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Few companions from Baldur's Gate 3 can make the claim that they were added to the game for being too hot, but Halsin certainly can—fervent fan demand during Early Access saw his transition from an NPC to a companion character.
Between his compelling personal storyline in Act Two and being a participant in the game's infamous "fivesome", Halsin isn't a companion you'll want to miss out on. Unfortunately, upon arriving at the Emerald Grove, you'll find that goblins have abducted him; and the goblin camp in Shattered Sanctum can be difficult to navigate.
How To Start The Quest To Rescue The Druid Halsin
After crash-landing the Nautiloid, you'll find yourself in an expansive, open world with an overwhelming number of areas to explore.
Though you'll be able to explore the Overgrown Ruins dungeon or recruit various companions before tackling the main storyline, you'll eventually find that all paths converge into a ferocious fight between goblins and adventurers at the Emerald Grove.
Once you've defended the Grove from the goblin attack and been granted access to it, you'll quickly learn from various sources that the First Druid of the Emerald Grove, Halsin, has been captured by goblins—giving you the quest to Rescue the Druid Halsin.
His disappearance has led to a lot of unrest in the grove, his replacement is endangering the tiefling refugees, and—perhaps most importantly—he's your best chance at finding a cure for the illithid parasite in your head. Regardless of your motivations, though, finding Halsin is probably one of your main objectives in Act One.
Where Is The Goblin Camp
The Goblin Camp (X:-74, Y:446) can be found to the far west of the Emerald Grove. To get there, you'll probably find yourself passing through the Blighted Village—a village overrun by goblin raiders.
Once you've reached the Goblin Camp, you'll have the option of tricking the goblins, exerting your parasite powers to intimidate them into giving you free entry, or massacring them all. Regardless of what you choose, you'll want to make your way deeper through the camp into the Shattered Sanctum.
If you're playing a drow, you'll have the option of bypassing most of the social checks with the goblins, as they'll be afraid of you.
The entry to the Shattered Sanctum is a set of Heavy Oak Doors to the north of all the goblin party festivities.
The Shattered Sanctum: Alternative Entrance
Alternatively, you can also make your way into the Shattered Sanctum through the Underdark, by entering and climbing up through the Selunite Outpost.
Be warned, the Underdark is a dangerous place with lots of challenging monsters. You may also anger some of the goblin camp's denizens by doing this, potentially locking yourself out of certain story beats.
Where To Find Halsin In The Goblin Camp
Once you've entered the Shattered Sanctum, continue northward until you enter a big hall where Priestess Gut is branding goblins.
After entering the hall, immediately turn right down the first hallway, and continue on until you come across a section of wooden scaffolding. Shortly after, you'll come across a wooden door—this is the entrance to the Worg Pens, where you'll find Halsin being kept prisoner.
This video will show you exactly how to find Halsin in the Shattered Sanctum, starting from the Goblin Camp waypoint.
Note that you'll face a large fight in this room, so make sure to rest up beforehand.
How To Free Halsin
When you find Halsin, he's in bear form, being stoned by a pair of goblin children. You'll have the choice of putting a stop to his torment or joining in.
Regardless of which one you choose, Halsin will take this opportunity to break out of his cell, attacking the goblins who have been keeping him prisoner.
In order to recruit him, you'll need to defend Halsin and help him in this fight. Though the goblins in the room are manageable on their own, there are a few things to be wary of:
- Keep an eye on the two Worgs in the cages, who will eventually break out to join the fight.
- The goblins will attempt to run off to fetch help. If you don't want them to alert the whole camp, make sure to prevent them from doing so.
- Similarly, note that the Beastmaster goblin will summon beasts to help them in the fight. Be careful of their spider familiar, which can exert crowd control through webbing and poison its foes.
What To Do After Freeing Halsin
Though Halsin is grateful for your help, his duties to the Grove come first, and he won't be able to lend his aid to your cause before settling the threat of the goblin camp.
If you haven't already killed everyone in the goblin camp, Halsin will ask that you kill its three leaders: Dror Ragzlin, Priestess Gut, and Minthara in order to ensure that the goblins do not hurt more people.
You'll be able to ask him to join your party temporarily to help in the rest of the fights or ask him to stay hidden while you do it yourself.
If Halsin is with you, the goblins will instantly become hostile towards you, making it impossible to utilize stealth or subterfuge while clearing the goblin camp. Choose wisely!
Killing The Goblin Leaders Without Freeing Halsin
If you kill all the goblin leaders and return to the Grove without freeing Halsin, don't fret! Halsin will break out of the prison and kill his captors on his own.
Eventually, he will return to the Grove, where you'll be able to speak to him.
This will also happen if you choose to give Minthara the location of the Emerald Grove, and then defend the Grove with the tieflings and druids.
Similarly, if you decline to help Halsin with the goblin leaders, he'll turn into a mouse and return to the Grove to warn the others. Despite this, you can still choose to help the Grove and recruit him afterward.
How To Get Halsin As A Companion
Once you've successfully killed all the goblin leaders, or defended the Grove from goblin raiders, Halsin will thank you and agree to join your camp during your journey to find answers at Moonrise Towers.
That said, unfortunately, you still won't be able to get him to join your party at this point.
You'll need to complete the Lift the Shadow Curse questline of Act Two in order to properly recruit Halsin as an official companion.
This questline is extremely long and involves several interlocking quests related to the main storyline. It's also easy to get locked out of, so make sure you progress towards it before completing Shar's Sanctum and going into the Shadowfell!
If all goes well, however, you'll have the First Druid in your arsenal long before you depart for the city of Baldur's Gate for Act 3.
Needless to say, however, if you side with the goblins and help the raiders destroy the Grove in Act One, Halsin will be less than keen to join your party—and will, in fact, show up at your camp one day to kill you. He will no longer be recruitable in this case.