eXputer

QuestsupportingSide mission

Return the Idol

An Act 1 quest in which the player steals the Idol of Silvanus from the druids in Emerald Grove and returns it to Mol, while managing the danger to the tiefling refugees.

RoleSide quest involving Mol, the tiefling children, the druids, and the Idol of Silvanus.
Statusavailable in Act 1
Importancesupporting
RewardA reward from Mol, with a promised future reward in Baldur's Gate.
TimeUnknown
  • ActAct 1
  • Quest typeSide mission
  • Starting factionTiefling children
  • Primary locationEmerald Grove
  • Primary objectiveReturn the Idol of Silvanus to Mol
  • MissableYes

The source material does not establish a reliable completion-time estimate or a fixed numerical reward.

Key takeaways

Keep the grove's story state in mind before attempting the theft.

  • Earn Mol's trust first Mol does not offer the quest immediately. Assist the tiefling children in Emerald Grove before returning to speak with her.
  • The idol is politically dangerous The Idol of Silvanus is part of the druids' Ritual of Thorns. Removing it can put the tieflings in danger if the druids turn hostile.
  • Complete it before major progression Freeing Halsin, forcing the tieflings out of the grove, or completing the ritual may prevent the player from returning the idol to Mol.
  • The handover is optional in practice Keeping the idol creates a different outcome, while returning it to Mol completes the intended objective and secures her promised reward path.

Overview

Return the Idol is the return stage of the Act 1 quest involving Mol and the Idol of Silvanus in Emerald Grove.

Return the Idol is tied to Mol, the leader of the tiefling children in Emerald Grove. The broader quest begins when the player earns Mol's trust by helping the tiefling children, after which Mol can offer the objective of stealing the Idol of Silvanus. The idol is a sacred object used by the druids during the Ritual of Thorns, so taking it is not a routine theft: it can immediately affect the fragile relationship between the druids and the tiefling refugees.

The central task is to take the Idol of Silvanus from the druids and deliver it to Mol. The quest therefore sits at the intersection of two groups inside Emerald Grove. Mol wants the idol, while the druids are using it as part of their ritual, and disrupting that ritual can cause the druids to attack the tieflings if the situation is not handled carefully. The player must consider the timing of the theft as well as the final handover.

The quest is missable. It should be completed before freeing the druid Halsin, because later story progression may prevent the player from returning the idol to Mol. The opportunity can also disappear if the tieflings are forced out of the grove or if the Ritual of Thorns is completed. Returning the idol fulfills the main objective and leads to a reward from Mol, including a promise of a future reward in Baldur's Gate.

Players can instead keep the idol rather than returning it. That choice produces a different outcome from the intended handover and should be treated as a deliberate alternative rather than a way to complete the quest normally. Because the quest involves a potentially violent reaction from the druids, it is safest to resolve it before advancing the grove's major story state.

Where this sits

Earn Mol's trustHelp the tiefling children
Steal the idolTake the Idol of Silvanus
Return the idolDeliver it to Mol
  1. 1Earn Mol's trustprerequisiteRequired before Mol offers the theft objective.
  2. 2Steal the Idol of SilvanusobjectiveThe central theft in the quest line.
  3. ●Return the Idol of SilvanuscurrentThe intended completion step.
  4. 4Claim Mol's rewardoutcomeReturning the idol provides a reward and opens a promised future reward path.

The quest progresses from building trust with Mol to stealing the idol and deciding whether to return it.

Requirements

The quest depends on the current state of Emerald Grove and Mol's relationship with the player.

  • RequiredEarn Mol's trustAssist the tiefling children before speaking with Mol about the idol.
  • RequiredKeep the quest window openComplete the quest before freeing Halsin, forcing the tieflings out of the grove, or completing the Ritual of Thorns.
  • RequiredReach Emerald GroveMol and the relevant druid and tiefling storyline are located in Emerald Grove.
  • RecommendedPlan for a possible druid reactionThe idol is being used in the Ritual of Thorns, and stealing it can cause the druids to attack the tieflings.

Objectives

  1. Earn Mol's trust by assisting the tiefling children.This establishes the relationship required for Mol to offer the quest.
  2. Steal the Idol of Silvanus.The idol is a sacred druid object used during the Ritual of Thorns.
  3. Return the stolen idol to Mol.The handover is the primary objective and leads to Mol's reward.
  4. Avoid losing the quest through grove progression.The quest may become unavailable if the ritual is completed, the tieflings are forced out, or Halsin is freed.Optional
  5. Choose whether to return or keep the idol.Keeping the idol is an alternative outcome rather than the normal completion route.Optional

WalkthroughSpoilers

  1. 01

    Earn Mol's trust

    Help the tiefling children in Emerald Grove

    Complete assistance for the tiefling children before trying to obtain the idol. Mol's trust is the gate to this quest, so speaking with her before helping them may not produce the theft objective.

    Location: Emerald Grove

    TipTreat the children's storyline as the prerequisite rather than rushing directly to the druids' ritual.

  2. 02

    Receive the idol objective

    Speak with Mol after earning her trust

    Return to Mol once the tiefling children have accepted your help. She is the character who initiates the idol objective and explains the intended delivery to her.

    Location: Emerald Grove

    Watch outIf Mol does not offer the quest, check whether the prerequisite help for the tiefling children has actually been completed.

  3. 03

    Keep the quest completable

    Check the grove's story state before stealing

    Attempt the theft while the tieflings remain in the grove and before freeing Halsin or completing the Ritual of Thorns. These developments can close the opportunity to return the item to Mol.

    Location: Emerald Grove

    Watch outThe quest is missable if the tieflings are forced out, the ritual is completed, or story progression after Halsin's release locks the handover.

    Missable
  4. 04

    Steal the Idol of Silvanus

    Take the Idol of Silvanus

    Steal the sacred idol from the druids while it is being used for the Ritual of Thorns. The source material does not establish one universally safe approach, so be prepared for the theft to change the druids' attitude toward the tieflings.

    Location: Emerald Grove

    Watch outRemoving the idol can cause the druids to attack the tieflings. Do not treat the theft as consequence-free.

  5. 05

    Return the Idol of Silvanus to Mol

    Return to Mol with the idol

    Bring the stolen Idol of Silvanus back to Mol in Emerald Grove. Delivering it fulfills the main objective and produces the quest's intended reward outcome.

    Location: Emerald Grove

    Checkpoint
  6. 06

    Resolve the idol's fate

    Decide whether to hand it over

    Returning the idol completes the planned quest route, while keeping it for yourself creates a different outcome. The choice should be made with the reward and the state of the tiefling storyline in mind.

    Location: Emerald Grove

    Watch outKeeping the idol means you are not completing the primary return objective and changes the quest outcome.

    Missable
  7. 07

    Continue the reward thread

    Follow up on Mol's promised reward

    After a successful return, Mol provides a reward and promises a future reward in Baldur's Gate. The source material does not specify the exact form or timing of that later reward.

    Location: Baldur's Gate

Mission mechanics

This quest is governed more by faction state than by a conventional combat challenge. The player is taking a sacred object from the druids on behalf of Mol, the leader of the tiefling children, so the relevant risks are the ritual's status and the safety of the tiefling refugees. A successful theft can still create a poor outcome if it triggers a druid attack.

Timing is the key mechanic. The quest should be resolved before freeing Halsin, and it can also be lost if the tieflings are forced out of Emerald Grove or if the Ritual of Thorns is completed. These conditions make the quest easy to postpone accidentally while pursuing other Act 1 objectives.

The idol also supports a meaningful ownership choice. Returning it to Mol advances the intended quest line and produces a reward, while keeping it for yourself leads to a different result. Since the source material does not verify every possible route through the grove, this page avoids prescribing an unconfirmed stealth, dialogue, or combat sequence.

What works and what does not

Strengths

  • The quest connects the tiefling children's storyline to the druids' Ritual of Thorns.
  • The idol's importance creates a clear tension between helping Mol and preserving peace in Emerald Grove.
  • The option to return or keep the idol gives the objective more than one outcome.

Weaknesses

  • The quest can be missed if the grove's story state advances too far.
  • Stealing the idol may put the tieflings at risk of attack from the druids.
  • The precise safest theft method is not established by the supplied source material.

Best uses

  • Complete it before freeing Halsin or resolving the grove's major progression.
  • Use it as a decision point between supporting Mol's request and avoiding disruption to the druid ritual.

Choices and consequencesSpoilers

  • Return the Idol of Silvanus to Mol.

    This fulfills the primary objective, provides a reward from Mol, and leads to her promise of a future reward in Baldur's Gate.

    Spoiler
  • Keep the Idol of Silvanus.

    The quest resolves differently from the intended handover, and the player does not follow the normal return route to Mol.

    Spoiler
  • Steal the idol without accounting for the Ritual of Thorns.

    Disrupting the ritual can cause the druids to attack the tieflings, creating a dangerous outcome for the refugees.

    Spoiler
  • Complete the grove's relevant progression before returning the idol.

    The quest may become impossible to finish if the tieflings are forced out, the ritual is completed, or progression after freeing Halsin locks the return opportunity.

    Spoiler

Quest checklist

  • Assist the tiefling children before speaking with Mol about the idol.This is the trust prerequisite.
  • Speak with Mol after earning her trust.Mol initiates the idol objective.
  • Confirm that the tieflings are still in Emerald Grove.Their removal can end the opportunity.
  • Steal the Idol of Silvanus.The idol is being used for the Ritual of Thorns.
  • Prepare for the possibility that the druids attack the tieflings.The theft can disrupt the ritual and change the grove's situation.
  • Return the idol to Mol.This is the intended completion route.
  • Complete the quest before freeing Halsin.Later progression may lock out the handover.
  • Decide whether keeping the idol is worth the altered outcome.Keeping it is an alternative choice, not the primary return objective.Optional
  • Follow up on Mol's promised reward in Baldur's Gate.The exact reward details are not established in the source pack.Optional

Failure conditionsSpoilers

  • The tieflings are forced out of Emerald Grove.If the refugees leave the grove, the player may no longer be able to complete the return to Mol.
  • The Ritual of Thorns is completed.The quest may become unavailable once the ritual reaches completion.
  • Halsin is freed before the quest is completed.Story progression after freeing Halsin may lock the player out of returning the idol to Mol.
  • The idol is kept instead of returned.Keeping the item produces a different outcome and does not complete the primary return objective.
  • The theft triggers a druid attack on the tieflings.Taking the idol can disrupt the ritual and cause the druids to attack the refugees, potentially changing the wider grove outcome.

On failure

The source material does not verify a detailed checkpoint structure. Treat the handover to Mol as the decisive completion point.

Rewards and drops

  • Reward from Mol
    Returning the stolen idol to Mol provides a reward, but the supplied source does not specify its exact contents.
  • Promised future reward in Baldur's Gate
    Mol promises a later reward in the city of Baldur's Gate after the idol is successfully returned.
  • Idol of Silvanus
    The quest's central item can be returned to Mol or kept by the player, producing different outcomes.

AftermathSpoilers

Resolve the grove situation before moving on

Returning the idol to Mol provides the intended reward and opens a promised future reward in Baldur's Gate. However, the theft can also provoke the druids against the tieflings, and later grove developments may remove the opportunity to finish the quest. If you intend to complete it, resolve the handover before freeing Halsin or allowing the ritual and refugee storyline to move beyond the quest's window.

Trivia

  • The quest is associated with Mol's tiefling children rather than being a standalone request from the druids.
  • The Idol of Silvanus serves both as the quest objective and as an active part of the Ritual of Thorns.
  • The quest's later reward promise points beyond Act 1 to Baldur's Gate.
  • Keeping the idol is a supported alternative outcome to returning it to Mol.

Relationships

characters

  • MolQuest giverMol offers the idol objective after the player earns her trust.
  • HalsinProgression dependencyFreeing Halsin before completion may lock the player out of returning the idol.

locations

  • Emerald GroveQuest locationThe quest begins and develops in Emerald Grove.

items

  • Idol of SilvanusObjective itemThe sacred idol must be stolen and, on the intended route, returned to Mol.

events

  • Ritual of ThornsRitual affected by the theftThe druids use the idol for this ritual, which can be disrupted by taking it.