Ready the Cannons

 is a side quest in.

Synopsis
To protect Stalwart, Wengra wants to reactivate the Battery's artillery positions, so that she can rain death and destruction on anyone in the White March. Problem is, the skuldrak are in the way and there's no guarantee the cannons will even work after a century of exposure to the elements.

Walkthrough

 * 1) Talk to Deryan in Stalwart Village and then to Wengra at Durgan's Battery.
 * 2) Ascend the West Tower via the Battery's Great Hall. Fight your way through the skuldr to the patination chamber in the northwest. It's filled with deadly gas (used to patinate the cogwheels for the elevator). The cloud inside will deal constant Corrode damage to anyone entering and the disease puddings inside are no joke either. The prize is a patinated cog, one third of the solution to repairing the lift.
 * 3) The best companion to send in is the Devil of Caroc (she's immune to the gas, but will still take a modest amount of Health damage, so, y'know, don't tarry).
 * 4) Alternatively you can sneak around directly to the patinated cog chest by using the exit to the outside near the maintenance room. This will vented the room.
 * 5) Next, collect the dwarven lever from the adjacent maintenance room and enter the cannon range to get the Pargrun rust-dissolver from Potionmaster's quarters.
 * 6) Repair the artillery lift by replacing the lever into the slot (although you can also use a torch or a prybar), the broken cog on the wheel, and finally the rust-dissolver on the rusted chain.
 * 7) As the elevator ascends, you are attacked, leading to a scripted interaction and then a fight:
 * 8) With Mechanics 12 and Stealth 8 you can successfully repair the lift and avoid the combat encounter, but everyone except the character repairing the lift with will be inflicted with Severe Burn and Severe Wound. With Mechanics 15, only the Severe Wound is inflicted.
 * 9) Standing ground in the center of the platform will inflict the entire party with Severe Burn and Severe Wound, and you will begin the combat encounter surrounded by skuldrak.
 * 10) Standing on the edge of the platform will only inflict one party member with Severe Burn. However one of the party members will be knocked off balance and fall to their death, unless you have Rope and Grappling Hook to pull them to safety. The Monk ability Flagellant's Path will also work. You will still need to fight the skuldrak, but with you surrounding them.
 * 11) After dealing with the elevator debacle, clear the battlements of the skuldr and interact with the wheel by the globe to activate the cannons and enter another scripted interaction.
 * 12) *Don't forget to loot Dragon's Maw Shield from the enemy.

Cont'd

 * By the time you come to, the heat from the White Forge will have heated the cannons up, ensuring they can be used again. Return to Wengra outside Durgan's Battery.