Escape the Deal: Difference between revisions

'''Escape the Deal''' is a sub-quest of the [[quest]] [[Deal with the Devil]] in [[Act Three]] of Baldur's Gate 3. It is automatically added to the journal if Raphael's contract is accepted.

 

There is a note in the [[Lower City Sewers]] within the [[Guildhall]]. Across the way from [[Nine-Fingers Keene]] at her desk is the [[Devil's Fee Observer Report]], which states that [[Helsik]] is a diabolist who aided [[Enver Gortash]] and the Chosen Three in obtaining the [[Crown of Karsus]].

If the party completed [[Break Yurgir's Contract]] without killing him in Chapter Two, then he appears at camp to offer advice. He tips the party off to Helsik in the Lower City.

Alternatively, the party can learn of Helsik's capabilities by exploring the top floor and finding the [[Coin of Mammon]] and other objects in the top floor area that reveal she is capable of opening a door into hell.

Once the party is aware of Helsik, they can find her at the [[Devil's Fee]]. Inquiring about Helsik being a diabolist has her revealing that her true business is not in information or hellish curious. She is Mammon's Picklock, Latchkeeper of the Nine Hells. She breaks people into the Hells, for a cost. The cost is 20,000 gold. With a successful Persuasion check (DC 20), she waives the fee in lieu of the [[Gauntlets of Hill Giant Strength]], starting [[Acquire the Gauntlets for Helsik]]. Otherwise, she can be persuaded to cut down the fee to 10,000.

Striking a deal with Helsik, she gives the party all the tools needed to open a portal to Hell. This includes a [[Grimoire Bound in Imp Skin]], [[Opening a Hell Gate]], and a [[Ritual Pouch]] with all the necessary items. Go upstairs in the Devil's Fee to find a circle in blood. Read the Grimoire Bound in Imp Skin to learn the ritual, then place the ritual items in the correct areas. Starting from the point closest to Helsik's diary and going clockwise:

As the party was given the [[Orphic Hammer]] by Raphael in exchange for the contract, they can go to the prison and free Hope immediately. However, this makes the entire House of Hope hostile immediately.

If alive, [[Mol]] has a [[Contract: Mol|contract]] in the House of Hope, locked in a room with an Inert Infernal Gem {{coords|6481|2944}}. Interacting with the gem requires a Wisdom (DC 10) and an Arcana (DC 20) check to open.

This room also contains 666 gold, a {{RarityItem|Staff of Spellpower}}, and a {{RarityItem|Helldusk Helmet}}.

Before entering the Archives, Hope appears once again to warn the party about the Archivist. She says the party must exploit his weakness to get by. Before she can fully explain, the party must pass either a Charisma, Intelligence, or Wisdom check to keep speaking to her. After passing the check, if asked how to deal with the Archivist, she says he fears authority figures. With a Persuasion check (DC 20), she says he particularly fears Verillius Receptor, a High Inquisitor of Zariel who has official permission to audit Raphael's collection. Verillius' true form is so ghastly and mind-scarring that she takes on guises when she comes to visit. The party can exploit this by pretending to be that guise. If Hope fails to get out the name, then a successful use of [[Detect Thoughts]] (DC 10) can be used on the Archivist to reveal the name as well.

If the Archivist is not successfully deceived or intimidated, information on how to enter the Boudoir can be found in the Outer Portals room (X:-6441, Y:2920).  [[Nubaldin]] is cleaning up the room. Speaking to him, he explains that he once ran the prisons, but was moved to the Outer Portals room after failing to prevent Gortash from escaping. If the party killed Gortash, they can tell him that they killed him, which will delight Nubaldin. As a reward, Nubaldin explains a secret trick to get into the Boudoir - go next door to the balcony (X:-6446, Y:2936) and jump off the stones to enter the balcony of the Boudoir.

Upon entering the Boudoir, the party is accosted by an incubus named [[Haarlep]], who has been polymorphed into a perfect copy of Raphael. Haarlep asks why the party is there, but is already aware that they seek their contract. Haarlep will help the party out if they agree to "play a game" with him. Agreeing to play the "game" will have the party taking off their clothes and Haarlep seducing them to give over their mind and body. The party can insist the just the body be taken, which Haarlep will agree and tells them that they will always know when an orgasm is experienced in their form. Otherwise, giving over both mind and body results in a game over.

Refusing to play makes Haarlep hostile. Additionally, succeeding in a Constitution check (DC 25) during the "game" also makes him hostile. Defeating Haarlep makes him drop the location of Raphael's safe, as well as {{RarityItem|Helldusk Gloves}}. The safe contains the magic phrase needed to steal the contract.

* {{LgRarityItem|Gloves of Soul Catching}} if [[Raphael]] is defeated while keeping [[Hope]] alive.

* Yurgir as an ally for [[Gather Your Allies]] if he is convinced to fight against Raphael.

* Mol as an ally for [[Gather Your Allies]] if her contract is stolen and returned to her (and not told that Raphael is dead if you killed him).