This is a sidequest part of the companion quest/sidequest "The Grand Duke / Rescue the Grand Duke", and we can start it by talking to Counsellor Florrick in the Last Light Inn main building. She's in the northern room of the first floor.
Find some clues abour Art
Once the quest starts, go ahead and "talk" to Art. he's bedridden in the same room.
During the scene here, ask J'ehlar (the person watching over him) for any personal effects. it seems he had a letter. Feel free to read it to learn a little something.
To learn more about Art's condition, you can make a Medicine or Arcana check. If you have Detect Thoughts (with a spell or scroll), it is also an option. You can also make an Investigation check after exhausting the other options.
| Check Type | Difficulty To Clear | Success | Failure |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medicine | 14 | Get information about his condition | Learn nothing |
| Arcana | 14 | Learn about Shadowfell | Learn nothing |
| Detect Thoughts | 11 | Get information about Thaniel | Learn nothing |
| Investigation | 10 | Get information about his hands | Learn nothing |
Head back to your Camp and talk with Halsin about the situation. He will leave your Camp and head straight to Art's side at the Last Light Inn.
Investigate the House of Healing
Head northwest of Moonrise Towers on the map to find the House of Healing. In the southeast area, there’s an open door that allows you to enter the facility. Head to the center and you will find Malus Throm operating on a patient.
After speaking with Malus, he will try to share Shar’s teachings with you. You can make an Investigation, Religion, or Persuasion check to defuse the situation peacefully.
| Check Type | Difficulty To Clear | Success | Failure |
|---|---|---|---|
| Investigation | 14 | Make a comment about further training | Find nothing unusual |
| Religion | 14 | Defuse the situation peacefully | Fight Malus Thorm |
| Persuasion | 16 | Make a comment about further training | Fight Malus Thorm |
You will proceed to two more Persuasion checks, but you can also attack if you are tired. The first option is related to defeating Malus without a fight. The second option can eliminate the nurses around him.
| Check Type | Difficulty To Clear | Success | Failure |
|---|---|---|---|
| Persuasion | 21 | The sisters kill Malus Thorm | Fight Malus Thorm |
| Persuasion | 21 | The sisters attack each other | Fight Malus Thorm |
If Malus is still alive, you have one more Persuasion check to pass or go straight to combat. Malus is alone at this point and is easier to take down.
| Check Type | Difficulty To Clear | Success | Failure |
|---|---|---|---|
| Persuasion | 21 | Malus dies on his own | Fight Malus Thorm |
Choosing to attack at any point will put you against Malus and the nurses, if they didn't take each other out. Malus has a significant amount of health and has powerful Claw attacks. The sisters can use Mind Screech to confuse party members and throw them back, causing damage. They can also throw Paralyzing Vials to inflict Paralyze on your party. Malus and the sisters can switch weapons to deal damage, and they are mostly melee attackers.
Take out the sisters first if you can, as they provide the most trouble with Mind Screech. Malus is powerful, but someone with high AC can take his attacks without trouble. Alternatively, put your spellcasters on high ground and pelt him with attacks. Malus gains Multiattack when his health drops below 40%; watch out as he gets weaker.
However you resolve the situation, search Malus Thorm’s corpse and take the items. The most important is the Battered Lute. That’s the item you need to wake up Art.
Return to Art and select the option about the lute. Karlach approves of playing the lute. Once Art provides information on Thaniel’s location, the quest is complete.