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Oskar’s fate is in your hands, so here is how to free the artist in Baldur’s Gate 3 and three different ways you can do that.
Side quests in any game are sometimes short and rewarding, and the “Free the Artist” side quest in Baldur’s Gate 3 is one of them. In Act 1 of Baldur’s Gate 3, you will encounter a side quest named “Free the Artist” which will entail freeing a man, Oskar. The interesting part is that, given everything goes well, this side quest continues in Act 3 as well. The fate of Oskar depends on the decisions you make here, so choose wisely. Here’s a short rundown on how to go about completing this quest and saving Oskar.
How to Free Artist in Baldur’s Gate 3
To free the artist, Oskar, you need to reach Zhentarim Hideout basement near Waukeen’s Rest to receive the quest first. You’ll find a man held captive by Zhents there. You can either buy him off his master, persuade him to give you the artist free of charge, or kill all the Zhentarim in the hideout, automatically freeing the artist (if he survives the fight). Once freed, Oskar will go back to Baldur’s Gate, where you will encounter him in Act 3.
This might seem really simple to do, all that’s required is some fighting or persuasion, right? That’s where you might be wrong. This quest requires successful persuasion in dialogues or a nasty fight if things go awry. Depending on what you choose, you could even end up leaving Oskar and abandoning the side quest or worse, killing him off.
In true Dungeons and Dragons fashion, Oskar’s fate lies in your hands. But for those who wish to continue with this quest, they can follow this guide to learn how to free the artist. We’ll elaborate a bit more to remove any confusion.
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3 Ways To Free Oskar The Artist
- Buy Oskar for 1,000 coins
- Persuade his master to release Oskar
- Kill all the Zhentarim
1. Trade for Oskar
When you go talk to his master, Brem, he will offer to sell Oskar to you for 1,000 coins. For some Baldur’s Gate 3 players, that could be a lot of money to spend. Especially on a quest that won’t give that much back. Your first option is to buy him, either for 1,000 coins or haggle a bit and bring the price down to 600 coins. If successful, you’ll be able to buy the man’s freedom.
2. Use Persuasion
The second option is to use Persuasion or Intimidation skills. Depending on how high your skill rolls are, you can get Oskar free of charge by persuading/intimidating Brem. This is good if you want to avoid violence and don’t want to pay the high fee either. However, if you fail the rolls, the two other options will remain available.
3. Kill the NPCS
The last option is simply killing all the Zhentarim in their hideout. This fight can be punishing for your party. The Zhentarim Hideout is riddled with traps, full of explosive barrels, and patrolled by many Zhentarim. Moreover, many of them will have a high-ground advantage over your party. It’s certainly doable, but be prepared to fully commit to a difficult fight.
Once the artist is free, he will tell you about his backstory and ask you for money for his trip. This dialogue also shapes your future interactions with Oskar, once you decide to meet him again in Baldur’s Gate.
Where to find Oskar in Baldur’s Gate Lower City
Oskar actually comes back in Act 3 of Baldur’s Gate 3 with another quest. He has gone back to his betrothed, Lady Jannath, in Baldur’s Gate. You can go to her mansion to talk to him, but will find another quest there waiting for you, featuring lost love and poltergeists.
For more guides and information on Baldur’s Gate 3, check out these related pieces from our team: BG3 How To Remove Teahouse Quest Marker, BG3 How to Free Shadowheart and Baldur’s Gate 3 How to Sheathe Your Weapon