Baldur's Gate: Tales of the Sword Coast
- January 01, 2000 00:00 AM PST
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Maybe you're having trouble getting past the Warders in Durlag's Tower. Or you can't figure out how to take out Aec'Letec back in the village. Or maybe you can't find your way through the isle of Werewolves. That's where our walkthrough comes in. This detailed guide will get you through the Sword Coast in fine form. We don't want to hold your hand, but we'll let you follow in our footsteps.
Whether you've explored every village and dungeon in Baldur's Gate or are still wandering around arguably the best computer RPG since The Bard's Tale, the Tales of the Sword Coast add-on pack is a worthy expansion. More quests, more bad seeds, more spells, more fun.But maybe you're having trouble getting past the Warders in Durlag's Tower. Or you can't figure out how to take out Aec'Letec back in the village. Or maybe you can't find your way through the isle of Werewolves. That's where our walkthrough comes in. This detailed guide will get you through the Sword Coast in fine form. We don't want to hold your hand, but we'll let you follow in our footsteps.
Ulgoth's Beard
The village of Ulgoth's Beard is the central hub of the Sword Coast. Located to the northeast of the bridge to the city of Baldur's Gate, you'll either start in Ulgoth's Beard or can adventure over to it through existing BG territory.
You'll definitely want to wander around and chat with everyone in UB. Ike is a salesman outside of the UB Inn and Tavern. For 60 gold, he'll show you where to find Durlag's Tower and give you a cheeseball tour of the facility. (However, at the Inn and Tavern, Hurgan Stoneblade will give you the location for free.) You can also pick up some excellent items for sale-notably a ring of invisibility.
Before you head off to Durlag's Tower, it's a good idea to check out the other minor quests. Speaking to Shandalar (just west of Ike) will transport you what we call the Isle of Magic Freaks to retrieve his cloak. You may or may not have run into Shandy and his skyship or his daughter in BG yet, but he won't like you either way. See below for the scoop on this quest.
You'll find Mendas in a house near the docks. He'll fill you in on the details of Balduran's Shipwreck and tell you to get the sea charts from the Counting House, located northeast of the Elfsong Tavern in BG. See below for an accounting of Balduran's Werewolf isle.
You can also talk to Calahan near the docks. He'll give you more back story on the mysterious Mendas for 20 gold. And if you like the idea of paying for info, Dushai can be found near the two locked houses to the east and will tell you Balduran's story for 100 gold.
If you have any doubts of the TOSC designers' abilities to come up with unique character names, visit Delsvirftanyon near the stables. He'll sell you some useful items such as some jewelry and wardstones. If you enter the northernmost house, you can meet Therella, whose son infiltrated Durlag's Tower and never returned. Fenrus, near the docks to the southwest, will give you more skinny on the Tower.
And, if you're that kind of adventurer, breaking into the two locked houses at the east edge of the village will result in a History of the North, a History of Amn, some decent magic items, and a run-in with the local constabulary.
The Isle of Magic Freaks
Once you've accepted Shandalar's quest (he's rather insistent), you'll find yourself on a frozen island near a cave. Slap around the polar bear outside and then enter the cave. You'll encounter some Winter Wolves. These can either be dispatched or charmed and used as allies in your first big mage encounter.
The first major room is home to Andris and his cronies. Like most of the mages here, Andris will use the Confusion spell a lot, which can really mess up a party. I found it best to send in a single bad-ass character. Even if this character is Confused, he or she will lash out at Andris instead of your party.
Be sure to advance cautiously. There are quite a few dastardly traps in this dungeon, and a thief checking for them often can save you some serious hurt.
Head south and you'll run into the mage Garan in the next big room. After you finish him-he's not a huge challenge-you'll find a couple of Ankhegs behind him. And to the north (northwest from Andris' room), you'll find the whiny Cuchol, who begs for his life at first and then gets haughty.
After you return to Andris' room, head northeast. The long corridor that runs from east to west across the dungeon has several nasty traps. Be careful! After the hallway turns south, you'll run into Tellan. He'll soup himself up with prep spells, but he also casts Dispel Magic, so if you close with him, he'll dispel a lot of his own protections.
A couple of corners later, you'll find Deskiel, who has Shandy's Cloak. Kill him and return to Ulgoth's Beard and Shandalar. The quest is only worth 500 experience points, but you'll get some great items from the magic freaks.
