You've finally reached Oxenefordscire, and honestly, Lady Eadwyn is already proving to be a massive pain. She’s stubborn, her defenses are tight, and Geadric is breathing down your neck to get things moving. The quest Chipping Away is basically the game's way of telling you to go cause some chaos. But here's the kicker: the game doesn't just hand you every location on a silver platter. You'll see that teal progress bar at the top of your screen, and if you're like most players, you're wondering why it’s barely moving after you've cleared a camp or two.
Weakening Eadwyn's hold on Oxenefordscire isn't just about mindless killing. It’s a multi-pronged sabotage effort. You’re essentially cutting off her oxygen—destroying her food, her reinforcements, and her morale before the big assault on Cyne Belle Castle. If you ignore this and rush the main story, you're going to have a much harder time during the final siege. Eadwyn’s personal guard will be bolstered by elite standard-bearers instead of basic soldiers if you don't do the legwork now.
Where to actually find the sabotage points
The biggest mistake is wandering around hoping to stumble onto something. The game uses "proximity markers," meaning teal icons only pop up when you're fairly close.
The Buckingham Ambush
Start your journey southwest of Buckingham. You’ll find a group of fyrd (Geadric's local militia) hiding in the bushes along a ridge. Talk to them. They’re planning to jump a Saxon patrol. Help them wipe out the soldiers. It’s a quick fight, but it gives a decent chunk of progress.
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The Tharelea Ruins Rescue
Head over to the Tharelea Ruins. You'll hear some yelling—that’s usually a good sign in Valhalla. A group of Geadric’s men is pinned down by Eadwyn’s soldiers. Once you clear the area and save them, your bar will jump again. Pro tip: look around for supply carts in this general vicinity. There are usually a few parked nearby that are just begging for a torch.
Supply Carts near Linforda
There’s a camp located northwest of Linforda, tucked near the river. This place is a goldmine for sabotage. You’ll see two heavily guarded supply carts. You can go in loud, but shooting an oil jar near the carts is way more satisfying. There's another set of carts southeast of the ruins in the woods on the way to Linforda. If you see red jars, blow them up.
The "Fiery Ambush" connection
A lot of people get stuck with about 10% of the bar left. They’ve cleared every camp and saved every soldier, but the quest won't complete. This is usually because you haven't done the quest Fiery Ambush with Fulke.
Basically, you can't "finish" weakening her hold through free-roam alone. Fiery Ambush is a structured story mission where you and Fulke set a trap for Eadwyn’s reinforcements on the main road. You’ll place oil jars, wait for the caravan, and then light it all up. Once those reinforcements are toast, the Chipping Away quest usually completes automatically.
Why the Standard-Bearers matter
While you're exploring, keep an eye out for the big guys carrying flags. These are Eadwyn's enforcers. You’ll find them at Saint Albanes Abbey and Evesham Abbey. Taking them out isn't just for the XP; it directly lowers the "quality" of the troops you'll face later.
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The payoff: The Siege of Cyne Belle Castle
So, why bother with all this? Is it just busywork? Sorta, but it has real gameplay consequences.
If the bar is full:
- The defenses at Cyne Belle are thinner.
- Eadwyn’s personal bodyguards during the boss fight are standard soldiers.
- The overall "chaos" of the final battle is more in your favor.
If you skip it:
- Expect a lot more Standard-Bearers (the guys with the shields and long reaches) during the assault.
- The final boss fight with Lady Eadwyn can be significantly more annoying because she'll have better backup.
Dealing with Lady Eadwyn’s fate
Once you’ve successfully chipped away at her power and stormed the castle, you’re faced with a choice. Geadric wants her dealt with. You can either exile her or let Geadric take care of her.
Honestly? It doesn't change the ending of the game. If you exile her, she loses everything and wanders off into the wilderness. If you hand her to Geadric, he keeps her under house arrest but promises to treat her with some level of nobility. It’s a purely role-playing choice. If your Eivor is feeling merciful, Geadric is the move. If you think she’s a traitor who deserves to lose her name, send her packing.
Actionable Steps to finish "Chipping Away" quickly
- Check your quest log: Ensure you have completed Brewing Rebellion first; some fyrd rescues won't even spawn until then.
- Head to the Synch Point: Use the fast travel point east of Buckingham as your central hub. Most objectives are within a 600-meter radius of here.
- Use Synin: Don't just run. Fly your raven. Look for the teal circles—they indicate the exact area where a "help the fyrd" or "destroy supplies" event is active.
- Prioritize Fiery Ambush: If your bar is nearly full but stalled, stop hunting random camps and go talk to Fulke. That mission is the intended "final blow" for the sabotage arc.
- Burn the Carts: Always carry a torch or have incendiary powder trap arrows ready. It’s the fastest way to clear supply objectives without hunting down every individual guard.
Following these steps will get you through the Oxenefordscire slog and into the fun stuff—like the actual siege and that tense face-off in the courtyard.