After abandoning stealth to clear the bandit camp, I rescued the advisor Lif and some soldiers. The journey continued by boat to Gratian's villa, where we led a mounted assault to free Birna. The mission concluded with a trek to Wycham and a high-altitude synchronization.
As soon as the bandits noticed our presence in the camp, I decided to stop playing hide and seek; I charged them directly and took out the remaining defenders in a flurry of open combat.
I eventually reached the specific spot where the final bandit was standing guard over Soma's captured soldiers and her advisor, using my hidden blade to swiftly assassinate the guard before he could react.
After freeing the prisoners, Soma instructed her advisor, Lif, to lead his men back to the camp established at the base of the beacon, explaining that they would all reunite once the rest of the circle was found.
I initially expected the advisor and his soldiers to join our party, but we continued solo instead; I took the oars of a small boat and began rowing toward the next location, the ruins of Gratian's villa.
Upon reaching the site, we discovered the wrecked and abandoned longship belonging to another of Soma's advisors, which confirmed that our next target was definitely held somewhere within the ruins.
I found a stray horse nearby and rode it directly into the heart of the enemy camp, as I was no longer interested in a stealthy approach. Soma and I fought side-by-side until every bandit in the villa was defeated.
We soon located a group of Soma's soldiers along with Birna, the second advisor, and after freeing them, Soma directed them to regroup at the camp under the burning beacon.
With only one advisor left to rescue, I returned to the boat and began rowing again while Soma spoke highly of Birna's tactical genius, contrasting her ability to see far ahead with Lif's more practical, immediate focus, until we reached Wycham.
I noticed a point of interest atop a massive historic statue and decided to synchronize with it to enable fast travel for later. So, I climbed to the very peak and took a moment to look down at the sprawling landscape below before moving on.
That's all for now.
