Moonrise Towers

Walkthrough

The area in the order you play it. Tick things off as you go: they tick off in the checklists below too.

1. 1

   Cross the Bridge to Infiltrate the Fortress

   When you approach from the outskirts, unlock the Moonrise Towers Waypoint just before the main bridge leading inside. Display your parasite's brand or declare yourself a True Soul to Zealot Malik and Acolyte Merim so they let you pass peacefully onto the outer grounds. Before stepping through the heavy double doors into the audience hall, head around the western outer walkway if you wish to scout the perimeter.

   Cracked Wall Wooden Chest: just past the dormitory's exterior door at X: -183, Y: -206, search inside the cracked wall: New

   Tip: Approach without weapons drawn and let your parasite connect to pass the bridge sentries without spending spell slots or triggering early combat.

   Watch out: Attacking Malik and Merim turns the entire fortress immediately hostile, forfeiting all peaceful infiltration quests and merchant access.

2. 2

   Witness Ketheric's Judgment in the Audience Chamber

   Enter the ground floor audience hall to trigger a cutscene where General Ketheric Thorm and Disciple Z'rell put subordinates from Act 1 on trial. Watch Ketheric demonstrate his absolute invulnerability against a throwing axe before he orders you to pronounce judgment upon the prisoners. Speak with Disciple Z'rell afterward to pledge your loyalty, after which she directs you upstairs to receive your primary assignment.

   Tip: Passing a DC 16 Deception or Persuasion check when speaking to Z'rell allows you to spare the prisoners without blowing your cover as a True Soul.

   Watch out: Refusing to participate or openly defying Ketheric here aggroes the entire ground floor while Ketheric remains completely impervious to all damage.

3. 3

   Trade in the West Hall and Visit Araj's Alchemy Lab

   Head into the western hall to trade with Roah Moonglow and Lann Tarv, making sure to bring Karlach to Lann Tarv to claim three Soul Coins by listening to his tales. Step into the eastern alchemy chamber to meet Araj Oblodra, who offers specialized elixirs in exchange for blood samples from your party members. Before proceeding upstairs, interact with the merchants' inventories to secure critical gear like the Risky Ring from Araj, the Ne'er Misser from Roah, and the Sentinel Shield from Lann Tarv.

   Potion of Everlasting Vigour: from the Moonrise Towers Waypoint, enter the ground floor and turn east into Araj Oblodra's alchemy workshopHow: give Araj a blood sample, then convince Astarion to bite her to receive the potionMissable because: lost once you complete the Shadowfell or if you refuse to make Astarion bite her Don't miss NewRisky Ring: from the entrance hall, walk east into Araj Oblodra's workshop and open her vendor trade windowHow: purchase directly from Araj Oblodra's inventoryMissable because: vendor vanishes permanently once the tower turns hostile after the Shadowfell Don't miss NewNe'er Misser: from the audience chamber, head into the western trading hall to Roah Moonglow's counterHow: purchase directly from Roah Moonglow's trade inventoryMissable because: Roah Moonglow leaves the fortress when the siege begins Don't miss NewSentinel Shield: from the audience chamber, walk into the western trading hall to Lann Tarv's deskHow: purchase directly from Lann Tarv's trade inventoryMissable because: Lann Tarv dies or becomes permanently hostile during the assault Don't miss NewSoul Coins (3): from the main doors, walk west into the trading hall to Lann TarvHow: speak to Lann Tarv with Karlach in your active party and listen to his three wartime memoriesMissable because: Lann Tarv turns hostile once the Shadowfell is completed Don't miss New

   Tip: If you persuade or force Astarion to bite Araj Oblodra, she rewards you with the Potion of Everlasting Vigour, granting a permanent +2 Strength bonus to whoever drinks it.

   Watch out: Pressuring Astarion to bite Araj severely damages his trust and can permanently terminate his romance arc if you do not handle the subsequent camp conversation with extreme care.

4. 4

   Subdue the Gnolls in the Kitchen and Investigate the Cracked Wall

   Walk into the mess hall kitchen to find True Soul Linsella psychically dominating the gnoll Barnabus and his packmates. Pass a DC 14 Wisdom, Illithid, or Persuasion check to sever Linsella's psychic hold, turning the gnolls loose to tear her apart while leaving them neutral toward you. Afterward, climb the ladder at coordinates X: -139, Y: -162 into the rafters to inspect the cracked wall; pass a DC 14 Arcana check to probe the meat-like sounds, but succeed on a DC 14 Strength or DC 14 Sleight of Hand check to pull your arm free before the tentacle drags you into the depths.

   Tip: Freeing Barnabus from Linsella removes a hostile cultist without alerting the rest of the ground floor and secures an ally who will refuse to fight you during the later assault.

   Watch out: Failing the secondary DC 20 Strength check when pulled into the cracked wall immediately yanks your character into the subterranean Oubliette.

5. 5

   Access Balthazar’s Quarters and Solve the Bookshelf Puzzle

   Head up to the first-floor landing at coordinates X: -132, Y: -182 to speak with Disciple Z'rell, passing a DC 14 Insight and DC 18 Persuasion check to convince her to unlock Lann Tarv’s secret stash before taking Balthazar's Room Key from her. Unlock Balthazar's quarters to take the working Moonlantern sitting directly on the desk, then examine the bookcase along the western wall. Interact specifically with the top-right protruding book to reveal an Ancient Altar, then place a Human Heart scavenged from the room's sacrificial tables into the altar to slide the bookcase aside and uncover Balthazar's secret ritual lab.

   Moonlantern: Sitting in Balthazar's private quarters on the first floorA concealed room lies behind the bookshelf inside Balthazar's quarters; it opens after interacting with the protruding book on the top right and placing a heart into the ancient altar that pops out.Derivation Cloak: from the first-floor landing at X: -132, Y: -182, enter Balthazar's bedchamber and head to X: -132, Y: -175How: pick the DC 14 lock on the Heavy Chest next to Balthazar's bed NewShadow Lantern: from Balthazar's private quarters, open the secret bookshelf laboratoryHow: combine a Broken Moonlantern with a Dead Pixie at the ritual workbench using GaleMissable because: permanently lost if Gale destroys the ritual circle instead of crafting the lantern Don't miss New

   Tip: Bring Gale into Balthazar's hidden lab to destroy the ritual circle for the permanent condition Mystra's Benevolence, giving him permanent Advantage on Concentration checks.

   Watch out: Interacting with any of the three incorrect books on the shelf triggers poison gas vents or wall spikes that damage your entire party.

6. 6

   Infiltrate Ketheric's Bedchamber

   Head out onto the first-floor balcony and approach Ketheric Thorm's private bedchamber door, which is guarded by his undead hound, Squire. Pick the DC 30 lock on the heavy ornate door, or leap across from Balthazar’s adjacent exterior balcony to bypass the lock entirely. Search Ketheric's desk and personal chests to uncover letters detailing his devotion to his late wife Melodia and daughter Isobel, gaining crucial narrative leverage and passive lore for upcoming confrontations.

   Tip: Use Speak with Animals on Squire to learn about Ketheric's past and pacify the hound, preventing a noisy fight right outside the bedchambers.

   Watch out: Attacking Squire or failing lockpicking checks in direct sight of patrolling guards alerts the nearby cultists and turns the upper floor hostile.

7. 7

   Storm the Ground Floor Alongside the Harpers

   Return to Moonrise Towers after completing the Shadowfell to find the stronghold permanently hostile and besieged by Jaheira and her Harper strike force. Charge through the shattered front entrance into the foyer to engage Disciple Z'rell, Zealot Malik, and their cadre of Absolute cultists and spellcasters. Lay down wide area-of-effect spells like Hunger of Hadar, Sleet Storm, or Fireball across the central doorway choke point to incinerate the cultists before they can overwhelm Jaheira and the front-line Harpers.

   Key fight: Assault on Moonrise Towers (Ground Floor Siege)

   Tip: You can systematically assassinate isolated guards and Z'rell room-by-room before entering the Shadowfell, leaving the ground floor empty so the Harpers walk in without suffering casualties.

   Watch out: Rushing blindly into the main audience chamber allows enemy cultists on the rafters and side stairs to pin your team with Black Tentacles and Sleet Storm, which can easily get Jaheira killed permanently.

8. 8

   Regroup on the first floor and push through the upper ornate doors to confront G

   tip: Cast Daylight or bring a luminous weapon to the rooftop to blind the Necromites and suppress Ketheric's shadow-based passive buffs.

   Key fight: Ketheric Thorm (Rooftop Confrontation, Phase 1)

   Tip: Cast Daylight or bring a luminous weapon to the rooftop to blind the Necromites and suppress Ketheric's shadow-based passive buffs.

   Watch out: Do not waste high-tier, single-target spell slots trying to burst Ketheric down to zero here; the fight automatically terminates and transitions to a cutscene the moment he reaches 40% health .

What you decide here and what it leads to.