Baldur’s Gate 3 – Open Hand Temple Murders Guide

TL;DR

  • Investigate both temple and graveyard to gather initial evidence using Speak with Dead spells
  • Access underground tunnels through kitchen hatch or well, defeating shapeshifters for key items
  • Navigate city crossing with deception tactics to reach Fraygo’s Flophouse
  • Use Flower Keys to uncover assassination target list in hidden room
  • Report findings to Inspector Valeria at Sharess Caress for quest completion

Embark on one of Baldur’s Gate 3’s most intricate detective challenges in Act 3, where your investigative skills will be thoroughly tested in the Open Hand Temple murder case. This complex investigation requires methodical evidence gathering and careful analysis of multiple crime scenes throughout Rivington.

Upon reaching the village in Act 3, you’ll immediately encounter disturbing rumors about the brutal murder of Father Lorgan, the head priest. The official narrative pins the crime on novice Brilgor, but Inspector Valeria’s certainty should raise your suspicions. Seasoned investigators know that obvious solutions often conceal deeper conspiracies.

Begin your investigation by speaking with the remaining temple priestess, who provides crucial insights about overlooked evidence. This initial conversation establishes the foundation for your entire investigation and reveals that the surface-level explanation doesn’t withstand scrutiny.

Your investigation should systematically cover three primary evidence collection areas, each requiring different investigative approaches and skill sets.

  • Novice Quarters Scrutiny: Thoroughly examine the novice living area, focusing on the central chest that conceals a hidden compartment. Success requires lockpicking proficiency (DC 15 recommended) to access the concealed book containing vital information about Father Lorgan’s activities and potential motives for his murder.
  • Corpse Communication Techniques: Utilize the Speak with Dead spell on Father Lorgan’s remains to gather firsthand testimony. Ask specific questions about his killer’s identity and the murder location to obtain actionable intelligence.
  • Graveyard Exhumation: Behind the temple, locate the fresh burial mound and employ your shovel to unearth Brilgor’s coffin. Destroy the coffin to access the body, then cast Speak with Dead to cross-reference testimonies and identify inconsistencies.

Through careful interrogation of both victims, you’ll establish that both murders occurred in the underground tunnels beneath the temple, with the perpetrator identified as a dwarf wearing distinctive red attire.

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Left: The chest in the middle has a hidden compartment; Right: You can also cast Speak with Dead on Brilgor’s corpse.

Your investigation now leads underground, with two distinct access points offering different challenges and requiring varied skill sets.

  • Temple Kitchen Entry: Locate the hatch in the temple kitchen leading to an underground altar chamber. Pass a Perception check (DC 14) to detect two concealed buttons behind heraldic crests on opposite walls. Press both simultaneously to reveal the hidden passageway. While in this area, complete the Help the Cursed Monk quest for additional rewards and narrative context.
  • Alternative Well Access: Descend the well across from the temple, navigating rocky terrain before targeting the winch mechanism with ranged attacks to create passage. This route emerges at the cliff base shoreline, where a cave entrance awaits to your left.
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Left: Shoot the winch so you can go through the passageway; Right: Detect the two buttons on either side of the altar and press them.

Regardless of your chosen infiltration method, prepare for combat against multiple shapeshifters. These skilled adversaries require tactical approaches – focus fire, control spells, and environmental advantages can turn the battle in your favor. After victory, meticulously search each corpse for essential investigative items.

  • Flower Key #10: A numerically marked key crucial for progressing your investigation.
  • Stillmaker Dagger: This very rare weapon serves as both combat asset and critical evidence, being the actual murder instrument.
  • Clown’s Severed Torso: Connects to the Find Dribbles the Clown quest, demonstrating the interconnected nature of Baldur’s Gate 3’s criminal underworld.
Check the corpses of the shapeshifters for clues, including a key that has a flower motif and the number 10 etched on it.

Check the corpses of the shapeshifters for clues, including a key that has a flower motif and the number 10 etched on it.

The Flower Key discovery marks your investigation’s transition from evidence gathering to active pursuit of the conspiracy’s architects.

  • City Crossing Navigation: Proceed along the main thoroughfare toward the crossing, where guards including an imposing giant sentry will intercept you. Employ deception by providing a fabricated identity – the sentry may display recognition but permits passage regardless, suggesting deeper narrative threads.
  • Flophouse Infiltration: Beyond the archway, identify Fraygo’s Flophouse to your left. Gain entry through legitimate means or utilize lockpicking (DC 18) on the rear entrance for stealthier access.
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Left: Trick the sentries so you can pass through the crossing point; Right: Enter the hidden room behind the dresser in Fraygo’s Flophouse.

Inside the establishment, locate the small upper-floor chamber and interact with the dresser to reveal a concealed passage. The hidden bedroom contains additional evidence: another victim, Flower Key #5, and various documents including the critical assassination target list that forms the investigation’s ultimate objective.

With the target list secured, proceed to Sharess Caress tavern opposite the flophouse to locate Inspector Valeria. Present your compelling evidence to convince her of the true conspiracy, earning a Lower City Pass and advancing to subsequent investigative phases. This completes your resolution of the Open Hand Temple Murders, though the broader conspiracy continues unfolding.

Baldur’s Gate 3’s rich narrative tapestry ensures each investigation reveals deeper layers of intrigue. For comprehensive guidance on mastering other aspects of the game, consult our Complete Guide to enhance your overall gameplay experience.

Action Checklist

  • Gather initial evidence from novice quarters and interrogate both corpses using Speak with Dead
  • Access underground tunnels via kitchen hatch or well, defeating shapeshifters
  • Collect Flower Key #10, Stillmaker dagger, and clown torso
  • Navigate city crossing using deception, then infiltrate Fraygo’s Flophouse
  • Use Flower Keys to access hidden room and secure assassination target list
  • Report findings to Inspector Valeria at Sharess Caress

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