npc quest information wanted - can spoil

[Andurbal]

Hello there friends! I hope I'm doin' this right...

So, i'm a BG1 veteran but i'm playing SoA for the first time. Right now i'm a level 20 Berserker at chapter 6. I have taken the Lanthorn but wanted to do the Trademeet quest before giving it where i should. My party includes Keldorn, Jaheira, Imoen, Nalia and Mazzy. So, the newest addition to my group is Mazzy, before that it was Valygar who's quest i finished. I liked him to be the sixth of my party, cause i wanted someone with stealth and that can use a longbow. Everyboy else has passed from my party except Jan, i think i won't use him at all. I took Cernd for a while instead of Mazzy and went to Athkatla for his quest which i thought would end when he found his child. But Deril said he would come back for more. I certainly didn't want a second Druid in my group, i prefer Mazzy who also has a "personal" quest to do, so i took her back in his place (i might keep her instead of 'Valygar). The other party members are un-removable!
And here comes the question: how could i do Nalia's quest, then finish Cernd's quest, then get Valygar back and then proceed with the main quest? It must be possible somehow, i guess... or do u people have any other suggestions? Other than a little about some quests i don't know anything about what's coming next, so PLEASE don't spoil it for me. Thank u all!

BG is a great game!

[VonDondu]

First of all, there's no rush to return the Lanthorn to the elves and continue the hunt for Irenicus. The game creates a sense of urgency by making you believe that your character will die unless he or she gets his or her soul back, but there is no set amount of time. You can take all the time you want to finish quests in Athkatla or in the outer areas.

If you want to do an NPC's quest, all you have to do is kick someone out to make room for that NPC and then do the quest. There are some NPCs you shouldn't kick out because they will become less fond of your character if you do (such as Jaheira), but most NPCs will wait for you to come back and no harm is done.

As far as I know, Cernd's quest is over after he finds his child. I don't remember the details, but I think the child is supposed to go to the Druid Grove where Cernd can continue neglecting him. As you can probably tell by my comments, that quest is not a top priority for me.

When you mention Nalia's quest, are you talking about the job she hired you to do--that is, to repel the invaders who attacked her family's home? If so, you ought to do that one right away. I'm surprised she hasn't reminded you of the urgency. Also, do you know about the strongholds? After you clear out the keep, Nalia will make a deal with you. If you accept her offer, that will start another series of quests.

After you finish Nalia's quest, some time should have passed. I think a messenger should come for Mazzy to start her personal quest. There's not much to it. Once you finish it, you can dismiss her (temporarily or permanently) and recruit any other NPC you want to, and when you're done with them, you can take Mazzy back if you still want her.

I don't know how much you've read about the game, and I don't want to you give you too much information. But are you sure you have finished all of the other quests? For example, there are some minor quests in the Graveyard that you might miss if you're not there at the right time. You can clean out the tombs if you haven't already done so. I assume that you have talked to Lord Jierden in the Copper Coronet, but have you explored the back rooms? Have you done the quest that starts in the Temple District? Have you seen the Guarded Compound that is listed on your map? Have you visited the playhouse in the basement of the Five Flagons Inn? There are some interesting adventures behind some locked or hidden doors that are easy to miss (I had no idea they existed the first time I played the game) in the Seas Bounty, the Crooked Crane, a building in the southwest corner of the Bridge District, and the building next to Mae'Var's Guildhall. Do you know about the Sewer Key or the Twisted Rune?

[Andurbal]

questions & answers

There are some NPCs you shouldn't kick out because they will become less fond of your character if you do (such as Jaheira), but most NPCs will wait for you to come back and no harm is done.

As far as I know, Cernd's quest is over after he finds his child. I don't remember the details, but I think the child is supposed to go to the Druid Grove where Cernd can continue neglecting him. As you can probably tell by my comments, that quest is not a top priority for me.

When you mention Nalia's quest, are you talking about the job she hired you to do--that is, to repel the invaders who attacked her family's home? If so, you ought to do that one right away. I'm surprised she hasn't reminded you of the urgency. Also, do you know about the strongholds? After you clear out the keep, Nalia will make a deal with you. If you accept her offer, that will start another series of quests.

After you finish Nalia's quest, some time should have passed. I think a messenger should come for Mazzy to start her personal quest. There's not much to it. Once you finish it, you can dismiss her (temporarily or permanently) and recruit any other NPC you want to, and when you're done with them, you can take Mazzy back if you still want her.

I don't know how much you've read about the game, and I don't want to you give you too much information. But are you sure you have finished all of the other quests? For example, there are some minor quests in the Graveyard that you might miss if you're not there at the right time. You can clean out the tombs if you haven't already done so. I assume that you have talked to Lord Jierden in the Copper Coronet, but have you explored the back rooms? Have you done the quest that starts in the Temple District? Have you seen the Guarded Compound that is listed on your map? Have you visited the playhouse in the basement of the Five Flagons Inn? There are some interesting adventures behind some locked or hidden doors that are easy to miss (I had no idea they existed the first time I played the game) in the Seas Bounty, the Crooked Crane, a building in the southwest corner of the Bridge District, and the building next to Mae'Var's Guildhall. Do you know about the Sewer Key or the Twisted Rune?

Thanks for your quick answer!

1. I've got a thing going with Jaheira, but the first time we had some dialogues and now it's been a very long time since we discussed something personal... I thought i had done a mistake until she reacted when i slept with the Drow in the Underdark. So i reloaded and told the Drow that i was a eunuch! Pretty embarassing but i did it for love...

2. I got Cernd's child back very easily (yes he took it to the Druid Grove), because Deril had some guest and he just wanted to be over with it so he just gave the baby to Cernd. But he was annoyed and said something that sounded like it's not gonna end there. Moreover, his guest was like a lich, so i'm curious what they were up to. (Or it might need a mod like Unfinished Business, i don't know. I have a clean install of SoA and ToB)

3. I have done Nalia's quest, I just used her name instead of Mazzy's by mistake. I agreed that my maid should marry Jessup some days ago and gave them 500g to make them happy. I'm looking forward to the Roenal invasion in the future...

4. As for the other quests u mention, i've done them all except:
- I don't know where this Crooked Crane is or what it is.
- I don't know anything about the Twisted Rune.
- About the Graveyard, i helped the little child's ghost, his parents thanked me, also i found one buried alive and killed the kidnappers involved (they were in the building S/E in Bridge District u mention, i think), i killed someone's zombie-uncle, the only thing i haven't found out is what's going on with Camir the Paladin, do u have any idea how i can help him?
- I had found the Sewer Key (do u remember where it was?) and i suspected where it fitted, but i wouldn't go there until much later if a friend of mine hadn't told me what was hiding there. By the way, Mind-Flayers have been the toughest opponent for me since now. They have caused about 90% of the deaths in my party, i almost drained the Rod of Ressurection in the Underdark. But i guess if i had found some anti-psionics earlier (or if i had used beter tactics) it would be easier.

5. I guess i shouldn't worry about Mazzy's and Cernd's personal quests, maybe i should go pick Valygar again... though i'm beggining to like Mazzy (the opposite happened with Cernd). But Valygar uses some weapons and does some things no-one else in my party can do... I don't know!

[VonDondu]

2. I got Cernd's child back very easily (yes he took it to the Druid Grove), because Deril had some guest and he just wanted to be over with it so he just gave the baby to Cernd. But he was annoyed and said something that sounded like it's not gonna end there. Moreover, his guest was like a lich, so i'm curious what they were up to. (Or it might need a mod like Unfinished Business, i don't know. I have a clean install of SoA and ToB)

You killed the lich's servant(s), right? If so, I think that's all you can do. I don't think you can fight the lich. According to the dialogue, you're supposed to feel grateful that he allowed you to live, so maybe he's supposed to be too tough to fight.

- I don't know where this Crooked Crane is or what it is.
- I don't know anything about the Twisted Rune.
- About the Graveyard...the only thing i haven't found out is what's going on with Camir the Paladin, do u have any idea how i can help him?
- I had found the Sewer Key (do u remember where it was?) and i suspected where it fitted, but i wouldn't go there until much later if a friend of mine hadn't told me what was hiding there.

The Crooked Crane is the inn that is located in the City Gates area. You can help Kamir the Paladin by introducing him to someone else in the Graveyard. The Sewer Key was in Tazok's possession in Windspear Hills.

The Twisted Rune is a mysterious group you can meet if you explore one of the buildings in the Bridge District. One of the items you can get there is one of the best weapons in the game. I suspect that's one of the reasons why it's so hard to find.

By the way, Mind-Flayers have been the toughest opponent for me since now. They have caused about 90% of the deaths in my party, i almost drained the Rod of Resurrection in the Underdark. But i guess if i had found some anti-psionics earlier (or if i had used beter tactics) it would be easier.

You can search these forums for suggestions on how to deal with mind flayers. I can't remember whether Berserker Rage grants immunity to psionics. The Priest spell Chaotic Commands helps, as do the brine potions you might have gotten while you were in the Underdark. One popular tactic is to call up a few skeleton warriors with Animate Dead and cast Haste on them and let them do the fighting for you. If you have installed Throne of Bhaal, then your characters should be getting high level abilities. Greater Deathblow combined with Arrows of Detonation or Fireseeds is a cheesy tactic that works wonders. It just depends on what suits your own personal style.

[Andurbal]

thanks again

You killed the lich's servant(s), right? If so, I think that's all you can do. I don't think you can fight the lich. According to the dialogue, you're supposed to feel grateful that he allowed you to live, so maybe he's supposed to be too tough to fight.

There was only a Golem, Cern made it call it's master (Deril) and he killed it's servant because it shouldn't have disturbed him... My party got 20.000xp and Cernd alone 50.000xp. He's VERY selfish it seems...

The Crooked Crane is the inn that is located in the City Gates area.

Yep, i've dealt with the matter early in the game, i didn't remember the name of the Inn. Nalia's most powerfully vanquished since then...

You can help Kamir the Paladin by introducing him to someone else in the Graveyard.

Allright, i'm gonna do that, i know what you mean.

The Twisted Rune is a mysterious group you can meet if you explore one of the buildings in the Bridge District. One of the items you can get there is one of the best weapons in the game. I suspect that's one of the reasons why it's so hard to find.

It must be the house Yoshimo went in in Stealth mode (i did that just to take a safe blink inside unfamiliar residencies), there was a group of hostile people so I immediatelly took him out, but a woman followed him outside and we killed her pretty easily for 10.000xp and i think she wore full plate. So Yoshimo went inside again hidden in shadows and there she was again inside with the others, she followed him out again, etc. I thought it was a good way to easily gain experience and money if needed, so I left it this way and had almost totally forgotten about it. I should mark the map or make notes on the journal i guess... In the same map downstairs another house was an Elemental Lich, but it was very tough for my group then and i also have to deal with it someday... Another one i must have left undisturbed near the destroyed Cult of the Eylesssss

You can search these forums for suggestions on how to deal with mind flayers. I can't remember whether Berserker Rage grants immunity to psionics. The Priest spell Chaotic Commands helps, as do the brine potions you might have gotten while you were in the Underdark. One popular tactic is to call up a few skeleton warriors with Animate Dead and cast Haste on them and let them do the fighting for you. If you have installed Throne of Bhaal, then your characters should be getting high level abilities. Greater Deathblow combined with Arrows of Detonation or Fireseeds is a cheesy tactic that works wonders. It just depends on what suits your own personal style.

The weird thing with the Mind Flayers is they never killed me, though i am fighting in the front line and have an intelligence of only 5 (in the game , lowest of the group, or it has nothing to do?). Berserker Rage doesn't grant immunity to psionics, the greenstone Amulet does(but i didn't have it), i used all of the brine potions just to get through the last two groups of Mind Flayers before the Brain and i just sneaked by the rest invisible (i had some potions hopefully on me). I managed to free the imprisoned people though

[VonDondu]

It must be the house Yoshimo went in in Stealth mode (i did that just to take a safe blink inside unfamiliar residencies), there was a group of hostile people so I immediatelly took him out, but a woman followed him outside and we killed her pretty easily for 10.000xp and i think she wore full plate. So Yoshimo went inside again hidden in shadows and there she was again inside with the others, she followed him out again, etc. I thought it was a good way to easily gain experience and money if needed, so I left it this way and had almost totally forgotten about it...

That group of adventurers does not have any connection to the Twisted Rune that I'm aware of. Actually, I don't think we ever found out who those people were or what they were doing. They might have been part of a planned quest that wasn't finished.

The Twisted Rune can be reached in the same building where you found the Elemental Lich. The door is actually a portal to a small pocket plane, and it requires a special "key" (a certain item in your inventory). Hint: it's a rare gem. The whole point of the encounter is that unless you've read about it in a spoiler, it's something that you'll stumble into only if you're lucky. (Or unlucky, as the case may be.)

In the same map downstairs another house was an Elemental Lich, but it was very tough for my group then and i also have to deal with it someday... Another one i must have left undisturbed near the destroyed Cult of the Eylesssss

The Elemental Lich and the other lich you've found are part of an infamous quest that probably shouldn't have been put into the game (that's how a D&D purist might feel), but since it's in the game, you don't want to miss it. Again, unless you've read a spoiler, this is a quest that you would stumble into only if you were lucky (or unlucky, as the case may be). There isn't any sign on the door that says, "Come here for an adventure." Go to the house in the Docks District next to Mae'Var's Guildhall and see where it leads. Don't let anyone spoil it for you, but come back if you need help. Good luck.

[Andurbal]

thanks again 4 your will to help

The Twisted Rune can be reached in the same building where you found the Elemental Lich. The door is actually a portal to a small pocket plane, and it requires a special "key" (a certain item in your inventory). Hint: it's a rare gem. The whole point of the encounter is that unless you've read about it in a spoiler, it's something that you'll stumble into only if you're lucky. (Or unlucky, as the case may be.)

The Elemental Lich and the other lich you've found are part of an infamous quest that probably shouldn't have been put into the game (that's how a D&D purist might feel), but since it's in the game, you don't want to miss it. Again, unless you've read a spoiler, this is a quest that you would stumble into only if you were lucky (or unlucky, as the case may be). There isn't any sign on the door that says, "Come here for an adventure." Go to the house in the Docks District next to Mae'Var's Guildhall and see where it leads. Don't let anyone spoil it for you, but come back if you need help. Good luck.

When u say they're part of a quest u mean that someone asks u to deal with them and u get rewarded?
I'm gonna go into the pocket plane house with a Rogue Stone, i hope it does the trick.
I thought the house right just to Mae'var's Guildhall was just a common house, i'm gonna check it out to see what u mean....