Oskar Fevras is found in the Zhentarim Hideout of Act One in Baldur’s Gate 3. He is an enslaved painter who needs to be rescued. Make sure to talk to Oskar to start the Free the Artist side quest. The side quest is notoriously easy to accidentally pass by, even for avid explorers, so keep reading so you’re able to locate this depraved artist and send him to Baldur’s Gate.
How to find Oskar in Act One of BG3
Funny thing about this quest—you have to find and free an NPC painter named Oskar to complete it. You have to find Oskar to even begin the quest altogether. As if that wasn’t enough, Oskar is in an easy-to-miss area called the Zhentarim Hideout.
To gain access to Free the Artist, you’ll want to start the quest Find the Missing Shipment, which is picked up on the Risen Road upon encountering a group of dying hyenas. This will lead to a couple of skirmishes as you head towards a cave to the north, where you will defeat a pack of Gnolls attacking two NPCs. These NPCs, Rugan and Olly, are the two actually carrying the missing shipment. The shipment is to be brought to the Zhentarim Hideout—with or without its transporters.
Whatever you do, do not open the Iron Flask within the shipment. There is a warning stating that the client requesting the shipment will know if you open it because you’ll be dead. The warning also states that “this is not a threat, it is simply what will happen if you open the flask.” Heed the warning.
Even if you somehow survive opening the flask, you won’t be able to interact with the NPCs in Zhentarim Hideout, which you’ll need to do for Free the Artist. Just don’t open it.
Once you have the missing shipment, head to Zhentarim Hideout through the hatch in the wine storage room in the northwest corner of Waukeen’s Rest. Salazon will stop you and demand a password. Just go ahead and select the Detect Thoughts option. Or, if Rugan and Olly survived, they will tell you the password.
Head down the hatch and through the wardrobe and you’ll discover the Zhentarim Hideout Waypoint. Congratulations, you’ve done the hard part and can now actually begin Free the Artist!
How to free Oskar in BG3
Now that you’re inside Zhentarim Hideout, another NPC named Zarys will give you a hard time and insist you need to do a job for her to “buy your life back.” However, as soon as you make your way down the path of disarmed traps, you will see Oskar and a couple of other NPCs. Oskar is the one painting.
Speak to Brem, the trader next to Oskar, and he will tell you that you can buy a self-portrait from him made by his “pet artist.” Questioning Brem’s meaning will lead to an offer to purchase Oskar from him.
You have the option to pay 1000 gold, or pass an Intimidation or Persuasion check to save some money. The DC is 20, so you should either save your game before rolling or accept that you might be dropping a pretty penny.
Speak to Oskar and he will make some jokes about being purchased and not wanting to know what price he was appraised at—then, he will mention Lady Janneth. Asking about this reveals that Oskar caused quite a scandal in the city of Baldur’s Gate by getting engaged to royalty, and then skipping town before the wedding.
Though not necessary, you will be given the choice to give Oskar 200 gold to aid on his journey back to Baldur’s Gate. We recommend giving him the gold, as Oskar promises you will be handsomely rewarded when you seek him out later in the city. Giving him the travel aid likely ensures that he actually reaches Baldur’s Gate alive.
If you’re stingy with your gold, you do not have to spare Oskar any as he will make it to Baldur’s Gate either way.
How to find Oskar in Act 3
In Act Three, Oskar can be found in Lady Jannath’s Estate in the Lower City of Baldur’s Gate. Talk to the Dragonborn, Tarhun Mnemonis, at the door and he will tell you that Lady Jannath married Oskar Fevras. Choose the option “Can I come in?” to enter the estate with ease as Tarhun is on holiday and cannot stop you.
Make your way inside the estate:
- Go immediately right and up the stairs.
- Turn right again and enter the huge double doors.
- Go up the two flights of stairs and go left into the double doors.
- Then turn right and go through the double doors leading to the bedroom.
You will enter a cutscene with Lady Jannath kneeling on the ground at the foot of a floating and seemingly possessed, Oskar Fevrath. Lady Jannath will plead with Oskar to stop his rude remarks because she loves him. She turns to you for help and this is where you have to subdue Oskar.
- Switch to Non-Lethal attacks so all of your melee attacks do no damage.
- Attack Oskar until the health bar is empty and he becomes knocked out.
- After this, talk to Lady Jannath.
She will recognize you as the one who saved Oskar from the hideout. She explains that the artist has been possessed and urges you to find a cure. Your quest will update and you will need to reach the Atelier.
- Loot the key off of Oskar’s knocked-out body.
- Leave the room through the double doors and turn right into more double doors.
- You will be inflicted with the condition Phantasmal Force: Psychic.
Whatever is possessing Oskar is not so welcoming. There will be a Poltergeist at every corner, throwing things at you, dealing between 5-12 damage. These attacks will force you in and out of Turn Base mode. It is quicker just to heal and move on.
Spells like Misty Step and Dimension Door would be useful here to place yourself right into safety.
- Go immediately to the right after entering the room through double doors.
- Make your way up the two flights of stairs and enter the room.
- There are stairs at the back of the room so head there.
- Go up the stairs and go right into Jannath’s Estate – Atelier.
In the Atelier there will be glowing objects. Steal Oskar’s painting which is right behind the glowing easel. Click on the easel right after you steal the painting and combine the painting with the easel. A secret room will be revealed and to straight forward will be a chest that contains a Letter to Oskar Fevras. Read it and it will tell you the code to open Philgrave’s Mansion which is Secreta mortourum.
The Torch of Revocatum will be needed to progress this quest. It can be found in the Mystic Carrion at Philgrave’s Mansion.
- Head to these coordinates X: -11, Y: -157 to find the secret Stone Wall to get to the Mystic Carrion.
- Your character will need to pass a perception check in order for it to be revealed.
- Click on the door and say the code Secreta mortourum. It will open the door.
You will enter Philgrave’s Mansion and go straight through the double doors. In a cutscene, you will meet the Mystic Carrion.
- You can buy it for 3000.
- Kill him and loot it off his body.
- Kill his servant and get the torch as a reward.
He has low health (12/100), so killing him would be the best option. Plus it gives you some amazing armor, a great staff, and some XP.
Loot the the two keys off the Mystic Carrion’s body and behind him will be a locked chest with the Torch of Revocation inside. Take the torch back to the Atelier and use it on the painting in the revealed room to lift the curse. Simply place the Torch of Revocation in your main hand and hold it up to the painting to lift the curse.
The Echo of Lost Love: Oskar will appear in front of in frantic dialogue and disappear. Go back to Oskar and Lady Jannath. You will enter another cutscene where a conscious Oskar Fevras will be found talking to the echo who we later learn is Kerri. Roll a Persuasion of 18 to get her to explain what happened between her and Oskar.
We learn that Kerri killed herself and Oskar traps her unrested soul in a painting putting everyone, including Lady Jannath in harm’s way. After Kerri disappears and her soul is at rest Oskar calls you up for your reward which is a portrait of you. The quest will finish after you receive the painting.
