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Inner Sanctum
“The power to... protect my people... sanctuary...„
Access[edit | edit source]
The Inner Sanctum[1] is accessed through the stone door in the Sacred Pool at X: 223 Y: 525. It can also be accessed from the hidden entrance through the Underground Passage (see below).
Overview[edit | edit source]
The Inner Sanctum of the Emerald Grove comprises a series of vast circular caverns divided by either movable stone doors or simple archways.
The central chamber features four large frescos on the walls, each corresponding to a plaque with a poetic description on a pillar (see below for interactions).
To the northwest, an archway leads from the central cavern to the Servants' Quarters. To the north, a stone door allows access into the Druids' Chambers. At the far end of the Druids' Chambers, a locked stone door leads to the Enclave Library. Four pedestals with rune slots surround a statue in the centre of the library, concealing stairs descending to the Hidden Vault of the grove.
Another stone door at the other end of the library opens into an antechamber with some poison vents, leading into the Underground Passage.
Chambers[edit | edit source]
Central cavern[edit | edit source]
Upon first entering the Inner Sanctum, a cutscene triggers, where Kagha, the acting leader of the druids, is deciding the fate of a tiefling child, Arabella. Kagha's pet viper, Teela, guards and threatens the girl. If the quest 
has not already been activated, it is added to the journal at this moment.
The player character may intervene to save Arabella. If they do nothing, Arabella tries to escape, and Teela pursues and kills her. Convincing Kagha to free Arabella grants the following inspirations:[2]
(
background)- (
background)
characters have unique options within the dialogue to convince not only Kagha, but Teela herself to relent. If successful, Teela then makes Kagha change her mind as well.
After Arabella's fate is resolved, the party can explore the cavern and speak to the druids inside. The characters with dialogue in this area are Kagha and Rath, as well as Silver the wolf if using 
. Depending on their choices, the party may progress the quests and , and initiate the quests and .
If speaking to Kagha, she confirms her resolve to finish the Rite of Thorns and states the player character must offer their services as guards to Zevlor and the tieflings on the road to Baldur's Gate. Until all quests concerning her are resolved in any way, Kagha stays in the Inner Sanctum, with three named rats remaining close by her side.
While investigating Kagha's motives, the party may discover she has been swayed to the Shadow Druids' cause. If exposed, the rats – Olodan, Wren, and Pinta – reveal themselves as wildshaped Shadow Druids, and another cutscene triggers, which eventually results in a fight. During the conversation, Kagha can be convinced to reconsider, in which case she joins the party and the other druids as an ally against the Shadow Druids. Otherwise, she joins the Shadow Druids and must be defeated. Convincing Kagha to abandon the Shadow Druids is one of two ways to earn the inspiration for characters with the 
background (the second one is described in the Frescos section below).
While speaking with Kagha and the Shadow Druids, choosing the option "Take the grove - I won't stand in your way" is considered an oathbreaking action for 
of any Oath.
After the Shadow Druids are defeated, if a character is in the party, Kagha (or Rath if Kagha dies in the battle) awards them with the 
Pale Oak and gives them the title Faithwarden. If the Druid character has the 
background, this grants them the inspiration as well, if it was not already obtained.
Throughout the quest , Zevlor may ask the party to kill Kagha. Doing this (regardless of killing the Shadow Druids) grants the inspiration for characters with the 
background.
Servants' Quarters[edit | edit source]
To the northwest of the central cavern lies a smaller room divided by a movable stone door at X: -464 Y: -13. It features several rows of Stone Tablets and a primitive desk made from a stone slab with the 
Rite of Thorns scroll and 
The Emerald Enclave: Tenets on it. All containers and lootable items (except the rite scroll) in this area are red-outlined. One of the druids, Marcoryl, checks around this room from time to time, accompanied by Silver. However, any means of stealth or concealment, such as the spells 
or 
, can be enough to evade their notice.
Kagha's personal chest is hidden behind the stone bookcase at X: -487 Y: -7. Inside it is a book titled 
Faldorn's Canticle: The Shadow Druids' Doctrine. Reading the book progresses the quest (or initiates it if it wasn't received earlier) and earns the inspiration for characters with the 
background.
Druids' Chambers[edit | edit source]
To the north of the central cavern is a large chamber behind another movable stone door at X: -448 Y: -13. The chamber is brightly lit with torches, with several stone beds and work desks placed along the walls. A Cauldron of Boiling Theriac stands between alembics and distillers.
The healer Nettie can be found here, tending to a Wounded Bird. After casting a spell[3], Nettie leaves the bird alone and is ready to speak with the player character. After explaining their problem, Nettie invites them into the Enclave Library, where she intends to poison them; she sees death as the only solution to prevent them from turning into an illithid. However, she can be convinced to give the party a chance or relent while trying to poison them (see Nettie's page for all interactions).
A player character using can also talk to the exhausted bird Nettie healed. They can let her rest or prod her wounded wing, forcing her to speak and subsequently die of exhaustion. Doing this is considered an oathbreaking action for of any Oath. Dark Urge characters have a unique dialogue option to "tear her wings off". Doing so grants them the inspiration, if it was not yet obtained.
Near one of the stone beds lies a 
Druid Notebook. Its text contains one of the first mentions of the Shadow Curse and its effects.
The Cauldron of Boiling Theriac used to be part of the quest , necessary to brew an antidote to the potent poison Nettie applies to the player character if they refuse to commit suicide in case of ceremorphosis; this was reworked in Patch 1.
Enclave Library[edit | edit source]
The Enclave Library is accessible through a locked stone door in the Druids' Chambers. The entryway requires a 
DC 10 Perception check to spot, and is impossible to lockpick. If the player character tells Nettie they are infected with an illithid tadpole as part of the quest , she unlocks this door herself. Otherwise, a party member with the 
Key of the Ancients equipped must interact with the door to open it.[4]
The library has another work desk at X: -444 Y: 15; several items and notes on it belong to the missing First Druid Halsin. A vial with a 
Mind Flayer Parasite Specimen inside it is immediately highlighted to the player character by the Dream Guardian.[5] An adjacent stone slab has been turned into a makeshift autopsy table upon which rests a Dissected Drow.
Small alcoves to the north, west, and east contain multiple rows of Stone Tablets akin to bookshelves. They contain random common books and scrolls. Several 
Bullywug Trumpets grow around the library. As in other parts of the Inner Sanctum, most lootable containers and items in the library are red-outlined.
A large wolf statue stands in the middle of the chamber, surrounded by pedestals with rune slots in the four cardinal directions. One of the 
runes is missing. After returning the missing rune and interacting with each pedestal, the party can access the Hidden Vault beneath the library (see below).
At the far end of the room, at X: -446 Y: 30, is another locked stone door. It requires a DC 5 Perception check to notice and, as with the other door in the library, can only be opened if the Key of the Ancients is equipped by a party member. The small area behind it is trapped with two vents releasing 
poison and opens into the Underground Passage at X: -411 Y: -186.
Hidden Vault[edit | edit source]
The Hidden Vault can be accessed through the Enclave Library. Access requires the Rune of the Wolf, which can be obtained from Rath as a reward for completing , or by looting or pickpocketing him. It needs to be placed in the empty slot and activated together with the three other runes to open a spiral staircase descending into the vault.
On the main altar underneath the wolf's head statue lies 
Sorrow and a 
Druid Note. Nearby crates contain an assortment of elixirs, poisons, potions, and scrolls. A trunk to the side contains the 
Robe of Summer.
Frescos[edit | edit source]
| “ |
|
„ |
| — Inner Sanctum Frescos |
-
Wellspring. Druids gathering in Silvanus' name -
Wild. Druids and Beasts fighting together against monsters
-
Union. Druids forge an alliance with Harpers -
Fallen. A broken Sharran helmet at the feet of the druids
The frescos start from the west side of the room and continue along the eastern wall. They form a chain of illustrations depicting the history and legacy of the Emerald Grove. A variety of Ability Checks can be made to decipher the story from the frescos:
- X: -470 Y: -37 Wild. Requires a DC 10 Religion check
- X: -470 Y: -36 Wellspring. Requires a DC 10 Investigation check
- X: -446 Y: -34 Union. Requires a DC 5 History check
- X: -450 Y: -28 Fallen. Requires a DC 10 Religion check
Characters with certain classes can recognise what a mural depicts without a skill check and also receive unique narration:
- for the first two murals
for the third mural- and
(including Shadowheart) for the last mural
Succeeding all checks grants the inspiration for characters with the background. However, it is not necessary to pass all the checks with a single party member to earn the inspiration point, nor does the one with the Sage background need to pass the checks. Recovering the whole story also earns the inspiration for characters with the background (the second possible way to obtain it). Understanding all the frescos can provide unique dialogue options and additional leverage in dealing with Kagha when the Shadow Druids are revealed.
Examining the grove murals with Shadowheart in the party can progress her personal quest, either or , but only if the party already know she is a disciple of 
. Seeing the murals, she recalls the Dark Justiciars, an order of elite Sharran warriors, and her dreams of becoming one herself.
Characters[edit | edit source]
Emerald Grove Druids[edit | edit source]
Shadow Druids[edit | edit source]
Animals[edit | edit source]
Other[edit | edit source]
Related Quests[edit | edit source]
Connected Locations[edit | edit source]
Loot[edit | edit source]
Notable items obtained in this location, whether looted, purchased, or obtained as a quest reward:
Broodmother's Revenge
Key of the Ancients
Mind Flayer Parasite Specimen - on Halsin's desk
Pale Oak - available only to characters
Portrait of Lohse - on the stone shelf at X: -431 Y: -9[6]
Robe of Summer
Sorrow
Wyvern Toxin
Related Literature[edit | edit source]
Detailed Report
Drow's Letter
Druid Note
Druid Notebook
Faldorn's Canticle: The Shadow Druids' Doctrine
Grimy Report
Grove Annals- Grove Artefacts
Half-Torn Note- Halsin's Journal, Vol I
Hastily Written Note
Logbook XII: 1371
On Antidotes
Notes on Drow Parasite
Rite of Thorns- Sightings Record
Study of the Sword Coast- The Emerald Enclave: Tenets
Notes[edit | edit source]
- ↑ There is no such location on the in-game map. The area beyond the stone door is marked as Emerald Grove. "Inner Sanctum" is a term used by the wiki to help disambiguate.
- ↑ The inspiration for Urchins is granted immediately on saving Arabella, while for Folk Heroes, it is granted only after speaking to her parents, Locke and Komira.
- ↑ Any player character with healing spells or healing potions can also cure the bird.
- ↑ This circlet can be obtained from either Findal or Nettie.
- ↑ The exact statement depends on how much the player character currently knows about the issue. The Dream Guardian chimes in regardless of whether their first appearance in a dream has already occurred.
- ↑ Available only if the Digital Deluxe Upgrade was purchased
