Secrets Lie in Ruins

Sara Croft, the eccentric merchant of magical curiosities in village of Bulwark Cliff, told me a story of her encounters while exploring a ruined temple in the mountains.

According to her, undead horrors drove her off before she could properly investigate, though not before she recovered a strange stone ornament fashioned in the likeness of a dragon's egg.

While she had been disappointed to discover the egg wasn't real, she still yearned to know what significance the object might hold.

Were I curious to investigate the secrets of the lost temple, I should seek its entrance within the cemetery of a ruined village along the Frostmelt Lake, northwest of Bulwark Cliff.

Within the lost Hall of Heroes, I discovered memorials to legendary champions of old. Interacting with their statues caused the walls of the abandoned temple to stir...

If this place truly conceals a secret chamber, it may hold some explanation to the Dragon Stone Sara discovered.

I ought to search the temple walls for a new opening...

The hidden chamber within the Hall of Heroes revealed a shrine to the legendary Dragon Slayer, Ser Percival Cinderain. The shrine honored his accomplishment of vanquishing the great dragon, Vindracaur.

There upon a pedestal, I also discovered another dragon stone identical to the one shown to me by Sara Croft, as well as markings pointing toward yet another site of interest.

Before rushing ahead, I might like to return to the mountain village, to show Sara the twin stone egg I found and hear what she makes of my discovery.

Having shared my findings with Sara back at her shop, I learned she was familiar with the legend of the Dragon Slayer, whose shrine I uncovered within the Hall of Heroes.

She also knows of old ruins at the location that was marked by the shrine and proposed that if the two are connected, then the ruins may well be none other than the long-lost Tomb of the Dragon Slayer.

She explained she’s thus far been unable to open the entrance to the tomb, but perhaps the two dragon stones we found may hold the key to opening the way.

I’ve agreed to meet with her for a fresh look at the ruins, which are located within the Verdant Shelter, on the eastern side of Amarien’s Foothills. I should make sure to bring the two stone eggs with me.

As suspected, the dragon stones granted entry into the Tomb of the Dragon Slayer. Whatever lies within has remained undisturbed for ages. I can't help but think it was sealed away with purpose...

Who knows what secrets were buried alongside Ser Percival. Perhaps his legendary dragon slayer armor? To find out, I should press deep into the tomb and see what waits in its innermost chamber.

Once again, Sara will stay behind in fear of the tomb's guardians. However, she does advise me to carry a torch.

Something dark stirs within the tomb's depths, well beyond regular undead defenders. If I am to learn what they so vehemently protect - what Ser Percival carried into his grave - I will have to overcome a great dark spirit that bars the way.

I must defeat the Avatar of Regret.

With the dark guardian of the tomb out of the way, I may finally approach the Dragon Slayer's sarcophagus and find out what, if anything, was left buried alongside him.

The moment I explored the Dragon Slayer’s burial chamber did not turn out as expected, not at all... There were no powerful artifacts, nor other treasure. Only a plain old stone tablet rested on the sarcophagus; upon it was carved an ominous confession that turns the Dragon Slayer’s legend on its head.

It appears Ser Percival’s victory over the dragon Vindracaur was no victory at all, but a lie to conceal an uncomfortable truth. The greatest Dragon Slayer had not been strong enough to defeat the dragon, and instead she had been sealed within her mountain.

Yet the seals on her prison will not last forever, the confession warns...

Nothing else of interest remains in the Slayer’s burial chamber. I should return to Sara with the stone tablet and hear what she makes of it. No doubt she continues to wait for me outside the tomb.

The legend of the Dragon Slayer was not what it seemed. Beneath the grandeur of old songs and shrines, I uncovered a confession buried in shame - and with it, the first trail toward whatever still remains of Ser Percival's unfinished burden.