Companion Quests
Your journey through Halcyon is made richer and often easier by the companions you recruit. Each companion comes with their own unique backstory, combat abilities, and, most importantly, a personal questline that delves deeper into their character and motivations. Completing these quests not only grants experience and sometimes unique items, but also strengthens your bond with your crew, occasionally unlocking new dialogue options or even improving their combat effectiveness.
It's highly recommended to pursue these quests as they become available. Pay attention to dialogue cues from your companions while on the Unreliable or out in the field, as they often hint at their current concerns or next steps. Sometimes, simply having a specific companion in your active party when entering certain locations or speaking to particular NPCs will trigger their quest progression.
Parvati Holcomb: 'Drinking Sapphire Wine'
Parvati's personal quest is a heartwarming tale of her desire to connect with Junlei Tennyson. It's a multi-stage quest that requires a bit of legwork and some social finesse.
- Trigger: Speak with Parvati on the Unreliable after completing the main quest "Stranger in a Strange Land" and recruiting her. She'll express her admiration for Junlei.
- Step 1: Gather Information: Parvati needs advice on how to approach Junlei.
- Talk to Junlei: Head to the Groundbreaker's Engineering Bay and speak with Junlei Tennyson. She'll mention her busy schedule but suggest a date if Parvati were to ask.
- Consult with the Crew: Return to the Unreliable and speak with Felix and Ellie. Felix will suggest a grand gesture, while Ellie will offer more pragmatic advice.
- Step 2: The Perfect Date: Parvati decides she wants to take Junlei on a date. This involves several sub-objectives:
- Find a Dinner Recipe: Parvati wants to cook. Head to the Groundbreaker's Promenade and visit the "Lost Hope" bar. Speak to the bartender, Gladys, and purchase the "Auntie Cleo's Cookbook" for 1,200 bits (or persuade/intimidate her).
- Acquire Fancy Clothes: Parvati needs something special to wear. Travel to Byzantium and visit the "Prosperity Plaza" district. Enter the "Jules & Daughters" boutique and purchase the "Elegant Evening Wear". Be prepared to spend a significant amount of bits, or use high Persuade/Lie skills to get a discount.
- Obtain "Drinking Sapphire Wine": This is the namesake of the quest. You'll need to travel to Monarch.
- Location: Head to the Stellar Bay Landing Pad and then proceed to the Amber Heights settlement.
- Acquisition: Find the vendor named Duncan in Amber Heights. He sells the "Drinking Sapphire Wine". It's a rare vintage, so expect to pay a premium.
- Step 3: The Date: Once all items are acquired, return to the Unreliable and speak with Parvati. She'll prepare for the date. You'll then accompany her to the Groundbreaker's Engineering Bay. The outcome of the date depends on your previous choices and Parvati's confidence, but the quest will conclude regardless.
- Reward: Experience, improved standing with Parvati, and the satisfaction of helping your friend.
Felix Millstone: 'Friendship's Due'
Felix's quest involves him confronting his past and his complicated relationship with his former mentor, Calhoun. It's a quest that often involves combat and moral choices.
- Trigger: Recruit Felix on the Groundbreaker after completing the main quest "Passage to Anywhere." Speak with him on the Unreliable, and he'll mention his old mentor.
- Step 1: Locate Calhoun: Felix believes Calhoun is on Monarch.
- Travel to Monarch: Head to Stellar Bay.
- Ask Around: In Stellar Bay, speak to various NPCs, particularly those in the "Sublight Salvage & Shipping" office or the local bar. They will direct you to a specific area outside Stellar Bay where Calhoun is known to operate.
- Find Calhoun's Hideout: Head to the designated area on Monarch's wilderness map. Calhoun's hideout is typically a small, fortified camp or cave.
- Step 2: Confront Calhoun: Upon reaching the hideout, you'll encounter Calhoun and his crew.
- Dialogue Options: You'll have several dialogue choices. You can try to resolve the situation peacefully through Persuade/Lie/Intimidate checks, or you can resort to combat.
- Combat Encounter: If dialogue fails or you choose to fight, be prepared for a moderately challenging combat encounter against Calhoun and his thugs. Calhoun himself is a formidable opponent.
- Step 3: Decide Calhoun's Fate: After the confrontation (whether peaceful or violent), you'll need to decide what to do with Calhoun.
- Option A (Peaceful): If you successfully persuaded Calhoun, you might convince him to leave Monarch or change his ways.
- Option B (Violent): If you defeated him in combat, you can choose to kill him or spare him.
- Reward: Experience, a unique weapon (if you defeat Calhoun), and a significant impact on Felix's outlook and loyalty.
Ellie Fenhill: 'The Chysa-Lisk Hunter'
Ellie's quest is a classic bounty hunt, showcasing her mercenary skills and her desire for cold, hard cash. It's a straightforward combat-focused quest.
- Trigger: Recruit Ellie on the Groundbreaker after completing the main quest "Passage to Anywhere." Speak with her on the Unreliable, and she'll mention a bounty on a creature.
- Step 1: Accept the Bounty: Ellie will explain that there's a bounty out for a particularly dangerous creature known as a Chysa-Lisk.
- Location: The bounty poster is usually found in the "Sublight Salvage & Shipping" office on the Groundbreaker, or Ellie will simply tell you where to go. The target is typically located on Monarch, in the wilderness areas outside Stellar Bay.
- Step 2: Hunt the Chysa-Lisk: Travel to Monarch and navigate to the designated area.
- Combat Strategy: Chysa-Lisks are large, aggressive creatures with strong melee attacks. They often travel in small packs. Utilize your companions' abilities and focus fire on one at a time. Ellie's combat skills are particularly useful here.
- Loot: After defeating the Chysa-Lisk, loot its corpse for the "Chysa-Lisk Mandible" or similar unique trophy item.
- Step 3: Collect the Reward: Return to the Groundbreaker and speak with the bounty handler (often located near the Sublight office or the main entrance). Turn in the trophy item.
- Reward: Experience, a substantial amount of bits, and a boost to Ellie's approval.
Vicar Max: 'The Empty Man'
Vicar Max's quest is a philosophical journey into his past and his search for true enlightenment, moving beyond the teachings of the Board. This quest involves exploration, puzzle-solving, and difficult choices.
- Trigger: Recruit Vicar Max in Edgewater after completing the main quest "Comes Now the Power." Speak with him on the Unreliable, and he'll express his doubts about his faith.
- Step 1: Seek the Heretical Text: Max believes a banned text holds the key to his enlightenment.
- Location: Travel to the Groundbreaker. Max will direct you to a specific, hidden compartment or a contact within the "Sublight Salvage & Shipping" office.
- Acquisition: You'll need to either persuade a guard, pick a lock (requires high Lockpick skill), or find a keycard to access the hidden area. Inside, you'll find the "Forbidden Text of the Philosophers".
- Step 2: Find the Hermit: The text speaks of a hermit who can interpret its meaning.
- Location: The text will provide cryptic clues leading you to a remote location on Monarch, often in the far reaches of the wilderness or a secluded cave.
- Navigation: This part of the quest can involve significant exploration and potentially dangerous encounters with local wildlife or marauders.
- Step 3: The Hermit's Trial: Upon finding the hermit, they will challenge Max (and by extension, you) with a series of philosophical questions or a task.
- Dialogue Choices: Your responses will influence Max's understanding and the outcome of the quest. Choose wisely, as some options can lead to different conclusions for Max's character arc.
- Potential Combat: In some scenarios, the hermit might test you with a combat trial against their guardians or a local beast.
- Step 4: Max's Revelation: After completing the hermit's trial, Max will have a profound realization about his faith and purpose.
- Reward: Experience, a unique companion perk for Max, and a deeper understanding of his character.
SAM: 'The Cleaning Machine'
SAM's quest is less about emotional growth and more about fulfilling his core programming: cleaning. It's a lighthearted quest that involves finding specific cleaning agents.
- Trigger: Recruit SAM on the Unreliable after repairing him (requires high Engineering skill or a specific item). Speak with him, and he'll express a desire for more effective cleaning solutions.
- Step 1: Acquire the Acid: SAM requires a specialized acid to enhance his cleaning capabilities.
- Location: Travel to Gorgon (requires the Peril on Gorgon DLC). Head to the "Ambrose Manor" or the "Synthesis & Manufactory Center."
- Acquisition: You'll need to locate a container of "Corrosive Cleaning Solution". This can be found in a lab, storage room, or sometimes purchased from a specific vendor within the DLC area.
- Step 2: Upgrade SAM: Return to the Unreliable with the cleaning solution. Interact with SAM to initiate the upgrade process.
- Reward: Experience, and SAM gains a new, more powerful attack ability in combat, often involving corrosive damage.
Nyoka: 'Star-Crossed Troopers'
Nyoka's quest is a poignant journey to honor her fallen comrades and retrieve their personal effects. It's a quest that combines exploration, combat, and a touch of melancholy.
- Trigger: Recruit Nyoka in Stellar Bay on Monarch after completing the main quest "Radio Free Monarch." Speak with her on the Unreliable, and she'll mention her lost squad.
- Step 1: Locate the Crash Site: Nyoka will provide vague directions to the crash site of her former squad's dropship.
- Location: This site is typically in a dangerous, creature-infested area of Monarch's wilderness, often near the coast or a rocky canyon.
- Navigation: Be prepared for heavy combat against various hostile creatures and potentially marauders guarding the area.
- Step 2: Recover the Dog Tags: At the crash site, you'll find the wreckage and the remains of her squad.
- Search the Bodies: Carefully search the bodies of her fallen comrades to retrieve their "Personal Dog Tags". There are usually 3-5 sets to find.
- Journal Entries: You might also find personal journals or data pads that shed light on their final moments.
- Step 3: Return to Stellar Bay: Once all dog tags are collected, return to Stellar Bay.
- The Memorial: Nyoka will want to visit a small, unofficial memorial or a quiet spot overlooking the bay to pay her respects.
- Dialogue: Engage in dialogue with Nyoka as she reflects on her past and her fallen friends.
- Reward: Experience, a unique weapon or armor piece (often a relic from her squad), and a significant increase in Nyoka's loyalty and trust.