Murder Tribunal

Key takeaways

• The Tribunal is beneath Candulhallow’s Tombstones, not in the general Lower City streets or in the Bhaal Temple.
• Its verified internal areas are the Bhaalist crypt and antechamber, Tribunal chamber, Abattoir, prison and Sarevok’s private quarters.
• The location is tied to both Investigate the Murders and Impress the Murder Tribunal, which eventually converge on Sarevok and Orin.
• You can enter the Tribunal peacefully if you have advanced the murder investigation and possess an acceptable murder victim’s hand. Otherwise, the guards and Tribunal may become hostile.
• Killing Sarevok gives access to his equipment, the Amulet of Bhaal and the Map to Bhaal Temple. Joining the Tribunal can grant the same key progression items, but requires killing Valeria.
• The route is hazardous The approach contains grease, a tripwire, a fire explosive and firewine barrels, while the Abattoir and Tribunal chamber can become difficult multi-enemy fights if handled openly.
• The Tribunal and Candulhallow’s basement disable fast travel and access to camp until the party leaves the restricted area.

About this guide

Overview

The Murder Tribunal is a hidden Bhaalist complex beneath the Lower City of Baldur’s Gate. It is not merely a single courtroom. The location includes the approach through Candulhallow’s Tombstones, a trapped crypt and antechamber, the Tribunal chamber itself, the Dread Lord’s Abattoir, a prison and Sarevok Anchev’s private quarters.

The Tribunal is the main gateway into the Cult of Bhaal’s late-game storyline. It is where the party can investigate the serial murders, confront Sarevok, earn the title of Unholy Assassin of Bhaal, obtain the Amulet of Bhaal, and receive the means of entering the Bhaal Temple where Orin the Red awaits. The same location also offers one of Act Three’s most consequential moral choices: join the cult temporarily by murdering Investigator Valeria, or reject Bhaal’s servants and fight the Tribunal.

The site is reached through Candulhallow’s Tombstones, a funeral-goods shop in an alley behind the Elfsong Tavern. The shop is a neighbouring entrance area and should not be confused with the Tribunal’s underground halls themselves.

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Finding Candulhallow’s Tombstones

Candulhallow’s Tombstones stands in an alley behind the Elfsong Tavern, on the fringes of the Eastway district. Its entrance is locked, but it can be opened with a key or by lockpicking. The shop sells funeral-related goods and contains coffins, caskets and tombstones, but its real purpose is to conceal the Cult of Bhaal’s activities.

Note

Crossing the Bhaalist crypt

The basement begins as a brick path over a pool of dirty water. The most important practical rule is simple:

The trap can be detected with a Perception check. Triggering it can ignite the area and create a dangerous chain reaction, particularly if party members are standing near the barrels. The basement also prevents fast travel and access to camp.

The antechamber

Beyond the entrance door, the party encounters three undead Death Knights:

They function as the first security layer of the Tribunal. If the party enters under the expected conditions, they can proceed towards the central courtroom. If the party has made the Tribunal hostile, these guardians become part of the opening fight.

Because this area is close to the entrance, it is a useful place to prepare buffs, separate party members or establish a retreat plan before starting dialogue with Sarevok. The party cannot rely on fast travel or a normal camp visit while inside the restricted complex.

The Tribunal chamber

The central chamber is designed as a theatrical courtroom. Sarevok sits on a high judicial dais, while the echoes of three dead Bhaalspawn servants occupy subordinate seats:

A pulpit stands in front of the dais. This is where the party member who approaches Sarevok is questioned and where the murder trial begins.

The room’s visual language is deliberately ceremonial. Red carpets resemble streams of blood, the dais resembles a judge’s bench and the basin behind the pulpit forms part of the Tribunal’s ritual symbolism. The eastern side contains a raised perch that can be used to reach the Abattoir stealthily. The western counterpart is damaged and has little practical value.

The Abattoir

The Abattoir lies south of the Tribunal chamber behind a movable wall section. Its door requires either:

The room is the Tribunal’s ritual killing chamber. If the party passes through the judgement ceremony without immediately starting a fight, Sarevok and the echoes move here, and Valeria is brought into the ritual sequence.

The Abattoir is therefore a major progression area rather than an optional side room. It is where the party must decide whether to kill Investigator Valeria and become an Unholy Assassin, or turn against Sarevok and fight the Tribunal.

If the party chooses the hostile route, Sarevok may walk from the courtroom while the ghostly judges teleport, potentially creating a brief opportunity to isolate him or attack before the whole group is positioned together. This behaviour is useful, but it should not be treated as a guaranteed safe exploit.

Prison

The prison lies north of the main hall. It contains a small antechamber and four cells, including an area apparently used by jailers.

The Tribunal Prison Key can be found on a keychain on the wall at the far end of the prison. An unlocked chest near the entrance contains:

One cell contains the beheaded corpse of Flaming Fist Orvil, together with an unfinished note addressed to Quil Grootslang. This material helps show how the Bhaalists have penetrated or manipulated the city’s security apparatus.

Sarevok’s private quarters

A door between the main hall and prison leads east to Sarevok’s small office. The room is not essential for finishing the main sequence, but it is valuable for lore and equipment.

The chests contain gold, a random gem and alchemical ingredients. The desk contains A page from Sarevok’s book, which reveals the incestuous ancestry connecting Sarevok and Orin. Several pieces of camp clothing can be found in and around the wardrobe and bookcase.

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Cult of Bhaal

The Tribunal is operated by the Cult of Bhaal, a murderous organisation devoted to the Lord of Murder. Sarevok has rebuilt the Tribunal as a system of judgement and initiation. It serves two linked purposes:

The Tribunal’s internal hierarchy is ceremonial but clear:

Sarevok is both the Tribunal’s presiding judge and one of the major links between Baldur’s Gate 3 and the earlier games. He was the principal antagonist of the original Baldur’s Gate and later appeared as a possible companion in Baldur’s Gate II: Throne of Bhaal.

Cult of Bhaal: steps

1. 01
   To identify murderers worthy of Bhaal’s favour.
2. 02
   To control access to the cult’s inner sanctum and Orin’s domain.

Cult of Bhaal

Characters associated with the Tribunal

Investigate the Murders

The murder investigation begins across the Lower City and eventually leads to the Bhaalist front at Candulhallow’s Tombstones. The Tribunal is the place where the investigation reaches its organisational source.

The Tribunal is not an isolated dungeon encounter. It is the point at which the Lower City murder mystery, the Bhaalist cult and Orin’s Netherstone storyline converge.

The quest may be advanced by

1. 01
   Investigating murder victims and the killer’s trail.
2. 02
   Confronting or defeating Dolor.
3. 03
   Recovering evidence such as the victim list or passphrase clues.
4. 04
   Entering Candulhallow’s Tombstones.
5. 05
   Reaching Sarevok’s Tribunal.
6. 06
   Choosing whether to expose the cult or exploit its initiation ritual.

Impress the Murder Tribunal

The intended peaceful route is to present yourself as a potential Unholy Assassin. The Tribunal expects evidence that you have killed on Bhaal’s behalf, usually in the form of a severed hand obtained during the investigation.

Sarevok begins neutral if the party approaches the ceremony in the expected way. The party can ask about Sarevok, Orin and the cult, although he eventually turns the conversation towards the trial. The Tribunal then summons the spirit of a recent murder victim. The exact victim can vary depending on the party’s actions and the hands in their possession. Father Lorgan is a common possibility, while other playthrough states can produce different victims.

Peaceful progression

1. 01
   Enter Candulhallow’s Tombstones.
2. 02
   Open the hidden door using the passphrase Sicarius.
3. 03
   Cross the Bhaalist crypt carefully.
4. 04
   Approach Sarevok at the pulpit.
5. 05
   Present a severed hand or otherwise satisfy the Tribunal’s admission requirements.
6. 06
   Follow the ceremony into the Abattoir.
7. 07
   Choose whether to kill Investigator Valeria.
8. 08
   If Valeria is killed, accept the title of Unholy Assassin.
9. 09
   Receive or obtain the Amulet of Bhaal and the Map to Bhaal Temple.
10. 10
    Continue through the Undercity Ruins towards Orin.

Rejecting the Tribunal

The party can instead expose or attack the cult. This normally means fighting Sarevok, the Tribunal’s echoes and the entrance guardians, depending on when the party starts the confrontation.

Killing Sarevok is the principal alternative to the initiation route. It rejects the requirement to murder Valeria and allows the party to take Sarevok’s equipment and story items directly from his body.

This route is usually preferable for characters who want to preserve Valeria or avoid accepting Bhaal’s title. It can, however, create a more demanding combat encounter, especially if the Tribunal chamber remains fully hostile.

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Sarevok is the Tribunal’s central boss and one of Act Three’s most recognisable returning villains. During the fight, the echoes support him with spells and other effects. While Sarevok lives, the echoes are an important part of the encounter rather than incidental spectators.

Sarevok’s verified loot

The precise source of each item matters. Some are obtained from Sarevok, while others are found in the wider Tribunal area or acquired through the related sequence. Do not treat the entire list as a single chest inventory.

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If the party completes the initiation and becomes an Unholy Assassin, Echo of Abazigal appears in the main chamber as a trader. This is a progression-dependent NPC, not a permanent shopkeeper present on every visit.

The stock is especially relevant to characters pursuing assassin, critical-hit or Bhaalist equipment themes. Because the trader appears after the Unholy Assassin state is established, characters planning to reject the Tribunal should purchase desired items before starting a hostile confrontation if they want access to this inventory.

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The Tribunal’s broader fixed loot includes

• Shield of the Undevout

The trader’s verified stock includes

• Dolor Amarus
• Fleshrender
• Vicious Battleaxe
• Vicious Shortbow

Progression-critical items

The Amulet of Bhaal is a story item that also grants the wearer First Blood, causing a hit to inflict Bleeding on targets at maximum hit points. It is normally worn by Sarevok or awarded for completing the Tribunal sequence.

Progression-critical items

Books, notes and lore objects

The most important lore item is A page from Sarevok’s book, which exposes the family history linking Sarevok and Orin. This information can affect later conversations surrounding Orin and provides context for the grotesque Bhaalspawn lineage at the centre of Act Three.

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For a first playthrough, the following order gives the best balance of safety, information and story control.

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The following content is particularly easy to lose or change:

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The most important practical warning is that the party cannot fast travel or return to camp while inside Candulhallow’s basement and the Tribunal halls. Do not enter with depleted resources unless you intend to commit to the sequence.

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Books, notes and lore objects: steps

1. 01
   Complete as much of the murder investigation as possible before entering Candulhallow’s Tombstones.
2. 02
   Search the shop thoroughly, including the tombstone inscriptions and the rear room.
3. 03
   Read or obtain the passphrase rather than relying on repeated checks at the secret door.
4. 04
   Disarm or avoid the crypt trap before moving party members across the water.
5. 05
   Clear or prepare for the three Death Knights if you intend to fight Sarevok.
6. 06
   Enter the Tribunal chamber with your preferred dialogue character selected.
7. 07
   Speak with Sarevok before looting or attacking anything.
8. 08
   Decide whether Valeria’s survival matters to your character.
9. 09
   If rejecting Bhaal, start the fight on your terms and exploit elevation and chokepoints.
10. 10
    If accepting the title, trade with Echo of Abazigal before leaving.
11. 11
    Search the Abattoir, prison and private quarters, especially for the diary, memoirs and Sarevok’s page.
12. 12
    Take the Amulet of Bhaal and Map to Bhaal Temple.
13. 13
    Continue through the Lower City Sewers and Undercity Ruins, which are separate areas from the Tribunal.
14. 14
    Enter the Bhaal Temple and confront Orin.

Candulhallow’s Tombstones

This is the public-facing entrance and Bhaalist front. It is located behind the Elfsong Tavern in the Lower City. The shop, basement and Tribunal should be treated as connected but distinct areas.

Lower City Sewers

The sewers provide routes towards the Undercity. They are not part of the Murder Tribunal itself, although they are necessary for continuing towards Orin if the party follows the normal route.

Undercity Ruins

The Undercity Ruins are a broad neighbouring area beneath Baldur’s Gate. They contain the route towards the Bhaal Temple and should not be collapsed into the Tribunal’s location boundary.

Bhaal Temple

The temple is the inner sanctum of the Cult of Bhaal and Orin’s main stronghold. The Amulet of Bhaal opens its main door in the standard route. The Dark Urge has a special alternative through Sceleritas Fel. The temple is therefore the Tribunal’s narrative destination, not one of its subareas.

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The Tribunal is built around the legacy of the earlier Baldur’s Gate games.

Sarevok was the central antagonist of the original game. In that story, he was defeated at the Temple of Bhaal after attempting to exploit his Bhaalspawn heritage and manipulate Baldur’s Gate into war. In Baldur’s Gate 3, he has returned as the head of a new Tribunal, having preserved the Bhaalist underground and placed himself at the centre of a revived cult.

The Tribunal’s ghostly judges also deliberately draw on previous Bhaalspawn-era figures:

Their presence makes the location function as both a new Act Three dungeon and a meeting point for the series’ older Bhaalspawn mythology. The location’s relationship to the old Temple of Bhaal is also significant. The original game’s temple was destroyed after Sarevok’s defeat, while the temple in Baldur’s Gate 3 has been restored or preserved beneath the city by Sarevok and the Tribunal.

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Is the Murder Tribunal the same as the Bhaal Temple?

No. The Tribunal is beneath Candulhallow’s Tombstones and contains Sarevok’s courtroom, the Abattoir, prison and private quarters. The Bhaal Temple is a separate location in the Undercity, where the party confronts Orin.

Can I kill Sarevok without becoming an Unholy Assassin?

Yes. Fighting Sarevok is the main alternative to killing Valeria during the initiation ritual.

Do I need the Amulet of Bhaal to reach Orin?

Normally, the Amulet is required to open the Bhaal Temple door. It can be obtained by completing the Tribunal sequence or looted from Sarevok. The Dark Urge has a special route in which Sceleritas Fel opens the door.

Is Echo of Abazigal always a trader?

No. Echo of Abazigal appears as a trader after the party becomes an Unholy Assassin.

Can I leave and return to camp inside the Tribunal?

No. Fast travel and access to camp are disabled in the relevant basement and Tribunal areas.

Where is the key to the Abattoir?

The Abattoir Key is carried by Sarevok. The door can also be lockpicked.

Where is the prison key?

The Tribunal Prison Key is on a keychain on the wall at the far end of the prison.

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Sources

• Murder Tribunal - bg3.wiki — bg3.wiki
• Candulhallow's Tombstones - bg3.wiki — bg3.wiki
• Candulhallow's Tombstones - bg3.wiki — bg3.wiki
• Sarevok Anchev - bg3.wiki — bg3.wiki
• Investigate the Murders - bg3.wiki — bg3.wiki
• Sarevok Anchev - bg3.wiki — bg3.wiki
• Fighting Sarevok Anchev - bg3.wiki — bg3.wiki
• Amulet of Bhaal - bg3.wiki — bg3.wiki
• Bhaal Temple - bg3.wiki — bg3.wiki