eXputer

QuestsupportingSide missionModerate

Visit the Emperor's Old Hideout

An Act 3 side quest that leads from the Elfsong Tavern's basement to the Emperor's former hideout, where a Githyanki hunting party, hidden passages, personal relics, and valuable equipment await.

RoleOptional Act 3 investigation connected to the Emperor's history, former refuge, and relationship with the player.
Statusdocumented
Importancesupporting
RewardSword of the Emperor, Cerebral Citadel Armour, Cerebral Citadel Gloves, and personal items found in the hideout.
  • ActAct 3
  • Mission typeSide quest
  • Entry pointElfsong Tavern basement
  • Main threatGithyanki hunting party and portals
  • Secret areasTwo documented concealed routes
  • Notable lootSword of the Emperor and Cerebral Citadel equipment

The source material does not provide a recommended character level, a fixed completion time, enemy counts, or numerical reward values.

Key takeaways

Use the following points to plan the investigation without treating the hideout as a simple treasure room.

  • Start at the tavern Approach the Elfsong Tavern in Act 3 to begin the Emperor's request and identify the basement as the route into the investigation.
  • Search after the rats The basement encounter is only the first layer of the route. Once the rats are cleared, look for and press the hidden button that reveals the passage.
  • Secure the main room The principal combat is against a Githyanki hunting party and their portals. The area is not secure merely because you have entered it.
  • Check behind the statue A second concealed area lies beyond the main room. Its button is behind a large statue, making a deliberate search worthwhile.
  • Expect story context as well as loot The hideout contains equipment and personal objects connected with the Emperor, and completing the quest can affect the relationship with him and connect to dream sequences.

Visit the Emperor's Old Hideout

Visit the Emperor's Old Hideout is an Act 3 side quest that turns the Elfsong Tavern into an entrance to a hidden chapter of the Emperor's past.

The quest begins when you approach the Elfsong Tavern in Act 3. The Emperor asks you to investigate the place that once served as his hideout, making the tavern's basement the practical starting point for the search. This is an optional investigation rather than a main-story march through a series of public objectives, so it is easy to overlook if you move through the city without checking the tavern and its lower level.

The route into the hideout is concealed beneath the tavern. Enter the basement, deal with the rats occupying the area, and search for the hidden button that opens the passage onward. The important progression detail is the interaction itself: clearing the basement does not finish the investigation, because the concealed mechanism is what exposes the route to the former refuge.

The hideout is not abandoned. A Githyanki hunting party has entered the area, and the encounter also includes portals that must be dealt with before the location is secure. After the main room, a second secret area can be found by pressing a button behind a large statue. Exploring that concealed space reveals equipment and personal objects tied to the Emperor, including the Sword of the Emperor, Cerebral Citadel Armour, Cerebral Citadel Gloves, Stelmane's Portrait, and a dog collar.

Finishing the investigation can improve the player's relationship with the Emperor and is associated with specific dream sequences. The quest therefore has value beyond its immediate combat and loot: it provides context for the Emperor while allowing thorough explorers to uncover a less visible section of the Elfsong Tavern. The available evidence does not establish a single mandatory dialogue outcome or a precise sequence for every related dream, so those details should not be treated as fixed here.

Where this sits

  1. 1Act 3actThe quest is documented as an Act 3 side quest.
  2. 2Elfsong Tavernstarting_locationApproaching the tavern begins the Emperor's request.
  3. 3Tavern basementinvestigationClear the rats and find the hidden button.
  4. ●Former hideoutcombatEnter the concealed area and confront the Githyanki hunting party and portals.
  5. 5Hidden statue areasecret_areaSearch behind the large statue for the second concealed area and its contents.

This progression describes the documented route from the Act 3 starting point to the hideout's optional secret area.

Requirements

Reach Act 3 and approach the Elfsong Tavern to receive the investigation request from the Emperor.

  • RequiredReach Act 3The quest is identified as an Act 3 side quest.
  • RequiredApproach the Elfsong TavernThe Emperor asks you to investigate his former hideout when you approach the tavern.
  • RecommendedBe prepared for combatThe route includes rats in the basement and a Githyanki hunting party with portals inside the hideout.
  • RecommendedSearch for concealed mechanismsProgress depends on finding a hidden button in the basement, and the secondary area requires another button behind a large statue.

Objectives

  1. Investigate the Emperor's former hideoutFollow the request received near the Elfsong Tavern and enter the basement route.
  2. Clear the rats from the tavern basementThe rats occupy the access area and must be dealt with before the concealed route can be used.
  3. Reveal the hidden passageLocate and press the hidden button in the basement.
  4. Defeat the Githyanki hunting party and their portalsSecure the hideout by overcoming the hostile group and handling the portals connected to the encounter.
  5. Explore the secondary hidden areaAfter the main room, press the button behind the large statue to reach the additional space.Optional
  6. Examine the hideout's personal historySearch for Stelmane's Portrait and the dog collar alongside the equipment and other loot.Optional

Walkthrough

  1. 01

    Begin the investigation of the Emperor's former hideout.

    Approach the Elfsong Tavern

    Travel to the Elfsong Tavern during Act 3 and approach the location to initiate the Emperor's request. The investigation is tied to this approach, so do not expect the basement route to function as a separate, unrelated dungeon entrance.

    Location: Elfsong Tavern

    TipTreat the tavern as the quest's starting point even though the actual route continues below it.

  2. 02

    Reach the concealed entrance.

    Enter the tavern basement

    Go below the Elfsong Tavern and search the basement rather than continuing through the tavern's ordinary public spaces. The basement is the access area named by the quest's route, and its occupants must be cleared before you can continue.

    Location: Elfsong Tavern basement

  3. 03

    Remove the immediate obstacle and make the concealed mechanism accessible.

    Clear the rats

    Defeat the rats in the basement so that you can safely search the area for the mechanism that opens the way forward. The documented route does not end when the rats are defeated; the hidden button is still required.

    Location: Elfsong Tavern basement

    Watch outIf you leave after clearing the rats without searching for the button, the passage into the hideout remains undiscovered.

  4. 04

    Reveal and enter the hidden passage.

    Press the hidden button

    Inspect the basement walls and surrounding objects until you find the hidden button, then press it to reveal the passage. This interaction is the transition from the tavern basement into the Emperor's former hideout.

    Location: Elfsong Tavern basement

    TipSearch methodically after the basement fight; the button, rather than a visible doorway, is the progression key.

  5. 05

    Reach the main hideout area.

    Enter the former hideout

    Follow the revealed passage into the hideout and prepare for an active encounter rather than a quiet exploration sequence. The area contains a Githyanki hunting party, so keep the party ready before committing to the main room.

    Location: The Emperor's former hideout

  6. 06

    Eliminate the hostile hunting party.

    Defeat the Githyanki hunting party

    Fight the Githyanki hunting party inside the hideout and secure the room before treating it as safe for looting. The available source material confirms the group is the main hostile presence but does not establish its exact composition or number.

    Location: The hideout's main room

    Watch outDo not assume that defeating visible enemies alone completes the encounter; the portals associated with the hunting party must also be dealt with.

  7. 07

    Secure the area by resolving the portal threat.

    Deal with the portals

    Handle the portals connected to the Githyanki encounter as part of securing the hideout. The supplied facts do not specify their exact placement, appearance, timing, or mechanics, so use the combat interface and encounter feedback to identify each active portal.

    Location: The hideout's main room

    TipPrioritize awareness of the whole room instead of focusing only on the Githyanki bodies; the portals are explicitly part of the encounter.

  8. 08

    Find the secondary hidden area.

    Search beyond the main room

    Once the principal encounter is secure, continue beyond the main room and inspect the surrounding area for another concealed route. The second area is easy to miss because its access point is hidden behind a large statue rather than presented as an ordinary doorway.

    Location: Beyond the hideout's main room

    Missable
  9. 09

    Open the second concealed area.

    Press the button behind the large statue

    Move behind the large statue and press the button concealed there to reveal access to the secondary hidden area. This is a separate secret from the basement button, so finding the first mechanism does not automatically expose the second.

    Location: Behind the large statue

    TipInspect the rear of prominent scenery after the main fight; the statue hides the relevant button.

    Missable
  10. 10

    Complete the investigation and recover the documented loot.

    Collect the hideout's equipment and personal items

    Search the newly accessible space and the rest of the hideout for the Sword of the Emperor, Cerebral Citadel Armour, Cerebral Citadel Gloves, Stelmane's Portrait, and a dog collar. The personal objects are useful for understanding the Emperor's past, not only for their inventory value.

    Location: The Emperor's former hideout

    Missable
  11. 11

    Resolve the side quest and its relationship consequences.

    Complete the investigation

    After exploring the hideout and collecting what you want, finish the quest through the available interaction or progression state. Completion can improve your relationship with the Emperor and is associated with specific dream sequences, although the supplied material does not define one universal dialogue choice.

    Location: The Emperor's former hideout

Mission mechanics

The quest combines environmental discovery with a contained combat encounter. Its access logic has two distinct button interactions: one in the Elfsong Tavern basement opens the route into the hideout, while another behind a large statue exposes a secondary hidden area after the main room. Players who only follow obvious doors can therefore complete the central fight while missing part of the location.

The combat space is defined by two threats rather than one. The Githyanki hunting party is the visible enemy group, but the portals are also named as targets that must be handled to secure the area. Because the source material does not specify portal rules or enemy statistics, this guide avoids assigning an order, damage value, count, or special effect to them.

Exploration has a narrative function as well as a practical one. The Sword of the Emperor and Cerebral Citadel equipment provide tangible rewards, while Stelmane's Portrait and the dog collar are personal traces of the Emperor's former life. Their presence makes a full search worthwhile even after the combat objective has been resolved.

What works and what does not

Strengths

  • Connects a short basement investigation to a location with direct story relevance for the Emperor.
  • Combines a combat encounter with environmental secrets instead of limiting the quest to a single fight.
  • Offers both named equipment and personal objects that add context to the location.
  • Can improve the relationship with the Emperor and is associated with specific dream sequences.

Weaknesses

  • The route depends on hidden buttons, so the entrance and secondary area are not necessarily obvious during a first search.
  • The quest's value is partly contextual, meaning players focused only on the immediate combat may overlook the personal discoveries.
  • The exact portal mechanics and the precise conditions for associated dream sequences are not established by the supplied source material.

Best uses

  • Search the entire hideout after combat rather than leaving once the Githyanki hunting party is defeated.
  • Use the quest as optional Emperor-focused context while progressing through Act 3.

Encounter phases

  1. 1

    Basement clearance

    Starts: Entering the Elfsong Tavern basement

    Rats occupy the access area and must be cleared before the hidden passage can be opened.

    • Search the basement after the rats are defeated; clearing the enemies is not the same as finding the route.
  2. 2

    Githyanki hunting party

    Starts: Entering the former hideout's main room

    A Githyanki hunting party confronts the player inside the Emperor's old refuge.

    • Prepare for combat before entering the main room.
    • The supplied facts do not establish the party's exact enemy composition or number.
  3. 3

    Portal resolution

    Starts: During the hideout encounter

    Portals associated with the Githyanki hunting party must be handled before the area is considered secure.

    • Monitor the room for active portals rather than treating the enemy group as the only objective.

Choices and consequencesSpoilers

  • Complete the investigation and engage with the Emperor's request

    Completion can improve the player's relationship with the Emperor and is associated with triggering specific dream sequences.

    Spoiler
  • Search the secondary hidden area behind the large statue

    You can discover additional loot and personal items, including equipment and objects that provide insight into the Emperor's past.

    Spoiler

Completion checklist

  • Approach the Elfsong Tavern in Act 3This begins the Emperor's request.
  • Enter the Elfsong Tavern basementThe basement is the documented access route.
  • Clear the ratsDo this before searching for the concealed mechanism.
  • Press the hidden basement buttonThe button reveals the passage to the old hideout.
  • Defeat the Githyanki hunting partySecure the main room.
  • Deal with the portalsThe portals are part of the encounter objective.
  • Inspect behind the large statueThis is the route to the secondary hidden area.Optional
  • Collect the Sword of the EmperorNamed loot in the hideout.Optional
  • Collect Cerebral Citadel ArmourNamed loot in the hideout.Optional
  • Collect Cerebral Citadel GlovesNamed loot in the hideout.Optional
  • Find Stelmane's PortraitA personal item linked to the Emperor's past.Optional
  • Find the dog collarA personal item found in the hideout.Optional
  • Complete the investigationThis can affect the relationship with the Emperor and connect to dream sequences.

Collectibles and notable finds

  • 01
    Sword of the Emperor

    Where: The Emperor's former hideout

    Named equipment listed among the valuable loot in the hideout.

    Missable
  • 02
    Cerebral Citadel Armour

    Where: The Emperor's former hideout

    Named equipment found during the hideout investigation.

    Missable
  • 03
    Cerebral Citadel Gloves

    Where: The Emperor's former hideout

    Named equipment found during the hideout investigation.

    Missable
  • 04
    Stelmane's Portrait

    Where: The Emperor's former hideout

    A personal item that offers insight into the Emperor's past life.

    Missable
  • 05
    Dog collar

    Where: The Emperor's former hideout

    A personal item connected to the hideout's history.

    Missable

Failure conditions

  • Leaving the basement without finding the hidden buttonDefeating the rats alone does not reveal the passage; the hidden button must be pressed to continue.
  • Leaving the secondary area unexploredThe button behind the large statue opens an optional hidden area, so failing to search there can mean missing documented loot and personal items.
  • Treating the Githyanki encounter as complete before handling the portalsThe hunting party and its portals are both part of securing the hideout.

On failure

The supplied sources do not document a unique game-over state, companion death condition, timer, or exact reload checkpoint for this quest.

Rewards and drops

  • Sword of the Emperor
    Valuable equipment located in the hideout.
  • Cerebral Citadel Armour
    Valuable equipment located in the hideout.
  • Cerebral Citadel Gloves
    Valuable equipment located in the hideout.
  • Stelmane's Portrait
    A personal item that provides context about the Emperor's past.
  • Dog collar
    A personal item found among the hideout's discoveries.
  • Relationship progress with the Emperor
    Completing the quest can improve the relationship with the Emperor.
  • Associated dream sequences
    Completion is associated with triggering specific dream sequences; the exact conditions are not established in the supplied material.

AftermathSpoilers

The hideout changes the context of the Emperor

Completing the investigation can improve your relationship with the Emperor and is associated with specific dream sequences. The hideout's personal objects, especially Stelmane's Portrait and the dog collar, also add context to his past life. The precise dialogue branches and dream triggers are not fixed in the supplied source material.

Trivia

  • The quest uses the Elfsong Tavern as a concealed gateway to a location associated with the Emperor rather than presenting the hideout as a separate obvious destination.
  • Two different hidden buttons are documented: one in the basement opens the main passage, and another behind a large statue reveals the secondary hidden area.
  • The hideout's loot mixes combat equipment with personal objects, making the area both a reward location and a source of character context.

Sources

Relationships

locations

  • Elfsong TavernStarts atThe tavern's basement provides the route into the Emperor's former hideout.

characters

  • The EmperorQuest giverThe Emperor asks the player to investigate his old refuge.

items