Central Hub NPCs
The central hub is where you will spend most of your downtime. It is the safest area in the game and houses several important NPCs. The Elder sits by the main bonfire and gives you your first quest. He also provides lore dumps about the shattered kingdom and hints about where to go next. Talk to him after every major boss for new dialogue and sometimes rewards.
The Merchant is located in the building to the right of the bonfire. He sells basic weapons, armor, consumables, and upgrade materials. His inventory expands as you progress — after defeating the second boss, he starts carrying Void Crystals and Ancient Alloys. The Herbalist is in the garden behind the merchant's shop. She sells health potions, antidotes, and crafting recipes. She also buys herbs at a fair price, making her a good option for offloading excess materials.
The Blacksmith is in the basement of the central tower. He upgrades your weapons and armor for souls and materials. He also has a small questline — bring him three Ancient Alloys and he will craft a unique weapon called the Moonlight Greatsword, one of the best weapons in the game.
Quest Givers Across the Kingdom
Several NPCs scattered across the world offer side quests with worthwhile rewards. The Wandering Knight appears in three locations: the Scorched Valley entrance, the Moonlit Gardens, and the Abyssal Depths. He challenges you to a duel each time. Beat him all three times for a powerful ring that increases stamina regeneration.
The Lost Scholar is found in the Forgotten Catacombs, hiding behind a bookshelf. He asks you to retrieve three ancient tomes from various dangerous locations. The reward is the Scholar's Staff, a top-tier magic weapon that scales with Intelligence. The tomes are in the Scorched Valley lava caves, the Twilight Pass mage tower, and the Abyssal Depths treasure room.
The Mad Hermit lives in a cave in the Poison Swamp. He gives cryptic hints about secret areas and hidden items. If you bring him 10 Void Crystals, he teaches you a unique spell called Void Blast that deals massive dark damage. It is well worth the crystal investment.
Traveling Merchants & Special Shops
Not all merchants stay in one place. The Traveling Merchant roams between zones and sells rare items you cannot find anywhere else. He appears randomly, but you can predict his location by checking the zone entrances. He tends to stay in each zone for about 10 minutes before moving. His inventory includes Homeward Bells, Luck Elixirs, and the occasional unique weapon.
The Dark Merchant is a hidden NPC found in a secret room in the Abyssal Depths. He sells cursed items that are incredibly powerful but come with drawbacks. For example, the Cursed Blade deals double damage but drains your health over time. The Ring of Sacrifice prevents soul loss on death but breaks after one use. These items are situational but can be game-changing in the right build.
NPC Questlines & Rewards
Some NPCs have multi-step questlines that span the entire game. The Princess in the Tower questline starts in the Moonlit Gardens. She asks you to rescue her from the top of the tower, but the door is locked and requires three keys. Each key is held by a different mini-boss in the surrounding areas. The reward for completing this questline is the Royal Crown, which increases all stats by 5 points.
The Forgotten Hero questline involves finding the remains of a legendary warrior scattered across four graves. Each grave is in a different zone and guarded by a tough enemy. Once you collect all four remains, bring them to the statue in the central hub. The statue comes to life and rewards you with the Hero's Armor set, which has the highest defense in the game.
NPC Interaction Tips
A few tips for getting the most out of NPC interactions. Always exhaust dialogue options — many NPCs have hidden dialogue that only triggers after certain conditions are met. Some merchants offer discounts if you have high Charisma or have completed specific quests. The Traveling Merchant gives a 10% discount if you buy more than 5 items in a single visit. If an NPC mentions a location or item by name, write it down. Lunacid does not have a quest log, so you need to remember these details yourself. Finally, do not attack NPCs unless you are absolutely sure you want to. Most cannot be revived, and killing a quest giver locks you out of
their rewards permanently.