The Roots Of Our Ancestors quest in Anno 117 Pax Romana represents one of the most pivotal decision points in the entire campaign, forcing players to weigh the benefits of Roman expansion against the preservation of Celtic traditions. This quest not only affects your immediate access to valuable resources but also plays a crucial role in determining your relationship with Voada, the fierce Celtic raider who can become either your greatest ally or most persistent enemy. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk you through every aspect of this quest, from initial setup to long-term consequences, ensuring you make the choice that best aligns with your strategic goals.
Understanding the Quest’s Context and Importance
Before diving into the specifics of The Roots Of Our Ancestors quest, it’s essential to understand its place within the broader narrative of Anno 117 Pax Romana. This quest becomes available after you’ve established your presence in Albion and begins when you discover an island with a sacred tree at its center. The tree isn’t just a decorative element—it’s a powerful symbol of Celtic heritage and spirituality, and your decision regarding its fate will ripple throughout your entire campaign experience.
What makes this quest particularly significant is its connection to the game’s central theme of cultural conflict. As a Roman governor, you’re constantly balancing the demands of the Empire with the traditions of the local Celtic population. The Roots Of Our Ancestors quest crystallizes this conflict, forcing you to choose between economic expansion and cultural preservation.
The quest also serves as a gateway to the diplomatic solution with Voada, the Celtic warrior queen inspired by the historical Boudicca. Depending on your choices, you can either build a positive relationship that leads to peace or create tensions that result in ongoing conflict. This makes understanding all aspects of the quest crucial for long-term success in Albion.
Locating the Sacred Grove Island
Your first challenge in The Roots Of Our Ancestors quest is finding the correct island. The quest description indicates that the island is located in the middle of the map, but for players new to Albion’s geography, this can still be somewhat vague. Here’s how to identify the correct island with certainty:
Look for an island that has a distinctive tree symbol marked on it—this is the sacred grove you’re looking for. The island will be noticeably different from others in the region, with the sacred tree serving as a clear visual landmark. When you hover over the island, you’ll see that it’s undeveloped and ready for settlement.
Before sailing to the island, ensure you have adequate resources and population capacity. You’ll need to establish a new settlement here, so bring enough construction materials and food supplies to sustain your initial group of settlers. It’s also wise to have a military escort, as the waters around Albion can be dangerous, especially if you’ve already angered Voada through previous Romanization efforts.
Once you’ve identified the correct island, sail your flagship there and prepare to establish your settlement. The quest will officially begin when you land and start building your first structures.
Establishing Your Settlement on the Sacred Grove
Upon arriving at the sacred grove island, your first objective is to build houses to attract 30 Waders to the settlement. This is a straightforward task that follows the standard settlement pattern in Anno 117 Pax Romana, but with some unique considerations due to the sacred tree’s presence.
Begin by constructing basic housing units and ensuring you have adequate food production. The Waders will need their basic needs met—food, public services, and fashion—before they’ll fully settle in. Since this is a new island, you’ll need to build these facilities from scratch, so plan your layout carefully to maximize efficiency.
As you’re building your initial settlement, you’ll notice that the sacred tree limits your building options. The tree and its immediate surroundings cannot be built upon, which means you’ll need to work around it when planning your settlement layout. This limitation becomes a key factor in your decision-making process later in the quest.
Once you’ve attracted 30 Waders to the island, you’ll face the critical choice that defines this quest: what to do with the sacred tree. This is where the quest branches into two distinct paths, each with its own requirements, benefits, and consequences.
The Diplomatic Path: Preserving the Sacred Tree
If you choose to respect Celtic traditions and preserve the sacred tree, you’ll need to follow the diplomatic path. This approach aligns with maintaining good relations with Voada and the local Celtic population, but comes with certain economic trade-offs.
Building the Fanum
To preserve the sacred tree, you’ll need to construct a Fanum—a Celtic religious building—near the tree. The Fanum serves as a place of worship and sacrifice, demonstrating your respect for Celtic spiritual traditions. Building the Fanum requires specific resources and planning:
- Location: Place the Fanum close to the sacred tree but not so close that it interferes with other potential building sites
- Resources: You’ll need standard construction materials plus 5 pigs for the sacrificial ceremony
- Population: Ensure you have enough Waders to operate the Fanum once it’s built
The Fanum’s construction is a clear signal to the local population that you respect their traditions, which immediately improves your standing with Voada and other Celtic factions in the region.
The Sacrifice Ceremony
Once the Fanum is built, you’ll need to prepare for the sacrifice ceremony. This involves gathering 5 pigs to be sacrificed at the Fanum. You can either produce these pigs yourself on the island or import them from your other settlements.
When you have the pigs ready, interact with the Fanum to begin the ceremony. This triggers a cutscene showing the Celtic ritual, demonstrating your commitment to preserving local traditions. The ceremony is a powerful moment that solidifies your reputation as a governor who respects Celtic heritage.
The Scathach Arrive Choice
After the sacrifice ceremony, you’ll encounter another important decision point when the Scathach—Celtic spiritual leaders—arrive to pay their respects. You’ll have two options:
- Let them make their sacrifices: This is the recommended choice if you’re pursuing the diplomatic path. Allowing the Scathach to perform their rituals shows deep respect for Celtic traditions and significantly improves your relationship with Voada.
- Seize and imprison them: This option allows you to capture the Scathach, but it comes at a significant cost. You’ll need to find and capture 5 Scathach spies around the grove, and this action will anger Voada while still keeping the tree standing (meaning you still can’t build past it).
The first option is clearly superior if you’re aiming for peaceful relations with Voada, as it maximizes your positive reputation gains while maintaining the cultural integrity of the sacred grove.
The Economic Path: Cutting Down the Sacred Tree
If you prioritize economic expansion and resource access over cultural preservation, you can choose to cut down the sacred tree. This path offers immediate practical benefits but comes at the cost of your relationship with Voada and the local Celtic population.
Building the Bardic Hearth and Woodcutter
To remove the sacred tree, you’ll need to construct two key buildings: a Bardic Hearth and a Woodcutter. The Bardic Hearth serves as a gathering place where you can rally your workers, while the Woodcutter provides the manpower needed to fell the massive tree.
Building these structures requires:
- Bardic Hearth: Standard construction materials plus either 10 beer or 5 wine (which can be purchased from the Procurator in exchange for 5 tile)
- Woodcutter: Standard construction materials and access to the tree
The Bardic Hearth is particularly interesting because it represents a more Romanized approach to Celtic traditions—rather than preserving the sacred nature of the tree, you’re using Celtic-inspired gathering techniques to justify its removal.
The Tree Removal Process
Once both buildings are constructed, you’ll need to interact with the Bardic Hearth to rally your workers. You’ll then face the final choice: whether to proceed with cutting down the tree or to reconsider your decision.
If you choose to cut it down, your workers will begin the process of felling the sacred tree. This is a significant moment in the quest, as it represents a definitive break with Celtic traditions and a clear alignment with Roman expansionist policies.
Benefits and Consequences of Tree Removal
Removing the sacred tree offers several immediate benefits:
- Expanded building area: With the tree gone, you can build past the grove, accessing previously blocked land
- Resource access: You gain access to mines that were previously blocked by the tree’s presence
- Economic growth: The additional space and resources allow for greater economic development on the island
However, these benefits come with significant consequences:
- Voada’s anger: Cutting down the sacred tree substantially damages your relationship with Voada
- Celtic resentment: The local Celtic population will view you as disrespectful of their traditions
- Long-term conflict: You’re more likely to face raids and attacks from Celtic forces
Comparing Both Paths: Which Should You Choose?
The decision between preserving and cutting the sacred tree depends heavily on your overall strategy in Anno 117 Pax Romana. Let’s break down the pros and cons of each approach to help you make an informed decision.
Diplomatic Path Advantages
Choosing to preserve the sacred tree offers several strategic benefits:
- Improved relations with Voada: This is crucial if you’re pursuing the diplomatic solution to the Albion campaign
- Access to Celtic specialists: Maintaining good relations can unlock unique Celtic specialists and units
- Reduced military pressure: You’ll face fewer raids and attacks from Celtic forces
- Cultural diversity: You can develop both Roman and Celtic settlements, creating a more diverse empire
Economic Path Advantages
Opting to cut down the sacred tree provides different benefits:
- Immediate resource access: The mines and additional space are available right away
- Greater expansion potential: More building space allows for larger, more developed settlements
- Romanization benefits: If you’re pursuing a Roman-focused strategy, this aligns with your goals
- Military strength: The additional resources can be used to build a stronger military
Long-term Strategic Considerations
When making your decision, consider your long-term goals in the campaign:
- If you want peace with Voada: Preserve the tree and complete the diplomatic quests
- If you prefer military conquest: Cut the tree and prepare for conflict
- If you want to Romanize Albion: Remove the tree and focus on Roman-style development
- If you want to preserve Celtic culture: Keep the tree and build Celtic-style settlements
The Roots Of Our Ancestors in the Broader Campaign Context
The Roots Of Our Ancestors quest doesn’t exist in isolation—it’s part of a larger web of quests and decisions that shape your experience in Albion. Understanding how it connects to other elements of the campaign is crucial for making informed decisions.
Connection to Voada’s Relationship System
Your choice in this quest directly affects your relationship with Voada, which is measured on a scale from negative to positive. Preserving the sacred tree gives you a significant boost, while cutting it down causes a substantial penalty. This relationship score affects:
- Voada’s aggression: Lower scores lead to more frequent raids
- Diplomatic options: Higher scores unlock peaceful solutions
- Quest availability: Certain quests only appear with good relations
- Trade opportunities: Better relations can lead to better trade deals
Integration with the Diplomatic Solution
The Roots Of Our Ancestors is one of three key quests that determine whether you can achieve a diplomatic solution with Voada. The other two are:
- The Lost Cohort: Where you decide the fate of Roman deserters
- Celtic Captives: Where you choose what to do with a captured Celtic warrior
For the diplomatic solution, you need to:
- Preserve the sacred tree (The Roots Of Our Ancestors)
- Spare the deserters (The Lost Cohort)
- Return the captive to Voada (Celtic Captives)
Completing all three quests in this manner will give you enough positive points with Voada to achieve a ceasefire and potentially form an alliance.
Impact on Romanization vs. Celtic Preservation
Your choice in this quest also affects your broader approach to cultural development in Albion. If you preserve the tree, you’re signaling a commitment to Celtic preservation, which makes it easier to develop Celtic-style settlements with Smiths and Aldermen. If you cut the tree, you’re embracing Romanization, which facilitates the development of Roman-style settlements with Mercators and Nobles.
This cultural choice affects:
- Building aesthetics: Celtic vs. Roman architectural styles
- Unit types: Different military and civilian units
- Resource needs: Different population tiers require different goods
- Diplomatic relations: Your cultural stance affects various factions
Advanced Tips and Strategies
To maximize the benefits of The Roots Of Our Ancestors quest, consider these advanced strategies:
Timing Your Decision
Don’t rush into making your choice about the sacred tree. Consider:
- Your current relationship with Voada: If it’s already positive, preserving the tree will amplify this
- Your resource needs: If you desperately need the mines, cutting the tree might be necessary
- Your military strength: If you can handle Voada’s raids, you have more flexibility to choose the economic path
- Your long-term goals: Consider how this choice affects your endgame strategy
Resource Management
Regardless of your choice, efficient resource management is crucial:
- For the diplomatic path: Ensure you have a steady supply of pigs for sacrifices
- For the economic path: Stockpile beer or wine before starting the tree removal process
- General preparation: Have excess construction materials ready for either path
Settlement Planning
Plan your settlement layout with your decision in mind:
- If preserving the tree: Design your settlement around the sacred grove as a central feature
- If removing the tree: Plan for expanded development in the newly available space
- Defensive considerations: Consider military needs, especially if choosing the economic path
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Players often make several mistakes when approaching The Roots Of Our Ancestors quest. Being aware of these can help you avoid costly errors:
Rushing the Decision
Many players make their choice about the sacred tree too quickly, without considering the long-term consequences. Take the time to evaluate your options and consider how this decision fits into your broader strategy.
Ignoring Resource Preparation
Both paths require specific resources, and failing to prepare adequately can lead to delays or missed opportunities. Ensure you have the necessary materials before committing to either path.
Overlooking the Relationship Impact
Some players focus solely on the immediate economic benefits without considering how their choice affects their relationship with Voada. This can lead to unexpected conflict and diplomatic challenges later in the campaign.
Missing the Scathach Choice
After the sacrifice ceremony, some players miss or rush through the Scathach arrival choice, not realizing its significance. Take the time to consider this decision carefully, as it can substantially affect your relationship with Voada.
Conclusion: Making the Right Choice for Your Strategy
The Roots Of Our Ancestors quest in Anno 117 Pax Romana represents one of the most meaningful decision points in the entire campaign, forcing you to balance economic interests against cultural preservation and immediate gains against long-term strategy. Whether you choose to preserve the sacred tree and pursue a diplomatic path with Voada or remove it to unlock immediate economic benefits, your choice will shape your experience in Albion for the rest of the campaign.
By understanding all the options, consequences, and strategic considerations outlined in this guide, you’re now equipped to make an informed decision that aligns with your overall goals in Anno 117 Pax Romana. Remember that there’s no universally “correct” choice—the best decision depends on your personal playstyle, strategic preferences, and long-term vision for your Roman empire in Albion.
Whatever path you choose, The Roots Of Our Ancestors quest offers a rich, meaningful experience that exemplifies the best of Anno 117 Pax Romana’s approach to storytelling, strategy, and player choice. May your reign in Albion be prosperous, whether through Roman might or Celtic wisdom!