Edit: Yes, the first kill in empowered unlocked the quest line. The one that you kill to unlock them does not. I believe they simply changed the quest a bit. In other words, not a bug, I think. I’ll admit, it is somewhat confusing that the area unlocks, but no quests until you kill first in empowered.
Im actually not sure, if this is a bug, but I recall there being quest handed out and other interactions before.
So, I just unlocked empowered monoliths. I then entered the Shattered Road area where the forgotten knights faction is. I remember doing it before this event reset and the npc handed out a quest to kill more harbingers on higher corruption and so on.
Now, no matter what I do, I can’t talk to the npc. The faction is unlocked, though, so this does not block progression, which makes me think this may not even be a bug, but that this questline may just have been changed. Still, I’m not directed anywhere. I have no quests atm.
Just posting this a potential bug report. I would also like to hear, if same happens to other people and if there is a way to fix this, if any fixing is needed.