The Raiders

The Raiders is one of the quests in The Age of Decadence.

Rewards

 * 10 SP
 * 200 Imperials
 * House Daratan Reputation +2/+3
 * Peacemaker Reputation +1 (Optional)
 * Word of Honor Reputation +1/-2 (Manipulator Optional)

If you let Esbenus live, then he will appear at The Arch and charge you 1000 gold (500 with [Trading]) to let you interact with it.

Traits

 * Manipulator

Quick Walkthrough

 * 1) Visit The Bandit Camp
 * 2) Talk to Esbenus at Bandit Camp
 * 3) Decide about ransom
 * 4) Kill ‘em all
 * 5) Kill Esbenus with Critical strike:[4] and fight other raiders.
 * 6) Kill Esbenus with Critical strike:[4] and Intimidate
 * 7) Pay your own 1000 Imperials
 * 8) Convince Dellar to pay 1000 Imperials
 * 9) Convince Dellar to pay 500 Imperials
 * 10) Convince Dellar to pay 700 Imperials to Cado
 * 11) Convince Dellar to attack raiders
 * 12) Convince raiders to attack the Aurelian outpost (Manipulator)
 * 13) Give tip to free prisoner

Detailed Walkthrough

 * You can convince Dellar to pay the raiders to attack the Aurelian outpost. Intelligence:[7], and convince the raiders to attack the outpost Persuasion + Trading = 7] or Streetwise:[4];


 * You can convince Dellar to pay the ransom of 1000 imperials Persuasion:[3], earn [+1 Peacemaker reputation];


 * You can convince Dellar to pay the ransom of 500 imperials Persuasion+ Trading = [5], if you barter with the raiders for the lower ransom first Trading:[4] and earn [+1 Peacemaker reputation];


 * Pay Cado 700 imperials to deal with the raiders, thus killing them and saving the hostage Thief background;


 * Visit the camp and give Dellar detailed information, thus granting the rescue success Perception:[7];


 * Let Dellar attempt the rescue without providing any useful information, thus resulting in the death of the hostage and many soldiers;


 * Ask the leader of the bandits to hand the prisoner over Charisma:[8];


 * Ask the leader about his past as an Imperial Guard Perception:[7] + Charisma:[7] and learn about Hellgate Lore:[3];


 * Kill the leader with a dagger Critical strike:[4] and intimidate the rest with one of the following checks Combat Reputation:[2], Bodycount:[9], Strength:[9] + Dexterity:[7] + Constitution:[8], Streetwise:[3] + Combat Reputation:[1], Streetwise:[3] + Bodycount:[4], or Streetwise:[3] + Strength:[7] + Dexterity:[7]] + Constitution:[7], otherwise you have to fight with the rest. One of these intimidation checks lead to another line of dialogue which requires more intimidation Persuasion + Streetwise= [6].

Some things worthy of mention -  If you fail in your attempt to kill the leader with a dagger, the raiders will knock you down and kick you. By avoiding the blows your dodge will increase by 5 points, but your Max HP is lowered by 2 points.

-  If the hostage is saved by any of the combinations above, you receive [+2 House Daratan reputation], the exception being (1), in which case you earn [+3 House Daratan reputation].

-  To get the 'Manipulator' trait you must not take any hostile action at the mine yourself- killing the guards in front removes the necessary dialogue options from Dellar and Esbenus.

Statistics, Skills and Backgrounds checks

 * 1) "Out of the question. Paying ransom is a sign of weakness and an invitation for more troubles. We can't afford it at the moment."
 * 2) Persuasion=[4]
 * 3) Intelligence=[7]
 * 4) Thief
 * 5) "I guess we'll have to do it ourselves. You've seen the camp. What can you tell us about it?"
 * 6) Perception:[7]