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QuestmajorMain storyHard

Rescue the Grand Duke Ulder Ravengard

A major Baldur's Gate 3 quest that follows the search for Grand Duke Ulder Ravengard and culminates in a time-sensitive rescue from the Iron Throne in Act 3.

RoleRescue mission and major continuation of Wyll's personal storyline
StatusAvailable during Act 3
Importancemajor
  • ActAct 3The quest's climactic prison rescue occurs in Act 3.
  • Mission typeMain-storyA major quest with strong companion-story consequences.
  • DifficultyHardThe Iron Throne section combines combat, navigation, and a strict turn limit.
  • Primary locationIron ThroneThe underwater prison reached through Flymm Cargo.
  • Time pressureLimited turnsThe facility is collapsing during the rescue.
  • MissableYesThe Duke can die or remain unrescued.

Key takeaways

Keep the following points in mind before committing to the Iron Throne sequence.

  • Prepare before the descent The Iron Throne is a timed rescue rather than a normal dungeon crawl. Make a manual save, bring movement and rescue tools, and avoid spending early turns on unnecessary exploration.
  • The submersible is in Flymm Cargo The route to the prison begins in the basement of Flymm Cargo. Redhammer is the operator, and persuasion may be needed before he agrees to take the party down.
  • The Duke is part of Wyll's story Ulder Ravengard is not only the quest target. He is Wyll's father, so the result of the rescue can affect Wyll's later narrative and potential endings.
  • Mizora changes the situation Mizora presents a major choice concerning the Duke's safety and Wyll's pact. Decide whether the immediate rescue is worth accepting the consequences of her involvement.
  • Return is part of the objective Finding the Duke is not enough. He must be brought back to the submersible before the prison's collapse leaves the party behind.

Overview

Rescue the Grand Duke Ulder Ravengard is a long-running quest about locating the Grand Duke, a senior Flaming Fist official and Wyll's father, after his abduction by the Cult of the Absolute.

Rescue the Grand Duke Ulder Ravengard begins as a search for a missing political and military figure rather than as a single isolated objective. Grand Duke Ulder Ravengard is the father of Wyll and remains important to the campaign after the Cult of the Absolute kidnaps him early in the story. The quest therefore intersects with Wyll's personal arc and can affect how that storyline develops later in the game.

The quest reaches its most urgent stage in Act 3, when the search leads to the Iron Throne, an underwater prison controlled by forces connected to the Absolute. The prison is reached through a submersible located in the basement of Flymm Cargo. Redhammer operates the vessel, and the party may need to persuade him before the descent can begin.

The Iron Throne rescue is governed by a collapsing-facility timer. The party must use its limited turns to locate the Duke, free him, and get both him and the other intended escapees back to the submersible. A successful rescue brings Ulder Ravengard to the player's camp, while his death or failure to save him can substantially change Wyll's story and possible endings.

This quest also contains a major decision involving Mizora. Choosing whether to cooperate with the devil affects the circumstances surrounding the Duke's safety and the terms of Wyll's pact. Because the quest combines exploration, movement under pressure, companion consequences, and a significant narrative choice, it is best approached with a prepared party and a save made before entering the prison.

Where this sits

SearchFollow the consequences of the Duke's abduction.
AccessReach Flymm Cargo and secure the submersible.
RescueEnter the Iron Throne and locate Ulder Ravengard.
AftermathResolve Mizora's involvement and speak with the Duke at camp.
  1. 1Investigate the Duke's disappearancestoryThe quest remains relevant throughout the campaign after the initial abduction.
  2. 2Find the Iron Throne routeexplorationThe Act 3 route runs through the basement of Flymm Cargo.
  3. ●Enter the Iron ThronemissionThe prison sequence begins after the submersible descends.
  4. 4Resolve Wyll's pact decisionchoiceMizora's involvement affects the terms of Wyll's story.
  5. 5Visit the Duke at campaftermathA successful rescue allows direct conversation with Ulder Ravengard.

The quest spans the campaign, but its decisive gameplay section is the timed Iron Throne rescue.

Requirements

Reach the Act 3 portion of the quest and prepare for a timed underwater rescue before boarding the submersible.

  • RequiredReach Act 3The Iron Throne climax takes place in Act 3, so the party must progress far enough for the relevant Baldur's Gate investigation to become available.
  • RequiredLocate Flymm CargoThe submersible route is found in the basement of Flymm Cargo. Search the building carefully rather than expecting the prison entrance to be in the open city streets.
  • RequiredDeal with RedhammerRedhammer operates the submersible. The source material identifies persuasion as a typical way to secure his cooperation, although the exact dialogue route can vary with the party's choices.
  • RecommendedPrepare for a timed sequenceThe prison is collapsing and the party has limited turns. Save before boarding and bring characters who can cover distance, open routes, and assist companions or prisoners quickly.
  • OptionalConsider Wyll's presenceThe Duke is Wyll's father and the outcome affects Wyll's storyline. Bringing Wyll helps keep the companion context present, though the precise party requirement should be verified before publication.

Objectives

  1. Find Grand Duke Ulder RavengardContinue the investigation into the Duke's abduction and follow the Act 3 route toward the Iron Throne.
  2. Reach the submersible beneath Flymm CargoLocate the basement access and resolve the conversation with Redhammer so the vessel can depart.
  3. Enter the Iron ThroneUse the submersible to reach the underwater prison where the Duke is being held.
  4. Rescue the Duke before the prison collapsesUse the limited turns efficiently to find Ulder Ravengard and free him from the facility.
  5. Return to the submersibleThe rescue is incomplete until the Duke reaches the extraction point before the final collapse.
  6. Resolve Mizora's involvementChoose whether to accept or refuse the devil's assistance, with consequences for Wyll's pact and the Duke's safety.
  7. Speak with the rescued Duke at campA successful rescue allows Ulder Ravengard to join the camp and become available for direct conversation.

WalkthroughSpoilers

  1. 01

    Find Grand Duke Ulder Ravengard

    Continue the search for the missing Duke

    Treat the Duke's disappearance as an ongoing thread rather than abandoning it after the early-game kidnapping. In Act 3, follow the investigation that points toward the Iron Throne and make a manual save before committing to the prison sequence.

    Location: Act 3 investigation

    TipKeep Wyll available if you want the companion context and later conversations to remain easy to follow.

  2. 02

    Reach the submersible

    Enter Flymm Cargo and search for the basement

    Travel to Flymm Cargo and explore the building until you find the route below ground. The relevant access is in the basement, so do not expect the submersible to be docked in an obvious exterior location.

    Location: Flymm Cargo

    Watch outDo not board immediately if you still need to prepare; the Iron Throne section begins a timed rescue sequence.

  3. 03

    Gain access to the Iron Throne

    Convince Redhammer to operate the vessel

    Speak with Redhammer at the submersible and secure his cooperation. Persuasion is a typical route identified by the source material, but the available dialogue can depend on earlier actions and the party's choices.

    Location: Flymm Cargo basement

    TipResolve the conversation before making other preparations so the party does not enter the prison accidentally while unready.

  4. 04

    Travel to the Iron Throne

    Board the submersible

    Once Redhammer agrees to help, use the vessel to descend to the underwater prison. This is the point of no return for the immediate rescue attempt, so check spell slots, consumables, equipment, and party positioning first.

    Location: Submersible beneath Flymm Cargo

    Checkpoint
  5. 05

    Locate Grand Duke Ulder Ravengard

    Search the prison immediately

    The Iron Throne is collapsing, and the party has only a limited number of turns to act. Move toward the Duke's holding area without spending actions on detours, and divide responsibilities so one character is not forced to perform every rescue task.

    Location: Iron Throne

    Watch outEvery turn spent on unnecessary combat or exploration reduces the time available for the return journey.

  6. 06

    Rescue the Duke

    Free Grand Duke Ulder Ravengard

    Reach the Duke and remove whatever prevents him from leaving his holding area. Once he is free, treat his movement as a separate escort problem: protect his route, clear obstacles when necessary, and keep the extraction point in mind.

    Location: Iron Throne prison complex

    Watch outIf Ulder Ravengard dies during the escape or is left behind when the facility collapses, the rescue can fail and Wyll's story can change.

  7. 07

    Return to the submersible

    Help the party reach extraction

    After freeing the Duke, reverse course toward the submersible while using the remaining turns efficiently. Prioritize direct movement and rescue actions over optional fights, and use movement-enhancing abilities or spells when they are available to the party.

    Location: Iron Throne corridors and docking area

    TipPlan the route out before freeing the Duke so the party does not lose time deciding where to go next.

  8. 08

    Complete the rescue

    Escape before the collapse

    Get Ulder Ravengard and the characters you intend to save back to the submersible before the timer expires. The mission is judged by who successfully escapes, not simply by whether the party reaches the Duke's cell.

    Location: Iron Throne docking area

    Checkpoint
  9. 09

    Determine the pact's consequences

    Resolve the Mizora decision

    After the rescue sequence, deal with Mizora's offer and its implications for the Duke and Wyll. The decision is a narrative trade-off involving immediate safety and the terms of Wyll's pact, so create a separate save if you want to compare outcomes.

    Location: Post-rescue sequence

    Watch outThis choice contains major spoilers for Wyll's personal storyline.

  10. 10

    Follow up with the rescued Duke

    Visit the Duke at camp

    If the rescue succeeds, return to camp and speak with Ulder Ravengard directly. His presence confirms that the rescue was successful and opens the next stage of the Duke and Wyll storyline.

    Location: Player camp

Mission mechanics

The Iron Throne section changes the normal rhythm of Baldur's Gate 3. Exploration and combat are both constrained by the prison's collapse, so the important resource is not only hit points or spell slots but the number of turns available for movement and rescue actions. A character who spends several turns fighting away from the route can leave too little time to escort the Duke back.

The strongest general approach is to assign jobs before the first turn begins. One character can push toward the Duke, another can open or clear the route, and the remaining party members can handle threats or assist other escapees. This division is safer than keeping the whole party together when the objective is spread across a timed map.

The extraction route deserves as much attention as the prison interior. Freeing Ulder Ravengard without knowing how the party will return creates the most common strategic problem in this sequence: the objective is completed locally, but the escort cannot reach the submersible before the final turns expire. Save before boarding so failed routing can be corrected without replaying the entire investigation.

Mizora's role is not simply an optional combat aid. Her involvement is tied to the terms of Wyll's pact and can alter the narrative circumstances surrounding the Duke's survival. Read the choice carefully and consider the outcome you want for Wyll before selecting an option.

What works and what does not

Strengths

  • The quest gives Wyll's personal storyline a concrete objective with consequences beyond a single conversation.
  • The Iron Throne creates meaningful pressure through movement, routing, and rescue priorities rather than relying only on a conventional boss fight.
  • The route from Flymm Cargo to the prison provides a clear escalation from investigation to an urgent set-piece.
  • The Duke's later availability at camp gives a successful rescue a visible narrative payoff.

Weaknesses

  • The timed prison sequence can punish players who explore every room or commit to unnecessary fights before securing the Duke.
  • The outcome depends on escort logistics as well as the initial rescue, making it easy to mistake freeing the Duke for completing the mission.
  • Mizora's intervention can make the preferred outcome unclear because the immediate safety of the Duke is connected to Wyll's pact.

Best uses

  • Approach the mission as a planned rescue operation, not as an ordinary dungeon clear.
  • Use a pre-entry save to test the party's route and preserve the desired Wyll outcome.
  • Keep the party's fastest movement options for the return journey rather than spending them all while searching.

Choices and consequencesSpoilers

  • Work with Mizora to secure the Duke's safety

    Mizora's assistance changes the circumstances of the rescue and influences the terms of Wyll's pact. The exact result should be read in the scene before confirming the choice.

    Spoiler
  • Refuse to work with Mizora

    Rejecting the devil preserves a different direction for Wyll's pact, but the Duke's safety is no longer handled on Mizora's preferred terms. This can make the rescue more demanding or alter its outcome.

    Spoiler
  • Rescue Ulder Ravengard successfully

    The Duke can join the player's camp and be spoken to directly, allowing the story involving him and Wyll to continue.

    Spoiler
  • Allow the Duke to die or remain behind

    Failure can significantly affect Wyll's story arc and potential endings. Reloading from before the submersible descent is the safest way to pursue a different result.

    Spoiler

Pre-descent checklist

  • Make a manual save before boarding the submersibleThe Iron Throne rescue is time-sensitive and can produce different outcomes.
  • Confirm that the party is ready for a limited-turn missionAvoid entering while characters need healing, preparation, or equipment changes.
  • Plan the route from the Duke to the submersibleThe return journey is part of the rescue, not an automatic follow-up.
  • Assign characters different rescue rolesSeparate movement, route-clearing, escort, and threat-control tasks when possible.
  • Bring movement-enhancing optionsSpeed, teleportation, flight, or other movement tools can help, but exact availability depends on the party.
  • Decide how to handle MizoraHer offer is connected to Wyll's pact and should not be treated as a consequence-free intervention.
  • Speak with Ulder Ravengard at camp after the rescueHis camp presence confirms the successful outcome and advances the aftermath.

Failure conditionsSpoilers

  • The Duke dies during the rescueUlder Ravengard must survive the Iron Throne sequence. His death can substantially change Wyll's storyline and potential endings.
  • The Duke is not brought back before the collapseFinding or freeing the Duke is not sufficient if he cannot reach the submersible before the limited turns expire.
  • The party runs out of turnsThe Iron Throne is collapsing, so excessive detours, prolonged fights, or inefficient movement can leave the rescue incomplete.
  • The party boards without a workable return planA successful approach to the holding area can still fail if the remaining turns are insufficient for the escort back to extraction.

On failure

The safest recovery point is a manual save made before the submersible leaves Flymm Cargo. The exact checkpoint behavior after boarding may vary, so do not rely on an automatic save.

RewardsSpoilers

  • Ulder Ravengard at camp
    A successful rescue allows the Duke to join the player's camp, where he can be spoken to directly.
  • Wyll storyline progression
    Saving or losing the Duke changes the direction and possible endings of Wyll's personal arc.
  • Mizora pact outcome
    The decision over Mizora's assistance determines the narrative terms affecting Wyll's pact and the Duke's safety.

AftermathSpoilers

The rescue continues at camp

If Ulder Ravengard survives and reaches the submersible, he can join the player's camp and be addressed directly. His survival provides the immediate payoff for the Iron Throne sequence, but the larger consequence is Wyll's continuing story: Mizora's involvement and the Duke's fate influence the terms and possible endings of Wyll's pact.

Trivia

  • The quest is unusual in that its central objective remains relevant across multiple acts instead of beginning and ending in one location.
  • The Iron Throne is presented as an underwater prison, making the submersible in Flymm Cargo the quest's distinctive access point.
  • The mission tests routing and turn management more than a single high-health boss encounter.
  • Grand Duke Ulder Ravengard's importance is both political and personal because he is a high-ranking Flaming Fist official and Wyll's father.

Sources

Relationships

Characters

  • Grand Duke Ulder RavengardQuest targetThe kidnapped Duke whom the party must locate and rescue.
  • WyllCompanion connectionUlder Ravengard is Wyll's father, and the quest affects Wyll's storyline.
  • RedhammerSubmersible operatorThe operator whose cooperation is needed to reach the Iron Throne.
  • MizoraPact decisionHer intervention creates a major choice concerning the Duke and Wyll's pact.

Locations

  • Iron ThroneClimactic locationThe underwater prison where the timed rescue takes place.
  • Flymm CargoSubmersible accessThe Act 3 building whose basement contains the route to the prison.