A New Home

Welcome to England, Jarl Eivor! The quest "A New Home" marks your arrival in the new world and the crucial first steps in establishing Ravensthorpe, your clan's new settlement. This foundational quest introduces you to the core mechanics of settlement building and interaction, setting the stage for your adventures across Anglo-Saxon England. Successfully completing this quest is vital for unlocking various settlement features, services, and future questlines.

Quest Objectives Overview

This quest is straightforward, guiding you through the initial steps of settlement establishment. Your primary goals are:

Build the Longhouse: The heart of your settlement and a prerequisite for many other buildings.
Speak with Gunnar the Blacksmith: Your trusted smith from Norway, eager to set up shop.
Talk to the other settlers: Engage with the new faces who have followed you to England.

Step-by-Step Walkthrough: Establishing Ravensthorpe

Step 1: Arriving at the Settlement Site

Upon disembarking from your longship, Sigurd will lead you to a clearing overlooking a river. This is the designated site for Ravensthorpe. A brief cinematic will play, showcasing the potential of this new land. Your first immediate task will be to survey the area and begin construction of the Longhouse.

Step 2: Building the Longhouse

The Longhouse is the central hub of Ravensthorpe, essential for storytelling progression, feasts, and managing your settlement. Without it, many other buildings and services cannot be unlocked.

Locate the Construction Sign: Follow the quest marker to the designated Longhouse construction site. You'll see a large wooden sign with a hammer icon.
Initiate Construction: Interact with the sign. Eivor will place the first stone, and a short, satisfying cutscene will play showing the Longhouse quickly taking shape. This is a symbolic act; you don't need to gather resources for this initial build.
Significance of the Longhouse:
- Feasting Buffs: Once built, the Longhouse allows you to host feasts, providing temporary buffs to Eivor's stats (e.g., Melee Damage, Ranged Damage, Armor, Health) for a set duration. These buffs are crucial for challenging encounters.
- Settlement Level Progression: The Longhouse is a key structure for increasing your settlement's level, which in turn unlocks new buildings, services, and questlines.
- Story Hub: Many main story quests and important character interactions will take place within the Longhouse.

Step 3: Speaking with Gunnar the Blacksmith

Gunnar, your loyal blacksmith from Fornburg, has accompanied you to England and is eager to set up his forge. His services are indispensable for upgrading your gear.

Locate Gunnar: After the Longhouse is built, Gunnar will be standing near the newly constructed building, often near where his future forge will be. Look for the quest marker over his head.
Initiate Dialogue: Approach Gunnar and interact with him. He will express his excitement about the new land and his desire to establish his forge.
Important Dialogue: Gunnar's dialogue is primarily introductory and expresses his loyalty and enthusiasm. There are no critical choices here, but it establishes his presence as a key NPC. He will ask for a suitable spot for his forge, which will be automatically designated nearby.
Gunnar's Services: Once his forge is established (which happens automatically after this interaction), Gunnar can:
- Upgrade Weapons and Armor: Improve the quality tier of your gear (e.g., Fine to Superior, Superior to Flawless). This significantly boosts their base stats.
- Enhance Runes: Apply runes to your gear, providing passive bonuses.

Step 4: Talking to Other Settlers

Several other members of your clan have made the journey and are scattered around the nascent settlement. Interacting with them helps to establish the community feel of Ravensthorpe.

Locate the Settlers: Look for additional quest markers or green speech bubble icons on your compass and minimap. These settlers will be milling around the Longhouse and the surrounding area.
- Sigurd: Your brother will be nearby, often observing the new settlement. Speak with him to hear his thoughts on the new beginning.
- Randvi: Sigurd's wife, a crucial character for alliance-building and managing your settlement, will also be present. Her dialogue is important for understanding the political landscape you're about to enter.
- Other Clan Members: Generic settlers will also be present. While their dialogue is less critical, it adds to the immersion and shows the growing population of Ravensthorpe.
Initiate Dialogue: Approach each marked settler and interact with them. Their conversations will mostly revolve around the journey, their hopes for the new settlement, and their initial impressions of England.
Dialogue Options: For most of these initial interactions, dialogue options are minimal and do not significantly impact the quest outcome. They serve to introduce characters and provide flavor text. However, pay attention to conversations with Sigurd and Randvi, as they often foreshadow future events or introduce important concepts.

Common Pitfalls & Tips

Don't Rush: Take a moment to appreciate the new environment. While "A New Home" is a simple quest, it sets the tone for your entire playthrough in England.
Explore Briefly: Before moving on to the next main quest, take a quick look around the immediate area of Ravensthorpe. You might find some minor resources or wildlife.
Familiarize Yourself with the Map: Open your map and note the location of Ravensthorpe. This will be your primary base of operations for the rest of the game.

Upon completing these interactions, the quest "A New Home" will conclude, and you will be ready to embark on the next phase of establishing your presence in England, beginning with the crucial task of forging alliances.