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His Old Self is a side quest in Pillars of Eternity.

Synopsis[ | ]

Kaenra is a woman recovering from a rather bad experience with her fiancé, Purnisc. He started bringing svef addicts into their home and pushing drugs. When she confronted him about it, she received a fist to the nose and an order to get out. She asks the Watcher to return the betrothal ring Purnisc gave to her, as it once belonged to his grandmother.

Overview[ | ]

  1. Talk to Kaenra in The Goose and Fox in Copperlane.
  2. Talk to "Purnisc" (Nyrid) on the first floor of Purnisc's House in Copperlane.
  3. Talk to the real Purnisc on the second floor. [optional]
  4. Expose Nyrid.
  5. Deal with Purnisc.
  6. Report back to Kaenra.

Walkthrough[ | ]

  1. Find Kaenra at a table in the back of the Goose and Fox tavern in the Copperlane district of Defiance Bay. She will tell you about her fiancee Purnisc who has started to act strangely and cut off contact with her, and ask you to return his grandmother's ring to him, a token of engagement.
  2. Exit the tavern and find Purnisc's House to the north-west in the same district. Enter, and speak with "Purnisc" in the first room to the right. If you give him the ring, he won't seem to realize who Kaenra is. Something is clearly not right, so you must investigate further. You have two options:
    1. Provoke a fight: If you select the passionate response after giving him the ring, or you simply attack him, a fight breaks out and "Purnisc" reveals himself as a wizard called Nyrid! When he's almost dead, he will ask for mercy and you can choose to take him prisoner (provided you have already restored your stronghold dungeons) or finish him off. You can then either proceed to the second floor to find the real Purnisc [→ 3], or end the quest prematurely by returning to Kaenra and telling her the ring is delivered. (She will give you Unwavering Resolve and Minor Positive reputation with Defiance Bay.)
    2. Proceed to the second floor without bloodshed: If you don't want to fight (just yet), talk instead to the Mercenary in the kitchen who is guarding the stairs to the second floor. To get through, you must bribe him (100 Copper pands (cp)) or intimidate him (Resolve 14+) [→ 3]. Note: If you try to get past him a second time he will attack you. If there are other mercenaries on sight they will join the fight.
  3. In any case, once upstairs, make your way to the room on the right either by fighting (you can loot the door key from the mercenaries' bodies), or by sneaking (you'll need a character with Mechanics 5 for the door).
  4. Inside you'll see the real Purnisc lying on the floor. He will ask you to kill Nyrid, the mage who is impersonating him downstairs.
  5. Unless you have already fought Nyrid earlier, go down and confront him. This conversation leads to two options:
    1. Make a deal with Nyrid: He will lower the price of Svef to 68 Copper pands (cp) if you kill Purnisc for him. If you do this, the quest ends, and Kaenra vanishes from the tavern, making you unable to get a reward from her.
    2. Fight Nyrid: When he's almost dead, he will ask for mercy and you can choose to take him prisoner (provided you have already restored your stronghold dungeons) or finish him off [→ 6].
  6. Once Nyrid is gone, talk to Purnsisc. again. He will ask you to talk Kaenra into returning home and also to keep his svef dealing a secret. If you agree to this (or force him to give you a discount with Might 14), he will then sell Svef to you at 68 Copper pands (cp) next time you enter his house. You could also kill him. Ultimately you can even refuse to do him another favor, which ends the quest prematurely and results in him immediately trading with Svef again, even if he is not yet back in full form.
  7. Finally return to Kaenra. If you're being honest with her then pick the Benevolent or Passionate answer you get a slight increase with reputation with Defiance Bay twice. Whatever dialog option you pick with her, she gives you the amulet Unwavering Resolve - except if you killed Purnisc after killing Nyrid and admit to it, in which case she will be shocked and appalled.

Notes[ | ]

  • Going back to talk to Kaenra after finding Purnisc upstairs, without dealing with Nyrid, does not give you any option to tell her about Purnisc's predicament, but you can tell her that strange things are going on in that house.
  • The following text describes something affected by the Watcher's actions in Pillars of Eternity. Some NPC's in Deadfire will talk about a svef dealer in Copperlane if Nyrid was killed during the quest and Purnisc is still dealing svef, or if Nyrid is alive and keeps dealing svef.

Journal[ | ]

quests\01_defiance_bay_coppleane\01_qst_intimate_stranger
ID Objectives
0 His Old Self
10000 Something unusual is happening at a house in Copperlane. A man named Purnisc is acting strangely.
1 Give Kaenra's ring to Purnisc.
10001 Kaenra asked me to return the betrothal ring Purnisc gave her. She told me that Purnisc's house located next to the marketplace in Copperlane.
2 Uncover what happened at Purnisc's house in Copperlane.
10002 The house next to the Copperlane market that has become a svef den. Purnisc was home, but something about the man seemed unusual.
20007 I gave Purnisc the ring as requested, yet he didn't seem to recognize it. I could go back to Kaenra now, but there's something peculiar about this situation.
20003 The man downstairs who claimed to be Purnisc attacked me once I started asking questions.
20000 I found the real Purnisc tied up and bloodied, locked in an upstairs room in his own home. He informed me that the impostor was a wizard named Nyrid and asked me to kill him.
20004 I killed the man who was impersonating Purnisc. Perhaps the real one is around here somewhere.
20005 I let the real Purnisc know that he was safe from further harm. He then begged me to refrain from telling his lover, Kaenra, about his involvement in the svef trade, and promised me a discount on his stock in exchange for convincing her to return.
20006 I killed the man who was impersonating Purnisc. I should probably go tell the real Purnisc.
7 Find Kaenra in Copperlane.
10007 Considering all that has happened and all I have learned while at Purnisc's house, I should find Kaenra and tell her what happened.
20008 I spoke with Kaenra earlier at the Goose and Fox.
14 Confront Nyrid.
10014 A wizard named Nyrid has been impersonating Purnisc. I found the real Purnisc upstairs, and it's time to confront Nyrid with the truth.
20009 Nyrid offered me a discount on his stocks if I kill Purnisc for him.
20011 I met Kaenra, Purnisc's fiancée, at the Goose and Fox. She didn't seem to know that the real Purnisc is a prisoner in his own home.
15 Kill Nyrid.
10015 Nyrid and his thugs attacked me when I told him that I found the real Purnisc upstairs.
16 Get the ring from Kaenra at the Goose and Fox.
10016 I told Kaenra I wouldn't deliver her ring, but I doubt she'll find another messenger. I could still go get it from her.
18 Free Purnisc.
10018 With Nyrid gone, the real Purnisc is free to go. He's waiting upstairs.
20010 Purnisc asked me to find Kaenra, his fiancée, in Copperlane. He wants her back, and he doesn't want her to know that he's dealing svef. He promised me a discount in exchange for my help.
Unused strings
- 30005 I eventually uncovered the truth about Purnisc's abuse towards Kaenra. Kaenra was relieved to hear that the man who attacked her was actually an impostor. She thanked me profusely for my help in clearing him of the deed, but was a little hurt to realize I'd be taking payment for my help by way of the betrothal ring Purnisc gave her. I'm sure Purnisc can get together the coin for a new one.
End states
Yes Kaenra Thinks It Was Purnisc After All
30000 While I was in Purnisc's house, I learned that Purnisc was actually a svef dealer. I broke the news to Kaenra and she was appalled that he had lied to her. Even so, she thanked me for all that I had done for her.
Yes Kaenra Stayed with Purnisc
30001 I eventually uncovered the truth about Purnisc's abuse towards Kaenra. Kaenra was relieved to hear that the man who attacked her was actually an impostor. She thanked me profusely for my help in clearing him of the deed, and seemed ecstatic to be able to return to her beloved's arms.
Yes Purnisc Killed
30002 I told Kaenra that I killed Purnisc. She did not take the loss very well.
No Kaenra Dead
30003 Quest Failed
Yes Kaenra Moved On
30006 I returned to Kaenra, and told her that I gave Purnisc the ring as she'd requested. She thanked me for my kindness, and seemed ready to move on with her life.
Yes Kaenra Learned Truth, Stayed with Purnisc
30007 While I was in Purnisc's house, I learned that Purnisc was actually a svef dealer. I broke the news to Kaenra and she was appalled that he had lied to her. However, I was able to convince her to give Purnisc a second chance.
Yes Lied About Purnisc's Death
30008 I told Kaenra that Nyrid killed Purnisc. She did not take the loss very well.
Yes Refused favor
30009 After everything, Purnisc wanted me to find his fiancée, Kaenra, and win her back. I refused.
Yes Sided with Nyrid
30010 I made deal with Nyrid and killed Purnisc in exchange for a discount on svef.
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