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QuestmajorSide missionModerate

Save Mayrina

An Act One side quest in Baldur's Gate 3 that leads from the Sunlit Wetlands into Auntie Ethel's hidden lair, where Mayrina's fate depends on how you deal with the hag.

RoleRescue quest involving Mayrina, Auntie Ethel, and the consequences of the hag's bargain.
Statusavailable in Act One
Importancemajor
RewardPotential access to Auntie Ethel's Hair, the Staff of Crones, Bitter Divorce, and Second Marriage.
TimeVariable; depends on exploration, dialogue, and combat choices.
  • ActAct One
  • Quest typeSide mission
  • Primary locationSunlit Wetlands
  • Central antagonistAuntie Ethel
  • Core activityExploration, dialogue, and combat
  • DifficultyModerate
  • Spoiler sensitivityMajor choices affect the aftermath

The quest has no single mandatory resolution; the available outcome depends on exploration, dialogue, combat, and decisions concerning Mayrina and Connor.

Key takeaways

The quest combines investigation, exploration, a hag encounter, and several consequences that continue beyond the immediate rescue.

  • Start in the Sunlit Wetlands The opening encounter with Auntie Ethel, Johl, and Demir introduces the central deception and points the party toward Ethel's teahouse.
  • Search beneath the teahouse Mayrina is not simply waiting in an ordinary room. The route into Ethel's hidden lair is essential to understanding the bargain and reaching the confrontation.
  • Keep dialogue options available A direct fight is not the only possible way to handle Auntie Ethel. Dialogue checks can influence the encounter and may affect which rewards remain available.
  • Inspect the quest rewards carefully Auntie Ethel's Hair, Staff of Crones, Bitter Divorce, and Second Marriage each represent different parts of the quest's resolution and aftermath.
  • Expect a continuing storyline Mayrina's story can continue into Act Three, so the Act One outcome is more than a self-contained rescue.

Overview

Save Mayrina is an Act One quest about exposing Auntie Ethel's deception and deciding what kind of rescue Mayrina actually needs.

The quest begins in the Sunlit Wetlands, where Auntie Ethel is arguing with Mayrina's brothers, Johl and Demir. Ethel presents herself as a helpful old woman, but the encounter establishes that Mayrina has been drawn into a dangerous bargain connected to her deceased husband, Connor. The brothers' confrontation gives the party its first opportunity to question Ethel's story and learn that Mayrina is in serious danger.

Following the trail to Ethel's teahouse leads to a hidden lair beneath the building. The route is designed around deception, environmental hazards, and magical obstacles rather than a simple march to a boss arena. Exploration and dialogue can reveal that the apparent rescue scenario is part of Ethel's manipulation, while the party's decisions determine whether Mayrina leaves the hag's control and what happens to the remains of her old life.

The final confrontation with Auntie Ethel can be approached through combat and, in some circumstances, through dialogue checks. The quest's rewards and aftermath are tied to those choices. Auntie Ethel's Hair may provide a permanent ability-score boost, while the Staff of Crones, Bitter Divorce, and Second Marriage connect the quest to different interpretations of Mayrina's future.

Mayrina's storyline is not fully isolated to Act One. Her treatment of Ethel, her response to Connor's resurrection, and the party's handling of the hag's bargain can affect how her story develops later. Players seeking the most favorable result should preserve opportunities for dialogue, inspect the lair carefully, and avoid treating every apparent solution as harmless simply because it is offered by Ethel.

Where this sits

Opening encounterMeet Mayrina's brothers and Auntie Ethel
InvestigationFollow the situation to Ethel's teahouse
Hidden lairReach the area beneath the teahouse
ConfrontationChallenge the hag and determine Mayrina's fate
AftermathResolve the consequences involving Connor and Mayrina
  1. 1Sunlit WetlandsOpening location
  2. 2Auntie Ethel's teahouseEthel's apparent refuge
  3. 3Hidden lair beneath the teahouseMain exploration and confrontation area
  4. 4Act Three aftermathMayrina's story can continue later

Save Mayrina starts as a local dispute and expands into a multi-stage hag quest with consequences beyond Act One.

Requirements

Reach the Sunlit Wetlands and investigate the dispute involving Mayrina and Auntie Ethel.

  • RequiredReach the Sunlit WetlandsThe quest's opening scene takes place in this Act One area.
  • RequiredInvestigate Auntie Ethel's storyThe brothers' confrontation provides the initial context for Mayrina's disappearance and the bargain surrounding her.
  • RequiredReach Ethel's teahouseThe quest progresses from the wetlands to Ethel's apparent home and the hidden lair beneath it.
  • RecommendedPrepare for environmental hazardsThe final confrontation can involve dangerous environmental conditions. Create Water is often recommended for managing one of those hazards.
  • RecommendedKeep dialogue-capable characters availableSome outcomes depend on dialogue checks, so exhausting every non-combat option is not advisable if you want to explore alternate resolutions.

Objectives

  1. Investigate the dispute involving Mayrina's brothers and Auntie Ethel.The opening conversation establishes why Mayrina is vulnerable and why Ethel's offer should be treated with suspicion.
  2. Find the route into Auntie Ethel's hidden lair.The quest cannot be resolved by stopping at the teahouse's visible rooms; the party must continue into the concealed area beneath it.
  3. Confront Auntie Ethel.The party can pursue a fight or investigate dialogue-based ways to secure a better result.
  4. Rescue Mayrina from the hag's control.Mayrina's condition and the apparent rescue are both tied to Ethel's deception, so the party must address the underlying bargain.
  5. Decide what to do with Bitter Divorce.The wand can resurrect Connor, but doing so changes the direction of Mayrina's story rather than simply restoring her former life.

WalkthroughSpoilers

  1. 01

    Learn what happened to Mayrina.

    Investigate the argument in the Sunlit Wetlands

    Approach the dispute between Auntie Ethel and Mayrina's brothers, Johl and Demir, and listen before committing to a side. Their claims reveal that Mayrina has been taken to Ethel's care and that the hag's reassuring presentation does not explain the whole situation.

    Location: Sunlit Wetlands

    TipQuestion Ethel's account rather than accepting her offer of help immediately.

    Watch outThe opening exchange establishes the quest's moral context, and your response can change how the encounter concludes.

  2. 02

    Find where Mayrina is being held.

    Follow the trail to Auntie Ethel's teahouse

    Continue from the wetlands to Ethel's teahouse and examine the apparent hospitality with care. The visible house is only the front of the quest area; the important route continues beneath it into the hidden lair.

    Location: Auntie Ethel's teahouse

    TipSearch the teahouse instead of assuming the visible rooms contain the complete solution.

    Watch outEthel's presentation is deliberately deceptive, so treat offered bargains and reassuring explanations as part of the danger.

    Checkpoint
  3. 03

    Reach Mayrina and the hag's inner lair.

    Enter the hidden lair beneath the teahouse

    Navigate through the concealed passage and the lair's magical and environmental obstacles. Progress requires more than defeating ordinary opposition: inspect the surroundings, look for a safe route, and be prepared for hazards that can make a careless approach costly.

    Location: Hidden lair beneath the teahouse

    TipUse exploration and observation before spending resources on every obstacle.

    Watch outEnvironmental hazards can damage or impede the party, and rushing forward may leave characters poorly positioned for the confrontation.

  4. 04

    Determine the truth behind Mayrina's bargain.

    Expose Auntie Ethel's deception

    Continue through the lair until the party can directly challenge Ethel's claims and see how Mayrina's situation has been manipulated. Preserve dialogue opportunities if you want to test a non-combat resolution or influence the terms of the encounter.

    Location: Auntie Ethel's hidden lair

    TipA dialogue-capable character can be valuable when the quest presents checks or negotiations.

    Watch outChoosing immediate violence closes some conversational approaches and can change which rewards or outcomes are available.

    Checkpoint
  5. 05

    Defeat or outmaneuver Auntie Ethel.

    Confront Auntie Ethel

    Fight the hag or pursue a dialogue-based resolution when the opportunity appears. During the confrontation, watch the environment as well as Ethel herself; Create Water is often recommended for handling an environmental hazard associated with the final encounter.

    Location: Final confrontation in Ethel's lair

    TipShadowheart's Create Water spell is a commonly recommended tool for managing the encounter's environmental danger.

    Watch outA poor position or an ignored hazard can turn the confrontation into a rescue failure even if the party is otherwise strong.

  6. 06

    Complete the rescue and determine what happens next.

    Resolve Mayrina's immediate fate

    After dealing with Ethel, speak with Mayrina and examine the available quest items before leaving. The result is not limited to whether the hag is defeated: the party must also decide how to respond to Mayrina's grief and the consequences of Ethel's bargain.

    Location: Ethel's lair and its aftermath

    TipDo not leave before checking the area and speaking with Mayrina about the outcome.

    Watch outThe quest's later consequences depend on these decisions, including how Connor's fate is handled.

    Checkpoint
  7. 07

    Choose how to handle Connor's resurrection.

    Decide whether to use Bitter Divorce

    Bitter Divorce can be used to resurrect Mayrina's deceased husband, Connor. Using it does not simply restore the old situation; it creates a new condition that affects how Mayrina's story progresses, so consider the consequences before using the wand.

    Location: Quest aftermath

    TipTreat Bitter Divorce as a consequential story item rather than an ordinary disposable reward.

    Watch outThe resurrection changes Mayrina's future and can lead to an unsettling outcome.

    Missable

Mission mechanics

Save Mayrina is structured around uncertainty. Auntie Ethel's role as a deceptive hag means that the party is repeatedly asked to distinguish a genuine solution from an offer designed to deepen Mayrina's dependence. The quest therefore rewards investigation and careful conversation alongside combat strength.

The hidden lair beneath Ethel's teahouse is a major part of the mission rather than a short transition to the boss. Its obstacles and environmental hazards make positioning, exploration, and resource management important. Players who rush directly toward the apparent objective can enter the final encounter without understanding the available routes or tools.

The encounter also supports different styles of resolution. Defeating Ethel is a direct approach, while dialogue checks may provide another way to influence the result. These routes do not produce identical consequences, particularly when the party is seeking Auntie Ethel's Hair or deciding whether to use Bitter Divorce.

Shadowheart's Create Water spell is often recommended for the final confrontation because it can help manage an environmental hazard. This is a tactical aid rather than a complete strategy: the party still needs to watch Ethel, maintain a safe position, and protect the character or objective most vulnerable to the surroundings.

What works and what does not

Strengths

  • The quest combines investigation, exploration, dialogue checks, and combat instead of reducing the rescue to a single fight.
  • The hidden lair gives the mission a distinct environmental identity and makes the journey to the confrontation meaningful.
  • The branching handling of Mayrina and Connor gives the quest consequences that can persist beyond the immediate encounter.
  • Auntie Ethel's deceptive presentation supports role-playing decisions about trust, bargains, and the cost of an apparently easy solution.

Weaknesses

  • The mission can be unclear if the party accepts Ethel's explanations without searching the teahouse and its hidden areas.
  • Environmental hazards can make the final confrontation punishing for a party that does not notice the surroundings or prepare a response.
  • The rewards and outcomes are closely tied to choices, so players seeking a particular result may need to repeat the encounter or consult a save.
  • Resurrecting Connor does not provide a simple happy resolution and may be distressing for players expecting the wand to restore Mayrina's former life.

Best uses

  • Play it as an investigation before treating it as a combat mission.
  • Keep a save before the confrontation if you want to compare the hag's possible outcomes.
  • Inspect quest-related items and speak with Mayrina before deciding how to continue her story.

Encounter phasesSpoilers

  1. 1

    The deceptive introduction

    Starts: The party encounters Auntie Ethel arguing with Johl and Demir.

    The first phase is a social investigation. Ethel frames herself as a concerned helper while the brothers challenge her involvement with Mayrina.

    • Listen to both sides before deciding how to respond.
    • The scene is the first indication that Ethel's offer may conceal a bargain.
  2. 2

    The lair approach

    Starts: The party reaches the hidden area beneath Ethel's teahouse.

    The party must work through magical and environmental obstacles before the final confrontation. Exploration and hazard awareness are as important as damage output.

    • Search for a route through the lair rather than assuming every obstacle must be endured directly.
    • Manage party resources before entering the final area.
  3. 3

    The hag confrontation

    Starts: The party reaches Auntie Ethel in the inner lair.

    The climax allows a direct fight and may also present dialogue checks. Environmental danger can complicate the rescue and should be addressed alongside Ethel's actions.

    • Environmental hazardTell The surroundings become part of the danger during the final confrontation.Answer Use positioning and consider Shadowheart's Create Water spell to help manage the hazard.
    • Hag deceptionTell Ethel's manipulation remains central to the encounter and can make the apparent objective unreliable.Answer Observe the situation carefully and preserve dialogue options where possible.
    • Do not focus so narrowly on Ethel that you overlook the environment.
    • A dialogue-based approach may influence the rewards and outcome differently from an immediate attack.
  4. 4

    The aftermath decision

    Starts: Auntie Ethel has been dealt with and Mayrina can be addressed directly.

    The mission shifts from the immediate rescue to the consequences of the hag's bargain. Bitter Divorce introduces a separate decision concerning Connor.

    • Speak with Mayrina before leaving the area.
    • Examine Bitter Divorce and understand that resurrection changes the story rather than restoring the past.

Auntie Ethel encounterSpoilers

  • Location
    Inner lair beneath Auntie Ethel's teahouse
  • Health
    Not specified in the supplied source material.

Approach the arena with the rescue objective and the surrounding hazards in mind. Players can choose a direct fight or look for a dialogue-based resolution; the choice affects the available rewards and the quest aftermath. Keep the party positioned safely, watch for Ethel's deception, and consider using Shadowheart's Create Water spell when the environment becomes dangerous.

Weaknesses

  • The encounter can be influenced through dialogue checks as well as combat.
  • Environmental hazards can be managed with careful positioning and, potentially, Create Water.

Rewards

  • Potential access to Auntie Ethel's Hair.
  • Potential access to the Staff of Crones.
  • Potential access to Bitter Divorce and Second Marriage.

Choices and consequencesSpoilers

  • Accept Auntie Ethel's presentation without investigating further

    The party risks missing the truth of Mayrina's situation and the hidden route beneath the teahouse.

  • Fight Auntie Ethel directly

    A direct combat resolution can rescue Mayrina, but it may not produce the same reward or outcome as a route involving dialogue checks.

    Spoiler
  • Use dialogue checks during the confrontation

    Dialogue can help secure a favorable outcome and may affect what the party receives from the hag encounter.

    Spoiler
  • Take or use Bitter Divorce

    The wand can resurrect Connor, but his return changes Mayrina's story and does not recreate an uncomplicated reunion.

    Spoiler
  • Leave the quest outcome unresolved or handle it poorly

    Mayrina's fate and the later continuation of her story can be negatively affected, and some rewards may be missed.

    Spoiler

Quest checklist

  • Speak with Johl and Demir during the dispute in the Sunlit Wetlands.This establishes the opening context for Mayrina's disappearance.
  • Question Auntie Ethel's version of events.Her helpful appearance is part of the quest's deception.
  • Reach Auntie Ethel's teahouse.The visible house leads to the hidden lair.
  • Explore the hidden lair beneath the teahouse.Look for hazards and alternate routes before the confrontation.
  • Prepare a response to the final environmental hazard.Create Water is often recommended for this purpose.
  • Confront Auntie Ethel.Combat and dialogue-based approaches are possible.
  • Speak with Mayrina after the confrontation.The rescue is not the end of the quest's consequences.
  • Inspect Auntie Ethel's Hair, Staff of Crones, Bitter Divorce, and Second Marriage when available.Availability depends on the chosen resolution.
  • Decide whether to use Bitter Divorce on Connor.This is a major story decision, not a routine item use.Optional
  • Keep the Act One outcome in mind when Mayrina's story resumes in Act Three.The quest can have a later continuation.Optional

Quest-related itemsSpoilers

  • 01
    Auntie Ethel's Hair

    Where: Auntie Ethel encounter

    A unique item that can provide a permanent boost to an ability score. Its availability is connected to how the hag confrontation is resolved.

    Missable
  • 02
    Staff of Crones

    Where: Auntie Ethel's hidden lair

    A notable item associated with the quest and the hag's lair. The supplied source does not establish its exact acquisition conditions.

    Missable
  • 03
    Bitter Divorce

    Where: Quest aftermath

    A wand that can be used to resurrect Connor, changing the direction of Mayrina's story.

    Missable
  • 04
    Second Marriage

    Where: Quest aftermath

    A notable quest-related item tied to the consequences of Mayrina's situation. The supplied source does not establish its exact acquisition conditions.

    Missable

Failure conditionsSpoilers

  • Mayrina's rescue is mishandledThe quest has multiple possible endings, and some decisions can produce a less favorable result for Mayrina.
  • The party ignores the final environmental hazardThe surroundings can endanger the party during the confrontation, making the rescue fail even when Ethel is not the only threat.
  • The party closes off dialogue optionsChoosing immediate violence may remove some dialogue-based approaches and alter the rewards or outcome.
  • The party leaves without resolving Connor's fateBitter Divorce creates a separate decision, and postponing or mishandling it can affect how Mayrina's story progresses.

On failure

The mission includes major decision points. Keeping a save before the final confrontation is useful when comparing outcomes, but the supplied source does not define exact checkpoint behavior.

Rewards and dropsSpoilers

  • Auntie Ethel's Hair
    Potential reward from the hag encounter; it provides a permanent ability-score boost.
  • Staff of Crones
    A notable item associated with the quest and Ethel's hidden lair.
  • Bitter Divorce
    A wand that can resurrect Connor and alter the course of Mayrina's story.
  • Second Marriage
    A quest-related item connected to the aftermath of Mayrina's situation.
  • Mayrina's continued storyline
    The quest can affect later events in Act Three, making the narrative outcome an important reward or consequence in its own right.

Characters in this mission

AftermathSpoilers

Mayrina's story does not end in the lair

The Act One resolution can shape Mayrina's later story in Act Three. The decision involving Bitter Divorce is especially important: resurrecting Connor changes what Mayrina must face rather than returning her life to the way it was before Auntie Ethel's bargain.

Trivia

  • The quest begins as a dispute in the Sunlit Wetlands before revealing a much larger hidden-lair encounter.
  • Auntie Ethel's role is built around deception, so the quest's apparent rescue scenario is intentionally unreliable.
  • Bitter Divorce links the immediate Act One mission to Connor's fate and Mayrina's later storyline.
  • Create Water is commonly recommended for the final confrontation because the environment itself can become a threat.
  • The quest offers several possible endings rather than one fixed resolution.

Relationships

characters

  • Auntie EthelCentral antagonistThe deceptive hag whose bargain places Mayrina in danger.
  • MayrinaPerson to saveThe widow whose fate and later story are shaped by the quest.
  • ConnorMayrina's husbandHis fate can be altered with Bitter Divorce.

locations

  • Sunlit WetlandsOpening locationThe Act One area where the quest begins.
  • Auntie Ethel's teahouseQuest locationEthel's apparent home and the entrance to the hidden lair.

items

  • Bitter DivorceConsequential itemA wand that can resurrect Connor and change Mayrina's story.
  • Auntie Ethel's HairPotential rewardA unique item that provides a permanent ability-score boost.