Sticks and Stones is a Dark Arisen side quest set in the frozen Norgan region, and finishing it hands you the knowledge to craft Heatstones yourself. Heatstones hold the warmth of a campfire and stop the Chilled debilitation that builds up during snowstorms and Whiteout weather, so unlocking the recipe early makes long treks through the north far less punishing.
Quick answer: Start the main quest Seeking the Sage, pick up the Spirit Compass, then talk to Morgus at the broken bridge northwest of Norgandian Settlement. Gather three Heatstones from an abandoned firepit and report to Ryatt to unlock both Heatstone recipes.
Requirements to start Sticks and Stones
The quest giver is Morgus, a Commission soldier stationed in Norgan. He only appears once you have made enough progress in the main story.
- Start Seeking the Sage, then continue the main quest until the Spirit Compass is yours.
- Collect the Climbing Hook that Dorin gives you during that stretch, which creates rope ladders and shortcuts around Norgan.
- Travel to the broken bridge just northwest of Norgandian Settlement, where Morgus is waiting.
Approach Morgus and he will raise the subject of Heatstones, explaining that a comrade needs a sample for research but that nobody knows where the stones come from. He reasons they must gather near sources of heat, such as firepits, and asks you to collect three of them.
Two ways to gather the three Heatstones
When Morgus asks for three Heatstones, you choose to either escort him to a Beorcan firepit or go find the stones on your own. Both paths finish the quest the same way, so the choice only changes how you spend the next few minutes. Heatstones themselves drop from the abandoned firepits scattered around Norgan.
Escort Morgus to the Beorcan firepit
If you have not attached the hook to the tether post, you must circle the long way around Valgr Ravine to reach the camp. Setting the ladder lets you climb straight up instead.
Collect the Heatstones alone
If you decline the escort, Morgus explains that Heatstones come from destroying abandoned firepits and marks several on your map. Travel to those locations, attack each firepit with weapons or offensive skills until it breaks, and pick up the stones. Keep hitting firepits until you hold three, then skip straight to Ryatt.
Report to Ryatt and confirm the unlock
Return to Norgandian Settlement and speak with Ryatt. He studies the sample, tells you Heatstones can be replicated from a combination of materials, and shares that knowledge with you. He also hands over a set of the materials he used so you can make your own batch right away.
You know it worked when the quest log reads “Completed: Sticks and Stones” and the rewards are granted. From that point, the two Heatstone recipes are available at any crafting menu or storage box.
| Reward | Amount |
|---|---|
| XP | 3,000 |
| Gold | 10,000 |
 Molten Ore | 1 |
 Sunstone | 1 |
| Heatstone recipes | 2 |
Both Heatstone crafting recipes
Completing the quest adds two recipes, and each one yields three Heatstones per craft. Combine the materials from your inventory or storage box whenever you need more.
| Recipe | Materials | Yield |
|---|---|---|
 Heatstone | Sunstone + Molten Ore | 3 |
| Heatstone | Sunstone + Warming Salve | 3 |
The Sunstone and Molten Ore combination is often the easier of the two to keep stocked, since Molten Ore is common among Norgan’s mountains and crags. Gathering ore and plants as you travel builds a steady supply so you rarely need to return to town after a storm.
Heatstone and material reference
A Heatstone has a weight of 0.05 kg and a maximum stack size of 99. Using one shields the entire party from the Chilled debilitation temporarily. It can be given as a gift and sold for 150 G. In addition to the recipes you just unlocked, Aymond and Ilda sell Heatstones for 3,000 G apiece; combine them with Withered Branches to craft Explosive Arrows.
The two ingredients Ryatt points you toward have their own ways of being found, which matters once you run out of the starter set he gives you.
| Material | Sell price | Weight | How to get |
|---|---|---|---|
| Molten Ore | 900 G | 0.2 kg | Mined in Norgan; Sticks and Stones reward |
| Sunstone | 1,050 G | 0.3 kg | Serpent, Grim Ogre, Gorechimera drops; Mubarak (3,000 G); appraising Abandoned Supplies |
Molten Ore can also go into Savagery Extract when paired with Norgan Maple Sap, and Sunstone doubles as an equipment enhancement material, so hold on to spares rather than selling them. With the recipes learned and a few ingredients banked, you have a renewable source of warmth for every future run through the north.
