Baldurs Gate 3: Find the Missing Shipment walkthrough

Find the Missing Shipment is a quest in the first act of Baldur's Gate 3. You will likely encounter it on the Risen Road, where you meet smugglers defending themselves against gnolls. This guide will explain how to save Rugan and what to do with the shipment for the Zhentarims.

• How to save Rugan?
• What to do with the shipment?

How to save Rugan?

Rugan and Olly are smugglers working for the Zhentarim guild. You will come across them in the northern part of the map, on the Risen Road, where they have been attacked by a horde of gnolls. The smugglers have barricaded themselves in a cave, which you can enter from the front or the back. Approaching the gnolls from the front will immediately start a battle on less favorable terrain for you. The battle with the gnolls is one of the more challenging encounters in the first act, and you should be at least level four before attempting it.

The back path leads through a narrow corridor filled with makeshift barricades. Be very careful - there is a trap in the form of a huge boulder in the middle of the corridor. If you touch one of the two strings stretched under the boulder, it will fall on you, potentially killing your entire party instantly. Position your characters safely to the side of the corridor and use a ranged attack to destroy the beam supporting the boulder, triggering the trap prematurely and allowing the rock to roll past you. Taking the back path will start the battle with the gnolls from a fortified, more advantageous position right next to Rugan and Olly.

The gnoll leader is definitely the most dangerous opponent on the battlefield. Her presence allows other gnolls to perform additional attacks. The leader herself has three unique melee attacks that deal massive damage, inflict madness, or cause paralysis. She can also go into a frenzy, allowing her to use all these attacks at once in a single turn. Don't let her get close to you and try to keep her at a distance with spells like Grease or Hold Person.

If you started the battle by going through the rear corridor, the gnolls will have to squeeze through a narrow passage to reach you. Focus on fortifying this passage. Use area spells (e.g. Cloud of Daggers) and items that deal area damage (e.g. elemental-infused arrows, alchemist's fire, or runepowder). Saving Olly is a matter of luck; he is very fragile and will die from a single accurate shot. Focus on protecting the more resilient and dangerous Rugen.

What to do with the shipment?

If Rugan survives, he will start preparing to deliver his package to the Zhentarim hideout at Waukeen's Rest.You can either let him go or intimidate him (DC 15) to hand over the package. If you let him go, he will reveal the password to the hideout, where you can collect a reward for your help. If Rugan has died, you can take the package for yourself. Opening it requires a lockpick and a Sleight of Hand check (DC 20), and inside you will find an Iron Flask. If you open the Flask or throw it, you will release a Spectator, a very powerful opponent that attacks everything around, including you. You can use it during any difficult battle by throwing it at an enemy horde. You must decide whether you prefer to take the flask or deliver the package in exchange for another reward.

The entrance to the Zhentarim hideout is located next to the barn at Waukeen's Rest. Once inside, you will encounter one of the Zhentarim. You must provide him with the password or pass a Persuasion check (DC 15) so he can let you in and give you the key. Otherwise, he will blow up the room, dealing very high fire damage to you. After the conversation, enter the basement through the hatch in the floor and use the key on the cabinet to unlock access to the hideout.

To enter inside, you must convince the leader of the Zhentarim, Zarys, to let you through (Intimidation or Persuasion, DC 10). If you let Rugan go free, he will vouch for you, and you will be able to enter without any issues. The conversation inside the hideout can unfold in several ways depending on your decisions:

1. If you saved Rugan and let him go free, or if Rugan died and you have the package with you and haven't opened it, you can hand it over. As a reward, you will receive Harold, a heavy crossbow that imposes the Bane spell effect on enemies. Additionally, you will gain access to the expanded inventory of the Zhentarim trader, which includes a lot of powerful equipment.
2. If Rugan died and you lie that you don't have the package, you can inform the Zhentarim of his death. You gain access to the expanded inventory but you will not receive Harold. You can keep the Iron Flask.
3. If you forced Rugan to give you the package, he will be captured by the Zhentarim. You can kill him as a gesture of goodwill. You gain access to the expanded inventory but you will not receive Harold. The smugglers will also task you with delivering the package to Baldur's Gate, which you can do in the third act in exchange for a substantial monetary reward.
4. If you refuse to kill Rugan or return the package after opening it (not after taking the Flask - simply opening the package with a lockpick is enough), the Zhentarim will attack you. You will not receive any rewards.

In the hideout, there are also several other things worth your attention. The location is full of traps, but if the Zhentarim are favorable to you, the traps will be inactive. By talking to the merchant, you can free the painter Oskar from captivity by buying his freedom for 1,000 gold or convincing the merchant to release him (Persuasion or Intimidation, DC 20). This will unlock a side quest in the third act. There is also an illusory wall behind the wooden bridge. It hides an elevator leading to the Underdark, where you should go after completing all tasks in the Wilderness.

Baldur's Gate 3

August 3, 2023

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