Secluded Cove

Key takeaways

• Secluded Cove is a sub-area of the Wilderness, accessed from the Sacred Pool in the Emerald Grove.
• The central event is the rescue of Mirkon from four harpies.
• Saving Mirkon can provide the password needed to enter the Tiefling Hideout.
• The harpies’ Luring Song can charm characters and pull them into dangerous positions. Interrupting the singing is a priority.
• The cove contains a Ring of Colour Spray, a Polished Dagger, a supply pack, gold, documents and a buried chest with valuables.
• The location has no waypoint, shop, permanent residence or conventional settlement infrastructure.

About this guide

Overview

The Secluded Cove is a small but consequential sub-area of the Wilderness, immediately north-east of the Emerald Grove’s Sacred Pool. It is not a second name for the whole Emerald Grove, the beach outside the grove, or the nearby Secluded Grove. Instead, it is a distinct rocky shoreline reached through the grove, consisting of cliff paths, knotted roots, isolated rocks, a riverbank and the harpies’ nesting area.

Most players first encounter the cove through the quest Investigate the Beach, when they hear a strange song and find the tiefling child Mirkon wandering towards the water. The resulting battle against four harpies is one of Act One’s earliest time-sensitive-feeling rescue encounters. Saving Mirkon does more than award experience and loot: it gives access to a password for the Tiefling Hideout and affects later interactions with the tiefling children in the Emerald Grove.

The cove is small enough to explore in one visit, but it rewards careful vertical exploration. Its upper rocks contain a harpy nest, a chest, a dagger and documents, while a separate jump across stone pillars leads to a buried chest. Some of these rewards are easy to miss if you leave immediately after the fight.

Where Secluded Cove fits

The Secluded Cove is therefore part of the broader Emerald Grove area in practical exploration terms, but it is not the same thing as the Secluded Grove. The Secluded Grove is the forested area around the grove, whereas the cove is the rocky shoreline reached from the Sacred Pool. The Underground Passage is also a separate neighbouring sub-area and should not be counted as part of Secluded Cove.

The cove extends from the upper approach down towards the water. Its terrain includes:

The area’s vertical layout is important. It is possible to move between several sections by jumping or climbing rather than following the obvious beach route. The cove also contains at least one route that is much easier to reach with suitable Strength, Feather Fall or another movement solution.

The hierarchy is

• Wilderness
• Emerald Grove
• Sacred Pool
• Secluded Cove

What is not included

The following should be treated as neighbouring or related content, not as part of Secluded Cove itself:

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What is not included

Reaching the cove from the Sacred Pool

From the Sacred Pool, follow the path leading north-east. The approach begins at approximately X: 275, Y: 523, although exact positioning can vary slightly depending on map display and movement. The party can hear or comment on the strange singing at approximately X: 298, Y: 541, near the shore.

The cove can also be approached from above using jumps and movement abilities. This matters most when collecting the harpy-nest loot after the battle. The location is not locked behind a quest, but the main encounter begins naturally as the party moves into the beach area.

There is a small exploration reward for reaching the far side of the area. The location page records an experience reward at approximately X: 355, Y: 535, with the amount depending on the party’s level.

Suggested first-visit route

This route avoids accidentally leaving after the rescue without collecting the cove’s exploration loot.

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A sensible route is

1. 01
   Enter from the Sacred Pool.
2. 02
   Save before approaching the singing.
3. 03
   Speak to Mirkon and begin the encounter.
4. 04
   Defeat the harpies while keeping Mirkon alive.
5. 05
   Speak to Mirkon again after the fight.
6. 06
   Search the beach and remains near the water.
7. 07
   Climb and jump through the upper rocks to reach the harpy nest.
8. 08
   Return to the side route with the stone pillars and search for the buried chest.
9. 09
   Leave through the Sacred Pool route and continue the Emerald Grove children storyline.

Mirkon

Mirkon is a young tiefling found at the water’s edge, entranced by the harpies’ song. He is the cove’s only named character documented as being directly present there.

Before the battle begins, the player character can attempt to intervene, listen to the song or otherwise respond to the situation. A Rogue can also attempt to pick Mirkon’s pockets while he is distracted. This can produce the The Allure of Coin inspiration for characters with the Criminal background, although it competes with another inspiration opportunity connected to the encounter.

After the harpies are defeated, Mirkon initiates another conversation if he survives. Calming him can lead to a password for entering the Tiefling Hideout, where Mol leads the tiefling children. This makes Mirkon’s survival relevant well beyond the shoreline.

Harpies

The cove contains a group of four harpies. Three are positioned around the rocks near Mirkon, while another begins higher up on the cliffside according to walkthrough descriptions.

Their defining threat is Luring Song. A harpy singing can charm characters and draw them towards danger, potentially separating the party or pulling a character into melee range. The encounter is made more difficult by the cove’s uneven terrain, the water and the harpies’ ability to attack from elevated positions.

The harpies are not individually named. They are hostile creatures and should be treated as a fixed encounter rather than ordinary wildlife or a random patrol.

Starting the quest

The quest Investigate the Beach begins as the party approaches the singing near the water. Mirkon is standing close to the shore, already affected by the harpies’ enchantment. The party can attempt to resist or interact with the song before the encounter becomes a battle.

The encounter ultimately turns hostile as the harpies reveal themselves. The important practical objective is not simply to kill the enemies, but to prevent Mirkon from being killed first.

Keeping Mirkon alive

Mirkon can be endangered by the encounter’s movement and charm effects. Helpful preparations include:

A practical opening is to put pressure on the singing harpy immediately, then eliminate the nearest threats before spreading damage across the rest. The cove’s rocks provide useful high ground, but they can also make it difficult for melee characters to reach the enemies quickly.

The harpies’ singing is the encounter’s central control mechanic. A character affected by it may waste turns or move towards the harpies, so simply attacking whichever enemy is nearest is not always the safest choice. Silence and other anti-control options are particularly valuable, although their usefulness depends on party composition and available spell slots.

Outcomes

Shoreline and water’s edge

This is the central encounter area. Mirkon stands near the water, with the harpies spread between the shore and the surrounding rock formations. It is the most dangerous section during the initial visit because the party begins close to the lure and may have limited time to establish a formation.

Rocky paths and knotted roots

The cove’s paths connect the elevated and lower sections. Knotted roots act as natural bridges and climbing routes. They also create a fragmented battlefield where line of sight can change quickly.

Harpy nest

The nest sits high on an isolated rocky section. It is not necessarily obvious from the beach, and reaching it requires climbing and several jumps. The route includes a wide gap at approximately X: 328, Y: 504, which normally requires at least 12 Strength to jump. A character can instead use Feather Fall to reach the area by jumping from the highest cliff at approximately X: 319, Y: 519.

The nest can also be reached without fighting the harpies if the party approaches it before triggering the encounter, although this is a more specialised exploration route.

Stone-pillar side route

At approximately X: 291, Y: 570, the party can jump across stone pillars to a small patch of ground on the opposite side. This area contains a buried wooden chest. Finding it requires a DC 7 Survival check.

Fixed or specifically documented loot

The harpy nest is at approximately X: 325, Y: 491. The dagger is reported around X: 331, Y: 526, and the wooden chest near the nest around X: 360, Y: 529.

The buried chest does not have a fixed named item listed in the location documentation. Its contents include gold and random valuables, so it should not be treated as a guaranteed source of a particular weapon, armour piece or spell scroll.

Fixed or specifically documented loot

Loot directory

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Luring Song

The harpies’ song is the cove’s primary hazard. It can charm characters and draw them into vulnerable positions. The effect is especially dangerous when a character is already separated from the party or standing near the water.

The safest general response is to identify the active singer and interrupt it quickly. If the party cannot kill the singer immediately, defensive abilities and anti-control effects can buy time.

Vertical battlefield

The same terrain can be used against them. High ground improves ranged attacks, and a carefully positioned party can force the harpies to approach through predictable routes.

Missable exploration

The cove’s loot is easy to miss because the quest naturally directs attention towards Mirkon and the harpies. The harpy nest is above the main route, and the buried chest is reached through a side jump rather than by following the shoreline.

The quest’s wider consequences are also missable. If Mirkon does not survive, the party should not assume that the Tiefling Hideout password and child-related follow-up will remain available in the normal way.

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Sacred Pool

The Sacred Pool is the normal entrance to Secluded Cove. The party follows the north-east path from the pool into the rocky shoreline.

Emerald Grove and the tiefling children

The cove’s most important connection is to the tiefling children’s storyline. Mirkon’s survival can open a route towards the Tiefling Hideout, and the rescue affects how the party is received by other children in the grove.

Tiefling Hideout

The Tiefling Hideout is not inside the cove, but Mirkon can provide its password after the rescue. This makes the cove a gateway to a separate hidden sub-area rather than merely an isolated combat arena.

Secluded Grove

The Secluded Grove is a neighbouring Emerald Grove area, not part of the cove. It is a forested space rather than the cove’s cliffs and beach.

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Recommended approach

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Recommended approach: steps

1. 01
   Save before entering the shoreline. The harpy encounter can develop quickly, and Mirkon’s survival is important.

Recommended approach: steps

1. 01
   Approach the singing carefully. Keep the party together and avoid sending a vulnerable character ahead alone.

Recommended approach: steps

1. 01
   Speak to Mirkon. Explore the available dialogue options, but be ready for the harpies to reveal themselves.

Recommended approach: steps

1. 01
   Protect the child first. The battle is won by controlling the singers and keeping Mirkon out of reach.

Recommended approach: steps

1. 01
   Target the active singer. Ranged attacks, Silence and other control tools can prevent the party from losing turns to the song.

Recommended approach: steps

1. 01
   Use the cliffs. Place ranged characters on high ground where possible, while keeping enough mobility to respond if a harpy changes position.

Recommended approach: steps

1. 01
   Finish the encounter and speak to Mirkon. Calm him if you want the normal password outcome.

Recommended approach: steps

1. 01
   Search the lower beach. Check the remains and collect the Polished Dagger.

Recommended approach: steps

1. 01
   Climb to the harpy nest. Use jumps, climbing and movement abilities. A Strength score of at least 12 or Feather Fall can help with the widest gap.

Recommended approach: steps

1. 01
   Search the upper loot locations. Collect the Ring of Colour Spray, Supply Pack, documents and chest contents.

Recommended approach: steps

1. 01
   Cross the stone pillars. Search the small landing and make the DC 7 Survival check to reveal the buried chest.

Recommended approach: steps

1. 01
   Return to the grove. Continue the tiefling children storyline and use the password at the Tiefling Hideout if appropriate.

Is Secluded Cove part of the Emerald Grove?

Yes, in practical map and story terms it is an Emerald Grove sub-area, but its broader regional classification is the Wilderness. It is distinct from the Secluded Grove, the Sacred Pool and the Underground Passage.

Is there a waypoint in Secluded Cove?

No waypoint is documented within the cove. The usual route is from the Sacred Pool.

How many harpies are in the fight?

The main encounter consists of four harpies.

Can Mirkon be saved without fighting?

The song and dialogue can be approached in different ways, but the encounter ultimately becomes a harpy battle if the party intervenes. The practical objective is to defeat the harpies while keeping Mirkon alive.

What happens if Mirkon survives?

He can give the party the password for the Tiefling Hideout, and his survival affects later interactions with the tiefling children.

Where is the Ring of Colour Spray?

It is in the harpy nest on the elevated rocky section of the cove, approximately around X: 325, Y: 491.

Can the harpy nest be reached without fighting?

The location documentation describes a route using the highest cliff and Feather Fall, allowing the nest to be reached without encountering the harpies first. This is an optional exploration approach rather than the normal quest route.

Is Doni in Secluded Cove?

No. Doni is associated with the wider tiefling children storyline, but the cove’s documented named character is Mirkon. The cove should not be expanded to include the children’s areas in the Hollow or Tiefling Hideout.

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This guide treats Secluded Cove as the distinct Act One sub-area covering the cliffs, shoreline, harpy nest and stone-pillar side route. The available location documentation clearly supports that boundary and separates it from the Secluded Grove and Underground Passage.

The main sources do not provide a full item-by-item catalogue of every ordinary container, random consumable or generated vendor-style value in the area. Accordingly, this guide lists the named and specifically documented loot rather than claiming that every incidental object has been catalogued. The buried chest is described as containing gold and random valuables, so its exact contents should be treated as variable.

No separate businesses, shops, services, law-enforcement presence, faction headquarters, permanent facilities or purchasable properties are documented within Secluded Cove. The Tiefling Hideout and Emerald Grove factions are connected progression elements, not buildings or services inside the cove itself.

Sources

• Secluded Cove - bg3.wiki — bg3.wiki
• Emerald Grove - bg3.wiki — bg3.wiki
• How to Save Mirkon: Harpy Battle Guide | Baldur's Gate 3 (BG3)｜Game8 — game8.co
• Harpy - bg3.wiki — bg3.wiki
• Investigate the Beach - bg3.wiki — bg3.wiki