The Ethically Acquired Antiquities quest is a recent addition to Old School RuneScape, introduced alongside the new region of Varlamore. This intriguing investigation-based quest is packed with detective work, shady characters, and plenty of twists and turns. Whether you’re looking to experience the story or grind for Thieving XP, this guide will walk you through the quest from start to finish.
Quest Requirements and Recommended Items
Before diving into the investigation, ensure you meet the following requirements:
Skill Requirements: 25 Thieving
Quest Requirements: Completion of Children of the Sun and Shield of Arrav
Recommended Items:
3,000 OSRS GP for the charter ship (optional)
Ring of Charos (for reduced charter cost) (optional)
Explorer’s Ring 2+ (for quick teleport) (optional)
Varrock Teleport or Civitas illa Fortis Teleport
1 free inventory space
Now you’re ready to begin the quest!
Short Walkthrough
Getting Started:
Location: Grand Museum in Civitas illa Fortis
Inspect the empty display case in the northeast corner of the museum. Curator Herminius will ask for your help in investigating a missing artifact—Xerna’s Diadem.
Examine the tools behind the display case to find signs of expert tampering.
Inspect the case again to gather more clues.
Following the Trail:
Speak to locals (citizens, tourists, academics) to gather information. Eventually, someone will mention a shady figure leaving the museum.
Head to Regulus Cento near the quetzal area to continue your investigation.
After speaking with him, head east to Fortis Cothon and speak to a Trader Crewmember who will send you on a mission to repair sails.
Theft Across the Sea:
The repaired sails need to be delivered back to the trader. This leads you to Port Sarim.
Speak to the crew at the southern dock and then visit Betty’s Magic Emporium in the northwest to gather information about the suspect.
Confronting Haig Halen:
Travel to Varrock Museum and confront Curator Haig Halen about the missing diadem.
Pickpocket him for the storeroom key and explore the storeroom.
Once you find the diadem, return to Haig Halen and use the dialogue options to shame him into confessing the truth.
Completing the Quest:
After the confession, return to Curator Herminius in Civitas illa Fortis to complete the quest.
Long Walkthrough
Step 1: Inspecting the Empty Display Case
Start by heading to the Grand Museum in Civitas illa Fortis. The quest begins with inspecting the empty display case in the northeast corner. Curator Herminius will ask you to investigate, as the display case appears to have been tampered with. Examine the tools behind the case, which suggest that a professional thief is involved.
Step 2: Investigating the Museum’s Visitors
Talk to the locals around the museum. This part involves chatting with citizens, academics, and tourists until you gather information about a suspicious figure. Someone will mention a shady character who exited through the main entrance.
Step 3: The Search Continues
Next, head to Regulus Cento, located near the quetzals southwest of the museum. He’ll tell you about a person who seemed particularly interested in his bird. When Regulus didn’t let the mysterious individual near the bird, the person left and headed east towards the Fortis Cothon.
Before proceeding, make sure you have one free inventory space.
Step 4: Running Errands in Fortis Cothon
Find a Trader Crewmember at Fortis Cothon. They won’t share information until you help them out, of course. The favor involves fixing some tattered sails, which can be done by visiting Artima at the crafting shop just south of the Cothon. She will repair the sails but expects you to thank her crew for a recent shipment.
Step 5: Theft Across the Sea
Once the sails are repaired, return them to the trader. You’ll learn that the mystery man—a “grey-haired fella”—needed sailing lessons before heading to Port Sarim. Travel to Port Sarim, where you’ll find more clues about the thief’s activities.
Step 6: The Investigation in Port Sarim
In Port Sarim, head to Betty’s Magic Emporium in the northwest. Betty will recall a monocled man who was asking for specific runes. She hands you some notes, which mention Varrock Teleport runes. This leads you to suspect that the thief might be none other than Curator Haig Halen from Varrock Museum.
Step 7: Confronting Haig Halen
Make your way to Varrock Museum and confront Haig Halen about the missing diadem. He will become nervous, and your next task is to pickpocket him for the storeroom key. Enter the storeroom (on the second floor) and search the crates. You’ll find the diadem hidden inside.
Step 8: The Shame-o-Meter
Return to Haig Halen and use the dialogue options to shame him into confessing. The dialogue choices involve calling him out for his actions and criticizing his methods. Once his Shame-o-meter reaches its peak, Haig will confess that he took the diadem after subduing a thief. He thought he was saving the artifact, but in reality, he had just taken it for himself.
Step 9: Completing the Quest
Offer Haig a deal—return the diadem to the Grand Museum, and you’ll keep quiet about his involvement. Head back to Civitas illa Fortis and report your success to Curator Herminius.
Quest Rewards:
1 Quest Point
6,000 Thieving experience
5,000 coins
This concludes the Ethically Acquired Antiquities quest. It’s a fun and rewarding detective-style adventure that offers a solid amount of Thieving XP and an engaging storyline. Enjoy the quest, and remember to check out other guides for more OSRS adventures!