I think I made a mistake last night and was wondering if I could get some info. I completed the nasty battle in Spellhold with Irenicus and Yoshi. I was then trying to get out when I ran into that Lying Sailor captain ( sorry don't remember his real name. ) Any way, He offered me 2 paths to take. 1) to use Irenicus' portal, or 2) go with him aboard his ship. I chose to go on his ship. I think I made a mistake because I remember reading somewhere that you can only get to Underdark? through the portal? or is it the other way around? I was just wondering.......

No spoilers:
It is better to go by ship. You don't miss anything.

Don't worry. ;)

You'll get to the Underdark either way - you just chose the longer, more rewarding path. [img]smile.gif[/img]

Cool thanks , I was worried that I was going to miss out on something real important.

You actually miss something if you take the portal.

Happily, taking the ship actually makes the most sense, roleplaying-wise, and is the better choice, powergaming-wise.

"Hmmm.....should I take the ship run by the exceedingly untrustworthy Saemon Havarian (with the assurance that I can probably kill him if he betrays me again) directly back to Athkatla, or.....should I step through a portal, about which I know nothing except that it was built by my mortal enemy and is supposed to lead directly into the heart of a realm filled with the most evil and powerful bloodthirsty beings on the face of Faerun? You know, I think I'll risk the ship."

I have a little question about Saemon that I've been wondering about for a few games now... Can you encounter him in the hallway, somehow tell him you'll think about it, then come back to him & still take his ship?

I've got it so fixed in my head that you need to avoid his conversation til you're actually ready to leave (by his ship) that I always Invis/Hide someone (or two), sneak past him, clean out Jon's room, then come back & talk to him. He auto-initiates dialogue if you see him (err... if he sees you), & I keep thinking that if I don't accept his offer to leave with him right then-&-there I have to take the portal.

I don't have any save games right there to test it out (& everytime I get there I just dodge him, as above), so could someone clear up for me if you can talk to him, say "no thanks", go loot Jon's room, then come back to him & still take his ship?

Thanks,
Imrahil

I think it must be decided when he starts a dialog. Which would imply your head is OK ;) .
However, you can return once he takes you outside the building.

You can also cast finger of death at him as he walks away, which is most satisfying.

More satisfying, to me, is killing him on the ship. I can understand Saemon poisoning me because Bodhi would kill him if he didn't; Saemon's a coward, ok, I can live with that, and I'm not going to Finger of Death him if he's promised to be good.

But when he turns to the Githyanki and tries to frame me for theft, just to spare himself any inconvenience, then I get pissed. A couple of Magic Missles, a few good wallops, and 18,000 EXP later, Aerie has <font color=888888>Most Powerful Vanquished: Saemon Havarian.</font>

I don't know why some people say they have trouble killing him on the ship. It's the Githyanki Captain who's wearing Imoen's Belt, not Saemon.