In Divinity: Original Sin 2, you’ll stumble upon one of the game’s most memorable side quests in the Hollow Marshes: The Burning Pigs. When I first encountered these flaming creatures, I had no idea they’d lead me to one of Fort Joy’s best traders. This comprehensive walkthrough will show you exactly how to cure these cursed pigs, maximize your XP rewards, and unlock Feder as a powerful merchant.
Quick-Start Summary: How to Complete The Burning Pigs Quest
| Step | Action Required | Location/Coordinates |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Find the Burning Pigs | Hollow Marshes (X:439, Y:177) |
| 2 | Remove Source Collar | Amadia’s Sanctuary – Talk to Leya |
| 3 | Unlock Bless Skill | Hall of Echoes via Shrine (X:517, Y:173) |
| 4 | Cast Bless on Pig | Source Puddle near pigs |
| 5 | Defeat/Persuade Scapor | Wits check for 3,000 XP (vs 1,800 XP) |
| 6 | Find Feder | Slope near Abandoned Camp (X:576, Y:188) |
| 7 | Send Feder to Sanctuary | Requires Pet Pal talent |
| 8 | Activate Healing Pool | Talk to Amadia’s statue with empathy |
| 9 | Cure Feder | Tell her to enter blessed water |
Total XP Reward: 3,000-4,800 XP (depending on choices) + Legendary trader access
Finding the Burning Pigs: Location & Prerequisites
The Burning Pigs are located in the northeastern section of the Hollow Marshes, directly east of the Hollow Marshes – Bridge Waypoint at coordinates X:439, Y:177. You’ll know you’ve found them when you see pigs engulfed in Necrofire running around oil and poison barrels.
Important: Don’t get too close initially! The pigs will panic and run if approached carelessly, potentially triggering explosive barrels that can wipe your party. In my experience, having high fire resistance equipped before approaching saves a lot of frustration.
Unlocking the Bless Source Skill: Two Methods
Before you can help these cursed creatures, you need the Bless Source Skill. There are two primary locations to obtain it in Fort Joy:
Method 1: Hollow Marshes Shrine (Recommended)
The easiest route is the Shrine to the Seven located at X:517, Y:173 in the Hollow Marshes, just east of the burning pigs. However, this location is guarded by a level 6 Voidwoken Deep-Dweller and four skeleton enemies.
Once you interact with the shrine, you’ll be transported to the Hall of Echoes where your race’s patron god will grant you Bless. All party members learn this skill automatically.
Method 2: Dark Cavern (Braccus’s Vault)
The alternative is the Dark Cavern shrine at X:508, Y:69. This path requires defeating Trompdoy, a level 6 undead spellcaster, plus navigating past Noxious and Void Salamanders guarding the entrance.
Pro Tip: Whichever method you choose, make sure all party members you want to have Bless are present during the shrine interaction. Characters added later won’t automatically learn the skill.
Removing Your Source Collar: Three Quick Methods
You cannot cast Bless while wearing your Source Collar. Here’s how to remove it at Amadia’s Sanctuary:
| Method | Requirements | How It Works |
|---|---|---|
| Save Gareth | Rescue Gareth from Magistrates | Return to Leya at Amadia’s Sanctuary – she removes collar as thanks |
| Beast’s Persuasion | Beast in party | Have Beast convince Duggan to help, then Leya removes collar |
| Lohse’s Song | Lohse in party | Have Lohse sing soothing song to Leya, who removes collar in response |
Blessing the Pigs: Step-by-Step Process
Now comes the actual curing process. Here’s exactly what I did:
- Gather Source Points: Near the burning pigs at X:439, Y:177, you’ll find Source Puddles on the ground. Walk over them with your Bless-capable character to absorb a Source Point.
- Cast Bless on One Pig: You only need to bless one pig initially to trigger the next quest stage. Each blessed pig grants 600 XP, so I recommend blessing all of them while you’re here (there are usually 4-5 pigs total).
- Replenish Source: There are multiple Source Puddles around the pig area. For unlimited source, there’s an infinite Source Pool in Braccus’s Vault (Metal Door waypoint) that many guides overlook.
Common Issue: If you fail the Persuasion check with the pigs and they run away, you can still bless them—just be prepared for potential explosions from the barrels.
Confronting Scapor: Combat vs. Persuasion
After blessing your first pig, Scapor—an undead lizard guardian of Braccus Rex—will emerge from the ground and confront you.
Persuasion Route (Recommended – 3,000 XP)
To persuade Scapor instead of fighting:
- Choose the dialogue option: “Tell her there is no curse that could know if she let you be. She should leave and return to her nap.”
- Pass a Wits Persuasion Check: You need high Wits or Persuasion points. In my playthrough, having 14+ Wits or 2+ Persuasion skill worked.
- Reward: Scapor dies peacefully, granting you 3,000 XP and you can loot The Illuminator (One-Handed Mace) from her corpse.
Combat Route (1,800 XP)
If persuasion fails or you prefer combat, defeating Scapor grants 1,800 XP plus the same loot.
Character-Specific Interactions: Some party members like Fane or Lohse have unique dialogue with Scapor that provide additional context about the curse.
Finding Feder: The Transformed Pig
After dealing with Scapor, travel east through the Hollow Marshes. You’ll encounter an ambush (unavoidable), so be prepared for combat.
Continue northeast until you reach the slope between the Abandoned Camp and Frozen Beach (where Slane the Winter Dragon is imprisoned). Feder will be waiting at coordinates X:576, Y:188.
Critical Requirement: You MUST have the Pet Pal talent to speak with Feder. If nobody in your party has it:
- Reassign talents at the Lady Vengeance’s Magic Mirror
- Level up and select Pet Pal on your next talent point
- Have the character with Pet Pal initiate the conversation
Feder Won’t Spawn? Troubleshooting
If Feder isn’t appearing:
- Make sure you’ve blessed at least one pig
- Dealt with Scapor (either combat or persuasion)
- Checked the correct coordinates near the icy beach entrance
- Some players report Feder only appears after blessing ALL pigs—try this if she’s missing
Amadia’s Sanctuary: The Final Transformation
When talking to Feder, tell her about Amadia’s Sanctuary and suggest she go there. She’ll travel ahead of you.
Activating the Healing Pool
Once at Amadia’s Sanctuary (X:416, Y:30), approach the statue near Gratiana. Here’s where it gets tricky:
| Pool Type | How to Activate | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Blessed Water (Success) | Choose empathetic/compassionate dialogue with Amadia | Pool fills with blessed mist – Feder transforms into human |
| Blessed Water (Lohse) | Share your plight to make Amadia pity you | Pool fills with blessed mist – Feder transforms into human |
| Blood Pool (Failure) | Anger Amadia or choose callous dialogue | Pool fills with blood – Feder dies instantly, quest fails |
Undead Player Note: If playing as Fane or an undead character, step away from the pool before it becomes blessed, as blessed surfaces damage undead.
Final Step
Once the pool is blessed, speak to Feder and tell her to enter the water. She’ll transform back into her human form and become a permanent merchant at the Sanctuary.
Feder as a Trader: Why This Matters
Many guides gloss over this, but Feder becomes one of the best traders in Act 1. She stocks:
- Legendary weapons and armor (often better than Driftwood vendors)
- Quality scrolls and skill books
- High-level equipment that scales with your party
In my playthrough, I found a Legendary Level 9 crossbow with 28-30 physical damage, +2 Finesse, and a rune slot—far superior to anything else available in Fort Joy.
Location: After transformation, Feder remains at Amadia’s Sanctuary near the healer’s tents (X:450, Y:40). Unlike other NPCs, she doesn’t join the “Call to Arms” event, making her a reliable vendor throughout Act 1.
Common Mistakes & Troubleshooting
Scapor Didn’t Spawn
- Ensure the character who blessed the pig also defeated or persuaded Scapor
- Some players report Scapor won’t spawn if a companion without Pet Pal talks to the pigs first
Feder Exploded in the Pool
- You chose the wrong dialogue with Amadia’s statue
- Unfortunately, there’s no fix except reloading a save
- Always choose empathetic options when talking to the goddess
Can’t Talk to Feder
- Only the character with Pet Pal can initiate conversation
- Make sure that specific character approaches her
- If multiple characters have Pet Pal, try switching who leads the party
Pigs Keep Running Away
- Pass the Persuasion checks (requires 2+ Persuasion skill)
- You can still bless them even if they run
- Clear oil/poison barrels beforehand using Teleportation or careful movement
Maximizing XP Rewards: Complete Breakdown
Here’s the total XP you can earn from this quest:
| Action | XP Reward |
|---|---|
| Blessing first pig | 600 XP |
| Blessing each additional pig | 600 XP each (4 pigs = 2,400 XP) |
| Persuading Scapor | 3,000 XP |
| Killing Scapor in combat | 1,800 XP |
| Maximum Total | 6,000 XP |
Optimization Strategy: Bless all pigs for 600 XP each, then persuade Scapor for the bonus 1,200 XP (compared to fighting her).
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Do I need to bless all the pigs to complete the quest?
Q: What happens if I kill the pigs instead of curing them?
Q: Can I complete this quest without Pet Pal?
Q: When should I complete this quest in my playthrough?
Q: Will Feder join my party on the Lady Vengeance?
Q: Is there unlimited Source available for blessing multiple pigs?
Final Thoughts
The Burning Pigs quest perfectly showcases Divinity: Original Sin 2’s layered design. What starts as a quirky encounter with flaming livestock evolves into a multi-step puzzle requiring Source mastery, social skills, and careful attention to dialogue choices. The reward—access to Feder’s exceptional inventory—makes this optional quest absolutely worth completing.
Remember: patience is key. Take your time removing Source Collars, gathering Source Points, and choosing the right dialogue with both Scapor and Amadia. One wrong move can cost you XP or lock you out of Feder’s trade goods entirely.
