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QuestmajorMain storyModerate

Follow the Convoy

A branching Act Two sub-quest in which you use a spider lyre to join a cultist convoy through the Shadow-Cursed Lands and decide whether to preserve your cover or betray the drider guiding it.

RoleBranching sub-quest connected to Infiltrate Moonrise Towers
Statusavailable in Act Two
Importancemajor
RewardBranch-dependent outcome and possible companion approval changes
TimeVariable
  • ActAct Two
  • Quest typeBranching sub-quest
  • Linked main questInfiltrate Moonrise Towers
  • RegionShadow-Cursed Lands
  • Core itemSpider lyre
  • Key guideKar'niss
  • MissableYesThe convoy may disappear if the initial encounter is not triggered.
  • Main decisionDefend or betray the convoy

The source material does not provide a fixed duration, reward list or numerical difficulty rating.

Key takeaways

The quest is built around preparation, protected movement and a decision at the ambush.

  • Find the route's starting point Look for the cultist camp in the Shadow-Cursed Lands and speak with the NPCs there. The initial interaction is important because failing to trigger it can cause the convoy to disappear from the world.
  • Bring the spider lyre The spider lyre is the quest's practical key. It is typically acquired from Minthara and is used to summon Kar'niss for the convoy journey.
  • Treat the lantern as a moving safe zone Kar'niss's lantern protects the party from the surrounding shadows during the crossing. Staying close to the drider is therefore a survival requirement rather than merely a positioning preference.
  • Expect a faction decision The ambush at the abandoned building asks whether you will defend the convoy to preserve your True Soul cover or turn against Kar'niss and the convoy.

Follow the Convoy overview

Follow the Convoy is a branching sub-quest associated with Infiltrate Moonrise Towers in Act Two of Baldur's Gate 3.

Follow the Convoy takes place in the Shadow-Cursed Lands, where safe travel depends on understanding how the cultist convoy moves through the region. The quest commonly begins after the party discovers a cultist camp and speaks with the non-player characters gathered there. Its central problem is not simply reaching the destination: the party must find a way to travel with the convoy while surviving the shadow-cursed environment.

The spider lyre is the key to starting the convoy route described by this quest. It is typically obtained from Minthara, and playing it allows the party to summon Kar'niss the drider. Kar'niss carries a lantern whose protection is essential while crossing the dangerous surroundings, so the party's position relative to the guide matters during the journey.

The route reaches an abandoned building where Harpers ambush the convoy. This confrontation creates the quest's defining choice. You can defend the convoy to maintain the appearance of a True Soul, or turn against Kar'niss and the group he leads. The decision changes the tone and direction of the sequence, and the available material indicates that companion approval, including Astarion's or Gale's, can be affected by how the ambush is handled.

Where this sits

Discover the convoy routeFind the cultist camp and begin the interaction
Summon the guideUse the spider lyre to call Kar'niss
Cross under protectionRemain near the drider and his lantern
Resolve the ambushChoose whether to defend the convoy or turn against it
  1. 1Infiltrate Moonrise TowersquestParent main quest
  2. ●Follow the ConvoyquestCurrent sub-quest

Follow the Convoy is a branching route within the Act Two progression toward Moonrise Towers.

Requirements

The quest depends on reaching the Shadow-Cursed Lands sequence and having access to the item used to summon the convoy's guide.

  • RequiredReach the Shadow-Cursed LandsThe quest's events occur in this Act Two region, beginning around a cultist camp.
  • RequiredTrigger the initial convoy encounterInteract with the relevant NPCs at the cultist camp. If the encounter is missed or fails to trigger, the convoy can disappear from the game world.
  • RequiredSpider lyreThe lyre is typically obtained from Minthara and enables the summoning interaction with Kar'niss.
  • RecommendedProtective positioningOnce Kar'niss is guiding the group, remain close enough to benefit from the protection of the lantern he carries.

Objectives

  1. Locate the cultist camp in the Shadow-Cursed LandsUse the camp and its NPC interactions to begin the convoy sequence.
  2. Obtain and use the spider lyreThe lyre is used to summon Kar'niss, the drider who leads the protected crossing.
  3. Follow Kar'niss through the shadow-cursed environmentKeep the party near the lantern-bearing guide while the convoy travels.
  4. Resolve the Harper ambush at the abandoned buildingDecide whether to defend the convoy and retain your cover or turn against Kar'niss.

WalkthroughSpoilers

  1. 01

    Begin the convoy sequence

    Find the cultist camp

    Search for the cultist camp in the Shadow-Cursed Lands and interact with the NPCs there rather than passing through without engaging them. This is the opening point for the convoy route, and missing the encounter can prevent the convoy from appearing later.

    Location: Cultist camp in the Shadow-Cursed Lands

    Watch outIf the initial interaction is not triggered, the convoy may disappear from the game world.

  2. 02

    Prepare the summoning item

    Secure the spider lyre

    Make sure the party has the spider lyre before attempting to call the convoy's guide. The item is typically obtained from Minthara, so check that the lyre is available before leaving the setup portion of the quest.

    Location: Act Two quest setup

    TipTreat the spider lyre as a progression item for this route, not as an incidental piece of equipment.

  3. 03

    Summon Kar'niss

    Play the lyre to summon Kar'niss

    Use the spider lyre when the quest presents the opportunity to call the guide. The performance summons Kar'niss the drider, whose presence establishes the convoy's route through the dangerous environment.

    Location: Convoy staging area

  4. 04

    Cross the shadow-cursed area safely

    Stay with the lantern's protection

    Travel with Kar'niss and keep the party close to him as the convoy moves. The lantern he carries provides the protection needed against the surrounding shadows, so spreading the party out or falling behind can leave characters exposed.

    Location: Shadow-Cursed Lands convoy route

    Watch outDo not treat the crossing as ordinary exploration; distance from Kar'niss can remove the practical protection the route depends on.

    Checkpoint
  5. 05

    Reach the Harper ambush site

    Reach the abandoned building

    Continue following the convoy until it reaches the abandoned building. This location is the setup for the major confrontation, so make sure the party is together before the ambush begins and avoid wandering away from the group during the approach.

    Location: Abandoned building

    TipUse the approach to confirm that every party member is within reach before the confrontation starts.

  6. 06

    Resolve the Harper ambush

    Choose the convoy's fate

    When the Harpers ambush the group, decide whether to defend the convoy in order to maintain your cover as a True Soul or turn against Kar'niss and the convoy. The choice determines how this branch resolves and may influence approval from companions such as Astarion or Gale.

    Location: Abandoned building

    Watch outThis is the quest's defining branch; choose deliberately if companion approval or your cover matters to the current run.

Mission mechanics

The quest's travel mechanic is organized around a moving source of protection. Kar'niss is not merely a quest contact: after the spider lyre summons him, the drider leads the convoy and carries the lantern that protects the group from the shadow-cursed surroundings. The safe way to handle the crossing is to keep the party together and close to the guide.

The opening interaction is also mechanically significant. The cultist camp supplies the context for the convoy, while the later summoning interaction connects the spider lyre to Kar'niss. Because the convoy can disappear when the first encounter is missed or fails to trigger, exploration order and deliberate interaction matter more here than simply walking toward the next objective.

At the abandoned building, the quest changes from escorted travel to a faction confrontation. The player is asked to balance immediate allegiance against longer-term deception: defending the convoy preserves the appearance of a True Soul, while attacking Kar'niss rejects that cover and turns the sequence against its original escort. Companion approval can vary with this decision.

What works and what does not

Strengths

  • The quest gives the Shadow-Cursed Lands a clear travel problem instead of treating the region as a normal open route.
  • The spider lyre, Kar'niss and the lantern form a readable chain of item, guide and protection.
  • The Harper ambush creates a meaningful branch between maintaining a True Soul cover and turning against the convoy.

Weaknesses

  • The opening encounter is easy to lose if the relevant camp interaction is missed or fails to trigger.
  • The convoy's protection depends on staying near Kar'niss, which makes party separation especially risky during the crossing.
  • The exact approval result depends on the player's choice and companions present, so there is no single universally optimal outcome.

Best uses

  • Approach the quest as a route-management sequence: trigger the camp encounter, prepare the lyre and keep the party together.
  • Choose the ambush outcome according to whether the current run values maintaining the True Soul cover or opposing the drider.

Choices and consequencesSpoilers

  • Defend the convoy during the Harper ambush

    This preserves the party's cover as a True Soul and keeps the response aligned with the convoy's immediate interests. Companion approval may change depending on who is present.

    Spoiler
  • Turn against Kar'niss and the convoy

    This abandons the escort's side during the ambush and changes the branch's outcome. The choice can influence companion approval, including reactions from Astarion or Gale.

    Spoiler

Checklist

  • Find the cultist camp in the Shadow-Cursed LandsThis is the usual starting point for the quest.
  • Interact with the relevant NPCs at the campDo not skip the opening encounter.
  • Confirm that the spider lyre is availableIt is typically obtained from Minthara.
  • Use the lyre to summon Kar'nissThis begins the guided convoy route.
  • Keep the party close to Kar'nissThe drider's lantern provides the needed protection.
  • Reach the abandoned buildingThis is where the Harpers ambush the convoy.
  • Decide whether to defend the convoy or betray itThe decision affects the route's outcome and may affect companion approval.

Failure conditionsSpoilers

  • The initial convoy encounter is missedIf the party fails to trigger the interaction at the cultist camp, the convoy may disappear from the game world and the intended route may no longer be available.
  • The party falls away from Kar'niss during the crossingThe guide's lantern is the protection for the shadow-cursed journey. Moving too far from the drider can leave the party without the protection the route requires.
  • The ambush choice conflicts with the intended role-play planDefending the convoy maintains the True Soul cover, while turning against it rejects that cover. Neither is presented as universally correct, but the decision can affect companion approval and the branch's direction.

On failure

The convoy route has a meaningful checkpoint at the transition from escorted travel to the Harper ambush at the abandoned building.

Characters in this mission

AftermathSpoilers

The ambush determines the branch

The choice at the abandoned building is the quest's major outcome point. Defending the convoy supports the True Soul cover, while turning against Kar'niss rejects that approach; the decision can also produce different companion approval responses.

Trivia

  • The quest's title describes the escorted-travel portion of the sequence rather than a conventional destination-only objective.
  • The spider lyre is both a recognizable story item and the practical means of summoning Kar'niss.
  • The lantern carried by Kar'niss makes proximity a central part of the quest's travel logic.
  • The Harper ambush is where the route's escort premise becomes a direct allegiance choice.

Relationships

location

  • Shadow-Cursed LandsLocated inThe convoy route takes place in the Shadow-Cursed Lands.

characters

  • Kar'nissKey characterKar'niss the drider can be summoned with the spider lyre and guides the convoy.
  • MintharaItem sourceThe spider lyre required for the route is typically obtained from Minthara.