In the complex narrative tapestry of Divinity: Original Sin II, the acquisition of specific gemstones is rarely a straightforward transaction within a standard shop. Instead, these items are deeply woven into the fabric of the game's questlines, serving as plot-critical artifacts that unlock secret passages, reveal hidden lore, or grant powerful magical abilities. Two distinct gemstones stand out in the game's geography: the Glowing Eye, a crucial component for the "A Taste of Freedom" questline, and the Imp Gem, central to the "Running like Clockwork" quest. While these items are technically classified as gems within the game's inventory system, their locations are not marked on the primary map and require specific quest progression, high character attributes, or combat prowess to access. This analysis dissects the exact locations, the prerequisite steps, and the tactical nuances of obtaining these rare items, offering a definitive guide for players seeking to master the game's hidden mechanics.
The Glowing Eye: Unlocking the Lich's Prison
The first gemstone of significant narrative weight is the Glowing Eye, a vital artifact required to solve the puzzle within the secret passage beneath Mordus' house in Driftwood. This quest, titled "A Taste of Freedom," is inextricably linked to the "Shadow over Driftwood" storyline. The gem is not found in a generic container but is retrieved from a dead dwarf within a magically protected hatch located in Wrecker's Cave.
To acquire this gem, the player must first progress through the "Shadow over Driftwood" quest. This involves confronting Mordus, a powerful antagonist. Upon defeating Mordus, the player must loot his corpse to obtain Mordus' Amulet. This amulet is not merely a decorative item; it serves as a magical key. The player must travel to Mordus' private chambers, which are situated near the shipwreck entrance within Wrecker's Cave. Here, a hatch is protected by a magical seal that can only be opened with the amulet.
Inside this hatch lies a dead dwarf positioned on an altar. This dwarf carries a Velvety Pouch. Upon inspecting the pouch, the player retrieves the Glowing Eye. This gem is the missing piece required to activate an ornate skull located in the basement of Mordus' house in Driftwood. The skull, hidden in the northern section of the room above the beer barrels, possesses a missing eye socket. Placing the Glowing Eye into this socket reveals a secret passageway leading underground.
The process of finding the skull itself presents another layer of complexity. The skull is not immediately visible on the standard map view. Players often need a high Wits attribute (specifically 18 Wits) to spot the hidden skull embedded in the wall. However, for players lacking the requisite Wits, an alternative path exists. The skull can be lockpicked, a task requiring a Thievery skill level of 5. Successfully lockpicking the skull not only advances the quest but also awards the "Infiltration" achievement.
The mechanics of the secret passage involve a pressure plate puzzle. Once the gem is placed in the skull, a hidden door opens, leading to a room with a pressure plate mechanism. To solve this puzzle, players are advised to cast Spirit Vision. This spell reveals the invisible pattern of the correct button presses. The puzzle involves four colored buttons: - Pressing the Yellow button turns off the lighting of the braziers. - Pressing the Green button releases the Lich. This action immediately begins a battle and spawns hidden skeletons from urns. - Pressing the Red button initiates the fight without releasing the Lich, allowing the player to engage the enemy before the Lich is freed. - Pressing the Purple button unlocks a chest located to the right of the central table.
The outcome of the battle is heavily influenced by player interaction. If the player speaks with the Lich before the fight commences, the Lich will join the player's side during the subsequent battle against other evil skeletons. This alliance is crucial, as the Lich offers a reward—a skill book—only if he is freed and the dialogue is managed correctly. If the player initiates combat without prior dialogue, the Lich will leave after the fight without granting a reward, and the quest will not update, effectively dead-ending the specific reward path.
The reward structure for this quest is dynamic. If the Lich is freed and the battle is won, the player can request a skill book from a specific category. The available options vary by class: - Necromancy: Shackles of Pain or Infect. - Geomancy: Impalement or Mend Metal. - Hunting: Marksman's Fang or Reactive Shot. - Rogue: Gag Order, Sleeping Arms, Fan of Knives, or Corrupted Blade. - Warrior: Enrage or Whirlwind.
If the player chooses to ask the Lich to teach them about the Source, the Lich will react negatively and provide a random skill book from the list above. The most commonly observed reward in testing was Shackles of Pain, though other books are possible.
The Imp Gem: A Test of the Soul
The second major gemstone is the Imp Gem, central to the "Running like Clockwork" quest. Unlike the Glowing Eye, which is found in a basement, the Imp Gem is located in a desolate area of the map, specifically in the south-eastern section. The precise coordinates for this location are approximately X:275, Y:824. This area is situated just slightly west of the Lunar Gate Waypoint.
To begin this quest, the player must speak to an Imp Ghost known as the "Knight of Xantezza" near the empty altar of Xantezza. The ghost reveals that the Imp Gem was stolen by the Black Ring. The player's objective is to locate the gem.
Upon arriving at the coordinates, the player encounters a talking ruby surrounded by two wolves. This scene presents a critical decision point regarding experience points and quest progression. The two wolves guarding the gem can be defeated in combat, awarding 13,950 XP for each wolf. Alternatively, players can attempt to negotiate with the wolves. Passing a speech check can make the wolves stand down, but this non-combat approach yields zero XP. A third option exists if the player has previously killed the men who originally possessed the gem; in this scenario, the wolves can be fed the bodies of those men to resolve the encounter without combat, again yielding no XP but advancing the plot.
After dealing with the wolves, the player interacts with the talking ruby (the Imp Gem). The gem asks a series of questions. The game mechanics indicate that the specific answers to the first question do not significantly alter the immediate outcome, though they set the stage for the final test.
Upon passing the initial interaction, the player is teleported to the Pocket Plane of Xantezza. This pocket plane serves as a trial ground. The core objective within this dimension is to navigate to the core and deactivate it. The deactivation must be completed within a single combat turn, presenting a significant challenge in timing and strategy. Failure to deactivate the core in time likely results in the player failing the quest or facing severe penalties, though the provided facts emphasize the time constraint as the primary challenge.
Strategic Nuances and Hidden Mechanics
The acquisition of these gemstones is not merely a matter of reaching a location; it is a test of character building, resource management, and tactical foresight. The game rewards players who understand the interplay between attributes like Wits and Thievery, as well as the importance of dialogue trees.
The Role of Thievery and Wits
The quest for the Glowing Eye demonstrates how specific character stats gate access to content. While the Glowing Eye can be obtained by killing Mordus and using his Amulet, the alternative of lockpicking the skull requires a Thievery skill of 5. This mechanic encourages players to diversify their character builds. If a player lacks the required Thievery, they can acquire a "Fancy Gloves" item from a female dwarf named Dashing June. This dwarf attempts to con players out of gold near the market in Driftwood. If the player fails to catch her scheme or tells her about her true love, "Butter," they may pickpocket the gloves from her in the Undertavern. These gloves provide a +2 boost to Thievery, effectively lowering the barrier to entry for the skull. Additionally, a character named Papa Thrash in the Black Bull Tavern sells a chest piece that offers +1 Thievery. These items are essential for players who rely on stealth mechanics rather than combat or high Wits.
The Lich's Hunger and the Second Encounter
The quest "A Taste of Freedom" does not end with the release of the Lich. A second encounter occurs in the Cloisterwoods, located west of Driftwood, near the Troll Bridge. The coordinates for this meeting are approximately X:224, Y:192. Here, the player finds the Lich feasting on the remains of innocent dwarves. This scene presents a moral and tactical choice: feed the Lich or kill him.
The outcome of this encounter is critical. If the player allows the Lich to feed, he regains his strength. However, if the player kills the Lich, the quest resolves differently. The text notes that if one of the undead accidentally attacks the Lich during a battle, the Lich will join the fight on the player's side, treating the Lich as an ally. Conversely, if the player does not speak to the Lich before initiating combat, the Lich will leave after the fight without granting the skill book reward, and the quest will not update. This highlights the importance of dialogue management.
The Imp Gem and the Pocket Plane
The Imp Gem quest introduces a time-sensitive combat mechanic in the Pocket Plane of Xantezza. The requirement to deactivate the core in one combat turn suggests a need for precise action economy. Players must balance the use of spells and abilities to neutralize the threat before the turn ends. This mechanic adds a layer of strategic depth, as players must plan their actions carefully to meet the strict time limit.
Comparison of Gemstone Questlines
To visualize the differences between the two major gemstone quests, the following table outlines the key parameters, locations, and rewards:
| Feature | Glowing Eye (A Taste of Freedom) | Imp Gem (Running like Clockwork) |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Location | Wrecker's Cave / Driftwood Basement | South-Eastern Map (X:275, Y:824) |
| Prerequisites | Shadow over Driftwood Quest | Speak to Imp Ghost (Knight of Xantezza) |
| Key Items | Mordus' Amulet, Velvety Pouch | Talking Ruby, Pocket Plane Access |
| Required Stats | 18 Wits (to spot skull) or Thievery 5 (to lockpick) | Speech Check (to avoid combat) or Combat XP |
| Combat Rewards | 13,950 XP per wolf (Imp Gem) / Lich Ally (Glowing Eye) | 13,950 XP per wolf |
| Final Challenge | Pressure Plate Puzzle, Lich Release | Deactivate Core in 1 Combat Turn |
| Rewards | Class-specific Skill Books | Access to Pocket Plane, potential loot |
| Alternative Paths | Kill Lich or Let Him Feed | Kill Wolves, Negotiate with Wolves, Feed Wolves |
Tactical Considerations for Acquisition
The pursuit of these gemstones requires more than just navigation; it demands an understanding of the game's underlying logic. The "A Taste of Freedom" quest is particularly sensitive to the order of operations. For instance, if the player returns to Lohar before using Mordus' Amulet to open the hatch in Wrecker's Cave, Lohar will confiscate the amulet. Retrieving it then requires either pickpocketing Lohar or, in extreme cases, using an invisibility potion to sneak past him. If the player fails to retrieve the amulet, the quest line may be blocked or require alternative solutions involving other characters.
Furthermore, the interaction with the Lich is fraught with risk. If the Lich is attacked by other skeletons during the battle, he may turn hostile or flee. The text specifically notes that if the Lich is not spoken to before the fight, the quest fails to update, and the reward is lost. This emphasizes the importance of dialogue checks and strategic timing.
For the Imp Gem, the decision to fight or negotiate with the wolves has long-term consequences on experience gain. Fighting yields significant XP, while negotiating yields none. However, negotiating is a valid path for players who prioritize role-playing over grinding. The time constraint in the Pocket Plane adds a layer of urgency that tests the player's ability to execute complex strategies under pressure.
Conclusion
The gemstones in Divinity: Original Sin II serve as keys to deeper narrative layers and powerful in-game rewards. The Glowing Eye and the Imp Gem are not merely inventory items but are the linchpins of complex questlines that test the player's character attributes, combat skills, and moral choices. The Glowing Eye quest requires a blend of stealth, combat, and dialogue management to release the Lich and secure a skill book, while the Imp Gem quest challenges the player with a time-sensitive puzzle in a pocket dimension.
Understanding the precise locations, the prerequisite quests, and the specific mechanics required to obtain these items is essential for a complete experience. Whether through lockpicking with Thievery 5, utilizing Spirit Vision to solve pressure plate puzzles, or navigating the treacherous terrain of the Pocket Plane, the acquisition of these gems represents a mastery of the game's systems. These quests reward players who pay attention to details, manage their character stats, and engage deeply with the game's narrative possibilities. The hidden paths, the moral dilemmas regarding the Lich, and the strategic challenges of the Imp Gem ensure that these gemstones are not just loot, but pivotal moments in the player's journey through Driftwood and beyond.