Baldur's Gate 2 Online Walkthrough by Montresor
KILL BALTHAZAR
When you have killed both Abazigal and Sendai, you will see a short cutscene where Balthazar has Melissan dragged off to be executed. You will also meet Elminster who makes it clear that your destiny is drawing nigh, and that you should make Balthazar your next target.
Problem is, Balthazar is locked up in his monastery. So you have to find a way in. Elminster suggests that you speak to Saemon Havarian in the Smugglers' Cave in Amkethran. But there is also another way in.
- First, travel back to Amkethran. Please note that from now on, all Balthazar's monks and mercenaries will be hostile.
If you prefer to take Saemon Havarian's way in, go to the Smugglers' Cave. Saemon will meet you there. For the alternative way in, please see below.
- Of course he will try to blame *you* for all the misfortunes that happened to him in the past. But bear with him and hear him out.
- At the end, he asks you for a few moments to prepare. Break off conversation, then speak to him again.
- Saemon takes you to the gate to Balthazar's Monastery and speaks the proper passwords to be let in.
- However, once inside gates it turns out he made a deal with Balthazar's monks – except that he "forgot" to drug you. (He felt like he owed you one – leaving you *awake* with several enemies is apparently his way of repaying a debt.)
Saemon then beats a hasty retreat and leaves you with a Monk, two Fighters, and two Mages. Kill them all, then enter the door at 16 on the Amkethran map.
- Inside the Monastery, go find Balthazar's throne at 2.
- Balthazar engages you in conversation, claiming that his goal was to kill off all other Bhaalspawn and then to commit ritual suicide to prevent Bhaal from rising again.
Of course, you being a Bhaalspawn means he has to kill *you*... So once more, all conversation paths lead to a fight.
- From Dave Milward's excellent walkthrough (available from Sorcerer's Place) I have learned that Balthazar has a number of special abilities in addition to the standard Monk abilities like Lay on Hands, Stunning Blow, and Quivering Palm:
- Strength of 22.
- Regenerates 6 hit points per second.
- Shadow Stance (Invisibility).
- Shadow Kick (works like Smite).
- Second Wind (Dimension Door + Heal in one blow).
- Solar Stance (a Sunfire spell that also kicks opponents back).
- Lunar Stance (a spell trigger that releases Bigby's Crushing Hand, Magic Missiles, and Greater Malison at once).
All in all a very tough customer. The trick is to rush him with your best fighters and subject him to repeated Greater Whirlwind attacks, while ignoring his allies. Once he dies, they split.
- When Balthazar dies, each party member receives 40,000 XP and you are teleported back to the Hellish Pocket Plane for another conversation with the Solar.
- The Solar summons Melissan to explain herself. Melissan admits to being the High Priestess of Bhaal, Amellyssan the Blackhearted. And she is now plotting to betray Bhaal and become the new Goddess of Murder herself.
- The Solar opens the path to the final challenge and each party member gets 10,000 XP more. You are also transported back to the Monastery.
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The alternative way into the monastery
If you don't feel like working with the likes of Saemon Havarian, here is another way into the Monastery. To follow this path, you must have solved the quest to Rescue Marlowe's Daughter, as you must have access to the Cave of the Dead.
- Go to Zakee's Tavern at 7 in Amkethran. The mercenaries inside will attack you, so kill them.
Speak to Zakee the bartender and ask if he knows a way into the Monastery. Zakee refers you to a pair of adventurers from Calimshan, Faheed and Majira.
- Go to the little house at 11 in Amkethran, enter, and exit through the hole in the roof.
- Go to the unmarked house at 14 (the one next to Marlowe's home at 13) and enter.
- Speak to Faheed and explain that you wish to kill Balthazar. He then gives you the key to a locked cabinet in the Cave of the Dead.
- Exit their house and find the entrance to the Cave of the Dead at 3 in Amkethran.
- Enter the Cave of the Dead. You need to climb the treacherous ladder at the back of the cave.
- Use the key to open the cabinet at (x=800, y=210). Enter.
- And find yourself at 2 in the Monastery.
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If you prefer to take Saemon Havarian's way in, go to the Smugglers' Cave. Saemon will meet you there. For the alternative way in, please see below.
Speak to Zakee the bartender and ask if he knows a way into the Monastery. Zakee refers you to a pair of adventurers from Calimshan, Faheed and Majira.
