Talk:Stronghold/@comment-64.231.235.27-20200222085259

Regarding the possibility of multiple strongholds, I have just completed a test of sorts. Using my Fighter/Thief in original SoA with ToB installed and patched - so not EE - I've found by either leaving right before killing Torgal or after without Nalia being in the group, then going to Athkatla's docks district and aquiring the thief stronghold and completing its subquests; once they're done all you have to do is deliver the news to Nalia as she awaits outside her Keep of the fate of her father and she'll offer the Keep to you. If Nalia is in the group as Torgal dies, once you leave the keep, or even if you dismiss her from the party, re-recruit from the Coronet and go back to the Keep she will always pay you the 10k+ reward but won't offer the Keep to you. Only by clearing the keep entirely without her aid and delivering the news to her in the palisade can you then run both the Keep and the thieves guild.

However it is not as simple as delivering bad news; if you ask for a reward for clearing the keep, she'll give it and not even consider you for the job. The response I gave I think went like this: "I feel as if my job is not done. I couldn't save your father and I am sorry." I don't know if those are the exact words or not, but it has to be along the lines of not being greedy, and not asking if you can go now that the Keep has been 'saved'.

It's a trade off; saving the de'Arnise keep with Nalia in the party nets you the 10k lump sum but you'll only get the stronghold if you haven't accepted another. Saving the Keep without Nalia nets you a small amount of coin but offsets this with gains in xp and future tax returns, while the thief stronghold is quite short and is more about making money. Given the difficulty a full party may have in reaching the 8 million xp cap by ToB the bonuses from the fighter stronghold might be worth it. Of course you can also over-tax your peasants as well. In the end it gives a steady income anyway which with the thieves guild operating in tandem should offset any additional costs, and even if you tax your subjects to the point of revolt you've still got the thieves' guild.