Secrets of the Tacan is the personal quest of Zahua. He can be found in the fish barrels at #17 in the Stalwart Village during Part 1 of the White March Expansion. You won't be able to triggger the quest until Part 2 of the expansion begins.
Once Part 2 begins, speak with Zahua at length, exploring all dialogue options. He'll eventually explain that he wants to recover the lost martial secrets of his people, and that he believes they can be found in a place known as the Whitestone Hollow. That triggers the quest.
You will start off at #1 on the Whitestone Hollow map once you arrive. Step forward a little and Zahua will indicate that he would like the rest of the party to consume some herbs in order to ready their consciousness for the spirit world.
You could initially refuse him, and leave the area, and he'll still tag along. Refusing him a second time afterwards will lead to him leaving you for good.
Once you do consume the herbs, your vision changes so that your surroundings take on various orange and/or maroon shades. A spirit lion will also be in immediate view.
Follow the Lion spirit to #2. It will reveal itself to be a more humanoid spirit, and it wants a gem that was precious to it in its past.
Make your way to the dais in the northwest corner. Keep in mind that venomblooms will frequently sprout up and explode for damage as traps as you make your way to the top of the dais. It may be adviseable to send a lone character in. At #4 will be a pedestal from which you can obtain the Sentimental Gem.
Bring the Sentimental Gem back to the spirit. It will be unable to hold or pick up the gem, and will depart in frustration. The spirit of a Shaman will appear, and cause a couple of Dank Spores, a Mngpwa, a Will-O-Wisp, and a couple of Ice Trolls to attack the party as a test. The Mnpwa will leave behind an Awakened Adra. The Will-O-Wisp will leave behind a Spirit Residue. The Ice Trolls will leave behind Troll Skins. The Dank Spores will leave behind several Sporelings.
The Lion Spirit will next lead you to #5, where you'll encounter the spirit of the Haggard Man. He wants water from a nearby waterfall, and gives you the Thirsty Man's Waterskin with which to collect the water.
The waterfall itself is at #9, and it involves a scripted interaction. If you can make a Constitution check of 13, a Resolve check of 18, or a Percpetion check of 15, you'll realize that the scalding nature of the water is really just an illusion, and you'll personally be able to turn the Thirsty Man's Waterskin into the Thirsty Man's Waterskin (Full). You'll also procure a Sapphire and two Topazes.
If you are unable to make any of the checks, then Zahua will procure the Thirsty Man's Waterskin (Full) for you. You also will not be able to get the gems.
The Haggard Man will fade away, while the spirit of Zahua's former master, Ixepillo, will appear. Ixepillo will try to teach the secret of the Anitlei to Zahua, but will choke on dust before fading away.
At #19 will be the spirit of a wounded Antelope. It wants you to collect some sap from a nearby tree that will give off a scent that will scare off predators.
The tree in question is at #7. Click on it to obtain the Repellant Tree Sap.
Return to #19. The Antelope will be dead and surrounded by Wolves. It fades away, and its place will emerge the spirit of Chieftain Ehuilia. He will argue with Zahua for some time, after which he takes the form of a Werewolf and summons several other spirits to help him attack you. The other spirits include a Priestess, a couple of Monks, and a few Winter Wolves.
Zahua comes to the conclusion that his people would have been doomed no matter what he tried.
The lake to the northeast will drain away, allowing the party to journal into the middle of it.
You can begin to enter the lake through the shoreline near #5. When you reach the middle at #20, you'll witness an apparition of Zahua in an argument with Nahualtia, who would have been his betrothed had his people not been enslaved. He will condemn himself for failing both his people and his quest for knowledge, no matter what you try to say to him.
However, the trance-like state will end once this event has occurred, marking the completion of the quest. Zahua will now also have the Anitlei talent, which grants him +10% Attack Speed.
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