There's a One-day time limit in this quest. Failure to obey the time limit nullifies the Gilded Rope's ability to deactivate the tower wards.
Intrigue with Jarlaxle is a side quest available in chapter 5.
Aquisition[]
In Ust Natha, after the meeting with Matron Mother Ardulace Despana, a solitary mage figure named Visaj appears on the path just north of Deirex's Tower. He initiates dialogue when the party is close by and proposes to sell a Gilded Rope for 1,000 
.
Visaj explains that the rope has been stolen from Jarlaxle, and it has an enticing use - ".. with it, you would be immune to Deirex's power and could loot the mage tower as you pleased! Consider the possibilities!".
If Viconia DeVir is a party member she has an interjection in Visaj's lines of dialogue saying "I know of this drow. An infamous mercenary, leader of the Bregan D'aerthe,,, a powerful rogue known throughout the Underdark."
If you don't have that much gold, he'll sell it for just 750 . If the PC's charisma is 15 or higher, the party can talk him down to 500 - or threaten him and take the rope from him for free.
The party can turn down Visaj's offer as well, and not obtain the rope. If so, then he remains at this spot and can be contacted later if the party changes its mind.
If the party obtains the rope, Visaj will walk away and disappear off the map afterwards. If the party is planning to attack him, see his article page for more on this subject.
With the rope in your possession, it just remains for the party to decide to undertake the foray into the lich's tower. If Visaj's explanation of the rope's powers are true, then it will provide immunity to the lich's power and allow the opportunity to access any treasures within. What red blooded adventurer could refuse?
- Journal entry: Intrigue with Jarlaxle (quest registered)
- Visaj told me of Jarlaxle and his failed attempt to get revenge on a House that had refused him payment for services rendered. Visaj says that he stole a magical rope from Jarlaxle. With it, I would be immune to imprisonment, and I can loot the home of Deirex safely, protected from the lich inside. I suppose there is only one way to test it.
Walkthrough[]
Jarlaxle's Assignment[]
The party can now move towards Deirex's Tower and enter it. Deirex the Lich is present within and engages your party immediately with a short dialogue and then via a cut scene, casting what appears to be an Imprisonment Spell. Fortunately, and surprisingly, you are instead teleported to Jarlaxle's pocket dimension conference room.
Jarlaxle will say:
- "Ah! It worked. I wasn't sure it would... these things have a way of never working out exactly as you plan. Thinking on the fly is an occupational hazard."
It is apparent that Jaraxle knows who the bhaalspawn is, and the drow illusion is not sufficient to fool him. He continues his explanation of what is going on (with interjections from Visaj) and will answer some questions. The party learns that gems are required to be taken from the lich, as these contain the trapped souls of his men. He says:
- "Whether you kill the lich or not is up to you. Killing him would allow you to loot the tower, I suppose, but however you get those gems is of no concern to me."
He proposes that the party get moving on the gem recovery ASAP, saying:
- " I just want to make sure that you find those gems in a timely manner. Hmmm... how long would you say would be fair, Visaj? An hour?"
- Journal entry: Intrigue with Jarlaxle (quest updated)
- I have been ambushed into the service of Jarlaxle. While his men are indeed captives of the lich Deirex, Visaj's story about stealing the rope was false. Now it appears I must retrieve certain gems from the lich's tower and return them to Jarlaxle lest he reveal my identity in this place. It is not without promise, however, and I may have opportunity to loot the tower as well as House Jae'llat in this deal. I have one day to do it.
In the end, after Visaj replies, he gives you one day to accomplish this task.
Deirex has apparently trapped the souls of some of Jarlaxle's men in those gems. Whether you agree or not, he teleports you back to Ust Natha. It is up to you if you enter the lich's Tower to take on Jarlaxle's "request". See the Deirex article page for his statistics and capabilities.
Enter the Tower and you'll soon have to fight with Deirex, who is capable of casting Time Stop, Abi-Dalzim's Horrid Wilting and puts up a potentially stiff resistance (22,000 XP). Be sure to search his body for the Lich's Tooth and the Jae'llat Wardstone. Also search this place for treasures (some of which are trapped), including:
- Glitterdust scroll
- Wizard Eye scroll
- Deafness scroll
- Contagion scroll
- Remove Magic scroll
- Limited Wish scroll
- Melf's Minute Meteors scroll
- Spook scroll
- Armor of the Viper
- Deirex's Gems
Taking Deirex's Gems will instantly teleport you back to the pocket dimension. So, ensure you take these gems last, or you will potentially miss out on the other valuables. Once again in the pocket plane headquarters within Jarlaxle's House, he and Visaj are present. Dialogue presents and Jarlaxle is pleased that those gems were found.
Jarlaxel says: "And here you are, once again, with gems in hand! Really, <CHARNAME>, you have lived up to my expectations and then some! I'll take those gems, thank you."
He then continues: "Ahhh, precious, aren't they? To think the Jae'llat have squirreled away such beauty for a millennium. What do you figure they'll get on the market, Visaj?"
Visaj replies: "A considerable amount, Commander. There are more than a few nobles who would pay dearly for the opportunity to vex the Jae'llat, regardless of their worth."
Jaraxel then says: "True enough. I wish I could be there to see the matron mother's face when she finds out we got our payment anyway."
At this point, Gorion's Ward exclaims "Wait a minute! I thought you said those gems contained the souls of your men!" - if Imoen, Haer'Dalis, or Nalia de'Arnise are party members then one of those companions will make a version of this exclamation instead.
Jarlaxel explains: "Would I risk my men against the lich? I just wanted the payment I was due, as well as collecting the price of the matron mother's insult to the Bregan D'aerthe."
He continues: "I have not only collected the soul gems of the matron who founded the Jae'llat, but you killed their ally Deirex, a member of their own House. I have collected for myself one of the most valuable possessions that the Jae'llat had... the soul gems of the matron who founded their clan. - I think matters between the Bregan D'aerthe and House Jae'llat are pretty much even now, wouldn't you agree, <CHARNAME>?"
At this stage of the dialogue, the party has some reply selections it can make, but they boil down to two outcomes.
The first is to willingly or begrudgingly accept what has occurred, and if so, the party will hear some final remarks and explanations of just what can be done to raid House Jae'llat using the Jae'llat Wardstone, and that Jarlaxel will ensure that the city will not intervene - and also that the party is free to return to Deirex's Tower and use the Lich's Tooth to pass into the tower's inner treasury.
If the party goes with this decision, they'll receive (10,000 XP) for their daring mission, and 2,500 .
Alternatively, Gorion's Ward can say "But you and I are not even. I am not one of your lackeys, and I demand payment!" - and Jarlaxle will then reply - "But I am allowing you to keep your little secret, <PRO_RACE>. Is that worth nothing to you? Dance amongst the drow as long as you wish; I care not - As for what you choose to make of your encounter with me, that is up to you. You may choose to be bitter, or you can take advantage of your situation."
The party then has the Gilded Rope removed, but also receives an additional 2,500 .
Some parting remarks are made and the party is transported back to the exterior of Deirex's Tower.
The second choice is to not accept how Jarlaxel has taken advantage of the party, and to threaten him repeatedly, for example, "I'll kill you for trying to manipulate me!", and after he warns you to let it go, he'll say - "You do remember that my men are not imprisoned... we are able to protect ourselves from the likes of you. Do you truly wish to pursue this foolishness?"
If the party persists and says "I'm going to kill you, drow, and nothing's going to stop me!"
With this tone and conviction, Jaraxel will say "A shame. Your funeral."
And with that, both the drow turn hostile and attack the party, to the death.
With this action the party receives no reward money or quest experience points, however the combat XP for Visaj and Jaraxel can be had, and if the party is quick enough their bodies can be looted before being transferred from the pocket plane conference room.
In any case, you will be teleported back to the Ust Natha pathway outside the tower.
The quest journal also resolves with:
- Journal entry: Intrigue with Jarlaxle (quest finished)
- Lies again, of course. The gems Jarlaxle wished stolen did not contain the souls of his men, whom he never risked attacking the lich to begin with. The gems were actually valuable artifacts belonging to House Jae'llat, of which the lich was an ally. Jarlaxle concocted this whole affair for his original goal of retribution against the House that had failed to pay him. I may have gained the means to enter two drow dwellings, but this chicanery makes my head spin. The rope will get me back to where I should be.
Thus ends the side quest.
Inside Deirex's Tower[]
If the party is in possession of the Lich's Tooth, then it is now possible to bypass the wards to another doorway of Deirex's Tower into the Deirex's Cave area. Enter and find the lich's other treasures (x 3475 y 2730), within a pool of water, including:
- Cacofiend scroll
- Ruby Ray of Reversal scroll
- Wand of Frost
- Wand of Magic Missiles
- Spear +3
- Two-handed Sword +2
- Short Sword +2
- Crossbow of Affliction
- A difficult to identify mysterious ring
House Jae'llat[]
With the Jae'llat Wardstone in your possession, you may now bypass the magical wards against intrusion and enter House Jae'llat, the wardstone will open two warded doors and allow you entrance (x 3260, y 1460). Using the wardstone to enter the house is an optional action, and the player can refrain from entering the area at all if they desire.
If entry to the house is undertaken, then of course this will lead to a fairly large battle against many drow warriors and spell casters, including a mage and at least two priestesses (each worth (6,000 XP) - it just wouldn't be a drow House without those elements, and this is only the first battle, there is another one when moving to the lower platforms, which involves Hindra Jae'llat (14,000 XP) and Ist'tar Jae'llat (16,000 XP). If you succeed in taking down the occupants, search the place for treasure, detailed on the House Jae'llat page.
Gallery[]
Bugs[]
If you return to Ust Natha after taking the dragon eggs from the temple of Lolth, Jarlaxle will still refer to you by your pseudonym. Retrieving Deirex's Gems will teleport you back to the pocket dimension into a tower — from which Jarlaxle will disappear soon after, leaving you unable to escape. Unfortunately, the game files will allow this to happen. Best to finish this questline before taking the Dragon Eggs to ensure no continuity problems.
Mod gallery[]
People involved[]
- Portraits from Portraits Portraits Everywhere
Mod screenshots[]
