Objective: Pursue Lae'zel's cure and transition to the Shadow-Cursed Lands.
Key Unlocks: Blood of Lathander (Legendary Mace), Knife of the Undermountain King, Gloves of Dexterity.
Warning: Entering the Mountain Pass resolves the Emerald Grove conflict automatically if unfinished.
1. Trail to the Pass
Just as you enter the Mountain Pass, you will encounter Lady Esther looking down over the valley. The Society of Brilliance has hired her to steal a Githyanki egg from the Crèche below.
You can agree to steal it for her, buy an Owlbear egg from her and pass it off as a Githyanki egg (high deception required), or kill her for her excellent vendor loot (including the Gloves of Cinder and Sizzle).
2. Rosymorn Monastery
The exterior of the crèche is an abandoned Lathander monastery infested with Kobolds, Gremishkas, and Eagles. Explore the upper levels to find hidden lore and solve puzzles.
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1
The Drunk Kobolds
A large room is filled with Firewine barrels and sleeping Kobolds. Use a fire spell (like Fireball or Fire Bolt) from a distance to trigger a massive chain explosion, clearing the room instantly. Loot the Ceremonial Mace from one of them.
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2
Giant Eagles & The Holy Lance Helm
Climb the vines to the roof to find two Giant Eagles nesting. You can persuade them to let you be, or fight them. Dig into their nest to find the Ceremonial Warhammer. Nearby, on a separate ruined tower roof, is a chest containing the excellent Holy Lance Helm.
3. The Blood of Lathander Puzzle
To get the Dawnmaster's Crest safely, you need to collect four ceremonial weapons and place them on the glowing altars in the stained-glass room.
Longsword: Already on the altar.
Warhammer: On the roof in the Giant Eagle's nest.
Battleaxe: In the room with the glowing Guardian of Faith.
Mace: Dropped by the drunk Kobolds.
Once all weapons are placed, a hidden wall opens containing a pouch with the Dawnmaster's Crest. Hold onto this; you will need it deep inside the Crèche.
4. Crèche Y'llek
Enter the basement of the Monastery to find the Githyanki Crèche. Keep Lae'zel in your active party to avoid unnecessary bloodshed at the entrance.
Be sure to visit the Quartermaster, A'jak'nir Jeera. She sells the Gloves of Dexterity (sets DEX to 18) and the Knife of the Undermountain King (lowers crit threshold).
Head to the infirmary to meet Ghustil Stornugoss. She will direct you to the Zaith'isk, which supposedly cures the tadpole.
- If you let Lae'zel sit in it, she will suffer permanent stat debuffs (-2 to INT, WIS, CON) unless you pass incredibly difficult persuasion checks to pull her out early.
- If your main character insists on sitting in it, you must pass three intense Saving Throws. Passing them all unlocks the Awakened buff, making your Illithid powers cost a Bonus Action instead of an Action! This is one of the best buffs in the game.
5. The Inquisitor & Vlaakith
Speak to Kith'rak Therezzyn in the Captain's Quarters. She demands the Astral Prism. Show it to her, and the barrier to the Inquisitor will open. (She will turn hostile if you refuse).
Inquisitor Ch'r'ai W'wargaz is a very tough fight. He can parry melee attacks and spawns psychic mind claws. Focus fire on him to bring him down quickly. Upon his defeat, Queen Vlaakith's projection will appear.
When speaking to Vlaakith, if you outright mock her, question her divinity, or refuse her commands multiple times, she will cast a Wish spell and instantly Game Over your entire party.
6. The Astral Prism & Claiming Lathander
Vlaakith commands you to enter the Astral Prism and execute the entity inside. Go inside and meet your Dream Visitor. You can choose to attack them (which does nothing as they heal instantly) or agree to work with them. Leaving the Prism makes the entire Crèche permanently hostile to you.
The Secret Chamber
Before fighting your way out of the Crèche, look at the two statues in the Inquisitor's room. Rotate the left statue to face West, and the right statue to face East. A secret door opens.
Navigate through the trap-filled corridors by destroying the crystal power sources. At the end, you find the Blood of Lathander suspended in a holy light. Insert the Dawnmaster's Crest you found earlier into the panel to safely take the mace. If you take it without the crest, you trigger a solar laser that destroys the entire monastery (and you) in 4 turns.
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