In Baldur’s Gate 3, the Find the Missing Shipment is one of the optional quests you may not want to miss to find out what the game offers here, and it will have you encounter a few new faces including the caravan head Rugan. Will you help Rugan and his friend Olly deliver their secret cargo, and make a deal with the Zhentarim, or should you open the chest and face the consequences?
Our Baldur’s Gate 3 guide walks you through every option including tracking down the shipment, deciding what to do with it, and how to make the most of the loot and hidden rewards.
Who is Rugan in Baldur’s Gate 3?
Rugan has a close connection with the Zhentarim, a group known for their lenient morals. As the leader, Rugan has a mission and he’s transporting the mysterious chest. He has a mission to complete, and your decision here could make your journey easy or very difficult. It’s the normal case throughout BG3, all NPCs have specific behavior and actions depending on your choices.
How to Start the Find the Missing Shipment Quest
To begin “Find the Missing Shipment,” head to the Risen Road northwest of the Blighted Village. You’ll encounter a few suspicious hyenas lying around, and a cutscene will start. Go ahead and attack these hyenas quickly because, if left alone, they’ll morph into dangerous gnolls. After killing them all, you’ll find a body labeled “Dead Caravan Agent.” Loot this body to pick up the Shipment Orders to start the quest.
Finding the Missing Shipment
After picking up the Shipment Orders, head toward a cave to the north where gnolls are attacking a pair of trapped men, Rugan and his companion Olly. There are two ways to deal with the gnolls:
- Approach from the main entrance and enter a challenging fight with the level-5 gnolls. Rugan and Olly likely won’t be of much help here, so use the environment and your best spells or attacks.
- Another option is to use the Illithid Wisdom skill to control Filind by choosing this dialogue option: “You are of the same pack – command her to devour the other gnolls.” If you succeed, you can command her to turn against her gnoll allies to make the fight much easier.
Once the gnolls are defeated, talk to Rugan and his friend to get information from them about their mission to deliver a strongbox to Baldur’s Gate. For now, you have a few choices with different outcomes and rewards and it’s up to you what to decide:
1. Let Rugan Deliver the Strongbox
If you decide to let both guards Rugan and Olly complete their delivery, they’ll offer you a chance to meet the Zhentarim, a shadowy group they are part of. Rugan will share the password, “Little serpent, long shadow,” to access the Zhentarim Hideout located at Waukeen’s Rest. You’ll receive a reward from the Zhentarim for protecting the shipment and a unique weapon.
2. Open the Strongbox
You can try to open the strongbox using Thieves’ Tools and with a pass of DC 20. With a successful check, you’ll find an Iron Flask and Potion of Feather Fall. Looting the chest, however, will result in issues with the Zhentarim later. This flask holds a dangerous creature called a Spectator that will attack right away if released. So, you need to think before opening it as it will trigger a fight.
3. Sell the Shipment Yourself
There is another rogue path, you can try convincing Rugan to sell the shipment with you instead. This option can lead to trouble, as the Zhentarim will discover the deception. They’ll demand that you kill Rugan as punishment, but you can choose to resist or negotiate with the Zhentarim leader, Zarys in the hideout.
4. Keep the Flask Secretly
You can also take the Iron Flask out of the chest and leave it otherwise untouched. The Zhentarim will not be happy with this interference, and it might result in hostile behaviors. Keeping the flask yourself could be risky but will come in handy later as a powerful item.
Taking a Peek Inside Chest and Delivering It
Out of curiosity and wanting to see how things will turn if you decide to sneak a peek inside the chest but still want to play delivery person, there will be some drama waiting for you. Once the Zhentarim sees that the seal is broken, the group will turn hostile towards you and will attack right away. If you have made up your mind to do that, prepare yourself first with healthy gear, weapons, and part members for combat at the hideout. And like choice numero uno, this might lock you out of some quests; but to each their own.
Exploring The Zhentarim Hideout
After deciding what to do with the shipment, make your way to Waukeen’s Rest and find the Zhentarim Hideout. Enter through the tavern by moving crates in front of the door, then use the password Rugan provided. Inside, you’ll meet Zarys, who’ll reward you depending on your actions with the chest.
Your choices throughout this quest can lead to different outcomes and rewards:
- Helping Rugan and delivering the strongbox intact: Earns you Gold and the Harold crossbow from Zarys.
- Opening the strongbox and keeping the flask: Zarys might turn hostile, there will be a fight and you’ll miss out on the crossbow.
- Selling the shipment without Zhentarim’s approval: Zarys will be hostile unless you kill Rugan for her, and you’ll be able to keep any loot from the cave and mystery box.
Completing Find the Missing Shipment in Baldur’s Gate 3 can be intense, but the rewards (and potential pitfalls) are worth it if you enjoy RPG choices and tactical battles. Choose your approach wisely!
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