Chapter 5 - To Walk Bravely First Into Darkness

Complete walkthrough for Chapter 5: To Walk Bravely First Into Darkness in Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader. Includes quest steps, enemy stats, and item locations.

You emerge in the Debris of Battiada system. Ravor reports that the coordinates which Thorbald gave him match a location in a nearby system, initiating his second companion quest, Fenris Hjolda.

Track Down Xavier Calcazar

Scan the Ice World and investigate the Signal From the Planet. Decrypt the transmission (Tech-Use -55) and make your way down to the planet's surface.

Distress Signal Source

Head down either set of steps to the north. There are a total of three cogitators which you can interact with (Lore: Xenos / Tech-Use -35) which you want to examine before accessing the main cogitator. Look for a crate on the western side of the area where you will find a Tesla Ring and the "Heel!" Protocol cyber-mastiff accessory.

You will find the remains of Calcazar's soldiers in the north of the area. If you have the Corpuscarii Oath arc rifle, equip it on one of your party members before activating the central cogitator. Make a Tech-Use (-10) check for a few XP. Confirm activation of the information panels and initiate final cataloguing, allowing you to transfer the data to your Elucidator. This will allow you to understand the Necron language. Finally, try to extract the data concerning the mechanism's masters. Eventually you will find orders to abandon the research mission and join the contingent on Epitaph along with codes for traversing the minefields.

However, your intrusion will trigger an alarm, causing you to be attacked by a large group of Necron sentries.

There are two destroyers along with a Necron Deathmark, four Necron Warriors and eight Canoptek Scarab Swarms. The destroyers ignore 95% of all damage unless attacked from the back. The fight may take a while because of the degree to which the enemies are spread out and the need to pay attention to positioning but otherwise shouldn't give you too many problems.

When the enemies are dead, search the eastern area that one of the destroyers emerged from to find a body carrying the Purging Fury flamer and the Phantom-Killer Bodyglove.

There's nothing more to find here so return to the voidship. Bring up the Koronus Expanse map and Ravor will report that unidentified ships have taken off from the planet and are preparing to attack. You will find yourself in battle against three Jackal-Class Frigates. They recover hull integrity on their turns and have the annoying trick of using Reanimation Protocol when you reduce their hull integrity to zero, forcing you to destroy them again. When you defeat them, you should unlock the Purge the Unclean trophy. Afterwards, Ravor tells you that he's never seen anything like the vessels you just fought. Make a Lore: Xenos (-20) check to learn that they are necron vessels. Your companions will have additional insights.

The Runaway

Interact with the Drukhari ships in the system and Ravor will report that the enemies of Humanity demand to be allowed on board to talk with their disgraced kinsman. Agree to hear the Drukhari out and someone named Kharael will come and speak to Marazhai. Kharael tells him that the Reaving Tempest is dying following the demise of Archon Yremeryss and the Kabal needs an Aezyrraesh to serve as a symbol of power. Marazhai is non-committal but Kharael tells him to find them at their base in a neighbouring star system, initiating Marazhai's final companion quest, Runaway.

Reach the Drukhari Hideout

From Debris of Battiada, chart new routes and voyage to the //-An#8954No01-KT// system. When you enter the system, you will be thrown into battle against four Last Hatred Frigates and five Immortality Denied Destroyers. The enemy ships are widely spread out so you can deal with them piecemeal.

Afterwards, land at the Drukhari Camp on the Arid World. Look for a hidden (Awareness -40) body near the shuttle carrying a Virulent Slicer Drukhari sword and a pair of Tear-Blade Gloves.

Start making your way north from the shuttle, keeping an eye out for traps, until you find a dying Kabalite Warrior who addresses Marazhai as refuse of the arena. After Marazhai has dealt with him, ask Marazhai what's happening. He has a suspicion that a faction from the Reaving Tempest has joined forces with the Black Heart.

Proceed to the Meeting Place

You will find another trap as you follow the path east. Eventually, you will reach the camp where you will find a familiar face from the mock trial: Archon Nazrakhei. Like all good baddies, he describes his plot to destroy the Reaving Tempest Kabal at great length. Explore his conversation options if you like before you kill him.

Nazrakhei is accompanied by two named allies, Sinisthoria and Kharael, together