Key takeaways
- Bonecloak’s Apothecary is in the Lower City, not the Underdark The Underdark location is the earlier meeting place for the Bonecloaks and their Noblestalk-related quest.
- The location comprises the shop, greenhouse, first-floor bedroom and basement The nearby street scenes are part of the surrounding square rather than additional rooms inside the apothecary.
- Derryth is normally the trader, although Baelen can become the active trader if he survives and consumes the Noblestalk.
- Giving the Underdark Noblestalk to Derryth can make three additional Noblestalk items available for sale in Act Three. These later pieces cannot restore Shadowheart’s or the Dark Urge’s memories.
- The basement contains the Counting House Safe nº3 Key, an Elixir of Psychic Resistance, a Potion of Speed, ingredients and a hidden mushroom-filled area.
- The fate of the Bonecloaks changes the shop’s state, its journal text and the available characters. A cat-related interaction can also alter the shop’s occupants if Baelen does not return.
About this guide
Scope: Base game, Act Three, Lower City Status: Research-based guide. The building and its immediately associated exterior scenes are covered. Decorative shops and named background figures are included where reliable location evidence identifies them. Exact trader inventories can vary with game state, restocking and prior choices.
Overview
Bonecloak’s Apothecary is a two-storey potion shop in Baldur’s Gate’s Lower City, positioned in the busy central square near Sorcerous Sundries, the Lower City Central Wall, Devil’s Fee, Stormshore Armoury, Bloomridge Park and the Highberry family home. It is not merely a vendor room. The location includes the shop floor, a greenhouse, an upstairs bedroom, a locked basement and several nearby street scenes involving Flaming Fist officers, civilians, traders and a dragonborn critic of the Baldur’s Mouth Gazette.
The shop’s condition depends on what happened to Baelen Bonecloak and Derryth Bonecloak in Act One’s Underdark. Their personal quest is therefore one of the few earlier choices that visibly changes a Lower City business. If they are dead, the shop can be closed. If one or both survive, the building becomes a useful source of alchemical ingredients, potions and, under the right conditions, Noblestalk.
Neighbouring places
The following locations are useful navigation landmarks, but are not subareas of Bonecloak’s Apothecary:
The Forgotten Realms background description places the apothecary on the strake known as Murl’s Rest, at the crossing of Stormshore Street and Old Town Avenue, with the Highberry estate as a next-door neighbour. This is setting information associated with the city rather than a separate playable interior in the game.
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Neighbouring places
Finding the apothecary
The easiest route is to enter the Lower City and use the Lower City Central Wall as the main navigation reference. From the central wall area, follow the nearby streets towards the square containing Sorcerous Sundries. Bonecloak’s Apothecary is the prominent shop with the greenhouse extension and sits among the other Lower City businesses.
A practical exploration route is
- 01Enter the Lower City.
- 02Locate the Lower City Central Wall or the nearby Sorcerous Sundries area.
- 03Find the apothecary beside the central square.
- 04Speak to the active Bonecloak trader before looting.
- 05Search the shop and greenhouse.
- 06Unlock the greenhouse hatch if you want the basement contents.
- 07Check the street around the building for the nearby named NPC scenes.
- 08Return after resolving relevant Act Three changes if you want to see altered exterior encounters.
Entry requirements
There is no reported quest requirement to enter the shop once the party can freely explore this part of the Lower City. The important conditional element is not access, but the shop’s state. If the Bonecloaks have both died in the Underdark, the shop may be closed with a notice stating that they have “Gone shroom hunting”.
The basement is not freely open. A hatch in the greenhouse is locked and requires a DC 10 Sleight of Hand check to pick. The basement also contains further containers and a concealed section that is opened by a lever.
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Ground floor shop
The ground floor is the working apothecary. The sales area contains the Bonecloak trader, shelves and containers holding alchemical materials. Some common herbs can be taken freely, although players should still watch for red-outlined objects and avoid assuming that every container is safe to loot.
The most important ground-floor interaction is the trader. Both Baelen and Derryth are associated with the shop’s alchemical stock, but the active trader depends on the Bonecloaks’ survival and the Noblestalk outcome. The general shop stock consists of potions and alchemical ingredients rather than a fixed set of unique weapons or armour.
Ground-floor directory
The key on the bookcase is named Bonecloak Apothecary’s Chest Key. The basement page also notes a similarly named key distinction in the game’s data, so players should not assume that every key with “Bonecloak” in its name opens the same container.
Greenhouse
The greenhouse extends from the rear or western side of the shop. It is the location’s most useful area for gathering ingredients without buying them. Several herbal alchemical ingredients are placed here and can be collected directly.
The chest contains non-herbal alchemical ingredients. The hatch requires a DC 10 Sleight of Hand check, so a character with proficiency in Sleight of Hand, Thieves’ Tools and a suitable Dexterity score is useful here.
First floor
The first floor is a small domestic area rather than another commercial room. At the end of the hall is a bedroom containing:
The contents of Derryth’s Journal vary according to the fate of Baelen and Derryth. This makes the room useful for players following the Bonecloaks’ story, even though it does not contain a major combat reward.
Basement
The basement is accessed through the locked greenhouse hatch. It contains storage areas, containers and alchemical ingredients. The first room is comparatively sparse, while the next section holds a locked chest and the route to the concealed area.
The basement chest containing the Counting House Safe nº3 Key is reported as requiring DC 10 to open in walkthrough coverage. Other accounts identify a DC 15 locked chest in the deeper section containing rarer ingredients. Treat these as separate containers rather than contradictory descriptions.
Basement hazards and secret route
A lever hidden behind crates opens the concealed area. The deeper room contains Bibberbang mushrooms, making careless movement dangerous. A safe approach is to send one character ahead, use a ranged attack or other controlled method to destroy the mushrooms, and avoid clustering the party around the plants. A walkthrough specifically recommends destroying all the Bibberbang before exploring the area.
The basement is not presented as a full combat dungeon with a named boss. Its challenge is environmental and investigative: finding the hatch, opening the containers, locating the lever and dealing with the mushrooms safely.
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Bonecloak family
Derryth Bonecloak
Derryth is one of the owners of the apothecary and normally serves as its trader if she survives. She and Baelen can first be encountered in the Underdark’s Ebonlake Grotto, where their search for Noblestalk establishes the background for the Act Three shop.
Her Act Three stock is primarily alchemical. If the party gives her the Underdark Noblestalk, she can sell three additional pieces of Noblestalk in the Lower City. These later pieces are not equivalent to the unique memory-restoring Noblestalk interaction available earlier, and cannot be used to restore Shadowheart’s or the Dark Urge’s memories.
If Baelen does not return, Derryth can express her loneliness. The player may be able to persuade one of several nearby cats to accompany her. The selected cat can subsequently live in or around the apothecary.
Baelen Bonecloak
Baelen is Derryth’s husband and a possible trader at the apothecary. His exact role in Act Three depends on his Underdark outcome and whether he consumed the Noblestalk. If he survives and takes the Noblestalk, the active trader can be Baelen rather than Derryth.
The Bonecloaks’ relationship and the consequences of the Underdark quest are reflected in the shop’s state, journal text and available dialogue. Their survival should therefore be considered a progression state, not just a backstory detail.
Cats associated with the apothecary
The following cats may be connected with the apothecary, depending on the player’s choices:
The cats begin in different locations around the central square or nearby streets. If the party helps Derryth after Baelen fails to return, one can be convinced to accompany her. Their precise final position may vary between inside and outside the building.
Nearby exterior NPCs
The apothecary’s immediate exterior has several named NPCs and a changing street vignette.
Flaming Fist and detained civilians
A Flaming Fist patrol and a Steel Watcher can be found questioning two civilians accused of serving the Absolute:
If the Steel Watch is disabled, the patrol and detained civilians disappear. Their place is taken by two people examining the destroyed automaton:
This is a progression-sensitive exterior scene. It is not a quest inside the apothecary, but it is part of the location’s immediate surroundings and can change after a major Lower City state change.
Other nearby named figures
Mohan sells scrolls, coatings and Thieves’ Tools, making him a useful supplementary trader even though he is not the Bonecloak shopkeeper. Pritt’s role is conversational and atmospheric: she is frustrated that the newspaper has stopped printing puzzles.
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Bonecloak trader
The apothecary is listed among the Lower City’s alchemical traders. The active vendor is usually Derryth, with Baelen taking that role under the relevant survival and Noblestalk conditions. The shop’s broad service category is alchemy, and its stock includes potions and ingredients.
Do not treat the name “apothecary” as proof that every possible potion or reagent is always available. The reliable description supports alchemical ingredients, potions and conditional Noblestalk, but individual stock and quantities may depend on trader state and inventory refreshes.
Mohan
Mohan stands outside near the greenhouse windows rather than behind the Bonecloak counter. His verified stock categories are:
This makes him especially useful if the party has reached the apothecary while short on lockpicking supplies or consumable weapon coatings.
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Shop and greenhouse
The location’s fixed or specifically identified contents include:
The greenhouse is the most straightforward place to gather ingredients without spending gold. The locked wooden chest behind the screen provides additional non-herbal materials.
Basement
The Counting House Safe nº3 Key is the most important utility item in the basement because it connects this otherwise optional exploration area to another Lower City location.
Basement
| Item or group | Area | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Counting House Safe nº3 Key | Basement chest | Useful for the Counting House |
| Elixir of Psychic Resistance | Deeper basement | Fixed notable consumable identified in walkthrough coverage |
| Potion of Speed | Basement loot | Fixed notable consumable identified by location references |
| Herbal ingredients | Basement containers | Alchemical materials |
| Fungal ingredients | Basement containers | Particularly appropriate to the hidden mushroom section |
| Rarer ingredients | Locked deeper chest | Reported behind a higher-difficulty lock |
Literature
The apothecary contains or is associated with a substantial collection of written material. Verified titles listed for the location include:
Some of these may be found in the building, while others are associated with the location’s data or nearby placement. The journal and letters are the most directly relevant to the Bonecloak family’s story.
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Both Bonecloaks dead
If Baelen and Derryth die in the Underdark, or if Derryth dies while Baelen is not rescued, the shop is closed. A notice outside says they have gone “shroom hunting”. The building therefore loses its normal trader function.
Derryth survives without Baelen
Derryth can remain at the apothecary even if Baelen does not return. In this state, her dialogue reflects her loneliness. The player may be able to help by persuading Barsik, Malta or Myshka to accompany her. The journal also reflects the changed family situation.
Baelen survives
If Baelen survives the Underdark, both Bonecloaks can be present in the shop. The active trader may still depend on the Noblestalk outcome. This is the most complete version of the location’s family and business state.
Derryth receives the Noblestalk
Giving the Underdark Noblestalk to Derryth can unlock three Noblestalk pieces in her Act Three stock. These are useful as valuable alchemical goods, but they do not reproduce the unique memory-restoration effect associated with the earlier Noblestalk encounter.
Steel Watch disabled
The street scene near the apothecary changes when the Steel Watch is disabled. The Flaming Fist patrol, Steel Watcher and detained Bixworth civilians disappear, replaced by Hyrla Sname and Peetri Sname examining the broken automaton.
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Recommended first visit
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Recommended first visit: steps
- 01Speak to the active trader. Check whether Derryth or Baelen is present and inspect the alchemical stock before taking items.
Recommended first visit: steps
- 01Confirm the Noblestalk outcome. If the Act One Noblestalk was given to Derryth, check the trader’s inventory for the three additional pieces.
Recommended first visit: steps
- 01Search the ground floor carefully. Take freely available ingredients where appropriate, inspect the bookcase and note the Bonecloak Apothecary’s Chest Key.
Recommended first visit: steps
- 01Enter the greenhouse. Gather the visible herbal ingredients and inspect the locked wooden chest behind the screen.
Recommended first visit: steps
- 01Open the basement hatch. Use a character equipped for Sleight of Hand and Thieves’ Tools. The reported lock difficulty is DC 10.
Recommended first visit: steps
- 01Loot the first basement rooms. Search containers for ingredients and locate the chest containing the Counting House Safe nº3 Key.
Recommended first visit: steps
- 01Find the lever behind the crates. This opens the concealed part of the basement.
Recommended first visit: steps
- 01Deal with the Bibberbang safely. Advance with one character, destroy the mushrooms from a safe distance and avoid moving the whole party into the hazard.
Recommended first visit: steps
- 01Collect the deeper consumables. Look for the Elixir of Psychic Resistance, Potion of Speed and the rarer ingredients behind the deeper locked chest.
Recommended first visit: steps
- 01Search upstairs. Read Derryth’s Journal and the unsent letter to see the version corresponding to the Bonecloaks’ fate.
Recommended first visit: steps
- 01Check the exterior. Visit Mohan, listen to Pritt Yellowbreath, inspect the Flaming Fist scene and look for the relevant cats.
Bibberbang
The hidden basement section is the location’s main environmental hazard. Bibberbang mushrooms can punish careless movement and may cause a chain reaction if approached without preparation. The safest general method is to use a single character, keep the rest of the party away, and destroy the mushrooms before searching the area.
Locked containers
The apothecary contains several locks rather than a single entrance puzzle:
The exact check may be modified by character bonuses, proficiency, equipment or difficulty settings. The important practical distinction is that the hatch is the route to the basement, while the later chests are optional loot locks.
Conditional shop closure
The closed-shop state is easy to miss if the party does not connect Act One’s Underdark events with Act Three’s city map. If both Bonecloaks’ survival conditions fail, there is no normal vendor visit to make. Search the notice outside and inspect the building for remaining fixed contents, but do not expect the ordinary shop service.
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Bonecloak’s Apothecary provides a small but effective continuity thread between the Underdark and Baldur’s Gate. In Act One, Derryth and Baelen are concerned with recovering Noblestalk, a rare mushroom connected to the success of their struggling business. In Act Three, the player sees the consequences of that expedition in physical form: a functioning shop, a damaged family, a closed storefront or a more successful apothecary with Noblestalk in stock.
The business is also part of Baldur’s Gate’s wider commercial district. Its neighbours include a major magical emporium, an infernal-themed shop, an armoury and a wealthy family estate. The contrast is useful: Bonecloak’s is a practical working apothecary, while its surroundings represent several of the Lower City’s more specialised or affluent establishments.
The shop’s name and placement also have wider Forgotten Realms context. The apothecary is described as standing on Murl’s Rest at the crossing of Stormshore Street and Old Town Avenue, next to the Highberry family estate. This background reference should be kept separate from the game’s playable map labels and interiors.
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Nearby named places
Notable named items
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Is Bonecloak’s Apothecary in the Underdark?
No. The Act Three shop is in the Lower City. The Underdark’s Ebonlake Grotto, also called the Myconid Colony, is the earlier location where Baelen and Derryth can be encountered.
Who sells from the shop?
Derryth is normally the trader. Baelen can become the active trader if he survives and consumes the Noblestalk. Both are associated with alchemical trading.
Can I get more Noblestalk in Act Three?
Yes, if the Underdark Noblestalk was given to Derryth, she can sell three pieces in the Lower City. These do not restore Shadowheart’s or the Dark Urge’s memories.
What is the basement for?
It contains alchemical ingredients, notable consumables, the Counting House Safe nº3 Key and a concealed section with Bibberbang mushrooms. The basement is optional and accessed through a locked greenhouse hatch.
Is there a boss in Bonecloak’s Basement?
No named boss is identified for the location. Its principal dangers are locks, environmental hazards and the Bibberbang-filled concealed section.
Does the shop change after disabling the Steel Watch?
The nearby exterior scene does. The Flaming Fist patrol, Steel Watcher and detained civilians disappear, replaced by Hyrla Sname and Peetri Sname examining the destroyed automaton.
Is the apothecary permanently missable?
The shop’s state is missable in the sense that it depends on earlier Underdark outcomes. The building may be closed if the Bonecloaks’ survival conditions fail, while the Noblestalk stock and cat-related events depend on specific earlier choices. The available evidence confirms these state changes, but does not establish a single universal Act Three deadline for every interaction.
Sources
- Bonecloak's Apothecary - bg3.wiki — bg3.wiki
- Bonecloak's Apothecary | Forgotten Realms Wiki | Fandom — forgottenrealms.fandom.com
- The Titular City - Baldur's Gate 3 Walkthrough & Guide - GameFAQs — gamefaqs.gamespot.com
- List of traders - bg3.wiki — bg3.wiki