The Shadow-Cursed Lands form the heart of Act 2 in Baldur's Gate 3 and can be extremely dangerous for the unprepared. The curse that haunts the lands surrounding Moonrise Towers will deal huge amounts of damage to any character caught in the dark, and not even torches can protect players where the hungry shadows are strongest. However, like most things in Baldur's Gate 3, players have a lot of freedom in deciding how they'll cross the Shadow-Cursed Lands.
The main objective in the Shadow-Cursed Lands is Moonrise Towers, and only one method of crossing will deliver players straight to its doorstep. The cultists of the Absolute are expecting new True Souls to arrive from the Mountain Pass area and are waiting to escort them safely to Moonrise. Using their tadpoles, players can pass themselves off as these new True Souls, gaining not only safe passage but also an easier way to infiltrate the ranks of the cultists when they arrive.
How to Find Kansif's Camp
In order to cross the Shadow-Cursed Lands with the Absolute's guide, players will first need to reach the rendezvous point where the half-orc scribe Kansif is waiting to lead the new True Souls to Moonrise Towers.
Kansif's camp is located in the east of the Shadow-Cursed Lands and is easiest to find for players who've taken the route from the Mountain Pass. Immediately after entering the area from this route, players will encounter a goblin brawler who'll ask if they're True Souls and then direct them to Kansif.
Kansif can be found in a hollow a little way to the south, along with a few goblin and half-orc cultists as guards, and will greet the players as True Souls when they appear. If players sided with Minthara, the Nightwarden would have explained why they needed to meet with Kansif. Otherwise, players will need to bluff through the initial introductions if they want to be guided across the Shadow-Cursed Lands by Kar'niss.
How to Summon Kar'niss
Once players have introduced themselves to Kansif and passed themselves off as genuine True Souls, the half-orc will request that they summon the guide. This can only be done with the Spider's Lyre, which players will either have received from Minthara or taken from her corpse. It's easy to overlook the Lyre, so players who've misplaced it should follow these steps to try and find it:
- Return to the Goblin Camp and check Minthara's corpse to see if she was fully looted.
- Head to Camp and check all personal chests, in case someone decided they wanted the Lyre but not the extra weight.
- Check any vendors that players might have sold the Lyre to. If the Tiefling refugees have already left the Emerald Grove, then any vendors among them will now be unavailable.
If a character with the Spider's Lyre in their inventory speaks to Kansif, they'll receive the option to play it and summon Kar'niss. Playing the Lyre requires a Performance check, but Kar'niss will answer the summons whether players pass the check or not.
On a failed check, Kar'niss will express annoyance that someone is butchering his mistress' Lyre, while on a success, he will simply be eager to meet new True Souls and escort them across the Shadow-Cursed Lands.
While it is possible to ask to examine Kar'niss' Moon Lantern before starting the journey, he will refuse. However, certain hints in the dialogue should make it clear that it's the Moon Lantern that's offering protection from the shadow curse, not Kar'niss himself or any blessing of the Absolute.
How to Cross the Shadow-Cursed Lands
Once they've accepted Kar'niss' guidance, players will need to stick close to the Drider to remain in the protective radius of his Moon Lantern. This can be tricky, particularly with his large, many-legged body often blocking the narrower sections of the path. Fortunately, if any character falls far enough behind to suffer the effects of the curse, the game will immediately enter Turn-Based Mode, allowing them to catch up before Kar'niss proceeds.
Halfway through the journey to Moonrise Towers, Kar'niss and his fellow cultists will be ambushed by a group of Harpers from the Last Light Inn. Players can either choose to defend Kar'niss if they're siding with the cult or want to maintain their cover as True Souls, or use this opportunity to turn on the Drider and potentially loot his Moon Lantern.
Players who choose to turn on Kar'niss will have a slightly harder time entering Moonrise Towers as a True Soul. Alternatively, if they choose to defend Kar'niss, players will complete the rest of the journey without incident and be admitted straight into Moonrise Towers as they've arrived with the expected guide.
Players who'd like to maintain their cover as True Souls but ultimately intend to side with the Last Light Inn can activate non-lethal attacks during this fight, though it's unconfirmed whether this will make any difference when they interact with Harpers in the future.
Baldur's Gate 3 is available now on macOS and PC, and it's coming to PS5 on September 6. The Xbox version is launching sometime in 2023.
