Skipping Ahead

Skipping Ahead

Level	13
Quest Type	Faction Quest
Region	Neketaka
Location	The Sacred Stair
Reward/s	13,770 Total EXP Rakhan Field Boots Animancer's Energy Blade
Quest ID	07_QST_Skipping_Ahead

Skipping Ahead is a Quest in Pillars of Eternity 2: Deadfire. The animancers have gathered their resources and enthusiasm, and are intent upon a second attempt to cross the In-Between.

Important NPCs

Objectives

Speak with Flaune Elette atop the Spire of the Soul-Seers.
Begin the second animancy experiment.
Find a way out.
Return to Flaune Elette in Neketaka.
Return to the Vailian Trading Company Headquarters.
Fend off the mercenaries.
Wait for the animancers to finish recalibrating their machinery.
Return to the Vailian Trading Company Headquarters.
Speak with Flaune Elette atop the Spire of the Soul-Seers.

Walkthrough

After you finished He Waits in Fire, you will receive another missive from Flaune Elette. Travel to Spire of the Soul-Seers and begin the second experiment.
You'll then be transported to Pahowane Underground where you'll encounter Xaurips, to leave the area, you need to find the lever at Xaurip Hoard to unlock the stone door to the upper level. You'll find the lever inside a chest that you can loot at the east side of the area.
There are two traders trapped at the east side of the upper level, defeat their captors and free them. (the key to the cage is on one of the enemies)
After freeing the prisoners, head towards the exit at the west side of the upper level.
Upon returning to the Spire of the Soul-Seers, you'll find the tower is being attacked by Royal Deadfire Company mercenaries. Kill mercenaries, make sure to loot the Animancer's Energy Blade, then return to Director Castol to end the quest.

Journal

Objectives

Skipping Ahead
- The animancers have gathered their resources and enthusiasm, and are intent upon a second attempt to cross the In-Between.
Speak with Flaune Elette atop the Spire of the Soul-Seers
- Flaune has sent a message to the Vailian Trading Company Headquarters informing the director that the animancers are ready to make another attempt at transporting a test subject between adra pillars. I should speak to Flaune once I'm ready to give it another try.
Begin the second animancy experiment
- Flaune insists that her team has made the necessary adjustments and calculations to make a successful leap between two adra pillars. Maybe I should brace for the worst.
Find a way out
- I've been sent off-course... again. At least I didn't end up underwater. I am underground, however. Reaching the surface might help me figure out where I am.
- This place looks like an ancient Huana shrine to Ondra, judging by the statuary. It doesn't seem like the Huana are still in residence.
- Xaurips have taken over the shrine, led by what appears to be an Eoten.
- I found a Huana captive, held in a makeshift cell. She told me of her two associates, taken somewhere deeper inside the temple by its new inhabitants.
- I found a Huana captive tied up within the main hall. He told me of his associates - one devoured by the Eoten, the other locked in a cage to the southeast.
- I found a panel with an empty socket. It seems to have some connection to the nearby doorway.
- I found a strange lever. It looks as though it fits into something else.
Return to Flaune Elette in Neketaka
- I made it back to the surface. The experiment must have launched me across the island. I'll have to get back to the Spire of the Soul-Seers on foot.
Return to the Vailian Trading Company Headquarters
- The animancers are safe, for the time being. Flaune suggested I go to the Vailian Trading Company Headquarters in Queen's Berth and inform Director Castol of the events at the Spire.
Fend off the mercenaries
- A lot has happened while I was away. The Spire is under attack. Whoever they are, the assailants don't seem interested in talking. I'll have to fight my way through if I want to help Flaune.
Wait for the animancers to finish recalibrating their machinery
- The animancers at the Spire of the Soul-Seers are performing calibrations on their machines to prepare for a second attempt at crossing the In-Between. Flaune will send a message when her team is ready to try again, should I wish to participate. For now, however, she suggested I head back to the Vailian Trading Company headquarters for more work.
- Flaune has advised me to speak with the director at the Vailian Trading Company headquarters before proceeding further with the experiments. Apparently the Company likes to keep track of who is involved with their animancy projects.
Return to the Vailian Trading Company Headquarters
- The animancers are safe, for the time being. Flaune suggested I go to the Vailian Trading Company Headquarters in Queen's Berth and inform Director Alvari of the events at the Spire.
Speak with Flaune Elette atop the Spire of the Soul-Seers
- Flaune has sent me a missive, informing me that the animancers have made the necessary adjustments and calculations to make a successful leap between two adra pillars. Maybe I should brace for the worst.

End States

Someone critical to the completion of this quest has been killed.
Well, the experiment did transport me - clear across the island. I dispatched the mercenaries that took advantage of my absence to attack the Spire, and Flaune was grateful for the assistance.
Well, the experiment did transport me - clear across the island. I dispatched the mercenaries that took advantage of my absence to attack the Spire, but several lives were lost. Castol was grateful for my intervention, though it seems he'll be facing some consequences for this incident.
Well, the experiment did transport me - clear across the island. Unfortunately, Flaune and the other animancers haven't survived the mercenary attack that followed. That puts an end to their foolishness.