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Companions: Willow
🕑 Added 2025-06-10 02:53:40 +0000 UTCWillow is the third optional companion character to join you at the Inn, though she may be the first you encounter. The Dryad will approach you while on patrol, and without any of the guile common to the Fae, ask for help in healing the forest.
There are many Fae in the forest who've already fallen victim to the Ashland corruption. Fractured Blights, Dryads, Nightshades, and Wisps are just some of the Fractured Fae who will attack trespassers on sight. Willow has not succumbed yet, though she knows it's only a matter of time unless she gets help.
Lucy will warn you to be careful around the Fae: the are known tricksters. Many fairy stories end in tragedy for those who underestimate the Folk. Just the same, this Dryad seems earnest in her attempts to heal the corruption.
The path to gaining the Dryad as a companion is a long one - it starts with small gifts of your health points. You'll then need to restore the inn's Tower in order to spend some time researching the Fae. Finally, you'll need to unlock the greenhouse before Willow can finally move in to the inn.
Willow has been in the game in some for most of the Alpha. She was the first event added to the game after launch, likewise her quest was also the first to be added. It was always intended, however, that she be the third hirable companion and so her implementation into the inn took a backseat while Scout and Ellie were developed and implemented.
The next update, 1.7, will finally have Willow showing up in earnest. This comes with a number of changes.
First, and most obvious, her new look. While out in the forest and fighting for survival, she couldn't muster the glamour that Fae normally wear to blend in. Once she's brought into the inn and given a safe space, she'll regain a lot of her energy and her glamour will be restored. The Fae are creatures of magic, and so she'll also have a lot more color to show off than the other characters thus far.
There will be more dialog and events centered around Willow. A few more to start, but with many more on the way. Now that she's further removed from danger, you'll find her much more energetic and more than a little mischievous. There will also be 3 new sex scenes added with 1.7 all featuring Willow.
Her companion skills will mostly focus around improving the greenhouse, which will become especially helpful once the Winter season mechanics are introduced. Food will be much more scarce during Winter, and fewer merchants will be available.
Thanks for checking out this post, and thank you for checking out the Patreon, and Finding Color in the Ashes. We cannot express enough our absolute gratitude for all the support the game is getting. We hope you stick around, we've got a lot more to share!
Comments
Jacob L
Not a dumb question as it's not explained super well in game. When you patrol / hunt / gather there is a chance you get an event. If you haven't seen the dryad in a few events, she'll show up. Once you have the heartrree researched the next dryad event will allow you to get a heart seed from her - which needs to be planted in the greenhouse
Rc
This is admittedly a dumb question - i opened the greenhouse researched the heartwood, donated life so how do I actually trigger a recruitment scene?
Jacob L
Thank you so much!
alpine trooper
I just love the other characters btw they are fun
