sonny wrote:What's weird, was right before I went to do the De'Arnise Keep, I was thinking about dropping him and taking Nalia and then getting Yoshimo back after I rescued Imoen. Wonder how that would have played out? I know you guys know the answer, but don't tell me, I may try it next time.
Yes, you should try going to Spellhold without Yoshimo in your party next time. Yoshimo planted a spell component in your food while you were on Saemon's ship, which Irenicus activated when you met him in Spellhold. It makes you wonder what the alternative could be.
You should also consider siding with the other "guild" in the so-called "guild war". Maybe you can make sense of Bodhi's reasons for "competing" with the the Shadow Thieves (I never could). Either path will take you to Spellhold.
I don't know if you realized it, but once you're in Brynnlaw, there are two ways to get into spellhold (as the NPCs you meet there will explain). You can either ask the Pirate Lord to have you committed, or you can "talk" to the retired Cowled Wizard who lives in town.
As you can see, there are many different paths to Spellhold. To be honest, I never enjoyed the maze, so I like to get out of there as soon as I can. (Don't miss any of the treasure, though.)