Free Haer'Dalis from Imprisonment by Mekrath

Free Haer'Dalis from Imprisonment by Mekrath is a companion quest in the Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn campaign. it can be started in the basement of the Five Flagons Inn in the Bridge District and allows recruiting the bard Haer'Dalis.
==Aquisition==
This quest is followed by Rescue Raelis and Haer'Dalis from the planar prison to ensure his stay in the party. The latter quest opens up the bard's stronghold quest.
==Walkthrough==
===Accept Raelis Shai's Offer===
*Watch the terrible performance of the actors in the basement. When the play is terminated early due to the reaction of the unhappy audience, Raelis Shai will apologize, promise a refund, then ask if there any adventurers who'd be willing to help her.
*Go backstage and speak to Raelis Shai. Agree to locate and free the potential companion Haer'Dalis and the missing portal gem.
===Find Mekrath, Free Haer'Dalis, Get the Portal Gem===
* Enter the sewer in Athkatla Temple. The entrance into Mekrath's Laboratory is behind a secret wall in the northwestern section of the area.
*In one of the rooms, you will find Haer'Dalis, but his mind is controlled by the wizard Mekrath, who can be found in another room in the same area.
*You have two options, you can do a favor for the mage to find his mirror, which was stolen by his imp, which can be found in the southeastern portion of the sewers and he will then release his control on the Haer'Dalis or you can try to kill him in combat.
*Once Haer'Dalis is no longer mind-controlled, he offers to join the party. You can either let him in your party or meet him back at the stage of the Five Flagons Inn. If you have a full party but want to have Haer'Dalis in your party, do not bother to take him yet as he will leave when you get back to Raelis Shai. Take the Portal Gem from the altar and bring it to Realis Shai.
*If you didn't have Haer'Dalis join your party, he will be waiting at the Five Flagons Inn, and talk to you upon approach. "So we meet in brighter times and better places, I see. Have you brought the gem?"
*If you want to keep Haer'Dalis in the Party without doing the Planar Prison Quest, you have to free him from Mekrath, recruit him, but not obtain the Portal Gem. That way he will complain about the gem but won't leave the party. However, if you secure the Portal Gem with him in the party, he insists on bringing it to Raelis Shai - and not doing so will make him eventually leave the party and bug out the Planar Prison quest.
===Decide what reward is acceptable===
*At this point you have options:
*#Give the troupe the Portal Gem with no further negotiations. You receive for the gem, for freeing Haer' Dalis, and .
*#Negotiate for more gold. There are two approaches you may take; Peaceful Truth or Belligerent Lie. Either way, Haer'Dalis says, "negotiations are between you and miss Raelis..."
*##Talk to Raelis Shai. She gives the party for rescuing Haer'Dalis, then asks about the gem. Say you "have the gem but... a friend...is captive...I need gold to rescue her." Raelis is not happy about bartering, "Do not try to barter with me, child! I shall give you more than any other might for I have more to give and greater need. Is that enough?" However, you may say you "merely wished to confirm it. Here is the gem..." Raelis will give you for the gem, and after she asks Haer'Dalis to explain their "greater need" you receive your quest reward of . If instead you say "I'll barter with who I wish...I am leaving" it could still lead to belligerence, and from there to hostilities.
*##You can lie to Haer'Dalis, saying "I sold it and shan't get it back except at three times the price." Haer'Dalis will not be happy, calling you a Fool on the one hand, and on the other, asking "Please, spend whatever you must. It will be more than covered in your reward." Next time you talk to him you have the same options to simply turn over the gem, saying "Aye, here it is..." or "Yeah, I brought it. How much is it worth to you?" Haer'Dalis directs you to Raelis. Again with Raelis, you have the option to simply give it to her, or insist "...I must know how much you'll give me for it." She won't be happy, but "shall give you more than any other might..." After that, yet again, you may give it to her, or give her an ultimatum, "I'll barter with who I wish, Miss Raelis... Show me your greater need, if you wish, but I am leaving." At this point Raelis offers "'Tis all I have." Again you have a choice:
*###Accepting it gives you for the gem, for freeing Haer' Dalis, and for completing the quest.
*###Say "...it's not enough... Goodbye, Miss Raelis" and Raelis yells, "Haer' Dalis, all of you, stop them!" which turns the entire troupe hostile. You must then fight Raelis Shai (), Haer' Dalis (?? XP), Kirinaldo (), Lunisia (?? XP), Biff the Understudy (?? XP), and possibly other summoned creatures.
===Options and outcomes===
*If hostilities ensue with the troupe, the Planar Portal is never opened, and you miss out on much experience and notable loot.
*If hostilities do not occur, Raelis Shai rewards you, and while she is "summoning" a "young conduit" Haer'Dalis reveals who they really are, why they are here, where they are going next, and that they may need your help yet again for another adventure. Again, you have options:
*#You may reply "I'm not interested in fighting extra-planar creatures...I'll be on my way, thank you." to which Raelis sadly acquiesces, "We could have used your bravery... escort yourself out. We shall not begin until you are gone..." ...fade to black... you find yourself at the stairs up to the Five Flagons Inn, the Sigil theatre troupe is gone from the game for good, and there is no portal to follow them.
*#Tell them you will help fight off whatever comes through the portal. This option leads to the quest, Rescue Raelis and Haer'Dalis from the Planar Prison. A few extra-planar creatures come through the portal and might include: 2 Quasits, a Lesser Fire Elemental, and a Shadow Fiend (a total of ), after which four Planar Bounty Hunters arrive on the scene. After a cut-scene between the lead Bounty Hunter and the Theatre Troupe, the Bounty Hunter turns to you asking, "Who are you...? Surely Raelis did not hire you in the hope that you would save her?" You have two dialog options to reply with, both of which leads to the same reply from the Bounty Hunter "Fool! I don't need to involve you. Already I have the souls of these ones attuned. Let it begin!" The Hunters disappear through the Portal with the Troupe, but the Portal remains open, allowing you a chance to prepare before you enter the portal to rescue them - such as rest, reform party, and otherwise make preparations. What awaits the party on the other side of the portal?
==Gallery==
OG Aerie 2.png|In chapter 2 with Aerie as a companion, a Messenger approaches and lets her know that uncle Quayle needs to see her and a journal entry is registered titled "Quayle Has Called for Aerie".
OG Aerie 3.png|The party pays a visit to uncle Quayle, and learns that a friend of Quayle's needs help, and to seek Raelis Shai out in the Five Flagons Theatre.
OG Raelis asks for aid 1.png|Gorion's Ward watches the play, which didn't go well and was prematurely cancelled, and Raelis announces a call for adventurers, another journal entry is registered, titled "Raelis Shai Asks for Aid".
OG Minsc thinks play is great.png|Most everyone knew the play was a disaster, however Minsc was the exception and can't believe such a great performance was stopped.
==Mod gallery==
:Portraits from Portraits Portraits Everywhere
RAELIS.jpg|thumb|Raelis Shai, has announced she needs adventurers to help her. Speak with her and she asks you to rescue Haer'Dalis from Mekrath.
MEKRATH.jpg|thumb|Mekrath, he has dominated Haer'Dalis as punishment for intruding in his hidden laboratory lair. You may make a bargain with him to secure his freedom or try and slay him to break the spell.