My fave Baldur’s Gate 3 quest is so hidden, it’s a miracle I stumbled upon it.
My fave Baldur's Gate 3 quest is so hidden, it's a miracle I stumbled upon it.
An Epic Journey Through Baldur’s Gate 3: Uncovering Hidden Secrets and Escaping Doomsday
For my hard-earned gaming dollars, the absolute BEST moment in Baldur’s Gate 3 unfolds in a whirlwind of chaos, traps, and a showdown with a doomsday device. Honestly, my heart was in my mouth as I braved this intense side quest. But here’s the kicker: this mind-blowing experience is so cleverly hidden that only the most committed adventurers will ever stumble upon it.
Let’s dive into the game, but be warned – spoilers ahead for the transition from Baldur’s Gate Act 1 to Act 2!
Once you’ve made your fateful choice to side with either the tieflings or the goblins (and left a trail of defeated enemies in your wake), you’ll be informed that the next stage of your parasite-removing mission lies in Moonrise Tower, far to the West. To get there, you have two options: navigate the treacherous Baldur’s Gate 3 Underdark or brave the nearby Mountain Pass. Both routes will eventually lead to Moonrise, but rest assured, each path offers a wildly different and unforgettable experience.
The Underdark will take you through an all-out war between mushroom people and grouchy deep gnomes, right up to a massive boss fight. On the other hand, the Mountain Pass seems much more relaxed, but don’t let your guard down – before you know it, you’ll find yourself in the midst of a Githyanki creche. And if you’ve spent any time with Lae’zel, you know she’s not one to hold back on her judgments about creche customs, child-rearing techniques, or even their choice of reading material.
If you manage to navigate the creche without ruffling too many feathers, you’ll eventually come face-to-face with Vlaakith, the queen of the Githyanki race. Let me tell you, she’s no picnic, especially if you’re not keen on following Githyanki protocol. As soon as she’s done with you, her goons are unleashed. It’s decision time – fight your way back through the entire creche or attempt an escape through a nearby side door.
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Now, let’s step into the light!
The Githyanki creche unlocks a hidden gem within a long-abandoned temple dedicated to Lathander, the D&D god of spring, birth, renewal, and all things bright and beautiful. As you explore the temple, you’ll uncover fragments of its history – a Guardian of Faith in a sealed room, stained-glass windows depicting the lives of devoted priests, and a letter hinting at the awe-inspiring power of Lathander’s Lance, a true divine artifact.
But here’s the backstory. The temple was built around a relic – Lathander’s blood droplets. The goal was to protect this sacred relic, but over time, the temple fell into ruin. Despite this, the blood droplets remained hidden within its bowels. However, as one of my party members wisely pointed out, safeguarding a divine tool with just stone walls and a few priests? Recipe for disaster! Anyone could come along and try to snatch it up.
This temple is like no other you’ll encounter in Baldur’s Gate 3. It exudes an aura of quiet mystery, inviting you to explore its corridors even as you fend off pesky interlopers or venture further into the depths where the Githyanki have made themselves at home. While the game is filled with secrets and hidden paths, none are as subtle and captivating as this temple, with its empty halls and the peaceful resting places of its former inhabitants.
By contrast, the presence of the Githyanki is jarring. These militaristic creatures scurry through the former temple, zealously preserving their violent status quo. So when it was time to flee the temple, it’s no wonder I opted for a hidden path.
The path led me through the temple’s quieter corridors, to a forgotten basement where I could catch my breath. I then found myself in an even more secret corridor, filled with traps. Of course, my rogue skills made short work of them. Finally, I stood before a pedestal holding the relic – the legendary mace containing Lathander’s Blood.
Sadly, I lacked the key to free the weapon from its display. And guess who could have used that mace? My plain-jane cleric, armed with a basic weapon throughout the entire game. So, as the nimble-fingered leader of my party, I decided to try prying it loose, assuming it would be securely stuck without the key. Ignoring the ominous warnings from the game’s narrator and my fellow companions, I gave it a good tug.
All hell broke loose! A magical barrier trapped my rogue, sirens blared, and a cutscene revealed the divine doomsday device springing to life, pointed directly at my party. Escaping the prison was a matter of a quick Misty Step spell, but getting out of the blast zone? Now that was a challenge. I chose to disable the device instead, disarming the alarms and powering down the Lance with seconds to spare. Those few minutes of gameplay were the most heart-pounding and uncertain I had experienced thus far. Even the worst the Absolute had thrown at me paled in comparison to this fantasy equivalent of a tactical nuclear strike.
As I wandered, shell-shocked, from the temple, I realized how much I had savored the journey that led me to the Light of Lathander. But it struck me that, with a few different choices, I could have easily missed it altogether. I could have gone through the Underdark instead of the Mountain Pass. I could have bypassed the Githyanki creche completely. I could have fought my way back through the temple. I could have failed to solve the puzzle or turned back at the traps. Heck, I could have even found the key somewhere in the vast world, ensuring I never triggered the Lance.
The fact that such an electrifying and quintessentially D&D moment could easily go unnoticed showcases not only Larian’s storytelling prowess but also their confidence in their own work and their deep understanding of the role-playing experience. As a D&D Dungeon Master myself, I know how players can sometimes overlook epic reveals and awe-inspiring moments. The fact that Larian has crafted a game as dense, intricate, and hand-crafted as Baldur’s Gate 3, yet still manages to surprise and delight, is a testament to their devotion to the source material.
Want to know more about why Larian nails the D&D background? Check out our Baldur’s Gate 3 review for all the juicy details!
