Rescue the Illithids' Captive

Rescue the Illithid's Captive is a quest in the Prologue of Baldur's Gate 3. It can be initiated by approaching Shadowheart's Mind Flayer Pod on the Nautiloid.

Maybe we should leave her there?

This quest is not available if the player chooses Shadowheart as their Origin.

Objectives

Objectives and journal entries may vary pending story decisions and outcomes.

Find a way to release the captive.

• We encountered a survivor, trapped inside one of the pods aboard the nautiloid. Perhaps we can find a way to free her.
• If the player character found an Eldritch Rune: We found an Eldritch Rune. It may help us to rescue the captive half-elf.

Talk to the half-elf.

• If the player character used the Eldritch Rune: We opened the pod using an Eldritch Rune, and freed the captive. We should speak to her.
• If the player character passed a Strength check as a Barbarian: We forced the pod open using our brute strength, freeing the captive. We should speak to her.

Quest Completed!

• If the player character recruits Shadowheart: We learned that the survivor aboard the nautiloid is called Shadowheart. She joined us.
• If the player character does not offer for Shadowheart to join them: We learned that the survivor aboard the nautiloid is called Shadowheart. We decided to go our separate ways.
• If the player character does not speak to Shadowheart after freeing her: We freed the captive aboard the nautiloid from her pod, but left her behind.
• If the player character does not free Shadowheart: We left the captive inside the pod, and escaped the nautiloid without her.

Walkthrough

After the first imp fight on the Nautiloid, the player character will enter a room with two unconscious victims of the Mind Flayers, a High Elf and Human. Towards the north-east side of the room, Shadowheart is trapped in a Mind Flayer pod.

If speaking to Shadowheart, she suggests to try opening the pod by using a nearby panel. Warlocks, Wizards, and Sorcerers can free her by passing an Arcana Check on the panel. Barbarians can free her through passing a Strength Check. Otherwise, interacting with the console will reveal that it has an empty socket.

To open the pod, the party must obtain an Eldritch Rune from a corpse in the far east room at X: 62 Y: -355. After opening the pod, the party can recruit Shadowheart or ignore her.

If the player character fails the DC 2 Wisdom check to open the pod using the Eldritch Rune, it is possible try again with Lae'zel. If both characters fail the Check, Shadowheart remains trapped in the pod but can be found after the Prologue in Act 1.

Quest rewards

• Shadowheart as a temporary companion while on the Nautiloid.