In the vast and treacherous world of Rivellon, heroes face dragons, demons, and gods. Yet, in 2026, one of the most enduring and chaotic tales whispered among veterans of Divinity: Original Sin 2 involves neither a legendary sword nor a world-ending spell, but a seemingly innocent poultry-related errand. With a resurgence of players exploring Larian's classic RPGs, the legend of the Voidwoken chicken and its devastating consequences has once again become a rite of passage, trapping unsuspecting adventurers in a web of feathers, fury, and fire.

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The journey into madness begins innocuously at the start of Act 2, along a main road. For players possessing the Pet Pal talent—a skill that unlocks a world of animal conversations—a distressed hen named Big Marge will plead for help. Her brood has been stolen by Voidwoken, the corrupting entities plaguing the land. The quest "Counting your Chickens" seems straightforward: travel north, battle the abominations, retrieve the stolen eggs. Success! One lone, miraculously intact egg is recovered and returned to the coop. A good deed done, experience points earned... or so one would think.

The first twist arrives upon returning to the scene. The rescued egg didn't contain a fluffy chick; it hatched a Voidling chick, which promptly slaughtered Big Marge and the entire flock. Using Spirit Vision to commune with the ghost of Big Marge reveals a second, more heartbreaking layer. She doesn't blame the murderous chick, named Peeper. Instead, she asks you to take the demonic fledgling to its father, a rooster named Cluck, so the family can be reunited. Surely, this is a story of reconciliation and understanding, right?

The Point of No Return

This is where the quest violently derails. Upon finding Cluck, the father rooster delivers a grim ultimatum: you must execute his own offspring, Peeper, on the spot. Confronted with this choice, most players' moral compass points firmly to refusal. How could you kill a misunderstood creature, a baby merely acting on its nature? The compassionate choice seems clear. But in Rivellon, compassion has a brutal price.

Refusing Cluck's demand does not trigger a debate. It triggers total war. In the Definitive Edition of the game, this area is populated by a group of elves. The moment you say "no," the following occurs in a devastating chain reaction:

  1. Father Cluck becomes hostile.

  2. Every single elf in the vicinity joins the fight against your party.

  3. The "cute" baby Peeper undergoes a horrifying transformation into a giant Voidwoken monster.

  4. Multiple adult Voidwoken chickens also join the fray.

Suddenly, a party of four adventurers finds itself surrounded by a small army. The combat begins with a devastating surprise round from the enemies, often leaving characters' armor shattered and health halved before they can even take a turn. As one recent player, u/Knoah1996, lamented in 2026, the experience was brutally swift: "My magic and physical armour were destroyed and my life was at 50 percent before I could even make a turn." The options become painfully limited: attempt a near-impossible fight against overwhelming odds, or reload a save file potentially set back by hours of progress.

Why Does This Quest Resonate in 2026?

Years after its release, the "Counting your Chickens" quest remains a masterpiece of subverted expectations and emergent chaos. It perfectly encapsulates Larian Studios' design philosophy:

  • Layered Consequences: A simple fetch quest unfolds into a moral dilemma, then explodes into catastrophic combat. Every action has a severe, unpredictable reaction.

  • The Illusion of Choice: The game presents what feels like a meaningful moral decision (spare the child), but both narrative paths lead to violence—just from different factions.

  • Community Bonding: This quest has become a legendary trap. Veterans watch with nostalgic glee as new players, drawn back by the enduring quality of the game and renewed interest in Larian's catalog, walk headfirst into the same feathered disaster. It’s a shared, painful, and hilarious experience that connects players across the years.

Quest Element Initial Expectation Harsh Reality
The Goal Rescue chickens, be a hero. Unleash a chicken-based apocalypse.
The Chick (Peeper) A creature to be saved/reformed. A catalyst for a party-wipe.
The Moral Choice A test of compassion and ethics. A trap that triggers an unwinnable fight.
The Outcome Gratitude and rewards. Panicked reloading of old save files.

The quest's notoriety is amplified by the added elves in the Definitive Edition. While they weren't part of the original chaos, their presence in the modern version turns a difficult fight into a nearly insurmountable one, ensuring the legend continues for a new generation. Isn't it fascinating how a quest about chickens can teach players more about the game's ruthless world than any epic boss fight?

For those currently navigating Rivellon, consider this a friendly warning. The chickens are not what they seem. While the community might stay quiet about other surprises—like the infamous raunchy lizard in the Act 2 tavern—the tale of Peeper and Cluck is too iconic not to share as a cautionary fable. It serves as a perfect reminder: in Divinity: Original Sin 2, even the most feathery and benign quests can have claws, teeth, and a devastating AoE attack. Always save often, and never trust a rooster with a troubled family life. 🐔🔥