Trading Blows

This quest has a Hard mode version — see Trading Blows (Hard mode).

Trading Blows
Section	Echovald Forest Quests
Storyline	Beyond: Winds of Change
Required campaigns	Factions
Given by	Guardsman Qao Lin in Kaineng Center (Kaineng City)
Preceded by	Deadly Cargo
Followed by	Ever Closer to the Edge Trading Blows (Hard mode)
Type	Secondary quest
Map(s)
(Click to enlarge)

Investigate the reports of Ministry of Purity and Jade Brotherhood forces in Kurzick territory.

Quest information

Objectives

• Search for signs of suspicious activity.
• Protect the Kurzick Diplomats.
• See Guardsman Qao Lin for your reward.

Reward

• 2,500 Experience
• 1,000 Gold
• 1,000 Kurzick Faction
• Imperial Guard Requisition Order
• Imperial Commendation

Environmental changes

• While this quest is active, neither Darkroot Entrop, Milefaun Mindflayer, nor Foalcrest Darkwish, and their respective groups, spawn.

Walkthrough

Enemies flank from three directions

Start from Amatz Basin, follow the quest markers through Mourning Veil Falls, and protect the Kurzick Diplomats. They are high level healers, but you will get attacked by enemies that spawn from three different directions, be sure not to leave them unprotected against attacks from behind.

Alternatively you can fight at the slope directly across from where the diplomats were standing. The diplomats should be able to keep themselves alive as long as you distract the incoming enemies enough. Keep your healers just in range so that they can still heal the diplomats. This will allow your party to avoid most of the area of effect (AoE) damage, making the fight much easier.

If having difficulty with the waves of foes, use a minion master hero and flag it into the shallow stream to the south of the Diplomats (and slightly east) - they will follow the minions to heal and be out of range of the majority of spawns.

Note that the Jade Brotherhood and Ministry of Purity are hostile towards each other; if you can get the Kurzicks out of the way, the enemies will thin themselves.

Skill recommendations

• Blood is Power and/or minions for exploiting the Kurzick Diplomats' AI.
• AoE damage and control skills, especially Pain of Disenchantment, Ineptitude and/or Panic.
• AoE support skills (so that your allies benefit), especially Recuperation, Shelter and/or Union.

NPCs

Allies

Humans (Kurzicks)

• 26 Kurzick Diplomat

Foes

Humans (Jade Brotherhood)

• 24 (26) Jade Brotherhood Warrior
• 24 (26) Jade Brotherhood Ranger
• 24 (26) Jade Brotherhood Monk
• 24 (26) Jade Brotherhood Necromancer
• 24 (26) Jade Brotherhood Mesmer
• 24 (26) Jade Brotherhood Elementalist
• 24 (26) Jade Brotherhood Assassin
• 24 (26) Jade Brotherhood Ritualist

Humans (Ministry of Purity)

• 26 (28) Elite Ministry Enforcer
• 24 (26) Ministry Enforcer
• 26 (28) Elite Ministry Ranger
• 24 (26) Ministry Ranger
• 26 (28) Elite Ministry Cleric
• 24 (26) Ministry Cleric
• 26 (28) Elite Ministry Purger
• 24 (26) Ministry Purger
• 26 (28) Elite Ministry Illusionist
• 24 (26) Ministry Illusionist
• 26 (28) Elite Ministry Mage
• 24 (26) Ministry Mage
• 26 (28) Elite Ministry Bladesman
• 24 (26) Ministry Bladesman
• 26 (28) Elite Ministry Medium
• 24 (26) Ministry Medium
• 26 (28) Elite Ministry Captain
• 24 (26) Ministry Captain
• 26 (28) Elite Ministry Zealot
• 24 (26) Ministry Zealot

Bosses

Humans (Jade Brotherhood)

• 26 (30) Koon Jizang → Way of the Assassin

Humans (Ministry of Purity)

• 26 (30) Initiate Shen Wojong → Anthem of Fury

Dialogue

Initial dialogue

Guardsman Qao Lin

"I don't even know what to make of this one, so maybe you'll have an idea. We've gotten word of some atypical movements for both the Ministry of Purity and the Jade Brotherhood. Some of their number have been seen moving, separately, into the Echovald Forest. Estimates put them near Amatz Basin, likely in the Mourning Veil Falls.

"This could be important, and we can't spare anyone to send that far out."

 Accept: "I'd better put a stop to this before it becomes something worse."

 Decline: "This can only end in tears. For me."

 Ask: "There are suspicious movements from the Ministry of Purity and the Jade Brotherhood around Mourning Veil Falls. We need you to look into them."

Intermediate dialogue

Upon approaching Initiate Shen Wojong:

Initiate Shen Wojong: "...as I've said, your rivalry with the Luxons is petty and meaningless. You would tell me that you would lay down your lives for nothing, but you would not stand beside your empire when it needs you?"

Kurzick Diplomat: "Petty and meaningless? We did not come into your home and tell you that your way of life is incorrect. And yet you would do this to us?"

Kurzick Diplomat: "What did you hope to gain here, other than the ire of the Kurzick people?"

Koon Jizang: "Have you considered that might be exactly what they're looking for? To draw you out here, insult you, and, when you defy them, label you their enemy."

Koon Jizang: "And I'm sure by now you've heard what happens to those they declare enemies?"

Initiate Shen Wojong: "You invite these criminals to our meeting!? I knew your kind could not be trusted!"

Kurzick Diplomat: "What? No! We want nothing to do with either of you!"

Koon Jizang: "A pity. Well then, plan B. If my words could not convince the Kurzicks to join our side, perhaps your mangled corpses will!"

Kurzick Diplomat: "Someone, please help us!"

Once all enemies have been slain:

Kurzick Diplomat: "Thank you, friend. We are in your debt for what you have done this day. Still, I fear that this is only a single day."

Kurzick Diplomat: "More and more, people come into our lands, making demands of us. Can they not see why we wish to avoid their Empire? Perhaps insanity is only seen when looking in from the outside."

Reward dialogue

Guardsman Qao Lin

"By the ancestors... The Jade Brotherhood is trying to turn the Kurzicks against the Ministry of Purity? I doubt they'll get involved now. They remain as detached as they can concerning matters of the Empire. But if the Jade Brotherhood had been able to make it look like the Ministry was actively targeting them, they might have gotten involved, for good or ill. For now, I'm just glad that there's one less faction that we need to keep our eyes on. Once again, we find ourselves in your debt."