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Companions come in all shapes and sizes inBaldur’s Gate 3, but few are as unique or morally perplexing as the Emperor, the Mind Flayer pulling the strings within your prism. An ex-assassin and thief in the city of Baldur’s Gate, his previous life is shrouded in a thin veil of mystery and intrigue.
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Should you wish to garner some insight into that life or some of the arguably best equipment in the story’s third act, we recommend you check out his stash within the Lower City. Available early into your journey of Baldur’s Gate, we highly recommend taking this explorative detour.
How To Find The Secret Chamber Entrance Beneath Elfsong Tavern
As you wander pastthe Elfsong Tavern, the second building on your right after entering the Lower City for the first time, the Mindflayer will point out the building to you. This will automatically add the quest tofind his hideoutto your Journal.
Enter the building and pass through the first floor tothe kitchen area in the back.
Although it is optional, we recommend youspeak with Chef Roveerabout the rats in the basement as you’ll need to clear them out anyway. Return to him when you’re done for a large gold reward.
In the back of the kitchen, you may find aladder leading to the basementof Elfsong Tavern. Take it, and you’ll find acellar full of rats you must defeat.
We recommend either using aspell likeSpirit Guardiansand waiting for the rats to kill themselves running to you orlighting the wine on the floor on fire.Either way, kill them all to progress.
Stick to the lefton the west side of the roomandhead toward the wine racks.As you enter this area, keep an eye to your right. At the end of the wine racks and to theright of the crumbling doorwayin the storage room will bea button.
Press the button, and you’ll open one of the wine casks in the room over. Go through the crumbling doorway andinto the now open barrel.
As you approach the wooden door and advance the Hideout quest, we do recommend pausing and ensuring that your party is combat-ready before continuing.
How To Defeat The Vlaakith-Sworn Githyanki
In the room ahead, you’ll beambushed by several Githyanki warriorsloyal to Vlaakith. They will consist of:
Yourpriority should be in ridding the room of the two Gate Mastersfirst and foremost. Their ability to continuously summon reinforcements will be a hindrance to any progress.
You can take them out easily withtwo casts ofFireball,one on either side of the room on the balconies.
Once the portal-summoners are out of the picture, you can nowfocus on the warlock and paladin.They’re powerful enemies that can be a real hassle to deal with.
Thankfully, they’re verysusceptible to theSilencespell. Cast if, if you can, and go all out against these two troublemakers.
After the two powerful enemies are gone, you cando a standard clean-up with the rest of the enemiesin the room. While the Githyanki warriors are not exactly pushovers, they’ll be far easier than the beefier enemies you’ve already defeated.
Loot the bodies once you’re done andexplore the roomat your leisure.
How To Enter The Emperor’s Hideout
To continue to the Emperor’s hideout,venture to the back of the roomwhere the large statue is. Look around it, and you’ll find what looks like it should be astone doorway in the wall.
To theright of this doorwaywill be ahidden buttonyou can find with a Perception check.Press it.
Inside this room is the Emperor’s hideout. There will beseveral key itemsin this room:
Sword of the Emperor
Rare versatile +2 longsword.1d10(1d8) + Strength + 2 Slashing damage.
On the weapon racks on the left side (when entering the room)
Cerebral Citadel Armor And Gloves
Unique Shell
Sentimental item of the Emperor.
On the middle shelf to the right of the wardrobe on the east wall.
Recipe For Fiddlehead Soup
Sentimental item and cooking recipe.
On the middle shelf to the left of the door on the northwest wall leading to the underground hatch.
Loot all of these itemsto finish the quest and earn the Emperor’s gratitude (as well as fill your pockets with some highly valuable items).
Finding all of them will trigger theopportunity to follow the emperor’s romance arc.
After you’re done, you canleave the way you came or go down via the hatch.Be warned, however, that going down here will triggerOrin’s kidnapping of a victim from your camp, so keep your favorite travelers close.
The sword particularly will be useful in the fight against Orin, and the armor is decent enough. If you have no use for the armor, it fetches a top price of 3,200 gold. Enough money to warrant a trip to the Facemaker’s Boutique, we reckon.
