Help the Devilish Ox

The Strange Ox needs help getting into Baldur's Gate

Help the Devilish Ox is a Quest in Act Three of Baldur's Gate 3. It can be started by speaking with the Strange Ox in Rivington.

Objectives

Help the strange creature.

• We met an odd creature. It has the shape of an ox, but is clearly something else. It wants to get into the city. Wonder why?
• We ran into that strange creature again - the one who was pretending to be an ox. It wants to get into the city. Wonder why?

Smuggle the creature into the city.

• We met an odd creature. It has the shape of an ox, but is clearly something else. We agreed to help it reach the city. It transformed into an apple so we could carry it.
• We agreed to help the strange creature reach the city. It transformed into an apple so we could carry it.

Defeat the strange creature.

• We angered the strange creature. We're in for a fight.
• We tried to eat the apple. The creature was furious. We're in for a fight.

Quest Complete

• We brought the creature to the city as requested. Seems it left us a note.
• We defeated the strange creature.
• We decided not to bring the strange creature into the city.

Walkthrough

In order to receive this quest, the Strange Ox must have survived both the Grove and Last Light Inn, and must not have been attacked by the party at Last Light Inn. There also seems to be a cutoff point to the quest, either failed interactions with the Ox, crossing into the main area of the city after the fortress, or progressing the main storyline too far - a recommendation would be to trigger the quest in the earliest stages of the Act.

The Strange Ox can be found in Rivington inside a stable near the Requisitioned Barn X: 41 Y: -143. An Arcana check indicates that the Ox is indeed the strange Ox from past encounters. Using  Speak with Animals allows its quest to be undertaken. The Ox states it is delighted to see the party and is trying to get into the city proper. After this, the following options appear:

• Not until you tell me exactly what you are.
• I suppose so. What form will you take?
• [DARK URGE] Charge, charge through the city streets with me, leaving virgin hearts as smear-stains.
• Maybe some kind soul might. But not me.

Smuggle the ox

The Strange Ox transforms into an apple.

If the dialogue option "I suppose so. What form will you take?" is chosen, the Ox transforms into a Strange Apple, which the party should pick up, if intended. This strange apple spawns on the ground. From here it is easy to miss, since none of the conversation indicates this will happen, possibly suggesting the apple will go into the party inventory on its own. Forgetting the apple results in bricking the quest when entering the Lower City, along with its possible reward, and killing the Ox is also forfeit. The journal reads, "We decided not to bring the strange creature into the city", even though the party can go back, retrieve the apple and bring it there; the quest is locked-out and remains (un)completed. If retrieved after the lockout, the apple remains with the party until entering the Lower City. Once entering the area it disappears, leaving behind a Slightly Slimy Note.

Attack the strange creature

The Strange Ox transforms into an ooze.

If the dialogue option "Not until you tell me exactly what you are," is chosen, the Ox tells the party they do not want to go down that road. The following choices appear:

• I assure you I do. Tell me what you really are, or I'll strike you down myself.
• Fine. I'll help you. Let us leave it at that.
• Then you go your way, and I'll go mine.

If the dialogue option "I assure you I do. Tell me what you really are, or I'll strike you down myself." is chosen, the Ox transforms into a level 9 ooze and attacks. Once defeated (200 xp), it drops a Hat of Fire Acuity, the Shapeshifter's Boon Ring, and two random high-quality gems (e.g., Diamond, Jade).

Quest rewards

If smuggling the Strange Ox and safely delivering it to the Lower City:

• Shapeshifter's Boon Ring
• The Strange Ox becomes an ally as part of Gather Your Allies, and can be summoned with  An Apple a Day during the final battle against the Elder Brain. Because the Strange Ox remains alive, the party cannot receive the Hat of Fire Acuity.