# The Woman in the Locket > From the Curse of Strahd game wiki (it covers the whole game, spoilers included): https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/quests/the-woman-in-the-locket.html. Unofficial Fan Content permitted under the Fan Content Policy, not approved or endorsed by Wizards of the Coast. > [!infobox] > ![quest the locket](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/img/shots/quest-the-locket.webp) > **Type:** Side quest > **Region:** Companions > **Starts at:** [The Old Svalich Road](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/locations/the-old-svalich-road.md) ## Summary Tamsin Tealeaf lifted a silver locket from a coach with no driver and no horses he could hear. The woman painted inside it has called his name in his dreams ever since. ## Walkthrough ### Getting the quest This is **Tamsin Tealeaf**'s personal quest (the Halfling Rogue, a Thief, with the Criminal background). Tamsin is one of the first four heroes, and they left the roster on 2026-10-06, so a new game can't pick him. The quest only runs in a save from before then with Tamsin in the party. A custom hero never answers to his name, and every locket option is Tamsin's own. Companion approval doesn't apply to him, so nothing here is gated by it. It starts the first time you walk into the mist at the east end of [The Old Svalich Road](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/locations/the-old-svalich-road.md) with Tamsin in the party. The decision comes at the Pool of the White Sun in [Krezk](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/locations/krezk.md) (level 6–7) or in Castle Ravenloft. ### Step by step 1. **Her face.** At the [Burgomaster's Mansion](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/locations/burgomasters-mansion.md), pick Tamsin's **Show her the locket** with [Ireena Kolyana](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/people/ireena-kolyana.md). The painted woman has Ireena's face. The quest moves to *Her Face*, and later Strahd remarks at the burial that the little thief carries her portrait. 2. **The inscription.** After a Long Rest, "Tamsin wants a word". He finally picks the back of the locket: "For T., from S. Every morning, at the water." The quest moves to *The Inscription*. 3. **Her name.** Either one works: - Spend [Madam Eva](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/people/madam-eva.md)'s question on **Who is the woman in the locket?** She says Tatyana. - Bring Tamsin and Ireena to [The Pool of the White Sun](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/locations/the-pool-of-the-white-sun.md) in Krezk after Ireena has seen the locket. When Sergei's reflection appears beside her, Tamsin makes the connection. The quest moves to *Her Name*. 4. **The coach (optional).** When [Henrik van der Voort](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/people/henrik-van-der-voort.md) confesses about the crates and the driverless black carriage at [The Coffin Maker's Shop](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/locations/the-coffin-makers-shop.md) in [Vallaki](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/locations/vallaki.md) (part of [The Bones of St. Andral](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/quests/the-bones-of-st-andral.md)), Tamsin recognises the coach he robbed. After that, either a Long Rest talk or [Arrigal](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/people/arrigal.md) at [The Vistani Camp](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/locations/the-vistani-camp.md) (**Ask about the black carriage that drives itself**) tells him Strahd left the locket out for whatever thief came along. The quest moves to *The Coach*. 5. **The pool.** At the Pool of the White Sun, with the quest at *Her Name* or later and the locket still in Tamsin's hands (not already given to Strahd or burned in the castle), pick **(Take out the locket.)**. [Sergei von Zarovich](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/people/sergei-von-zarovich.md)'s reflection appears beside Tamsin's. Choose: - **Drop the locket into the pool:** *Given to Sergei*. - **Put the locket in Ireena's hand** (only if she's travelling with you): *Given to Ireena*. - **Close it, and keep it:** *Kept*, and the decision moves to the castle. ![loc krezk pool of the white sun 1](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/img/shots/loc-krezk-pool-of-the-white-sun-1.webp) 6. **The castle.** In the study of [Castle Ravenloft, the Court of the Count](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/locations/castle-ravenloft-the-court-of-the-count.md), examine **Candles under her portrait**. If Tamsin still has the locket (kept, or never decided), Strahd is suddenly in the chair by the fire, unless he's lying in his coffin or already destroyed: - **(Put the locket in his hand.)** *Given to Strahd*. - **(Drop the locket into the fire.)** *Burned*. - **Not yet.** He'll ask again; come back to the candles. If the locket went to Sergei, Strahd only remarks on it. If it went to Ireena and she's with you, she shows it to him herself. Once Tamsin has given it to Strahd or burned it, the candles only get a quiet line from him ("Nobody calls my name in my sleep any more"), and the ending stands: the pool no longer offers the locket either. ![locket chair](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/img/cutscenes/locket-chair.webp) ### Choices and endings - **Given to Sergei** and **Given to Ireena** (success): the dreams stop. At the next Long Rest Tamsin sleeps through the night for once. - **Burned** (success): Strahd, for once, has nothing to say. - **Given to Strahd** (failure): he thanks Tamsin and means it. That's the worst part. Optional, Madam Eva: Tamsin's truth is that somebody put the locket where his hand would find it. ### If you're stuck - **Arrigal's option needs Henrik first.** Arrigal only knows about the coach once Henrik has confessed with Tamsin in the party. - **The pool option needs *Her Name*.** It won't show before then, and it's gone for good once the locket has been given to Sergei, Ireena or Strahd, or burned. - **Strahd isn't in the chair.** He doesn't come while he's in his coffin or after he's destroyed. Tamsin keeps the locket, and the candles wait. ## Journal > [!quote]- Every journal entry and hint > **The Dreams**: Three months ago Tamsin lifted a silver locket from a nobleman's coach. Inside is a tiny portrait of a red-haired woman he has never met, and since that night she has called his name in his dreams from somewhere cold. He followed the dreams the way other people follow roads, and they brought him here. > *Hint:* With Tamsin in the party, show the locket to Ireena at the burgomaster's mansion, or ask Madam Eva at Tser Pool. > > **Her Face**: The woman in the locket has Ireena Kolyana's face: the same eyes, the same red hair, in a gown a few centuries out of fashion. > *Hint:* Ask Madam Eva at Tser Pool about the locket, or rest with Tamsin and let him look at it again. > > **Her Name**: Her name was Tatyana. Strahd loved her; she loved his brother Sergei, and on their wedding day she went off the castle wall rather than be his. She keeps being born again in this valley, and Ireena is the latest. > *Hint:* Take a Long Rest with Tamsin in the party. For the carriage that drives itself, Henrik the coffin maker in Vallaki knows something; after him, ask Arrigal at the Vistani camp outside Vallaki. > > **The Inscription**: Behind the portrait, worn almost smooth: 'For T., from S. Every morning, at the water.' An S, but not the one on Ilse's letter. This one was written by someone who loved her and expected to be loved back. > *Hint:* The water is the Pool of the White Sun in Krezk: take Tamsin there. For the coach, Henrik the coffin maker in Vallaki knows something; then ask Arrigal at the Vistani camp. > > **The Coach**: The coach Tamsin robbed was Strahd's own black carriage, the one that goes about Barovia with nobody driving it. Last spring it was sent out through the mists, empty, the door on the latch and the locket on the seat. A thief would come, its master said. A thief always comes. Tamsin carried Tatyana's face home for him, exactly as planned. > *Hint:* Take Tamsin to the Pool of the White Sun in Krezk and decide what becomes of the locket. > > **Given To Sergei** (the end: success): At the Pool of the White Sun, Tamsin gave the locket back to the one who gave it first. Sergei's hand closed round it under the water, and the dreams stopped. Whatever Strahd meant the locket to do, it is out of his reach now, and the thief kept nothing for himself. > > **Given To Ireena** (the end: success): Tamsin put the locket in Ireena's hand. She looked at her own face, three hundred years old, and closed it gently, and said she'd keep it until she knew whose it ought to be. The dreams stopped. She has started remembering things. > > **Kept**: Tamsin kept the locket. He says it's because he's a thief. He has also stopped opening it, and never lets it out of his hand at night. > *Hint:* Decide what becomes of the locket before the castle does; in Castle Ravenloft, look for the candles under her portrait. > > **Given To Strahd** (the end: failure): In his own hall, Strahd held out his hand, and Tamsin put the locket in it. Strahd looked at the face inside for a long time and said thank you, as if he meant it, which was the worst part. > > **Burned** (the end: success): In the devil's own hall, with the devil watching, Tamsin dropped the locket into the fire. Strahd said nothing at all. It is the only time anyone has seen him with nothing to say. > [!abstract]- Every skill check in its conversations > - Insight DC 14: (Watch her face. What does she really want?) > - Medicine DC 12: Look at what the scarf is hiding. ## Related - **People:** [Arrigal](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/people/arrigal.md), [Sergei von Zarovich](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/people/sergei-von-zarovich.md), [The Wolves](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/people/the-wolves.md), [Madam Eva](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/people/madam-eva.md), [Ireena Kolyana](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/people/ireena-kolyana.md) - **Places:** [Castle Ravenloft, the Court of the Count](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/locations/castle-ravenloft-the-court-of-the-count.md), [The Vistani Camp](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/locations/the-vistani-camp.md), [The Pool of the White Sun](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/locations/the-pool-of-the-white-sun.md), [The Old Svalich Road](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/locations/the-old-svalich-road.md), [Madam Eva's Tent](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/locations/madam-evas-tent.md), [Burgomaster's Mansion](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/locations/burgomasters-mansion.md) - **More in Companions:** [A Knight, More or Less](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/quests/a-knight-more-or-less.md), [A Seat at the Table](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/quests/a-seat-at-the-table.md), [Aurel's Last Chapter](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/quests/aurels-last-chapter.md), [Carry the Dawn](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/quests/carry-the-dawn.md), [Cold Prayers](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/quests/cold-prayers.md), [Count Off](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/quests/count-off.md), [Grandda's Trail](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/quests/granddas-trail.md), [The Fine Print](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/quests/the-fine-print.md) > [!example]- Cutscenes > **The Chair by the Fire**: Strahd in the chair under Tatyana's portrait, holding out his hand for the locket. > ![locket chair](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/img/cutscenes/locket-chair.webp) > > **The Locket**: The Locket: a later beat of a long conversation picture (castle_ravenloft/personal_locket, ~ give), Ashwin's ask 2026-10-12. > ![locket given](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/img/cutscenes/locket-given.webp) > > **Out of the Mists**: The party steps out of the mist onto the Old Svalich Road, the sunless valley of Barovia below. > ![mists arrival](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/img/cutscenes/mists-arrival.webp) > > **The Second Reflection**: In the Pool of the White Sun, Sergei's reflection lies beside Ireena's. > ![krezk reflection](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/img/cutscenes/krezk-reflection.webp)