Online:Hierot Birian

Hierot Birian
Location	Embervine
Race	Breton	Gender	Male
Health	39,959
Reaction	Friendly
Other Information
Follower	During Shaky Job Prospects

Hierot Birian

Hierot Belland is a Breton surveyor who can be found outside Embervine in Galen.

Related Quests

• Shaky Job Prospects: Help a surveyor stop the druids threatening Embervine
• And Now, Perhaps, Peace: Give peace a chance.

Quest-Related Events

As you approach his camp, the ground will shake you can hear Hierot cry out:

Hierot Birian: "Gah! And now my camp is crushed!"

Speak with Hierot to see what is going on:

"Oh no, no. This can't be happening. Embervine is flooded with lava and angry druids and … If I go in there I'm going to die.
I knew this job sounded too easy. A quick trip through a cave on a beautiful island. But, no. Now I'll never get paid."

What's this job you're talking about?

"House Mornard wants a mineral survey of the Embervine caverns. I really need the work, so I leapt at the offer.
But no one mentioned Firesong druids. Or the lava. They're intentionally opening fissures! Who does that?"

How did the druids open the fissures?

"Magic, I assume. I noticed crystals drawing energy from the lava. But what do I know about magic? Druids are mysterious.
Hey, will you help me? If we stop them from opening more fissures, I can finish my work. I'd pay for your labor, naturally."

I'll help you finish your mineral survey of the Embervine caverns.

After you agree to help Hierot, you can ask him questions about his work and himself:

"Guess this makes you my contractor now. Finally, I'm not the lowliest employee.
We'll meet inside and I'll point you toward the crystals. I think shattering them will stop the fissures from expanding. Then I can finish my survey and get paid."

You said you were hired by House Mornard? / You said House Mornard hired you?

"Well, they didn't ask me directly. They hired a person who contracted someone else. That person contracted a third party. Then, she hired me.
Now that I've employed you, I'm finally no longer the last link in the chain."

What do you know about House Mornard?

"They're one of the Breton houses that keeps my trade well-funded. They deal in ore and minerals, both extraction as well as commerce.
They grew quite wealthy from this business. You can understand why I'm eager for them to learn my name."

Why does House Mornard want a mineral survey of Embervine cave?

"The rich always want to expand their holdings. Mines run dry, you see. Just part of trade. So, if the house wants to maintain their wealth, they need to find new sources.
At least, I assume that's the thinking. Maybe they're just greedy."

Are the minerals and ores on Galen worth a lot?

"Any minerals and ores are worth a lot to the people who want them. I make my gold on that fact. People hire me in the hopes I discover something they need.
I search the chosen location and report my findings. The rest is up to them."

Tell me about mineral surveying.

"I travel about, visit caves and quarries to identify the potential presence of valuable ores and minerals. My previous job was much safer than this one. No real risks whatsoever.
I can't believe I almost died so early in my career."

So early? How many surveys have you completed?

"Well, just the one. That's why I'm so affordable. I want to make a name for myself in the trade and I need the work. Maybe my employers will tell House Mornard how talented I am.
Hopefully on my next job I'll remember to ask about volcanoes."

Do you know anything about the druids in Embervine? / What do you know about the druids you saw?

"They were distinctly Firesong, that much I know. As I sailed to Galen, I read about druids. Fascinating folk. I recognized the symbols on their clothing.
Beyond that, the guidebook was short on details, other than they usually stay on Y'ffelon."

At this point Hierot Birian will become your follower and you can meet him inside Embervine:

Hierot Birian: "I saw the first crystal to the southeast."

You have the option of speaking with Hierot about what he found in the cave as he follows you:

"Smell that? Like a mix of old eggs and dead skeevers? That's the telltale odor of molten lava. Didn't expect to run into druids, though.
The first crystal I saw was to the southeast. We can discuss what to do once we find it."

What do you know about these druid crystals? / What do you know about the druid crystals? / What more do you know about the crystal?

"Just what I saw. It floated above a wide fissure in the rock. Streams of energy flowed from the lava into the crystal as the druids chanted.
Oh, I just want the druids gone. Or at least make them stop what they're doing so I can complete my survey."

You've run into lava before? / Have you dealt with lava before?

"Hard not to in this line of work. And once you get near an oozing vent, you never forget the smell.
I don't know why anyone would want to intentionally bring lava to the surface. That stench lingers on your clothes for days."

Do you know anything about the druids in Embervine? / Tell me more about the druids you saw.

"They were distinctly Firesong, that much I know. As I sailed to Galen, I read about druids. Fascinating folk. I recognized the symbols on their clothing.
Beyond that, the guidebook was short on details, other than they usually stay on Y'ffelon."

Heading further into the cave, the ground will shake and Hierot will comment:

Hierot Birian: "More shaking. And animals. And druids somewhere. Let's just hurry."

When you arrive at the fissure with the crystal, Hierot will note that things have changed:

Hierot Birian: "That's the crystal. Oh. The fissure grew. Ugh, let's talk."

Speak with Hierot for his thoughts:

"I'm a surveyor. Not a mage, or an adventurer, or even a brave farmer. But I still know magic when I see it.
So, when a glowing crystal mysteriously floats above a rapidly growing lava flow, there must be a connection."

It does seem that the crystal has some connection to the lava flow.

"Right. All I need is for this cave not to fill up with lava. At least not until I finish my survey. What happens after that, I don't care.
When the druids chased me, I saw at least three more crystals on my way back out. We should get rid of them."

How do you suggest we get rid of the crystals?

"That's what I hired you for! To figure out these kinds of things.
Maybe if you tried smashing it? Breaking stuff always fixes something, at least in my experience."

I'll try smashing the druid crystal.

Continuing to speak with Hierot you can ask a question:

"I never thought I'd need to understand magic. Basic tools like a pick and a shovel, that's all I needed to know. Now here I am making guesses about the purpose of glowing druid crystals.
Smash all of them so I can get back to work."

You really think smashing the druid crystals is the solution to your problem?

"Well, not all of them, but the crystals do seem to be related to the lava.
In my field, cause and effect is easy to spot. Hit the rock with a pickaxe, uncover a vein of ore. Same here, right? Smash a floating druid crystal, disrupt the druid magic."

Once you have smashed the druid crystal, Hierot will comment:

Hierot Birian: "I hope that fissure calms down. Let's go."

Speaking with Hierot after this:

"When you smashed that crystal, did you feel a tremor? At least we didn't drown in a fountain of burning lava. That's a good sign, right?
We should keep going. Let's find the other three druid crystals I saw."

You will have three more crystrals to find and destroy, Hierot will make a comment each time.

Destroying the second crystal:

Hierot Birian: "Do you think the crystal split that rock? Let's find another one."

Speaking with Hierot afterwards:

"Two crystals smashed to pieces. I don't want to get my hopes up, but we haven't died yet.
Let's take care of the last two so I don't have to worry about drowning in a rising pool of lava."

Destroying the third crystal:

Hierot Birian: "The last crystal is larger than the others. We need to find it."

Speaking with Hierot afterwards:

"As someone who breaks rocks for a living, you've done amazing work on these crystals. One hit and they break into pieces!
I think standing near all this lava has made me a bit dizzy. Let's hurry and find that last one."

The last crystal can be found on the outcrop where the delve's boss can be found. Hierot will point it out once he sees it:

Hierot Birian: "That's the largest of the crystals I saw. Hit it real hard."

After smashing it:

Hierot Birian: "Well done! Let's get out of here so we can conclude our business arrangement."

You can now leave Embervine and meet Hierot outside in his camp:

Hierot Birian: "I think I owe you, friend. Let's talk."

Speak with Hierot to complete the quest:

"Your job performance was spotless. Must have been my inspirational supervisory skills.
Once the lava recedes, I can complete my contract and get paid. Then my employer can get paid. Then her employer gets paid. A very sensible system."

We also stopped whatever the Firesong druids were doing with those crystals.

"Yes, but that's beyond the scope of my original contract. I hate it when the client defines the job one way, then the whole thing takes a left turn. Typical.
Perhaps I'll add a life-threatening-danger clause to future contracts."

So you feel you can complete your survey of the caves now?

"I should think so. There are still a few druids hanging around, but I don't think they have any more of those strange crystals. Then I can get paid.
Speaking of which, here's your compensation. I appreciate hard work at a reasonable price."

If you exit out of the conversation before turning in the quest, he will alternatively say:

"This job has taught me a valuable lesson. Always practice due diligence. No more contracts that don't include hazard pay."

So you can complete your survey of Embervine now? (Leads to quest completion dialogue)

Once you have completed the quest, you can ask him some more questions:

"I have some inspections to make, measurements and samples to take, but I'm certain that from what little I've already seen, House Mornard will be quite happy with my report.
I just need to gather all my tools."

Will it take you long to survey the cave?

"Yes, so I better get started. Luckily, I made some notes while we were hunting for those crystals. I know right where to go to get the results that will please House Mornard."

What kind of minerals and ores do you think you'll find in there?

"Oh, that doesn't matter. As long as I bring them proof that it's worth their effort to establish a new mine, then everyone will be happy.
And then maybe next time, House Mornard will hire me directly instead of going through agents and brokers."

And Now, Perhaps, Peace

If you helped him out on Galen previously, Hierot Birian will be at the meeting in All Flags Castle:

"I see you learned from our experience—never let down your client!
Do you think maybe you could put in a good word for me with Count Stefan? I could really use a contact in House Mornard."

After talking to Count Stefan Mornard:

"Despite all the troubles, I'm glad I visited the Systres. Who would have thought such a few small isles would become a hub of commerce?
With the volcano calmed, there should be much more work for me now."

Speaking with him again after completing the quest:

"What an inspiration you are! So productive and efficient. Watching your promotion from lowly guard to a mineral surveyor to savior of the isles gives me hope.
It also makes me a bit jealous. I worked so hard. I hope my efforts pay off financially."

Do you have plans for yourself?

"Naturally. One must always stay working. Maximizing effort means increased income and respect.
I should offer my services to all the assembled dignitaries. That's how I get my name out there."

How did the mineral survey of Embervine go?

"Safely and productively, thanks to you. I found a rich vein of ebony that quite pleased House Mornard. I assume they'll start mining right away.
If only I could receive a cut of those profits. But I know they'll spread my name to new clients."