One major concern in Act 2 of Baldur’s Gate 3 is the potential rescue of Duke Ravengard, but the closer a party gets to the end of the story arc, the more unclear the possibility of saving him can become. The final stretch of Act 2 focuses on Moonrise Towers, the fortress of Ketheric Thorm where the duke is allegedly being held. Like most Baldur’s Gate 3 locations, Moonrise has plenty to explore inside, but one secret that can be hard to ferret out is the mystery of where Duke Ravengard is being held.
[Warning: This article has spoilers for Baldur’s Gate 3.]
The goal of rescuing Duke Ravengard from the clutches of the Absolute can be an intensely personal one, as the duke just so happens to be Wyll’s estranged father. Whether trying to further a relationship with Wyll, get to the heart of his backstory, or simply save everyone that a party can, Duke Ravengard seems like a major priority for extraction. A passing reference establishes that he’s likely to be held somewhere deep in the tower, but jumping into the oubliette that can be found near the cells where the tieflings and deep gnomes are held doesn’t turn up any results.
Duke Ravengard Can’t Be Saved In Moonrise Towers
Unfortunately, it’s impossible to play the hero in Moonrise Towers when it comes to Duke Ravengard. It isn’t possible to meet him in Baldur’s Gate 3 until the opportunity arises to confront Ketheric Thorm in the bowels of the Towers, which can only be accessed after first facing Ketheric on the rooftop or letting Balthazar have the Nightsong. Duke Ravengard is introduced via a cutscene in which the duke is infected by one of the mind flayer tadpoles, an act that can’t simply be interrupted by breaking into a fight.
Duke Ravengard’s Story Doesn’t End In Baldur’s Gate 3 Act 2
Patience is the best virtue for those interested in pursuing the story of Wyll and his father further, as Duke Ravengard unsurprisingly reappears later in Baldur’s Gate 3. His inclusion in Act 3 is more robust than his cutscene appearance in Act 2, providing a better window of opportunity to influence his fate and attempt to divert the will of the Absolute. As there are plenty of other matters to take care of in Moonrise Towers, this delay might be for the best, avoiding one more complication in a situation where far too many things can go wrong.
The most important takeaway from the Act 2 approach to Duke Ravengard is that there’s no use in searching every corner of Moonrise Towers for him, as the duke is sure to appear when his time comes in the story and not a second sooner. Although Baldur’s Gate 3 puts a huge emphasis on choice and agency, there are some significant story moments focused on stepping back and watching things unfold without the opportunity to interfere. Duke Ravengard has a part to play in Act 2 of Baldur’s Gate 3, but trying to save him in Moonrise Towers will be nothing more than a waste of time.
