Investigate the circus tent

Investigate the Circus Tent is a side quest that takes place during the events of the Shadows of Amn. Undertaking the quest provides Gorion's Ward the possibility of adding the companion Aerie to the party.

Gameplay walkthrough[]

While exploring the district of Waukeen's Promenade, speak with Fearghus, an animal trainer located atop a wooden platform which overlooks several cages containing various circus animals. He will answer questions and give alarming statements concerning the recent bizarre events he witnessed taking place inside the Circus Tent.
- Don't forget to speak with the young lad Giran who's standing to the left of the tent entrance to see if you can help find his mother.
- An Amnian Soldier standing guard outside the tent entrance will warn you that no one who has entered the tent has returned.

Enter the circus tent (after the soldier has agreed to let you do so) and you will find yourself in a peculiar realm, an area that defies the actual exterior dimensions of the tent. How can this be?

“	Upon stepping through the tent door, the world seems to shift. When it settles, you find yourself standing at the end of a bizarre walkway as the wind blows over you. A massive tower rises at the other side of the bridge. The tent door is nowhere to be found. You shall have to go forward.	”
— Journal entry

Soon after, you'll be challenged by a mysterious Genie who's standing atop a short bridge. The genie will demand that the party answer his riddle. Successfully solving the first riddle nets the party 19500 XP. If you fail the first riddle and answer the second one correctly the party receives 14500 XP. If you fail to answer both riddles, the genie turns hostile and the party will gain even less experience (5000 XP) for defeating him.

Note: For information on the Genie's puzzling questions - see the Solving the Genie's Riddle page.

Further on across the bridge is a horseshoe-arched entrance way that leads into a second circular tent.

- Inside the tent, an ogre with a soft female voice addresses you. Through dialogue and questions the ogre will explain that everything is an illusion inside the tent and beseech you to free her from her invisible chains by retrieving a key in the form of a sword from some 'Peasants' elsewhere in the tent.
- Speak with the Giant Spider. It isn't hostile and is actually a woman named Hannah. She may warn you that the nearby peasants are actually monsters and enemies.
- Defeat the monsters (975 XP ea). Find the sword and give it to the "Ogre" to set her free from the invisible chains (the party receives 18500 XP). It soon is apparent the ogre is the elf Aerie (you may add her as a companion now or tell her to wait here as you continue to explore the strange tent).
- Press on and speak with the "Pleasure Slave", who stands before a great arched doorway to the north. Find out more about Kalah's imaginary yet all too real realm by asking questions. Slay the slave if you wish, there will be no repercussions. Is she real? Does it matter?

Enter this doorway to the next floor of the tent.
- Inside there are several Shadows (420 XP ea) and illusionary Werewolves spaced around the circular room. Just what is real and what is not is still a mystery.
- Enter the room and defeat the werewolves and shadows or simply avoid them by exiting up to the next floor of the tent by going through another doorway that is visible above the point where you entered the room. A genie will appear when you begin to climb the steps leading upwards to that doorway. It is possible to kill him for 5000 XP, but quickness is of utmost importance to destroy the genie before he initiates dialogue and disappears off the map.
  - Gameplay strategy: Summon some monsters and send them up the stairs first, they won't trigger the genie, and as soon as a party member begins to climb the stairs and the genie appears, attack. He'll turn hostile and fight back.

Note: Be sure to loot the two pots on each side of the stairs because once you defeat Kalah this area disappears and is no longer accessible.

Kalah, the mastermind behind the grand illusion, will be on this floor, looking like a great Ogre mage. Defeat him and his shadows and other illusions before he can kill Quayle, who is seemingly in the form of some kind of slime or ooze creature. Quayle is a former companion from Baldur's Gate.
- Once defeated, Kalah and the party shift to the actual real circus tent, and all the illusions of grandeur are destroyed. Kalah, in his real form as a gnome, is found lying on the floor where he sputters and gasps for breath with his last pathetic words, and perishes. Aerie and Quayle will speak to the party following Kalah's death.
Be sure to speak with Hannah inside the final tent area for 500XP before you depart. Once outside in Waukeen's Promenade again, address the boy Giran for 2500 XP. This will finish the Find the boy's mother inside the circus tent side quest.
Finally, speak to the guard outside the tent once more and he will thank you. You will gain 1 point of reputation for the good deed.
Congratulations, you have successfully finished the investigation of the Circus Tent. If you have the Unfinished Business (Baldur's Gate II) mod installed, more things will occur at this point (see below).

Gallery[]

Mod content[]

This section is about unofficial content that is only available via fan-made mods.

Mods[]

Installing the Unfinished Business (Baldur's Gate II) mod and the component called Kalah & What He Was Promised is a new quest that follows up on the Circus Tent quest. How did Kalah get such amazing Illusionary Powers? Why did he create a realm inside the Circus Tent? The mod sends the party to find out, leading to a potentially challenging and satisfying conclusion.

Gallery[]

Portraits from Portraits Portraits Everywhere

Investigate the circus tent

Contents

Gameplay walkthrough[]

Gallery[]

Mod content[]

Mods[]

Gallery[]

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