A Candle in the Storm | Dragons Dogma 2 Wiki

A Candle in the Storm is a Quest for Dragon's Dogma 2 (DD2). This quest will have you enact a plan concocted by Menella to catch the mastermind behind Empress Nadinia’s assassinations. Depending on how you tackled the events of Shadowed Prayers, you’ll learn that the mastermind hired the Coral Snakes to do their dirty work, which allows you to figure out how to bait them and draw them out. However, you’ll have to choose which pieces will be in play for Menella’s plan.

As the empress performed her supplications to the Lambent Flame, an assassin's dagger took aim at her back. Though the brigand was caught, the true mastermind is still at large.

How to Unlock A Candle in the Storm Quest in Dragon's Dogma 2

This quest is unlocked by talking to Menella at the Volcanic Island Camp after completing the quest, Shadowed Prayers, if you could apprehend the assassin and keep Empress Nadinia alive. [See Dragon’s Dogma 2 Map]

Dragon's Dogma 2 A Candle in the Storm Quest Notes & Tips

• This quest has multiple outcomes:
  • Supported the Empress’s Proposal
  • Opposed the Empress’s Proposal
  • Supported the Empress’s Proposal and Attacked the Mastermind
• This quest has prerequisites:
  • Complete Shadowed Prayers
  • Apprehend the assassin, and keep Empress Nadinia alive
• This quest is canceled if you don't pick it up before ?? 
• The best outcome at the end, simply unsheate your weapon near the empress, then wait. You'll be granted 25k OR + ring of amplification. Also, if you've released ashe from the jail earlier to get the collectible in his cell, he'll be at the tavern right next to the east Inn (cheapest one) in Bakbattahl.

Dragon's Dogma 2 A Candle in the Storm Quest Walkthrough

Speak with the gaoled brigand

This quest is unlocked by finishing Shadowed Prayers and then speaking to Menella at the Volcanic Island Camp. After saving Empress Nadinia from an assassination in the previous quest, Shadowed Prayers, you’ll continue to help her and Menella with their cause. To begin this quest, you’ll have to find Menella at the Volcanic Island Camp. You’ll find her near the hot springs as you climb a ladder. If you’ve never been there, you’ll want to head inside Drabnir’s Grotto, south of Bakbattahl, and then exit out to the other side. Keep following the path and you'll eventually make it to the camp.

It seems she is still healing from that last attempt at the empress’ life. However, she’ll request your help for something that needs investigating. Essentially, she wants to find out who the mastermind is behind the assassination. She thinks you’ll be able to break the assassin you guys caught last time and asks you to interrogate him.

Head back to Bakbattahl and go to the Bakbattahl Gaol. Get to the cell where the rogue is and speak with him. If you don’t give him money, he’ll only say that the Empress isn’t safe just because he’s behind bars, which isn’t news to us. If you picked this option, don’t worry you can just talk to him again. If you do pay him 5000 G, you’ll find out that he was enlisted by the Coral Snakes.

Report back to Ser Menella

Head back to Menella now with this new information. It seems that the Empress has taken to hiding and her location is known only to Menella. Her plan is for you to tell the Coral Snakes that you have the Empress in your custody at a fake location along the Pilgrim’s Path. If they want to confirm that we have the right target, they’ll have to go there themselves. She’ll give you a Ferrystone after sharing the plan.

Leak information to the Coral Snakes

Herman did say that there was a Coral Snake member right there in the gaol, so you’ll want to head right back there and talk to whoever that is. Head back to the Bakbattahl Gaol and follow the quest marker to speak to Ashe in his cell. Naturally, tell him that you have the empress in your custody and he’ll fill in the blanks. If the Coral Snake Member Ashe is not there, he can also appear in the Tavern next to the Pilgrim's Inn in Bakbattahl.

Report back to Ser Menella

After your conversation with the prisoner, you’ll have to report to Menella again. Fortunately, she’s back in Bakbattahl now so you won’t have to go all the way back to the Volcanic Island Camp. You’ll find her on the west side of Bakbattahl. After confirming the preparations on your end, she’ll run off for preparations on her end.

You’ll have to follow and head to the next objective marker, which is due west outside of Bakbattahl. Once you get there, Menella will ask you to play the bandit, while someone else will play the fake Empress. Nadinia herself, however, will not agree to the plan, saying that she has to risk being there in the moment herself to ensure that the plan works. Naturally, Menella doesn’t like this notion as it puts the empress at risk. You’ll have to choose whether you agree with and support Nadinia’s plan or not.

Unmask the Mastermind

The outcomes of the two choices differ, so make sure to consider all the factors. After selecting your choices, speak to Menella when you’re ready to progress. Someone will knock and when you answer it’ll be a lady Beastren who will want to confirm the captive’s identity

Outcome 1: Supported the Empress’s Proposal

If you choose to support Nadinia’s plan and therefore have the empress herself lying on the bed, the unknown lady will confirm this and proceed to ask you to rectify the Coral Snakes’ failure by killing her yourself. NOTE: If you run away here instead, the mastermind will suspect that you aren’t a Coral Snake and call in some rogues as she runs away, leading to Outcome 2 below.

Don’t worry, you only need to swing your weapon in the air, and the empress and the lady herself will stop you. Seems she only needed to confirm that this wasn’t all a ruse and your little attempt has convinced her enough. As all masterminds do, she’ll share her true plan to have the empress die in front of many to inspire the flames of revolution. Afterward, Nadinia will get up and Menella will enter the room to trap her, as they find out that the mastermind is Irmhild, Nadinia’s very own advisor. After a clash of ideals, they’ll arrest her and the quest is completed.

Outcome 2: Opposed the Empress’s Proposal

If you choose to oppose Nadinia’s plan, the lady beastren will immediately be able to recognize that it isn’t Nadinia lying in the bed and call in some reinforcements. She’ll run away while you deal with the rabble. After you finish them off, Menella, who was fighting alongside you, will automatically speak with you, saying how events unfolded just as Nadinia said it would if she didn’t lie down on the bed herself. With this chance gone, there’s nothing else for her to do but be ever vigilant for any future attacks.

Outcome 3: Supported the Empress’s Proposal and Attacked the Mastermind

If you choose to support Nadinia’s plan, you can attack the lady Beastren any time, even while she’s still outside, and Menella will come to trap her in and you’ll find out who she is all the same. However, before they can arrest her and get any answers out of her, her future plan, her motivations, and her ultimate goal, she’ll end her life herself. This completes the quest.

DD2 A Candle in the Storm Quest Objectives

• Speak with the gaoled brigand.
• Report back to Ser Menella.
• Leak information to the Coral Snakes.
• Unmask the mastermind.

A Candle in the Storm Quest Rewards in Dragon's Dogma 2

This Quest has multiple Outcomes. Outcome 1:

Your efforts saw the villain who plotted the empress's assassination unmasked; it was none other than Irmhild, Her Majesty's retainer and confidant, who sought to use the tragedy of Nadinia's death to realize her twisted creed. Though the empress was at first stunned by this betrayal, it has only served to steel her resolve to better the world through peaceful means.

Outcome 2:

Outcome 2 Quest End Description

Outcome 3:

By your efforts was the villain who plotted the empress's assassination unmasked. It was none other than Irmhild, Her Majesty's retainer and confidant - but before her treacherous aims could be made plain, she silenced her own tongue forevermore.

Outcome 1 - A Candle in the Storm Rewards:

• 4800 XP
• Ring of Amplification
• 25000 G

Outcome 2 - A Candle in the Storm Rewards:

• 4800 XP
  
• Jasper x 3
  
• 19000 G

Outcome 3 - A Candle in the Storm Rewards:

• 4800 XP
  
• 19000 G