الوسم: Baldur's Gate 3

The Abandoned Cistern Puzzle might easily slip under the radar in Baldur’s Gate 3, but those following the adventures of Jaheira and Minsc are likely to stumble upon it. If you’ve encountered the Stone Lord in the Counting House, you’ll recognize the moist, shadowy parts of the Lower City where this puzzle is located. Completing it is necessary for progressing certain companion questlines, making it essential to tackle at some stage in your journey.

Jaheira and Minsc are characters from earlier Baldur’s Gate titles, and their questline is a nod to long-time fans of the series. To kick things off, be sure to recruit Jaheira during Act 2, as her presence adds a unique touch to your adventure and opens the door to what many consider the ultimate conclusion of the sluice-gate puzzle quest.

How to Begin the Abandoned Cistern Puzzle

Head Down Into the Lower City Sewers

To start the Abandoned Cistern Puzzle, you need to follow Minsc as he leads you into the sewers after confronting him at the Counting House. This quest is connected to Jaheira as you and your party delve into the mystery of the Stone Lord in Baldur’s Gate. Expect tougher battles during this segment as it takes place in Act 3, unlike the earlier quests.

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After you’ve faced the Stone Lord at the Counting House and have been tasked with recovering the lost treasures from the vault, you should investigate the vault. If you succeed in an Investigation check, a party member may mention the city’s sewers. You can access the sewers through any of the following entrances:

• The Thieves Guildhall: By agreeing to assist Nine-Fingers, you can enter the sewers from here.
• Danthelon’s Dancing Axe: If you aided the Harpers in the basement (which is necessary to recruit Minsc), you can access the sewers from their hideout.
• The Manhole Cover: Located just south of the Janneth Estate, you’ll find a manhole cover that leads to the sewers.

Regardless of your chosen entrance, you need to navigate to the northwestern area of the sewers, dealing with any Bhallists or other foes that block your path. After clearing this area, you’ll arrive in a chamber featuring two large valves and a massive locked door. To progress, you’ll need to adjust the valves to balance the water’s temperature and pressure to unlock the door.

Discovering the Note for Sanitation Workers

Find Your Key Clue for the Puzzle

Beside the Temperature Valve, there’s a note attached to the machine. This note clarifies that the water temperature and pressure must be at “optimal” levels for the gate to open. Until both parameters are at their optimal points simultaneously, that large round door will stay shut.

Timing is critical in this puzzle, as the levels controlled by each valve shift over time. The note stipulates that the valves need to reach optimal levels, not merely the highest settings, making it challenging to get both the pressure and temperature just right at the same time. Position your party members so they won’t obstruct your efforts (unless you’re going solo with a unique character build), and prepare to act swiftly.

How to Solve the Sluice-Gate Puzzle in the Abandoned Cistern

Increase the Temperature to Its Ideal Point

By interacting with each valve, you’ll see a status update at the top of your screen showing that the “X level is rising.” Next to this, you’ll also see the current status of the water’s temperature or pressure. Start with the temperature valve, adjust it, and wait until it indicates “Perfectly Warm” at the top of the screen, then turn it off. Quickly do the same for the pressure valve until both registers show that they are optimal.

After accomplishing this, the gate of the Abandoned Cistern will unlock, allowing you to move forward and face the Stone Lord. Don’t forget to bring Jaheira into your party if you want to recruit Minsc in Baldur’s Gate 3 and advance both of their story arcs.

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Crossing the gate that was previously sealed off will trigger a cutscene leading to a battle, so ensure your party is well-rested and prepared for action. The true identity of the Stone Lord might surprise you, influencing how you engage in the ensuing combat. Ironically, solving the Sluice Gate puzzle in Baldur’s Gate 3 raises more questions than it answers.

A significant portion of Baldur’s Gate 3‘s first act revolves around the Emerald Grove, a sanctuary for druids now facing peril. Goblins are attempting to breach the area, and a group of Tiefling refugees is seeking refuge, which is escalating tensions among the residents. Kagha, the grove’s leader, has decided to perform a magical ritual known as the Rite of Thorns to isolate the grove from outside threats. This ritual requires a special artifact: the Idol of Silvanus, which players can locate at the heart of the grove.

For players aiming to prevent the Rite of Thorns and protect the Tieflings from being expelled, acquiring this idol early on becomes a critical mission. However, stealing it poses challenges, and doing so without inciting violence is even trickier. Fortunately, there are ways to secure the Idol of Silvanus while maintaining harmony in the grove. Successfully stealing the idol might also grant players the chance to help someone in need.

What Guards the Idol of Silvanus?

How Stringent is the Druid’s Security?

The Idol of Silvanus may seem accessible, but it is surprisingly well-protected, even though it’s located in an open area. When players arrive in the grove, the idol is actively used in the Rite of Thorns, surrounded by several druids closely monitoring it. Diverting all these druids’ attention at once proves nearly impossible. If any druid spots a player attempting to snatch the idol, they will intervene immediately.

Many players might think of using magic to become invisible, employing spells like fog cloud, darkness, or even invisibility. However, these tactics prove ineffective with the idol. Area-of-effect spells that obscure the vision of NPCs dissipate near the idol, while attempts to remain invisible or stealthy often fail once players approach the artifact. Even if they succeeded, this approach would create chaos within the grove.

Preventing Conflict in the Druid’s Grove

Prevent Druids from Blaming the Tieflings

The primary challenge of stealing the idol lies not in the act itself but in its consequences. If players successfully take the idol, the druids will promptly accuse the Tiefling refugees. This triggers a confrontation in the grove, risking the lives of many characters on both sides and jeopardizing several quests during the first act. To avert this situation, timing the idol theft with a specific moment in the first act’s storyline becomes crucial.

Players must investigate Kagha before attempting to take the idol and complete her questline to alleviate some tension within the grove. Kagha collaborates with a faction of druids looking to dominate the grove, and uncovering her intentions enables players to confront her.

This confrontation leads to a battle with Kagha and the shadow druids hiding in the grove. The outcome can either result in Kagha’s defeat or in swaying her to join the players’ side. Once this happens, the Rite of Thorns ceases, reducing animosity between the Tieflings and druids, meaning the druids will no longer hold the Tieflings responsible if the idol goes missing.

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Interestingly, many druids stationed around the idol may vacate their posts, leading to decreased vigilance during the theft. A clever method for hijacking the idol with minimal consequences involves having a character steal it in broad daylight and subsequently being caught by the druids. They will briefly knock out the characters and place them in a makeshift jail cell. However, as long as the idol remains in the character’s inventory upon being knocked out, it won’t be returned to its original spot. Instead, it will end up in the locked evidence chest, which stands completely unguarded.

Where to Deliver the Idol After Theft

A Tiefling Who Will Pay Handsomely for the Magic Item

Once players have procured the idol, they can escape the jail cell and unlock the evidence chest to acquire the Idol of Silvanus without anyone suspecting a thing. They can then choose to keep the idol or take it to a Tiefling who has a vested interest in it. This Tiefling is Mol, the leader of a group of child bandits hidden in a cave within the grove. Mol intends to sell the idol in Baldur’s Gate to help her gang of kids make their mark in the city as fledgling thieves.

Transferring the idol to Mol is more than just a generous act; she will reward players with a valuable Ring of Protection, a significant boon in BG3’s early stages that proves much more advantageous than the magic properties of the Idol of Silvanus. However, it is vital to initiate the quest with Mol before disrupting the Rite of Thorns, as Baldur’s Gate 3 may encounter bugs that prevent players from giving it to her afterward. In any case, this strategy stands as a reliable method to halt the druid’s ritual, retrieve the idol peacefully, and receive a reward for the effort.