Baldur's Gate 3
Baldur's Gate 3

Act 2 Side Quests

Complete Baldur's Gate 3 Act 2 side quests in the Shadow-Cursed Lands, uncovering lore and obtaining powerful gear while navigating the Absolute's influence.

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Act 2 Side Quests

The Shadow-Cursed Lands are not just a path to Moonrise Towers; they hold their own tragedies and mysteries. These quests often involve helping the cursed, uncovering the secrets of the region, or navigating the treacherous politics of the Absolute's influence. Many of these side quests offer crucial insights into the lore of Baldur's Gate 3, provide powerful gear, and can significantly impact your progression and relationships with companions.

Key Act 2 Side Quests & Walkthroughs

1. Punish the Wicked (Oliver's Questline)

This quest involves a strange, seemingly innocent child named Oliver and his "family" in the Ruined Battlefield. It's a crucial quest for understanding the nature of the Shadow Curse and can lead to a powerful item.

  • Location: House of Healing Morgue (initial encounter), Ruined Battlefield (Oliver's House).
  • Key NPCs: Oliver, Halsin (if recruited).
  • Objective: Discover the truth about Oliver and potentially reunite him with Thaniel.
  • Walkthrough:
    1. Initial Encounter: After dealing with the House of Healing and potentially rescuing Art Cullagh, you'll learn about a boy named Oliver. Halsin will mention him if he's in your party.
    2. Find Oliver: Head to the northern part of the Ruined Battlefield, east of the Grand Mausoleum. You'll find a dilapidated house where Oliver is playing hide-and-seek with his "family" (shadow creatures).
    3. Play Hide-and-Seek: Oliver will challenge you to a game. He'll turn invisible. Use spells like See Invisibility or Faerie Fire, or simply explore the area thoroughly. He often hides behind the house or near the well.
    4. Play Tag: After finding him, he'll challenge you to tag. He'll teleport away. Follow him into the portal he creates.
    5. Confront Oliver's Family: Inside the portal, you'll face Oliver's shadow "family" – Mummy, Daddy, and Sister. These are Shadow creatures. Focus on defeating them. They are vulnerable to Radiant damage.
    6. Persuade Oliver: After defeating his family, Oliver will be distressed. You can use Persuasion, Intimidation, or Deception checks to convince him to return to the material plane. If Halsin is with you, he will intervene and offer a unique dialogue option to persuade Oliver to reunite with Thaniel.
    7. Resolution: If successful, Oliver will merge with Thaniel, progressing Halsin's personal quest and potentially lifting the Shadow Curse in parts of the area.
  • Rewards:
    • Ring of Protection: +1 Armour Class and +1 Saving Throws (found in a chest near Oliver's house after the initial encounter, or after completing the quest).
    • Significant progress on Halsin's questline, leading to his permanent recruitment and the eventual lifting of the Shadow Curse.
    • XP and various minor loot from the shadow creatures.
  • Common Pitfalls: Failing the Persuasion checks with Oliver can lead to him disappearing, making it harder to progress Halsin's quest. Ensure you have a character with high Charisma for the dialogue.

2. Find Arabella's Parents

A continuation of a quest from Act 1, this task involves finding the Tiefling child Arabella and her missing parents in the Shadow-Cursed Lands.

  • Location: House of Healing (Arabella), Reithwin Town (Arabella's Parents).
  • Key NPCs: Arabella, Sister Ophelia.
  • Objective: Locate Arabella's parents and ensure her safety.
  • Walkthrough:
    1. Find Arabella: After entering the Shadow-Cursed Lands, head to the House of Healing. You'll find Arabella near the entrance, distraught and looking for her parents. Speak with her.
    2. Search for Parents: Arabella will tell you her parents went to Reithwin Town. Head to the western part of Reithwin Town, specifically the house directly west of the Reithwin Tollhouse.
    3. Discover the Truth: Inside the house, you'll find the bodies of Arabella's parents, tragically killed by the Shadow Curse. Interact with their bodies.
    4. Inform Arabella: Return to Arabella at the House of Healing and deliver the grim news. You'll have several dialogue options to comfort her.
    5. Arabella's Future: If you successfully comfort her, she will decide to go to the Last Light Inn for safety. You can encourage her or suggest she stays with you.
  • Rewards:
    • XP: For completing the quest.
    • Arabella's Mark: If you comfort her successfully, she will give you a temporary buff (Arabella's Mark) that grants advantage on saving throws against the Shadow Curse for a short duration.
    • Later Encounter: Arabella will reappear in Act 3, potentially with new powers, if she survives Act 2.
  • Common Pitfalls: Not finding Arabella in the House of Healing or failing to comfort her can lead to her death or disappearance from the story.

3. Lift the Shadow Curse (Halsin's Questline)

While a major companion quest, its progression is tied directly to several Act 2 side quests and is essential for understanding the region.

  • Location: Last Light Inn, Ruined Battlefield, House of Healing, Grand Mausoleum.
  • Key NPCs: Halsin, Art Cullagh, Thaniel, Oliver.
  • Objective: Discover the source of the Shadow Curse and lift it.
  • Walkthrough:
    1. Awaken Art Cullagh: At the Last Light Inn, you'll find Art Cullagh in a coma. Halsin will task you with finding a way to wake him.
    2. Find the Battered Lute: The Battered Lute is found in the House of Healing, specifically in the office of Malus Thorm. Defeat Malus Thorm and retrieve the lute.
    3. Wake Art: Return to Art Cullagh at the Last Light Inn and use the Battered Lute on him. He will awaken and speak of Thaniel.
    4. Halsin's Ritual: Halsin will then ask you to protect him while he performs a ritual to enter the Shadowfell and find Thaniel. This takes place near the portal to the Shadowfell in the Ruined Battlefield.
    5. Protect Halsin: During the ritual, waves of shadow creatures will attack. You must protect Halsin for several turns. Position your party strategically, focusing on crowd control and damage.
    6. Find Thaniel's Other Half (Oliver): Halsin will return with Thaniel, but Thaniel is incomplete. He'll explain that Thaniel's other half is Oliver (see "Punish the Wicked" quest above).
    7. Reunite Thaniel and Oliver: Complete the "Punish the Wicked" quest by convincing Oliver to merge with Thaniel.
    8. Final Ritual: Once Thaniel is whole, Halsin will perform a final ritual to lift the Shadow Curse. This will require you to defend a specific area from more shadow creatures.
  • Rewards:
    • Halsin as a Permanent Companion: If successful, Halsin will join your party permanently.
    • XP: Significant experience for completing multiple stages of the quest.
    • Partial Lifting of the Shadow Curse: The central area of the Ruined Battlefield will become safe, allowing for easier travel and exploration.
    • Unique Dialogue and Story Progression: Deepens the lore of the Shadow-Cursed Lands and your understanding of the Absolute's influence.
  • Strategy Tips: For the "Protect Halsin" segments, area-of-effect spells (Spirit Guardians, Fireball, Ice Storm) are highly effective against the swarms of shadows. Radiant damage is also very strong. Ensure your party is well-rested and has healing potions.

4. Investigate the Selûnite Resistance

Uncover the fate of a group of Selûnite faithful who tried to resist the Shadow Curse.

  • Location: Last Light Inn (initial hint), Reithwin Town (Mason's Guild, Tollhouse).
  • Key NPCs: Isobel (Last Light Inn), various journals and notes.
  • Objective: Discover what happened to the Selûnite resistance fighters.
  • Walkthrough:
    1. Start the Quest: Speak to Isobel at the Last Light Inn. She may mention the Selûnite resistance. Alternatively, simply exploring the Shadow-Cursed Lands will trigger this quest.
    2. Explore Reithwin Town: Head to Reithwin Town. Look for clues in the various buildings.
    3. Mason's Guild: Enter the Mason's Guild in the western part of Reithwin. You'll find several undead masons. Defeat them. Inside, you'll find journals and notes detailing the Selûnites' struggle.
    4. Tollhouse: The Reithwin Tollhouse, located centrally in Reithwin Town, also holds clues. You'll encounter Gerringothe Thorm here. After dealing with her, explore the upper floors for more notes.
    5. House of Healing: Further notes can be found in the House of Healing, particularly in Malus Thorm's office.
    6. Grand Mausoleum: The final pieces of the puzzle are found within the Grand Mausoleum, leading to the Gauntlet of Shar. The resistance members were ultimately overwhelmed and corrupted or killed.
  • Rewards:
    • XP: For completing the quest and defeating enemies.
    • Lore: A deeper understanding of the history of the Shadow-Cursed Lands and Ketheric Thorm's rise.
    • Various loot from the Mason's Guild and Tollhouse, including gold and magical items.
  • Common Pitfalls: Missing key journals can make the quest feel less complete. Thoroughly explore each location.

5. Find the Missing Letters (Postmaster's Quest)

A short but poignant quest involving a spectral postmaster and his lost mail.

  • Location: Reithwin Town Post House.
  • Key NPCs: Postmaster Tressym (spectral).
  • Objective: Retrieve the missing mail for the spectral postmaster.
  • Walkthrough:
    1. Enter the Post House: Head to the Reithwin Town Post House, located just east of the Reithwin Tollhouse.
    2. Speak to Postmaster Tressym: Inside, you'll encounter the spectral Postmaster Tressym. He'll lament his inability to deliver the mail due to his spectral state and the shadow curse.
    3. Find the Mail: The missing mail is scattered around the Post House. Look for letters and packages on tables, shelves, and the floor. There are usually 3-4 items.
    4. Return the Mail: Gather all the mail and return to Postmaster Tressym. He will thank you.
  • Rewards:
    • XP: For completing the quest.
    • Minor Gold: A small amount of gold as a token of gratitude.
    • Lore: A glimpse into the lives of the people before the Shadow Curse.
  • Common Pitfalls: The mail items can be small and easily overlooked. Use the Alt key to highlight interactable objects.

General Tips for Act 2 Side Quests

  • Light Sources are Crucial: Always have a source of light (torch, lantern, light spell) or the Shadow-Cursed debuff will quickly drain your health. The Pixie Blessing from the Moonlantern is the most effective.
  • Radiant Damage: Many enemies in the Shadow-Cursed Lands (especially shadows and undead) are vulnerable to Radiant damage. Spells like Spirit Guardians, Sacred Flame, and items that deal Radiant damage are highly effective.
  • Exploration is Key: Many side quests are discovered simply by exploring the various ruins and buildings in the Shadow-Cursed Lands. Don't rush straight to Moonrise Towers.
  • Check for Hidden Items: Use the Alt key to highlight items, and be prepared to use Perception checks to find hidden passages or loot.
  • Long Rests: The Shadow-Cursed Lands can be taxing. Don't hesitate to take Long Rests to replenish spell slots and health, especially before major encounters.