Risen Road

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

   1. Ford the River and Put Down the Hyenas

   When you jump across the broken bridge or wade the river shallows north of the Blighted Village, head toward the ruined caravan wagons at (X: 4, Y: 517). You will encounter convulsing Bloated Hyenas; kill the newborn gnolls immediately or prepare for combat when they violently burst forth. Defeat the scavenging pack and pick off the fleeing scout before it sprints up the northern ridge to summon reinforcements.

   Tip: Focus down the unbloated hyena immediately on Turn 1 to prevent it from alerting the upper gnoll patrol.

   Watch out: If you fail to stop the fleeing hyena, you will be forced to fight an extra wave of gnolls arriving from the clifftop.

2. 2

   2. Recover the Smuggler's Ring in the Shallows

   Before scaling the bluffs, drop down along the riverbed path directly east below the broken stone bridge. Sweep the overgrown bush along the water's edge at (X: 58, Y: 514) to uncover an unmarked skeleton half-submerged in the foliage. Search this hidden skeleton to secure the Smuggler's Ring for your party's rogue.

   Smuggler's Ring: Found on a skeleton resting in the riverbed area below the broken road bridge

   Tip: The skeleton holding the ring does not highlight with the Alt-key or produce a passive Perception ping, so pan your camera and manually mouse over the bush.

3. 3

   3. Recruit Karlach at the Riverbank

   Push further east along the riverbank clearcut until you find the wounded tiefling Karlach surrounded by fire at (X: 108, Y: 504). If Wyll is in your active party, de-escalate his confrontation using your dialogue options or the illithid parasite mind-meld to prove Karlach is an escaped victim of Zariel rather than a devil. Agree to help her strike down the false "Paladins of Tyr" stationed in the nearby tollhouse, then recruit her into your party or direct her to camp.

   Tip: Bring Wyll along for this encounter to resolve his personal contract questline peacefully without shedding companion blood.

   Watch out: Attacking and killing Karlach permanently closes off her companion recruitment and locks you out of her overarching story.

4. 4

   4. Storm the Tollhouse and Confront the False Paladins

   Ascend the cliff trail to the northeast and enter the tollhouse at (X: 110, Y: 560), grabbing the Toll Collector’s Key on the dirt path at (X: 101, Y: 524) along the way. Confront Anders inside; bringing Karlach triggers immediate battle, while speaking with him alone lets you learn his false plea before revealing his allegiance to Zariel through the corpse in the side room. Slay Anders, Cyrel, and Trynn in combat, then loot the Sword of Justice from Anders's remains before Karlach vents her rage.

   Key fight: Anders and the "Paladins of Tyr"
   Sword of Justice: Held by Anders inside the tollhouse; obtained by killing him or fulfilling his request Don't missToll Collector's Key: south of the Tollhouse down the cliffside trail at (X: 101, Y: 524) to the loose key resting on the dirt near dead toll collectorsHow: walk to the bloodied slope and pick up the keyMissable because: lost once you finish Act 2 and advance to Act 3 Don't miss NewSoul Coin: on the exterior second-story balcony of the Tollhouse at (X: 109, Y: 551) to the open wooden crateHow: jump or walk onto the balcony and take the coinMissable because: lost once you finish Act 2 and advance to Act 3 Don't miss New

   Tip: Disarm or silence Anders immediately, as his Level 5 Divine Smite can down an unbuffed frontliner in a single turn.

   Watch out: Siding with Anders and bringing him Karlach's head permanently costs you Karlach as an Origin companion.

5. 5

   5. Plunder the Tollhouse Cellar Vault

   Descend through the cellar hatch inside the tollhouse at (X: 110, Y: 560) and unlock the vault door using the Toll Collector's Key or Thieves' Tools. Ungroup your party and place one companion onto each of the two stone thrones against the wall simultaneously to slide open the hidden stone bookcase. Disarm the marble pressure plate just beyond the threshold to prevent the vents from spewing Simple Toxin, then loot the trapped vault's gilded chest.

   Inside the tollhouse cellar, sit two party members on the stone chairs at the same time to open a concealed entrance leading into a trapped treasure vault.Gloves of Heroism: inside the Tollhouse Cellar hidden vault, from the two stone thrones at (X: 110, Y: 560) through the opened wall into the wooden chestHow: disarm the floor vent trap and open the chestMissable because: lost once you finish Act 2 and advance to Act 3 Don't miss New

   Tip: Drag heavy wooden crates onto the seats if you prefer exploring the secret vault with your entire party grouped together.

   Watch out: Stepping on the center floor plate without disarming it floods every chamber of the cellar with toxic gas.

6. 6

   6. Ambush Flind's Pack at the Cave

   Head northwest along the road to the cave entrance at (X: 40, Y: 626), grabbing the Speedy Reply scimitar from the dead caravan agent at (X: 25, Y: 603) as you approach. When you engage the gnoll horde besieging the barricaded Zhentarim mercenaries, trigger the telepathic tadpole connection with the warlord Flind. Use an Illithid Wisdom check to turn Flind against her own pack, defeat the survivors, and then command Flind to feast on herself or slay her to claim the Shattered Flail and a Mind Flayer Parasite Specimen.

   Key fight: Flind and the Gnoll Pack at the Cave
   Shattered Flail: Carried by Flind, the gnoll pack leader outside the cave Don't missMind Flayer Parasite Specimen: cave entrance at (X: 40, Y: 626) on the corpse of FlindHow: kill Flind or force her to devour herself, then loot her remainsMissable because: lost if Flind despawns after being told to flee, or once you finish Act 2 Don't miss NewSpeedy Reply: dirt road southwest of the cave entrance at (X: 25, Y: 603) on the dead Caravan AgentHow: search the corpse lying on the bloodstained pathMissable because: lost once you finish Act 2 and advance to Act 3 Don't miss New

   Tip: Approach from the high rocky ledges above the cave mouth to gain high-ground advantage and prevent the gnoll archers from pinning you down.

   Watch out: If you linger too long before engaging, the gnolls will wipe out Rugan and Olly inside the cave, preventing a peaceful resolution with the caravan guards.

7. 7

   7. Secure the Caravan Strongbox

   Enter the back of the cave at (X: 37, Y: 644) and speak with the surviving Zhentarim leader, Rugan. Accept his gratitude without demanding the shipment so he provides the secret password ("Little serpent, long shadow") to their hideout, and loot Reason's Grasp from the locked wooden chest nearby. Leave the ornate Caravan Strongbox completely unopened and untampered in Rugan's hands or carry it intact to deliver later.

   Reason's Grasp: inside the Risen Road cave at (X: 37, Y: 644) to the locked wooden chest behind Rugan and OllyHow: lockpick the wooden chest (DC 10 Sleight of Hand)Missable because: lost once you finish Act 2 and advance to Act 3 Don't miss NewIron Flask: inside the cave at (X: 37, Y: 644) in the Caravan Strongbox held by RuganHow: pickpocket the strongbox from Rugan or take it from his corpse, then pass a DC 20 Sleight of Hand check to open the boxMissable because: lost if turned in unopened to Zarys or left behind Don't miss New

   Tip: Loot the Mind Flayer Parasite Specimen directly from Flind's corpse before leaving the mouth of the cave.

   Watch out: Picking the lock on the Caravan Strongbox or opening the Iron Flask inside voids your delivery reward (the Harold heavy crossbow) and turns the Zhentarim hostile.

What you decide here and what it leads to.