While there are a ton of quests inBaldur’s Gate 3dedicated to helping or saving specific characters, some NPCs in the game tend to be overlooked, ignored, or avoided at all costs. Certain NPCs are just plain rude, while others are too challenging to track down or require passing difficult ability checks, and helping them may even result in the loss of origin characters.
However, a few (but not all) of these characters might actually deserve to be saved, even if it may not appear that way at first. Sometimes, there’s just no incentive to help certain NPCs out, and it might even be easier to leave them to their fate. Here’s a look at some of the top NPCs inBaldur’s Gate 3that most players probably didn’t help or save.
10Rugan and Olly
A Brotherly Bond
This couple of Zhentarim nitwits have found themselves in possession ofa valuable strongbox, cornered by a pack of rabid Gnolls. Players will typically come upon Rugan and Olly as part of the “Find the Missing Shipment” quest. Unfortunately,there aren’t very many incentives to keep these two aliveduring this questline, and the option to “convince” Warlord Flind to tear everyone apart is hard to pass up. Players can also simply Long Rest and bypass the entire encounter, letting both of them die.
10 Best Baldur’s Gate 3 Quests You Probably Missed
Baldur’s Gate 3 is absolutely packed with quests large and small, and there are likely plenty of great ones players accidentally missed out on.
Even if Olly and Rugan survive the Gnoll fight, players will likely attempt to either persuade or intimidate them to turn the shipment over,resulting in Olly’s death and Rugan being taken prisonerby the Zhentarim. The Zhent even go so far as to offer players membership in exchange for killing Rugan.
9Mirkon
A Missed Opportunity
This poor little tiefling fellow is being lured by Harpies over in the Secluded Cove, and if players happen upon him for the “Investigate the Beach” quest, they’ll have a pretty tough time saving him if they aren’t adequately prepared.The Harpies are quite strong for Act 1 enemies, and Mirkon will be lured toward them during the fight — and eventually killed if unprotected.
Castingblesson the party before the Harpy encounter will give all players a +1d4 bonus to Saving Throws to resist the enchanting song.Silencecan also be cast to create a small cone in which players are immune to the song’s effects.
If that wasn’t hard enough, there are alsomultiple ways to accidentally trigger Mirkon’s death, such as using a Long Rest after exploring within range of the beach, killing the Goblin Camp leaders, or betraying Minthara after convincing her to come to the Grove. Saving Mirkon will put the party in good favor with Mol and open up access to the “Steal the Sacred Idol” quest, but the odds are in the Harpies' favor.
8Gandrel
A Risky Betrayal
This Gur Monster Hunter Gandrel can be found just outside Auntie Ethel’s cottage in Act 1, and while it’s unlikely players are willing to hand over Astarion this early in the campaign, doing so has some interesting consequences.Most of the options here result in Gandrel being turned down or killedby Astarion, though there are peaceful ways that keep him alive even without helping him out. Alternatively, players can simply hand Astarion over to Gandrel and permanently lose the vampire as a party member.
If players go this route, they will find a hostile and disgruntled Gandrel in Act 3 at the Gur Caravan. Turning Astarion over caused Cazador Szarr and the rest of the vampire crew to invade the caravan,killing all of them and taking Astarionfor the Ascension ritual.
7Gekh Coal
A Coal Miner’s Curse
Old Gekh Coal is the head Duergar posted up at the Decrepit Village, and he certainly isn’t very popular among Myconid folks around the Ebonlake Grotto.Killing Gekh Coal is part of two quests in the Underdark: “Defeat the Duergar Intruders” and “Avenge Glut’s Circle.” The Duergars really have it out for Gnomes, so if players chose to start as a Deep Gnome or let Glut join their party already, Gekh and his crew will automatically turn hostile.
This Incredible Baldur’s Gate 3 Swords Bard Build Is An Absolute Essential If You’re Trying Out Your Very First Honour Mode Run
One Baldur’s Gate 3 Swords Bard fan build makes Honour mode much more fun and manageable, and is perfect for veterans or first timers.
If players approach him without Glut and convince Gekh to stand down, he’ll explain that he’s looking to return Sergeant Thrinn’s Boots of Speed. It’s possible to take the “righteous” path here by curing Thulla’s poison, recovering the boots, and handing them over to Gekh Coal without bloodshed —he’ll even let players use his fancy raft.
6Madeline
A Forgotten Sorceress
While exploring the Shadow-Cursed Lands in Act 2, players may come across a shadar-kai namedHe Who Was(and his raven buddy) performingSpeak with Deadon Madeline’s corpse.As it turns out, Madeline was a bartender at The Waning Moonand, according to He Who Was, is guilty of despicable crimes. As part of the “Punish the Wicked” quest, the ledger can be returned to He Who Was as proof of Madeline’s wicked ways.
The alternatives involve a lot of stabbing though, and based on the dialogue options, the deck appears a little stacked against Madeline.
But was Madeline truly guilty, oris He Who Was just a very convincing advocate for retribution?That will be up to players to decide for themselves. Madeline can be forgiven by the party, and it’s also entirely possible to kill He Who Was before the ritual even starts, essentially freeing Madeline from He Who Was without any interaction. The alternatives involve a lot of stabbing though, and based on the dialogue options, the deck appears a little stacked against Madeline.
5Yurgir
A Lost Love
Outside the Grand Mausoleum, Raphael will ask the party tokill his old enemy, Yurgir, in the Gauntlet of Shar. If the party was convinced by Raphael, they may attempt to take out Yurgir when he ambushes them in the Gauntlet, or if they were greedy and opened a nearby chest, he automatically turns hostile. However,violence isn’t the only way to deal with Yurgir, intimidating though he may be.
Through dialogue, players have the option to hear him out and ultimately go against Raphael’s wishes entirely by pursuing the “Break Yurgir’s Contract” quest.Doing so makes Yurgir available to fight against Raphael in the House of Hopeandas a summon in the final battle in the Upper City. It’s also possible to convince Yurgir to kill himself, which seems a little harsh.
4Captain Grisly
A Pirate’s Past
Players will be familiar with Captain Grisly from the Blushing Mermaid, where it’s revealed she is actually Auntie Ethel in disguise as part of the Hag-related quests in Act 3. However, some might not realize thattherealCaptain Grisly is being held prisoner down in the Hag’s Basementand can be saved if players are very careful during the final Auntie Ethel fight.
After Auntie Ethel is defeated (and Grisly wakes up if players knocked her out), she will be incredibly grateful and tell the party to treat the Blushing Mermaid as their own.
Grisly will automatically become hostile as she is wearing one of Auntie Ethel’s infamous masks, but the party can attempt to avoid killing her during combat, andsimply knocking her out and returning after a Long Rest is a good alternative.After Auntie Ethel is defeated (and Grisly wakes up if players knocked her out), she will be incredibly grateful and tell the party to treat the Blushing Mermaid as their own.
3Rivington Mind Flayer
A Mind Flayer’s Fury
If players listen closely while exploring Rivington, they’ll hear some disturbing screaming coming from an Abandoned Windmill. Inside, they’ll find a hatch that leads down to an unconscious Mind Flayer. If the creature isn’t killed immediately,waking it up will start the “Feed the Mind Flayer” questin which the party is asked to track down a fresh corpse for the Mind Flayer to feast upon.
10 Early Act 3 Things To Do Before Entering The Lower City In BG3
The outskirts of the city in Act 3 of Baldur’s Gate 3 have quite a surplus of hidden secrets and sidequests to pick up before moving on.
“Squidface,” as he’s affectionately called if playing as a Barbarian, has worked up quite an appetite, andplayers can bring it any corpse to be rewardedwith an Illithid point. This also means he’ll track down and murder Tym Armbrust and his entire family, or if the party makes him get his own meal, he’ll rudely interrupt a young couple’s nearby picnic, eating Sloncha Owena’s brain and causing Bogdan Vortleson’s disappearance.
2Omeluum
A Forgotten Prophecy
Unlike the hungry-for-brains Mind Flayer above, Omeluum is an extremely helpful one. He will eventually end up as a captive in the Iron Throne, and saving him there is one of the more difficult tasks in the game. So difficult, in fact, thatOmeluum himself doesn’t even expect you to save himfrom the prison, telling players not to worry about him.
If players aren’t keen on the risk, it’s likely they will leave him to drown in favor of saving the other, less dangerously located prisoners.
Omeluum has been very helpful throughout the journey, though, and deserves a shot - he can also be rescued more easily than expected. A special ability allows him toteleport himself and one other party member directly back to the submersible, so players can strategize his rescue with this in mind.
1Viconia DeVir
A Dark Elf’s Destiny
Giving up Shadowheart to Viconia might be one of the least popular options in the game, but during the “Investigate the House of Grief” quest. Mother Superior Viconia DeVir reveals herself once players have entered the House of Grief and undergone the Mapping of the Heart ritual, but a side quest becomes available if this is done without Shadowheart in the party.Viconia can later be persuaded or intimidated into not taking back the Artefact,and instead demands Shadowheart be turned over for Sharran “re-education.”
At this point, giving up Shadowheart will not be easy for most players, and the upsides to sacrificing her are minimal. However, ifShadowheart is turned over,Viconia and her Sharran posse will help out in the final battleagainst the Netherbrain, a rather underwhelming reward for giving up one of the key origin characters inBaldur’s Gate 3.
