1. Search for your father deeper in the mine (1 Time Segment)
Vlad says some of our men ran deeper into the mine. My father might be with them. I need to find him.
You are in the mine, accompanied by Vladimir. Before moving forward, open your inventory and re-equip your gear. Then, you can head deeper into the mines in search of your father.
1.1. (Optional) Aid Ludwig (1 Time Segment)
Ludwig is trapped under a beam - if we don't help him, he will die.
If you turn into one of the side tunnels, you will find Ludwig pinned under a wooden beam. You can try to help him - which will cost you one time segment.
In the next side corridor, you will find the mutilated corpse of a man who resembles your father. However, when you inspect it more closely, it will turn out to be someone else.
As you head further, you can find a Lump of Silver in the next side tunnel.
2. Help Kostel
Kostel is wounded. We need to help him before he bleeds to death.
Heading further down the mine, you will eventually reach the wounded Kostel. As you approach him, a cutscene will trigger.
No matter what you do, the inevitable will happen - your second, vampiric self will be revealed.
The cutscene will end with a fall to the bottom of the mine. Thanks to your vampiric regeneration, you will manage to survive it.
3. Find a way back up
I fell down a shaft, into the lower levels of the mine. I need to find a way back up.
Move forward, first through a narrow crevice, and then keep going until you reach a large chasm.
Keep heading forward until you reach a larger cave. Do not go down - instead, take the narrow passage along the wall on the right side.
3.1. Use vrakhiri skills to cross the precipice
I need to use my newly acquired skills to cross the precipice.
Use the Shadowstep to cross to the other side of the gap.
A bit further ahead, use Shadowstep again to reach the upper level.
Continue forward until you reach a spot where you encounter a few rats. Use the Voracious Bite on the rats to refill your health bar.
A bit further ahead, you will come across several kobolds that you will have to deal with.
Keep going until you reach a flat vertical wall. Use Shadowstep again to jump onto the wall,...
...and then test Planeshift, letting you walk on walls.
A bit further ahead, you will come across a wide chasm - too wide even for Shadowstep. So aim at the ceiling and use it to cross to the other side.
A bit further ahead, you will reach the mine exit. Reward: 250XP.
4. Leave the mine
My family is in grave danger. I need to find a way out of the mines.
Leave the mine through the narrow gap at the end of the tunnel.
5. Return to Laslea and save your family (2 Time Segments)
I need to get back to Laslea as soon as possible and save my family from Brencis.
Approach the cliff and follow the prompt to Clawride. This lets you safely get down from high ledges.
As a vampire, which options you have available when interacting with other humans is closely tied to how much health you possess. The less health you have, the more limited your choices will be.
Blood Craving
When Vampiric Health drops down to 1 Segment, you become Hungry and start to Crave Blood. While in this state, you may lose control during a conversation and drain the person you are talking to – even if you're friends.
Two soldiers stand in your way. If you have more than half of your health, you will be able to talk to them. You can choose to have them lead you directly to the village - but if you want to save Vlad, do not do this. You can attack them or use your bloodlust, killing one of them this way and then finishing off the second one.
Check the crates in the camp - you will find some valuable loot there, such as new armor.
If you still just want to reach the village, head down the path on the right side.
5.1. (Optional) Find Vladimir (1 Time Segment)
Vlad must have left the mines on his own. I should find him and make sure he's alright.
To save Vladimir, you must reach the nearby hill where Vlad is trapped inside a burning house. To get there, you must first get rid of the two soldiers.
Along the way, you will come across a few animals that will allow you to replenish your health bar, as a challenging fight awaits you near the burning house.
The burning house where Vlad is trapped is guarded by two soldiers. One of them is an ordinary soldier, but the second is a much stronger Vrakhiri Banneret. An additional challenge in this fight is that to be able to talk to Vlad, you must have more than half of your health remaining after killing both enemies.
5.2. (Optional) Talk with Vladimir
I should talk with Vlad and discuss what happened to me.
After defeating the soldiers, you will need to persuade Vlad to step out of the burning building - and you will always succeed. What happens next depends on how much health you have left - specifically, whether your bloodlust takes over.
If you are low on health, you will drain your friend's blood, killing him. If you have more than half of your health, dialogue options will appear, allowing you to speak with Vlad.
He will reveal to you that he started a rebellion despite warnings that it might be a trap. You will have to decide how to react to this information. You can decide that it no longer matters (Makes no difference now.), part ways with him in anger (I'm not wasting another second on your bullshit.), or even kill him by draining his blood (You piece of shit.). Either way, you will receive 250XP.
When you get close to the village, a cutscene will trigger. Brencis will try to win you over to his side, and when he fails, he will decide to finish you off. A boss fight against him will begin. Technically, it is possible to win this fight, but Brencis will beat you very quickly 99.9% of the time, so you do not need to try hard. Simply wait for it to happen.
Another cutscene will start. Morning is approaching, so Brencis will leave you pinned to a tree for the sun's rays to finish you, and then depart.
This will complete the quest, and the next one - Smoke and Ashes - will start automatically. Reward: 500 XP
