While trying to find a way off the Nautiloid in the opening prologue to Baldur’s Gate III, you’ll come across another victim in need of aid. Interact with them in their pod to start the Rescue the Illithid’s Captive quest. The below guide will walk you thru how to free and (temporarily) recruit the companion Shadowheart aboard the Nautiloid.
Objectives
- Find a way to release the captive
- Talk to the half-elf
Find a way to release the captive
On the Nautiloid as you near the helm, you’ll reach a room with four chairs hooked up to a red device in the middle of the room. Someone will be making noises and asking for help. Approach the pod on the north side of the room and interact with it. This will strike up a conversation with the pod’s occupant where she’ll ask you to help her out. Lae’zel will then chime in that you don’t have time for stragglers and you’ll then be prompted to make a choice. You can try to find a way to open the pod or leave this poor soul to their fate. The choice is yours, but if you want to have an easier time getting a cool flaming sword, then we’d recommend helping a girl out.
If you chose to not help, then you can reach the helm by heading south. Otherwise, interact with the console to the right of the pod. Exhaust all the dialog options then head through the eastern sphincter. Go to the back of the room then up the small set of stairs to find a Dead Thrall. Loot the Eldritch Rune off of her (and make sure to loot the nearby chest).
Before returning to the pod, there are two things you can do in this room:
- Press the lever by the platform near the Dead Thrall to catch a glimpse of your potential fate
- Loot the Gold Key off of the Dead Thrall near the entrance to the room. You can use it to open a locked chest on the southeastern side of the previous room.
Return to the pod in the previous room and interact with the console next to the pod. Choose the “Insert the rune into the socket” option causing two skill checks to become available:
- Take a closer look at the powered-up console
- Arcana
- Will the pod to open
- Illithid/Wisdom
The first skill check is optional. If you pass it, you’ll learn a little bit more about the machine. Place your hand on the console to get the second skill check. This one will use your Illithid ability to try and force the door open. Passing the check (which you most likely will with how low it is) will open the pod freeing the prisoner.
Talk to the half-elf
Speak with her to learn her name is Shadowheart and she will offer to join you. You can either accept or decline and that’s all there is to the Rescue the Illithid’s Captive quest. After completing the prologue, you’ll come across Shadowheart again on the beach regardless if you freed her or not. She will be more welcoming of your company if you freed her, but can still join you if you didn’t.