The Festering Cove

The Ebonlake beach in The Festering Cove.

The Festering Cove is a Location within the Underdark in Act One of Baldur's Gate 3.

“

We will spread word of Mahkloompah. Your glory will sing from ten thousand throats!

„

— Pooldripp, hailing the party as their new god

Overview and access

Map of the Festering Cove

The Festering Cove is a separate large cavern in the Underdark located beneath the general level of the region. It features several waterfalls and rocky cliffs descending to the subterranean water stream, and is scattered with giant mushrooms and adorned with fishing nets and various shells and conches.

The entrance to The Festering Cove is hidden at X: 70 Y: -240 northeast of the Arcane Tower and south-east of the Decrepit Village. It requires the party to traverse a rift (e.g., by using two mushroom platforms) and then descend via a cragged rock. On the far end of the rift under a Torchstalk lies a skeleton with the  Helmet of Autonomy on it.

The Kuo-toa

Main article: BOOOAL

The kuo-toa worshipping BOOOAL

The Festering Cove is home to a tribe of Kuo-toa who worship their alleged "God of Murder"  BOOOAL. Part of the tribe led by  Pooldripp the Zealous are chanting near the makeshift altar, and several others are stationed up on the mushroom caps and cliffs around. Unless Pooldrip and those close to him are approached, none of them pay attention to the party, and it is possible to explore at least part of the cove by stealth.

When the party approach the altar, at approximately X: -421 Y: 284, where one of the kuo-toa is sacrificed, the dialogue with Pooldripp starts automatically. At the start of the conversation the interacting party member rolls a passive  DC 10 Nature Check to recognize the creatures and the peculiarities of this race. The layout of the conversation depends heavily on whether the player character recognizes the true nature of the 'deity' they are fervently worshipping.

Exploring the cave

The Festering Cove features several gilded chests in plain sight. Most are not locked and contain gold, Valuables, and miscellaneous sea-themed items like  Clamshells or  Starfishes.

There is one concealed chest, however, hidden on a rocky cliff. To approach it, the party must traverse (e.g., jump) several mushroom caps starting from X: -401 Y: 311, on which the Torchstalks grow. The chest itself is trapped and locked (requires two subsequent  DC 10 Sleight of Hand Checks to disarm and to lockpick), and contains the  Slippery Chain Shirt. Under a Torchstalk nearby a  Potion of Greater Healing lies in plain sight, but with high probability of being destroyed if the mushrooms explode.

On the beach at X: -395 Y: 240 a highlighted rock protrudes from the water. It seems to be used as a fane to BOOOAL by the Kuo-toa, as its foot is scattered with gold coins, bottles and other offerings. Also here lies  The Ecstasy of Murder - a scroll briefly describing  Bhaal's doctrine. Behind this rock a wooden chest contains some alchemical ingredients.

If the party explore the far end of the beach, at X: -394 Y: 264 a  DC 5 Perception Check allows them to notice a "Message in a bottle". Inside the bottle is a  Curled Paper - a letter from  Doni, one of tiefling children from the Emerald Grove, to his father (probably deceased). A heavy chest nearby at X: -396 Y: 233 contains gold and random valuables.

Related quests

• ⁠Gather Your Allies

Characters

•  BOOOAL
•  Pooldripp the Zealous

Creatures

•  Kuo-toa
•  Kuo-toa Hunter

Loot

• Sickle of BOOOAL
• Slippery Chain Shirt

Hidden treasure

• Wooden Barrel with gold X: -425 Y: 306
• Buried Wooden Chest atX: -408 Y: 310
• Buried Wooden Chest atX: -413 Y: 241

Related literature

• Curled Paper
• The Ecstasy of Murder