Moonrise Towers Rooftop

Moonrise Towers Rooftop - top view

Moonrise Towers Rooftop is a Location within Moonrise Towers in Act Two of Baldur's Gate 3.

Overview

The way to the rooftop is past the Ornate Door on the first floor, guarded by Radija, Necromites (4x) and, possibly, Glourik.

After holding the trial in the Throne Room, Ketheric Thorm moves here, leaving to Z'rell orders not to disturb him under any circumstances. The general's retinue at the rooftop is Susdera and several more Necromites. Also, if the party reached Moonrise towers with the Absolutists' convoy, or sided with them against Harpers' ambush, Kar'niss the drider leaves them near the Moonrise Towers and climbs the wall up to the rooftop. He takes Ketheric's side if the battle is commenced afterwards.

The party, however, can sneak through the door and past Ketheric's guards to explore the area. A variety of methods can be used to get to the rooftop early, primarily amoung them  invisibility or  greater invisibility. In addition, if the party sneak  invisibly past Ketheric Thorm before the "trial" cut-scene with members of the Absolute's forces from the Goblin Camp is enacted, they can explore and deal with those on the rooftop without Ketheric there, making combat with him later on considerably easier.

If Ketheric is spoken with here without saving or killing Aylin (regardless of the current state of  Resolve the Abduction quest), he is furious with the player character who did not wait as instructed. He turns hostile, but cannot be defeated, as he is still immortal.

Audience with the Absolute

If the player character chose to side with the forces of the Absolute and both helped to retrieve Aylin from the Gauntlet of Shar and captured or killed Isobel, they have to report both to Z'rell. For fulfilling the orders, they are granted a personal audience with the Absolute in Ketheric's presence. Isobel may die throughout the abduction battle or by the hands of the Dark Urge. In this case, the audience scene is also triggered, but Ketheric reacts to the party's actions much more sternly.

Up on the rooftop, the party can finally find out the truth behind the new-sprung goddess, but this knowledge leads to a rueful final: they are still protected by the Astral Prism, and, as the Absolute is unable to overcome its power, Ketheric orders to take the whole party to the Necrotic Laboratory deep beneath the Moonrise Towers for further scrutiny in Balthazar's hands.

Assaulting Moonrise Towers

If the player character decided to save or kill Aylin, Ketheric must be confronted here (for the first time). He is accompanied by Susdera, Squire, Kar'niss (if the drider survived) and a pack of Necromites (8x initially + those summoned during the battle).

When the party come out on the rooftop, Ketheric is equally outraged and staggered by their actions, deprived from his immortality for the first time in more than a hundred years. At this moment, it is still possible to reason with him, though it needs a series of checks with high DC.

Succeeding in this series of rolls makes Ketheric regret his deeds and explain that the only reason for his turning from Selûne was the untimely deaths of his beloved wife and daughter - and more so, the goddess' unwillingness or failure to prevent this tragedy. At this point, the player character might gain several points of approval depending on their dialogue choices:

• I can help you, Ketheric - if you let me.  +1  +1  +1  +1
• It isn't too late, Ketheric. Your story doesn't end here.  +1  +1  +1  +1
• Come quietly, and you'll be spared.  +1  +1  +1  +1
• Seeing one's enemies cowed never gets old.  +1  +1  +1  +1

However, regardless of the player character's choices, Ketheric quickly shakes off his sentimentality. Otherwise, if the party have freed Aylin, the aasimar intervenes into the dialog, ruining all attempts to placate Thorm.

One way or another, Ketheric tries to subjugate the player character, using his connection to the power of the Absolute. At this moment, the Astral Prism intervenes, manifesting itself. Outraged with the party actually carrying his long-craved "weapon" all the way, Ketheric commences the fight. However, he does not take the chances in any case and after losing approximately ⅔ HP retreats; one of the lesser towers forming the outer circle of tower walls bursts from within, giving way to a giant illithid tentacle that teleports Ketheric to the Mind Flayer Colony underneath his stronghold, either taking the knocked-out Aylin with him or vanishing alone.

According to the map, it is the very same side-tower with a cracked wall on the Main floor - the source of the "suspicious meat sounds", where the player character might have connected with the Absolute directly for the first time.

After Ketheric flees the battle (and the party defeat all remamining enemies, if any left), they have to follow the general to bring him to justice, this time terminatively. The only way to do this is to jump down through the now-hollow side tower, where the tentacle burrowed out.

If Jaheira accompanied the party in this fight, she comes to the burrow to encourage them. She can be offered to go down, but unlike previous battles, she demands to take place in the party instead of any other of the companions.

At this point, the restrictions on fast-travelling from the area are removed, and the party may descend to lower floors of the tower or return to the camp and have a long rest.

Behind the overstory where Ketheric stands initially, there is a locked Heavy Chest, with the Ring of Exalted Marrow inside.

Meeting Ketheric on the rooftop grants the inspirational event  Top of the Ladder for any character with  Noble background.

Related locations

•  Moonrise Towers

Related quests

•  Defeat Ketheric Thorm

Notable loot

• Ring of Exalted Marrow in a chest behind Ketheric Thorm.
• Ketheric's Warhammer - if the party manages to disarm him during the battle.

Characters

• Aylin - if spared or captured in the Shadowfell
• Jaheira
• Kar'niss - if not killed in Shadow-Cursed Lands
• Ketheric Thorm
• Squire - if not killed in Ketheric's room in Moonrise Towers
• Susdera

Creatures

• Necromites