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Wake Art Cullagh
Wake Up Art Cullagh is a Quest in Act Two of Baldur's Gate 3. It can be started by speaking with Fist J'ehlar at the Last Light Inn.
Objectives[edit | edit source]
Objectives and journal entries may vary pending story decisions and outcomes.
Walkthrough[edit | edit source]
Meeting Art Cullagh[edit | edit source]
Flaming Fists are in the room, as well as Counsellor Florrick, if she was rescued during . Florrick explains that when the cleric Isobel cleansed the Inn, Art randomly appeared. Any attempts to talk to him have failed, but he did have on him his original writ of duty, signed by Eltan, the founder of the Flaming Fists. Cullagh is looked after by Fist J'ehlar, who explains that he's been completely unresponsive, but the party is welcome to try and speak with him.
is in a bed in the Last Light Inn, on the ground floor in a room to the north. A group ofCullagh repeats the same song:
“"Thaniel and me are climb, climb, climbing up a tree.
We, we see what we see and do just what we please, together waiting for the sun forever.
Two of us safe 'til the end."
We see shadows, they get darker, but our hiding place is brighter.
Monsters snuffling and stalking, in the shade where we are walking.
We are fearsome, black and red. We are living, they are dead.
„
The party notices that his mind was gripped by the Shadowfell, but not broken by it. They can also notice that his hands have calluses, like someone who played a stringed instrument. J'ehlar also produces a Worn Letter that was in his pocket. The letter indicates that Cullagh was tasked with investigating the House of Healing, which was suspected of being corrupted. The party can ask J'ehlar if she's heard the song before, or if she knows who Thaniel is, but she has no idea on either front.
Halsin's Aid[edit | edit source]
There is one person who's intimately familiar with the Shadow-Cursed Lands, though - Halsin. If the Druid Grove was protected during , Halsin is at camp and admits to knowing much about the land, as one of the few living people who was around the area before the curse. If the party speaks to Halsin and asks him about Thaniel, he knows the name well and immediately sets off to take a look at the unconscious Fist. He tells the party to meet with him at the Inn. Back at the inn, Halsin says there's no way Cullagh could know the name Thaniel without meeting him and that it's imperative he be woken up. He suggests finding something to trigger his consciousness, like a memory or an item.
The House of Healing[edit | edit source]
Cullagh's writ of duty references the House of Healing, making it the first stop in finding a way to awaken him. If the party enters through the front door, they are stopped by Sister Sinda, who says the party must wait in line until the doctor is available. The party can persuade, intimidate, or use a performance to convince Sinda that they desperately need to see the doctor immediately. The Dark Urge origin has a unique dialogue to be let in by explaining their unique condition, with Sinda letting them in with no checks needed. Sinda can also be bypassed by entering from the door to the east and moving north to the operating room.
Once inside the House of Healing (X:-199, Y:-16), move north to the operating room. Here, Malus Thorm is operating on a distressed "patient" by torturing them. He stops to tell the party they're welcome to learn from him.
- I don’t wish to study, only to lift the curse on this land.
- A student, yes. Do please enlighten me.
- You will stop this sick spectacle at once.
- [DRUID] I am no student, I seek knowledge of the curse. It is a blight on this land.
- [WIZARD] I am a scholar, this is true - just not in the study of torture.
- What wrong has this man done to deserve such torture?
- [BARBARIAN] Just kill them already - all this torture is pointless.
- [ROGUE] In my experience, torture is usually more pain and less proselytising.
- Attack.
If the party attacks Malus outright, he's joined by Sister Hunna, Sister Vanessa, Sister Anya, and Sister Geanne. Otherwise, Malus explains they have nearly cured the "patient." He states that absence is the heart of Shar's teachings, and asks "What is the light of eyes but the cancer that causes one to witness the laceration of being?" With that, he tears out the patient's eyes, completing the "cure." He then asks the party if they are ready to be cured as well.
- [INVESTIGATION] Examine the sisters and their implements. (DC 14)
- [ROGUE] [INVESTIGATION] Cast your gaze over the blades of the sisters. (DC 14 )
- [RELIGION] Recall what you know of Shar’s teachings. (DC 14)
- [CLERIC] [RELIGION] Recall what you know of Shar’s blasphemous teachings. (DC 14) (if not a Cleric of Shar)
- [PERSUASION] The sisters aren’t ready. They’ll make me sick instead of curing me. (DC 16)
- [PALADIN] You are the cause of the only suffering here - I am duty bound to end you.
A successful Investigation check reveals the sisters' blades are bloodied and dull. Only the most measured hand could make a clean incision. Passing the Religion check has the party recall a Sharran maxim: 'Go forth and sow doubt, but do not compel it - for only the willing may know the Lady's embrace.' With the former, the party can suggest the sisters practice on each other. With the latter, the party can suggest the sisters practice on Malus himself. A unique option is made available if the party sneaks behind Malus before the cutscene and moves to the room to the north. Inside is a book Surgery and Physiology: A Sharran's Primer (X:-199, Y:77) that explains Malus has a 'final lesson' of loss.
- [INTIMIDATION] I have read your treatise. Initiate the final lesson, or die by my hand. (DC 18)
- [PERSUASION] ‘Only with sacrifice is mastery gained.’ For the sisters to learn, you must submit. (DC 18)
- [FIGHTER] [PERSUASION] Sparring is vital to progress. Have them practice on each other. (DC 21 )
- [ROGUE] [PERSUASION] Practice - that's how I got good with a blade. They should spar each other. (DC 21 )
- [WIZARD] [PERSUASION] In my years of study, I have found no better teacher than example. Perhaps you could volunteer? (DC 21 )
- [ROGUE] [PERSUASION] Practice - that's how I got good with a blade. They should spar each other. (DC 21 )
- [MONK] [PERSUASION] When the fist trembles, sometimes another is needed to steady it. A good master would volunteer themselves. (DC 21 )
- [BARD] [PERSUASION] I take joy in performing with a master of my craft - I'm sure the sisters are the same. Why don't you volunteer? (DC 21 )
- [PERSUASION] Why not have them hone their skills on each other? (DC 21)
- [PERSUASION] They need a better subject to practise on first. Not a student, but a master. (DC 21)
- [BARBARIAN] I suffer from boredom. The cure is ripping you apart.
Once Malus is dealt with, loot his corpse to find the Battered Lute. This is a special lute with Art Cullagh's initials on it. Return to the inn and play the lute to wake Cullagh. He immediately asks for Thaniel, and says Thaniel said to find Halsin.
If Halsin is dead, the quest ends without resolution and the region remains locked under the effects of the shadow curse. Otherwise, Halsin is ready to track down Thaniel, progressing
. He asks the party to meet him by the lakeside to commence that quest.Achievements[edit | edit source]
Notes[edit | edit source]
- If Art Cullagh dies due to Isobel being killed or kidnapped during Resolve the Abduction, it's possible to speak to him with Speak with Dead to find out more about Thaniel. This can be used to proceed with Lift the Shadow Curse.
- If the Distressed Patient is not killed in the conversation with Malus and survives the ensuing battle, he can be freed from his restraints. Predictably, he groans in pain and then flees in terror.
- As a Cleric of Shar, Shadowheart has unique dialogue if she speaks with Malus.