In Baldur’s Gate 3, captivating side quests abound, including the Kill Raphael’s Old Enemy quest, where the devil Raphael has a proposition for you. Raphael frequently tempts you with irresistible deals to pursue in BG3, but this time, he offers to read Astarion’s scars in exchange for a favor.
Raphael wants us to take him up on his vendetta against Yurgir, an Orthon in the Thorm Mausoleum. But before unleashing us on this demon murder hunt, Raphael issues a stern warning about the formidable and powerful Orthon. This guide covers Yurgir the Orthon’s location and the best way to kill him.
How to Solve Thorm Mausuleum’s Painting Button Puzzle in Baldur’s Gate 3
To kill the Orthon in BG3, you’ll first have to get to him through the Gauntlet of Shar underneath Thorm’s Grand Mausoleum. The entrance to this mausoleum is northwest in the Shadow-Cursed Lands, and it’s where you’ll find Raphael standing on its front steps, ready to greet you. Talk with Raphael to grab his quest, urging you to kill the Orthon he’s at odds with, and then enter through the front door.
Upon entering the Thorm Mausoleum, a talking skull greets you. Past this sarcophagus lies a puzzle that tests the player’s knowledge about Thorm. To prevent the traps crowding this room from filling the area with poisonous gas, follow these steps:
| Appearance | Button to press |
|---|---|
| Press the button below for the Moonrise Tower painting to the entrance’s left. | |
 |
Press the button below the Grief painting to the entrance’s right. |
 |
Press the button below the General painting opposite the entrance. |
After all the buttons have been pressed, head through either of the corridors and aboard the traveling disc. This will take you down to the Gauntlet of Shar.
BG3: Orthon Yurgir’s Location in The Gauntlet of Shar
To find the Orthon in BG3 and progress in the Kill Raphael’s Old Enemy quest:
- Solve Shar’s statue puzzle by lowering and turning off the lanterns in the area.
- Proceed to the next room and deal with the Undead Justiciar plaguing the area. You’ll want to prioritize destroying the portals to prevent more undead from spawning in the area.
- Starting from the Gauntlet of Shar waypoint, take a right and then a second right down a broken path of stairs.
- You should see a creature resembling a black panther that will start running away. This is the Displacer Beast, the Orthon’s pet. Follow it to find Orthon’s lair.
- Take a long rest before facing Orthon. This is by no means an easy battle.
How to Kill the Orthon in Baldur’s Gate 3
To kill the Orthon, incapacitate him and his pet. Use Tasha’s Hideous Laughter, Fear, or Drow Poison to have these two enemies skip their turns while focusing on the many Merregon on the upper floor. We used Polymorph on the Displacer Beast, and it stayed a sheep for most of the encounter.
During the battle with the Orthon, he will be safeguarded by his Merregon subjects, his Displacer Beast, and many Orthon explosives. Though several strategies will lead to Yurgir the Orthon’s demise, this is the one that worked for us.
Focus on eliminating one Merregon at a time. Though their health bars are low, they deal quite a bit of damage with each blow. Plus, they can deal with both melee and ranged attacks, so taking them down one at a time is better.
Whenever the Orthon comes back into battle, be careful with his Orthon Explosives. He will throw many at a time, so it’s best to move away all party members before they explode. Alternatively, they can be picked up and stored in the inventory to prevent them from exploding.
When he dies, the Orthon leaves behind the Hellfire Hand Crossbow, a rare crossbow in BG3 that deals 4-9 damage. You can then finish the quest by talking to Raphael, who will be visiting the camp in the next long rest.
Kill the Orthon in BG3 Using Persuasion
If your Charisma is particularly high in BG3, you may be able to get away with having the Orthon kill himself. You’ll have to pass an Insight check while asking him about his contract, but if you do, choose the dialogue option “[PERSUASION] The Lyrics are a trick. You’ve always had an audience – your followers. Get rid of them.” Pass a DC16 Persuasion check, and Yurgir will have all the merregons in the room kill each other.
Now choose “[PERSUASION] You’re not finished yet – the displacer can hear you, can’t she? Kill her.” This will require a DC21 Persuasion check, but if you pass it, the Orthon will shoot his Displacer Beast, Nessa.
Finally, choose “[PERSUASION] Exactly. Kill yourself, complete the contract, and you’ll be reborn in Avernus. Free,” and pass another DC21 Persuasion check to have Yurgir do himself in. You can then pilfer his body, and Shadowheart will be quite impressed.
Spare the Orthon and Break Yurgir’s Contract
Raphael may want you to kill the Orthon and rid him of his old enemy, but that’s not your only option. When talking to the Orthon in BG3, you can persuade Yurgir to let you help him break his contract, avoiding the difficult fight against him altogether and starting a new quest, Break Yurgir’s Contract.
To help Yurgir out of his contract, choose the dialogue option “[PERSUASION] There must be something you missed. Let me search this place for you.” This will require you to pass a DC16 Persuasion check, but if you do, he’ll agree and a search area will appear on your map.
You’ll now want to make your way down to the feet of the giant statue of Shar, where you’ll find a broken effigy and a book. Interact with these items to summon a rat, which you’ll then want to kill. Doing so will cause a small rat army to attack you, but you can easily wipe them out with a few large AOE spells.
The last rat you face in this Baldur’s Gate 3 fight will transform into Lyrthindor, the Last Dark Justiciar. Kill him too and head back to the Orthon. This will fully break Yurgir’s contract, and you’ll be able to collect your reward: the Umbral Gem you need to complete the Gauntlet of Shar. But of course, Raphael won’t be too pleased about this.
Should You Kill Yurgir the Orthon or Break Yurgir’s Contract?
We highly recommend eliminating Yurgir the Orthon in Baldur’s Gate 3. Keeping him alive offers no benefits and causes Astarion to become significantly displeased with you. On the other hand, not only will Yurgir’s demise satisfy Raphael, but it also propels Astarion’s storyline forward.
Who is Yurgir the Orthon in BG3?
Yurgir the Orthon, a formidable devil, commands the Merregon Legionnaires. He and his minions reside deep within the Thorm Mausoleum, specifically in a location known as Shar’s Gauntlet. Yurgir is trapped in the temple, unable to fulfill his contract as he cannot locate his final Justiciar.
So, there’s three solutions for how to beat the Orthon in BG3: kill Yurgir the Orthon, convince the Orthon to kill themselves, or break the Orthon’s contract and spare them. Need more advice? Check out Gamepur’s complete Baldur’s Gate 3 guide for battle strategies, story tips, and BG3 gameplay breakdowns.
