Covetous Hearts - side quest walkthrough | Lost Anchorage Torment: Tides of Numenera Guide

Unlocked by: Talking to Captain Janur in the Lost Anchorage (M21.1).

Important - You cannot achieve any progress in this mission before you gain access to the Lost Anchorage. This is only possible by using the portal next to the Maw in the Small Nihilesh district (M19.5), but the portal is inactive at the beginning. Activating it is a part of another side quest - The Newborn Maw. Go to the description of said quest in order to learn the details.

Make sure to mention the Cortex during your conversation

After you reach the Lost Anchorage talk to Captain Janur. She is located in the main hall of the futuristic port, and will be the first character you will meet in this location (M21.1). During the conversation be sure to mention the Navigational Cortex, which will allow you to discover that attempts to steal it have been made in the past.

After the described mission appears in your quest log, leave the Anchorage for a while and return to the Memovira's Courtyard district in order to meet with Dracogen (M15.1). He will confirm, that he is interested in acquiring the Cortex. Now you can return to the Anchorage once again and choose the way in which you want to steal the mentioned artifact. You can accomplish this in two ways, which have been described below.

The aggressive approach

Breaking through the door will begin the fighting

The first method of acquiring the Navigational Cortex revolves around engaging in direct confrontation with the Lascars from the Lost Anchorage. The doors to the room with the Cortex (M21.3). They are sealed, but you can unlock the passage by using one of your abilities (e.g. by smashing through). This action will alert all nearby Lascars, beginning a crisis situation. In theory, the game allows you to take the Cortex and then leave the Anchorage with it, but it would be very complicated. It is much better to simply murder all of the Lascars in the area first.

Use area of effect attack when the enemies are bunched up in narrow doorways

The fight with the lascars is not easy, however, it does not count amongst the most difficult, especially if you have a well-developed and rested band. You must be aware of the fact that the enemies favour ranged combat. Their main attacks use lasers which deal Energy damage, as well as gravitational grenades. The latter can unfortunately knock down your team members and additionally "ground" them. Be sure to neutralize these negative conditions or also rely on ranged attacks (based on ranged weapons and cyphers that are helpful in this type of combat).

When it comes to attacking enemies, it is worth trying to engage them in melee, as the lascars will often miss when they are in direct engagements. You can also use the fact, that after about two turns since the beginning of the battle, the enemies should start to bunch up near the entrance to the corridor with the unlocked doors. Consider using strong area of effect attacks, in order to simultaneously weaken/kill multiple enemies.

After the battle you are free to take the Cortex

After you win the fight with the Lascars, you can, of course, search their bodies (which is optional). The most important thing is that you have to enter the room with the Navigational Cortex (M21.4), interact with the device and steal it. Now you can head to the exit from the Anchorage without any issues.

The peaceful approach

Ask Genjes to give your band a tour of the facility

The second method of acquiring the Navigational Cortex is the silent theft of this item. This variant will allow you to avoid any battles with the lascars, as long as you complete consecutive tasks in the correct way, and you split up the responsibilities between your team members well, which will allow you to escape with your prize relatively quickly.

In order to begin this method you have to reach the area near the closed doors (M21.3) and talk to Pilot-Major Genjes there. During your conversation ask the Major to allow you a tour of the facility in his company. Important - Do not worry about a crisis starting in this instant. There will be no combat, unless you are caught trying to break into the room with the Cortex and attempting to steal it.

You must give consecutive "unlock" instructions by the Cortex

As it has already been said, you must split up the necessary tasks between your squad members. You will need at least three people (one of them can of course be the main character:

Person 1 must unlock the door to the room with the Cortex (M21.3) and interact with its console in order to give consecutive "unlock" instructions (there are three in total). It is best for this person to have the Smashing skill, as he/she will be able to use this parameter to open the door and pass successive checks at the console.

The second person must confirm the commands given by the main console

Person 2 must take care of confirming the unlocking commands by using the main control panel located on the terrace, in the central part of the map (M21.1). It is absolutely crucial that this team member has the most developed version of the Quick Fingers skill (and has also got a lot of Speed points). This ability will be necessary to pass the skill checks and you must always have a large percentage chance of passing the check in order to avoid being detected while attempting this type of operation.

The Major has to be accompanied by someone, so that he doesnt end the tour early

Person 3 only has to accompany Pilot-Major Genjes during the tour. It can be any of your remaining teammates, since this person only has to follow the Major and talk to him when he stops in a new location (remember that talking to someone costs action in a given turn). The Major will start moving counter clockwise around the edges of the main hall of the Anchorage after he reaches it, and you must be done with the theft before he completes the circle and returns to the position he was at when he first entered the room.

After all of the safeguards have been neutralized you will be able to take the Navigational Cortex

These are the steps that you must follow in order to correctly complete the whole operation:

1) Delegate Person 1 to open the door to the room with the Navigational Cortex. In the next turn this person has to reach the Cortex control panel and choose one of the actions connected to giving the first unlocking command.

2) Delegate Person 2 to the main control panel and wait for person 1 to give the first unlocing command. Then, use the main console to confirm that command (requires the use of the Quick Fingers skill).

3) Person 3 has to be close to Major Genjes at all times. Click on him in each turn in order to maintain your interest in the tour (otherwise he will return to his post prematurely).

4) Use person 1 to give the second unlocking command and then person 2 to confirm that command by the main console.

5) Use person 1 to give the last, third unlocking command and then person 2 to confirm that command by the main console.

6) Steal the Navigational Cortex by using person 1 (interact with the panel and choose the appropriate option).

7) Move all of your team members towards the exit from the Lost Anchorage. You must escape it before Major Genjes returns to his post.

The ending of the quest

Regardless of the path you chose to take, after you leave Anchorage you have to head back to the Memovira's Courtyard district and talk to Dracogen (M15.1). The reward for completing the quest is 40 XP, but the Navigational Cortex can also help you complete the Dracogen Price main quest (you can find its description on a separate page of the guide).