Look, I’ve made some questionable decisions in Baldur’s Gate 3. I once let a mind flayer poke around in my brain just to see what would happen. But nothing—and I mean nothing—prepared me for the chaotic mess that is saving Isobel at the Last Light Inn. It’s 2026, and I’m still having nightmares about Marcus swooping in like a goth pigeon. So, if you’re like me and want to avoid accidentally dooming an entire inn full of refugees, stick around. Why would anyone side with Marcus, anyway? The guy works for Ketheric Thorm, for Selûne’s sake.
The Setup: Don’t Be a Hero, Be a Planner
Before you even think about heading upstairs to chat with Isobel, do yourself a favor: talk to everyone. I mean it. Dammon, Jaheira, Mol, Raphael—every single one. I learned this the hard way after I charged upstairs, only to realize I’d forgotten to buy that shiny new armor from Dammon. Priorities, people. You don’t want to be mid-battle, regretting your lack of preparation while a winged lunatic tries to kidnap the only person keeping the shadows at bay. So take a few minutes, do your shopping, and then go say hi to the nice cleric reciting magic on the balcony.
The Fight Itself: Protect the Squishy Cleric
When Marcus descends and demands Isobel be handed over to Ketheric, you have a choice: side with the creepy kidnapper or side with the person who literally maintains a protective ward over the entire inn. Gee, tough call. Siding with Marcus puts everyone at risk, so unless you’re roleplaying as a cartoon villain, you’ll want to fight him. But here’s the kicker—this fight is a nightmare if you’re not prepared.
First things first: make sure your entire party is upstairs with you before the fight starts. I cannot stress this enough. If half your team is downstairs admiring the bar, they’ll waste precious turns running up while Isobel gets pummeled. And guess what? If her HP drops to zero, Marcus grabs her and flees, and you fail. No pressure.
Your priority is to kill Marcus fast while keeping Isobel alive. Surround her with your tankiest party member (looking at you, Karlach) and focus all your damage on Marcus first. Once he’s down, mop up the remaining enemies in the room. Then—and only then—split your party to help the others downstairs. Leave at least one character with Isobel, just in case someone sneaks back up. Trust me, it’s not paranoia if a ghoul actually does it.
Why Bother Saving Her?
Great question! Besides the fact that letting her get kidnapped makes you feel like a colossal jerk, saving Isobel keeps a bunch of Act 2 side quests alive. We’re talking Karlach’s engine repair, Shadowheart’s personal quest, saving the refugee Tieflings, and even removing the Shadow-Curse from the region. Let Isobel get taken, and those quests either shut down or get significantly worse. And who wants to miss out on Karlach’s story? She’s already hot enough—literally.
So there you have it. Save Isobel, beat Marcus, and keep your conscience (and your quest log) intact. And if you ever feel tempted to side with the winged kidnapper, just ask yourself: Do I really want to explain to Jaheira why I let her friend get taken? I didn’t think so.