The 15th Century portrayed a simpler era, where not everyone could dive into specialized topics for hours. Yet, amidst this backdrop, a select few presented themselves as experts—especially in the realm of wine, often claiming the distinguished title of “sommeliers to the stars.”
In the quest titled In Vino Veritas, players embody Henry, who, while not an expert in wine, must feign expertise to assist a local entrepreneur in Kuttenburg. This endeavor extends beyond merely selling a few bottles; it requires navigating a web of challenges, including infiltrating a vineyard. Fear not, for this guide will ensure your journey is as smooth as a finely aged red.
How to Initiate In Vino Veritas
Your adventure commences in the vibrant town of Kuttenburg, the largest settlement in the region. To begin, navigate towards the fountain where Casper Rudolf is fervently promoting his lackluster wine.
Casper offers you a taste, which quickly reveals the poor quality of his product. Facing stiff competition from local vineyards, particularly from monks with a secret ingredient, he turns to you for help. He believes a contact in Kuttenburg might possess critical insights into that elusive ingredient and asks you to masquerade as a wine connoisseur for an upcoming meeting with an innkeeper.
Obtaining the Essential Book
While not mandatory, acquiring a book borrowed by one of Casper’s former loves can facilitate your upcoming discussion with the wine expert. First, make your way to the gardens in Kuttenburg, where you will encounter a guard named Hugo, Adleta’s brother.
Pretending to be a renowned blacksmith, you can pass a skill check to convince Hugo to let you through. Once inside, you’ll meet Adleta, who is reluctant to part with the book, initially thinking it was a gift.
However, by detailing your plan to outsmart the local wine expert, she agrees to hand over the book and wishes you luck. Although it won’t impart wine knowledge automatically, the brief read will provide valuable insights before your critical encounter.
Engaging with the Wine Expert
With the book in hand, it’s time to meet the wine expert. To make a positive impression, attire is crucial; avoid appearing as a disheveled knight. Instead, opt for regal clothing, such as what you wore to the Semine wedding, or stop at the local tailor for a suitable outfit.
Once ready, locate Innkeeper Havel at the Emperor Charles tavern for a wine tasting session, which resembles a quiz involving various skill checks. Success can be achieved by either nailing the skill checks or presenting enough correct answers based on your wine knowledge.
Choose from three European wine regions during the conversation. For an easier experience, select France and the following responses:
- Avignon
- Ginger
These selections, paired with at least one successful skill check, will lead to discovering the vineyard’s winemaking secrets, which you will relay back to Casper. Should you falter in this endeavor, consider either trying again through saving or sneaking upstairs at the inn for the Inn’s Ledger, which contains the needed information.
Infiltrating the Vineyard
After informing Casper about the vineyard’s use of sulfur in their winemaking process, he entrusts you with the task of retrieving some sulfur. You can request additional rewards for your efforts through a successful skill check, leading to two possible paths: breaking into the vineyard or seeking employment there.
The latter is undoubtedly more advantageous—presenting yourself as a worker will grant unimpeded access without raising suspicions. Engage with Administrator Jerome, and then make your way to the adjacent building where the sulfur is stored.
Inside, look for a medium-locked door. If you’re capable of picking locks, great; otherwise, you might need to lift a key from someone. Once inside, find the chest in the back right corner containing the sulfur wicks you need. Exit discreetly to avoid detection.
Before returning to Kuttenburg, make a quick detour to the back of the building where the saplings grow. Casper offers a decent reward for six of these, which are conveniently located in close proximity. Pluck them quickly when the coast is clear.
If you wish to further your quests, consider progressing with ‘Under a Straw Hat’ before collecting your reward from Casper in Kuttenburg.
Rewards for In Vino Veritas
The quest offers ample rewards, yielding a total of 425 Gloschen upon delivering the sulfur wicks. If you successfully procure the saplings as well, you will be handsomely rewarded with an additional 425 Gloschen.
Completing these tasks will bring your journey in In Vino Veritas to a profitable conclusion.
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