp Dragonhead and report all you have learned to Lord Haurchefant. He must know of Snowcloak's secrets...

Haurchefant: Pray tell the frontier hands to fret not over stolen supplies. 'Tis but a pittance compared to the rewards we shall reap for having a solid stronghold in Mor Dhona.

Slafborn: [Forename]! 'Tis good to see you return to the Toll! How fared you in the frozen wastes of Coerthas?
Slafborn: ...House Fortemps is to send us a second shipment? I must send thanks to Lord Haurchefant for his continued generosity.
Slafborn: Yet even as our town grows in prosperity, I fear it will attract ever greater numbers of those who would do us harm in the name of greed or power. All of us, Alphinaud's new recruits included, must remain vigilant against such threats.