Explore the ruins in Baldur's Gate: how to get past the dark crypt and find the Withered One

Explore the ruins Baldur's Gate 3 is a side task that appears in the Quest Log after interacting with the ancient door in the Crash Site. In the course of its implementation, it is necessary to find the entrance to the overgrown ruins, explore the dark crypt and open the richly decorated sarcophagus.

The guide below will show you how to explore the ruins in Baldur's Gate 3 and break into the dark crypt to explore its halls and gain access to the important NPC - the Withered One.

How to open the ancient door in Baldur's Gate at the Crash Site

The only way to unlock the ancient door opposite the Overgrown Ruins Waygate is to use thieves' tools. At the start, this consumable item is not available to the character, but it can be found while exploring the coastal zone.

From the previously named teleportation point, move in a southwest direction until you come across a dilapidated platform, which has sprawled boxes. Interact with each of them: in one of them you will most likely find a leather bag with master keys.

Approach the ancient door and use the Open active action. To pick a lock, you must a skill test with karmic cubes.

If the dexterity check succeeds, you can enter the dark crypt. Otherwise, you will have to go in search of detours and in the process fight with several groups of marauders who also have their eyes on the ancient treasures of the overgrown ruins.

Where to find the age to the overgrown ruins in Baldur's Gate (workaround)

Reach the chapel entrance by following the east road from the waygate "Cliffs on the Road".

Near the monument, you will find a group of bandits who will immediately show hostility towards uninvited travelers. If you do not want to the battle, you can select the replicas of the category:

• belief;
• deception;
• intimidation.

Success in karmic cubes will result in the team "halflingwill leave the excavation area. In case of failure, will have to resist archer Varrin, the sorceress Quilenne, as well as Taman and Gimblebok himself, who specialize in close combat.

After defeating them, you can replenish the bag with the following items:

• gold (x4), dagger, shortbow, leather armor from Varrin;
• gold (x15), scroll of "Magic Armor" (x1), combat staff, simple robe, Talis: Divination without Magic from Quilenna;
• gold (×2), thieves' tools, sapper kit, long sword, leather armor, spiked shield from Taman;
• gold (×14), shovel, longsword, scale armor, hediotrope, stale bread from Gimblec**k.

Once the outer area of ​​the chapel has been "liberated", go up to the second level and approach the beam holding fundamental block.

Then, use a bow or crossbow to break the rope and bring down the aforementioned object.

Thus, the central part of the stone floorboard will be destroyed, which is important for further unhindered study of the dark crypt.

Go down to the first level of the location again and go to the locked door: A muffled voice will ask about Gimblec**k. In order not to arouse suspicion and enter freely, successfully play karmic dice when choosing lines from the following categories:

• execution;
• deception.

In case of failure, you will have to look for another way to unlock the door, namely, to use the thieves' tools.

If they are missing, search the backpack, located next to the beds, and take a couple of master keys. Pick the lock to enter the refectory.

How to get past the dark crypt in Baldur's Gate and explore the ruins

In order to complete the "Explore the Ruins" side mission in Baldur's Gate 3, you will have to fight several types of enemies (regular marauders and undead), as well as find ornate sarcophagus.

Assemble the right squad

Tests and battles are what the protagonist and his squad will have to face while exploring the overgrown ruins. In order to successfully complete all tasks, it is important to select the “right” companions for the team. It is recommended to pay attention to:

• Astarion - A dexterous and agile rogue, able to fight in both ranged and close combat. Masterfully picks locks and disarms traps with the right tools in the inventory.
• Shadowheart is a healer who can protect the squad with powerful spells, as well as repel enemy attacks in close combat.
• Gale - an experienced wizard, in whose arsenal there are a lot of spells. Good at ing a team from afar.
• Lae’zel - a warrior capable of acting as an attacking tank.

Kill the enemies in the refectory

The Refectory is the first location on the way to the main area of ​​the ruins, the dark crypt. Guarded by minions of Gimblebok (6 marauders).

In case of a successful deception or execution, Andorn will be the first to be met. Other bandits in the amount of 5 pcs. will be located in the second room of the zone under consideration - behind the door opened by the release lever.

Defeating opponents will allow you to replenish your "Inventory" with various consumables, as well as bandit's key, owned by Andorn, you will also need it during the exploration of the dark crypt.

Open a door without a keyhole

In the refectory where the bandits rested, you will find a door: it is useless to interact with it, since the structure has neither a lock nor a handle.

Go to the library, and then go behind the monument. The wall next to the Marauder's Chest will have a рычаг. Pull on it to unlock the previously considered age.

Interaction with the next door, in turn, will cause the travelers to be in dark crypt.

Explore the dark crypt

There are two ages on the territory of the dark crypt:

• right oak heavy door - a room with various wall and floor traps, where you can find many useful items;
• the left oak heavy door is a closed room leading to a richly decorated sarcophagus.

How to disarm traps and open a regular sarcophagus

In order to disarm the traps in the room behind the right oak heavy door, you will need sapper set. In its absence, it is recommended to adhere to the following procedure:

1. Go around the room and find all the floor and wall traps.

2. Interact with the regular sarcophagi located on the right and left sides of the zone. Take away all the items of interest: special attention should be paid to the sarcophagus on the right side due to soul coins and ringed armor (class 14 armor).
3. Using the 1st drawer, block the vent next to the locked wooden door.

4. Using the 2nd drawer, block the vent next to the heavy oak door.

5. Move away from the central sarcophagus and turn on "Travel mode".
6. Select a character, go to the central sarcophagus and open it.
7. Interact with him again to get a spear of uncommon rarity "Keeper's Guiding Thread" и engraved key.
8. Move away from the sarcophagus and complete the rest of the characters' turns.

When the “opponent’s” turn comes, wall traps are activated - gargoyle heads: they will once fire projectiles towards the center, thereby possibly hitting the character who opened the ordinary sarcophagus.

Without Travel Mode, the Gargoyle Heads would fire projectiles non-stop, preventing rare weapons from being obtained and resulting in the death of the entire squad.

How to open the left heavy oak door

Having received engraved key, freely open the heavy oak door located on the left side of the dark crypt. Without this item, thieves' tools would have to be used.

Find the book of the dead gods

Once inside the new area, you will find the buried scribes and warriors: interact with them to get gold and a heavy key, as well as the Burning Hands and Protection from Evil and Good scrolls.

Then, go to the left area and open the door. Find yourself in a small burial room with sarcophagi, its study will lead to books of dead gods.

A successful reading will reward some companions with "Inspiration", as well as allow you to get additional pts. Approvals from Shadowheart, if she is in the party.

Kill the buried scribes and warriors

From the monument located in the central part of the crypt, go to the left side. Soon the tenacious eye of the protagonist or companion will discover button. Interaction with her will cause the buried scribes and warriors to “wake up” from their dead sleep and attack uninvited travelers.

Kill the enemies to continue exploring the ruins. If you have already examined the bodies of the dead, examine them again to get a handful of additional coins in the amount of 5-10 pcs. All in all.

Open the ornate sarcophagus

Return to the age that was opened after interacting with the button and open the richly decorated sarcophagus.

Thus, awaken the Withered One, who during the conversation will ask the protagonist one question: "What is a single life worth to mortals?»

The answer to it will not have a serious impact on the subsequent decisions of the undead: in any case, he will be satisfied with the words of the protagonist. Once the conversation is over, Withered will become a full citizen refugee camps.

After the "Long Rest" you can find these undead in the territory of the personal safe zone. This NPC is extremely important to the camp as it can change protagonist/companion class (100 gold coins).

In addition, repeated interaction with the ornate sarcophagus will yield:

• soul coin (×1);
• gold (×119);
• thundering thunder arrow (×1) - uncommon;
• arrow of magical interference (×1) - rare.

From the chest located next to the sarcophagus, in turn, you can get:

• gold (x28);
• Amulet of Lost Voices - Rare.

We hope our guide helped you explore the ruins at Baldur's Gate 3 and find the Withered One so that you can later settle him in the refugee camp. If you have any questions regarding the material of the article, write them to comments. In the relevant section of our website you can also find other BG3 guides.