Bloodstone Fen (mission)

Mission Objectives
Seek the truth about the White Mantle.
 * Locate Blade Scout Ryder. He'll take you to the Bloodstone.
 * Use the vine bridges to traverse the jungle.
 * ADDED Travel on to the Bloodstone on your own.
 * BONUS Awaken the Druids while preserving their guardians.

Primary
To locate Blade Scout Ryder follow the path until you get to A on the map. Do the bonus as described below. After the bonus mission is completed pick up three vine seeds at A. (Sometimes only one or two seeds spawn, so take a few extra seeds at location 2 on the map when doing the bonus mission). Use the seeds at the locations marked B on the map inorder to traverse the jungle. After crossing the first bridge talk to Blade Scout Ryder, who will send you on your own to defeat the White Mantle. In order to complete the mission you need to defeat a large group of White Mantles and a boss.

There is an alternative path that will take you to the bloodstone, bypassing Blade Scout Ryder and only uses three seeds. The mission can still be completed.

Bonus
Do the mission as normal until you reach the seeds. (A on the map) Grab one and go BACK the way you came. It is not far, just at the gray, swamplike area; hug the south wall, and on the southern side of the path you should notice a path leading up to a gray platform with a blue rune on it. Drop one of the seeds on it. (1 on the map)

A druid will appear and ask for your aid in awakening the Great Druid. You will need to free 3 more druids by dropping seeds on their platform. You get the seeds from position 2 on the map and drop them at the destinations marked 3 on the map. These druids and the original will then move up to a large platform and awaken the Great Druid. However, while doing this you will be attacked by guardians. These large tree-creatures throw boulders at you. What's more, the druids don't want you to attack them. Luckily they don't follow you much. Once the Great Druid is summoned, speak to him and the guardians become non-hostile and you complete the mission.

There is a minor bug with this quest. The first druid has a tendancy to get stuck on the first pair of guardians. It is often necessary to get them to move out of the way by enticing them forwards to attack you. It is also worth noticing that you can kill the guardians and still complete the quest, however when you kill a guarding a group of powerful shade creatures spawn (they have great drops though. A party I was with had to kill a guardian that was blocking a druid, and we got three rares killing the shade creatues). UPDATE: It seems that kiling any of the guardians now will cause the Bonus to be FAILED. When you drop vine seeds on the platforms after killing one, the druid will NOT spawn, but rather a pair of shades will instead. They do still have good drops, though.

Tip: You can do the bonus by yourself if need be, especially if you have some sort of regeneration or healing. If not, you can always take along Alesia. I did so, and the whole time she only healed me. If you stay on the move, she shouldn't have any time to poke things with her wand.

Elite Skill Capture
None

Additional Notes
The players will be in Quarrel Falls at the completion of this mission.