Mert the Miller is sitting in a cell at Stoneward Post, and the game gives you every reason to get him out. He's a cousin of Coen's friend Vladimir, he has rebel contacts, and freeing him unlocks the Under Watchful Eyes quest chain that eventually leads to the Shadows in the Woods arc and the Manumits resistance group. The mission isn't mandatory, but the 250 XP reward and early-game loot make it well worth the effort. Here's exactly how to pull it off.
How does The Firebrand quest start?
The quest triggers the morning after the Blood Mass. Head to the burned village of Laslea Glen and look for a banner near a ruined house that belonged to Vladimir. Use Focus Mode inside to find a sack of silver arrowheads and a burnt letter. Reading that letter starts The Firebrand and points you toward a miller's home.
The mill is due south of Laslea Glen, right along the main road between fast travel shrines. During the day, Mert's wife Renna meets you there and explains the situation without any fighting required. At night, guards are on alert and you'll need to deal with them before Renna will talk. Either way, she points you to Stoneward Post.
The Blood of Dawnwalker Guide: How to Save Mert the Miller
How to get inside Stoneward Post without a fight
Approach the main gate during the day and speak to the guard. You have three entry options: visiting a prisoner, delivering a message for the commander, or enlisting. All three work, so pick whichever feels right for your playthrough.
You'll be asked to surrender your weapons. Do it. There's no combat at this stage, and refusing just escalates things. Once inside, walk toward the main stone tower. You'll find a woman and a prisoner's brother arguing with a guard about stolen goods. Talk to them to learn that guards are running a theft operation.
The Blood of Dawnwalker Guide: How to Save Mert the Miller
Next, find Yenno, the merchant near the entrance. Threaten to expose him to the commander. He'll give up two names: Friedo and Cerbus. Take that information into the stone tower and confront Friedo directly. Tell him you know about his arrangement with Yenno and Cerbus, and he'll let you head downstairs to see the prisoner.
Downstairs, talk to Mert through his cell bars. Tell the guard he's going to be sick and the guard will step away, giving you a private conversation. Mert will share information about his manumit contact, which triggers the Shadows in the Woods quest. Keep in mind that this conversation costs 2 time segments regardless of how you handle the guard.
The Blood of Dawnwalker Guide: How to Save Mert the Miller
How to break Mert out of jail at night
The actual prison break is best attempted at night when Coen's vampire abilities are available. Timing matters here: start early in the night cycle. Unlocking Mert's cell takes 3 time segments, and you do not want to revert to human form mid-escape.
Here's the full sequence:
- Approach Stoneward Post from the back and use Shadowstep and Planeshift to climb the tower without being spotted.
- Drop down carefully through the roof. If you land on the floor of the overseer's room, the overseer turns hostile and can kill Coen in two hits. Use Focus Mode to target him through a gap and drain him with Voracious Bite while he's isolated.
- Loot the overseer for a key, then locate the Prison Keychain hanging on the wall upstairs. Use Focus Mode to spot it. You need both the key and the keychain.
- Head to the cell block. Crouch-walk to the lone guard and drain him with Voracious Bite. Loot the Prison Keychain from his body if you haven't already.
Unlock Mert's cell and speak to him until the option to free him appears.
The Blood of Dawnwalker Guide: How to Save Mert the Miller
How to escape Stoneward Post with Mert
Once Mert is free, the tower isn't clear. A named enemy called Rayko the Incorruptible has appeared in the overseer's room. Use Voracious Bite until he pushes you away, then finish the fight with standard attacks. Rayko drops a Master Fencer Manual along with uncommon and rare loot, so the fight is worth it.
Outside the tower, two soldiers and a dog are waiting. The yard gives you enough room to handle them without things spiraling. After that, do not head toward the main gate. The path through the central yards is packed with high-level soldiers.
The Blood of Dawnwalker Guide: How to Save Mert the Miller
Instead, turn left and hug the back of the tower until you find a small metal gate. The Prison Key from Friedo's room opens it. Lead Mert through and you're out. The whole sequence completes both The Firebrand and Under Watchful Eyes without having to fight through the entire garrison.
If you want extra loot before leaving, clearing the remaining soldiers can net you a Recipe for Supernatural's Bane Brew, a Swiftness Manual, and a Restless Blade Manual. Worth it if you have the night hours to spare.
What happens after you save Mert?
After the escape, suggest that Mert and Renna head to the Svartrau City almshouse for sanctuary. Later in the game, travel to Svartrau City, find the Cathedral Complex, and enter the large building off to the side. The couple will be on the second floor, safe and grateful.
The Firebrand quest chain also connects directly to Shadows in the Woods. Head to the marked forest location and you'll find a woman named Sara tied to a tree. Bribe the soldiers or fight them, then follow Sara to meet the Manumit leaders Crake and Drogos. This unlocks Where Loyalty Lies, which requires raising your infamy to Notorious level or higher.
If this is one of your first major quests after the prologue, the Blood of Dawnwalker beginner's guide covers the combat basics and time management fundamentals that make this mission significantly less punishing.
Saving Mert is one of the better early investments in The Blood of Dawnwalker. The 250 XP, the loot from Rayko, and the rebel questline that follows all pay off well into the mid-game. For more quest walkthroughs and system guides, check out the full Blood of Dawnwalker guide collection.