WoW Marla’s Last Wish Full Quest Guide

Marla’s Last Wish is a short, solo-friendly quest chain in World of Warcraft that starts in Stormwind City and sends you to the burning village of Goldshire in Elwynn Forest. You’ll investigate the source of a mysterious fire, rescue a child, and ultimately decide the fate of a grieving mother. This guide covers every step, the choices you can make, and what rewards you can expect.

Quest Background and Starting Point

Marla’s Last Wish was introduced in the Cataclysm expansion (patch 4.0.1) as part of the revamped low-level zones. It is a level 5 quest that begins with Marshal Dughan in Stormwind City’s Cathedral District, near the Stormwind Keep entrance. The quest is available to both Alliance and neutral players, though it is primarily a human starting-area quest. If you’re a new player, you’ll likely pick it up automatically as part of the Elwynn Forest storyline.

The quest chain is notable for its emotional narrative—it deals with loss, grief, and a difficult moral choice. It’s also one of the few early-game quests that offers a meaningful decision with lasting flavor text, though the reward itself is the same regardless of your choice.

Quest Walkthrough: Step-by-Step

Here is the full quest chain, from start to finish:

1. Talk to Marshal Dughan in Stormwind City (coordinates roughly 42, 84). He’ll tell you that Goldshire is burning and asks you to investigate.
2. Travel to Goldshire in Elwynn Forest (coordinates roughly 43, 65). The village is on fire, and you’ll see a crowd of panicked NPCs.
3. Find the source of the fire. You’ll need to speak with a few NPCs, including a worgen named Grimm who is lurking near the inn. He’ll reveal that he started the fire to flush out a hidden demon.
4. Enter the burning inn. Inside, you’ll find a child named Marla trapped under a beam. You must click on her to free her.
5. Defeat the demon that appears after you rescue Marla. The demon is a level 5 elite, but it’s easily soloable with a few hits.
6. Return to Marshal Dughan in Stormwind. He’ll thank you and offer a follow-up quest.
7. Speak to Marla’s mother, who is standing near the marshal. She’ll ask you to deliver a locket to her daughter’s grave in the Northshire Vineyards.
8. Travel to the grave (coordinates roughly 30, 50) and place the locket. A short cutscene plays.
9. Return to the mother to complete the chain and receive your reward.

Key Choices and Their Impact

At the end of the chain, Marla’s mother (whose name is Marla herself, as you later learn) asks you to help her die. She is a ghost, and her spirit is trapped because she died in the fire while searching for her daughter. You have two options:

• Use the locket to put her spirit to rest—this is the “good” ending, where the mother finds peace and moves on.
• Refuse to use the locket—the mother remains as a ghost, but she thanks you for your honesty. This is a darker outcome.

Neither choice affects your rewards or your reputation. The only difference is a brief dialogue change and a small flavor quest that appears if you choose the first option. The quest is designed to make you think about mercy and grief, but it has no mechanical consequences.

Rewards and Loot

Upon completing the chain, you’ll receive a choice of one of the following items, all item level 8:

• Marla’s Locket (neck) – +2 Strength, +1 Stamina
• Marla’s Ring (finger) – +2 Agility, +1 Stamina
• Marla’s Bracelet (wrist) – +2 Intellect, +1 Spirit

You also earn a small amount of experience (around 450 XP at level 5) and reputation with Stormwind. The locket is a unique item that you can keep as a memento, but it’s not required for any achievement or later quest.

Common Mistakes and Troubleshooting

Players often run into a few issues during this quest:

• Can’t find the inn door – The inn is the large building with a sign that says “Lion’s Pride Inn.” The door is on the east side, but during the fire, the entrance is blocked by debris. You need to use the side door near the back.
• Marla won’t click – Make sure you’re targeting her directly, not the beam. If she’s not clickable, try moving closer or reloading your UI.
• Demon is too hard – The demon scales with your level, but if you’re undergeared, use a health potion or ask a nearby player for help. It’s not a group quest, but other players can assist.
• Lost the locket – If you delete the locket, you can abandon the quest and redo it from the start. The locket is a quest item, so it’s not a permanent loss.

Is This Quest Worth Doing?

For leveling, the quest is worth doing because it’s quick (about 10 minutes) and gives a decent piece of gear. But its real value is the story. It’s one of the earliest quests in the game that presents a moral dilemma, and it sets the tone for the revamped Cataclysm zones, where many quests deal with loss and recovery. If you’re a lore enthusiast, you’ll also notice that the quest ties into the broader narrative of the worgen curse and the Burning Legion’s influence on Elwynn Forest.

If you’re a completionist, note that the quest is part of the Elwynn Forest storyline achievement, “Loremaster of Eastern Kingdoms.” So if you’re chasing that achievement, you’ll need to do it on at least one character.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I do this quest if I’m not a human?

Yes, any Alliance player can pick up the quest from Marshal Dughan in Stormwind. You don’t need to be a human, but you do need to be level 5 or higher. Horde players cannot do this quest, as it’s an Alliance-only zone.

What happens if I refuse to help Marla’s mother?

If you choose not to use the locket, the mother will remain as a ghost and thank you for your honesty. You’ll still get the same rewards. The only difference is a few lines of dialogue and the absence of a follow-up scene where the spirit fades away.

Is there a hidden achievement for this quest?

No, there is no hidden achievement for Marla’s Last Wish. However, the quest is part of the Loremaster of Eastern Kingdoms achievement, which requires completing all quests in Elwynn Forest.

Can I repeat this quest?

No, it’s a one-time quest. If you want to experience it again, you’ll need to create a new character or use a different faction that can access it.

Does my choice affect my reputation with Stormwind?

No, both choices give the same reputation gain. The choice is purely narrative and has no mechanical impact.

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