[Not a bug, some adjustments] Spirit of the forest quest doesn't work in winter

[PALU]

My character received the spirit of the forest quest a week before mid winter, and performed the ritual 2 weeks later. However, when my character felt the presence of the spirit, it was so dark that the visibility was a single tile, so the spirit wasn't visible (spirits don't wear light vests like humans do). I waited and turned, waited and turned, ... for a fair while, but nothing happened. Then I took a step in a random direction, and was spoken to by a still invisible grey bearded man. I waited a fair while more, but nothing more was said (or seen, of course). I then walked in a rectangle around the ant nest, but nothing was happening or seen, after which I gave up and went to bed. When reporting the quest to the sage that had given it, it hadn't registered, so I guess it will have to sit there for some months to wait for brighter times (there's still two or 3 usages left on the item bought for the quest)...

[StefanPravda]

Did you use fires and torches? Because if yes, I had no idea it can be so dark even with fire.

[PALU]

Nope, didn't think of that (and when the problem is apparent it's probably too late to start a fire, but it's worth trying for a second attempt [with a bonfire, to ensure it won't go out before the geezer shows up]. I don't think a torch would be useful, as they burn for a very short time, and it can take hour of failed attempts to light a fire from which the torches can be lit).

[StefanPravda]

I used 1 fire and a torch in my hand.

[JP_Finn]

Not a bug I'd say. Like Stefan said, use torches.
Bring several torches to the ant hill, make fire, light 1st torch. Once the flame starts to faint, light the next one. Likely won't need more than 1-2 torches anyway. Or light up couple trunks ... should help with weather too.

[Tom H]

I drag a tree trunk nearby and start a fire with it. Good lighting and it lasts into the next day. In winter, it's good for staying warm, too!

[PALU]

Yes, a big fire did the trick. I'm not sure I'd have seen him if he'd been on the other side of my character, rather than on the other side of the fire, though.

[Sami]

Not a bug per se as lighting thing can be taken care of as discussed, but I'm a bit confused that the spirit of the forest did talk to a character who didn't see him.
It's specifically made so that the spirits should talk only if the eye contact is confirmed - otherwise they would whisper behind trees and rocks immediately.
I tested this few times, in pitch-dark 1-tile visibility conditions and talks initiated only when the character actually saw the spirit.
But as the quest didn't complete with the spirit talking (which should confirm the spirit was also seen) I'll see about adding special flagging that makes the spirit encounter fullfilled if the talk is initiated.

[PALU]

In my case I had my character move in a "random" facing direction after turning on the spot for a while, and I suspect I actually had the character walking away from the spirit, based on what I think the original facing was and where the spirit showed up when light was available, which (I think) facing in the same direction.