Key takeaways
- Explore Rivington before rushing into Wyrm’s Crossing Several quests, traders and investigations begin here, including the Open Hand Temple murders, the refugee dispute at Arfur’s Mansion, the Ironhand gnome storyline and the circus activities.
- The South Span Checkpoint is the main route north It separates Rivington from Wyrm’s Crossing, but the party can use dialogue, quests, stealth, mobility abilities or alternative routes rather than treating the checkpoint as an absolute barrier.
- The Open Hand Temple is a hub for multiple story threads Its murder investigation, crypt, graveyard, roof and underground cave all reward careful exploration.
- The Circus of the Last Days is both a social hub and a source of unique rewards It contains traders, performances, the Dribbles storyline, Akabi’s rigged wheel and a one-character jungle excursion.
- Rivington’s refugee crisis is deliberately interconnected Arfur’s Mansion, the Requisitioned Barn, the temple, the courier service, Gur Camp and the Ironhand gnomes all show different consequences of the city’s attempt to contain displaced people.
- Some outcomes are progression-sensitive Characters can be abducted or replaced, traders can become unavailable, and later story decisions can change who remains in the area.
About this guide
Base game, Act Three. Spoilers for Act Three and selected companion quests.
Overview
Rivington is the southernmost outer district of Baldur’s Gate in Baldur’s Gate 3. It is the party’s first substantial area after leaving the Shadow-Cursed Lands and the first part of Act Three that can be explored freely. The district lies on the southern bank of the River Chionthar, immediately south of Wyrm’s Crossing. Refugees fleeing the Absolute’s advance have gathered in camps and improvised settlements, while local residents, Flaming Fist soldiers, merchants and an interplanar circus compete for space and safety.
Rivington is not merely the village around the central waypoint. Its practical boundaries include the western beach, the refugee camps, Gur Camp, the Open Hand Temple and its underground areas, the Circus of the Last Days and its jungle excursion, the Requisitioned Barn, Arfur’s Mansion, Rivington General, Sword Coast Couriers, the South Span Checkpoint and the paths beneath and around the bridge to Wyrm’s Crossing.
Arriving in Rivington
The party enters Act Three from the road leading out of the Shadow-Cursed Lands. The first broad settlement is Rivington. The main road runs through the district towards the South Span Checkpoint, effectively dividing the region into uneven southern and northern sections.
This route avoids committing immediately to the checkpoint and gives the party time to collect context from the district.
A useful first circuit is
- 01Activate the Rivington waypoint.
- 02Visit Arfur’s Mansion and resolve or postpone the dispute outside.
- 03Explore Rivington General and locate its cellar access.
- 04Enter the Circus of the Last Days.
- 05Investigate the Open Hand Temple.
- 06Walk through the refugee camps and visit Gur Camp.
- 07Examine the Requisitioned Barn from its side entrance or after deciding how to approach the guards.
- 08Visit Sword Coast Couriers and start the missing-letters investigation.
- 09Deal with the South Span Checkpoint when ready to move into Wyrm’s Crossing.
South Span Checkpoint
The South Span Checkpoint is the principal guarded passage from Rivington into Wyrm’s Crossing. It is not itself part of Wyrm’s Rock Fortress or the Lower City. Wyrm’s Crossing lies between Rivington and the fortress, and must be crossed before the party can reach the Lower City.
The checkpoint’s resolution depends on earlier choices, dialogue, disguises, quest progress and the party’s approach. Possible solutions include negotiation, deception, stealth, combat or assistance from characters encountered earlier in the game. Because the exact interaction can vary, save before committing to a hostile approach.
Nearby connections
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Nearby connections
| Name | Details |
|---|---|
| Wyrm’s Crossing | North, beyond the South Span Checkpoint. |
| Wyrm’s Rock Fortress | Further north beyond Wyrm’s Crossing. |
| Lower City | Beyond Wyrm’s Crossing and Wyrm’s Rock. |
| Western Beach | Down paths west of the checkpoint and beneath the temple. |
| Circus of the Last Days | Southern and western side of the settlement. |
| Chult jungle | A temporary destination reached through Akabi’s portal inside the circus. |
Arfur’s Mansion
Arfur’s Mansion stands beside the main road near the southern entrance to Rivington. It belongs to Arfur Gregorio, a wealthy merchant who returns to find refugees occupying his home. He has hired the Rivington Rats, a small gang led by Zenovia Dawg, to remove them.
The confrontation can be handled in several ways:
The mansion contains a hall, kitchen, workshop, upper bedroom and basement. The upper floor and basement are especially important for the Investigate the Suspicious Toys quest. The Toymaker’s House Key can be found in the kitchen, while the Toymaker’s Basement Key is upstairs in the bedroom. The basement contains evidence connected to the production and distribution of dangerous toys.
Rivington General
Rivington General is a weapons and armour shop opposite the Circus of the Last Days. It is operated by the smith Gyldro Angleiron and his clerk Exxvikyap. The shop consists of two buildings connected by an open-air forge.
Exxvikyap is the principal merchant and sells weapons and armour. The forge and surrounding buildings can be explored, but take care around restricted containers and areas marked as trespassing.
A cave entrance north of the store and a hatch in Gyldro’s house lead to Angleiron’s Cellar. The cellar is being used as a base by Ironhand gnomes led by Wulbren Bongle. Bumpnagel can be found there as a trader. The area is closely tied to the Ironhand storyline and can change depending on whether the party supports Wulbren, the Gondians or other factions later in Act Three.
Circus of the Last Days
The Circus of the Last Days is an extraplanar circus temporarily stationed in Rivington. Entry normally requires dealing with the gate staff, though exploration routes around the temple graveyard and fence can provide alternative access. The circus offers performances, games, traders and several unusual encounters.
Gate and grounds
At the entrance, the party encounters circus workers, visitors and a ghoul-related dispute involving Emmet and Gable. Benji examines visitors before entry. Inside, circus patrons watch performers while staff attempt to manage missing Redcaps and the circus’s impending departure.
Traders’ Alley
The circus is also the main setting for Find Dribbles the Clown. The party can investigate the fake Dribbles performance, confront the impostor and begin collecting the clown’s scattered body parts elsewhere in the city.
Akabi’s jungle
Akabi can send one party member to a dinosaur-filled jungle through a portal. The destination is not a normal subarea of Rivington and should be treated as a separate, temporary location. The party member returns to an outhouse at the circus after using the exit portal.
The reward route requires surviving the jungle and reaching the painted chest containing Nyrulna. The Band of the Mystic Scoundrel is found separately in a backpack near a cliff. The destination is easy to miss because it is tied to Akabi rather than to a conventional quest marker.
Circus named directory
The circus also contains or can award the following notable items and clothing:
The exact availability of some objects depends on dialogue, theft, combat and the outcome of circus encounters.
Traders’ Alley: The alley contains the principal circus merchants
| Name | Details |
|---|---|
| Zara the Mummy | Face paints, dyes and disguise kits. Trading requires passing an Insight or Intimidation check, successfully reading her mind or otherwise resolving the communication problem. |
| Akabi | Runs the “Spin the Wheel” game. A spin costs 500 gold, but the ordinary prizes are usually poor or deliberately misleading. |
| Boney | Scrolls and gemstones. |
| Popper | Consumables. |
| Zethino | Alchemical goods and a relationship-oriented encounter. |
Akabi’s jungle: The jungle contains
Circus named directory
Circus named directory
Open Hand Temple
The Open Hand Temple is south of the South Span Checkpoint and opposite Sword Coast Couriers. It is dedicated to Ilmater and previously served as a centre for healing, feeding and charity. At the start of Act Three, its head priest, Father Lorgan, has been murdered and the temple’s charitable work is disrupted.
Solve the Open Hand Temple Murders
Speak to Sister Yannis after her argument with Investigator Valeria. Yannis believes that Brilgor, accused of murdering Father Lorgan, is innocent. This begins Solve the Open Hand Temple Murders.
Brilgor’s corpse can reveal that he and Father Lorgan were killed in the tunnels by a dwarf wearing red clothing. Father Lorgan’s corpse can corroborate important details.
Alternative entrances
The temple can be approached through more than its main door:
The circus-side routes are useful if the party wants to reach the temple without first dealing with the circus gate. The underground route is particularly valuable for players who prefer exploration over front-door dialogue.
Roof and Tara
The temple roof provides a broad view over Rivington. The tressym Tara can be encountered there. Tara is connected to the missing letters quest and to the wider courier investigation. Her presence also makes the temple roof one of the area’s most useful vertical exploration points.
The crypt and underground cave
The cellar contains a crypt and connects to a larger natural cave. The cave has an entrance from the Western Beach and a route into the temple cellar. The underground area is also relevant to Help the Spirit of the Amulet, as Shirra Clarwen’s tomb lies in the temple crypt.
Solve the Open Hand Temple Murders: The investigation can be advanced by
- 01Speaking with Sister Yannis and Brother Donnick.
- 02Examining the temple and the crime scene.
- 03Searching the graveyard behind the temple.
- 04Opening Brilgor’s casket.
- 05Using Speak with Dead on Brilgor.
- 06Exploring the underground area beneath the temple.
- 07Finding evidence that the murder was not what it first appeared to be.
- 08Taking the evidence back to Investigator Valeria and continuing the investigation in the city.
Open Hand Temple named directory
Sword Coast Couriers
Sword Coast Couriers is the post office opposite the Open Hand Temple and south of the South Span Checkpoint. It delivers messages by courier and carrier pigeon, but its operations have been disrupted by monsters, the Absolute’s forces and a tressym.
Speak to Danzo Arkwright to begin Find the Missing Letters. The quest involves the pigeon coop on the upper floor and the building’s roof. Tara’s involvement can be discovered during the investigation.
Outside the post office is a fenced kennel area where Angry Mar’hyah can be found. She is associated with Scratch’s previous ownership and can create a confrontation depending on how the party handles the conversation.
Named entries
Requisitioned Barn
The Requisitioned Barn is a Flaming Fist-controlled warehouse used to store donations intended for refugees. It stands east of Arfur’s Mansion near the refugee camps. The main entrance is locked and guarded, while a side entrance from a balcony provides a less conspicuous approach.
Manip Nestor commands the guards. Some Flaming Fists patrol the inside, while others watch the entrances. Nearby, Fist Lochan is involved in a dispute with protesters led by Saer Grotpoll, who demand that refugees be removed from Baldur’s Gate.
The barn is the setting for Investigate the Suspicious Toys. Depending on how the party approaches, entering without permission can lead to a confrontation. The quest connects the suspicious fireworks and toys at Arfur’s Mansion with a wider plot involving donations and the city’s vulnerable population.
Named entries
Mattis and Ferg Drogher are traders associated with the barn. The trader list records Mattis as selling consumables and miscellaneous goods, while Ferg Drogher sells weapons and armour.
Named entries
Gur Camp
Gur Camp lies among the refugee areas of Rivington. It is important to Astarion’s companion quest, The Pale Elf, and to the Gur’s pursuit of Cazador’s forces. The camp is also connected to Gather Your Allies.
The Gur are visitors and refugees rather than ordinary Rivington residents. Their presence illustrates the way displaced groups gather at the city’s edge while being denied entry.
The exact composition of the camp depends on earlier decisions, especially the party’s treatment of Gandrel and progress through Astarion’s storyline.
Relevant named entries include
Rivington Well
The well in central Rivington leads to a cavern beneath the settlement. A successful Perception check can reveal the entrance. The cavern contains murdered refugees, a winch that opens a route towards the western beach and a buried chest reachable through jumps.
The bodies can also be used in the Feed the Mind Flayer activity involving the newborn mind flayer near the abandoned windmill. This is an example of Rivington’s interconnected design: a seemingly minor underground space provides both a traversal route and a resource for another encounter.
Named entries
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Named entries
Factions
Flaming Fist
The Flaming Fist controls the South Span Checkpoint and guards the Requisitioned Barn. Its officers are under pressure from the Steel Watch and from the city’s growing refugee crisis. Their behaviour can range from bureaucratic obstruction to outright hostility depending on the party’s approach.
Ilmater’s clergy
The Open Hand Temple’s clergy traditionally offers charity and relief. The murder of Father Lorgan and the investigation into Brilgor destabilise the temple at exactly the moment refugees need it most.
Ironhand gnomes
The Ironhands use Angleiron’s Cellar as a temporary base. Their presence links Rivington to the larger conflict between the Ironhands, the Gondians and the city’s industrial and political powers.
The Absolute
The cult is rarely presented as an open military occupation inside Rivington. Instead, it appears through sabotage, misinformation, suspicious toys, murders, refugee manipulation and disguised agents. This indirect pressure is one of the region’s defining features.
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The following directory is based on the Rivington trader list and location pages. It distinguishes actual traders from decorative businesses.
The availability of these traders can change with story progression, hostile actions, deaths, disguise events or the outcome of related quests. The trader list specifically notes that merchants can become inaccessible after story choices.
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The Absolute
| Trader | Location | Goods or service |
|---|---|---|
| Boney | Circus of the Last Days | Scrolls and gemstones |
| Bumpnagel | Angleiron’s Cellar | Consumables and armour |
| Exxvikyap | Rivington General | Weapons and armour |
| Ferg Drogher | Requisitioned Barn area | Weapons and armour |
| Lilly Beanbottom | Outside Open Hand Temple | Baldur’s Mouth Gazette |
| Mattis | Requisitioned Barn | Consumables and miscellaneous goods |
| Popper | Circus of the Last Days | Consumables |
| Zara the Mummy | Circus of the Last Days | Dyes and disguise kits |
| Zethino | Circus of the Last Days | Alchemical goods |
The Absolute: Other services and facilities include
| Name | Details |
|---|---|
| Sword Coast Couriers | letters and courier quest. |
| Open Hand Temple | investigation, charitable setting and crypt access. |
| Rivington General | weapons, armour and forge. |
| Circus of the Last Days | performances, face paint, dyes, disguise kits and unique clothing. |
| Akabi’s wheel | paid game with manipulated rewards. |
| Requisitioned Barn | mission location and donation warehouse. |
| Rivington waypoint | fast travel and camp access. |
Main Rivington quest directory
Some of these quests begin in Rivington but continue elsewhere. The district is therefore an entry point into larger Act Three storylines rather than a self-contained quest zone.
Main Rivington quest directory
- Solve the Open Hand Temple Murders
- Find the Missing Letters
- Investigate the Suspicious Toys
- Find Dribbles the Clown
- Help the Spirit of the Amulet
- Feed the Mind Flayer
- Avenge the Ironhands
- Deal with the Gnomes
- The Pale Elf
- Gather Your Allies
- Daughter of Darkness
- Aid the Underduke
- Help the Devilish Ox
- Our Fiery Friend
Recommended investigation order
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Recommended investigation order: steps
- 01Speak to everyone around the Open Hand Temple. Start the murder investigation before exploring the crypt.
- 02Search the graveyard. Use Speak with Dead on Brilgor if possible.
- 03Visit Sword Coast Couriers. Start the missing-letters quest and inspect the roof and pigeon coop.
- 04Explore Arfur’s Mansion. Investigate before deciding whether to side with Arfur or the refugees.
- 05Search the Requisitioned Barn. The side entrance gives more control over the encounter.
- 06Visit Rivington General and Angleiron’s Cellar. This is useful before making major decisions about the Ironhands.
- 07Enter the circus. Complete its traders’ conversations and investigate Dribbles.
- 08Speak with Akabi last if you want to prepare for the jungle. Only one party member is sent there.
- 09Visit Gur Camp. Astarion and other companions may have unique dialogue.
- 10Use the South Span Checkpoint once the district has been thoroughly explored.
Notable fixed items
The jungle rewards are separate from the ordinary Rivington map and are accessed through Akabi’s portal. The Circus of the Last Days is also a major source of unique camp clothing and headwear that is difficult or impossible to obtain elsewhere.
Notable fixed items
| Item | Area | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Band of the Mystic Scoundrel | Chult jungle | In a backpack near a cliff |
| Nyrulna | Chult jungle | In the painted chest reached during Akabi’s jungle diversion |
| Ring of Blink | Open Hand Temple | Temple loot |
| Seraphic Pugilist Gloves | Open Hand Temple | Temple loot |
| Dark Displacement Gloves | Circus of the Last Days | Circus loot |
| Spellmight Gloves | Circus of the Last Days | Circus loot |
| Hollow’s Staff | Circus of the Last Days | Circus loot |
| Clown Hammer | Circus of the Last Days | Circus-related loot |
| Clown’s Severed Hand | Circus of the Last Days | Connected to Dribbles |
| Djinni Ring | Circus of the Last Days | Circus loot |
| The Pointy Hat | Circus of the Last Days | Circus loot |
| Circus clothing set | Circus of the Last Days | Several unique camp clothing pieces |
Books, letters and evidence
Rivington contains a large amount of contextual writing. Particularly relevant documents include:
These documents help establish the district’s social problems, the temple’s charitable role, the circus’s temporary presence and the manipulation of donations and refugees.
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Progression-sensitive characters
Several Rivington characters may become victims of Orin the Red’s disguise or abduction mechanics. Gyldro Angleiron and Fist Rowan are among the possible victims identified by the location pages. The party should speak to important NPCs and complete their immediate interactions before advancing too far into Act Three.
The circus can be missed
The Circus of the Last Days is not just scenery. Its traders, unique clothing, Akabi’s game, the Dribbles investigation and the jungle rewards are all distinct content. Do not leave the region assuming the circus is only a decorative encounter.
Check Arfur’s house before settling the dispute
The outcome of the exterior argument can affect who remains in the mansion. Investigating first gives more information and can change the available dialogue. The basement is essential for understanding the suspicious-toys plot.
Treat the jungle as a separate one-character excursion
Akabi sends one party member away. Choose someone able to handle isolated exploration, mobility challenges and combat without relying on the rest of the group.
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Before leaving Rivington, consider confirming that you have:
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Is Rivington the same as Baldur’s Gate?
No. Rivington is an outer district of Baldur’s Gate, south of Wyrm’s Crossing. The Lower City is further north, beyond Wyrm’s Crossing and the fortress. Act Three begins with Rivington and Wyrm’s Crossing before opening into the Lower City.
Is the Circus of the Last Days part of Rivington?
Yes. It occupies a large section of the Rivington map, although its performers and the Chult jungle are not ordinary local residents or permanent Rivington facilities.
Can I enter the Open Hand Temple without using the main entrance?
Yes. The temple can be reached through the kitchen side door, circus-side routes, the graveyard, the roof and the underground cave. Some routes require lockpicking, jumping or suitable movement abilities.
Where are the Rivington traders?
The main traders are in Rivington General, Angleiron’s Cellar, the Requisitioned Barn, outside the Open Hand Temple and inside the Circus of the Last Days.
Can I get Nyrulna in Rivington?
Nyrulna is obtained in the Chult jungle, reached through Akabi at the Circus of the Last Days. It is therefore associated with Rivington but is not located on the ordinary Rivington terrain.
What is the best first quest in Rivington?
The Open Hand Temple murder investigation is a strong starting point because it introduces the district’s refugees, temple, investigators, graveyard and underground routes. Arfur’s Mansion and Sword Coast Couriers can then be explored before dealing with the checkpoint.
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Research and scope note
This guide treats Rivington as the full Act Three region, not merely the area around the Rivington waypoint. It includes the principal named subareas documented for the region, associated underground spaces, the Circus of the Last Days and its Chult excursion, while separating Wyrm’s Crossing, Wyrm’s Rock, the Lower City and the permanent Lower City jungle-related areas.
The supplied sources provide strong coverage of the principal locations, traders, quests and named characters. A completely exhaustive directory of every unnamed refugee, decorative shopfront, container, book, minor object and background landmark would require a full in-game census or datamined location export, which is not available in the cited material. Accordingly, the named directories above should be treated as researched and substantial rather than an unsupported claim of absolute completeness.
Sources
- Rivington - bg3.wiki — bg3.wiki
- Rivington - bg3.wiki — old.bg3.wiki
- Wyrm's Crossing - bg3.wiki — bg3.wiki
- Jungle - bg3.wiki — bg3.wiki
- Arfur's Mansion - bg3.wiki — bg3.wiki
- Rivington General - bg3.wiki — bg3.wiki
- Circus of the Last Days - bg3.wiki — bg3.wiki
- Open Hand Temple - bg3.wiki — bg3.wiki
- Brilgor - bg3.wiki — bg3.wiki
- Open Hand Temple Underground Area - bg3.wiki — bg3.wiki
- Requisitioned Barn - bg3.wiki — bg3.wiki
- List of traders - bg3.wiki — bg3.wiki
- Act Three - bg3.wiki — bg3.wiki