As expected with any typical RPG game these days, Baldur’s Gate 3 also comes with a ton of optional side quests that you can try and complete.
One of these side quests is Find The Mushroom Picker which is available whilst exploring the Underdark, the quest itself can be obtained whilst on Act 1 / Chapter 1
It will involve Derryth Bonecloak wanting to know the whereabouts of her husband, Baelen who was sent on an errand that she suspects he has made a mess of.
FIND THE MUSHROOM PICKER – SIDE QUEST
SOLO (SINGLE CHARACTER – Rogue) Vs BULETTE
UNLOCKING THE FIND THE MUSHROOM PICKER QUEST
In order to be able to unlock the Find the Mushroom Picker side quest we will want to be over at the Underdark, during act and chapter 1.
From there proceed and find a woman known as Derryth Bonecloak. Who will be over at the coordinates x:54 y:-94. Apparently she is worried about her missing husband, Baelen.
WHERE TO FIND HUSBAND BAELEN
Make your way to the Dread Hollow (x:-4 y:-110) where your party may end up talking amongst themselves about the area and the nearby trees. Basically if you didn’t already know the nearby Bibberbangs cause Gas to pour out upon exploding.
Climb down the Knotted Roots and we will find Baelen surrounded by quite a few Bibberbangs. We do not want to go near these. So now what?
HOW TO RESCUE BAELEN
If you try to get close to Baelen, he will stop you and you will now learn more about Bibberbangs. If you didn’t already know Bibberbangs are a dangerous Mushroom that explodes toxic gas. You will also learn of Baelen’s missing bag
UPDATE: Thanks to Envec
Take a high Strength character (one who has a better jumping range) and equip them with a Shovel in their inventory. Separate them from your group. SAVE.
Jump to the ledge on the left. Then jump once again around and until you are above the clearing with the Dwarf’s backpack. Jump down and throw the backpack to the Dwarf, Baelen. Jump back to your ledge and continue jumping to the right where you will find a skeleton with a magic Explorer’s Ring (+1 Survival, +1 Nature).
Continue right till you are above the Noblestalk. SAVE. Enter Turn Based Mode (This gives you time to act before the shrooms explode). Jump down just to the right of the Noblestalk (As far from the exploding shrooms as possible). If you get the right spot the shrooms will only swell before you pick the Noblestalk. SAVE.
Next turn Jump to the little clearing in front of you. In the clearing if you make a successful Survival roll is a chest you can dig up and loot. From there you can move up to the shrooms on the right to get in jumping range. Next turn Jump to the next clearing where you can exit Turn Based Mode and make your way to the Lloth alter and loot it as well. Go To Camp.
Grab your other 3 and also Go To Camp. Regroup, hit your map key and port to the Myconid Colony to talk to the Dwarf and his wife.
THE NOBLESTALK
Thanks To: LtHead – You left out the most important part of the quest, the valuable noblestalk plant that the dwarves were searching for. It’s in the corner of the room with Baelen surrounded by bibberbang, I reached it by jumping along the top using La’zeal you can then choose to give it to Derryth for a future reward at her shop in Baldurs Gate city or keep it for yourself. (When pressed Derryth reveals it’s a cure all wonder plant)
Thanks To: Alaric – The noblestalk may have other uses too. On top of giving it to either the husband or wife you can also give it to the deep gnome to cure her of her poison.
CHOOSE TO KILL BAELEN
If you are in the evil frame of mind then you can of course kill Baelen, in order to do this all you need to do is simply shoot any one of these Bibberbangs and they will form like dominoes, continuing to explode one after another. Poor and trapped Baelen will of course choke to death at this point.
After Baelen is dealt with feel free to use Fire abilities in order to vanquish the Gas and then Water abilities in order to get rid of the Fire. Now you can examine Baelen’s body if you so choose to, you will actually get more loot but none of it is actually that great. Report back to Derryth. Quest end.
JOURNAL NOTES
Find Baelen –
Derryth told us about her husband Baelen. He’s lost somewhere in the Underdark. We got a description of Baelen. He’s bald and wearing a blue tunic. He is also, apparently, not very smart.
Save Baelen –
We found Baelen trapped in a field of Bibberbangs. He begged us to throw him his bag.
Talk To Baelen – (If you chose to save Baelen)
We rescued Baelen. We should check on him.
Speak With Derryth –
We saved Baelen. We should tell Derryth the good news. While it wasn’t a joyful reunion, Derryth has her husband back now (If you chose to save Baelen)
Baelen died. We should let Derryth know. We told Derryth that her husband is dead. She didn’t seem particularly upset. (If you chose to kill Baelen)
NOTES
During one of the early access patches Baelen was described as being bald-headed but, when encountered, he had hair. Either that or it was a wig. This was later amended with Patch 4 back in 2021.
RELATED GUIDES / LINKS:
- Baldur’s Gate 3 – Guides Playlist (Written)
- Baldur’s Gate 3 – Guides Playlist (Videos)
- Baldur’s Gate 3 – Other/Various (Party Banter, Approval Sheets, Disapproval Sheets)
- Baldur’s Gate 3 – Our Game Review
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After Release: Take a high Strength character (Better jumping range) with a Shovel in their inventory. Seperate them from your group. SAVE. Jump to the ledge on the left. Jump around until you are above the clearing with the Dwarf’s backpack. Jump down and throw the backpack to the Dwarf. Jump back to your ledge and continue jumping to the right where you will find a skeleton with a magic Explorer’s Ring (+1 Survival, +1 Nature). Continue right till you are above the Noblestalk. SAVE. Enter Turn Based Mode (This gives you time to act before the shrooms explode). Jump down just to the right of the Noblestalk (As far from the explodey shrooms as possible). If you get the right spot the shrooms will only swell before you pick the Noblestalk. SAVE. Next turn Jump to the little clearing in front of you. In the clearing if you make a successful Survival roll is a chest you can dig up and loot. From there you can move up to the shrooms on the right to get in jumping range. Next turn Jump to the next clearing where you can exit Turn Based Mode and make your way to the Lloth alter and loot it as well. Go To Camp. Grab your other 3 and also Go To Camp. Regroup, hit your map key and port to the Myconid Colony to talk to the Dwarf and his wife.
The noblestalk may have other uses too. On top of giving it to either the husband or wife you can also give it to the deep gnome to cure her of her poison.
You can also steal the bag (2xMisty step, 1xFeather fall), and trigger the mushrooms, you will save him (1x scroll Invisibility). Also, back in town, you can talk to Baelen first and give him the mushroom, he will regain his mind and be a jerk.
You left out the most important part of the quest, the valuable noblestalk plant that the dwarves were searching for. It’s in the corner of the room with Baelen surrounded by bibberbang, I reached it by jumping along the top using La’zeal you can then choose to give it to Derryth for a future reward at her shop in Baldurs Gate city or keep it for yourself.
I didn’t have Misty Step. So another way is to use jump to reach the bag 🙂