Find the Missing Shipment |
|
|---|---|
| Type | Quest |
| Act | 1 |
| Location | The Risen Road |
| Reward | 75 exp |
Find the Missing Shipment is a Quest in Baldur's Gate 3. Find the Missing Shipment can be acquired during Act 1. Completing Find the Missing Shipment will progress the story forward.
Find the Missing Shipment Objectives
- Help the trapped survivors
Find the Missing Shipment Walkthrough
Once you've crossed the bridge, continue your journey until you encounter a sight on the right side – a set of Mangled Corpses located at (X:-1, Y:516). Approach the corpses and engage with the surviving Hyena. A cutscene will unfold, depicting the Hyena in evident distress. Here, you'll have the opportunity to choose from a variety of dialogue options:
- Try to comfort the Hyena.
- Step back to watch what happens.
- [Melee Attack] Strike while the beast is vulnerable.
- Leave.
If you opt to provide comfort to the Hyena, a Baby Gnoll will come out from its insides, leading to a battle against some Gnolls. After you manage to defeat all these enemies, you can search the area where the battle took place and gather items from the bodies of the Gnolls. During this search, you will also come across a letter lying on the ground with the title "To the Good Godly Folk of Faerun." There's another letter to be found on a dead body at the top of the nearby mountain, labeled "An Open letter on oppression and Peacocks." Yet another letter can be discovered just to the right of the first one, titled "As per my last letter." Near this last letter, an important body holds a Quest Item named "Shipment Orders," which activates the quest "Find the Missing Shipment" and updates your quest journal.
Proceed in the direction of the Northwest until you discover a cave (X:40 Y:626) where Gnolls are attacking survivors from an earlier attack. In this location, you'll encounter various adversaries like Gnoll Hunter, Gnoll Flind, Gnoll Fang of Yeenoghu, Gnoll Flesh gnawer, and Hyenas. Once you successfully defeat these enemies, your journal will be updated with advancements in the "Find the Missing Shipment" quest. Next, engage in a conversation with one of the survivors named Rugan. Rugan will ask whether any others from his crew have managed to survive, and you can respond with:
- No. It's a grim sight.
- All I saw was blood and guts.
Choose the first option, and Rugan will explain that their entire expedition through the Risen Roads has been grim. He mentions that this area has become much more dangerous than before and expresses that you are one of the few friendly faces they've encountered since Elturgard. Respond with the following:
- Elturgard is quite a distance from here. Where are you headed?
- I'll remain friendly, provided you hand over all your goods.
Opt for the first choice, and Rugan will inform you that they're on their way to Baldur's Gate to deliver cargo, but they need to make a stop en route. Reply with:
- Where's that?
- Maybe I should accompany you to ensure a safe journey.
- What exactly are you transporting?
Choose the third option, and Rugan will explain that they are transporting trinkets for someone in Baldur's Gate in exchange for Tarenths. The narrator provides a brief explanation of Tarenths as currency used by the Zhentarim. With this knowledge, respond with:
- You're Zhentarim. Your people deal in more than just 'baubles.'
- Many people lost their lives for those baubles.
- [Intimidation] Whatever your cargo is, I'll consider it as payment.
- I'll leave.
Opt for the first option, and Rugan will be impressed that you recognize their affiliation. He issues a mild warning not to interfere with Zhent business and suggests that you walk away. Respond with:
- [Intimidation] No, this is where I stop asking and start cutting.
- [Persuasion] This is your employer's issue, but we can benefit. Let's sell the cargo ourselves.
- I'll leave.
If your charisma is strong enough, you can effectively pick the second choice. Rugan will give you the cargo, but he'll warn that it can't be opened. Warning: doing so will prevent you to get the Harold crossbow. He also mentions that he knows someone in Baldur's Gate who can take the cargo from you. He cautions against trying to deceive him because he has connections all over. Rugan invites you to his hideout and tells his associates to expect your arrival. Your quest journal will then show progress in the "Find the Shipment" quest. Now, you have the opportunity to open the chest using Thieves' Tools. If your dexterity is high enough, the chest will open. Inside, you'll find a Potion of Feather Fall and an Iron Flask. Opening the chest will mark the completion of the "Find the Missing Shipment" quest. You can also continue to explore the cave, which holds more treasures and chests to discover.
How to unlock Find the Missing Shipment
- Acquired when approaching the gnoll horde at The Risen Road
Find the Missing Shipment Rewards
- If Rugan and Olly died, pick up the chest and leave it unopened. Then when you reach the Zhentarim Hideout you'll have the option ot five it to Zarys to receive gold and the rare crossbow "Harold" for your efforts and honesty.
- If you pick the lock receive gold and an Iron Flask.
Find the Missing Shipment Notes & Tips
- At the Rise Road, you found 2 people trapped inside a cave, surrounded by a horde of gnolls. (Note: you can reach them from another side of the cave, just neet to dodge the boulder and move the barrels.)
In order to defeat the gnolls. Place your characters on the nearby high grounds, you can also use the tadpole's psionic power to turn the gnoll warlord against the pack. (And force her to devour herself after the fight)- A Mind Flayer Parasite Specimen can be found on Flind, the Gnoll Warlord.
- If you enter the cave from the other side, you can let caravanners let and fight the gnolls yourself.
- The men you saved invited you to their hideout.
- If you lockpick (DC 20) the caravan strongbox, inside would be some gold and the artifact the Iron Flask. Removing the stopper summons a Spectator. DOING THIS WILL LOCK YOU OUT OF FRIENDLY INTERACTIONS WITH THE ZHENTARIM AND POSSIBLY ITS CLIENT (Described as a famous and powerful wizard in Baldur's Gate)
- The hideout is at Waukeen's Rest, in a wine cellar. To get in there, you need to persuade Salazon, or use the password given by caravaneers.
- Enter the hideout, and use the wardrobe to find Zarys.
- If you are instructed to take the shipment to Balder's Gate in Act 3, you may turn it in to Slick Inatra in the Guildhall.
AnonymousI lockpicked the flask as I forgot they wanted the chest unopened. Any recovery from this. Can I use the spell Arcane Lock and they won't notice. I can't think of anything else
- Anonymous
We foud the hideout first and got the quest. Went to the destination, and cleaned up the Gnolls. After talking to them I stole the flask with invisible astarion.
When arrived back at the hideout, Zarys had Rugan tied to a chair for losing the cargo.
I told Zarys I had the flash and knew a passage from a Zhentarim book that convinced her there was more money in having us complete the delivery. She said that's fine but you need to kill Rugan. We said no and killed everyone else.
- Anonymous
idk why but my quest seemed to bug, i saved the 2 guys from the gnolls then told them there was just blood and guts outside. they just said they would catch their breath before goin to the hideout. i went back to hideout and zarys said she liked the story that they were safe but wanted to see them alive. i went back and the guys didn't care when i picked up the chest so i tried to give that to zarys but there was no option. i went back and killed the guys then i could tell zarys that the guys were dead and could give her the chest. this might not be possible with a paladin since that might break the oath. idk if knocking out would've worked. im not too worried about killing banites imo.
- Anonymous
I preferred a "good guy" play, so I persuaded him to give me the chest. I knocked them both out for the xp. Thought they show up at the hideout later. Long rest... they are walking around the cave still. Go to the hideout, she lets me in, but wont let Brem open his wares until the 2 show up. They never do. I long rested again... still at the cave. I walked to Zarys, toss the chest directly in front of her (lol), no reaction. Solution= seems you got to kill the 2 if you get the chest. If you want to spare the 2, dont get the chest.
- Anonymous
I see many comments about being able to steal the cargo back after giving it to Zarys. Not sure if this has been patched out but it is not possible. Immediately after handing her the cargo it is not in her inventory or that of her storage rooms. Checked her inventory upon pickpocketing, upon knocking her out, and upon killing her.
- Anonymous
If you want Harold(Crossbow) and the Chest make sure you bring the Chest, dont let Rugan bring it or you cant pickpocket the chest from Zarys.If Rugan dont dies in the fight against the Gnolls you need to handle it yourself ,if you know what i mean ; )
- Anonymous
I succeeded in history check and figured out who their client was, then persuaded I'll be delivering the package (unique dialogue option for bards). However, they both turn hostile if I try to pick up the chest.
If I try talking to Rugan, he'll just repeat "Remember, getting that chest to Baldur's Gate is your job."
- Anonymous
So, after persuading the two smugglers and returning to the hideout with the unopened chest, I did as someone suggested below in order to actually wind up with all of the rewards; I used an invisibility potion to approach, gave Zarys the unopened chest, got the rewards and she called me a friend. As soon as soon as that was done our presence triggered hostility. I was hoping since she promised me the good stock that if I knocked out the merchant I could loot everything he had, including anything new, but he had nothing. This quest is deeply confusing, but the quest log still says it completed the way I wanted and I got Harold so I guess killing them afterward is just extra XP.
- Anonymous
Don't summon the ogres for the gnoll fight if you want the Zhent smugglers to live. The Zhents won't recognize them as allies and will turn hostile once they come within aggro range of each other. The quest will update to say things went sour between you. The quest can still be completed by delivering the chest unopened but they're the guys who'd tell you not to open it so it's only a problem if you don't already know... or didn't come to this page lol
- Anonymous
Bard and her team find a secret hideout in Waukeen's Rest. Bard tell Zarys "I'm just here to trade", and she invites her in and offers her a job. She accept a contract to find a missing shipment and heads off to go search the roads.
Snuck up behind a pack of gnolls out side a cave. Their leader "Flind" interacts with Bard using tadpole. Bard tells a joke causing all gnolls to enter into a fit of hysterical laughter for 2 rounds. Lae'zel cleaves through all the gnolls before they wake from laughter while Bard, Gale, and Shadowheart kill Flind. The fight ends in a flurry of blood and gore in 2 rounds havin' takin not a single blow.
Rugan approach's Bard and thanks her for saving their ass, however Bard tells them this is a robbery. Rugan offers a deal to go in together and sell package directly, cutting out Zarys from deal. No deal. Bard and party cut down Rugan and Olly and take the unopened package for themselves.
Returning to Zarys Bard tells her that her people have died but that the package is secure. Zarys praises the party and pays each of them 50g, gives Bard a crossbow "Harold" and allows them the ability to trade goods from the good stock. Later that night Bard returns and pickpockets the unopened chest from Zarys.
Bard and party head off unopened package in-toe with only the knowledge that a wizard in Baulders Gate is the intended buyer. Will Bard and party make it to Baulders Gate before the tadpole takes over? Will the party find this wizard? Will the curiosity get to the better and the package opened? Find out next time...
- Anonymous
I had Flind help me kill the Gnolls and kill herself, extorted Rugan for saving him and Olly. He said I'm tough and told me to go to Zhentarim outpost and gave me the password, then I cast Fog, stole the chest and ran off. At the Zhent outpost Olly is dead and Rugan getting beaten because he lost the chest. Zarys gave me gold for saving Rugan and Olly and when I handed over the chest gave me Harold.
- Anonymous
I scouted out the cave with Mage Hand and moved the chest once or twice. Rugan then picked the chest up and put it in his inventory.
After killing the gnolls and intimidating Rugan to give me the chest he kept acting like he had given it to me, or he hadn't picked it up.
So I killed him and took it.
- Anonymous
I used read thoughts to tell Rugan that I'm with Zhentarim (I have not spoken to Zarys before, just activated the waypoint) and he said he owes me drinks. This unflagged the chest, allowing me to steal it and take it to Zarys. However she insisted we have to wait for Rugan to come back so I reloaded and repeated the same thing but this time the chest was still flagged as red so I killed Rugan, took the chest to Zarys and said Olly and Rugan were dead. She has given me Harold and 250g BUT the guys in the back and their dogs were aggroed on sight. Funnily enough I killed them all and looted the two cells but Zarys and co. were still friendly. This game is such a mess.
- Anonymous
friend and i discovered these two in a cave by accident, killed the gnolls, knocked those two out, stole the flask, went to the hideout to get told to find those two - they woke up after awhile (resting/progressing) and now we cant seem to progress the quest itself...
It is worth noting that there is also a piece of infernal iron in the back of the Zhentarim Basement, there are two square rooms that have locked doors. If you enter tactical mode and sneak to the door of the left room, you can lockpick the door, sneak inside, and get the infernal iron from a chest.
- Anonymous
It seems like, pretending (Persuation check) to represent Zhentarim when talking to Rugan after the fight results in Zarys considering the goods stolen (even if you don't open the chest).
This will lock you out of getting Harold, and on top of that Zarys will demand that you execute Rugan for losing the cargo - if you can manage to convince her to let you live.
- Anonymous
Not sure if something bugged or im misunderstanding something but i had a deception option saying i was working for the client, something like "darkhold was getting concerned" blah blah im here for the shipment. I succeeded and now Rugar says its my job to get the shipment to baldurs gate, but they still dont want me to touch it
- Anonymous
I put the cargo in a bag and after a patch the bag with the cargo was out of my inventory and in my previous savegames it was also not in the inventory anymore.
- Anonymous
So what actually happens if you do manage to deliver the cargo? is there a continuation quest in act 2 or 3?
- Anonymous
Rugan was saved but Olly died. But then when I returned to Zarys with the locked box, she just asked where they are, said thanks, but Rugan never did return. Also initally, tried returning to her without taking d box, and still Rugan didnt appear.
I had to go back and kill Rugan in the cave and go back to Zarys. Suddenly option to give the box appeared and I got my reward, and Harold the Crossbow.
- Anonymous
You can also command the Gnoll Leader to either eat her pack or eat the humans inside the cave. I had her eat her pack and then sent her away. I do not know what happens if you command her to eat the humans.
- Anonymous
if you sneak up to Gnoll Flind you are able to talk to it and have her turn against the allies then force her to eat herself
- Anonymous
Walked through a cave and jumped up the ledge. I find these two guys throwing firebombs at a group of gnolls. Without much of an explanation they ask me to help them. I agree.
Both are quite weak and die during combat I use speak with the dead and learn there is a hideout behind a tavern somewhere. I also learn the password.
I see a locked chest and ofcourse I open it, not thinking much of it. I obtain the iron flask.
I find the hideout and talk my way inside. "Oh those guys? Yeah they are dead, don't worry though, I have the cargo." I say. " You opened it? Well die then."
How was I supposed to know? I got the quest when I opened the chest. Can I still deliver the flask in Baldurs gate?
- Anonymous
Just writing this here for those who "****ed up" and can't get the crossbow because Olly is dead and Rugan is captured as a traitor. How to get the crossbow in that situation: Before the cinematic starts and you have the option to kill Rugan, SNEAK around on top to Zarys use Fog Cloud on her and right click and Talk to her. Do this during turn base mode. She will reward you gold, hand over the chest you have and she will reward the crossbow as well. It is possible after that everyone will attack you because you are tresspassing, unless you can get away and not get detected.
- Anonymous
I just stole the locked chest while he was distracted, then I gave it to the Zhentarim, then I pickpocket it again and got the chest and the Zhentarim favor. Not sure it will work as if they still have the chest.
- Anonymous
Possible bug. But Zhents became hostile each time I entered. Had to reload multiple times, before dismissing Shovel the Quasit which stopped them from attacking.
- Anonymous
After the fight with the gnolls, the guys began to get ready for the road, so I teleported to hideout, but not finding the guys there, I went back to them. When I returned, the chest was not marked in red, and I was able to pick it up calmly. After the camp, I returned to the Zhentarim and got a crossbow without giving the chest. It is unknown whether the wizard will appear in this case
- Anonymous
so i saved the two guys and they became my pals but i knocked them out and stole the entire chest, opening the chest but not the flask. so when i go to zarys with the open chest/unopened flask, she keeps asking where her guys are/i have to wait for them to get there. but they must be bugged out cuz they don't go to the zhentarim hideout, but stay in the cave they were found in. probably because i stole their entire chest. and when i put the chest down it does nothing. sooooooo oops. don't knock them out to steal the entire chest because the quest will be bugged. lockpick it instead if you have to. i have to 'finish' the quest by exploding their entire hideout LMAO
- Anonymous
if you robbed the chest and stole the flask when you first met ruger and olly in the cave then the quest ends when you get to the hideout and talk to the leader, you dont get the unique crossbow and theres no followup in baldurs gate.
- Anonymous
got through the cave, fought together with the 2 smugglers against the gnoll horde, killed the 2 guys, went to see zarys and gave her the shipment unopened. i got the crossbow reward and the trader opened the extended shop. also, you can steal the shipment back right after giving it to her
- Anonymous
Buggy and seemingly unfinished quest (for some choices), with so many options you could take that each seem like they can change the outcome; also sucks that most of this wiki is outdated and has incomplete information. You can either go to Zhentarim Hideout first and speech check your way in, to get this quest. Or ideally, encounter Rugan & Olly being attacked by the Gnolls, and proceed from there. I've tried some choices and read about some others, so don't take this post as "definite" or 100% accurate. I'm still in Act1 and this quest will continue/finish properly when you reach Baldur's Gate(BG), which is much further in the story.
#Choices/Options :-
(1.) Rugan and Olly live and deliver the chest themselves.
(2.) Rugan and Olly die (either by your hands or the Gnolls') and you acquire the chest.
(3.) You intimidate Rugan and get the chest for yourself.
(4.) You scheme with Rugan to deliver it yourself and split the money with him, essentially cheating the Zhentarim out of their deal.
#Outcomes :-
For (1)- Rugan and Olly return to the hideout with their chest. Upon visiting them, Zarys rewards you gold, some xp and "Harold" the blue quality crossbow. And you get access to Brem's exotic stock.
For (2)- Haven't done this, but I read somewhere that the outcome is mostly same as the one above, with some altered dialogue.
For (3) and (4) - Rugan is captured and Olly is killed, for failing their task and attempting to cheat the Zhentarim.
From here you have 2 more options.
A- Kill Rugan yourself, as a gesture, and join the Zhentarim. You get access to Brem's exotic stock, but you don't get "Harold" crossbow.
B- (Again, haven't tried this outcome) Save Rugan, and kill the other Zhentarim members. Rugan runs away. You lose out on some nice merchant items, and you don't get Harold. From here you either deliver the chest yourself, or open it and do whatever.
#Future content and continuation? :-
For (1) & probably (2) - Zarys calls you a friend of the Zhentarim, and Rugan says you can meet him at an Inn in BG, if they make out of there alive. Future involvement with Zhentarim faction or the wizard client, is unclear.
For (3) - You join the Zhentarim as a recruit, and are tasked with delivering it to the client in BG. Future Interactions/involvement with Zhentarim and the Wizard are implied.
For (4) - Seems like the buggiest one. Rugan runs away, and future interaction with him is very unlikely. Probably cannot get involved with the Zhentarim again, at least in a positive/non-murder way.
At any time you can open the chest and uncork the Iron Flask to release a Spectator, and kill it. This may likely have consequences, as this is a powerful entity, and the wizard client probably wanted this for some nefarious reasons. So in total, I can see this quest having possibly 3 different continuations in BG. Either- As a friend of the Zhentarim, or a member of the Zhentarim, or an enemy of the Wizard and probably the Zhentarim as well.
- Anonymous
apparently you can give her the unopened chest, get Harold and the gold and then turn around and pickpocket it right back off of her plus a heap more gold and a Zhentarim Key
- Anonymous
- Anonymous
lazy quest - you can pick the chest, open the flask, have the zhentarim help you kill the spectator, and their dialogue doesn't change whatsoever
- Anonymous
So, if you kill Flind and all of the gnolls and protect the 2 fellas in the cave, how do you end up getting Harold? Do you then have to go steal the chest from under their noses?
And more specifically, what do you ultimately get if you save the two guys and just go to the tavern - the password to enter? Even though you can easily get that by reading their minds? The one guy was ready to feed you to the gnolls so I have no issues getting him f'd up by his employer, but the other guy... I'd feel bad about that.
This damn game... Making me worry about NPCs more than my precious loot!
- Anonymous
After the fight I stayed friendly with the caravan guys - they just go back in the cabe and rotate dialog about the chest.
Then I hid a ways away and used Magic Hand - with this I made the hand go into the cave and used Throw a couple times until the chest was far enough away I could just pick it up. None hostile way to get the chest!
- Anonymous
Rather than fight the gnolls, I snuck behind the two humans and picked up the chest and walked out without triggering the fight. Took it back to Zarys, since she had already told me to go get it, and she just says 'have you found my people yet'. No mention of the chest, which I have retrieved.
- Anonymous
Something strange happened while I was slaughtering the goblin stronghold, and I've finally figured out what. Watch out if you're using the Shattered Flail; I had Karlach carrying the chest while using the flail, she went mad and decided to use the Throw action, and next thing I know there's a beholder. Apparently she ripped the Iron Flask out through the locked chest and threw it.
- Anonymous
No one seems to have run into this thing other than me it seems, when I lockpicked the chest after robbing it from the two guys, my race turned into Devil, and my appearance changed as well
- Anonymous
If you have detect thoughts, even as a scroll, you can learn the password from Salazon himself.
- Anonymous
When I got to the hideout with the unopened chest (although we did TRY to lockpick it) they let us in but were torturing the guy we met who told us to take it to them and said he stole from them. Persuading them to work with them just made them ask us to kill him so I ended up fighting them anyway and releasing him.
Also don't forget about the artist that's there! If you free him (either buy buying him, persuading them, or killing them) he promises his patron's generosity after he gets back to Baldur's Gate.
- Anonymous
When I played, only Astarion could unlock the chest. IE: If you play as a rogue and don't pick Astarion up, you can't seem to unlock it. Maybe someone else can confirm.
- Anonymous
[SPOILERS] If you find the mark of the absolute before you encounter this, AND you have the mark, you can order the boss gnoll to kill the other gnolls ... then eat himself. Brutal.
- Anonymous
After killing the gnolls, their leader's tadpole escapes. One of my companions even warns me about it, but i can't do anything, cause the guys from the cave run out and starts a conversation. By the time we're done the tadpole is nowhere to be found. Is there a way to kill the little bugger? Preferably without using the illithid power to make them kill the people in the cave.
- Anonymous
You can also kill the two people protecting the chest and open it. Inside the chest is an item that you can open (Remove the stopper) which summons a Spectator.
that is incorrect, I lockpicked the container, went to the Zhenturim, and was told that I could kill Rugan and deliver the cargo, I did so and didn't say it was opened, they called me a recruit let me stock up and sent me off.
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