Branthos

Harper Branthos is a wood elf fighter who is part of the Harpers in Act Two. Originally holed up in Last Light Inn patrolling the outskirts and main plaza of the sanctuary, Branthos plans and sets up an elaborate ambush against an Absolutist convoy.

“

Harpers, attack! Kill the cultists - and get that lantern!

„

— Branthos, ambushing the caravan

Involvement

Last Light Inn

Upon reaching the Shadow-Cursed Lands through Grymforge, Branthos can be first encountered at the Last Light Inn patrolling the main plaza in front of the Inn's entrance, as well as the underpass where Bex is.

After speaking with Jaheira, Branthos moves to the bridge in front of Last Light Inn, along with Elindale, Lassandra, Manus, and Skywin. They wait for the party so they can move in to intercept and ambush a nearby Absolutist convoy and acquire their source of protection against the Shadow Curse. Accepting the mission results in Branthos and his squad of Harpers casting  Light on their weapons and moving to the Ruined Battlefield, where they lay in wait for the Absolutist convoy. The party can go with the group immediately or catch up with them later, as the ambush site is marked on their map.

If speaking with Isobel Thorm and triggering the fight with Marcus, Branthos and his squad will have already moved to the bridge, out of reach of the battle. If Isobel is not saved, Branthos immediately dies instead of turning into a  Shadow-Cursed Undead.

Ambush

Main article: Seek Protection from the Shadow Curse

Main article: Follow the Convoy

Talking to Branthos at the ambush site commences the ambush and spawns in the encounter. Once Kar'niss and the convoy arrive, the party members have a choice to attack immediately or hang back. If choosing to stay hidden and keep watching, Kar'niss kills Brawler Vez, one of the goblins in the convoy. From there, the party can signal the Harpers; otherwise the Harpers start the encounter themselves. After the fight, a Moonlantern can be found on the drider's corpse. Branthos comments on it, but not before remarking that the war is not over.

Alternatively, the party can convince Kar'niss to relinquish the Moonlantern and consign the convoy members to their fate as  Shadow-Cursed Undead. Either way, Elindale and his squad then depart amiably and return to Last Light Inn.

If choosing to reach the Shadow-Cursed Lands through the Rosymorn Monastery Trail, a goblin greets them and sends the party to a rendezvous point to wait for Kar'niss and the convoy to guide them to Moonrise Towers, where the party can  pass off as True Souls. This starts  Follow the Convoy.

Kar'niss ferries the party, as well as the rest of the convoy, to Moonrise Towers. During the trek, Branthos, along with Elindale, Manus, and Skywin ambush the convoy. The party can choose to either turn on the convoy and help the Harpers, or protect the convoy in order to continue their cover as True Souls.

If meeting the Harpers for the first time, Branthos takes the drider's Moonlantern and tells the party to head to Last Light Inn, where they can obtain similar protection after speaking with Isobel. If choosing to remain with the convoy, Branthos and his squad turn hostile.

After the Ambush

If sided with and alive, Branthos can later be found on the top floor of Last Light Inn, drinking wine with Elindale. In sharp contrast to Elindale's more buoyant personality, Branthos showcases a very stoic demeanor and reassures her they will be ready when the time to attack Ketheric Thorm comes.

Assault Moonrise Towers

If Isobel is saved at the Last Light Inn, and the Nightsong is freed from her cage and heads for Moonrise Towers, Branthos follows Jaheira there. However, he is killed during the fight against Absolute forces before the party members arrive. His corpse can be found in the Moonrise Towers Prison, surrounded by a Death Shepherd and a horde of Necromites.

Combat

Attacks and Abilities

 Disarming Attack (Melee) ()

Normal weapon damage + Superiority Die Weapon damage Focus your attack on your foe's hands and possibly force them to drop the weapons they are holding.

STR Save

 Main Hand Attack ()   –  Longsword

Normal weapon damage Make a melee attack with your equipped weapon.

 Melee: 1.5 m / 5  ft

 Pommel Strike ()   –  Longsword

1d4 (1~4) Bludgeoning

Make a non-lethal attack against an enemy and possibly  Daze them.

CON Save

 Melee: 1.5 m / 5  ft

Recharge: Short rest

 Rush Attack ()   –  Longsword

1d4 (1~4) + Strength or Dexterity modifier Piercing

Charge forward and attack the first enemy in your way, possibly pushing them  Off Balance.

STR Save

 Range: 9 m / 30 ft

Recharge: Short rest

Allies

• Harper Elindale
• Harper Lassandra
• Harper Manus
• Harper Skywin

Loot

• Longsword
• Orders from Jaheira
• Potion of Healing
• Scale Mail
• Torch

Related quests

•  Infiltrate Moonrise Towers
•  Follow the Convoy
•  Resolve the Abduction
•  Seek Protection from the Shadow Curse

Notes

• Branthos and Elindale seem to be close friends, or at least share an amiable level of camaraderie, as they have nicknames for each other: "Bran" for Branthos, and "Elin" for Elindale.
  • Branthos will also call Lassandra "Lass", if the latter dies in combat with him. This dialogue can only be heard in combat against the Drider if Manus has already died and cannot call out for Lassandra before Branthos.
• Branthos wears a set of armor identical to the Scale Mail armor set, but with metal kneecaps and the shoulder pads from the Scale Mail +2 set. He also has a Harp-Shaped Pin pinned on his chest.
• If killed at any point before or during the convoy's ambush, either Elindale, Lassandra, Manus, or Skywin take the lead in talking to the player character instead and lead the ambush, and refer them to Last Light Inn.
• As of Patch 7, despite having Extra Attack, Branthos is not able to attack twice during his turns.
  • Likewise, despite having Disarming Attack (Melee), Branthos is unable to use this action.
    • This is due to Branthos being given a player character version of Disarming Attack, leaving him unable to use the action as he has no Superiority Die.