Mightier than the Sword

Mightier than the Sword is part of the personal story for characters of all races who decided to join the Durmand Priory.

Objectives

Find Steag Frostbeard and retrieve the Sanguinary Blade.

Meet Sieran at Black Barl's Mill.
Enter the Son of Svanir camp and find Steag.
Defeat Steag and his followers.
Retrieve the Sanguinary Blade.

Take the Sanguinary Blade to the Durmand Priory.

Return to the Durmand Priory.
Choose your next research project.

Rewards

Click here to edit the reward data

All professions

Small Bag of Spirit Shards (guaranteed)
Bag of Loot (5) (guaranteed)

Profession-specific

Completing this quest concludes your initiation into Durmand Priory and displays the appropriate account medal on the character selection screen.

Walkthrough

Battle your way to the camp fighting around 4-6 enemies. As you get closer, Steag's followers (Sons of Svanir) become neutral; when this happens Steag will attack them. Once Steag strikes them they will become hostile again with a new appearance as icebrood.

Steag and his underlings are not difficult unless you're under-equipped. After you defeat Steag, pick up the blade and leave the instance to return to the Durmand Priory. There, you witness a cinematic and then have to choose one of the 3 minor races. Options depend your Racial sympathy.

NPCs

Allies

First Instance

Sylvari

Magister Sieran

Second Instance

Asura

Steward Gixx

Sylvari

Magister Sieran

Foes

Icebrood (Sons of Svanir)

Son of Svanir

Norn (Sons of Svanir)

Objects

Sanguinary Blade

Dialogue

Demons' Maw

Cinematic with Sieran:

Magister Sieran: Hello there, norn! We're here from the Durmand Priory, and your friend Steag has something that belongs to us.

<Character name>: We're just here for Frostbeard. Bring us the sword he carries, and we won't hurt you.

Son of Svanir: Pathetic little bookworms! Steag Frostbeard is mighty. He will attack Lion's Arch, and we will show you all Dragon's power.

Son of Svanir: Steag's blood-sword is a holy relic of the dragon, Jormag. The dragon blesses Steag for his faithful service. He will lead us to victory.

Magister Sieran: It's not too late. Please, think about what you're doing. The dragon may give you power, but in exchange, he's made you slaves.

Son of Svanir: Abandon Dragon in his time of triumph? Heh, why would we do that?

<Character name>: Lion's Arch is filled with innocent people. You can't do this!

Magister Sieran: They aren't listening, Novice. Time to switch to plan B. Go get them!

After the cinematic:

Magister Sieran: Why won't they just give us the sword? Is power worth so much pain?

Approaching Steag Frostbeard:

Steag Frostbeard: The Dragon's Blood blade cannot be defeated! I will destroy you!

Son of Svanir: Run! He's lost his mind! The sword will turn us all into monsters!

Magister Sieran: By the Tree! No more polite discussion, novice — it's time to kick some sod!

When defeating Steag:

Steag Frostbeard: I was... not worthy... of Jormag's sword...

Cinematic upon retrieving the sword:

Magister Sieran: Well done, Novice! The Sanguinary Blade is ours, and Lion's Arch is safe from Steag Frostbeard.

<Character name>: It's hard to believe that Steag was willing to see all his norn friends die, just to keep the power of the Sanguinary Blade.

Magister Sieran: That's not hard for me to believe at all, Novice. It's typical of the idiots who serve Elder Dragons.

Magister Sieran: The dragons are a blight. They don't care about anything but their hunger. Their followers are just... bad.

Magister Sieran: Even if we find a way to save the world from the dragons, I sometimes wonder if we'll ever find a way to save us from ourselves.

Magister Sieran: When Gixx told me I was going to be mentoring a new Novice, I thought it would be an incredibly boring task.

Magister Sieran: But, you know what? I really like you. You're willing to try new things, and — you've got a good head on your shoulders.

<Character name>: Thanks, Sieran. I have to admit — this has been a lot of fun.

Magister Sieran: Cherry! Come on, let's get the sword back to Gixx. After that, we'll work on saving the world.

Durmand Priory

Mail from mentor (varies per race):

Zojja

Advancement

Savant,

It's become very obvious to me that you're rapidly advancing your chosen Order. As it should be. You were always the brightest student in your college, you'll do no less well there.

I've heard a most interesting rumor that some of Snaff's technology has been sold in Kryta; to a ridiculous human named Uzolan. He's going to unveil it as his own at some sort of party, at the Legate Minister's estate in Beetletun. I plan to stop him. Of course, this means I'll likely run afoul of that fool Logan, who has gone back to his Queen, but who cares? At least Rytlock and Eir are off in Ascalon, searching for the ghost of some dead king's sword. More power to them on their waste of time.

In any case, I'll see what I find in Kryta, and get back to you. Feel free to meet me there, if you find yourself hoping for a little change of pace.

—Zojja

Tribune Rytlock Brimstone

Debriefing

Centurion,

I've received a report that you've done well within the Order. I knew you would. Victory is engineered into your bones, your very blood. It is why we are such good friends. We are very much alike.

You may have heard that I've intercepted Eir, advancing into their ghost-filled city of Ascalon. Zojja still fights for Snaff's legacy, while Caithe roams the Caledon Forest, keeping her own counsel. As for Logan...the fool's returned to Kryta. To his Queen. The Legions have sent an ambassador to meet with Jennah and work towards the peace treaty. I wish them well, but I cannot pretend that any peace will last, so long as the dragons continue to rise.

There is more to do, if we are to save the world, and very little time to accomplish our task. You will hear from me again. Soon.

—Rytlock

Logan Thackeray

Congratulations

Word is spreading that you're quickly making yourself invaluable to your Order. I'm pleased to see that you're having so much success outside Kryta. I've heard that Rytlock and Eir have been investigating the Ascalonean[sic] catacombs. Zojja still fights for Snaff's legacy, while Caithe roams the Caledon Forest, keeping her own counsel. Perhaps this whole thing was a mistake. I've spent my time considering what to do about Destiny's Edge, and to be honest, I'm not sure the situation can be salvaged. I made a choice to save Jennah; a choice I don't regret. So long as she needs me, I have to be there for her.

If you need me, I will be attending a party at Legate Minister Caudecus's estate near Beetletun. The Queen may be in danger from that old spider, and I don't intend to allow him to succeed in stealing her throne.

—Logan

Eir Stegalkin

Hail, my friend!

Tales of your recent deeds have reached as far as Hoelbrak, and the servants of your Order speak highly of the many things you have done. Already you prove that my faith in you is well-placed.

As for myself, I have been traveling. I've been investigating the legend of a powerful sword, the match to Rytlock's, that may yet exist within the catacombs of Ascalon. Zojja still fights for Snaff's legacy, while Caithe roams the Caledon Forest, keeping her own counsel. I hear Logan's returned to Kryta. I suppose I should not be surprised. He fears for his Queen's safety, and rightly so. There are many who seek to destroy the treaty between the charr and the humans. We must stop them if we are to succeed in saving Tyria from the dragons.

You are doing well, Slayer. Continue on your path, and you will hear from me again very soon.

—Eir

Caithe

Whispers in the Dream

Valiant,
I've intercepted reports that you are doing well. Your Order praises you highly. This is for the best. We must unify. We must all unify, or Tyria will blacken and die.
Eir and Rytlock search the catacombs for lost power. Zojja still fights for Snaff's legacy, while Logan falls back to Kryta—and to his Queen. I do not understand why they cannot move forward, why they are so obsessed with the past. How can we make them focus on the future? If they do not, it will soon escape us forever, and the dragons will succeed.

I must follow them. I have to watch, and understand. There is too much at risk for us to fail.

—Caithe

Cinematic with Gixx:

Gixx: At last, the Sanguinary Blade. I shudder to think of the damage it would have wrought without your aid.

Gixx: You've both done well. Consider yourselves off probation.

Gixx: Further, Novice, I hereby promote you to the rank of Explorer, with all rights and privileges, etcetera, etcetera.

Gixx: I'd like you to continue your partnership with Sieran. Perhaps you can keep this deciduous do-gooder out of trouble.

<Character name>: Thank you, Steward Gixx. I'd be happy to collaborate with Sieran. We work well together.

Magister Sieran: Poor Gixx. You're just jealous that you're stuck in here being leadery and responsible, while we're having all the fun.

Gixx: Yes, yes, I'm sure that's exactly what it is. Be that as it may, I must rely on you two for another project.

Gixx: Your next endeavor is a research assignment involving one of the lesser races of Tyria. Do try not to teach them bad habits, Sieran, hm?

Gixx: Explorer, get a briefing from Sieran, and choose which species you'd like to study. Now, go.

Talking to Sieran:

Which of these races would you like to study, Scholar?

I've always been curious about the skritt. (if charr, human, or sylvari)

The skritt are a race of rodent scavengers. Good-hearted but light-fingered, if you know what I mean.