The Toll is Not Enough (Cano) – Drakensang: The River of Time

This Guide is for a quest in the Thurstone Tollgate area of Drakensang: The River of Time. It’s complete with a map, map legend, and overview of the varying points of interest.

Map Legend

1 – Cutscene
2 – Rat Traps
3 – Rat Traps
4 – Rat Shack
5 – Hidden Treasure
6 – Hidden Chest
7 – Foul-Smelling Chest
8 – Cutscene
9 – Grumbold the Cook
10 – Door to Castle Walls
11 – Knock the archers down
12 – Lower the Portcullis

Background

Right after the Thalaria docks at the tollgate, the group is split up again. Ardo will be busy talking to the guards. Notice a shady figure nearby, Merchant Varman. You can talk to him, and get scolded or praised by your companions for giving or withholding information, but it makes no difference to the quest.

Cano and Forgrimm are arguing near the entry to the fort about the best way to gather information. Cano wants to infiltrate with stealth, Forgrimm wants to brute-force his way in, you can opt to accompany either one, netting you 20AP. This quest description is for Cano’s path.

1 – Cutscene

Hitting this point triggers a cutscene which introduces you to Rat Catcher Ontho and his dog, Snapper. This nets you 60AP.

You can fight Ontho and Snapper to pass this area, but this will negate other AP gains. With 100 VI for Ontho and 23 VI for Snapper who quickly joins in, this is a tough fight too, netting you about 14AP. It is not an advisable method unless you have no choice.

2 – Rat Traps

There are two rat traps here. Disarm both, then take a right and hide behind the corner until Ontho passes by, then sneak past behind him. Notice that once there is enough distance between you and Ontho there is no reason to sneak, so run to #4.

3 – Rat Traps

Watch out for the rat traps here.

4 – Rat Shack

Break the boards, freeing the rats, then go on to point #6 quickly (you should have time enough to stop at and loot #5).

5 – Hidden Treasure

It is locked. Contains 2x Broken Sword, 3x Rusty Cleaver, 2x Old Battleax and 3x Old Mac.

6 – Hidden Chest

Contains 3D 3T 1F, 13x Leather Strips, 6x Bear Trap, 49x Wolf Rat’s Tail, 8x Sinews.

After you broke open the rat shack, hide at this point until Ontho calls Snapper to him, then go on to #7. Otherwise Snapper will spot you as you enter Ontho’s Camp.

7 – Foul-Smelling Chest

Contains the Ratcatcher’s Key, 87x Wolf Rat’s Tail, a stale bread roll, and 8x Mouse Trap.

8 – Cutscene

Reaching this point without having been detected nets you 60AP.

9 – Grumbold the Cook

There’s a well-placed enticing chest near him. It can’t be reached without being detected by Grumbold. If he notices you, you can Haggle for 5 silver thalers, Fast Talk or Seduce (for female characters) and he’ll hand you the castle tower key, but if this fails you’ll have to fight him and 5 tollkeepers.

The chest is trapped (fire trap) and contains 3D 3T 4F and the Spectacles of Perception.

10 – Door to Castle Walls

Use the key on this door for 60AP.

11 – Knock the archers down

The archers are distracted as they’re trying to hit Forgrimm, who is running around like crazy down there. If you can sneak up to them you can knock them down for 10AP each. Do note they sometimes run to restock on arrows. If one notices you he will attack you and call in 5 tollkeepers to help him out. If the other archer on that side of the wall is still up he will attack you as well.

12 – Lower the Portcullis

Reach this point and a cutscene is triggered where Cano lowers the portcullis, destroying the siege engine. The Toll is Not Enough then moves on to second half.