Baldurs Gate 3: Reach the Moonrise Towers in BG3 Baldurs Gate 3 guide, walkthrough
Don't know how to safely cross the Shadow Cursed Lands in BG3? Our tips will help you get the Moonlantern - Isobel, Jaheira, Last Light Inn.
Last update: 04 September 2023
This page of our guide to BG3 features a detailed walkthrough on how to reach Moonrise Towers. We explain where to find the Moon Lantern to safely pass through the Shadow Cursed Lands. We describe how to save Isobel at the Last Light Inn and how to talk to Jaheira.
Shadow Cursed Lands - Underdark entrance
To reach Act 2 from the Underdark, head to Grymforge. Enter the elevator the two drinking Duergar were once standing by. After the elevator ride, you'll end up in a ruined temple.
In the center of the temple there's a chest - open it, you could use its contents later on. Go upstairs and continue forward until you meet a Weary Traveller. Talk to him - having Gale in your party unlocks additional dialogue options.
After some brief dialogue, you can take him directly to camp. If you so desire, you can ask him to wait for you there instead. Regardless of your choice, you won't miss this conversation. After talking to the stranger, Gale will want to talk to you too - do so and return to the overworld. Search the nearby corpse and leave the temple.
You'll find yourself in the cursed lands. You need a constant light source to traverse it safely. You can use regular torches or the Light cantrip. The Blood of Lathander mace will also come in handy, if you've managed to acquire it in Act 1.
Without a light source, the curse will gradually hurt your party until you die.
Keep going straight ahead until you reach a bridge. You can talk to Shadowheart here, if she's in your party.
Go across the bridge to soon trigger a cutscene, and then a battle. If Gale's in your party, don't try to run before the battle - he won't approve.
You'll face six shadows - they're resistant to most damage aside from Radiant. They can also turn invisible in the dark - spells such as Dancing Lights and Daylight will expose them. If you have a Cleric in your party, the Spirit Guardians spell should make this fight trivial.
After the battle, follow the Harpers to a safe haven. You can spot a dead raven along the way - clicking it triggers a fight.
If you'd like to end the battle quickly, trigger it after casting Spirit Guardians.
Keep going forward until you reach a stone bridge. You'll meet Jaheira - a druid, here to slay the evil at Moonrise Towers.
She starts off hostile and distrustful, though you can change her mind about you.
If you've saved Mol before by saving her friend and completing her quest, she'll vouch for you.
Either way, you can either explain everything to her or avoid answering. Regardless of your choice, you'll have full access to the Inn. There are some familiar faces here, such as Alfira, Mol and Dammon. Speak with the Harper Quartermaster by the bridge and Dammon - both are selling some useful gear.
Once you're done, enter the building, talk to Jaheira, then to Isobel.
Last Light Inn
After a cutscene you'll be thrown into a battle. There are many enemies, who tend to focus down Isobel. Keep her alive at all costs.
If Isobel falls before you defeat all the enemies, the entire Inn will turn hostile and everyone inside will die. It won't be easy, but once you're done, talk to Jaheira to continue the quest.
After the battle, you can head towards the Moonrise Towers. Upon leaving the area, a Harper will ask you to join an ambush against a group of cultists, who can somehow move through the cursed lands unscathed. Agree, follow him to the ambush site and prepare for another battle.
How to get a Moon Lantern?
Before you can reach the cultists' lair, you must acquire the tool they use to move through the fog. If you've saved Isobel, the Harpers will lead you to the ambush site. If the Inn fell, however, you'll need to find it on your own - head to the eastern part of the map, to a ruined roadside house - the cutscene should trigger automatically.
The battle against the convoy is difficult. The Drider often casts Sanctuary on himself, preventing you from attacking him, while the Orc can cast Fireball - prioritize him.
After the battle, search the Drider's corpse for the Moon Lantern, triggering a cutscene. You can release the fairy inside or keep her there - regardless, you'll gain protection from the curse, letting you reach Moonrise Towers.
Moonrise Towers
After making your way through the curse, you can now reach the cult's hideout. You can mostly move here as you please - visit two of the traders here (three, if you haven't killed the halfling at the goblin camp). They have some interesting items in stock.
Go to the main hall to meet Ketheric Thorm. He'll pass judgment on a group of goblins for their failure. Their fate is up to you - killing them will divert suspicion from yourself.
After the cutscene, go upstairs and talk to Z'rell - don't try to go for a Wisdom check, it will trigger a fight you can't win right now. Agree to find Balthazar at the Thorm mauseolum, go to his room and take the lantern. You can also read his notes and take one of the hearts on the table. Approach the bookcase and click the books in the top right corner. This activates a pedestal, on which you must place the heart.
You'll unlock a secret room. If Gale's in your party, clicking the circle on the desk will trigger some special dialogue. Convincing Gale to use the dark magic here could potentially enrage Mystra later on, but will net you a corrupted lantern that could come in handy later on.