In the vast, unforgiving world of the Lands Between, few journeys are as poignant as that of Millicent, the scarlet-rot-afflicted warrior. Her story is a long and winding road, one that ultimately asks a profound question: what defines a true ally? For the Tarnished who choose to walk this path, the quest is not just about battling fearsome foes, but about understanding a character's deepest desires and helping her reclaim her purpose. At the heart of this narrative lies a crucial artifact: the Valkyrie's Prosthesis. This isn't just any old trinket; it's the key to unlocking Millicent's full potential and continuing a saga that leads to the very roots of the Haligtree and a fateful confrontation.
After the initial act of kindness—curing Millicent of her Scarlet Rot with the Unalloyed Gold Needle—the Tarnished finds her again on the windswept plains of the Altus Plateau, north of the Erdtree-Gazing Hill. Her spirit is willing, but her body bears the scars of her affliction. She speaks of her quest to find Malenia, the legendary Blade of Miquella, but with a heavy heart, she confesses she can no longer fight by your side. The reason? She lost her sword arm. Talk about a raw deal. This is where the Valkyrie's Prosthesis comes in, a glimmer of hope in her amber eyes.
🗺️ Locating the Lost Limb: The Shaded Castle
The path to this vital item leads to one of the most treacherous locales in the Lands Between: the Shaded Castle. This fortress, perched on the northern edge of the Altus Plateau, isn't exactly a welcoming vacation spot. It's a place where poison clings to the very air, and the ground itself seems to fester. To get there, adventurers must navigate the rugged terrain between Mt. Gelmir and the eastern reaches of the plateau. A word to the wise: pack your Neutralizing Boluses or have a Cure Poison Incantation ready. You'll thank yourself later.
Once inside the castle's oppressive walls, the goal is clear: reach the northwestern tower. The journey there is a test of both agility and combat skill. You might scale a long ladder to the ramparts, wade through a murky, poisonous swamp, or sneak along the rooftops of sunken structures. The castle's denizens, from spectral soldiers to pest-ridden nobles, are best avoided if possible. But there's one foe you cannot bypass: a Cleanrot Knight, a formidable warrior standing guard. Defeating this knight is the final hurdle before claiming your prize from the tower. It's a tense, silent climb, the weight of Millicent's hope resting on your shoulders.
✨ A Gift and a Choice: The Quest Unfolds
Handing the Valkyrie's Prosthesis to Millicent is a moment of quiet triumph. Her gratitude is palpable, and with her new arm, her resolve hardens. She departs for Dominula, the Windmill Village, a place with a deceptively cheerful name hiding dark secrets. Here, the Tarnished must face the Godskin Apostle, a lithe and deadly foe, to unlock the Windmill Heights Site of Grace. After this trial, Millicent appears once more, her journey now inexorably linked to the legendary Haligtree.
Reaching Miquella's Haligtree is a quest in itself, a gauntlet of puzzles and powerful enemies that tests even the most seasoned Tarnished. But within its sacred, rotting boughs, the final chapter of Millicent's tale awaits. After battling a fearsome Ulcerated Tree Spirit, you find her at a crossroads, or more accurately, at the precipice of her destiny.
This is where the quest presents its ultimate, morally complex choice:
| Your Action | Consequence for Millicent | Reward You Receive |
|---|---|---|
| Kill Millicent | Ends her questline tragically. | Millicent's Prosthesis Talisman (Greatly boosts Dexterity & attack power with successive hits). |
| Assist Millicent | Fulfill your role as her ally in a climactic fight. | Rotten Winged Sword Insignia (Boosts attack power with successive hits). |
The choice hangs in the air, heavy with implication. If you choose to aid her, you are summoned into her world for a final, brutal clash against her... sisters? Reflections? The nature of the foes is as mysterious as Millicent's own origins. Victory here, as her ally, feels like honoring the bond forged over this long journey.
And then, the road leads ever onward. To complete the broader narrative thread, the Tarnished must press past the Drainage Channel of the Haligtree. The final destination of this epic side-quest is a battle that has become the stuff of legends among players: a confrontation with Malenia, Blade of Miquella. She waits, not just as a boss, but as the living embodiment of the Scarlet Rot and the person Millicent sought for so long. Facing her is the true culmination of every step taken since first finding that golden needle.
The journey for the Valkyrie's Prosthesis, therefore, is far more than a fetch quest. It's a story of restoration, choice, and the fragile connections formed in a broken world. It asks what we are willing to do for those we meet along the way. Will you be the hand that offers a prosthetic, or the one that takes the final prize? In the end, the Lands Between rarely gives clear answers, only echoes of the choices we make. The prosthesis itself is just a piece of crafted metal, but the journey to find it... now that's a story worth telling.