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Baldur's Gate 3 has a host of puzzles and interesting items, such as The Iron Flask and Soul Coins. One such item, the Nightsong, is supposedly a powerful artifact wanted by a wizard in Baldur's Gate. As soon as your character learns about it, it will be added to the Journal.
However, it's unclear exactly how to find this artifact - the only meaningful information you get is that it is inside the Temple of Selune, that the Goblins have taken over. Once you reach the temple, it becomes clear that it is massive, and the artifact is nowhere to be found. Keep reading for an explanation of how to begin the Nightsong Quest, where to find it, and how to complete the quest line.
Updated by Abigail Angell on August 22nd, 2023: While many players have not yet reached Act 3 and beyond of the Main Story Quest, those who have been wondering how to finish the Nightsong Quest once and for all. To answer that question, a new section has been added to this article after a heavy spoiler warning.
Where To Begin The Nightsong Side Quest
There are a number of ways to trigger the Nightsong quest to pop up in your Journal. The most surefire ways are:
- Speak with the tortured adventurer in the Defiled Temple about what his group was doing here
- Ask Nettie about where Halsin is inside the Druid Grove
- Speak with the Adventurers on the stone bridge just before they turn back.
Options one and three will give you the most information to work with and are not mutually exclusive, so doing both is advised.
Where To Find The Nightsong (Act One)
Finding the Nightsong will first require entering the Underdark. Once in the Underdark, you'll need to successfully navigate to the Myconid Village, then either battle them or convince them to be neutral to you. This will set off a series of choices in which you need to navigate two opposing factions in the village. Either faction can get you where you need to go - your goal for finding the Nightsong is being rewarded with treasure from a hidden room in the colony.
Unfortunately, the treasure in the secret room isn't the Nightsong. Instead, this room contains the Shadow of the Menzoberranzan, which is an uncommon helm that bestows the ability to turn invisible on the wearer. As for the Nightsong quest, your journal will now read, "The trail has gone cold." At this point, it is best to consider the quest temporarily complete for your own sanity because you won't get any additional information until you reach Moonrise Towers.
~ SPOILER ALERT ~
Finding The Nightsong In Act Two
The actual location of the Nightsong is tied to a big villain in the second act of the game - Ketheric Thorm. At the Last Light Inn, the party has the chance to learn that Ketheric Thorm is mysteriously immortal, and the Harpers will ask you to infiltrate the tower to figure out how he's managed it. Working with the Harpers is the best way to find the Nightsong because the Nightsong is what keeps Ketheric Thorm alive.
- To get the Nightsong, the first step is to talk your way into Moonrise Tower. At this point, the guards will tell you to go visit a True Soul named Z'rell.
- Visit Z'rell in the main chamber. Walking forward will trigger a dialogue with the closest member of your party, so it is best to directly control the Party Face.
- Choose dialogue options that are quiet and agreeable with the scene playing out against the goblins. Ketheric will order their execution and suggest you are the one to carry it out.
- To keep your cover, you will need to kill the goblins. However, any option will do. Most companions will not object to you executing them.
- After killing the goblins, head up the stairs behind the throne and to an upstairs room.
- Speak to Z'rell, using Deception or Persuasion to trick her into believing you are loyal to the Absolute.
- She will then instruct you to retrieve a man named Balthazar, who was sent to get an artifact and mark it on your map.
- Balthazar's artifact is the Nightsong - you can either eliminate him and steal it or allow him to return it to Ketheric Thorm. Allowing him to return is a useful way to get access to Thorm, but will delay recovering the Nightsong.
It is at this point that most players will learn that the Nightsong is a person, not an artifact, and that the reason Ketheric Thorm is immortal is that he's harnessed the power of Selune's daughter. Killing her, while something that Shadowheart wants as a follower of Shar, will result in everyone at the Last Light Inn dying, so be careful.