The Uncommon Cold is a quest that can be undertaken in Chapter 10 of Baldur's Gate: Siege of Dragonspear. It is triggered by talking to Dosia in the Coalition Camp.
Background[]
A strange plague has befallen several of the warriors in the Coalition Camp, resulting in a triage area being set up in the southwest of the camp. Dosia, the lead healer, is completely baffled by the disease and has no idea how to cure it, instead being kept busy trying to keep the people alive. Speaking to Dosia gives the player the quest to examine some of the sick and try to identify a possible solution.
Examinations[]
The player must speak to three sick soldiers; Xerra, Yestimell and Zidrand. The order in which they are investigated doesn't matter.
- Xerra requires either Intelligence ≥ 15, Cleric class, Druid class, Viconia, Glint, Jaheira, or M'Khin.
He will be noted as feverish, and a cooling poultice is the recommended treatment.
- Zidrand requires either Wisdom ≥ 15, Cleric class, Druid class, or Viconia, Glint, Jaheira, or M'Khiin.
She seems sicker than the others around her, and it is discovered that close proximity between the infected intensifies the effects of the disease.
- Yestimell has two possible "successful" treatments.
Regardless of the choices, the pain will make Yestimell attack the party in a pain-fueled berserker rage, and he must be slain.- One requires either Intelligence ≥ 15, Cleric class, Shaman class, Viconia, Glint, or M'Khiin, and is simply the basic correct treatment.
- The other requires Druid class, Jaheira, Minsc, or Corwin, and additionally will also open up a conversation topic with Dosia about rats.
Reporting[]
Once all three sick soldiers have been investigated, Dosia must be spoken to about the examination.
If the party includes Glint, Jaheira, M'Khiin, or Viconia, they can be asked for advice, and they will recommend the player get a poultice of Blackthorn Tree bark.
If Yestmimell's examination involved him being compared to a rat, it can be mention to Dosia, and she will suggest that they ask a rat for advice.
Alternatively, it can be suggested that:
- Simply quarantine the infected and let them ride out the disease which fails the quest and reduces Reputation by 2.
- Pushing for them be executed and their bodies burned will fail the quest, awards a Villain point, and applies -2 Reputation if the speaker's Charisma > 18 or -4 Reputation if it is higher[2].
If the player asks Dosia for her opinions on what to do, she will recommend going to the nearby Bloodbark Grove and speaking to a local druid named Onoroth for advice.
Ask a rat[]
The player must use either Corwin, Jaheira or Minsc to speak to rats running around the camp. They may be difficult to see as they have no foot circle unless moused over, and there is no banner.
The first rat will turn into a wererat who will become hostile and attack the party.
The second rat will reveal the cure to the disease is made from Blackthorn Tree bark, essentially making this a slightly longer and more EXP-generous route to the answer that other party members could have given in the first place. Jump to Get Blackthorn Bark
Ask Onoroth[]
Onoroth can be found near the ruined house in the south-east corner of the Bloodbark Grove map. He will reveal that he can make a cure, but he has a request first; the player needs to kill a Diseased Greater Basilisk in the northwest corner of the map and bring him its claw as proof of the deed. Once this is done, he will give the party a dose of Blackthorn Bark Cure.
It bears mention that it's possible to kill the basilisk and take its Basilisk Claw even after this quest has been completed without Onoroth.
Get Blackthorn Bark[]
The Blackthorn Tree is located in the northeastern corner of Bloodbark Grove, near a Shambling Mound and a pack of Bombardier Beetles that are guarding a corpse that carries a Clasp of Helm, a scroll of Conjure Lesser Earth Elemental, and a Wand of Fear. The tree is noted on the map as a "Strange Tree".
When the tree is interacted with, a pack of mixed wolves and dire wolves led by a vampire wolf will attack the party. The dire wolves will display trollish regeneration for some reason, and must have fire or acid applied to their downed bodies to kill them. Once the bark is collected, it is automatically transformed into Blackthorn Bark Cure in the party's inventory.
Return with the cure[]
When you return to Dosia, you'll have three options:
- Handing over the cure straight away will be rewarded with the Martyr's Morningstar +2, 6,000 XP, as well as gaining a "Hero" point toward the Epilogue ending. Depending on how many patients died, the party will also gain either 1 or 2 Reputation.
- If payment is demanded for the cure, then 3x Potions of Extra Healing are received, plus -1 Reputation, and 6,000 XP.
- If Dosia is told that her payment isn't good enough, then 2 Reputation will be lost.
Once the plague is cured, Dosia may be used as a standard temple healer.