In Avowed’s Steel Resolve side quest, you investigate the disappearances of two senior rangers. Your journey takes you to the dangerous Ogre’s Cave and the Abandoned Homestead, where you’ll face enemies and uncover hidden truths. This guide provides a step-by-step walkthrough to help you complete the quest and investigate both Ogre’s Cave and Abandoned Homestead.
How to Begin the Steel Resolve Side Quest
After entering Emerald Stairs, your first priority should be to grab the Steel Resolve quest in the northeast of the map. It’s a short trek from your entry point, and while you might want to explore Fior mes Iverno, you can head straight there early on.
You’ll meet Ranger Acierno, who is arguing with her second-in-command. She has lost two of her best rangers and has no idea where they might be. As elite soldiers protecting the land from threats like Xaurips and wildlife, their disappearance is a serious concern. Acierno accepts your help and points you toward key individuals, including Dorso, Monato’s best friend, who likely knows more than you do.
Note: Alternatively, it can be unlocked by freeing Ranger Verano during The Trantons bounty.
Talk to Rangers Casagrada and Dorso
Head to the Fior Mes Iverno Docks and speak with Ranger Casagrada. Confront him about the situation at the Abandoned Homestead involving Ranger Verano.
Note: If you haven’t completed The Trantons bounty, only then will you be prompted to investigate the Abandoned Homestead, where you must eliminate the Tranton Brothers.
Next, travel to the Fior Southern Gate Beacon and talk to Ranger Dorso. Ask about Ranger Monato, and she will direct you to the Ogre’s Cave to find him.
Investigate the Ogre’s Cave
After speaking with a few Rangers in the area, it’s now up to you to locate the two missing rangers. They are in completely different locations, raising the question of how they became separated.
Far across the map from where you picked up the quest, in the northwest region, you’ll encounter sporelings guarding a cave. Inside, a powerful boss—an orc named Ulrask—looms over Monato’s body. While you don’t have to fight him, he won’t move willingly.
Near Monato’s body, you’ll find his journal. If you’d rather avoid combat, you can sneak behind Ulrask, grab the journal quickly, and escape with minimal resistance, aside from Ulrask causing a brief commotion. The journal reveals that Monato suspected a traitor among the Rangers and believed he was being hunted for this knowledge. You can now either return to the captain with your findings or continue searching for Verano.
Investigate the Abandoned Homestead
While Monato was found in the northwest, Verano is located in the southwest, just west of Naku Tedek Grounds. Here, you’ll come across an Abandoned Homestead where a bounty is holding Verano hostage.
If you picked up the bounty from the board in Fior mes Iverno, you’ll know exactly where to go. You can either take the key from a body near the house and enter through the back window or fight your way past the highwaymen at the rear. Pressing forward, you’ll eventually face the bounty, Big Wylie Tranton.
After defeating Big Wylie, head up the small cliffs to find Verano locked in a cage. Luckily, he’s alive. He was scouting for bandits when he was captured. His story is largely confirmed by his cowardly companion, Cassagrada. Before leaving, Verano will point you toward a Root-Strangled Tree.
The Confrontation
From Verano’s location, head northeast, crossing the river west of Fior Mes Iverno. On top of the cliff, you’ll find a group of bears with their young and the Root-Strangled Tree Verano mentioned. Interact with the note on the back of the tree to uncover the traitor’s rendezvous point.
From there, travel south to the Wildwoods, where you’ll encounter none other than Dorso. She confesses to killing her best friend, Monato, after a heated argument about the future of Emerald Stairs. Their views were starkly different—Dorso believed the empire should take control, while Monato insisted they must rebuild on their own.
However, Monato discovered that Dorso was conspiring with the Steel Garrote to invade Fior Mes Iverno. To silence him, Dorso took his life. Now comes the difficult decision: what to do next? You have three choices.
Choosing to Side With Dorso
If you choose to side with Dorso, simply inform her that she must prepare Fior for Aedyran rule. However, this decision will upset Giatta if she is in your party. To conclude the quest, return to the captain and lie about what happened.
If you leave this mission incomplete, Fior Mes Iverno will be burned to the ground by the end of the Ancient Soil main story quest, with the remaining survivors fleeing to the northernmost abandoned village.
Choosing to Side With Fior mes Iverno
The alternative is to stand against the Aedyran, despite being their Envoy and having been raised by them. This betrayal will not be taken lightly, and you’ll have to remain cautious throughout your journey. You can either kill Dorso on the spot or order her to flee into the woods, never to be seen again. Regardless of your choice, when you report back to the captain, she will mention giving Dorso a head start.
However, to change the outcome of Ancient Soil, you must deal with the Steel Garrote. Dorso reveals that they are hiding in a cave beneath the waterfall just north of your location. Climb the cliffside to the east to find a small cave entrance or simply drop down from the top of the waterfall.
Inside, you’ll encounter two Steel Garrote guards who offer you a chance to walk away. This is your final opportunity to back out. If you refuse their bribe, they will attack immediately, forcing you to clear out the entire cave. As a result, while Fior Mes Iverno will still be attacked, the Steel Garrote’s invasion will ultimately fail, and the city will survive.
Returning to Captain Acierno
Return to Ranger Captain Acierno and report on the Rangers’ location and the identity of the traitor. Explain Dorso’s betrayal and how you dealt with the situation. However, Captain Acierno will recall Dorso’s past loyalty and struggle to believe what led her to turn against the group.
Rewards
After completing Steel Resolve, Ranger Captain Acierno will reward you for assisting the Rangers by adding One Last Trick to your inventory.
Note: The Exceptional Dagger can be obtained by attacking Ranger Dorso. It is only available by looting her corpse after the battle.
