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!! MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD — READ AT YOUR OWN RISK !!
This article covers the route I personally chose and the outcomes I was able to confirm. Branches resulting from other choices are still being tested.
The Bittersweet Toast Overview
In order to defeat Ambrus, Coen agrees to poison the blood cattle and sets out with Iulian Codrin to visit a poisoner.
How to Start and Where to Find It
During the event conversation with Iulian Codrin in The Gilded Gauntlet, agree to poison the “blood cattle” to start this quest.
Deadline and Time Cost
At least 7 Time Segments pass in total.
Entering Vera’s Hut costs 1 Time Segment.
Inspecting Vera’s desk costs 1 Time Segment.
The conversation event with Iulian Codrin after finding Vera’s body costs 1 Time Segment.
Investigating the traces left by Vera costs 1 Time Segment.
If it is nighttime by this point, you will need to advance time until morning. You can either skip directly to morning through the dialogue option or promise to return later and spend the intervening time exploring as you like.
Interacting with Iulian Codrin to complete the ritual costs 3 Time Segments.
Rewards
Completing the quest grants 250 XP.
In addition, the boss in The Gilded Gauntlet will be weakened.
However, weakening the boss also comes with a clear and significant downside.
I will explain the details on the quest page for The Gilded Gauntlet.
Items You Can Obtain During This Quest
Items You Can Obtain in Vera’s Hut
The following recipe and Manual can be obtained:
Items You Can Obtain on the Way to Find Vera’s Note
(Found on the ground along the path taken in Step 9 of the walkthrough below.)
Items Dropped by the Spirits That Attack During the Ritual
In my playthrough, I obtained a Lasting Malediction Manual.
The Bittersweet Toast Walkthrough
- Follow Iulian Codrin.
- Defeat the wolves.
- Follow Iulian Codrin.
- Enter Vera’s Hut. (1 Time Segment passes.)
- Inspect the desk. (1 Time Segment passes.)
- Look for the traps set by Vera by following the tracks in Focus Mode.
- Speak with Iulian Codrin. (1 Time Segment passes.)
- Inspect Vera’s body.
- Follow Vera’s tracks and look for her note.
- Investigate the traces left by Vera. (1 Time Segment passes.)
- Return to the ritual site.
- Speak with Iulian Codrin.
- Wait until dawn or advance time through the conversation. A time limit begins at this point.
- Speak with Iulian Codrin during the day.
- Inspect the cauldron and finish preparing the brew.
- Begin the ritual.
- Follow the markers and use Astral Communion to light the pillars one by one.
- Defeat the spirits that attack during the ritual, then continue lighting the pillars with Astral Communion.
- Interact with Iulian Codrin to complete the ritual. (3 Time Segments pass.)
- Speak with Iulian Codrin.
- Complete the quest.
Time Passage Before the Ritual
If you reach Step 13 at night, the conversation gives you the following options:
- “I’ll wait with you until dawn.” — Time automatically advances until morning.
- “I’ll come back during the day.”
Untested Possibilities
Can Vera survive?
In this quest, the cause of her death is only hinted at, and the exact culprit is never clearly identified.
Vera also seems to have known of a way to keep Iulian Codrin from dying.
If so, there may be a way to save both of them.
I am not even sure whether a survival route actually exists, so I plan to investigate this on my second playthrough.
I also want to test what happens to the story and rewards if you abandon the ritual partway through.
Another point I want to check is whether waiting until dawn together with Iulian Codrin triggers any additional dialogue.
Related NPCs
Related Locations
Vera’s Hut
Maragir
