THE FIELD GUIDE

The Bittersweet Toast: Ritual and Iulian's Fate

Finish Iulian's poisoning plan before ringing the bell for Ambrus's duel. Collect the Pale Ravager's quest gland to protect Iulian, complete Vera's ritual during the day, then let Ambrus drink first at the nighttime meeting. Accepting the plan also has a separate consequence for Vera.

Iulian Codrin · the optional plan before Ambrus's duel

By Dawnwalker Wiki · Updated 2026-10-26Independent game guide

Decide whether to accept Iulian's plan

The Bittersweet Toast is the optional preparation attached to The Gilded Gauntlet. Once Ambrus challenges you, Erdene directs you to Iulian Codrin's hunting lodge north of Maragir. Speak with him before going to the duel bell.

Accepting Iulian's plan leads to finding Vera dead during the investigation. Decline the plan and take the direct duel route if keeping her alive is your priority. Visiting her before accepting does not prevent that outcome, so buy any manuals or recipes you need while her shop is still available.

The later gland decision concerns Iulian's survival. It cannot undo what happens to Vera. Refusing the plan initially leaves an invitation to return if you change your mind; it does not prevent you from fighting Ambrus directly.

Follow Iulian now or signal him at the swamp

After agreeing, you can follow Iulian immediately or arrange to meet him later. If you choose the later meeting, go to the swamp meeting area and light the campfire to call him. That signal costs an additional time segment; it is not a compulsory extra step when you travel together straight away.

Follow him along the path, clear the wolves and inspect the mutilated body you encounter. Continue to Vera's hut. These interruptions advance the investigation; simply reaching the hut without completing the current objective can leave the next conversation unavailable.

Trace Vera from the hut to the scattered notes

Use Focus to follow the investigation in stages. The salamander traps lead to Vera; the blood trail from her body leads to the scroll. Finding the first destination does not finish the second search.

Inside the hut, examine the wicker trap, herbs and the clues on the witchcraft table. Return outside and discuss what you found with Iulian.
Search the traps west of the hut by the water. At the trap beside the stump, inspect both the trap and the nearby ground to pick up Vera's tracks.
Follow the tracks past the torn-apart bear to Vera's body at the ritual site. Speak with Iulian, then inspect the body; the scroll is not on her.
Follow her blood trail south with Focus to the clearing and blanket. Collect Ritual Instructions, then read the scattered pages about the lizard before returning. Vera's Lizard Note explains how its gland can protect Iulian.

Collect the quest gland if you want Iulian to survive

From the scattered pages, follow the slime trail northeast to a narrow gap in the rocks. Squeeze through into the lair, defeat the Pale Ravager and loot the Tatzelwurm Gland from its body. Collecting this optional quest item spends one time segment.

The Pale Ravager's quest gland is separate from the ordinary alchemy ingredient with the same name and icon. Check the item version before preparing the brew. To protect Iulian, bring the quest gland and include it in the mixture before the ritual starts.

Scroll across the table

Collect the quest gland if you want Iulian to survive
Preparation	What it changes	What you still need to do
Add the quest gland	Protects Iulian from the poison, despite his request to omit it.	Complete the whole ritual and arrange for Ambrus to drink first.
Leave out the quest gland	The plan can proceed, but Iulian lacks its protection against the poison.	Finish the ritual and prioritise the timed duel objective.
Bring the ordinary ingredient	It belongs to the Razkovniche Elixir recipe, not this quest preparation.	Find the Pale Ravager's quest version if your goal is to protect Iulian.

Complete the five pillars during the day

Return the scroll to Iulian at the altar. The ritual uses Astral Communion, so you must continue during the day. If you arrive at night, the daytime objective explains why the next stage is unavailable.

Finish the brew at the cauldron with Vera's salamander skins and the quest gland if you are protecting Iulian. Give him the first dose, then work through the pillars. The gland changes the poison's effect on him; it does not replace the skins, either dose or the pillar sequence.

Use Focus to locate the first marked pillar and cast Astral Communion on it. Follow the marked sequence through the second and third pillars; the next usable pillar is highlighted, so there is no separate order puzzle to guess.
After the third pillar, defeat the attacking spirits before continuing.
Activate the fourth and fifth pillars. Clear the next wave, including the Fallen Witch, before returning to Iulian.
Make Iulian drink the remaining brew even when he asks you to stop. Killing him or abandoning the final dose ends the plan in failure. Finishing the conversation and final hex completes the preparation.

Make the nighttime duel your next priority

Completing the ritual awards 250 XP and adds the time-sensitive preparation objective to The Gilded Gauntlet. Plan for the next available night rather than treating Iulian's dialogue about seven days as a safe waiting allowance. Follow the journal's “Show up for the duel on time” objective even if you protected him with the gland.

Go to the church west of Maragir, find the climbable wall behind it and use Planeshift to reach the clearing above. Ring the old bell at night when your preparations are finished.

At the meeting, decline Ambrus's offer to drink Iulian's blood first. If Coen takes that first drink, the poison affects him instead. Let Ambrus feed first to use the advantage you prepared, then use the Ambrus fight notes for his shield and copies.

Draining Ambrus after the poisoned fight is a separate decision and can poison Coen. The gland protects Iulian; it does not make the poisoned blood harmless to everyone. Scarlet Shield and the later soul invitation belong to the boss encounter, not the ritual's completion reward.

Match a stalled objective to the missing action

The investigation, optional gland detour and ritual are different stages. Use the active objective to choose the next action instead of repeating every interaction.

Match a stalled objective to the missing action
Where you are stuck	What to check
Waiting by the swamp	If you arranged to meet later, light the campfire to signal Iulian.
Vera is not at the hut	Inspect the hut clues and speak with Iulian before following the traps.
You found Vera but not the scroll	Inspect her body, then follow the separate blood trail to the clearing.
You own a gland but it is for crafting	The quest needs the gland looted from the Pale Ravager, not the ordinary ingredient.
The ritual will not start	Give Iulian the scroll and return during the day for Astral Communion.
No new pillar can be activated	Check the marked next pillar and clear any spirits from the previous stage.
The pillars are lit but the plan is unfinished	Return to Iulian and complete the remaining dose and final conversation.
The objectives disappeared after you found a body early	Update 1.1 fixes the quest losing its objectives and tracking in this situation. Update before retrying; the normal missing-step checks above address a different problem.