The Headless Nick — Divinity: Original Sin Walkthrough

The Headless Nick

The "Headless Nick" quest is a pivotal early-game mystery in Divinity: Original Sin, leading you into one of Cyseal's most perilous dungeons: Black Cove. This quest not only progresses the main murder investigation but also introduces you to the dangers and rewards of exploration. Your objective is to reunite the talking skeleton Nick's head with his body, allowing him to provide crucial testimony regarding the murder of Councillor Jake.

Quest Giver and Initiation

• Quest Giver: Nick (Headless Skeleton)
• Location: Cyseal City, in the morgue of the Cyseal Mortician's House (located in the northern part of the city, west of the marketplace).
• Initiation: Interact with the headless skeleton on the mortician's table. He will speak telepathically, revealing his name is Nick and that his head was taken by pirates to Black Cove. He implores you to retrieve it so he can testify.

Navigating Black Cove: A Perilous Journey

Black Cove is a challenging dungeon located south of Cyseal, accessible via a hidden path on the beach. It's notorious for its traps, numerous enemies, and the presence of the feared pirate captain, Pontius Pirate. Prepare thoroughly before venturing in.

Recommended Party Setup & Preparation:

• Level: Aim for at least Level 4-5 before tackling Black Cove. Lower levels will find it significantly more difficult.
• Skills:
  • Perception: Essential for detecting traps. A character with high Perception (e.g., 8+) will make navigation much safer.
  • Lockpicking: Useful for opening chests and doors.
  • Teleportation/Pyrokinesis: Can be used to bypass certain traps or reposition enemies.
  • Healing Spells/Potions: Abundant healing is crucial.
  • Area-of-Effect (AoE) Spells/Abilities: Many encounters involve multiple enemies.
• Equipment: Ensure your gear is up-to-date. Consider bringing items that grant immunity or resistance to Poison and Bleeding, as these are common status effects.
• Companions: Having a full party of four is highly recommended. Madora and Jahan are excellent choices for their combat prowess and utility.

Black Cove Navigation & Traps:

1. Entrance: The entrance to Black Cove is a cave mouth on the southern beach of Cyseal, west of the lighthouse. You'll likely encounter some level 3-4 enemies (e.g., Orcs, Undead) guarding the approach.
2. Initial Caverns: The first few chambers are relatively straightforward, populated by various Undead enemies (Skeletons, Zombie Pirates). Use choke points to your advantage.
3. Poison Gas Traps:
   • Detection: High Perception characters will highlight pressure plates or vents.
   • Disarming: Use a character with high Dexterity and a Disarm Trap Kit.
   • Bypassing: Teleport characters over the traps, or use a character with immunity/resistance to poison to trigger them safely. Alternatively, use a crate or barrel to weigh down the pressure plate.
   • Strategy: If triggered, move your party out of the gas cloud immediately. Undead enemies are often immune to poison, so don't rely on it against them.
4. Pressure Plate Traps (Explosive/Spike): Similar to poison traps, these require high Perception to detect and Disarm Trap Kits to disable. Be wary of hidden plates in doorways or narrow corridors.
5. Ambush Points: Black Cove is rife with ambushes. Always advance cautiously, keeping your party spread out to avoid AoE damage.

Step-by-Step Walkthrough: Finding Nick's Head

1. Enter Black Cove: Locate the cave entrance on the southern beach of Cyseal.
2. Clear the Initial Chambers: Fight through the first few groups of Undead enemies. These are mostly Skeletons and Zombie Pirates.
3. The First Major Trap Room: You'll encounter a large chamber with multiple poison gas traps.
   • Strategy: Send your highest Perception character ahead. Disarm as many traps as possible. Use Teleportation to move characters past unavoidable traps.
   • Enemies: Expect more Undead and potentially some Pirate Thugs.
4. The Pirate Camp: Deeper into the cove, you'll come across a more organized pirate encampment.
   • Enemies: Here you'll face living pirates (Pirate Thugs, Pirate Archers, Pirate Mages), who are more dangerous than the initial undead. Focus down mages and archers first.
   • Loot: Check tents and crates for valuable items.
5. The Flooded Passage & Pontius Pirate's Lair: Continue past the pirate camp. You'll eventually reach a flooded passage leading to a larger cavern. This is Pontius Pirate's domain.
   • Boss Encounter: Pontius Pirate.
     • Location: Pontius Pirate is typically found on a raised platform or at the back of a large cavern, surrounded by his crew.
     • Strategy: Pontius is a strong melee fighter. He often has a high initiative, so be prepared for him to act first. Focus fire on him to eliminate the main threat quickly. Use crowd control (Stuns, Freezes, Knockdowns) to keep his allies at bay while you deal with him. Be aware of his AoE attacks.
     • Minions: He will be accompanied by several Pirate Thugs, Archers, and potentially a Pirate Mage. Prioritize the mage if present, then archers, before engaging the melee thugs.
   • Nick's Head Location: After defeating Pontius Pirate and his crew, search the area. Nick's Head is located in a chest or on a table/crate within Pontius Pirate's immediate vicinity. It's usually quite prominent once the fight is over. It appears as a unique quest item.
6. Retrieve Nick's Head: Pick up "Nick's Head" from its resting place.

Returning to Cyseal & Quest Completion

1. Exit Black Cove: You can either retrace your steps or use a Waypoint Portal if you've activated one inside the cove (unlikely for the first run).
2. Return to the Mortician's House: Head back to Cyseal City and the Mortician's House where Nick's body lies.
3. Reunite Head and Body: Interact with Nick's headless body. A dialogue option will appear to place his head back.
4. Interrogate Nick: Once reunited, Nick will be able to speak clearly. He will reveal crucial information about the murder of Councillor Jake, implicating the Immaculates and hinting at a larger conspiracy involving the Source.

Rewards

• Experience Points: Significant XP for completing the quest and defeating enemies in Black Cove.
• Gold: From quest completion and looted enemies/chests.
• Story Progression: Unlocks new main quests related to the murder investigation and the Source.
• Loot from Black Cove: Expect various gear, crafting materials, and gold from the numerous enemies and chests within the dungeon. Pontius Pirate often drops decent quality equipment.

Common Pitfalls & Tips

• Under-leveled: Entering Black Cove too early can lead to frustration. Grind a bit in the Cyseal wilderness if you're struggling.
• Lack of Perception: Missing traps can quickly deplete your health and resources. Always have a high Perception character in your party.
• Ignoring Status Effects: Poison, Bleeding, and Burning are common. Carry remedies or have characters with healing/cleansing spells.
• Over-pulling Enemies: Black Cove often has closely packed enemy groups. Use careful positioning or ranged attacks to pull smaller groups if possible, rather than engaging an entire room at once.
• Saving: Save frequently, especially before entering new areas or engaging in major battles.