Starfield: A High Price to Pay - walkthrough Starfield guide, tips

The high price is a quest from the Astran attack on the Lodge and the Eye in the game Starfield. The tutorial from our guide describes an important choice from the Lodge and what negative consequences it can have. You will also find out if it is possible to defeat the Hunter and how to escape the elite Astran soldier.

Last update: 21 September 2023

A High Price to Pay is a Starfield mission featuring an important choice. This walkthrough explains how the two available paths differ, whether you can defeat the Hunter sent by the Starborn, whether you can save everyone, what to do when confronted with Scorpius and how to build an Armillary.

• Important choice in the Lodge
• Path 1 - Saving allies at the Eye
• Path 2 - Defending the Lodge
• Building an Armillary
• Return to the Lodge
• Belongings of the companion

Important choice in the Lodge

Start by talking to Noel in the Lodge. You will learn about the Starborn's attack on the Eye station and the fact that their Hunter intends to reclaim the artifacts you have collected.

You have an important choice ahead of you, which will affect who will die in this quest. There are 2 available paths:

1. Setting out to save the Eye station - You will manage to save all the allies from the station, but the companion in the Lodge who is second in terms of developing relationships will die.
2. Defending the Lodge against the Hunter - You will manage to get all the Constellation members out of the Lodge, but the companion with whom you have the closest relations will die at the Eye station.

Unfortunately, there is no option to save both allies and you cannot check in advance which companions are at risk. The game will only allow you to recover the inventory of the companion who dies.

Path 1 - Saving allies at the Eye

1. If you choose Path 1, do not wait in the Lodge, go to the building's exit instead. The defenders from the Lodge will barricade the door behind you.
2. Select the Eye station in the galaxy map, fly and dock there.
3. You won't encounter any Starborn at the station. Your objective is merely to check on your allies by having short conversations with them.

1. After completing all the conversations, leave the station and head back to the Lodge. Upon arriving at the location, you will find out that the attack has already taken place.
2. You will find one of your dead companions (in the example from our picture it was Sam) and there is no way to bring them back to life.
3. You also need to check the health of other allies - Matteo, the robot Vasco and Walter.

1. Walter will tell you about a secret passage under the stairs. Use it to reach the passage to the Well.
2. In the Well you will meet Noel, who managed to take the artifacts. A Hunter will also appear - it's an enemy that you're incapable of beating for now. Hunters cannot be killed, nor do any attack powers of the Starborn work on him.

1. The only option is to escape and use the door located next to the spot where Noel was standing.
2. After reaching the main part of the Well, the Hunter will start showing up in public places and attacking the crew. Don't fight him; run to the elevator to leave the Well.
3. After leaving the main part of the city, run to the crew's ship. Take your place in the cockpit and leave New Atlantis.

1. Once in orbit, Scorpius, the Starborn ship, will appear. It doesn't matter which dialogue option you choose here. Even if you choose the option to fight, no actual fight will happen. The Starborn will allow you to keep the artifacts for now.
2. Fly to the Eye to meet Vladimir and the rest of your companions.
3. The next part of this quest is identical for both paths - proceed to the Building an Armillary section.

Path 2 - Defending the Lodge

1. If you choose Path 2, stay in the Lodge and do not leave it.
2. Wait to see how the situation develops. You will get the objective to reach Walter on the upper balcony. The Hunter will appear - for now you won't be able to beat him. Hunters cannot be killed, nor do the attack powers of the Starborn work on him.

1. Since you can't eliminate the Hunter, it's best to stand somewhere behind a cover and wait for the next mission objective.
2. You will receive an objective to use the secret passage under the stairs (see the picture). Start escaping from the Hunter. Travel through the corridors until you reach the passage to the Well.

1. You have to keep running. After reaching the main part of the Well, the Hunter will start showing up in public places and attacking the crew. Don't fight him; run to the elevator to leave the Well.
2. After leaving the main part of the city, run to the crew's ship. Take your place in the cockpit and leave New Atlantis.

1. Once in orbit, Scorpius, the Starborn ship, will appear. It doesn't matter which dialogue option you choose here. Even if you choose the option to fight, no actual fight will happen. The Starborn will allow you to keep the artifacts for now.

Fly to the Eye, where the remaining allies were defending themselves:

1. You will find one of your companions dead (in the example from our picture it was Sarah) and there is no way to bring them back to life.
2. You also need to check the health of other allies.

Talk to Noel afterwards. The rest of this quest is identical for both paths - proceed to the Building an Armillary section.

Building an Armillary

1. You will get this mission objective regardless of your decision in the previous part of the quest. The Armillary will be used to store artifacts after the Lodge is no longer a safe place for them.
2. There are 2 available ways to do this - you can build an armillary on a ship or in any outpost (you must have one created in the game world). If you choose a ship, find a new console next to the cockpit (see the picture). If you choose an outpost, go to the Quest items tab and select Armillary.
3. The Armillary is mobile; you can also store artifacts in your inventory. You must take into account though that having artifacts on you will attract Starborn's attention. From now on, be aware that aliens may appear not only during missions associated with them, but also during free travel through the galaxy. Always be ready to fight or to flee (e.g. by making a grav jump to another system).

Return to the Lodge

1. Choose New Atlantis as your destination. You can't immediately use fast travel to get to the Lodge entrance. You have to get through the attacked city - use the train to go to the MAST district.
2. In the Lodge, talk to Matteo to get a new clue and complete this quest. You will receive XP, 13,300 credits and a piece of Constellation equipment. All your travel companions will now be unlocked back.

Belongings of the companion

1. In the Lodge, an optional activity will be unlocked - collecting items that the deceased companion had in the inventory. Choose the passage under the stairs again and reach the large chest shown in the picture.