When venturing into the Shadow-Cursed Lands, your characters are in danger due to the surrounding darkness and while fire and other light sources work, it is not enough.
This makes it vital to obtain protection against the areas where the darkness is stronger and one of the ways to survive will be to obtain the Moonlantern.
The Moonlantern is in the hands of a Drider named Kar’niss, who acts as a guide for the Absolute when heading to Moonrise Towers, making it necessary to find him.
How To Get Moonlantern?
To get the Moonlantern, you will first need to have an encounter with Kar’niss, who you can join to reach Moonrise Tower or attack to take the Moonlantern for yourself.
There are multiple ways for you to find Kar’niss and it is your choice whether you will end his life or allow him to bring you to his Moonrise Towers.
Depending on which paths you take, encountering Kar’niss will be different, and these are between taking the Underdark Grymforge path or the Rosymorn Monastery Trails path.
How To Find Kar’niss the Drider?
Ambush With Harpers
If you reach the Last Light Inn and team up with the Harpers, you will eventually set out to ambush Kar’niss along with the Absolute. (This follows taking the Underdark – Grymforge path)
From here you can decide to signal the Harpers to attack during a cutscene or convince Kar’niss to give you the Moonlantern.
Taking the Moonlantern will allow you to encounter Kar’niss and his caravan weekend and be affected by the shadows while fighting, giving you a bloody battle following the ambush.
Summon Kar’niss with Spider Lyre
If you take the Rosymorn Monastery Trail path that follows the Mountain Pass, you will run into a Goblin who directs you to their camp.
It is here that you talk to Kansif, which later allows you to play the Spider Lyre to summon Kar’niss, and from here you can either attack him, follow them to an ambush, or go to the towers.
Should you follow Kar’niss and reach the ambush, you will have the choice to betray him to join up with the Harpers later. (This gets you the Moonlantern later)
Other Encounters With Kar’niss
If you avoid the most common paths, the story will be altered and you will eventually run into one of the parties, leaving you the choice to attack whoever you choose.
Should you skip the caravan and proceed along the path instead of summoning Kar’niss, you will encounter them later and the ambush may never happen. (This leads you to the towers)
At any time, you may attack Kar’niss to steal the lantern but there are times when you can convince him to surrender it to you instead.
Moonlantern Uses
The Moonlantern provides you with protection against the darkness, which covers a large area big enough to cover your whole party.
Having the Moonlantern will allow you and your party to safely travel to the Moonlight Towers as this is one of the only ways you can stay protected against the more dangerous areas.
Aside from using the Moonlantern to travel through the Shadow-Cursed Lands, you may release the Pixie within to receive a bell that may be used to protect you and your party.
Verdict
Without the Moonlantern, you and your party will not survive in certain areas of the Shadow-Cursed Lands, even with different sources of light.
Freeing the Pixie (Named Dolly Dolly Dolly) will result in her giving you the Filigreed Feywild Bell, which allows you to speak to her to request a blessing.
Depending on which path you take, there will be several opportunities for you to obtain the Moonlantern, which makes it important to decide at the right time.