The First Trial
The First Trial is a Dark and Darker quest assigned by the Tavern Master merchant, part of the Tavern Troubles quest line. Ah, you’ve returned. I paid a visit to our friend, but we’ll need a few things before we can move forward. It’s the first of many trials, if you can call them that. Gather what’s needed, and we’ll see where this leads. If you succeed, we’ll talk about the next step—but let’s not get ahead of ourselves, eh? One thing at a time. There are 3 objectives to complete: Bring 1× Grave Essence; Bring 1× Intact Skull; Bring 1× Rusty Broken Sword. All progress requires a successful extraction — items retrieved or kills made during a failed run do not count toward quest completion. Once every objective is fulfilled, return to Tavern Master in the lobby to turn in the quest and receive the reward. This quest requires completing Paper and Ink before it becomes available from Tavern Master. Completing The First Trial rewards 50 Gold, Random Uncommon Armor, 3x Bandage, 75 XP. The quest is completed in Ice Cavern, Goblin Caves, Ruins or Ship Graveyard. Merchant quests in Dark and Darker are one of the most consistent gold and experience sources in the game, independent of loot luck on the Trading Post. Completing the full Tavern Master quest chain unlocks higher reward tiers and increases merchant affinity, which can affect prices and open additional quest tiers in future seasons. The Tavern Troubles chain provides a structured progression path through the Tavern Master quest tree, and finishing each quest in order is the fastest route to the higher value objectives later in the line. Use the MetaBot Dark and Darker quest tracker to check all open objectives across every active merchant before extracting, so you can turn in multiple quests from a single run and get the most value out of each session.
Ah, you’ve returned. I paid a visit to our friend, but we’ll need a few things before we can move forward. It’s the first of many trials, if you can call them that. Gather what’s needed, and we’ll see where this leads. If you succeed, we’ll talk about the next step—but let’s not get ahead of ourselves, eh? One thing at a time.
Objectives
Bring 1× Grave Essence
Bring 1× Intact Skull
Bring 1× Rusty Broken SwordRewards
Random Uncommon Armor
3x Bandage
75 XP“You’ve done well, but don’t relax just yet. There’s a long road ahead, and the challenges will only grow harder. The tavern’s packed at the moment—swing by later when things settle.”
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The First Trial Quest FAQ — Dark and Darker
What is The First Trial in Dark and Darker?
The First Trial is a Dark and Darker quest assigned by Tavern Master as part of the Tavern Troubles quest line. Ah, you’ve returned. I paid a visit to our friend, but we’ll need a few things before we can move forward. It’s the first of many trials, if you can call them that. Gather what’s needed, and we’ll see where this leads. If you succeed, we’ll talk about the next step—but let’s not get ahead of ourselves, eh? One thing at a time.
How do you complete The First Trial?
To complete The First Trial you need to: Bring 1× Grave Essence; Bring 1× Intact Skull; Bring 1× Rusty Broken Sword. All progress requires a successful extraction. Once all objectives are done, return to Tavern Master in the lobby to turn in the quest.
What are the rewards for The First Trial?
Completing The First Trial rewards you with: 50 Gold, Random Uncommon Armor, 3x Bandage, 75 XP. Turn in the completed quest at the Tavern Master window in the lobby to collect the reward.
Which dungeon do you need for The First Trial?
The First Trial objectives are completed in: Ice Cavern, Goblin Caves, Ruins, Ship Graveyard. Enter the correct dungeon type before attempting to make progress on this quest.
Do you need to complete anything before The First Trial?
Yes, The First Trial requires completing the quest Paper and Ink first. Once that quest is turned in, The First Trial becomes available from Tavern Master.