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QuestsupportingSide missionModerate

Secure the Cargo

Secure the Cargo is a Zhentarim side quest objective in Baldur's Gate 3 involving Rugan, Olly, Zarys, a guarded chest, and the potentially dangerous Iron Flask.

RoleSide quest involving the recovery, protection, or transfer of a Zhentarim shipment.
StatusAvailable
Importancesupporting
RewardVaries with the shipment outcome and the player's decisions.
TimeVariable; depends on whether the cave encounter and shipment are resolved peacefully.
  • Quest typeSide quest
  • Associated factionZhentarim
  • Primary locationCave
  • Named contactsRugan and Olly
  • Faction leaderZarys
  • Notable itemIron Flask
  • Environmental hazardExplosive barrels

The source pack does not provide a fixed mission number, numerical difficulty rating, reward list, or completion time.

Key takeaways

Keep the shipment itself, its guards, and the surrounding hazards in mind before committing to a course of action.

  • This is a Zhentarim objective The cargo belongs to a faction whose interests shape the encounter. Treating the shipment as ordinary unattended loot can produce a different result from cooperating with the people assigned to protect it. Faction
  • Rugan and Olly are the immediate contacts The guarded chest is not found in isolation: Rugan and Olly are present in the cave. Speak with them and assess the situation before moving the shipment or beginning a fight. The guards
  • The chest has a notable secret The Iron Flask can be found inside the chest. Opening or taking the chest without considering the consequences can turn a delivery objective into an item-handling problem. The Iron Flask
  • Explosives can decide the encounter Explosive barrels may be present around the shipment. Keep combat, spells, and forced movement away from them when possible, because an accidental detonation can harm the group and alter the scene. Explosive hazards

Overview

Secure the Cargo is the shipment-focused objective associated with the Zhentarim quest Find the Missing Shipment.

Secure the Cargo is a side quest objective in Baldur's Gate 3 centered on a Zhentarim shipment that has not safely reached its destination. The task connects the player to Rugan and Olly, who are encountered in a cave while guarding a chest. Rather than functioning as a straightforward delivery errand, the objective places the contents and handling of the chest at the center of the encounter.

The quest introduces the Zhentarim through a practical problem: a valuable cargo is being watched over under dangerous circumstances, and the player may become involved in deciding what happens next. Zarys is identified as the leader of the Zhentarim involved in the arrangement, and the player can agree to secure the cargo on her behalf. This makes the objective part of a wider negotiation with the faction rather than an isolated chest search.

The shipment also creates a significant hazard. The area can contain explosive barrels, so careless movement or combat near the cargo may detonate them and change the encounter. The chest may contain the Iron Flask, making inspection or removal a consequential choice rather than a routine step. Because the objective is a side quest, it is not required to complete the core main narrative, but its factional and item-related outcomes can still matter to the player's run.

Where this sits

Quest discoveryThe missing Zhentarim shipment becomes the focus.
Cave encounterRugan and Olly are found guarding the chest.
Cargo decisionThe player chooses how to handle the shipment.
Zhentarim outcomeThe result can affect the faction's response.
  1. ●Find the Missing ShipmentquestFormal quest title associated with Secure the Cargo.
  2. ●Secure the CargoobjectiveShipment-focused objective involving the guarded chest.

Secure the Cargo is a supporting objective within the Zhentarim-related Find the Missing Shipment quest, not a main-story mission.

Requirements

The practical requirement is reaching the cave and dealing with the guarded shipment. No specific level, class, companion, or equipment requirement is established by the supplied source pack.

  • RequiredReach the shipment caveThe encounter takes place in a cave where Rugan and Olly are guarding the chest.
  • RecommendedBe prepared for an unstable environmentExplosive barrels may be near the shipment, so avoid treating the area as a safe storage or staging space.
  • OptionalDecide whether to cooperate with the ZhentarimThe player can agree to secure the cargo for Zarys, the faction's leader, but the objective also permits other approaches.

Objectives

  1. Locate the missing shipmentFind the cave where the Zhentarim cargo is being guarded.
  2. Interact with Rugan and OllyThe two characters are responsible for guarding the chest and provide the immediate context for the objective.
  3. Choose how to handle the cargoThe player may agree to secure the shipment for Zarys or take another approach.
  4. Resolve the chest safelyAccount for the Iron Flask inside the chest and the possibility of explosive barrels around the shipment.

WalkthroughSpoilers

  1. 01

    Locate the missing shipment

    Reach the cave containing the shipment

    Travel to the cave where the Zhentarim shipment is being held. The objective is not completed merely by finding the area: the chest and the people guarding it are the important parts of the scene.

    Location: The shipment cave

    TipApproach with the party ready for both conversation and combat, since the cargo area may contain explosive barrels.

  2. 02

    Assess the hazards

    Survey the cargo area before acting

    Look over the space around the chest before opening it, moving it, or attacking anyone. Explosive barrels can be present near the shipment, and careless handling may detonate them and create avoidable danger.

    Location: Around the guarded chest

    Watch outDo not begin a fight or use area effects without considering whether the barrels are within the blast area.

  3. 03

    Interact with the shipment's guards

    Speak with Rugan and Olly

    Rugan and Olly are encountered in the cave while guarding the chest. Talk to them before treating the shipment as unclaimed property, because their presence establishes who currently controls the cargo and frames the available choices.

    Location: The cave with the guarded chest

  4. 04

    Decide how to handle the Zhentarim cargo

    Choose whether to work for Zarys

    The player can agree to secure the cargo on behalf of Zarys, the leader of the Zhentarim. Accepting that arrangement keeps the immediate focus on protecting or transferring the shipment rather than simply taking the chest for personal use.

    Location: The conversation at the shipment

  5. 05

    Protect or recover the cargo

    Resolve any conflict without losing control of the area

    If the encounter turns hostile, keep the party away from the explosive barrels whenever possible and avoid actions that can damage the chest or endanger nearby characters. The exact combat result depends on the player's chosen approach and the surrounding hazards.

    Location: The shipment cave

    Watch outAn explosion can injure the party and change the state of the encounter.

  6. 06

    Handle the chest and its contents

    Inspect the chest only after choosing an outcome

    The chest can contain the Iron Flask, so opening it is more consequential than checking an ordinary container. Decide whether the item should remain with the shipment or be taken, and remember that this may conflict with the goal of securing the cargo for the Zhentarim.

    Location: The guarded chest

    Watch outOpening or removing the chest before settling the shipment's fate can alter the faction-related outcome.

    Missable

Mission mechanics

The central mechanic is an ownership and trust decision rather than a single mandatory combat encounter. The chest is being guarded by Rugan and Olly, and the player can place the objective in the hands of the Zhentarim by agreeing to secure the cargo for Zarys. Other actions can shift the encounter away from that arrangement.

The environment makes positioning unusually important. Explosive barrels may be placed around the shipment, meaning a fire effect, stray attack, or poorly chosen area spell can turn a controlled conversation or battle into a sudden blast. Separate the party from the cargo before escalating whenever the situation allows.

The Iron Flask gives the chest an additional layer of risk and interest. It is a distinct item inside the shipment, so the player must weigh the value of inspecting or claiming it against the consequences of interfering with cargo that the Zhentarim expect to be protected.

What works and what does not

Strengths

  • The objective supports more than one attitude toward the Zhentarim: cooperation, caution, or interference can all shape how the shipment is handled.
  • The guarded chest gives the encounter a clear physical focus, making the player's priorities easy to understand even when the situation becomes tense.
  • The explosive barrels create a meaningful environmental consideration instead of leaving the cargo area as a featureless combat space.

Weaknesses

  • The shipment can be easy to mishandle because the Iron Flask makes opening the chest more consequential than its appearance suggests.
  • Explosive barrels can punish careless positioning, especially when combat begins before the party has surveyed the cave.
  • The side-quest status means the objective is not required for the main narrative, so players who leave the area or disregard the faction may miss its outcomes.

Best uses

  • Approach the encounter as a negotiation first, then choose combat only after identifying the cargo hazards.
  • Keep the shipment and its surroundings intact if the goal is to maintain a cooperative relationship with the Zhentarim.

Choices and consequencesSpoilers

  • Agree to secure the cargo for Zarys

    The player accepts the Zhentarim's stated interest in the shipment and treats the objective as a faction assignment rather than an opportunity to claim the chest outright.

  • Open or claim the chest

    The player may discover the Iron Flask, but interfering with the cargo can change how the shipment is resolved and may conflict with the Zhentarim's expectations.

    Spoiler
  • Escalate the cave encounter into combat

    Combat makes the nearby explosive barrels an immediate hazard and can put the guards, the party, and the shipment at risk.

    Spoiler

Completion checklist

  • Find the cave containing the shipmentThe cargo is guarded rather than left in an unattended container.
  • Speak with RuganRugan is one of the two named guards at the chest.
  • Speak with OllyOlly is present with Rugan in the cave.
  • Identify the explosive barrelsCheck the area before starting a fight or using fire-related effects.
  • Decide whether to accept Zarys's arrangementAgreeing to secure the cargo is the faction-aligned route.Optional
  • Choose whether to inspect the chestThe Iron Flask can be found inside, making this a consequential decision.Optional
  • Resolve the shipment without an accidental detonationKeep the party and hostile actions away from the barrels where possible.

CollectiblesSpoilers

  • 01
    Iron Flask

    Where: Inside the shipment chest in the cave

    The Iron Flask is a notable item that can be discovered inside the chest. Its presence means the cargo should not be opened or removed without considering the consequences for the shipment objective.

    Missable

Failure conditionsSpoilers

  • Detonate the explosive barrelsCareless handling or combat near the barrels can cause them to explode, damaging the party and changing the situation around the shipment.
  • Compromise the shipmentTaking or opening the chest can conflict with the goal of securing the cargo for the Zhentarim and may change the resulting faction outcome.
  • Lose control of the guarded encounterA premature attack can turn the conversation with Rugan and Olly into a dangerous fight before the party is positioned safely.

On failure

The supplied sources do not establish a fixed checkpoint location or a single universal fail state. Save before entering the cave if preserving multiple outcomes is important.

Rewards and dropsSpoilers

  • Iron Flask
    The item can be discovered inside the shipment chest, although taking or opening it may affect how the cargo objective is resolved.
  • Zhentarim outcome
    The final faction response depends on how the player handles the shipment and whether they honor the arrangement involving Zarys.

AftermathSpoilers

The cargo outcome is tied to your handling of the chest

Once the chest is opened, removed, damaged, or delivered, the objective is no longer simply about finding the shipment. The Iron Flask and the Zhentarim's expectations make the final result dependent on the player's decisions, while the explosive barrels can worsen the outcome if they detonate during the encounter.

Trivia

  • Secure the Cargo is the objective name commonly associated with the formally titled quest Find the Missing Shipment.
  • The shipment is guarded by two named characters, Rugan and Olly, rather than being presented as an unprotected cache.
  • The Iron Flask is hidden inside the chest, making the cargo itself more significant than a generic delivery container.
  • The quest is a side quest and is not a core requirement for completing the main narrative.

Sources

Relationships

characters

  • RuganShipment guardRugan is found guarding the chest in the cave.
  • OllyShipment guardOlly guards the chest alongside Rugan.
  • ZarysZhentarim leaderThe player can agree to secure the cargo on Zarys's behalf.

factions

  • ZhentarimFactionThe shipment belongs to or is being handled for the Zhentarim.

items

  • Iron FlaskChest contentsThe Iron Flask can be discovered inside the shipment chest.