During the Viking Age, Dublin – a settlement founded by the Vikings – emerged as a major hub of international trade. The Wrath of the Druids expansion depicts this development (omitting one of its major commodities – slaves) via a new side quest. Here’s how to begin that side quest, complete it efficiently, and what you get for doing so.
The side quest to grow Dublin’s renown as a trade hub begins early in the main Wrath of the Druids story, so simply follow that story to begin. Shortly after you deal with Thorstein, you’re sent to clear some bandits out of a nearby ringfort so you can use it as a trade post. You’re then asked to develop the trade post, which requires the currency ‘trade supplies’, which can be obtained by raiding monasteries.
Once you’ve completed a raid and added a building to your trade post, you’re prompted to return to Barid’s chief merchant, Azar, to trade some furs for an exotic gift for King Flann. The main story continues from there, but if you fancy, you can now go roaming around Ireland and activating more trade posts to expand your empire.
When you find a new trade post, you need to clear it of enemies and then search it for clues as to where the ownership deed can be found. You’ll then need to follow a map marker to find this deed. Expect to search a shipwreck or clear out a camp of bandits or druids.
Here’s an overview of all the trade posts in Ireland and the resources they produce:
If you get at least one trade post producing each resource, and empty the trade chest regularly to ensure no loss of income, you’ll complete this quest with the simple passage of time. To make things go faster, activate more trade posts and add workers’ cottages. Whenever we fancied a break from the main quest we’d simply prioritise sync points and trade posts in our roaming across Ireland, and were able to maximise Dublin’s reputation well before the main story finished – the renown numbers required aren’t too taxing.
Dublin renown quest rewards
You’ll get pieces of the Iberian, Egyptian, Rus’, and Byzantine armour sets in exchange for fulfilling particular trade contracts throughout the Dublin renown quest.
Raising Dublin’s renown to five will unlock the final quest in this chain, which involves helping Azar with a personal dispute. It’s a simple mission, and doesn’t offer any more loot – or indeed any particular reward other than XP and closure.
