Brains or Brawn

Brains or Brawn
Section	Vabbi Quests
Campaign	Nightfall
Given by	Zerai the Learner in The Kodash Bazaar (Vabbi)
Preceded by	Dasha Vestibule or Dzagonur Bastion
Followed by	The Role of a Lifetime or Goren's Stuff: Part 1
Type	Secondary quest

Zerai seeks your advice on who should accompany his beloved Midauha in Istan. Conversely, you are choosing which of the optional heroes, Goren or Norgu, will be accompanying you.

Quest information

Objectives

• Help Zerai the Learner decide between Norgu and Goren.
• See [Goren/Norgu] for your reward.

Reward

• 2,000 Experience
• 250 Gold
• 10 Lightbringer Points

Walkthrough

Map to Honur Hill, head into Resplendent Makuun and follow your quest marker to Zerai the Learner who is nearby. Speak to Zerai, and decide which of the two heroes: Norgu or Goren, should be sent away to act as bodyguard for Midauha.

Choose carefully: The one you choose will not be your hero until after the completion of the Nightfall Campaign.

NPCs

Allies

• 20 (20) Zerai the Learner

Dialogue

Initial dialogue

Zerai the Learner

"Night has fallen on Vabbi, and the world is more treacherous than ever. I can't stop worrying about my precious Midauha. She's a brilliant scholar, but all those years with her nose in books has not prepared her for such perilous times. She's in Istan now, and I fear for her life.

Two young men have been wandering around town looking for work and adventure...Norgu and Goren. Are you acquainted with them? I'm thinking of hiring one of them as a bodyguard, but I'm not at all certain which one to choose. <Character name>, can you meet me in Resplendent Makuun and help me decide?"

 Accept: "Sure, I'm a great judge of character."

 Decline: "If Norgu and Goren are the choices, I think she's better off on her own."

 Ask: "Meet me in Resplendent Makuun and help me choose a bodyguard for Midauha."

Intermediate dialogue

Zerai the Learner

Goren has natural strength and size, but he is a bit on the slow side. Norgu is certainly entertaining and quick on his feet to boot, but that may all be an act. I think they're both fairly trustworthy. What do you think? Who should I send to Istan to protect my beloved, Midauha?

Goren's strength makes him the clear choice. Midauha can do the thinking for him.

Excellent! Goren it is then. I'm sure Midauha will find his strength to be great comfort. I do feel a bit bad about not hiring Norgu, though. Especially since he's had such a string of bad plays recently. I know. Why don't you talk to him? Perhaps some time following a real hero will inspire him to write a masterpiece?

Norgu will be great entertainment for Midauha and has a knack for getting out of trouble.

Excellent! Norgu it is, then. I'm sure Midauha will find him to be great company. I do feel a bit bad about not hiring Goren, though. What will he do now that he's no longer serving Prince Bokka? I know. Why don't you talk to him? Perhaps he can tag along on your adventures?

Reward dialogue

Norgu

Ahai! I am just about to leave for a few scheduled performances. The world may be in chaos, but that doesn't mean we entertainers can rest! Talk to me again when you're ready to leave.

OR

Goren

"Without Prince Bokka around, I've had a lot of time to think. The more I think, the more I worry about Nightfall. It makes my head hurt. Now I can't remember where I put my stuff. Can you help me find my stuff? I need to keep it safe from Nightfall."

Notes

• This is the start of the quest chain that leads to a new hero, either Norgu (a mesmer) or Goren (a warrior).
• You get the hero that you do not recommend to Zerai. If you want Norgu, recommend that he take Goren.
• If you chose incorrectly, do not speak to Norgu or Goren. Head back to an outpost and abandon this quest. You can start over by accepting it again from Zerai.
• Once you have made your selection, the other hero is not available for that character until that character completes the Nightfall campaign.
• If you leave this quest unaccepted until the campaign is completed, you can get both the "Gain Goren" and "Gain Norgu" quests. Take this quest, and speak to Zerai in Resplendent Makuun, sending away Norgu, but do NOT speak to Goren. Speak to Prince Bokka without leaving the zone to complete "Gain Goren", and return to Goren to complete this quest. You gain both rewards this way.
• If you have the Gain Norgu and Gain Goren quests in your quest log, or complete them ^{[verification requested]}, this quest will still be available, but the follow up quests will not.