Baldur's Gate 3 offers a remarkable feature with its diverse approaches to receiving quests. To enhance your exploration of the Sword Coast and delve into more action and lore, consider including "Speak With Animals" in your spell repertoire.
Quest initiations don't solely come from people; animals also play a role in sending you on various errands and adventures. All you need is the ability to communicate with them. Take, for example, the Blue Jay perched near the trolley close to Rosymorn Monastery. This anxious bird finds itself in a precarious situation, as its nest has been pilfered, and it seeks your assistance in reclaiming it.
Basic Quest Steps
Similar to most side quests, the player journal doesn't provide extensive details on the location for completing the Blue Jay's quest. However, it does offer a basic outline of steps to guide you through the process.
Follow these fundamental quest steps:
- Meet the Blue Jay: Ensure you have Speak With Animals equipped.
- Kill The Eagles: Head to the roof of Rosymorn Monastery to locate and eliminate the eagles.
- Talk To The Blue Jay: Engage in a conversation with the Blue Jay on the roof after dispatching the eagles to claim your reward.
Fortunately, the journal will keep you informed as you progress through different stages of the quest, serving as a helpful tool to keep you on the right track.
If you find yourself uncertain about your direction to reach the roof, continue exploring. The journal will update when you're on the correct path, indicating that you've discovered the Eagles' nest and should proceed to eliminate them.
Where To Find The Blue Jay
To initiate the quest, ensure you have the Speak With Animals ability and engage in conversation with the distressed Blue Jay.
Various methods exist for employing Speak With Animals, and your character doesn't necessarily need to belong to a spellcasting class. However, it is advisable to have at least one party member learn Speak With Animals to unlock additional quests involving animals.
You can utilize a Scroll of Speak With Animals or a potion of Speak With Animals to activate the effect on a character lacking the spell.
For spellcasters, there are two versions of Speak With Animals available. Classes like Wizard and Sorcerer can use spell slots for a single casting per long rest, while Ranger and Druid classes can learn Speak With Animals as a ritual spell without expending spell slots.
Once you've triggered the Speak With Animals effect, engage in conversation with the Blue Jay located at (X: -57, Y: -19).
It's crucial to note that the quest cannot be initiated if you're unable to communicate with the Blue Jay.
Descend the slope from the mountain pass entrance to locate the Blue Jay. Starting from the Netherese Portal, head right and continue along the path until you reach the Trolley.
Utilize the Trolley to descend to the lower valley basin, then follow the left path until you encounter the Blue Jay.
Alternatively, bypass the Trolley, head left of the station, and navigate down the Cragged Rocks until reaching a series of ledges. Leap onto the lower ledges and follow the path, which leads directly to the Blue Jay. Opting for this route is recommended due to the additional loot available.
Initiate a conversation with the Blue Jay and inquire about his nest to trigger the quest. Engaging in optional dialogue choices with the Blue Jay provides more details on the Githyanki Crèche and the Kobolds (referred to as drunk lizards) in Rosymorn.
The Blue Jay's dialogue suggests he might be attempting to pilfer the Giant Eagles' nest. It becomes your decision whether assisting the Blue Jay in stealing the nest aligns with your ethical gameplay. There are alternative methods to obtain the quest loot without aiding the Blue Jay or harming the ostensibly innocent Eagles.
While conversing with the Blue Jay, you may notice a key in his nest. You can acquire the key without provoking a conflict with the Blue Jay. Additionally, you have the option to pilfer from his nest without facing consequences, despite it appearing as a red action. Inside the nest, you'll discover jewelry that the Blue Jay had stolen.
How To Get To The Monastery Roof
The Rosymorn Monastery is expansive, and gaining entry is not immediately evident. Trying to enter through the front door is not feasible, but you have two alternative options: the left wing or the right wing.
Exploring the left side of the monastery, you'll encounter a broken window leading to a wine cellar. If you've inquired with the Blue Jay about the drunk kobolds, you'll be aware of the group of intoxicated kobolds awaiting you in the cellar.
Alternatively, you can access the left wing by breaking through the barricaded window on the outer left wall of the monastery's left side. Applying 22 points of bludgeoning, force, or fire damage to the boarded barricade (X:32, Y:25) grants you direct entry into the cellar with the kobolds.
It's advised against entering the monastery through the kobold side, as this route entails more combat encounters.
For a less combat-intensive approach, consider entering the monastery from the right side. Retrace your steps to the location where you encountered the Blue Jay and follow the path at the lowest elevation. This path will guide you to an Elegant Chest (X: 78, Y: -8) and some Knotted Roots.
Climb the Knotted Roots to reach a small courtyard. A section of the monastery wall is missing, allowing you to enter through this opening. Once inside, jump up onto the broken staircase to access the second level. On this landing, there's a Crumbling Wall (X: 105, Y: 37) that you need to break.
It's worth noting that you do not necessarily have to pass a passive check to locate the crumbling wall. Regardless, you can still demolish the wall with 22 points of bludgeoning damage.
Exercise caution behind the crumbling wall, as a Guardian of Faith is present in the room. Engaging with the Guardian's circle will initiate combat, so if you wish to avoid a confrontation, ensure each party member navigates around the circle.
From this room, you have two options: exit through the window onto a ledge, proceed through a series of other windows to re-enter the monastery, or lockpick the door to the Guardian's room. Both methods lead you back into the monastery.
On the second level, move toward the 'sound of crying,' but refrain from entering the crying room to avoid triggering another battle. Instead, break the 25 HP barricade at (X: 59, Y: 50) and head towards the empty pool.
In the empty pool at (X: 50, Y: 59), there's a buried treasure stash. You can either pass a survival check or dig at this location. If you have Scratch with you, he will indicate the stash's presence.
Near the pool, there are Knotted Roots. Ascend these roots to reach the monastery roof, where you'll encounter the Eagles and a sophisticated-looking machine.
How To Defeat The Giant Eagles At Rosymorn Monastery
Approaching the Giant Eagles allows for conversation if you have Speak With Animals active. When engaging with the Eagles, you can opt to attack them outright, accuse them of theft, or pass a persuasion check to convey your interest in the peculiar device on the roof.
Even if you choose not to harm the Eagles, the quest rewards remain accessible. However, to obtain the Blood of Lathander, you'll need the Ceremonial Warhammer concealed in the Eagle's Nest. This requires either defeating the Eagles in combat or stealthily infiltrating the nest to acquire the hammer.
The Giant Eagle encounter can pose a challenge, especially if unprepared, exacerbated by the difficult terrain with ensnaring roots that trigger Dexterity saves. Navigate carefully to avoid entanglement.
The Ancient Giant Eagle boasts a formidable 62 HP, while her offspring, the Giant Eagle, possesses 44 HP.
Keep in mind that these statistics were calculated in the Balanced game mode; total HP for enemies increases with higher difficulty levels, while player HP decreases.
In the initial round of the battle, your primary concern is the Ancient Eagle and her offspring. However, during the Ancient Giant Eagle's first turn, she will summon reinforcements. If not defeated before the reinforcements arrive, three additional Giant Eagles will enter the fray, each boasting 44 HP.
Although it may seem challenging with the odds stacking against you, the fight is manageable. Prioritize avoiding direct hits from the Giant Eagles, especially considering their Multiattack move, which can result in significant damage to your party. Carelessness may lead to being one-shot by an Eagle.
Maintain a supply of control spells, spell scrolls, and potions. Using spells like Ensnaring or entangling can limit the number of times you're targeted. Additionally, spells like Dominate Beast can be employed to convert the Eagles into allies, providing an advantageous twist to the encounter. Be strategic and well-prepared to overcome the challenges of the battle.
In essence, the most effective strategy for defeating the Giant Eagles can be distilled into the following key points:
- Inflict substantial damage early in the battle: Aim to deal significant damage to the Eagles as quickly as possible.
- Prevent the Ancient Giant Eagle from summoning reinforcements: Prioritize taking down the Ancient Giant Eagle to thwart the arrival of additional Eagles.
- Avoid entanglement in terrain: Steer clear of roots and difficult terrain to maintain mobility during the encounter.
- Utilize control spells to hinder Eagle actions: Employ spells that control or hinder the Eagles, preventing them from executing their turns effectively.
Upon successfully vanquishing the Eagles, the Blue Jay will ascend to the roof to 'reclaim' his nest.
Alternatively, if you opted for non-lethal attacks, the Blue Jay will peck the Eagles to death upon returning to the roof. Choosing not to engage in combat at all is the only way to spare the lives of the Eagles.
Quest Rewards And Completion
After the battle, engage in a conversation with the returning Blue Jay on the monastery roof. He will mark your map with the location of a buried treasure stash at (X: -3, Y: -30). This standard buried treasure mound can be discovered by passing a passive survival check, digging at the provided coordinates, or bringing Scratch to the dig site.
Buried Treasure Chests offer randomized loot, including weapons, instruments, potions, gems, and a substantial amount of gold coins. While the loot is randomly generated, items typically share equal rarity even in regenerated instances.
Additionally, you can loot the Giant Eagles for Giant Eagle Feathers, serving as an alchemical ingredient. The Giant Eagles' Nest contains the Ceremonial Warhammer, essential for the stained glass puzzle room where you will find the Blood of Lathander. Be sure to utilize the obtained items wisely as you progress in your quest.
Quest Alternatives
Typically, quest loot is obtained by completing the associated quest, but the Reclaim The Blue Jay's Nest quest deviates from this norm. As mentioned earlier, the reward for the Blue Jay's quest is not something exclusively guided by him.
Upon conversing with the Blue Jay, you learn that he pilfered the nest he's currently hovering over, suggesting his intent to also steal the Eagles' nest. Given the considerable size of the Eagles' nest, it appears that it may not have originally belonged to the Blue Jay.
Should you choose, there is even an option to seek retribution for the bird whose nest the Blue Jay stole.
Opting to eliminate the Giant Eagles and delivering the nest to the Blue Jay offers the advantage of receiving guidance to the concealed treasure and gaining a somewhat smoother initiation into the Blood of Lathander quest.
However, if you prefer not to harm the Ancient Giant Eagle and her offspring, who appear to have not taken the nest from anyone, you have alternatives. You can employ persuasive tactics to convince the Giant Eagles to leave you be, and then utilize stealth skills to pilfer the Ceremonial Warhammer from their nest.
Likewise, you can entirely sidestep the quest by heading directly to the buried treasure stash coordinates (X: -3, Y: -30) and excavating at that spot. Successfully passing the survival check will unveil the chest, and having Scratch accompany you will also lead to the revelation of the treasure.
There's no imperative reason to comply with the Blue Jay's request to kill the Giant Eagles. Ultimately, the decision boils down to your character alignment and how you choose to navigate the game.
