The Cycle of Love

Xanthe's commander abandoned the lantern required for keep entry where Coen might seize it, should he after all elect to aid them.

Xanthe, eldest of Brencis's vrakhiri allies, blocks the path — Coen must devise a way to handle her.

The soldiers' mysterious lantern will admit Coen to Xanthe's keep to learn what she is about there.

An eerie statue watches the keep's doorway; setting the enchanted lantern upon its extended hand should swing the door open.

Coen recovered a peculiar lantern stamped with Xanthe's sigil — evidently enchanted; its function wants deciphering.

Inside Xanthe's keep, Coen should seek out the boyaress herself.

A sealed chamber in the keep murmurs oddly from within; the deranged servant forbids entry — which decides the matter: Coen shall.

Lanterns enough are gathered to open the upstairs locked room; time to see inside.

Xanthe has tracked Coen down. Excellent — the hour has come to punish her crimes.

The deranged servant mentioned a forbidden 'painted door' on the keep's upper floor; Coen ought to learn what she intended.

A headlong rush at the boyaress spells folly — yet an ingenious answer to the Xanthe dilemma may still emerge.

• 1 Retrieve the lantern Xanthe's commander abandoned the lantern required for keep entry where Coen might seize it, should he after all elect to aid them.
• 2 Deal with Xanthe Xanthe, eldest of Brencis's vrakhiri allies, blocks the path — Coen must devise a way to handle her. 4 time segments
• 3 Get to the mansion The soldiers' mysterious lantern will admit Coen to Xanthe's keep to learn what she is about there.
• 4 Give the lantern to the statue An eerie statue watches the keep's doorway; setting the enchanted lantern upon its extended hand should swing the door open.
• 5 Figure out the lantern's purpose Coen recovered a peculiar lantern stamped with Xanthe's sigil — evidently enchanted; its function wants deciphering.
• 6 Find Xanthe Inside Xanthe's keep, Coen should seek out the boyaress herself.
• 7 Find a way to enter the locked room A sealed chamber in the keep murmurs oddly from within; the deranged servant forbids entry — which decides the matter: Coen shall.
• 8 Enter the locked room Lanterns enough are gathered to open the upstairs locked room; time to see inside.
• 9 Kill Xanthe Xanthe has tracked Coen down. Excellent — the hour has come to punish her crimes.
• 10 Investigate the painted door The deranged servant mentioned a forbidden 'painted door' on the keep's upper floor; Coen ought to learn what she intended.
• 11 Wait for an opportunity A headlong rush at the boyaress spells folly — yet an ingenious answer to the Xanthe dilemma may still emerge.

• Xanthe offered a bargain for her life, and Coen accepted.
• Coen breached Xanthe's keep and halted her horrors — her foul experiments will claim no further Sangoran girls.
• No hours remained to track Xanthe; should she ever cross his path, Coen will strike her down regardless.
• At last Coen merely ran Xanthe to ground inside the cathedral and slew her there — she vexes him no longer.