Veterans of Old

Veterans of Old is a Quest in Villagers & Heroes.

'' Dagvard wants me to speak to some of the retired Praetorian Defenders who were in the service of King Leo back during the time of The Scourge. They can be found at a tavern in Trader’s Path. ''

Prerequisite
 * A Praetorian Visitor

NPC
 * Dagvard F6 in Ardent Castle

Objectives
 * Find the retired Praetorian Defenders in Traders Path.
 * Search Vile Vinia's Camp and retrieve Adelrik's Praetorian Sash.
 * Bring the sash back to Adelrik at the tavern in Trader's Path.

Rewards
 * 6 silver, 70 copper
 * 18,9k XP
 * Uncommon Mace   (different depending on the played class)

Walkthrough
 * Dagvard wants you to go to Traders Path to find the old veteran defenders. He says I should look in the tavern at C4 at the Hidden Canyon Village.
 * In the tavern: talk to Adelrik, before telling me his story I need to find his ‘dignity’ aka his Praetorian Sash. He took it off his waist when the queen and her child died. He dropped it in a box and threw it away. It is found at Vile Vinias camp (A4/5). Look closely at the barrels to retrieve it.
 * Return it to Adelrik.
 * This is the end of the quest.
 * Talk some more and he’ll tell you more about ‘The Black Thrush’ and a ‘prophecy’ and that he couldn’t prevent King Leo’s wife Queen Fionna and their child, the little princess Lucretia being killed, which ends up into the follow-up quest: The Lost Prophecy.

Dialogue Adelrik: "Look at that pitiful, drunken bunch!"

You "These folks around the tavern?"

Adelrik: "And to think that once they were all dazzling Praetorian Defenders, devoted to the protection of the realm. Now they're just drunk."

You "Well you better rally them, because I need your help! The Black Thrush have returned."

Adelrik: "The Black Thrush have resurfaced? Oh, no. Quick! Let's run and hide! EVERYONE, RUN FOR YOUR LIVES! Run away, now! GO, GO, GO!"

You "Stop that! Are you out of your mind? You are an ex-Praetorian Defender! You're supposed to be brave and fierce, not cowardly!"

Adelrik: "I don't want to die, I don't want to die --wait, you're right, what's wrong with me--. This is terrible, help me! You must help me find my dignity again, or I can be of no assistance to you!"

You "Uh. Okay. And how exactly do I go about finding your lost dignity?"

Adelrik: "When I failed King Leo on that fateful day at Shepherd's Crossing all those years ago, I resigned as a Praetorian Defender. How could I live with myself with the blood of Leo's murdered queen and infant child on my hands?"

You "I see."

Adelrik: "I could not. And so I removed the Golden Sash of the Praetorians from my waist. The Praetorian Sash is a symbol of dignity and strength, and I was no longer worthy to wear it. I placed it in an iron box, and flung the box into Crocosaur Pond."

You "Oh, so that is where your lost dignity is!"

Adelrik: "Well it was. But I've heard word that the bandit queen Vile Vinia has since retrieved it, and uses it to rally her bandit warriors."

You "What if I got it back for you?"

Adelrik: "That would be great! If you retrieve my sash then maybe I will regain some of my lost dignity and be able to help you."

You "I'll be back soon."

Adelrik: "Good luck."

...

You "Now, can you tell me more about The Black Thrush? You spoke of Shepherd's Crossing, let's start with that."

Adelrik: "The Scourge was at its height. The numbers of The Black Thrush had multiplied, and, as always, the power of the group lay in their secrecy. Swift and violent attacks, hundreds of them, were carried out all over the realm."

You "Go on."

Adelrik: "Many innocents lost their lives during The Scourge, and always to culprits we could never find or name. Hysteria was rampant. Friends and family members no longer trusted one another, for anyone might secretly be a member of the Black Thrush."

You "Go on."

Adelrik: "King Leo sought to protect the citizens of his realm, but wanted especially to keep his wife and infant child safe. So he sent Queen Fiona and little Princess Lucretia away from the chaos of Ardent, while he stayed behind to protect his subjects. But The Black Thrush, with their insidious network of spies, learned the route his family were taking."

You "Oh dear."

Adelrik: "I was one of the Praetorian Defenders charged with protecting Queen Fiona and her child. We were ambushed at a place called Shepherd's Crossing."

You "Oh, my. Go on."

Adelrik: "It was a massacre. They swarmed upon us, thirty of them at least, their faces shrouded as always. All but one, the leader. He removed his mask, and demanded that Queen Fiona look upon his face. She did, and spat in it. There was none so brave and fierce as our good queen. The young man only sneered at her, and said that now at last Leo would pay for his crimes and suffer what was due."

You "And then the young man killed Queen Fiona? And her child, too?"

Adelrik: "Yes. I had been struck down, and could only helplessly watch as that abhorrent villain slew them both. I relive the horror of those moments every single day of my life."

You "It's so awful. Who was this leader of the Black Thrush? And what were Leo's so-called crimes that he spoke of?"

Adelrik: "I have never known. I can tell you only that after that, Leo, consumed with grief and rage, personally killed the man who murdered his wife and child, and slaughtered all those who remained in The Black Thrush after their leader had fallen. But, alas, the prophecy had still come to pass."

You "What prophecy?"

Adelrik: "When King Leo first took the throne, an old soothsayer told him a prophecy, the details of which I do not know. But after Leo's wife and child were murdered, it was whispered that the prophecy had come to pass."

You "I need to know what this prophecy said."

Adelrik: "The old soothsayer that spoke it still lives. Go to the Southern Coast, and seek her out. Her name is Devorah. And now, I must restore my honor. I will rally the old Praetorian Defenders again, and we will protect the realm from The Black Thrush!"

Continued in: The Lost Prophecy.