Mortal Shell 2 has plenty of characters scattered throughout its different areas, and some of them are much easier to miss than others. If you are mainly focused on progressing through the main story, it is very easy to walk past an NPC, forget to speak with them, or move too far into the story before returning to an area.
That can be a problem because NPCs are not only there for extra dialogue. Some characters have their own questlines, some provide useful rewards, and others unlock or improve important progression systems such as merchants, Tarforge upgrades, map information, or other services.
This guide covers the NPCs currently known in Mortal Shell 2, where to find them, what they do, and which characters have questlines or useful rewards attached to them.
If you are trying to see as much of the game’s content as possible, it is worth speaking with NPCs whenever you encounter them and checking back with important characters after major story events.
Mortal Shell 2 All NPC Quest and Locations Guide
The NPCs can be separated into three broad groups:
| NPC Type | What They Do |
|---|---|
| Quest NPCs | Have personal questlines, dialogue, and rewards |
| Merchant NPCs | Provide services, upgrades, items, or other progression |
| Other NPCs | Provide lore, dialogue, interactions, or world-building |
The main NPCs currently listed are:
Quest NPCs
| NPC | Location | Main Role / Reward |
|---|---|---|
| Vratko | Marrow Keep | Acolyte of Undermethor |
| Gorf | Widow’s Overlook | Quest involving his loneliness; Marsh Pearl |
| Grisha Pup | Mushroom Village | Imprisoned Grisha; Tooth of Nochte |
| Sester Genessa | Marrow’s Keep | Training partner and important character |
| Hilga | Mushroom Village | Frog woman connected to Grom; Marsh Pearl |
| Vlas | Outskirts of Mammon | Traveling merchant; Coin of Mammon |
| Egon | Castigor’s Keep | High Lord of Mammon; Gloom |
| Baghead | Gloomshade Grove | Strange figure surrounded by masked followers |
| Grom | Mushroom Village | Found in Hilga’s cauldron |
| Thestus | Marrow’s Keep | Mysterious figure who can change day to night |
Merchant NPCs
| NPC | Location | Main Role |
|---|---|---|
| Ruk | Village Outskirts | Guides you toward Marrow Keep |
| Franz | Marrow Keep | Operates the Tarforge |
| Merrick | Marrow’s Keep | Provides map-related services |
| The Collector | Abandoned Outpost | Night-only merchant |
Other NPCs
| NPC | Location | Main Role |
|---|---|---|
| Louis | Marrow’s Keep | Merrick’s companion |
| Milos | Marrow Keep | Tends the Ovums |
| Suspicious Villager | Mushroom Village | Complains about the music |
| Young Villager | Mushroom Village | Searching for their father |
| Lonely Villager | Mushroom Village | Looking for a strong partner |
| Despondent Villager | Mushroom Village | Avoids conversation |
Quest NPCs and Their Locations
Vratko
Location: Marrow Keep
Vratko is an acolyte of Undermethor who can be found in Marrow Keep.
He is one of the characters tied to the religious side of the world and its strange collection of beliefs. Vratko’s most memorable interaction involves his offer to wash the Harbinger’s feet.
When exploring Marrow Keep, make sure you speak with him rather than simply walking past. Characters like Vratko are easy to overlook because they are located in an area that you will repeatedly pass through while dealing with other NPCs and services.
Gorf
Location: Widow’s Overlook
Gorf is a lonely frog who is suffering from both a persistent coughing spell and loneliness.
His quest revolves around his desire to find a mate.
Gorf is also one of the NPCs with a specific reward attached to his questline. Completing his relevant interactions can reward you with a Marsh Pearl.
Because his story is connected to another character and a particular situation rather than the main storyline, it is worth checking his location when you are working through NPC content in the area.
Grisha Pup
Location: Mushroom Village
The Grisha Pup can be found imprisoned by hunters in Mushroom Village.
This is one of the more unusual NPC encounters because the character is not simply waiting around for the player to have a conversation. You encounter the Grisha Pup in a situation where it needs help.
The reward associated with the Grisha Pup is the Tooth of Nochte.
If you are exploring Mushroom Village for the first time, take your time looking around the area. The village contains several NPCs and side interactions, so it is easy to focus on one character and accidentally miss another.
Sester Genessa
Location: Marrow’s Keep
Sester Genessa serves as a training partner in Marrow Keep.
She is also connected to Tiel as a romantic interest, making her more important from a character and story perspective than a simple training NPC.
Marrow’s Keep is one of the areas where you should regularly check for new dialogue. Characters based here can become more important as you progress, and returning after major events can reveal additional interactions.
Hilga
Location: Mushroom Village
Hilga is a frog woman found in Mushroom Village.
She can be seen stewing Grom in a cauldron and appears to possess knowledge related to cures.
Her unusual situation makes her one of the more memorable NPCs in the village, and her interactions are connected to the wider group of Mushroom Village characters.
Her questline can reward a Marsh Pearl.
When exploring the village, make sure you investigate the area around Hilga rather than simply following the main route through the settlement.
Vlas
Location: Outskirts of Mammon
Vlas is a traveling merchant who was ambushed along the Road of Absolution.
He is accompanied by a feline named Mutton.
Vlas’ story is tied to his journey and the trouble he encountered along the road. Helping him can lead to the Coin of Mammon reward.
Because Vlas is encountered away from the main hub areas, it is worth keeping an eye on the Outskirts of Mammon if you are trying to complete all NPC-related content.
Egon
Location: Castigor’s Keep
Egon is the High Lord of Mammon and resides inside a tower in Castigor’s Keep.
Unlike some NPCs who are simply encountered along a road or in a village, Egon is positioned within an important location, so his encounter feels more connected to the larger story surrounding Mammon.
His associated reward is Gloom.
When visiting Castigor’s Keep, explore the area carefully and make sure you do not leave without checking the tower.
Baghead
Location: Gloomshade Grove
Baghead can be found sitting on a throne in Gloomshade Grove.
He is surrounded by a group of people who also wear bags over their heads, making the encounter stand out immediately.
Baghead is one of the stranger NPCs you will come across, and his presentation fits the unsettling atmosphere of Mortal Shell 2.
If you are completing NPC content rather than rushing through the main story, make sure to investigate this encounter and exhaust the available interactions before moving on.
Grom
Location: Mushroom Village
Grom can be found in a cauldron in Mushroom Village, where Hilga is stewing him.
This encounter is closely connected to Hilga, so you should check both characters when exploring the village.
Grom’s situation is one of the more bizarre NPC encounters in the area, and it is easy to assume that the character is simply part of the environment if you do not stop to investigate.
For completionists, make sure to interact with Grom and Hilga rather than treating the cauldron as a background object.
Thestus
Location: Marrow’s Keep
Thestus is a mysterious figure who resides on top of the tower in Marrow Keep.
One of his most useful abilities is the power to change the world from day to night.
This makes Thestus more than a lore-focused NPC.
Day and night can affect exploration and certain encounters, so knowing where Thestus is located can be useful when you need to change the current time of day.
If you are looking for a night-specific NPC or event, remember Thestus and the tower in Marrow Keep.
Merchant NPCs and Their Locations
Not every NPC has a traditional questline. Some are much more important for progression because they provide services, upgrades, or useful information.
Ruk
Location: Village Outskirts
Ruk is found in the Village Outskirts.
He guides the player toward Marrow Keep and keeps a somewhat unsettling eye on your progress.
Ruk is particularly useful early in the game because he helps direct you toward one of the main areas you will use as a base for progression.
If you are new to the game and unsure where to go next, Ruk is one of the characters worth checking before heading farther into the world.
Franz
Location: Marrow Keep
Franz is the main operator of the Tarforge.
He asks you to bring him parts that can be used to restore the machine to its former condition.
This makes Franz an important NPC for players who want to improve their equipment and unlock more from the Tarforge system.
His associated rewards are Tarforge upgrades.
If you find parts related to the Tarforge during exploration, keep them in mind rather than assuming they are useless materials.
Merrick
Location: Marrow’s Keep
Merrick is the merchant of Marrow’s Keep.
One of his useful services is plotting areas onto your map, helping you discover more loot and points of interest.
This is particularly valuable if you are trying to explore the world thoroughly rather than simply following the critical path.
If your map feels incomplete, check with Merrick and see whether he can provide additional information.
The Collector
Location: Abandoned Outpost
The Collector is a merchant located at the Abandoned Outpost.
There is an important catch: The Collector only appears at night.
If you visit the outpost during the day and cannot find the merchant, do not immediately assume you missed the NPC or that the character has disappeared.
Use the appropriate time-of-day mechanic and return at night.
This is one reason Thestus’ ability to change day to night can become useful while completing NPC-related content.
Other NPCs
Not every character has a traditional quest or merchant service.
Some exist primarily to add personality, lore, and additional context to the areas you explore.
Louis
Location: Marrow’s Keep
Louis is Merrick’s companion.
Louis will not allow the player to pet them immediately. Trust needs to be built first.
This is a small interaction, but it is exactly the kind of detail that makes Marrow’s Keep feel like a lived-in location rather than just a hub filled with vendors.
Milos
Location: Marrow Keep
Milos is an acolyte of Undermethor who is responsible for tending the Ovums.
His role is more closely tied to the religious and world-building aspects of Marrow Keep.
Make sure to speak with him if you are interested in understanding more about the people and practices surrounding Undermethor.
Suspicious Villager
Location: Mushroom Village
The Suspicious Villager is a resident of Mushroom Village who is tired of the music.
This character does not appear to have the same type of major questline as the primary NPCs, but their dialogue adds more personality to the village.
Young Villager
Location: Mushroom Village
The Young Villager is searching for their father.
This is another example of the smaller stories happening around Mushroom Village.
When exploring the village, it is worth speaking with these minor characters because their dialogue gives you more information about what is happening to the people living there.
Lonely Villager
Location: Mushroom Village
The Lonely Villager is searching for a strong partner.
Like several of the other villagers, this character contributes to the village’s atmosphere and gives you a glimpse into the personal problems of its residents.
Despondent Villager
Location: Mushroom Village
The Despondent Villager is a resident who quickly dismisses attempts to start a conversation.
There is not necessarily a major gameplay reward associated with every NPC interaction. Some characters are simply there to make the world feel more complete.
What Are NPCs in Mortal Shell 2?
NPC stands for Non-Player Character.
In Mortal Shell 2, NPCs are much more than background characters.
Some characters actively help the Harbinger, while others may oppose or dislike them. Their stories are also tied closely to the strange world created by the gods and the consequences of their actions.
The broken state of the world is reflected in many of these characters, and talking to them can provide context that you would not necessarily get from the main storyline alone.
NPCs Can Have Their Own Questlines
One of the most important things to remember is that NPC content can be missable.
Like other soulslike games, Mortal Shell 2 uses NPC questlines that can change as you progress through the game.
Some interactions may only be available at particular points in the story. If you continue too far without speaking to an NPC, you may miss part of their questline or lose access to certain interactions.
For that reason, it is a good habit to talk to NPCs whenever you find them.
After defeating an important boss or completing a major story objective, return to the major hub areas and speak to the characters again.
This is particularly useful in places such as Marrow Keep, where several important NPCs are located close together.
NPCs Can Unlock Progression
NPCs can also provide useful gameplay services.
Merchants and other important characters can help improve your gear, Shells, map, and other progression systems.
Franz is a particularly important example because he operates the Tarforge and can provide Tarforge upgrades once you bring him the required parts.
Merrick can also improve your exploration by revealing additional areas and loot on your map.
This means that NPCs are worth visiting even if you are not interested in their individual stories.