You're running through the Glades of Andurin, probably covered in Sinecure muck, and everything looks a bit... grey. That’s not just the art style. Well, it is, but there's a specific reason for it in the lore that actually ties back to how you look. If you’ve been wondering when you can finally stop wearing that default gear or why your character looks like they rolled in a pile of ash, you’re looking for the Soulframe Brewer of Hues quest.
Honestly, this isn't just another "go here, kill that" mission. It’s the gatekeeper to the entire customization suite in Digital Extremes’ latest world. You meet Verminia—the Rat Witch—and suddenly the game opens up.
Who is the Brewer of Hues?
Verminia isn't your typical friendly NPC. She’s an Ancestor, one of the spirits you bring back to your Nightfold to help you rebuild your power. In life, she was a master of the Coven. Now? She’s a bit of a tragic figure. She was drowned by the Ode, and that death left her literally colorblind. She can only "taste" colors now through the auras of the afterlife.
When you first track her down, she’s not exactly in a state to help. You find her as a fragmented memory, a "poppet" (basically a magical rat), and a spirit clinging to the damp corners of the world. But once you bring her home, she becomes your primary source for two massive things: Hues (dyeing your armor) and Bestitching (transmog).
Breaking down the quest
You can’t just stumble into this. You have to finish the Torment Stag quest first. Once that's done, head southwest of Fort Curlail. Look for some ruins. You’ll find a Witch’s note there that kicks the whole thing off.
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It’s a weirdly atmospheric trek. You’ll follow a sparrow uphill, clear out a camp of Sinecure enemies, and eventually find a rat trapped in a box. Pro tip: Free the rat. That’s the "Poppet." It’s going to lead you through the forest, but don't get too comfortable. A guy named Nimrod is going to crash the party with a bolt of lightning.
That Annoying Nimrod Fight
I've seen so many people on the forums complaining about Nimrod. He’s the boss of the Soulframe Brewer of Hues fable, and he is a massive pain if you don't know the trick. He teleports. He summons storms. He heals himself.
The secret is the Cloudquell.
Verminia gives you this elixir (or the recipe for it). It’s basically a "vial of sun." You toss it at him to dry out his storm. It stops his healing and keeps him from zapping you every five seconds. If you try to brute force this fight without using the Cloudquell, you’re going to have a bad time.
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The Statue Puzzle
After you chase Nimrod off a couple of times, you’ll hit a dead end with some rocks. Look for a small statue on the right. This is where the game’s musical mechanics come in. You have to play your instrument.
- The Right Way: Play the 4-note opening tune (4-3-5-1).
- The Wrong Way: If you try to play the "Rivers of Dendria" tune (4-5-1-4-5-1), you might actually glitch the script.
Stick to the simple melody. The rocks will shift, revealing the path to Verminia’s hidden cave. Once you talk to her and join her cause, you’ll finish the final showdown with Nimrod and she’ll move into your Nightfold permanently.
Customizing Your Envoy
Once Verminia is settled in your Nightfold, the real fun begins. Soulframe handles "dyes" differently than most games. You don't just pick a color from a wheel. You brew Figments.
These are essentially color palettes. You get your first one, Verminia’s Brines, just for finishing the quest. It’s a bit... muted. Very grey and salty, like her death. To get the cool stuff, you have to find recipes (Figments) and then go foraging for plants like Weepin' Dris or Toe of Ode.
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Bestitching (The Transmog System)
This is what most of us were waiting for. Bestitching allows you to take the stats of one piece of armor and make it look like another.
- You need Moonsteel Threads.
- You currently get these from Avakot’s Gots using Arcs (the premium currency).
- Talk to Verminia, click the thread icon next to your colors, and swap the look.
It’s worth noting that the colors you pick with Verminia stay on your loadout, not the specific armor piece. So if you swap your chest plate, the new one will automatically take on the colors you already set. It's a huge quality-of-life win compared to some other MMOs.
Actionable Next Steps for Envoys
If you're just starting out or stuck on this quest, here is your checklist:
- Check your quest log: Ensure the "Torment Stag" is finished. If it's not, Verminia won't appear.
- Forage early: Start picking up every plant you see in the Glades. You'll need 10 Weepin' Dris and 10 Brinefloss just to craft the first Cloudquell for the boss fight.
- Don't skip the dialogue: Verminia’s Bond level increases as you brew new palettes. Higher bond levels unlock the A Witch Withdrawn quest, which gives you even better customization options.
- Turn off the fog: If you're fighting Nimrod and can't see anything, go into your graphics settings. The current build of the game has some weird interaction between his lightning and the global fog that can make the screen almost entirely white.
Get Verminia back to the Nightfold as soon as you can. The game feels a lot more personal once you aren't just another grey-clad Envoy running through a grey-tinted forest.