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GRIM DAWN / QUEST / PERMANENT CHOICE

The Aetherial Witch

An Act 4 side quest offered by Captain Reave in Fort Ikon after Betrayal at Fort Ikon. Speak with Anasteria in Fort Ikon Prison, then choose whether to spare her and ally with the Outcast or kill her and make the faction hostile.

Last updated: 2026-07-12
Side QuestfactionPermanent ChoiceEasy to Get LostBoss Fight
Act
Act 4
NPC
Captain Reave / Anasteria
Area
Fort Ikon / Fort Ikon Prison
Level
40-45
DLC
Base Game
Missable
Yes
WHY PLAYERS GET STUCK

Despite the title, this is a Base Game Act 4 faction choice, not an Ashes of Malmouth Coven quest. The prison is northwest of the Fort Ikon Rift and opens after accepting. Anasteria's dialogue determines Outcast allegiance, vendor and augment access, follow-up quests, and access to her hostile dungeon and unique MIs.

WALKTHROUGH
  1. 1
    Accept Captain Reave's request
    • Complete the prerequisite Betrayal at Fort Ikon.
    • Speak with Captain Reave in Fort Ikon.
    • He asks you to deal with the Aetherial-possessed witch Anasteria despite Creed's orders that she not be harmed.
  2. 2
    Speak with Anasteria in Fort Ikon Prison
    • Travel northwest from the Fort Ikon Rift and enter Fort Ikon Prison, which becomes accessible after accepting the quest.
    • Speak with Anasteria in the room near the entrance.
    • Before committing the dialogue, decide whether the Outcast should become friendly or hostile.
  3. 3
    Friendly route: spare Anasteria
    • Choose the friendly dialogue and spare Anasteria; the quest completes during the conversation.
    • Rewards are 8,000 XP, -250 Black Legion reputation, and +250 Outcast reputation on Normal; XP is 20,000 on Elite and 50,000 on Ultimate.
    • This unlocks the Outcast vendor, bounties, augments, and the follow-up Power of our Enemies.
  4. 4
    Hostile route: kill Anasteria and report back
    • Choose the hostile dialogue, prepare Aether resistance, and kill Anasteria.
    • Report to Captain Reave. Rewards are 16,000 XP and +1,000 Black Legion reputation on Normal; XP is 40,000 on Elite and 100,000 on Ultimate.
    • The Outcast becomes hostile, Cult Activity unlocks, and the prison becomes a dungeon for farming Anasteria's unique MIs. Start a new game session after the first kill to pass the inner iron gate.
STILL LOST?

If the quest is unavailable, complete Betrayal at Fort Ikon and check Captain Reave in Fort Ikon. After accepting, travel northwest from the Fort Ikon Rift to the prison. If the inner iron gate stays shut after choosing hostility, return to the main menu and start a new game session.

There is no time limit, but the alternative faction services, follow-up, and rewards are unavailable on that difficulty after committing, so this is choice-dependent missable content. Changing allegiance in a later difficulty resets Outcast reputation to 0 across all difficulties. Sparing her is generally useful for augments and faction quests; hostility is required to farm Anasteria's unique MIs.
Official Grim Dawn Wiki: The Aetherial WitchGrim Dawn 日本語Wiki: The Aetherial Witch イセリアルの魔女