In the shadowy corners of Baldur’s Gate 3, a desperate mother pleads for help as her daughter Vanra has vanished without a trace. The quest to Save Vanra unfolds in the bustling Lower City, where players must navigate treacherous alliances and confront a notorious hag, Auntie Ethel, who harbors dark secrets. Will you brave the dangers of the Blushing Mermaid tavern and uncover the truth behind Vanra’s disappearance? Join us as we guide you through this gripping side quest, filled with twists, tactical battles, and the chance to alter fate itself.
Initating Save Vanra quest
To initiate the Save Vanra quest in Baldur’s Gate 3, players must first make their way to the Basilisk Gate Barracks located in the Lower City. Here, they will encounter Lora, a distressed mother pleading for help in finding her missing daughter, Vanra. Agreeing to assist her prompts Lora to reveal that her daughter was last seen at the Blushing Mermaid tavern, setting the stage for the quest. Players are advised to investigate this location next, as it is crucial for uncovering the mystery surrounding Vanra’s disappearance and confronting the dark forces at play.
The quest will be initiated during a conversation with Lora in Basilisk Gate Barracks in Lower City. Ask her about the details of her daughter’s disappearance. The trail will lead you to The Blushing Mermaid inn.
The Blushing Mermaid
The Blushing Mermaid is a pivotal location in the “Save Vanra” quest of Baldur’s Gate 3, serving as the starting point for a harrowing rescue mission. After meeting Lora, a frantic mother seeking help for her missing daughter, players are directed to this tavern where dark secrets unfold. Upon arrival, they encounter Captain Grizly, who initially appears to be an ally but soon reveals her true identity as Auntie Ethel, a malevolent hag responsible for Vanra’s abduction. This confrontation sets the stage for a tense battle, where players must use cunning and strategy to save the child from the hag’s clutches, highlighting the tavern’s role as both a sanctuary and a trap within the game’s rich narrative.
Proceed to the inn marked on your map. Talk to the man at the bar. Bosun Gannet will send you to Captain Grizly, who is on the upper floor of the inn.
Talk to Captain Grizly and ask her about Lora. When he offers you money to make Lora dissapear, refuse to learn the real identity of the woman.
Surprise! Captain Grizly will turn out to be Auntie Ethel. The witch will admit that she abducted the child and if you try to kill her, the girl will die with her.
When the witch disappears, a battle against 6 Redcaps will ensue. Defeat all the opponents and return to the tavern owner. Next to the counter there is a door to the basement, from which you can get to the witch’s hideout.
Getting Vanra out of Auntie Ethel’s stomach
To rescue Vanra from Auntie Ethel’s stomach in Baldur’s Gate 3, players must navigate a tense confrontation with the witch. First, it’s crucial to either reduce Ethel’s health and knock her unconscious or use the special potion known as Hag’s Bane. This potion forces Ethel to regurgitate Vanra, ensuring the child’s safety. If players choose to engage in combat, they must be careful not to kill Ethel outright, as doing so would also result in Vanra’s death. After successfully extracting Vanra, players can then defeat Auntie Ethel without the risk of harming the child, allowing for a triumphant conclusion to this harrowing quest.
You can’t kill the witch right away if Vanra is to be saved. In order for the girl to survive, you must first extract her from Auntie Ethel’s stomach. There are two ways to do this:
- You can engage the witch in combat, reduce her health points to 1 and knock her unconscious. Then you can cut the girl out of the witch’s belly.
- Alternatively, you can use a special potion that will make the witch vomit the girl. The recipe for Hag’s Bane (the potion you need) can be received during Help the Hag Survivors quest.
To learn more about knocking unconscious, visit How to use Knock Unconscious? page of our guide.
Help the Hag Survivors
To aid the Hag Survivors in Baldur’s Gate 3, players must first engage with the side quest that unfolds at the Elfsong Tavern. Here, you will discover a poster that leads to the “Help the Hag Survivors” quest, which is crucial for acquiring valuable resources needed to save Vanra. Completing this quest provides you with a recipe for Hag’s Bane, a potent concoction essential for confronting Auntie Ethel, the hag responsible for Vanra’s abduction. By assisting the survivors, you not only gain critical information but also enhance your chances of successfully rescuing Vanra from her grim fate. This preparation is vital, as it allows you to effectively counter Ethel’s dark magic during the climactic confrontation.
Talk to Zena in front of The Blushing Mermaid tavern. If you ask about Vanra, the woman will say that a group of people hiding in one of the houses at the docks is behind the kidnapping.
Go to the house shown in the screenshot above and pick the lock on the door. On the desk, you will find an eviction notice. After reading the note, the Help the Hag Survivor quest will be initiated. In the house you’ll also find a letter from Kled, from which contents you’ll learn that people who lived in the house moved to Old Garlow’s Place.
Old Garlow’s Place is southeast of The Blushing Mermaid. When you enter the house, Adrielle and her allies will confront you. Convince them that you ultimately want to kill the witch.
If in Act 1, you’ve helped Mayrina (Save Mayrina quest), you’ll meet her on the second floor of Garlow’s Place. If you ressurected her husband and gave the wand back to Mayrina, he will also be there.
Mayrina got transformed into a sheep. When you attempt to talk to her, she will only mutter about a mysterious doll.
Break the spell on Maryina by destroying 2 dolls. One is at the stairs, the second at the desk at the end of the room. A conversation with Jatlo will begin, followed by combat.
Read the letter found on Jatlo’s body and talk to Mayrina, she will give you a reward – Staff of Interruption.
Go downstairs and find the safe. Take 2 books and Dried Fey Flower. Read the diary to learn the recipe for Hag’s Bane. Craft the needed potion and proceed to Auntie Ethel’s hideout accessible from The Blushing Mermaid.
How to find Auntie Ethel’s hideout?
To locate Auntie Ethel’s hideout in Baldur’s Gate 3, players must first initiate the Save Vanra quest by speaking with Lora at the Basilisk Gate Barracks. After accepting her plea to find her missing daughter, Vanra, your investigation will lead you to the Blushing Mermaid tavern. Here, you’ll confront Captain Grizly, who reveals herself as Auntie Ethel. Following this encounter, Ethel will vanish, prompting a battle against her minions. To access her hideout, defeat these enemies and then descend into the tavern’s cellar. Look for an illusionary wall to navigate through, which will lead you directly to Auntie Ethel’s lair where you can attempt to save Vanra from her clutches.
There are wooden stairs leading to the cellar next to the innkeeper. In the cellar, you need to complete a Perception check to discover a magical door – this is the same illusion that you’ve encountered in Teahouse in Act 1.
Once you discover the door, rotate the camera so the cursor is on its other side and click anywhere. Your party should be able to safely get past the illusion.
Continue on to the next room and defeat a group of enemies. You can surprise them to gain an advantage in the battle. You can also try to sneak into the witch’s hideout undetected and avoid fighting them.
How to kill Auntie Ethel?
To defeat Auntie Ethel in Baldur’s Gate 3, players must first ensure the safety of Vanra, who is trapped within the hag. Engaging Ethel in combat is tricky; if she is killed before Vanra is freed, the child will perish as well. To save her, players can either use the Hag’s Bane potion to force Ethel to regurgitate Vanra or knock her unconscious and extract the child directly. Once Vanra is safe, players can then focus on defeating Ethel. It’s crucial to destroy the Pearlspore Bells around the battlefield first, as these allow Ethel to revive after being defeated. Only after neutralizing these threats can players finish off Auntie Ethel without endangering Vanra’s life.
The fight with Auntie Ethel will be very similar to the previous confrontation. The witch will use illusions and create clones. However, this time she will have additional help. Each time you kill Ethel, magic mushrooms will bring her back to life.
Before fighting the witch, equip yourself with outfits or drink potions that offer poison resistance. Also make sure that you have See Invisibility scroll or spell.
Start with saving Vanra. Knock the witch unconscious and remove the girl from her body or throw Hag’s Bane at her. When the child is safe, you can finish off Auntie Ethel.
First and foremost, deal with the 3 magical mushrooms. Each mushroom regenerates its health points fully during its turn, so you need to destroy it completely within your turn. As a result, it is worth focusing the attention of the entire team on a single mushroom. Once mushrooms are destroyed, start attacking the witch.
Mushrooms are resistant to poison and melee attacks. The best way to quickly get rid of the mushrooms is by using fire spells.
When the magic mushrooms are destroyed, you can take care of Auntie Ethel. Her illusions require only a single hit to be dispersed. If your team is around levels 9-10, you shouldn’t have too much trouble in this fight. Focus your attacks on the real witch and quickly end the fight.
On Ethel’s body, you will find the Corellon’s Grace weapon, Ring of Feywild Sparks and Tarnished Charm necklace. In the nearby chest, there is a bit of gold and 2 arrows.
What other side quests are connected to saving Vanra
The quest to save Vanra in Baldur’s Gate 3 is intricately linked to several other side quests that enhance the narrative and gameplay experience. Here are the key quests connected to Save Vanra:
- Help the Hag Survivors: This quest is crucial as it introduces players to characters who provide essential items needed for the main quest. Completing it allows you to obtain Hag’s Bane, a potion necessary for saving Vanra from Auntie Ethel. This quest begins when you interact with Zena outside the Blushing Mermaid tavern and leads you to Old Garlow’s Place, where survivors of Ethel’s previous victims reside.
- Save Mayrina: If players have previously completed this quest in Act 1, they will encounter Mayrina at Old Garlow’s Place during the Help the Hag Survivors quest. This connection enriches the storyline, as Mayrina’s fate ties back to Auntie Ethel, providing context and depth to the current events surrounding Vanra.
These interconnected quests not only enhance the urgency and stakes of saving Vanra but also reward players with valuable items and lore that deepen their engagement with the game’s world.
What other quests can I complete in the Lower City area
In the Lower City of Baldur’s Gate 3, players can engage in a variety of quests that enhance the rich narrative and gameplay experience. Here are some notable side quests available in this bustling area:
- Investigate the Murders: A main quest where players track down potential murder victims and confront the assassin Dolor, leading to a showdown with the Murder Tribunal.
- Free Counsellor Florrick: Rescue Florrick from a burning inn, which ties into the overarching narrative of political intrigue.
- Aid the Underduke: Assist the Underduke with various tasks that delve into the criminal underbelly of Baldur’s Gate.
- Help the Cursed Monk: Resolve issues involving a cursed monk, which can be tied to other quests in the area.
- Find Mystic Carrion’s Servant: This quest involves locating a character connected to the mysterious Mystic Carrion.
- Roveer’s Storehouse: Speak to Roveer at Elfsong Tavern to learn about his hidden storehouse and retrieve valuable items.
- Save Hope: A quest involving rescuing another character, adding depth to the ongoing storylines.
- Find the Missing Letters: Discover a Tressym stealing letters, which leads to a light-hearted yet engaging side quest.
- Investigate Cazador’s Palace: A pivotal quest for Astarion’s storyline, where players must infiltrate Cazador’s domain.
- Solve the Open Hand Temple Murders: Investigate a series of murders linked to a cult, offering insights into darker elements of the game’s lore.
These quests not only provide opportunities for combat and exploration but also deepen character interactions and story development within Baldur’s Gate 3’s expansive world.
