Answers in the Ashes Season 1

Objectives

Investigate Cormond’s wagon.
Defeat the Malignant Ambush.
Read Note from Cormond.
Find Cormond at the Orbei Monastery.
Speak with Cormond.
Enter the Crypts of Orbei.
Bring Cormond to the Sealed Door.
Defeat the Skeleton Ambush.
Find the Records Room with Cormond.
Search the Records Room.
Talk to Cormond.
Defeat Varshan the Consumed.
Capture the Malignant Heart.
Find Cormond outside the Crypts of Orbei.
Speak to Cormond.

Detailed Location

This quest will appear once you’ve completed the Chapter 1 and 2 objectives of the Season Journey. Head back to Khural Passage, Dry Steppes where Cormond’s workbench is. As you approach the bench, you’ll be waylaid by numerous Malignant enemies, defeat them, and read the note that Cormond left behind. The note reads: “I’ve found something! Meet me in the courtyard of Orbei as soon as you can!”, so you’ll want to head to the Orbei Monastery located in the southeast of Dindai Flats. Follow the road southeast, and you’ll reach the Monastery before long.

When you enter the monastery, you will see Cormond by the water fountain. Speak to him, and he’ll mention the Hall of Records and a crypt. Enter the nearby Crypts of Orbei dungeon, and you’ll have a small dungeon to complete. Make your way through it until you reach the Sealed Door, and you’ll get ambushed by three elite skeletons, defeat them, and head through the door which Cormond has now opened.

Continue through the dark narrow corridors until you reach the Records Room. Here, you’ll need to check two bookcases in the top-left, and top-right corners, with the final object being a stack of books in the lower-left corner. Once you read them all, a Malignant entity will find its way into the room who goes by the name of Varshan. It seems that it’s intimately acquainted with Cormand.

After a brief bit of dialogue, you will need to defeat Varshan the Consumed. This isn’t a particularly challenging fight, but Varshan does have a couple of attacks to watch out for. One of the attacks it has will place damage markers in three segments of the arena, one behind, and one on either side of itself. Then it’ll have several more smaller circular markers appear around the edge to make a larger circle.

For this attack, you’ll want to stand in between the markers but stay close to the boss to avoid the attack. The second attack will have Varshan cast two X-shape markers, one after the other where they will form an asterisk. They will explode one after another in the order they were cast, just make sure you stand in between the lines to avoid taking any damage. Other than that, it’s your regular tank and spank fight.

Once you’ve defeated Varshan, attempt to pick up the Malignant Heart from the floor, then leave the dungeon. Once you’re back outside, head out of the Monastery altogether, and you’ll find Cormand sitting on the steps in front of the entrance, feeling sorry for himself. As another piece of dialogue goes by, the quest will end.

In-Game Description

I have held the Malignant at bay yet their spread continues. I should return to Cormand’s wagon and hope his search has borne fruit.
I returned to the wagon but Cormond and his horse have gone. It seems he’s left me a note…
Cormond’s note said that he found something under Orbei. I should meet him outside the monastery and see what this is about.
Cormond has found a Hall of Records under the ruins of Orbei. It may contain knowledge about this “cure”. I will escort him through the crypt and see for myself.
We found a lead pointing to Hawezar but a powerful Malignant attacked. It called Cormond by name. When I tried to capture it, the cage exploded and it escaped. I must look for Cormond outside. He clearly knows more than he said.
I found Cormond outside the crypts of Orbei, thankfully unharmed. I must ask him how he knows this powerful new Malignant.