The Cursed Chasm - How to Find Durandal

After the previous repressive regime was overthrown by the current repressive regime, the scattered nobility did what they do best - tried to flee with everything valuable they could get their hands on. Fortunately their attempts to flee were in vain and the treasures lost in the attempt may yet still help defeat Brencis, should a certain flawed vrakhiri get his hands on them… This page will cover the quest The Cursed Chasm in The Blood of Dawnwalker, with especial focus on finding the legendary sword Durandal!

Page Breakdown¶

The Cursed Chasm Info¶

Quest	Time	Reward
The Cursed Chasm	2	100 EXP, SKill Points +1, Durandal

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Gossip with the innkeeper in Svartrau City to learn about Skender’s lost treasure.

Starting The Cursed Chasm¶

There are at least two ways to start this quest. First, and perhaps most conventionally, you can head to the tavern along the western edge of Altenmarkt in Svartrau City and talk to the Innkeeper, who will gladly divulge gossip if asked. Turns out after knyaz Skender was overthrown by Brencis, some of his followers attempted to flee, with plenty of the late knyaz’s treasures in tow. Alas, they didn’t make it out of the valley, apparently falling into a chasm - complete with the treasure they were fleeing with. Failing that, you can also just start the quest by heading to the northwestern edge of the map to find the chasm and bridge from the Innkeeper’s story. Even without foreknowledge of what happened here, the broken bridge, debris and vibes are enough to get Coen interested.

However you do it, you will need to head to the bridge-and-chasm along the northwestern edge of the map - find the aptly-named Coward’s Path shrine and follow the road uphill to the northwest (then south) to find it.

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Head to the broken bridge and search some debris to find some “Special Orders”,

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then locate some “stairs” east of the bridge leading down into the chasm.

Investigate the Broken Bridge¶

When you find the broken bridge, examine it and the broken wagon next to it to obtain Special Orders, which agrees with the innkeeper’s tale of tragedy and treasure. It even mentions a heirloom sword, Durandal, which should pique your interest.

Only one problem - how to get down into the chasm. If it’s night you may be able to just jump in and Shadowstep before hitting the ground - a quick “get out of gravity free” card Coen can play while in vrakhiri form… but you should probably still save before doing this. If you’re in human form, never fear - there’s a safe way down and you don’t have to burn time. Follow the edge of the chasm east, then northeast of the bridge to find some ledges you can drop down, near which are some shorter ledges descending almost stair-like into the chasm depths (these “stars” can be found west, northwest of the Coward’s Path shrine.) Just jump a gap as you descend the stairs and you’ll reach the chasm floor.

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(1 of 4) Defeat some wolves and wraiths (led by an Echo miniboss) in the bottom of the chasm

Boss - Echo¶

Heights aren’t the only threat you face on your trek for treasure, however, as other predators have been lured to the site of the bridge collapse by a bounty of a different sort - wolves. What could they possibly be feasting on after all this time? Surely it has been years since the bridge collapsed? Whatever the case, they’re easily disposed of enemies, and don’t even seem to be as high-leveled as the rest of the quest. Before you do your happy avarice dance, however, note that they’re not the only enemies you’ll face here, and are certainly not the strongest.

After tangling with the wolves a bit, an “Echo” will spawn and attack, a red wraith joined by two darker phantoms - Vidmos, according to the glossary, and these foes are considerably stronger than the wolves. They’ll all perform your standard blockable claw swipes and have an unblockable twirling attack, which you just need to get distance from when you see the red skull icon, as it’s an AoE attack. In addition, the Echo can raise and arm beckoningly, which will drain your health. This is an undodgeable, unblockable attack that, aside from the aforementioned animation and the effect on your life bar, is not advertised in any way, and will continue to drain your life until you strike the Echo.

Durandal Location - Find Knyaz Skender’s Lost Treasure¶

Endure and repel the wraiths and wolves and when you’re the last creature standing in the chasm, then go loot the corpses and debris under where the bridge once spanned. You’ll find the Final Report, which details a kindly rebuke from one wise Captain Bojidar, who refuses to consign himself and his men to death fighting for some pampered noble’s lost cause. We like him.

More importantly you can also find the Treasure Map: Silver Cache, which starts the quest [Finders Keepers]… something we can get to shortly. On a ruined wagon you’ll find what we came for, the legendary sword Durandal - picking this up will cost 2 TIME and complete the quest, earning you an additional 100 EXP and 1x Skill Point. To escape the chasm, just jump back up the “stairs” you took to get down here.