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The Wailing Banshee is a side quest in Pillars of Eternity.

Synopsis[ | ]

Niah, a woman from New Heomar, paid good coin for the old Lighthouse in Ondra's Gift, hoping to develop it into an inn. However, by the time she realizes that the lighthouse is haunted, the seller is already long gone. Close to giving up after weeks of being unable to find any workers brave enough to renovate the place, she asks for the Watcher's help in clearing out the building.

Walkthrough[ | ]

On the docks in the south-west portion of Ondra's Gift you will find Niah looking to hire someone for a task. She is trying to renovate the old lighthouse ruin to the west of her, but rumor of its haunting has driven away any laborers. She would like someone to take a look around the lighthouse to prove it is safe for work to begin. Accept the quest, and she will give you the key to the lighthouse.

Head into the lighthouse and make your way up to the third floor. Loot what you find on your way, don't miss the loose brick on the first floor, but beware of two scripted ambushes with numerous spirit creatures. The door to the third floor can be opened with a key on the table nearby.

Once you arrive on the top floor you will find Lilith, the wailing banshee that haunts the lighthouse. From here, there are two ways to complete the quest:

The wailing banshee battle screenshot

The not-peaceful solution

Kill Lilith

Getting too close, ignoring her threats, or attacking Lilith will start a fight. This can be very difficult for a low-level party. Several shades and spectres come to Lilith's aid and her wail can paralyze your characters. Once you have managed to defeat them all, head back down to Niah who is waiting just outside the lighthouse. Give her the "all clear" and claim your reward.
If you're not able to convince Maerwith to come to the lighthouse (see below), you will have to fight Lilith when you return and talk to her.

Release Lilith from her pain

You might observe Lilith and get hints on what to do next (1st Perception check, 18 required), you might even come closer (2nd Perception check, 15 required) – but watch out for signs of threats, and back away. Search the area to find a Logbook that mentions a ship called Red Dream. Reading it and the Evacuation Notice found on the previous floor will reveal some background information. In a chest behind Lilith (to the west) you can find Lilith's Shawl (Perception +3).

After you observe Lilith, you can leave the lighthouse and speak with Niah just outside. She directs you to The Charred Barrel in Brackenbury, where you find Maerwith on the upper floor. Don't be provocative or uncaring and you'll convince Maerwith to visit Lilith in the lighthouse.

Return to Niah to claim your reward.

Note[ | ]

  • If you return to the lighthouse a few days after completing the quest, Niah will have converted the ground floor into a new tavern, aptly named The Wailing Banshee.
  • This quest is marked as a side quest, despite the fact that its ID is prefixed with "tsk".

Journal[ | ]

quests\03_defiance_bay_ondras_gift\03_tsk_lighthouse
ID Objectives
0 The Wailing Banshee
10000 Niah's trying to renovate the old lighthouse in Ondra's Gift, but rumors of its haunting have driven away her laborers. She'd like someone to take a look around the place to prove that it's safe for work to begin.
1 Find the source of the howling noise.
10001 The lighthouse appears to have been abandoned for quite some time. It's infested with malevolent shadows, and I hear some kind of screaming coming from one of the floors above.

This must be the creature that's been haunting the lighthouse for over a century.

2 Deal with the cean gŵla.
10002 A banshee, or what the locals refer to as a "cean gŵla," wails and screams from the third floor of the lighthouse. It hasn't attacked me yet, but I'll need to get rid of it one way or another before the tower is safe for Niah's workers.
20004 When I got close enough for a good look, I noticed that the spirit seemed to be watching the horizon for something. Its hands were stained with something dark - blood or ink, perhaps. Maybe I'll find something nearby that can help me.
20000 The last lighthouse keeper kept a log seemingly into the final days of the War of Defiance. This person was also tracking the appearance of a ship called "the Red Dream." Niah might know more about it.
20002 Niah told me that the Red Dream is a pirate ship captained by an elf named Maerwith. She's known to frequent the Charred Barrel in Brackenbury when she's in town, which she apparently is now.
20001 Maerwith revealed that the last lighthouse keeper - presumably the creature that now haunts the upper level - was her mother. I convinced Maerwith to visit in hopes of pacifying the spirit.
20003 Maerwith obviously had a personal connection to the lighthouse and its last keeper, but she won't be visiting. I'll have to deal with the spirit another way.
3 Return to Niah by the lighthouse.
10003 The banshee shouldn't be a problem any longer. Niah's in Ondra's Gift, waiting for the good news.
4 Go to the lighthouse.
10004 Niah gave me a key to the lighthouse in the southwest corner of Ondra's Gift. She doesn't seem to think there's anything wrong with the place, but she'd like me to investigate the rumors of its supposed haunting.
End states
Yes Lighthouse Cleared
30000 I slew the banshee in the lighthouse. Niah was able to resume her renovations.
Yes Banshee Calmed
30002 I convinced Maerwith to visit the banshee. Now that the angry spirit is at rest, Niah can resume her renovations.
No FAIL
30003 I killed Niah. I won't get any reward from her now for clearing out the lighthouse.
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