Half a Kingdom for a Horse is a quest unique to Mount&Blade: With Fire & Sword. It requires the player to have 50 renown and is available if the player asks a noble "I would be glad to take upon myself a special mission."
Apart from storyline-driven events, when a player asks to swear fealty to a monarch, even if relations are good enough with both the target nation and the monarch himself, the monarch will usually refuse if the player has not completed this quest.
This quest can be taken from any noble of the target nation. The player will be given a small amount of money, as well as a Troop Horse which needs to be sent to the monarch. After accepting this quest, as the player moves a few steps away from the lord, he/she will be ambushed by bandits, and only a few of his/her party will be available for combat (usually less than half the number of bandits). Despite the overwhelming number, they are still bandits and so the player and his/her remaining party members should be enough to beat them.
On success, the player will receive more gold from the monarch. If somehow the player is knocked out by bandits, the Troop Horse will be lost and the quest will fail.
Transcript[]
Issuing the quest[]
- Noble: Could you perhaps do me a small favor, {sir/madam}? The task is this: we had planned to give our ruler a pure-bred stallion, but alas, war has called and I cannot deliver the beast. Can you convey the animal to him in my stead?
- Player:
- (Agree) Very well, I would not shy from taking this job.
- Noble: Here is the stallion, and here is the money for his keeping. Know this -- if you should lose the steed, or fail to deliver it in time, you'll have only yourself to blame for what follows.
- (Refuse) I am honored to hear that you would wish to bestow such an important task upon me... But alas, I have no time to play nurse to a horse.
- Noble: The decision is yours. I shall find myself another who can aid me in this.
- (Agree) Very well, I would not shy from taking this job.
Ambush[]
You were ambushed. Now you shall have to fight.
- Bandit: Well hello, wayfarer! Why such a hurry? What is it that troubles you?
- Player: And who are you to ask that?
- Bandit: Who am I? Why, I am a freedom fighter, at your service. -- And the keeper of this road, too.
- Player: What is that supposed to mean?
- Bandit: No need for rude words, wayfarer. Better show us what you have in the cart, now.
- Player: In the cart be arms, and I assure you I can use them...
- Bandit: Then we shall just have to see about that...
On defeating the bandits[]
You managed to outstrip your pursuers. You must deliver the horse as soon as possible, before someone else decides the should make it theirs.
On being defeated by the bandits[]
- Bandit: I believe not my eyes! Verily a royal steed you have, my good {man/lady}. To possess such a treasure, a {man/woman} must be able to wield his saber with great skill. Perhaps we shall take it!
You failed to deliver the horse.
Delivery[]
- Player: {sire/madam}, I brought you a modest gift from the local nobles.
- Monarch: What a beautiful stallion! Truly my subjects must love me, if they bring such gifts. But it is taking a great risk, travelling these roads with such a horse. Here, take this for your troubles.