Bookwyrm627: -Someone mentioned the timed quests during the Elf/Human hostilities. While ultimately the winner doesn't matter (except for story purposes), look for a third option when both sides want the same thing. The most xp is had by doing what the rulers wish for their individual quests, and then using the third option (which doesn't have an in-game hint).
ZFR: I'm at this stage where I finished repairingthe Castle by the dwarves, and 2 ambassadors want me to meet their rulers. I assume this is the timed quest?
I did a save and talked to both to check out both quests. Seems pretty straightforward (though I haven't completed any of the 2). Also each ruler gives you the option to cheat the other one. I haven't figured out what the third way is?
Also, does the choice you make here affect in any way the game later on? Also, does agreeing with either of the rulers to cheat affect the game later too?
This sounds like the Erathia (human) vs Avlee (elf) conflict. As you may have gathered, Avlee is the elf nation, but their main area (and capital) is the Tularean Forest.
General Note: All this is to the best of my understanding, and I'm going to try and just cover the mechanics without revealing specific story results. Some of the specifics in quest timers I'm fuzzy on (like how long you have to wait before some of the quests can be triggered). You can use leveling up to pass time quickly without using food or repeatedly spending the night at an inn or something. Just train one character at a time, exit the training hall, go back in, rinse and repeat. Each level bought causes about 5 days (I think) to pass, and the total time is determined by the character that advanced the most levels while you were in the training building. Onward!
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There are several quests that are timed here, and this whole main story section is kicked off when you are notified about the new ambassadors at your castle (starts when you first return to Harmondale after turning in the dwarves you saved); if you don't do anything then these quests will expire after several months. Queen Catherine and King Whatshisface (Parson?) each give you a quest to retrieve a macguffin that will help in their respective war effort, and you have 28 days to complete the quest and return (timer starts when you get the quest, and the two quest timers are independent of each other). For each quest, you can (1) ignore it, (2) betray (opposing monarch gives you a replacement that you can turn in), (3) get the requested macguffin and then reveal your theft to the victim (requires you to have the macguffin in your possession when you talk to the victim monarch), or (4) complete the quest as specified. I think you have to accept each monarch's fetch quest within 2-3 months after receiving the notice about the ambassadors. Note that you don't have to talk to the ambassadors at all, they just let you know the quests are available.
As I understand it, there are no long term consequences (game or story) to how you complete these two quests. If you ignore the quest (or are unable to complete it in time), you don't get anything at all and the quest will expire. If you acquire the requested macguffin and then reveal your theft (for example, get the macguffin Queen Catherine wants, then tell King Whatshisface that you stole it), then you get executed (this is worth trying once for each monarch, just for laughs; be sure to save first!). You die, with the exact same consequences as any other time you die. If you betray, then the betrayed monarch is disappointed (revealed in how their ambassador talks to you later), and you receive a lesser exp reward than if you completed the quest as stated (not sure about the money reward since money is less important, but remember to go back to the opposing monarch because I think they offer you some extra money); they and their area don't turn hostile, though. If you complete the quest as stated, then you get the best exp reward (and the opposing monarch doesn't hold it against you) and the monarch is happy with you (revealed by their ambassador's reaction).
In essence, the only potential game rewards are gold and exp, depending on how you complete the quests. There is some fluff effect, but I don't remember all the details (especially since I always complete the quests as stated for the best reward). Betraying gives a reward with a lot less effort, but since half the game is clearing dungeons anyway...
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I think the start of the 3rd or 4th month after that initial notice of ambassadors at your castle will allow the next quest to trigger, so if you are very quick in completing the monarch quests, there will be something of a lull in main story quests. When the next quest becomes available, you will receive a notice the next time you enter Tularean Forest (if you are already in TF when the quest becomes available, I don't know if the messenger will show). There is an Elf/Human battle going on over a macguffin; you are asked to retrieve the macguffin. I don't remember if the message tells you where the battle is taking place (I think so); it shouldn't be hard to find, but I can tell you if you want.
Note that you can choose whether to participate in the battle, and which side(s) you want to attack. Yes, slaughtering both sides is an option if you are strong enough (making it a 3-way slugfest). I always like to think that if you attack one side's army, then there aren't any survivors to report your betrayal (there are no consequences (besides those forces in the immediate area turning hostile) regardless). It will be easy to see that the humans will win this fight if you don't do anything; they have the better warriors and the larger force to boot. I usually kill everything I can for the exp (don't forget that only the killing blow matters for whether you are awarded exp); the fly spell makes this an exercise in patience. Any survivors from these two armies will despawn within a month (possibly earlier). Nobody (except maybe the units themselves) really cares what happens to these forces. If you put in the work to pull some of the elves into the city, then attack those elves you pulled, the city units might turn hostile (they see you attacking elves); I've never even thought to try this before just now, and it seems like wasted effort since you can just attack the city elves if you want the city elves hostile.
You have about 1 month to take action on this quest. Once again, there are 4 options you have with this new macguffin: deliver it to one of two monarchs, ignore it (humans get it, in this case), or deliver it to someone else. I think if you take the macguffin, but don't do anything with it, then the humans still count as having gotten it (I've never bothered to check this). Obviously, doing nothing nets you nothing. Delivering it to either monarch nets a reward (both monarchs give the same exp/gold) and directs the history in a particular way. Delivering the macguffin elsewhere gets a better exp reward and a different direction for the history book (this is the 3rd option I was referring to in an earlier post). I can tell you more specifics on the backstory differences and what constitutes the 3rd option; I'll stop my description for now so you have a chance to work it out for yourself, if you are so inclined.
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The timer that triggers the Elf/Human battle also kicks off yet another timer, which requires another month or two to expire. When the needed time has passed, the next time you enter the Harmondale area you receive yet another messenger informing you of an event. At this point, quests revert back to the "take as much time as you want" resolution method. Be aware that this new choice will have a large impact in-game (and in the history book). After you make this choice, you'll also see the results of your previous macguffin delivery choice in the history book.
I think the history specifics depend mostly on where you delivered that last macguffin. If you took it but didn't deliver it at all, then I suspect the monarch that you helped most (during the monarch quests) determines the history (but I'm not sure). I have always done the quests in such a way that gives me the most exp; I've never tested all of the possible combinations.
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If you want more specifics on any area that I've touched on, let me know.