Baldur’s Gate 3 features many quests that involve tough decisions. The decisions you make can have far-reaching effects and consequences in the future. One such choice comes at the end of the Find the Missing Shipment quest in Act 1 after you’ve defeated the Gnolls. At the quest’s end, you will face three choices involving Rugan in Baldur’s Gate 3, the caravan’s leader.
You can keep the chest he is transporting for yourself, let Rugan keep it, or peek inside it and deliver it to the hideout. Each choice presents completely different outcomes, and it is important to know which does which.
Take the Chest for Yourself
You need to pass an intimidation check to take the chest for yourself. Your intimidation stat needs to be at a higher level to make sure you’re successful. You’ll have two separate occasions to take the chest for yourself.
Either pick the option “Whatever your cargo is, I’ll consider it as payment,” or if you get further into the conversation, select the “No, this is where I stop asking and start cutting” option. At this point, Rugan and his companion, Olly, become hostile in Baldur’s Gate 3. However, they are very easy targets, and you can kill both Rugan and Olly quickly.
Once the chest is in your possession, you can open the Caravan Strongbox. Doing so grants you two items: some gold and an iron flask. If you open the iron flask, you are faced with a boss battle with a Beholder called Spectator in Baldur’s Gate 3.
Unlike your previous encounter with Rugan and Olly, this boss battle is tough and requires a party of experienced individuals. This boss fight has consequences, but killing Olly and Rugan will lock you out of certain quests with the Zhentarim. You can no longer enter the Zhentarim hideout, use the merchant’s services, and cannot Free the Artist. In short, we strongly recommend against killing Rugan to loot his cargo.
Let Rugan take the Chest
f you let Rugan keep the chest, he will deliver it himself in Baldur’s Gate 3. Once he does, you will be granted a shortcut to the Zhentarim Hideout. When Rugan completes the delivery, you are asked to speak with their leader, Zarys. Speaking to her will give you a new crossbow, “Harold,” and you will get better rates with the merchant Brem in the location.
The Zhentarim are a shady bunch, so you can consider your character following a similar path if you hold dealings with them. However, remaining friendly with the Zhentarim opens more quests involving Rugan further into the game around Act 3.
Peek inside the Chest and take it to the Zhentarim Hideout
The final option is essentially the same as the first. Because once you open the chest, even if the contents remain intact, you’re considered to breach Zhentarim’s trust. Delivering the chest open turns them hostile.
The hideout contains many Zhentarim, and going down this route can result in a difficult showdown. The outcome of this choice is like the first, with many quests becoming unavailable to you.
Rugan bugged in Baldur’s Gate 3
If you return to Zhentarim hideout after saving Rugan and meet Zarys, she will refuse to offer you any reward. This is not a bug and Rugan is not stuck at all. Simply take a long rest, and he will appear at Zhentarim Hideout. You can collect your rewards from Zarys now.
