Overview
Old Maren has tended the herb gardens of Misty Village for longer than anyone remembers. Her enchanted lantern, gifted to her by a wandering Seer, keeps the dead politely on their side of the veil. She left it hanging on a low branch while collecting moss in the Whispering Glade and, in her own words, "the tree moved when I wasn't looking."
The lantern is still in the Glade, faintly glowing. Without it, the village's nights have grown longer and louder. Maren is too frail to retrieve it herself, and her granddaughter refuses to set foot in the trees. That leaves you.
This is one of the first Side Quests available in Phase 1 and the safest excuse to scout the Glade before MQ-2. Travel light, expect one or two minor encounters, and return before nightfall.
Objectives
- Find the enchanted lantern in the Whispering Glade.
- Return the lantern to Old Maren.
Walkthrough
Step 1 — Accept the Request
Old Maren stands in her hut on the western edge of Misty Village. The quest dialogue triggers when you ask "How can I help?". A Charisma reply adds a free Health Potion to the reward.
Step 2 — Reach the Northeast Clearing
From the village, travel east to the Glade, then north twice. The clearing has a toppled oak with faint lantern-glow at its base. Encounter chance is 30% per move.
Step 3 — Retrieve the Lantern
Interact with the oak. There is a 50% chance a Glade Wisp materialises. Defeat it (20 XP) or flee — both clear the encounter.
Step 4 — Return to Old Maren
Travel back to Misty Village. Maren hands you two Spirit Tonics and 15 AC. Her dialogue tree now offers a daily Shadow Herb trade.
Rewards
| Reward | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Experience | 60 XP | +20 if you defeated the Wisp |
| Avalon Coin | 15 | |
| Spirit Tonic | x2 | Restore 40 MP each |
| Reputation | +5 Misty Village | Unlocks daily Shadow Herb trade |
Tips
- Run this before MQ-2. The Spirit Tonics are exactly what you need for the Marsh of Echoes.
- Use Charisma at dialogue start for the bonus Health Potion.
- Travel during the day. Night encounters in the Glade have a +15% spawn modifier.
- Combine with Shadow Beast Hunt — same map, overlapping objectives.
Related Lore
Old Maren's lantern is a fragment of a larger artefact — the Seer's Crown — broken when The Forgetting first crossed into Mystical Sanctum. Her background appears in the NPC wiki.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where exactly is Old Maren's lantern?
Northeast clearing of the Whispering Glade, beneath a toppled oak tree. The lantern glows faintly even in daylight.
Can I do this quest before MQ-2?
Yes, and you should. It is the safest way to scout the Glade and gather Shadow Essence before Echoes of the Forgotten.
Is the lantern usable after returning it?
No, but completing the quest grants permanent +5% encounter avoidance in the Glade at night.
What if the Glade Wisp keeps respawning?
Each travel through the Glade has an independent 20% spawn check. Carry Health Potions or flee until the lantern tile is clear.