Considering how unforgiving Dark Souls 2 is, the last thing you want to do is miss out on goodies and souls to aid you on your quest. Unfortunately, in addition to giving you very little leeway for error, the developers also thought it would be fun for you to miss out on items if you don't follow certain steps. Nice guys, huh? Pate and Creighton are two NPCs who you'll have to meet and greet at certain points in the game to get some nice gear. Here we'll find Pate's location first to set off the quest.
Forest of the Fallen Giants - Pate
Start off at the Cardinal Tower camp in the Forest of the Fallen Giants. Go down the ladder here. Immediately turn left and you'll see a hollow slumped against the wall and one on the bridge just ahead. Slay both of them and go past where the first hollow was to find an arch to the left. Down the stairs will be a hollow out of sight behind the middle pillar, make sure he doesn't catch you off guard.
Go up the giant tree root in the next room (ignore any archers to the right for now) and you'll be up on a stone fort with wooden barricades. A few enemies will be semi-hiding here, take care of them and move forward. As you're getting to the corner there will be an annoying enemy that will used ranged attacks just to annoy you more than anything. Take him out before he comes a problem later, but if this is your first time through this place DO NOT go up the ladder to the right halfway through on this path to kill him. You will only succeed in spawning a later boss, The Pursuer, who at this time will probably be way too strong for you (unless you're tracking back).
Around the corner will be two more hollows, dispatch them and move towards the latter at the end. After you've taken the ladder down, edge forward until you get to a hole in the wall on the right. Quickly pop in and out and back towards the ladder to avoid being arrowed to death. You may want to hold your ground now as around 3-4 enemies will come out of the hole and attack you. Deal with them however you want and walk past the hole in the wall. In front of you to the right sitting down will be (finally) Pate. Talk to him until he starts to say the same thing again and you'll have to enter the courtyard he was sitting in front of. Unfortunately for you, this is the Forest of the Fallen Giants Trap. But it is necessary to complete it. Once you're done you'll end up right in front of Pate again, repeat the process of talking to him until he repeats himself and then you're done.
NOTE: Doing this will enable you to summon Pate in Dark Souls 2 to fight by your side in the Last Giant fight. Very handy.
Huntsman's Copse - Creighton
Thankfully this time, Creighton's location is incredibly simple to find. If you've already found the Undead Lockaway bonfire - he's simply at the back of the cell waiting for you to talk to him (it can be difficult to see him if you're not paying much attention). If you haven't found said bonfire yet - read on.
Whilst in Huntsman's Copse (after crossing the big iron bridge) you'll find your way to a familiar looking kind of holding cell. This one is locked however, but finding the key is fairly simple. Go over the stone bridge to the left of the cell and eliminate the enemy. Continue around the cliff and you'll be jumped by another enemy. Take him out and move on. Up the slope will be two more guys for you to deal with. After they're done for, continue along the cliff and you'll come to a fork, take the left option. Continue up the slope until you find a clearing and you'll be jumped by 3 enemies (one to the left, two on the right). At the end of this clearing to the left will be a ledge with an enemy that you can jump on. Do so and kill him. After you're done turn right around and follow the path. There will be an enemy waiting to greet you towards the corner, and he'll be backed up by a few others. Kill them all and laugh maniacally as one of them will drop the undead lockaway key. Go back to the cell next to the bridge, unlock it, and behind the bonfire sitting down is Creighton.
Earthen Peak - Pate
Just as a note from now on - aside from the first two, these instances will only appear for you to complete if you have spoke to them for the first time, allowing them to move on.
Start from the Central Earthen Peak bonfire. Turn around and go up the stairs to the left, out the door on the right. Immediately on your left will be a headless enemy. Finish him off and continue forward - the lever on the wall isn't particularly relevant to this, but if you pull it the elevator will raise up for you to snag an item. Just make sure you don't get crushed when it comes down. Go up the ladder in this room and ignore the pots to the left, they'll only poison you anyway. At the end of this corridor you'll see an enemy above some small stairs. Ignore him for now and go into the doorway on the right just before the stairs.
In this room will be a bunch of pots and Pate leaning against a wall. Exhaust his dialogue and go back to where you entered the room. Take out the enemy above the stairs now, but be careful of the pots next to him, being poisoned in Dark Souls 2 is never a good thing. When he's dead look across to the right to see a mage. If you can help it at all try to take them out from range. Their fireball attacks are quite annoying and can pack a punch. After the fight, make your way forward to where the mage was, but stop when you see a wooden railing to your right. Knock down the railing and drop down to the ledge below. Turn right around and press A or X on the wall in front of you, it will open to reveal an area with a chest. Take the item, and return to Pate through the door on the same level. Considering the usual torment, this isn't too bad for Dark Souls. Pate's armour will be your reward here if you summoned him during the Giant boss fight and he survived. Make sure you talk to him as much as possible and you're ready to move onto the next part.
Shaded Woods - Creighton
Probably the easiest of the lot, but just as important nonetheless. Find the Ruined Fork Road bonfire (or warp to it if you already have). Simply walk up the stairs and go towards the right entrance with the fog. He's a little hard to see again but Creighton's location is right here sat against the wall before entering the foggy area. Make sure you talk to him until he repeats himself again and you're done.
Brightstone Cove Tseldora - Pate and Creighton
After the fight against the Prowling Magus and his Congregation, you'll find a bonfire named Chapel Threshold. Find your way here first (or warp if you have it unlocked). This is the last step in the sidequest, so make sure you have followed the previous steps or nothing will happen.
Get up from the bonfire and go out towards the chapel. Don't go in to the chapel, instead move to the ledge towards the right of it. Take care in dropping down (don't worry if you smash any of the pots, they aren't full of poison here thankfully) and in this building you'll see Dark Souls 2 very own dream fight in Mild Mannered Pate vs. Creighton the Wanderer. Now is the time to pick your side. Whoever you decide to cut down won't really pay any attention to you so you don't have to worry about the fight. Just make sure that you land the killing blow.
When you're done make sure to speak to the "victor" - although by this point you probably did the most damage as you're becoming the biggest badass in Dark Souls 2. Pate's spear and a ring of thorns will be your spoils if Pate is killed. Creighton's steel mask will be what you get if you take him down.
The survivor of the fight will also give you the Tseldora Den Key for extra items. To access this, break down the bookshelves to the left corner of the room the guys had their fight in. Continue along this path passing two doors until you come to an enemy with his back to you. One that looks like he's from Resident Evil. Take him out and go to your right to see another one of these guys standing around. Take him out and take care dropping down. There's a few enemies around here including the guys you just encountered and some annoying basiliks. Try not to get petrified and clear the area. Make sure you get yourself to full health now - you'll need it. Before continuing out of this area there will be a large door to the left. Bash it down and you'll be swept off your feet and damaged. Pretty annoying that you can't avoid it, but that's just the way Dark Souls is. Go through here and enter the wooden door, followed by the iron door that you will open with your newly acquired key.
The left chest is booby trapped, so again make sure you have enough health to take the hit. You'll bag 10 rusted coins and some Engraved Gauntlets and finally be done with the quest. You can however go back to Majula now to talk to the Hag who will sell the armor set of the victim.
If you enjoyed reading this, here are a few others that you may also like: