Part VI: Siege of Dragonspear Chapter 9 walkthrough

Part VI of the Siege of Dragonspear Guide.

Siege of Dragonspear Chapter 9

In the previous post Charname confronted Caelar on the destroyed Crossing of the Trade Way. The two heroes traded words, but neither would back down. The party therefore continued their march on Dragonspear, delayed as it was by the destruction of the crossing and forced rerouting to Boareskyr Bridge (thanks Jayvis). With the arduous ten-day march complete the Fist-backed party set up camp in a thickly-wooded forest, just south of Boareskyr Bridge.

Troll Claw Forest

(AR BD7100).

A cutscene fires showing Caelar Argent writing a letter of condolence, and Priest Hephernaan flexing some influence over her.  

 

Corporal Bence Duncan announces Caelar's taking of Boareskyr Bridge and her current besiegement of Bridgefort (Important Events: Find the bridge and scout out the fort and Crusader camp). Both he and Corwin advise caution in scouting the immediate vicinity, with Bence advising Charname to purchase FYRE ARROZ TO KEEL DAH TROLZ. (Acid also works, poison does not.)

The noble Fist Paladin then strolls over to a tent and orders "Fist Goldbuckler" to perform her drills. Skie steps out, knocks Bence flat on his ass, and then steps back in to continue her nap.

Note: At this point Tsolak's Messenger will appear to reward those who allied with the vampire in the Ikros & Isabella quest. Refer to the previous post for details.

Resting fires a second dream sequence, this one featuring Irenicus & Imoen.

The Irregulars

Lieutenant Otilda distrusts the half-orc "Irregulars" and requests you deal with them. Rend, Kava and Farrl are found just a stone's throw to the east of camp. Take your pick:

• Best Rend in a duel. Rend will tell you his story; how he is here to slay the half-orc leader of the Blinding White battalion, Barghest. You and Corwin will learn that Barghest holds Boareskyr Bridge; that the Blinding White recruits are trained by a dwarf, Lieutenant Kharm; and that this trio of orcs pose no threat to the expedition. Return to Otilda and put her mind at ease for +6,000 Exp.
• Bring Kava some ale. This is a lil' more involved because it requires access to the Crusader Camp (entry to which requires non-trivial quest fulfillment - covered in Part VII). Loot the Tepid Mug of Ale from the camp (AR BD2000: x=2690, y=2250) and deliver it to Kava to learn her and Farrl's story; but basically, they're just trying to get back into Bridgefort to find a stash they left behind there. Return to Otilda for +6,000 Exp.
• Provoke Rend to violence (or force-attack the trio). The half-breeds quickly surrender and vacate the area. Return to Otilda for +6,000 Exp & 105 GP. Note: The trio may be slain in all cases, but you may need to immobilize them prior to attacking. Rend, Kava, Farrl (+420 Exp ea): Two-Handed Sword +1, Bastard Sword +1, Large Shield +1, Cat, (Tepid Mug of Ale).

(Completed Quest: The Irregulars).

Crap to kill: The Troll Claw Forest hosts several tailored trashmob encounters, some of which respawn with variation (after a day or so, I think). As you can see there is quite a lot of crap in need of killin', though none yield more than trivial loot.

Bombardier Beetle x3 (+120 Exp ea), Boring Beetle x2 (+175 Exp ea), Brown Bear x2 (+420 Exp ea), Orc Leader (+150 Exp), Orc Priest (+175 Exp), Orc Warrior x3 (+120 Exp ea), Orc Archer x3 (+120 Exp ea), Snake (+175 Exp), Small Troll x5 (+750 Exp ea), Troll x7 (+1,400 Exp ea), Giant Troll (+1,600 Exp), Spectral Troll x3 (+1,500 Exp ea), Ogre Berserker (+650 Exp), Ogre x2 (+270 Exp ea), Ogre Mage (+650 Exp), Half-Orc Ogre Veteran x3 (+270 Exp ea), Gargantuan Spider x2 (+3,000 Exp ea), Giant Spider x2 (+450 Exp ea), Huge Spider x2 (+270 Exp ea), Sword Spider (+2,000 Exp), Wild Boar x2 (+175 Exp ea), Hobgoblin Captain (+65 Exp), Hobgoblin Priest (+45 Exp), Hobgoblin Scout x5 (+35 Exp ea), Hobgoblin Veteran x3 (+45 Exp ea).

Troll Cave 

(AR BD7110)

Trolls lie in wait. You know what to do.

Troll Shamaness (+2,000 Exp), Giant Troll (+1,600 Exp), Troll x4 (+1,400 Exp ea), Small Troll x2 (+750 Exp ea).

Loot: Waterstar Gem x10, Tinderbox, Skull, Bloodstone Ring, Agni Mani Necklace.

Shift the stone wall to the side to reveal a hidden troll.

Spectral Troll (+1,500 Exp).

Party members with Infravision (e.g, M'Khiin) will spot an unlit torch in this cavern (x=1360, y=430). Lightning the torch with the tinderbox reveals a corpse and a chest to loot: Medium Shield +1, Locket of Embracing (Caster Level +1 [Cleric & Paladin], +2 first circle divine spell slots), Enchantment scroll, Emerald x2, Wand of Fear (5 charges).

Below left: the entrance to the troll cave, littered with the corpses of passers-by.

Below right: the scorched remains of the troll-pack, courtesy of Dynaheir's Fireball.

.

 

Minor stuff. 

In the thick woods to the east of the troll cave is a small family of refugees trying to make their way to Baldur's Gate. Cough up some chump change to help them on their journey; it won't break the bank (-10 GP).

Search the corpse east of the Irregulars (x=3900, y=3770) to find 122 GP and the Glimmer of Hope +2 (mace, THAC0 +2, dmg 1d6+3, Wis +1, on-hit Bless 10%).

Several bandit scrubs will ambush the party just to the north, fleeing when they catch sight of the party.

Bandit x5 (+65 Exp ea), Bandit (+15 Exp).

Loot: Fire Arrows, Melf's Acid Arrow scrolls.

Jaheira & Voghiln the Vast. En route to the northeastern exit point you will bump into Jaheira & Voghiln, two companions that are not enforced as a pair. Jaheira informs you that Khalid is trapped in the besieged fort to the north (Journal: Bridgefort Defenders).

The Harper is tempting due to her druidic repertoire; most notably, her fifth circle that includes Ironskins, Insect Plague, and the exclusive Harper's Call: a spell that functions as per Raise Dead except that it inflicts 10 damage on Jaheira when she casts it. Jaheira gains +2 second circle and +1 third circle spell slots if you gift her the Tome of Understanding (x3) found in the original campaign. Gift her the Ring of Holiness in addition and she will sport a total of seven first circle slots, seven second, five third, three fourth and one fifth.

Jaheira's Default Skills (at time of recruitment): Lore (1).

Jaheira's Weapon Proficiencies: Club (Proficient), Quarterstaff (Proficient), Sling (Proficient).

Jaheira's Custom equipment: She has literally nothing on her person.

Choice spells: Armor of Faith, Bless, Doom, Barkskin, Dispel Magic, Summon Insects, Death Ward, Defensive Harmony, Negative Plane Protection, Chaotic Commands, Harper's Call, Insect Plague, Ironskins, Mass Cure, True Seeing.

Voghiln's prime assets are his backup spellcasting ability and Skald Song, a solid buff for your front-line combatants. Gift him Prin's Reed of Echoes for a lil' more firepower (+2 first level spell slots, +1 second circle, +1 third circle, Bard only).

Voghiln's Default Skills (at time of recruitment): Lore (70), Pick Pockets (16).

Voghiln's Weapon Proficiencies: Bastard Sword (Proficient), Axe (Proficient), Sword and Shield Style (Proficient), Two-Weapon Style (Proficient).

Voghiln's Custom equipment: Voghiln's Helmet (MR +5%, on-hit stun 15% vs. humanoid for 1 round, save vs. Wand negates).

Choice spells: Blindness, Chromatic Orb (Stun), Identify, Mirror Image, Flame Arrow, Haste, Slow, Invisibility, 10' Radius, Enchanted Weapon, Stoneskin.

Skald Song: to-hit +2, dmg +2, AC +2.

Waylay Zone (AR BD0060).

YOU HAVE BEEN WAYLAID BY ENEMIES AND MUST DEFEND YOURSELF!

You may or may not be waylaid en route to Boareskyr Bridge. This zone pits orc against troll. Slay 'em all and step into the cave.

Orc Shaman (+175 Exp), Orc Warrior x3, Orc Archer x2 (+120 Exp ea), Troll x2 (+1,400 Exp ea).

Waylay Zone: Troll Cave (AR BD0061).

Slay the denizens inside.

Freshwater Troll (+650 Exp), Troll x2 (+1,400 Exp ea), Small Troll x3 (+750 Exp ea).

Loot: A Historical Treatise of Dragonspear Castle, 171 GP, Tiger Cowrie Shell Necklace, Sunstone Gem, Winter Wolf Pelt, Skull.

Party members with Infravision (e.g, M'Khiin) will spot a tunnel in the murky pool of water. Dive into the pool and swim through the tunnel to arrive in the trolls' food storage cavern (AR BD0062).

Freshwater Troll x4 (+650 Exp ea), Giant Troll (+1,600 Exp), Carrion Crawler x2 (+420 Exp ea), Ochre Jelly x2 (+270 Exp ea).

Loot: Firefly +2 (sling, Saves +2 [Halfling], THAC0 +2, dmg +2, +1 fire dmg), Pearl x2, Water Opal x6.

Anyway, continue on to the Bridge.

Boareskyr Bridge, Perimeter (AR BD2000).

The Missing Patrol

The gate to the Crusader Camp is heavily guarded by grunts, and the Crusader Sergeant will not grant you entry until you prove yourself worthy to the Half-orc head honcho, The Barghest. Accept the sergeant's request to seek out the nephew of Lieutenant Kharm - Keherrem - whose squad went missing in a ruined temple to the east, while searching for a wardstone (Quest: The Missing Patrol). 

This wardstone activates the teleport circle to the northeast, breaching the defenses of Bridgefort: a high-walled fort with its drawbridge raised by the besieged Bridgefortians. While a frontal assault on the Crusader Camp is certainly a viable option to break Barghest's siege, you will miss out on some content by doing so. 

Therefore, in Part VII, coming up, we  head to the ruined temple in the Forest of Wyrms to search for Keherrem and the wardstone; after which, we cover the breaking of the siege and the interesting events that lead up to Chapter Ten.

Trashmobs: Hobgoblin Captain (+65 Exp), Hobgoblin Veteran x2 (+45 Exp ea), Hobgoblin Scout x8 (+35 Exp ea), Hobgoblin Priest (45 Exp), Goblin Raid Leader (+200 exp), Goblin Worg Rider x2 (+175 Exp ea), Worg x2 (+125 Exp ea), Goblin Sharpshooter x2 (+30 Exp ea), Goblin Archer x5 (+15 Exp ea), Bombardier Beetle x3 (+120 Exp ea).

Goblin Cave

(AR BD2010).

To the north of the teleport circle is a cave packed full of goblins. Slay them and be sure to loot the circlet, an item tailor-made for Shaman (e.g, M'Khiin).

Goblin Chieftain (+250 Exp), Goblin Witchdoctor (+500 Exp), Goblin Warrior x9 (+15 Exp ea), Goblin Veteran (+30 Exp), Goblin Sharpshooter x4 (+30 Exp ea), Goblin Archer x9 (+15 Exp ea).

Loot: Circlet of Lost Souls (Caster level +1, perma-Bless for summoned spirits, Shaman only), 112 GP, random jewels.

Part VII

Baldur's Gate Walkthrough	Siege of Dragonspear Walkthrough	Baldur's Gate Chapter 10
Baldur's Gate Companions	Baldur's Gate Chapter 7	Baldur's Gate Chapter 11
Siege of Dragonspear Companions	Baldur's Gate Chapter 8	Baldur's Gate Chapter 12
Siege of Dragonspear Item Codes	Baldur's Gate Chapter 9	Baldur's Gate Chapter 13