Investigate the Murder Tribunal

Key takeawaysSpoilers

The most important points to remember before entering the tribunal are the evidence requirement, the tribunal's allegiance choice, and the relationship between Sarevok's loot and Orin's sanctum.

• Find the hidden entrance The route begins at Candulhallow's Tombstones in the Lower City. Look for the secret button behind a painting to reveal the way toward the Murder Tribunal.
• Bring proof of murder Entry requires a bag of severed hands. The party must also use the passphrase "Sicarius" when seeking admission to the tribunal.
• Expect a major choice The party may pursue the title of Unholy Assassin of Bhaal or oppose the tribunal and rescue Valeria. This decision changes the immediate outcome of the quest.
• Search Sarevok's remains If Sarevok Anchev is defeated, looting him provides an amulet that is essential for entering Orin's sanctum.

Investigate the Murder TribunalSpoilers

Investigate the Murder Tribunal is a major Act 3 quest that takes the party from the Lower City into the Undercity and places the investigation of the murders directly in front of Sarevok Anchev.

The Murder Tribunal is an exclusive location in the Undercity of Baldur's Gate 3. It is reached during the broader investigation into the murders in the city and functions as a key turning point: the party is no longer simply following clues, but is brought before the people and forces behind the tribunal itself. The location also connects this investigation to the Temple of Bhaal and the later confrontation with Orin the Red.

The usual route begins in Candulhallow's Tombstones in the Lower City. A secret button behind a painting reveals the way onward, after which the party must present a bag of severed hands as proof of murder and use the passphrase "Sicarius" to gain entry. These requirements make the tribunal different from an ordinary combat location; preparation and the correct evidence matter before the party can reach its central figures.

Sarevok Anchev leads the tribunal and is the quest's defining encounter. The party can choose to become an Unholy Assassin of Bhaal or reject the tribunal's purpose and rescue the investigator Valeria. The consequences of that decision are significant, and defeating Sarevok can also yield an essential amulet for entering Orin's sanctum. Because of those outcomes, this quest should be treated as a major-spoiler section of Act 3.

Where this sitsSpoilers

Requirements

Reach the Lower City in Act 3, investigate the murders, and prepare the evidence needed to enter the tribunal.

• RequiredAct 3 accessThe Murder Tribunal is found during Act 3, after the party can explore the Lower City and its route into the Undercity.
• RequiredInvestigate the MurdersThis tribunal sequence serves as a key site for progressing the Investigate the Murders quest.
• RequiredBag of severed handsThe party must present a bag of severed hands as proof of murder when seeking entry.
• RequiredPassphraseThe entry passphrase is "Sicarius."
• RecommendedPreparation for a major confrontationThe tribunal is led by Sarevok Anchev, so the party should be ready for an interaction that may become a fight.

ObjectivesSpoilers

1. Locate the hidden route from Candulhallow's TombstonesUse the secret button behind a painting in the Lower City establishment to find the way onward.
2. Gain entry to the Murder TribunalPresent the bag of severed hands and use the passphrase "Sicarius" to pass the tribunal's entry requirements.
3. Resolve the tribunal's demandDecide whether to become an Unholy Assassin of Bhaal or oppose the tribunal and rescue Valeria.
4. Deal with Sarevok AnchevInteract with or fight Sarevok Anchev, who leads the Murder Tribunal.
5. Secure the means to enter Orin's sanctumAfter defeating Sarevok, loot the essential amulet connected to access to Orin's sanctum.

WalkthroughSpoilers

1. 01

   Progress Investigate the Murders

   Continue the murder investigation into the Lower City

   Treat the tribunal as the next major destination in Investigate the Murders rather than as an unrelated dungeon. The route becomes available during Act 3, when the party can reach the Lower City and pursue the investigation's leads.

   Location: Lower City

   TipKeep the murder-investigation evidence available before leaving for the tribunal.

2. 02

   Find the tribunal entrance

   Enter Candulhallow's Tombstones

   Go to Candulhallow's Tombstones in the Lower City, the usual starting point for the hidden route. The important clue is not a visible doorway: the passage is opened by a secret button behind a painting.

   Location: Candulhallow's Tombstones

   Watch outIf the painting and hidden button are overlooked, the route to the Undercity can appear to be blocked.

3. 03

   Reveal the hidden passage

   Use the secret button behind the painting

   Search behind the painting inside Candulhallow's Tombstones and activate the concealed button. This reveals the way toward the Murder Tribunal and moves the party from the Lower City route toward the Undercity.

   Location: Candulhallow's Tombstones

   TipInspect the room rather than searching only for a conventional door; the button is the essential interaction.

4. 04

   Carry proof of murder

   Prepare the bag of severed hands

   Before requesting entry, make sure the party has a bag of severed hands to present as proof of murder. Without that evidence, the tribunal's entry requirement is not satisfied.

   Location: Route to the Murder Tribunal

   Watch outThe required proof is a specific item: ordinary evidence from the investigation is not a substitute for the bag of severed hands.

5. 05

   Gain admission

   Use the passphrase "Sicarius"

   At the tribunal's entrance, present the bag of severed hands and give the passphrase "Sicarius." These two requirements work together to establish the party's claimed connection to the murders.

   Location: Murder Tribunal entrance

   TipUse the exact passphrase rather than treating the entry as a normal persuasion or combat encounter.

6. 06

   Resolve the tribunal's challenge

   Meet Sarevok Anchev

   Once inside, proceed to the tribunal led by Sarevok Anchev. The encounter is the quest's central turning point, and the party must decide how it will respond to the tribunal's demand.

   Location: Murder Tribunal

   Watch outThis is a major-spoiler decision point. Consider whether the party intends to pursue the Unholy Assassin path or oppose the tribunal before committing.

7. 07

   Choose the tribunal's outcome

   Choose whether to serve Bhaal or oppose the tribunal

   The party may choose to become an Unholy Assassin of Bhaal, accepting the tribunal's purpose, or reject it and rescue the investigator Valeria. The choice changes the immediate resolution and the fate of the investigator.

   Location: Murder Tribunal

   Watch outValeria's rescue is tied to opposing the tribunal, so choosing to serve Bhaal can prevent that outcome.

   Missable
8. 08

   Oppose the tribunal and secure the amulet

   Defeat Sarevok Anchev if you oppose the tribunal

   If the party rejects the tribunal, Sarevok Anchev becomes a major figure to confront and may be fought. After the battle, search his remains rather than leaving immediately, because his loot contains the amulet needed for the next route.

   Location: Murder Tribunal

   TipThe amulet is not merely incidental loot; it is essential for entering Orin's sanctum.

   Checkpoint
9. 09

   Continue the confrontation with Orin the Red

   Use the amulet to continue toward Orin

   After Sarevok's defeat, retain the essential amulet and use it to gain entry to Orin's sanctum. This links the tribunal's resolution to the wider Act 3 pursuit of Orin the Red.

   Location: Route to Orin's sanctum

   Watch outLeaving the tribunal without collecting Sarevok's amulet can interrupt access to Orin's sanctum.

Mission mechanicsSpoilers

The tribunal is built around controlled access rather than an immediate open fight. Candulhallow's Tombstones provides the concealed route, while the bag of severed hands and the passphrase "Sicarius" act as the proof needed to enter. This makes the investigation's preparation directly relevant to progression: the party must arrive with the correct evidence and recognize the hidden button behind the painting.

The central mechanic is the allegiance decision after entry. The party can accept the role of an Unholy Assassin of Bhaal or oppose the tribunal and rescue Valeria. Because the decision affects both the investigator and the direction of the quest, it is best treated as a narrative commitment rather than a minor dialogue variation.

The tribunal also has a practical progression consequence. Defeating Sarevok Anchev provides an essential amulet for entering Orin's sanctum, so the location is important even after the immediate investigation is resolved. The amulet connects the tribunal encounter to the next stage of the Act 3 conflict.

What works and what does not

Choices and consequencesSpoilers

• Become an Unholy Assassin of Bhaal

  The party accepts the tribunal's path and does not take the opposing route to rescue Valeria.

  Spoiler
• Oppose the Murder Tribunal

  The party rejects the tribunal and can rescue the investigator Valeria, with Sarevok Anchev becoming a major figure to confront or fight.

  Spoiler
• Defeat Sarevok Anchev and loot him

  The party obtains an essential amulet required to enter Orin's sanctum.

  Spoiler

Tribunal checklist

• Reach Act 3 and the Lower CityThe Murder Tribunal is an Act 3 location in the Undercity.
• Visit Candulhallow's TombstonesThis is the usual Lower City starting point for the hidden route.
• Search behind the paintingActivate the secret button to reveal the passage.
• Carry a bag of severed handsThis is required as proof of murder.
• Remember the passphrase "Sicarius"The passphrase is part of the entry requirement.
• Decide whether to serve BhaalChoose between becoming an Unholy Assassin of Bhaal and opposing the tribunal.
• Resolve Sarevok Anchev's encounterHe leads the tribunal and must be interacted with or fought.
• Collect Sarevok's amulet after victoryThe amulet is needed to enter Orin's sanctum.
• Confirm Valeria's outcomeOpposing the tribunal is the route associated with rescuing the investigator Valeria.

Failure conditionsSpoilers

• Attempting entry without the required proofThe tribunal requires a bag of severed hands as proof of murder. Arriving without it can prevent the party from gaining admission.
• Missing the hidden routeThe passage begins with a secret button behind a painting in Candulhallow's Tombstones. Failing to inspect that area leaves the route undiscovered.
• Choosing the tribunal's allegiance without considering ValeriaBecoming an Unholy Assassin of Bhaal is opposed to the route that rescues Valeria, so the choice can change or close that outcome.
• Leaving Sarevok's remains unsearchedAfter defeating Sarevok Anchev, failing to loot the essential amulet can interrupt the party's access to Orin's sanctum.

Rewards and dropsSpoilers

• Sarevok's amulet
  Looted after defeating Sarevok Anchev; it is essential for entering Orin's sanctum.
• Unholy Assassin of Bhaal status
  Available if the party chooses to accept the tribunal's path.
• Valeria's rescue
  Available as the outcome of opposing the tribunal.
• Access toward the Temple of Bhaal
  The Murder Tribunal is a key site for gaining access to the Temple of Bhaal.

AftermathSpoilers

Trivia

• The Murder Tribunal is located in the Undercity rather than in the main streets of the Lower City.
• The route into the tribunal begins with a concealed button behind a painting in Candulhallow's Tombstones.
• The passphrase used for entry is "Sicarius."
• The tribunal combines an investigation, a hidden entrance, an allegiance decision, and a major encounter with Sarevok Anchev.
• The location overlaps with several Act 3 story threads, including the Temple of Bhaal and the confrontation with Orin the Red.

Relationships