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Taking Out the Traders is a faction quest in Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire.

Synopsis[ | ]

Queen Onekaza has asked that the Watcher aid her in a plot to destroy Rauatai's powderhouse and implicate the Vailian Trading Company. This would debilitate Rauatai's armaments and disgrace the Vailian's colonial leadership in one fell swoop.

Walkthrough[ | ]

Note: Accepting this quest will cause Maia and Pallegina to leave the party immediately. They may be convinced to stay temporarily, but completing the quest by blowing up the powderhouse will always result in them leaving (see consequences below)

Infiltrating the powderhouse[ | ]

  • The Queen leaves the sabotage to your discretion, though you can't leave witnesses (not a big deal, given that anyone detecting you will attack). Infiltrating the powderhouse can be done either way. See Powderhouse for more info.
Getting in
  • The sneaky way involves entering the powder house by picking the doors leading inside. The upper door can be picked with Mechanics 15 or by using the appropriate key, and you can sneak in undetected. Alternatively you can go in the front door with Bluff 12, to convince the guard at the door that the Hazanui gave you permission to enter. You'll need to make sure to be in stealth mode before entering, otherwise you're likely to be immediately detected.
  • The not-so-sneaky way involves going killing the guards and either obtaining the key for the upper door, or walking through the now-unguarded lower door.
  • Alternatively, you can make use of the VTC questline (Sabotage at the Brass Citadel) to be teleported inside.
Deal with the guards
  • The barrels dotted around make it extremely easy to pick off the guards, even from stealth as they can be attacked without drawing attention to yourself. If you want to do so from stealth, make sure to use a long range ability/weapon (preferably with low noise) to stay out of earshot, and make sure to retreat immediately after attacking. Best position is from the staircase or from the far southeastern corner. It's a good idea to use a low damage attack too, that way the barrel will be caught alight rather than explode immediately, which draws nearby guards towards it to investigate.
Plant the bomb
  • Make your way to the lower floor of the powder storage, and plant the explosive in the vat, located in the western part of the room.
  • It's entirely possible to plant the explosives without detection, with a high enough Stealth skill. Consider removing your companions from the party (double back to your ship after lockpicking the door - it will stay unlocked). Five people are a lot more visible than one.
  • Sneak out the way you came in, but be quick about it, since the powderhouse will go up around your ears if you tarry.
Post-powderhouse
  • After the deed is done, make your way back to the palace.
  • During the confrontation at the palace that follows, you can lean a number of ways:
    • Either follow through with with Onekaza's plan, which results in the VTC Director being banished to the Gullet and both of the trading companies getting significant setbacks. The RDC will be given the Director's holdings as recompense.
    • Reveal yourself as the culprit, which will result in a battle where you will have to kill the Prince and the Hazanui.
    • Use the opportunity to switch over to follow the VTC questline, by claiming the innocence of the VTC director.

Alternative[ | ]

If you wish to save the VTC director and keep Maia, you can skip this quest and still side with the Huana by doing the following.[1]

  • Before talking to the queen or the VTC director, first talk to Hazanui Karū. Tell her you will commit to the Royal Deadfire Company, but then tell her you can't go through with her plans to assassinate the queen.
  • Everyone will turn hostile and you'll have to fight your way out.
  • If you have Maia in your party she will NOT turn hostile. She will continue to stay in your party, even if you do side with the Huana afterwards. However, she will refuse to speak with you anymore.
  • Then speak with the queen. She will tell you she had plans for the trading company, but because you took action first, she will offer you aid right away after committing to the Huana.

Consequences[ | ]

  • Completing this quest will make you lose both Maia and Pallegina as a companion, and force you to side with Queen Onekaza II for the final attack on Eothas.
  • Even if you switch Maia and Pallegina out before accepting the quest from the queen or don't bring them along, you won't be able to keep either in the party. You will later receive a letter from each (while sailing), explaining that as a result of your actions they cannot follow you any longer.
  • The Royal Deadfire Company's opinion of you changes depending on whether you chose the stealth or violent route while sabotaging the powderhouse:
    • Stealth: If you planted the explosives without being seen by anyone, you are still friendly with the people in the Brass Citadel and can go back there, though they will ask you to leave since someone sabotaged their powderhouse, and they're busy cleaning it up. If you try going past them , they'll attack.
    • Violence: If you killed anyone during your infiltration, the rauatai in the Brass Citadel will attack you on sight if you show your face there.

Switching sides[ | ]

Instead of continuing with the quest, you may instead take the opportunity to turn against the Huana and/or VTC. To do so, simply hand the Timed Explosive(s) to Hazanui Karū in The Brass Citadel (triggers minor Pro-Rauatai Pro-Rauatai reactivity). Doing so has the following consequences:

  • If you tell her that the Vailian Trading Company planned to destroy the powderhouse, this fails Sabotage at the Brass Citadel, fails all active VTC quests, and locks you out of all VTC questlines.
  • If you tell her that the Huana planned to destroy the powderhouse (triggers minor Anti-Huana Anti-Huana reactivity), this fails Taking Out the Traders, fails all active Huana quests, and locks you out of all Huana questlines.
  • If you tell her that both the Vailian Trading Company and the Huana planned to destroy the powderhouse, you get both of the above consequences, but also reactions from Tekēhu and Pallegina if they're in the party. Pallegina also gets major negative relationship.
  • If you're already allies with the faction you outed, you'll get no help from any faction during The City Lost to Time.
  • If you're not already allies with the faction you outed, you will no longer be able to ally with them during The Coming Storm.

Convincing Maia to stay temporarily[ | ]

When accepting this quest with Maia as a companion in your party, the Queen will be hesitant to give you the details of the mission. Maia will leave the party immediately after accepting the quest, as the Queen's plan conflicts with Maia's duty.

However, when accepting this quest with Maia as a companion in your party, she will have additional dialogue before leaving, giving you the chance to convince her otherwise. This will allow you to temporarily keep Maia on board, instead of having her leave immediately, which lets you continue adventuring before proceeding with the quest. Keep in mind that after destroying the powderhouse, Maia will leave regardless of the checks passed here. There is no way to avoid this without using console commands, unless you resort to other means of completing the quest (see the alternative route above).

The simplest solution is by simply not having Maia in the party when accepting the quest. However this isn't always foreseeable, so the following assumes that Maia is kept in the party on accepting the quest, or on approach to the powderhouse.

In dialogue with Queen Onekaza II with Maia in the party upon starting the quest

All of the following checks are required to keep Maia on your team for the duration of the quest.[2]
  • Pass one of the following checks in conversation, when Maia asks "How do we get past this, captain?":
    • Diplomacy 5 or Insight 4: "You want to stay. You'll hate yourself if you don't."
    • Bluff 6: "Whatever we do, you only have to worry about it if we get caught."
    • Be in any level of relationship with Maia: "I need you to stay. You're a constant in my life, and I'm afraid of losing you."
  • When Maia says "But Rauatai needs all hands on deck, and I won't just turn about on my career", respond with:
    • "You're an assassin. Let the company hire another" (only if you learned Maia is an assassin during The Courier's Calling (n_Maia_Quest_State ≥ 5))
      OR
    • "They have enough rifles and cannons to punch a hole in the Deadfire without you".
  • Complete The Courier's Calling with the best possible outcome, where Maia's friends Tuaha and Harama are still alive (n_Quest_Harama_State = 2, n_Quest_Tuaha_State = 3).
    • PASS: "You were more than complicit in my... activities, captain. I seem to recall you handled yourself well enough." Maia nods slowly.
    • FAIL (either Tuaha or Harama died): "One of my friends died. You think what I'm doing is easy, or that any of us aren't ready to make the same sacrifice?" She gives you a look of disgust.
    • FAIL (both Tuaha and Harama died): "Both of my friends DIED, captain. I knew them a lot better than I know you, and even then I kept my vows to the navy."
  • Be currently at full romance with Maia (n_Maia_Romance_State = 4), and don't have a negative relationship with Maia.
    • PASS: "And I want you to get out of this in one piece, captain. Eora is better when you're around, but..."
    • FAIL: She regards you with fresh clarity, and by her bearing it's clear that she's made a decision she doesn't like.
  • Pass a silent disposition check where Diplomatic and Shady is NOT rank 2 or above.
    • PASS: "Damn it. But nothing." Maia wipes her face with the back of her hand.
    • FAIL (Shady): "I know I can't trust you."
    • FAIL (Diplomatic): "You don't always know how to get a job done. It can be... more straightforward than you allow."
If you're successful, Maia will say "Whatever you're planning, just... try and leave me out of it? You're holding the rifle. Don't make me pull the trigger." (sets b_Maia_Quit to 1)
If you're unsuccessful, Maia will say "You don't know what you're talking about." Maia squeezes her eyes shut and sighs. and "Not exactly how I wanted to end this friendship, but here we are." She shakes her head slowly.

On approach to the Powderhouse with Maia in the party

Another opportunity to convince Maia arises upon approaching the entrance to the Powderhouse in The Brass Citadel, via either the ramparts or the main gate. This only occurs if you did not speak to the Queen with Maia in the party in the conversation above (and therefore didn't get the chance to convince her):
She will say: "I've gone this far with you, but I'm thinking this is where we part ways." After which you can pass a subset of the above checks to achieve the same outcome as if you had succeeded earlier:
  • Say "Stay with me. [Player Ship] needs you and I do as well."
  • Be currently at full romance with Maia (n_Maia_Romance_State = 4)
    • PASS: "I... I know. I need you as well."
    • FAIL: "I've given this a lot of thought already. We're no good for each other while we're working at odds. This hurts, but it's better."
  • Tuaha and Harama still alive as a result of the quest The Courier's Calling (n_Quest_Harama_State = 2, n_Quest_Tuaha_State = 3).
    • PASS: "You've helped me out of a tight spot before. Ishi and I don't forget that easily."
    • FAIL: "I've given this a lot of thought already. We're no good for each other while we're working at odds. This hurts, but it's better."
  • Have a "very positive" companion relationship with Maia (shown as "2" in the Reputations tab of the character sheet).
Interestingly, a bit of dialogue exists for if you already convinced Maia, though since the conversation is only triggered if you didn't speak to or convince her, it will never be shown. In the case it happens to trigger, all dialogue options lead to: "I suppose I'm with you for the long haul. Not that it gives me any peace of mind."
If you're successful, Maia will say: "I... damn it. If I'm being honest, the idea of sailing without you is downright unappealing. "Guess I'll stay." (sets b_Maia_Quit to 1)

Later you will need to ensure that Maia is NOT in the party upon entering the Powderhouse, as she will snitch on you if you are spotted (but notably not if you attack first), and will turn on you as soon as you enter the Powderhouse Storage, causing her to become hostile.

Note that the condition for Maia to leave the party (via missive and not immediately) will be set as soon as you kill the guards on the lower floor (with Maia in the party - you'll know because she says "Captain... oh, no." in bark dialogue), or when you plant the explosive. This sets b_Maia_Exit to 2, which is part of the Maia's Farewell (post-Powderhouse) missive condition.

If you are successful with either of the above solutions and convince her to stay, she will turn a blind eye for now and will later leave on good terms once you destroy the powderhouse (you receive Maia's Farewell (post-Powderhouse) instead of no letter at all). This influences Maia's endings, causing her to be dishonorably discharged and leave the RDC in her end-game slides.

Forcing Maia to stay via console commands[ | ]

By using the in-game console, Maia can be forced to stay permanently even after blowing up the powderhouse. Naturally, this counts as cheating and will invalidate achievements.

  • If Maia has not yet left the party, and you haven't had a chance to convince her otherwise, you can force all the "convincing" conditions to be met prior to the conversation (assuming you don't already meet these conditions):
    • If you have yet to speak with Maia at the start of the quest during your conversation with the Queen (or Director Castol / Lueva Alvari if doing the VTC equivalent quest), use: SetGlobalValue n_Maia_Romance_State 4 & SetGlobalValue n_Quest_Harama_State 2 & SetGlobalValue n_Quest_Tuaha_State 3 & SetGlobalValue n_Maia_Quest_State 5 before starting the conversation. After this, proceed to "THEN" below.
    • If you have spoken with the Queen without Maia in the party, but haven't yet blown up the powderhouse, you still have the pre-powderhouse chat to convince her. You'll have to use a slightly different set of commands before approaching the entrance to the Powderhouse with Maia in tow:
      1. SetGlobalValue n_Maia_Romance_State 4 & SetGlobalValue n_Quest_Harama_State 2 & SetGlobalValue n_Quest_Tuaha_State 3
      2. CompanionAddRelationship Companion_Maia(Clone) oei_player Positive Major false & CompanionAddRelationship Companion_Maia(Clone) oei_player Positive Major false & CompanionAddRelationship Companion_Maia(Clone) oei_player Positive Major false & CompanionAddRelationship Companion_Maia(Clone) oei_player Positive Major false
      3. RepeatCommands 1 & RepeatCommands 1 & RepeatCommands 1 & RepeatCommands 1 & RepeatCommands 1
      4. Proceed below.
  • THEN If you just (or have already) convinced Maia to stay in the party and she has not already left, continue as normal with the quest and sabotage the powderhouse (boot her from the party first of course). Any time after placing the explosive, but prior to travelling on the world map (with 1 hour of leeway after leaving port), run SetGlobalValue b_Maia_Exit 0, then optionally SetGlobalValue n_Maia_Romance_State 4 to maintain the romance state. This will cause the missive condition to fail, and will prevent Maia from leaving.
  • If Maia has already left the party (either via missive or in person) she will have to be re-added to the party. Do so after blowing up the powderhouse, otherwise she will leave again:
    • If she left the party on the world map (via missive), if you have left a zone (a collection of areas), or if you have left the immediate map and reloaded (any of which would clear the character from the cache), a new instance will need to be added. Only run this if PrintInstance b1a7e802-0000-0000-0000-000000000000 returns null: SpawnPrefabAtMouse Companion_Maia, then continue below.
    • If an instance of Maia still exists, use AddToParty Companion_Maia(Clone), then run AISetScriptedUseObject b1a7e802-0000-0000-0000-000000000000 00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000 & AISetScriptedBehavior b1a7e802-0000-0000-0000-000000000000 None & ActivateObject b1a7e802-0000-0000-0000-000000000000 true & SetGlobalValue b_Maia_Left 0 & SetGlobalValue b_Maia_Exit 0 & SetGlobalValue n_Maia_Romance_State 4

Trivia[ | ]

  • The powderhouse explosion sequence occurs in real time. Standing around or engaging in combat for too long will run down the clock, bringing the building down around your head.
  • If you speak to Maia after blowing up the powderhouse but before leaving port, she refuses to speak to you: Maia simply glares at you.

Journal[ | ]

Quests/XX_Huana_Faction_Questline/FCT_QST_05_Destroying_Rivals.quest
ID Objectives
0 Taking Out the Traders
10000 Queen Onekaza has asked that I aid her in a plot to destroy Rauatai's powderhouse and implicate the Vailian Trading Company. This would debilitate Rauatai's armaments and disgrace the Vailian's colonial leadership in one fell swoop.
1 Infiltrate the Royal Deadfire Company's powderhouse.
10001 The queen leaves the infiltration of the powderhouse to my discretion, but there should be no witnesses to contradict the cover story. If my tampering goes undetected, then the explosion itself will take care of any evidence.

The powderhouse lies east of the Brass Citadel's dock.

20001 My connections with the Vailian Trading Company may aid in carrying out the destruction of the powderhouse. The queen only asks that I remember my allegiance to the Huana.
20002 I planted the explosive in the powderhouse. Time to get out before the whole place blows up.
20003 I've made it to the powderhouse. All that remains is to find a discreet and suitable place to plant the explosive in the lowest level.
20004 I handed over the explosive to Hazanui Karū and revealed the queen's plan to destroy the powderhouse.
2 Return to the palace.
10002 The powderhouse has been reduced to smoldering rubble. Queen Onekaza will want to hear of this.
20000 A clerk at the Vailian Trading Company headquarters informed me that Director Castol has been summoned to the palace in Serpent's Crown.
3 Survive.
10003 I let the faction heads know that I was the culprit behind the explosion at the powderhouse.

It didn't go over very well.

4 Follow up with Queen Onekaza.
10004 Director Castol has been implicated in the explosion and banished to the Gullet. I can meet with the queen privately in Kahanga Palace to discuss our success.
5 Return to the palace.
10005 I took a more direct approach in dealing with the trading companies. There's no chance of going about this in a subtle fashion now.
Unused strings
- 40001 Now that his position within the Vailian Trading Company is secure, Director Castol has outlined a plan to cripple Rauatai by destroying their powderhouse. To keep anyone from suspecting the Company's involvement, he has suggested working with animancers to find a more clandestine means of executing the plan.
40002 Now that her position within the Vailian Trading Company is secure, Governor Alvari has outlined a plan to cripple Rauatai by destroying their powderhouse. To keep anyone from suspecting the Company's involvement, she has suggested working with animancers to find a more clandestine means of executing the plan.
End states
- 30000 Someone vital to the completion of this quest has been killed
Yes 30001 The Vailian Trading Company leadership has taken the fall for the destruction of the powderhouse, and the Royal Deadfire Company is none the wiser. Queen Onekaza has promised me her support.
No 30002 I decided not to play along with Queen Onekaza's scheme, and informed the gathered participants that I destroyed the powderhouse. Neither the queen nor the Rauataian leadership took kindly to my betrayal. It is doubtful that any of the trading companies or the Huana will welcome my presence.
No 30003 I decided not to play along with Queen Onekaza's scheme and insisted upon Director Castol's innocence.
No 30004 I decided not to play along with Queen Onekaza's scheme and revealed my loyalty to the Príncipi. The queen and the Rauataian leadership did not take kindly to my betrayal. Having declared my allegiance, I doubt I will be welcome among the trading companies or the Huana.
No 30005 I informed the hazanui of the plan to destroy Rauatai's powderhouse and gave her the explosive. She disabled it.
Yes 30006 I solved Queen Onekaza's problem with violence, dispensing with any need for subtlety or schemes.

References

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