Baldurs Gate 3: Prisoners in pods - Nautiloid puzzle solution Baldurs Gate 3 guide, walkthrough
On the Nautiloid ship from the BG3 prologue there are prisoners held in capsules and among them is the cleric Shadowheart. Our guide will tell you how to rescue Shadowheart and get a new companion, as well as whether the other prisoners can be freed.
Last update: 04 August 2023
On this page of our Baldurs Gate 3 guide we answer the question whether during the Prologue you can free Shadowheart and other people held in the pods. This is important information because it involves trying to recruit a potential team member.
Location of Shadowheart
- During the Prologue you'll have a chance of exploring the northern room. Inside the room, there are pods with people captured by Mind Flayers. In one of the pods, you can find Shadowheart, and freeing her has priority as she can join your party once released.
- After examining the pod, you can talk to the cleric, which will lead to a realization that for the purpose of opening the pod, simple interaction won't do.
- If you've rolled an evil character, you can leave Shadowheart in the pod and this will not result in her death.
How to open the pod with the cleric?
- From the room with the pods, go to the optional eastern room.
- You need to locate an item - hold ALT to highlight all interactive objects in the area. There is a corpse here that has Eldritch Rune in its inventory.
- Collect the item and return to the previous room. Next to the pod with the cleric there is a console - interact with it.
- Choose the option to place the rune in a free slot.
- You can immediately place your hand on the console or complete an Arcana Check to examine it closely.
- The first option involves a Wisdom and Ilithid Check. Successful completion of the checks will open the pod with Shadowheart. You can now invite the cleric to your party (or alternatively, refuse) and she will help you during the next battles of the Prologue.
If you've failed the Check and cannot repeat it or you don't want to free Shadowheart now, you'll meet her once again during Act 1 in Overgrown Ruins. The second meeting with Shadowheart is described in the page dedicated to her in Party chapter.
Prisoners from the remaining pods
In the same room there is a second console controlling the pods with remaining prisoners. The console has 3 buttons and pressing them have different effects:
- Pressing the left button (1) has no effect.
- Pressing the middle button (2) will free some people from the pods. They will be under the control of Mind Flayers and will attack the team. The combat against these NPCs is not difficult, but there aren't any special profits for it (you'll receive a meagre 1 experience point).
- Pressing the right button (3) will lead to the death of those in the capsules.