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Wyrm's Rock Fortress
| Lower City | ||||
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| Wyrm's Rock Fortress | ||||
| ↓ | ||||
| Wyrm's Crossing | ||||
Overview[edit | edit source]
Wyrm's Isle foot[edit | edit source]
The Wyrm's Rock Fortress is standing on a rocky isle in the middle of the river Chionthar, taking up the whole space save for minor cliffs around. Wyrm's Rock Fortress is connected to the south to Wyrm's Crossing, and to the north to the Lower City by two drawbridges. As the legend goes, the isle once was home to a bronze dragon, who swore to defend the city from greatest dangers.
The southern side of the cliffs can be reached using spells like 
or 
and the like means, and explored. To the west, a series of jumps and climbing the Knotted Roots lead either down to a small bight with a Dirt Mound and a Mousehole that might be used to open the path to The Wyrmway, or up the wall to a balcony behind the Audience Hall, allowing to bypass the First Floor of the Fortress. To the east, the path leads to a wall breach that can be used to gain access to the Wyrm's Rock Prison via its storage room. A rope ladder hanging from the cliff leads to another bight with a trapped Wooden Chest standing openly. Also, a small amount of alchemical ingredients can be gathered around the cliffs.
Making the way inside[edit | edit source]
On approaching the Wyrm's Rock Fortress for the first time, the party finds out that the drawbridge leading inside is lifted due to extreme safety measures: the ceremony of ordaining Enver Gortash as the first Archduke of Baldur's Gate is about to start. The passage is guarded by several Flaming Fist, accompanied by three Steel Watchers: Fist Gai, Fist Shah and Blaze Elin. The latter is actually a commandant of the whole fortress, but she prefers to stand watch at the bridge in person, instead of tending to the stronghold's needs.
However, there are several ways to get past the guards:
Admission Pass to the coronation, wrested from Arfur Gregorio
Lower City Pass granted by Investigator Valeria
Urgent Report for Duke Ravengard (found at the Sword Coast Couriers in Rivington)- Bribing Blaze Elin (requires
DC 25 Persuasion check AND 20 000 
gold pieces) - Several other options, based on the class of the player character (requires DC 30 Persuasion, or Deception check)
- Letting Wyll to speak for the party as an Origin or as a party member(requires DC 30 Persuasion check, but works only if he wasn't turned into a devil)
Alternatively, the party can walk around the patrol, by, for example, jumping down from the Wyrm's Crossing side onto the rocky footing of the fortress at X: 27 Y: 158.
Entering Wyrm's Rock Fortress for the first time earns following Inspirational Events, depending on the way that the party chose:
- Convincing the Flaming Fist patrol into letting the party in
(
background) - if using Urgent Report for Duke Ravengard only- (
background) - for using any dialogue option to get in past the patrol
- Getting in without a pass
- ( background) - this one includes the possibility of entering the fortress proper through the prison after being arrested
- (
background)
Behind the drawbridge starts a tunnel that goes throughout the fortress to the Lower City, guarded by three more Steel Watchers and another Flaming Fist patrol ( Fist Larys and Fist Serrik) in the far end. The drawbridge leading to the Lower City is guarded by yet another Steel Watcher and Blaze Savora.
Layout of the fortress[edit | edit source]
Ground floor[edit | edit source]
The ground floor of the fortress consists of a vast tunnel joining two drawbridges, and two parts of the building itself, located to the both sides of the tunnel. The tunnel is guarded by three Steel Watchers standing near each door.
Regardless of the way the party gained access into the fortress proper, as soon as they approach the nearest Steel Watcher, an automated dialogue with it starts. The automaton informs the player character that their trespass will not be punished. After that, Gortash himself connects to the Watcher and grants a personal invitation to his ordaining.
To the right there is the door to the First floor of the fortress, with Mess Hall and the stairs to the Audience Hall.
To the left there are two doors, where the Flaming Fists are quartered. The southern door leads into kind of a reception room. Here the player character may find the Waypoint (on the northern wall), and the stairs leading to the Wyrm's Rock Prison. The room is guarded by Fist Callaway, Fist Loudstone and Fist Broko, as well as Manip Cragbender and a Steel Watcher.
The Quartermaster Arkleia Oloril is sitting behind the counter. She can be convinced to show her stock of goods. Successfully convincing her earns the for any character with background.
Also, here the party can encounter two groups of citizens waiting to be judged for transgressions.
The northern door opens into Flaming Fist barracks. The plaque near the latter door tells it to be for authorized personnel only, but nevertheless the door is not red-outlined. Inside Manip Bakshi, Fist Debin and Fist Oriona are sleeping, while Fist Reynash, who is meant to be on duty, tries to lockpick Bakshi's chest with personal belongings.The party can choose to deal with Reynash or to wake other guards and resolve the situation with them.
Depending on party's choices, they might earn the following Inspirational Events:
- ( background) - if intimidating / blackmailing the thief
- (
background) - for turning in the thief
Basement[edit | edit source]
The basement of the fortress consists solely of the Wyrm's Rock Prison, which can be accessed from the reception room through the spiral stairs in the far corner of the reception room, or from the outside via the wall breach at X: 42 Y: 190 (requires a 
check to detect). There the party may fulfill the 
, talk to 
Marvin the Unusual Skull[1] and also gain access to The Wyrmway, as a part of Wyll's .
Also, should the party commit any transgression within Rivington, Wyrm's Crossing or Wyrm's Rock Fortress itself, they find themselves locked up in one of the cells of the said prison.
First floor[edit | edit source]
The first floor consists of the vast Mess Hall and the kitchen. Upon first visiting the fortress, the party can encounter several patriars' bodyguards and attendants in the mess hall waiting for their masters to descend. Discussing the Steel Watch with Lord Amber's Bodyguard, Lady Durinbold's Attendant and Lord Shattershield's Attendant may grant several approval/disapproval points from various companions.
In the centre there is a door that leads to the Audience Hall on the second floor. It is guarded by Fist Dresten and a Steel Watcher.
Also, if Wyll survived and did not leave the party until the first time visiting the Wyrm's Rock Fortress, Mizora stands nearby the door to the Audience Hall. Upon approaching her, the dialogue starts automatically. She prompts the party to attend the ceremony, mocking them about Duke Ravengard's tadpoled condition, and asks to talk to her again after returning from upstairs.
Second floor[edit | edit source]
The second floor consists of the audience hall and several adjacent balconies. Upon entering the Audience Hall for the first time, the party arrive just in time to witness the ceremony of ordaining Enver Gortash as an Archduke of Baldur's Gate. Upon noticing the party, Gortash interrupts the procedure to have a chat with them. The dialogue itself differs depending on whether the player character is the Dark Urge, Karlach or Wyll Origins, or in case if any of the two latters is a member of the party.
Within the dialogue, the party is offered an opportunity to strike an alliance with Gortash. The player character might agree to the proposition, decline it or choose a neutral course of action. The party members might have their own opinion on the subject. Also, at this point, the Emperor chimes in, also prompting the player character to agree. Regardless of their choice, Gortash tries to aim their efforts onto locating and killing Orin by telling them about the shapeshifter spy in their camp.
In case of playing as the Dark Urge, the dialogue with Gortash sheds a fair amount of light on their pre-plot story and their personal participation in the whole conspire of the Dead Three.
After discussing the possible alliance, Gortash offers the player character to witness the ceremony. To that, they may answer using a variety of lines and gain some approval/disapproval from various companions depending on their choice. However, choosing rude options, or trying to decline and leave, leads Gortash to cause pain to the player character for a few moments through illithid forces and thus make them stay.
Lastly, the player character may react to Gortash's speech agressively and wage a fight, but they are confronted not only by the Steel Watchers, but also with all Flaming Fist and all patriars' companions, who run up the stairs to defend their masters [Needs Verification].
After the cutscene with the ordaining ceremony ends, the party have a brief chance to speak directly to Ulder Ravengard. However, the Grand Duke is under a tight grip of his tadpole, and can do nothing except sing praises to Gortash and the order that the new-sprung Archduke is about to install in the city. Even speaking to him about Florrick cannot make the Duke shake the delusion off - but doing so starts a time-sensitive side quest .
This is the first chance to speak to Ravengard directly, and the last one if the party does not try (or succeed) to save him from the Iron Throne later. If the party descend from the Audience Hall without speaking to the Duke, they will not find him there again even if they return immediately.
The following Inspirational Events can be earned, depending on the choices made through the dialogue:
- (
background) - witnessing the ceremony - (
background) - witnessing the ceremony - (
background) - agreeing to make an alliance with Gortash - Additionally, striking the alliance with Gortash lay the groundwork for gaining the inspirational event for background, in case the player character chooses to betray the agreement later in their walkthrough (in case it wasn't acquired earlier)
Top floor[edit | edit source]
The top floor consists of Gortash's personal quarters, a vast roof area surrounding it (with several side towers), and a bell tower (also including an inner room and a climable area onto the roof).
After the ceremony if his ordaining, Gortash moves here and remains patiently until the party choose to confront him or to fulfill the agreement, bringing him Ketheric's and Orin's Netherstones.
The top floor can be accessed via multiple ways:
- from inside - through the door in north-west corner of the Audience Hall
- from outside - using scaffolds and ladders attached to the walls, as well as various means of spatial and/or enhanced movement: ,
or 
spells, 
Potion of Glorious Vaulting and the like.
In the centre of the rooftop there is a two-storied building, where the first level is Gortash's personal chambers, while the second one actually is a bell tower (with a square gallery inside around the bell mechanism). Along the crenellations several ballistas are stationed, and at the bell tower roof stands a trebuchet. Both eastern and western sides of the rooftop offer a magnificent vista onto the river Chionthar and on the riverside part of the Lower City afar.
There also are multiple containers to be looted around the rooftop and also atop the bell tower for various kinds of Uncommon, Rare and Very Rare arrows and potions:
- X: 23 Y: 184 - Heavy Chest
- X: 22 Y: 184 - trapped Wooden Chest (accessible only via means of spatial movement)
- X: 29 Y: 218 - Metal Trunk and Metal Crate near the blue tent
- X: -26 Y: 200 - Wooden Crate
- X: -12 Y: 203 - Wooden Chest
- X: -1 Y: 208 - Heavy Chest (most upper ground, near the trebuchet)
- X: 21 Y: 236 - the Thief's Stash (disguised as a pile of stone blocks; its location can be wrested out of Reynash or requires DC Perception check to reveal otherwise)
The rooftop is guarded by several Steel Watchers walking back and forth, as well as it is outfitted with several Gortash's defensive inventions and Stunner Vents surrounding the Archduke's chambers. If climbing onto the rooftop of Gortash's chambers, the party finds three dead Bhaalists. One of them can be looted for Assassin's Instructions, a note that states that these cultists were sent by Orin to haunt and murder Gortash. Seemingly, they were no match for a Steel Watcher stationed there.
Gortash's private chambers[edit | edit source]
There is a number of ways to enter the building: the party can use the main double doors in the southern wall, or lockpick a side door in the western wall, or climb up at the bell tower and use the doors there, or descend via a ladder from the bell tower roof.
Gortash chambers consist of his personal apartments and an antechamber. The antechamber features six busts of legendary leaders of Baldur's Gate. One of these busts depicts "The Cockeyed Stranger", as Bane first appeared before Enver Gortash [2]. At the eastern wall there is a movable ladder that initially is raised to the upper gallery, but can be lowered via a lever up there.
Enver Gortash is waiting for the party in the far end of his apartment, guarded by Black Gauntlet Numia, Black Gauntlet Ulova, Iron Consul Jaxbock, Iron Consul Lo and yet another Steel Watcher. The room inside is profusively equipped with Gortash's devices.
The course of the dialogue with Gortash depends on whether the player character has previously stroke an alliance with him, whether they fulfilled the terms of agreement, and also on whether Karlach is present among the party. Confronting and killing Gortash without Karlach in the party brings a fair amount of disapproval 
-20 from her.
Gortash's apartment has several chests (the locked one is opened with 
Gortash's Key, looted or pickpocketed from him). Inside the 
Helldusk Boots and the 
Servitor of the Black Hand Gloves can be found. Also, behind the picture at X: -34 Y: 202 a wall safe is hidden ( DC 15 Perception check to detect). It is opened with the same key and contains 
High Security Vault n°5 Key and unique 
Elixir of Health. Two more chests with some minor amount of gold and valuables can be found at the upper gallery.
Also, a fair amount of books can be found on the conference table in the middle of the room, as well as at Gortash's desk and on a display box near it. From the safe, a copy of 
Shield Steward Interrogation Log can be taken, providing the player character with some facts on how Gortash has figured out the lurking presence of The Emperor behind the Knights of the Shield leadership.
On the table in the antechamber lies a receipt for a full-height portrait of Bane. The portrait itself can also be found upstairs, with a modest altar beneath. The God of Tyranny is depicted here exactly the same as he is portrayed on a mural in the final after-Epilogue cutscene with Withers.
Waypoints[edit | edit source]
This location contains the following 
:
- Wyrm's Rock[3]
Wyrm's Rock traps[edit | edit source]
Gortash has outfitted Wyrm's Rock Fortress with a variety of traps. These traps only become active during combat.
- Deranged Force Curtain
- Grenade Impeller
- Incineration Caster
- Micromodron Force Curtain
- Stunner Vents - in the pavement around the Top Floor
Related locations[edit | edit source]
Related quests[edit | edit source]
Characters[edit | edit source]
Notable[edit | edit source]
Members of the Flaming Fist[edit | edit source]
Members of the Cult of Bane[edit | edit source]
Banites appear at the Audience hall once the party have witnessed the ceremony of Enver Gortash's ordaining as an Archduke and taken a long rest afterwards. They slaughter all the patriars, their assistants, and all members of the Flaming Fist who attended the event and remain as the guard at the Audience hall and in Gortash's private chambers.
- Black Gauntlet Aischa
- Black Gauntlet Greyward
- Black Gauntlet Ignur
- Black Gauntlet Mohlen
- Black Gauntlet Numia
- Black Gauntlet Stijin - replacement character
- Black Gauntlet Ulova
- Iron Consul Garmin - replacement character
- Iron Consul Jaxbock
- Iron Consul Lo
- Iron Consul Mian
- Iron Consul Nuff
- Iron Consul Stalwart - replacement character
Coronation attendees[edit | edit source]
Patriars in the Audience Hall[edit | edit source]
- Ailis Belt
- Alia Durinbold
- Beatrice Provoss
- Callem Bormul
- Dillard Portyr
- Eshvelt Guthmere
- Freida Oberon
- Haeril Birch
- Madeline Whitburn
- Milon Tillerturn
- Myer Ravenshade
- Peil Hullhollyn
- Petric Amber
- Randolf Vammas
- Raylen Jannath
- Rugger Shattershield
- Ruth Linnacker
- Sarken Eomane
- Silifrey Sashenstar
- Winstra Hullhollyn
In the mess hall (first floor)[edit | edit source]
In the reception room[edit | edit source]
Other characters[edit | edit source]
Loot[edit | edit source]
Notable items obtained in this location, whether looted, purchased, or obtained as a quest reward:
Flame Enamelled Armour - in a chest at X: -28 Y: 184
Helldusk Boots - in a locked gilded chest at X: -32 Y: 219 on the top floor of the fortress
Servitor of the Black Hand Gloves - in an opulent chest X: -32 Y: 198 on the top floor of the fortress
Scroll of Cone of Cold - in a locked, trapped, wooden chest X: 59 Y: 216 on the beach just east of the fortress
Scroll of Wall of Ice - in an opulent chest X: -32 Y: 198 on the top floor of the fortress
Elixir of Health - in Gortash's wall safe
Literature[edit | edit source]
Wyrm's Rock Fortress features a huge amount of various books, notes and other documents, some of which cannot be found elsewhere. For convenience, the items here have been sorted out by the location parts where they are to be found.
Reception room[edit | edit source]
Barracks[edit | edit source]
Audience Hall[edit | edit source]
Gortash's Apartments[edit | edit source]
Accelerated Grand Design
Assassin's Instructions
Baldur's Gate Temple Of Bhaal- Excavation of the Enclave of Nhalloth
Fables of Faerûn IV: The Magnanimous Miner
Journal of Enver Gortash- Memoir Notes with Recent Addenda
- Patriars, A Homegrown Aristocracy
Political Influence Plan
Populism and Propaganda- Schematic Compendium
Secret Societies of the Sword Coast: Exposed
Shield Steward Interrogation Log- Studies of the Elder Brains
- The Astral Prism Heist
- The Dukes of Baldur's Gate
The Ultimate State
Valarken's Failed Coup
Wyrm's Rock Security Audit
Other[edit | edit source]
Notes and references[edit | edit source]
- ↑ Only if the party have been arrested, not infiltrated the prison by any other means
- ↑ According to the narrator line upon reading the plaque under the bust
- ↑ This Waypoint is hidden if the Steel Watch is destroyed and Gortash is alive. However, the fortress can still be accessed from the the Lower City via the drawbridge just east of the Basilisk Gate waypoint at X: 134 Y: -38 or from Wyrm's Crossing.
External links[edit | edit source]
Wyrm's Rock on the Forgotten Realms Wiki