Investigate the Murders

Devella is tracking a serial killer, and she needs help.

Investigate the Murders is a sub-quest of the Quest  Get Orin's Netherstone in Act Three of Baldur's Gate 3.

Objectives

Follow the bloody trail of murders in Baldur's Gate.

• Gortash told us how to find Orin the Red - follow the spate of murders across the city. The Open Hand Temple may be a good place to start.

Investigate the murder of Duke Stelmane.

• Duke Stelmane was ritualistically killed at the Elfsong Tavern shortly before our arrival into the city. We should investigate - it may help us find the Lord of Murder's Chosen.

Find the unsually elaborate murder scene.

• The Flaming Fist have found elaborate, ritualistic murder scenes around the city. They could be Bhaalist - and could lead us to Orin.
• Gauntlet Devella asked us to check out an elaborate murder scene that could be Bhaalist in nature. It could lead us to Orin the Red.

Show the Bhaalist target list to the Investigator.

• Father Lorgan's name appears on a target list we found - tying his murder into a test for cultists to access the Temple of Bhaal. We should show Investigator Valeria.

Talk to Gauntlet Devella in the Elfsong Tavern.

• Investigator Valeria is now convinced Father Lorgan's murder is linked to a wider plot - and has asked us to bring the news to her constable, Gauntlet Devella, in the Lower City's Elfsong Tavern.
• We found a target list for Bhaalist assassins hoping to access the Temple of Bhaal - presumably where we'll find Orin. Duke Stelmane's on this list. We should inform Gauntlet Devella.

Find the victims on the Bhaalist target list.

• We found a list of targets for Bhaalist murderers - the only victims left alive are in the Lower City. The murderers following this list are trying to gain access to the Temple of Bhaal, presumably where we'll find Orin.
• We confirmed Franc Peartree was dead, as the Bhaalist target list noted. We should check on the other victims too.
• One of the victims from the Bhaalist target list told us his killer was dressed in red. We should track down the remaining victims before they strike again.
• We confirmed Alexander Rainforest was dead, as the Bhaalist target list noted. We should check on the other victims too.
• A talkative rat in a Bhaalist victim's cellar saw the murderer - a dwarf dressed in red. We should track down the remaining victims before they strike again.
• Chef Roveer is dead by our hands - we should check in on the other victims from the Bhaalist target list.
• We warned Chef Roveer of the Bhaalist target list he's on - we should do the same for the other marked targets.
• Nesha Leesha is dead by our hands - we should check in on the other victims from the Bhaalist target list.
• We warned Nesha Leesha of the Bhaalist target list she's on - we should do the same for the other marked targets.
• Figaro Pennygood is dead by our hands - we should check in on the other victims from the Bhaalist target list.
• We warned Figaro Pennygood of the Bhaalist target list he's on - we should do the same for the other marked targets.
• Gauntlet Devella is convinced the target list we found is linked to a wider Bhaalist plot. She asked us to follow the people noted on the list, save them if possible, and get more information about the Bhaalist cult.

Chase down the serial killer.

• We discovered Cora Highberry, one of the people noted on the Bhaalist target list, slaughtered brutally. Figaro Pennygood is next on the list - we need to find him before the killer does.
• We saved Cora Highberry from a Bhaalist serial killer disguised as a wine merchant. Figaro Pennygood is next on the target list - we need to find him before the killer does.
• We stopped a spree of murders by taking down the killer - a dwarf named Dolor. We should check his body for any clues about finding the Bhaalist cult.

Follow the serial killer.

• The next victim on the Bhaalist target list is the late Figaro Pennygood. We should check his place - see if the killer stopped by and left any clues.

Enter Candulhallow's Tombstones.

• We found a note on Figaro Pennygood's corpse instructing his killer to enter Candulhallow's Tombstones with a passphrase - seems as though the Bhaalist cult may be there.
• We found a note in the killer Dolor's pockets, instructing him to enter Candulhallow's Tombstones with a passphrase - seems the Bhaalist cult may be there.
• We learned the passphrase we must speak at Candulhallow's Tombstones to meet with the Bhaalist cult.

Infiltrate the Murder Tribunal.

• We spoke the passphrase to enter Candulhallow's Tombstones - we should explore within to find the Bhaal cult.

Debrief with the Investigator.

• Justice Sarevok is dead by our hands - we should speak to his hollyphant captive before heading to the Temple of Bhaal.

Quest Complete

• Investigator Valeria told us where to find the Temple of Bhaal - Orin awaits us there.
• With Justice Sarevok and Investigator Valeria dead, we must search the Tribunal for a way of accessing the Temple of Bhaal.
• We became Unholy Assassins of Bhaal at the cost of Investigator Valeria's life - we wetted ourselves with her blood and were granted a way to access the Temple of Bhaal.
• We defeated the Justice Sarevok and his Murder Tribunal, stopping the serial killings in Baldur's Gate for now. To end them for good, we must find Orin.
• Justice Sarevok is dead by our hands - we can use his amulet to enter the Temple of Bhaal.

Walkthrough

A Bhaalist Plot

According to Enver Gortash, Orin the Red can be found by following the murders in the city, starting with the latest reported murder at the Open Hand Temple. Completing  Solve the Open Hand Temple Murders provides more information on Father Lorgan, the latest victim of the Bhaalist plot, as well as information on the killer behind the murders. In this case, Inspector Valeria is met in Sharess' Caress, who is charged with investigating, and in turn refers the party to her assistant, Gauntlet Devella Fountainhead once they have shown her sufficient proof of Bhaal's involvement.

The party can also come across information on the murders by going up the stairs in the Elfsong Tavern and encountering the murder scene of Duke Belynne Stelmane. Upstairs, the party can meet Gauntlet Devella Fountainhead, who is investigating the murders in town and believes they are part of a Bhaalist conspiracy. The party can tell her they are adventurers and convince her they can help by passing an ability check:

• [DECEPTION] Let me help you - I trained under Camber Fosrick, the world's greatest investigative mind. (DC 15)
• [PERCEPTION] Do you need some help? I've dealt with much worse than this. (DC 15)
• [INVESTIGATION] Use the crime scene to describe how Stelmane was killed. Show her you can help solve this. (DC 15)
• [ROGUE] [PERSUASION] I've seen my share of dead bodies. Maybe I can be of help? (DC 10)
• [EVIL CLERIC] [PERSUASION] I have seen death and cruelty in all its forms. Perhaps I could be of service? (DC 10)
• [RANGER] [PERSUASION] I am no stranger to hunting down vicious killers - be they man or beast. Perhaps I could help? (DC 10)
• [OATH OF THE CROWN] [PERSUASION] I am sworn to help any law officer. Say the word. (DC 10 )

If Devella believes that they can help, she gives them a Map of Murder which points to another crime scene.

Speaking with any of the deceased victims, or speaking with the rats in Rainforest's home, reveals that they were killed by a dwarf in red. Using  Speak with Dead on Ffion Goldgrind's corpse in Fraygo's Flophouse reveals his name is Dolor, that he is her son, and that he killed her after she found out he was a serial killer.

The Murder List

Fraygo's Flophouse is across the way from Sharess' Caress. After going up the stairs of the Flophouse, a ladder at X: -12 Y: 87 can be taken up to the top floor. On this floor, a red wardrobe can be found at X: -17 Y: 82.

There are multiple ways to get into the secret room on the uppermost floor of the Flophouse:

• Passing a DC 25 Sleight of Hand check
• Using the spell  Knock
• Completing  Solve the Open Hand Temple Murders and obtaining the Flowery Key.

On the table to the right of the room's entrance is a Bloodstained Parchment. This parchment contains a list of murder victims and can be picked up to be presented to Valeria or Devella as hard evidence of a Bhaalist plot.

Location of the Bloodstained Parchment in Peartree's House.

Another Bloodstained Parchment can be found inside Peartree House.

Save the Victims

Once the Bhaal murder list has been found, the party can utilize it to track down the victims who have not yet been killed in order to seek out the murderer.

Living Victims:

• Cora Highberry at X: 22 Y: -38: The Wine Festival southwest of the Elfsong Tavern.
• Figaro Pennygood at X: -182 Y: -31: Inside Facemaker's Boutique.
• Chef Roveer at X: 64 Y: 8: In the kitchen of the Elfsong Tavern.
• Nesha Leesha at X: -153 Y: -90: Outside of the Blushing Mermaid.

Deceased Victims:

• Father Lorgan at X: -57 Y: -22: In the infirmary of the Open Hand Temple.
• Duke Belynne Stelmane at X: 73 Y: -19: Second floor of the Elfsong Tavern.
• Alexander Rainforest at X: -95 Y: -114: Near the bed on the top floor of Rainforest's Home.
• Franc Peartree at X: 42 Y: -96: On the ground in Peartree's Home.

Chef Roveer

Roveer is in the kitchen of Elfsong Tavern. He immediately insists that the party take care of rats in the cellar, as part of Roveer's Storehouse and does not listen to the party otherwise. After killing the rats, the party can return and warn him of the murder plot.

Nesha Leesha

Nesha Leesha wanders the outer decks near the Blushing Mermaid's entrance. The party can warn her that she is a target for murder, but Nesha initially takes it as a joke. She does not think that anyone would want to murder her. With a successful DC 15 Persuasion check, she can be convinced that her life is in danger, after which she walks off to take care of her tab at the bar.

Cora Highberry

Cora simply wanted to run a wine tasting to benefit orphaned children. Dolor had other plans.

Cora Highberry is at a table at the wine festival southwest of Elfsong Tavern. Speaking to her, she tells the party that she is about to taste some of "Master Meztli's" wine. A successful passive DC 18 Medicine check reveals that the wine smells sickly sweet, with an acrid note on the periphery, indicating poison. Then there are the following dialogue options:

Choosing the following options results in Cora being poisoned and killed. The first two result in the player character also being poisoned.

• I would love a glass, Master Meztli.
• [DARK URGE] Bottoms up!
• I'm afraid I must decline, but I hope you enjoy your wine.

Choosing any of the following options results in the killer being revealed:

• [DARK URGE] Poison... Beauteous... Sickly... Delicate.
• [HALFLING] This fiend has sullied good wine with poison!
• [ROGUE] Oh, poisoned wine? Now, that's a classic.
• [BARBARIAN] Get back! This cowardly worm is trying to poison you!
• [BARD] I've smelled many a wine in my time, and this one's foul. Poisonous.
• Cora Highberry, your life is in danger. A serial killer is after you.
• I think it's only polite that we let Master Meztli drink first, or should I say... Dolor?
• Kill the poisoner. One death is as good as another.
• Attack the poisoner.

Revealing Metzli as the serial killer infuriates him, as his "perfect crime" is interrupted. He retreats, revealing multiple doppelgangers to keep the party busy, while using the Spaceshunt Boots to teleport himself away. One of the corpses contains a Tombstone Shop Key necessary for later on in the quest.

However, his  Dimension Door can be  Counterspelled, meaning the party can kill him at his initial appearance and avoid the fight at Facemaker's Boutique; if trying to kill him here after the Counterspell he likely throws a potion to paralyze party member followed by a modified sneak attack that does not require advantage. In addition, he always drinks an invisibility potion for a second escape attempt. If surviving to his next turn he casts Dimension Door again at level 5.

Figaro Pennygood

If being able to flee from the wine festival, Dolor be found where his final target Figaro Pennygood is, at Facemaker's Boutique, near the Baldur's Gate waypoint. Figaro and Gauntlet Devella can be found in the back room, paralyzed, while Dolor prepares to murder them.

If the party sneak into a better position, Dolor is able to kill Figaro:

• [STEALTH] Keep to the shadows while the dwarf is distracted. (DC 15)
• [ROGUE] [STEALTH] Step softly in the nearby shadows, avoiding the dwarf's gaze. (DC 15)

Or the party can announce themselves (or fail the stealth roll) to immediately saves Figaro's life:

• Stop right there!
• Back off. That's my kill. (if aware of the murder list)
• [MONK] 'Transcend'? This brutality is a mockery of the word.
• [BARD] A paralysed victim and creepy monologue? Could you get any more cliche?
• [ROGUE] I respect paralysing your target - makes the kill easier. But a monologue? Really?
• [FIGHTER] Enough of games. Enough hiding. You face me here and now.
• [BARBARIAN] You talk too much. Come - meet your end, beast.
• [RANGER] A beast on the hunt is one thing - but there's only end for one gone rabid.
• [HALF-ORC] I loathe cowards. Come - death is too good for the likes of you.
• [SORCERER] You might have blades, but I am magic incarnate. You are no match for me.

During the battle, Dolor targets Devella first, making it imperative to heal (or cast  Sanctuary on) her. Entering through the right (southmost) double door can also put the party in a better position to save Devella. After the fight, Devella thanks the party and suggests searching Dolor's body for clues on what he intended to do next.

Killing Dolor grants the party a bag of his victims' hands, as well as a Torn and Bloody Page with a poem from the Dirge of the Unholy Assassin. Reading the page provides a passphrase, 'Sicarius,' and a location, Candulhallow's Tombstones.

Murder the Victims

Olfaith Olumssdottir approaches the party after a successful murder.

In contrast to saving the victims, the party can choose to murder the remaining victims for themselves and cut their hands as proof. While Dolor is busy with Cora Highberry, the party can target Figaro Pennygood. The party can also take out Nesha Leesha and Roveer, either by announcing they have come to kill them or by using subterfuge (i.e. utilizing  Greater Invisibility or  Darkness). If announcing the intend to kill the targets, they become hostile and are joined by friendly characters.

After the first murder victim is killed, or after killing Valeria or Devella Fountainhead, Olfaith Olumssdottir approaches the party, commends them and asks them to kill another target on the list (or two, if a Flaming Fist officer was killed since their names are not listed in the parchment and thus do not count towards the total). Once two victims from the murder list have been killed, he appears again and directs the party to Canduhallow's Tombstones and gives them the secret passphrase - 'Sicarius.'

Candulhallow's Tombstones

Entrance to Candulhallow's Tombstones

Candulhallow's Tombstones at X: 74 Y: 25 is northeast of Elfsong Tavern. Its entrance can either be opened with a key, lockpicked or broken (normal attack). The party must move into the back office room and remove the Butterfly on Skull painting at X: 87 Y: 15 to find a button. Pressing the button reveals a secret door. The only way to get past this door is to know the passphrase, Sicarius.

The painting that hides the button.

Within the basement, there is immediately a sign that says "Flaming Fists this Way." This area is heavily trapped with grease barrels that alight if entering that way. Instead, the party should remain on the brick path on the right and enter the door to the Murder Tribunal's antechamber at X: -1302 Y: 519.

Infiltrate the Murder Tribunal

Map of the Murder Tribunal.

The party must enter the Murder Tribunal Antechamber and speak with That Which Guards. The entity provides a riddle, "Present me well from gifts thine own, or I shall rend thy flesh from bone." Choose "I killed to be here - and took the victim's hand as proof" to proceed forward. The party can use the hand bag from Dolor, the hands taken from any victims they chose to kill, or the hand of Gortash to gain entry. Choosing any other option results in a fight with the guards, and the Murder Tribunal becomes hostile as well.

Dolor rare encounter

If Figaro Pennygood was murdered by the party before he is attacked at his boutique by Dolor and his assassins and Dolor is still alive following his assassination attempt against Cora Highberry at the wine festival; it does not matter if he kills Cora or not or even if his Hand Bag containing the hands from his previous kills have been pickpocketed or not. Then he shows up at Tribunal's entrance demanding entry only to be denied by the Guardians because only one contender can gain entry and there are two who seek to become Unholy Assassins.

Dolor recognizes the player character if they met during the events at the wine festival and accuses them of not being as faithful to Bhaal as they are. If they did not meet or the player character was disguised, his dialogue is different. In any case, That Which Guards demands a duel between the two contenders and Dolor happily obliges. The party has three options:

• They can fight Dolor to the death.
• Tell Dolor to go ahead which causes the Guardians to also turn against the party since they are intruders and not contenders after all.
• Pass a DC 25 Persuasion check to convince Dolor to destroy the Tribunal as it does not serve Bhaal since they pit two perfect killers against each other.

If the first option is chosen, That Which Guards is satisfied and unlocks the doors to the Tribunal without further questions. If the third option is chosen and the check is passed, Dolor agrees stating that Bhaal is not a god of decrees and doctrines and combat is initiated as he turns on the Tribunal Guardians. After they are defeated, Dolor unlocks the doors and attacks Sarevok Anchev and the three Echos. However he is immediately killed as Sarevok uses  Power Word Kill on Dolor. Sarevok is not hostile to the party as he is unaware of what exactly transpired outside the Tribunal doors. If the party join Dolor by attacking Sarevok, then it is possible to prevent Dolor's death either by taking out Sarevok before his turn or by casting  Silence, thus preventing him from uttering the Power Word. However, if the Murder Tribunal is defeated and Dolor survives, he immediately becomes hostile and must be defeated.

Facing the Tribunal

Sarevok Anchev serves as the Custodian of the Murder Tribunal.

If choosing not to fight their way through, Sarevok Anchev can be met face-to-face, along with the Echo of Amelyssan, Echo of Sendai, and Echo of Illasera. The party can ask various questions about Sarevok and how he is still alive, his ties to Orin, and information about what the Murder Tribunal is.

Sarevok proclaims there is no better mirror in which to see the true nature of a killer than his victim. Thus, he summons the image of one of the murder victims. The spectre cannot speak, as the murderer stole its voice. Thus, the party must speak for it. Sarevok asks how the pitiful creature was slain.

If the party did not kill the victim, they can make a Deception check to lie and claim they did:

• [DECEPTION] First, I ended its sorry existence. Then I cut the hand from its corpse. (DC 20)
• [DECEPTION] Slowly and painfully. I savoured every scream. (DC 20)
• [DECEPTION] With a smile on my face, and pleasure in my heart. (DC 20)

If the soul was actually slain by the party, then no deception checks are needed.

For the Dark Urge, if they have not acquired the Slayer form, the DC is reduced to 10 and / or they have the option to pass a DC 15 Intimidation check check to skip the scene altogether.

If the Dark Urge has the form, Sarevok does not ask them about the murders, which he believes are far beneath their skills. Instead he informs them about their past and how they perfectly embodied Bhaal's essence compared to anyone else, including his granddaughter Orin. He then asks the Dark Urge if they seek revenge on Orin and he in fact encourages them to do so. Sarevok is confident that the Dark Urge will prevail and defeat Orin and, after they do, asks them to return to him. He then proceeds to open the door to the abattoir without the need for any checks whatsover.

Alternative Minsc / Jaheira scene

A different scene instead plays if either Minsc or Jaheira is in the party when facing the Murder Tribunal, regardless of whether the player character is the Dark Urge or not. Sarevok instantly recognizes them and declares them traitors. The party can respond by stating they are sacrifices offered up to Bhaal which causes combat to break out as the Dark Urge proceeds to kill them, or go through Intimidation or Performance checks to make Jaheira and / or Minsc kneel before the Tribunal. If the player character has acquired the Slayer form, Minsc and Jaheira can be forced to kneel without a check. Forcing Minsc and Jaheira to kneel satisfies Sarevok enough to allow the Tribunal to continue and both Minsc and Jaheira can be baptised as unholy assassins.

The party also gain an option to initiate combat by asking Jaheira and / or Minsc whether either of them would like to kill Sarevok again; they defer to the player character, saying they do not need to repeat the experience. If only Jaheira and / or Minsc are present when interacting with the Murder Tribunal, there are no dialogue options nor checks: Sarevok and the echoes become hostile after the dialogue.

Quest Rewards

• Amulet of Bhaal
• Map to Bhaal Temple
• Sarevok's Horned Helmet, if Sarevok is killed.
• Sword of Chaos

Inspiration

•  Culling the Imitator ( Haunted One background) - for killing Dolor
•  Soured Taste ( Guild Artisan background) - for discovering the poison in the wine at the Highberry's Wine Festival
•  Truth Shines Through ( Folk Hero background) - for successfully warning Cora Highberry
•  Wine Connoisseur ( Noble background) - for successfully warning Cora Highberry

Companion approval

In the confrontation at Figaro's shop:

• Ordering Dolor to stop (either the first option or any class option)  -1  -1  +1  +1  +1  +1  +1  +1  +1
• Telling Dolor to back off of the kill  -1  -1  -1  -1  -1  +1  +1  +1
• Offering to investigate the tribunal  +1  +1  +1  +1  +1
• Sacrificing Devella Fountainhead  -1  +1  +1  -1  -1  -1  -1  -1 +1

Notes

• This quest intertwines heavily with  Impress the Murder Tribunal, which is completed at the same time as this quest.
• Several of the murder sites also contain body parts for  Find Dribbles the Clown.
• Warning Roveer and Nesha does not appear to make a difference; Dolor only targets Cora and Figaro.
• A part of this Quest is time-sensitive. If long resting after entering the Lower City and then getting close to the Wine Festival but refraining from interacting with anyone, Cora is murdered the next day.

Bugs

• If Olfaith shows up by murdering up Valeria or Devella Fountainhead instead of a target on the murder list, he does not reappear when two targets from the list have been murdered.
• Olfaith can show up even if this quest has been completed, including if the party has slain the entire murder tribunal and/or Orin.
• If Dolor is alive but the exact conditions listed here are not satisfied, then he does not initially show up at the Murder Tribunal but only after the player character becomes the Unholy Assassin of Bhaal. He is seen arguing with the Guardian but he cannot be interacted with.
• If interacting with Dolor and Cora Highberry at the wine festival and successfully passing the Medicine check to warn Cora that the wine is poisoned, the party may be incorrectly granted the Crossing's Namesake inspiration if a character with the Sage background is in the party. This bug also seems to prevent the party from being able to cast  Counterspell to stop dolor from escaping.