The first Act in Baldur’s Gate 3 has an overwhelming number of quests for players to tackle. It’s easy to start many, but some have hard-to-find objectives.
One noteworthy quest like this is “Find the Missing Shipment” which starts in a cave close to a destroyed caravan (location by X: 35, Y: 600). Here’s where players come across the caravan’s survivors fending off a wave of gnolls.
From here there are several ways to go about the quest. Some of these bring a swift end while others can carry a decent reward.
What to do with the missing shipment
There are two ways the party can enter the encounter. Entering from the gnolls’ side makes it a bit more of a pain, as the survivors inside refuse to lend aid. This means you’re left to fend for the gnolls yourself unless you pass a Wisdom check to make them kill the survivors. You can also try turning the gnoll leader against its underlings, through the parasite that managed to find its way into the gnoll’s head.
Alternatively, entering from the cave’s trap-filled side entrance also lets you fight alongside the survivors. The fight becomes easier even if it makes the more gruesome options less tempting.
Once the battle ends, have a few more options. Assuming the survivor named Rugan is still alive, he can point players toward a Zhentarim hideout hidden inside Wakueen’s Rest. It’s tucked away in a little corner past a flaming path and in a stable whose entrance is blocked by crates (X: -114, Y: 615). The hideout proper is hidden in this stable’s basement, behind a fake closet.
The easiest way to have the Zhentarim stand down against the party is by saying, “little serpent, long shadow” to the agent guarding the hideout’s entrance. If Rugan doesn’t survive the fight, you can still use Speak with Dead to have him reveal this code phrase.
If Rugan lives and the shipment is intact, the sect’s leader Zarys will reward players with a crossbow named Harold that potentially inflicts foes with Bane. Even if Rugan is dead, players can get this unique weapon if they deliver the shipment themselves.
Otherwise, players can convince Rugan to run off with the shipment or keep it themselves. Doing either makes everyone in the Zhentarim hideout hostile towards the party. Of those two possibilities, giving it to Rugan is better for gaining higher payment down the road while keeping it can lead to more immediate payouts for the early game.
Whatever you do, don’t open the Iron Flask, because inside is a Spectator who attacks on sight. It’s a tough fight for the early level and even if you win, the most you get is some XP. The best thing to do with the Iron Flask is to sell it ASAP. Otherwise, it’ll gather dust while remaining a potential hazard.
Of any option presented, delivering it to the Zhentarim is the best course of action for many. Harold is a fantastic early-game heavy crossbow for party members who can wield it. It might only add +1 to damage and attack rolls, but the bane debuff can turn enemy hits into misses. It also opens up access to the Zhentarim trader’s best wares, which includes some early-game powerhouse items like the Titanstring Bow.
