Brute Force

Brute Force

Year

1325 AE

Storyline

Personal story

Chapter

Traitor to the Queen

Location

Lychcroft Mere
(Kessex Hills)
Salma District
(Divinity's Reach)

Level

30

Race

Human

Preceded by

The Orders of Tyria

Followed by

Track the Seraph
Triskell Quay

API

141

Loading screen at the swamp

Brute Force is part of the personal story of human characters. It is selected by siding with Crusader Hiroki & The Vigil in the previous mission.

Objectives

Search the swamp for survivors of the undead attacks.

• Meet Crusader Hiroki in Lychcroft Mere
• Look for survivors hiding in the swamp
• Defeat the undead attackers
• Lead the children to the evacuation point

Confer with the Orders.

• Meet with the Order representatives in the Salma District.
• Talk to Hiroki and Ihan.

Rewards

Click here to edit the reward data

All professions

• 4,957 
• Bag of Loot (4)

Profession-specific

• One of the following: Strong Iron Mace, Strong Iron Sword, Strong Simple Scepter
• One of the following: Strong Iron Mace, Strong Iron Sword, Strong Iron Axe
• One of the following: Strong Journeymen Longbow, Strong Iron Mace, Strong Iron Rifle
• One of the following: Strong Iron Shield, Strong Iron Rifle, Strong Iron Pistol
• One of the following: Strong Journeymen Longbow, Strong Iron Axe, Strong Iron Sword
• One of the following: Strong Iron Dagger, Strong Simple Short Bow, Strong Iron Sword
• One of the following: Strong Simple Staff, Strong Simple Scepter, Strong Iron Dagger
• One of the following: Strong Simple Staff, Strong Simple Scepter, Strong Iron Pistol
• One of the following: Strong Simple Scepter, Strong Iron Axe, Strong Iron Dagger

Walkthrough

You will meet up with Crusader Hiroki and a few other Vigil members, and then be sent off into the swamp. Along the way to the destination marked on the map, there are a great deal of Risen; however, they are stationary and alone, so they are easy to deal with. Don't bother clearing out any that aren't directly in your way.

When you reach the destination, you will find several other members of the Vigil protecting the lost children. After a short conversation, waves of Risen will spawn and begin to attack. For the most part, you can rely on the NPCs to distract them, while using AoE skills to damage many foes at once. Unfortunately, a good number of the Vigil members die permanently (can't be revived), so don't get too careless.

The Risen cause Poisoned often, and it can stack up to dangerously long durations - having a way to remove conditions is useful. You should also be very careful once the Risen Plague Carriers start to appear - they run up and explode, causing massive damage and applying several conditions at once. There is no way to stop this attack short of killing them before they can explode, which is easier said than done in the chaos of battle.

After all the waves are defeated, return the same way that you came, so as to avoid unnecessarily attracting the attention of the stationary Risen. Along the way, more Risen will spawn and attack you, but these waves are smaller and less challenging than the earlier ones. When you reach the location you started at, the mission is complete.

NPCs

Allies

In Lychcroft Mere

• Humans
  • Crusader Hiroki
• Sylvari
  • Tactician Sarrena
• Various
  • Vigil Crusader
  • Vigil Recruit

In Salma District

• Humans
  • Agent Ihan
  • Crusader Hiroki
  • Logan Thackeray
  • Scholar Josir
• Standard instance NPCs

Foes

• Risen
  • Risen Brute
  • Risen Human
  • Risen Plague Carrier

Dialogue

At Lychcroft Mere

Approaching Hiroki:

Crusader Hiroki: The rumors were true. This place is infested with undead. Better we stay unseen.

Cinematic with Hiroki:

Crusader Hiroki: Glad to see you, Advocate, but I wish I had better news. We've got a problem.

Crusader Hiroki: The Vigil squad sent to meet us had been overrun during the initial sweep of the swamp. The area's crawling with hostiles.

Crusader Hiroki: The children are still out there, and now my soldiers are in jeopardy as well. It's down to you and me.

<Character name>: Don't worry, Hiroki. I can handle myself in a fight. If you're willing, we can rescue your soldiers, and then find those kids.

Crusader Hiroki: Your courage does you credit. Vigil soldiers are well-trained, dedicated, and determined to defend Tyria. You'd fit right in.

Crusader Hiroki: If my squad followed protocol, they'll have dug in to wait for reinforcements. We'll need to look for a makeshift bunker.

<Character name>: Then that is what we'll do. I'm ready to move out when you are.

Talking to Hiroki:

Crusader Hiroki: There's no time to waste. If we want to find those children, and my soldiers, we have to hurry.

Then let's go. I'll lead the way.

Approaching the missing Vigil squad:

Crusader Hiroki: The undead don't gather like this without cause. I can only imagine what horror was behind this.

Crusader Hiroki: Hurry. If there are undead here, the children are in grave danger.

Crusader Hiroki: It's hard to believe anyone could survive here for long.

Tactician Sarrena: Warmaster.[sic] Thank the Pale Tree. We're over here!

Cinematic with Sarrena:

Tactician Sarrena: Crusader Hiroki! Thank the Pale Tree, you're a sight for sore eyes!

Crusader Hiroki: It's good to see you're still alive, Sarrena. What's the status of your troops?

Tactician Sarrena: We found several children hiding in the swamp. As we were helping them, we were overrun. We dug in here to repel an undead attack.

Tactician Sarrena: It's not going well, Crusader. The Risen have pinned us down and inflicted heavy casualties. As the commander of this unit, I take full responsibilities.

Crusader Hiroki: Remember your oath, Sarrena. Your soldiers swore to protect the innocent, and that's exactly what they did.

Crusader Hiroki: We are the light in the darkness. The soldiers in your command died with honor.

<Character name>: What do we do now, Hiroki? Head back out of the swamp?

Crusader Hiroki: This isn't over yet, Advocate. Not while there are still people lost in the swamp out there. The mission will go on.

Crusader Hiroki: The children are our top priority. We'll hold off the undead, and when their lines break, we'll get the children to safety. Tactician?

Tactician Sarrena: You heard the Crusader! Vigil, form a defensive perimeter. You two, take the east. You two, the west! Eyes sharp!

Crusader Hiroki: The advocate and I will cover the center. Move out!

Talking to any of the children:

Child: Please! Help me! Don't let them eat me!

I won't let anyone harm you. I swear it by Dwayna!

Talking to Tactician Sarrena:

Tactician Sarrena: No time to worry about my wounds. Just protect them!

I'll do my best, Sarenna. Hang in there.

While preparing for Risen attack:

Vigil Recruit: What's wrong, little one? Scared, or just green?

Tactician Sarrena: And what, pray tell, is wrong with being green?

Vigil Recruit: Uh...nothing, ma'am. It's just a turn of phrase.

Vigil Recruit: Turn your "phrase" to battle, soldier. Here they come!

Second wave:

Vigil Recruit: Incoming! Incoming! Too many to count!

Vigil Recruit: You're a big help. What kind of asura can't count.

Crusader Hiroki: Ready your weapons, not your sarcasm, you idiots! Incoming!

Third wave:

Vigil Recruit: They're closing from all sides. We're done for!

Tactician Sarrena: Don't give up! Hiroki will see us through!

Crusader Hiroki: Mouths shut, eyes open, soldiers.

Whenever Tactician Sarrena gets severely wounded during any wave:

Tactician Sarrena: Medic! I need a medic, I'm wounded.

Whenever the norn Vigil Recruit gets downed during any wave:

Vigil Recruit: Hamar, no! He isn't moving, Crusader. They killed him.

Cinematic after the Risen waves:

<Character name>: The undead are falling back! Their lines are broken! We've won!

Crusader Hiroki: This is our chance to get the children out. Soldier, what's Tactician Sarrena's status? Is she badly injured?

Vigil Recruit: She's conscious, Crusader, but in a rough shape. I'm no expert on sylvari, but it looks pretty bad.

Tactician Sarrena: Leave me. I'm not afraid to die. I gave my oath.

Crusader Hiroki: The Vigil doesn't leave anyone behind, Sarrena. You don't have permission to die, do you hear me?

Tactician Sarrena: I hear you, Crusader. And...thank you.

<Character name>: We can go out the way we came in. Move fast, keep the children together, and don't stop unless you absolutely have to.

Crusader Hiroki: Agreed. Vigil! Move out!

As you arrive outside the swamp:

Vigil Recruit: I can't believe we made it out. Sarrena, you're hurt.

Tactician Sarrena: Don't worry about me. Worry about the children.

Crusader Hiroki: Worry about both. Do what you can for her wounds, Owt. We'll carry Sarrena if we have to.

Crusader Hiroki: Let's go! We don't have much time before those undead return-in number.

Talking to NPCs outside the swamp:

Tactician Sarrena: Your quick thinking saved these children. The Vigil could use a soldier like you.

Are you all right? Will you...regrow?

What? Oh, my wounds? Yes, I'll heal, thank you. We sylvari are a hardy race, even if we don't look like it.

How did you get involved with the Vigil?

From awakening, the sylvari know we must fight the dragons. The Vigil gives me that opportunity. I'm honored to be here.

Awakening? Is that the sylvari version of being born?

Yes, exactly. We step, fully-formed, from the Pale Tree. How are you humans made?

That's very interesting. May I ask you another question?

Good-bye.

I'm glad you'll be all right, Sarrena. Get some rest.

I'm glad you'll be all right, Sarrena. Get some rest.

How did you get involved with the Vigil? (Same as "How did you get involved with the Vigil?" above)

Er...let's discuss this some other time, Sarrena. Get some rest.

Child: You're my very brand new hero! I used to like the Seraph, but after I saw that man with the undead—I don't like them anymore!

Whoa there, little one. What Seraph?

The bad man in the swamp! He was wearing Seraph armor, and muttering to himself, and he was really scary. I think the undead came to talk to him.

Did you recognize this Seraph? Was he alive, like me, or was he like the Risen?

Oh, he was alive. The undead didn't attack him, either. They just followed him around. Can I go home now?

The Vigil will make sure you get home safe and sound. Good-bye, now.

The Vigil will make sure you get home safe and sound. Good-bye, now.

The Vigil will make sure you get home safe and sound. Good-bye, now.

Crusader Hiroki: Without you, Advocate, my soldiers and these children would have been lost. We all owe you our lives.

It was my honor to fight with the Vigil. Tell me how you came to join the Order.

I was raised in Kryta, but I joined the Ebon Vanguard hoping to do some good. I joined the Vigil when I realized that the dragons are a bigger threat than charr.

But you don't fight for Kryta anymore. How do you justify that.

The battlefield changes how we see the world. Honorable charr. traitorous humans. In the end, what matters most is that Tyria survives.

Do you mind if i ask you another question.

Makes sense to me. Take care, Hiroki. l'll see you again soon.

Makes sense to me. Thank you, Hiroki.

I'm just glad that both the Vigil squad and the children are safe.

We're safe, but I must make sure the healers tend to Crusader Sarrena's wounds. Luckily, she's sylvari.

What do you mean, "luckily she's sylvari?"

Sylvari aren't affected by Zhaitan’s corruption like the other races. Where we come back from the dead to serve Zhaitan, they simply die.

That's very interesting. May I ask you another question?

I've never heard of such a thing. That's amazing. Does anyone know why?

It's a mystery, even to the scholars of the Priory. Personally, I think the goddess Melandru created the sylvari to fight by our side. They certainly are a blessing!

That's very interesting. May I ask you another question?

Makes sense to me. Take care, Hiroki. l'll see you again soon.

Wow. Interesting! Thank you for the information, Hiroki.

Makes sense to me. Take care, Hiroki. I'll see you again soon.

At Salma District

Approaching the representatives:

Crusader Hiroki: We need to deal the undead a decisive blow. Remove the army, and we remove the threat.

Agent Ihan: There's an intelligence to their movements. We need to discover the root of the problem—not just follow them from fight to fight.

Crusader Hiroki: At the cost of lives? The undead are attacking now. If we sit idle, people will die.

Talking to Logan:

Logan Thackeray: Queen Jennah said you'd be able to soothe their ruffled feathers. For your sake, I hope she's right.

I'll do my best.

Cinematic with representatives:

Logan Thackeray: Advocate! The Representatives have reported your success. Well done.

<Character name>: Thank you, Logan. I'm glad we saved the children, but the undead are still a problem.

Scholar Josir: I'm told the children saw a Seraph soldier in the swamp—and their stories were quite appalling. They were as frightened of him as of the undead.

Scholar Josir: If this was that soldier, the children say he's become violent and incoherent. They also say that the undead weren't attacking him.

<Character name>: There aren't any Seraph outposts in Lychcroft Mere. What's a lone soldier doing out there?

Logan Thackeray: According to Seraph reports, a corporal named Kellach didn't report for duty. I'd assumed he was AWOL in Lion's Arch, but maybe there's more to it.

<Character name>: This Kellach could be under Zhaitan's influence. Could he be inciting the Risen, and making them more aggressive? Maybe he's a necromancer?

Crusader Hiroki: We don't have time for theories, Advocate. Vigil scouts marked more undead approaching the town of Triskell Quay. The corruption is spreading.

Agent Ihan: If so, then Triskell Quay is just a symptom. Whatever's drawing the undead inland will continue to do so even if we save the town.

Agent Ihan: We should investigate what happened to Kellach. He may be the key to these attacks. Until we know what's going on, we're just plugging leaks.

Crusader Hiroki: You want to go on a wild goose chase, Ihan? Fine. But don't risk Triskell Quay! We need soldiers to defend the town, or people will die.

Agent Ihan: A few will die now, but we'd be saving many in the long run. The Order of Whispers is prepared to make that exchange.

Logan Thackeray: It's a good thing that the decision's not up to you two. Advocate, it's in your hands.

Talking to NPCs before deciding:

Scholar Josir: I have every faith that you will make a wise decision. For my part, I will see if the Priory archives can cast some light on this situation. Good luck.

What else can you tell me about the Seraph, Kellach?

The name is unfamiliar, but I'm sure the Durmand Priory will have records of him.

I can wait. May I ask another question?

I look forward to hearing anything you find out. Thanks, Josir.

Can you tell me more about Triskell Quay?

That notorious pirate haven! It's on the eastern shore of Viathan Lake. Look for the massive docks.

Thanks for the directions, Josir.

It won't be as much fun without you, Josir.

Fun? You flatter me, Advocate. I'll look into it while you're gone, and have something for you soon.

I look forward to it. Thanks, Josir.

Do your best to find information on Kellach. Lives may depend on it.

There must be records, letters—something to tell us what he was doing in Lychcroft Mere. I'll give it my all.

Thank you. I'll speak with you soon, Josir.

Is the Priory chickening out?

Don't put it that way, I implore you. I'm just not cut out for heavy lifting!

I hope you find something to justify your timidity. We'll talk again soon.

I hope they can. Thank you, Josir.

Agent Ihan: We need your decision. Do you choose to go with the Vigil, or to go with the Order of Whispers?

Is it typical strategy for the Order of Whispers to sneak around, working beneath the surface?

It is. No use charging into battle if you don't know what you're up against. We'll need cunning to defeat the dragons.

That makes sense. Can I ask another question?

I need some more time before I decide.

Can you remind me about the choices again, please?

You can go with the Vigil to Triskell Quay, or you can help the Order of Whispers track down the mysterious soldier.

Thanks for the summary. Can I ask another question?

I need a little more time to decide.

I'm ready to decide.

Do you go with the Order of Whispers?

Yes. We need to know where that soldier's headed.

Excellent choice, Advocate. You'll be very pleased with your decision.

I hope so. I'll see you there, Ihan.

I need more time to decide.

I'm still thinking about it.

Crusader Hiroki: We need your decision. Do you choose to go with the Vigil, or to go with the Order of Whispers?

Is this Vigil's typical strategy? Gather soldiers, attack target?

Yes. We are a military order. We play to our strengths. There are few situations that a good broadsword can't handle.

That makes sense. Can I ask another question?

I need some more time before I decide.

Can you remind me about the choices again, please?

Well, you can go with the Vigil to Triskell Quay, or you can help the Order of Whispers track down the mysterious soldier.

Good summary. Can I ask another question?

I need some more time before I decide.

I'm ready to decide.

Do you want to go with the Vigil?

Yes. The people of Triskell Quay need our help.

Glad to hear it! Meet me at Triskell Quay, and we'll face the Risen head-on.

Travel safely, and I'll see you there.

I need more time to decide.

I'm still thinking about it.

Talking to NPCs after choosing the Vigil:

Agent Ihan: You chose with you heart, Advocate. That's all anyone can ask.

Thank you for understanding. Hiroki and I will defend Triskell Quay and then meet you back here.

Too bad. Well, I can't blame you. The Vigil seems so much more proactive than the rest of us, right? Good luck. And no hard feelings.

Thanks, Ihan. I'll see you at Nebo Terrace afterwards.

Crusader Hiroki: I'm glad you decided so quickly. Not going to change your mind, are you?

Definitely not! I'm proud to go with the Vigil and save Triskell Quay.

I appreciate your confidence. The people of Triskell Quay are scoundrels, but the dragons are far worse. We'll see you there.

Agreed. I'll meet you near Triskell Quay, Hiroki.

Talking to NPCs after choosing the Order of Whispers:

Agent Ihan: You chose with your heart, Advocate. That's all anyone can ask.

Crusader Hiroki: I'm glad you decided so quickly. Not going to change your mind, are you?

My story

“ I accompanied the Vigil knights into Lychcroft Mere, where we found children hiding from the undead. They'd seen a Seraph soldier in the swamp, doing something...creepy. I should consult with the rest of the Order representatives. I met with the three orders and learned about a missing Seraph named Kellach. The Vigil and Order of Whispers each had their own ideas about what we should do next, but it was up to me to decide. — My story

Notes

Bugs:

• If the player character is downed while third wave should start, the mission will get stuck and no more waves will spawn. When this happens, you will have to exit the instance and try again.
• If the Order of Whispers choice is made, then both Agent Ihan and Crusader Hiroki will react as if you chose to help the Vigil. Neither of their dialogues however have end dialogue options.

• The Risen waves approaching the location of the children in the swamp appear as red dots on the mini-map.

Trivia

• The norn Vigil Recruit is referred to as Hamar.
• The asura Vigil Recruit is referred to as Owt.

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Human storyline