Rafael Will Notice You in Act 1
Rafael will notice you in Act 1 of the game, but he will offer the most tempting contract only in Act 3 at the “Sharess’s Caress” brothel as part of the “Deal with the Devil” quest:
- The Orphic Hammer to free Prince Orpheus in exchange for Karsus’s Crown.
But should you agree to the deal with Rafael? As with Mizora’s contract, each choice will have its consequences.
Agreeing to the Deal
To agree to the deal with Rafael in Baldur’s Gate 3, choose the dialogue option:
- I agree. Where do I sign?
Sign the contract. After signing the contract, Rafael will immediately give you the Orphic Hammer (it will automatically appear in your inventory).
You will now be able to free Prince Orpheus from his chains in the Astral Prism in Act 4.
Consequences of this choice:
- Githyanki Voss will give Lae’zel the legendary “Silver Sword of the Astral Plane” as a thank you for dealing with the devil. You will need to talk to him at “Sharess’s Caress” to receive it.
- The Emperor will dislike the deal with the devil, and if Prince Orpheus is freed from his bonds, he will switch to the Absolute’s side.
- Most companions will disapprove of the contract with Rafael.
- Lae’zel will approve of the contract.
- Prince Orpheus will side with you and help in the final battle if you free him.
Fulfilling the Terms of the Deal
If you fulfill the terms of the deal and give the crown to Rafael after defeating the Absolute, you will face the following consequences:
- This will lead to a bad ending, where the devil Rafael reveals his plan to storm Zariel’s fortress, become the ruler of Avernus, and then conquer the remaining worlds. At the end, the devil adds that he will come for you.
- In the ending, you will not be able to give the Karsus’s Crown to Gale, he will neither present it to Mystra nor become a god.
Video with the bad ending:
Breaking the Deal
Even if you agreed to Rafael’s deal, you do not have to fulfill it. You need to steal and destroy your contract from the House of Hope in Avernus.
You can reach it through the shop “Devil’s Due” located in the Lower City, near the cemetery. Incidentally, in the neighboring building, you can meet blacksmith Dammon, who previously helped you cool down Karlach.
There are several options for proceeding:
- Buy information from the shop’s owner Helsik for 20,000 gold on how to enter the House of Hope. You can reduce the price to 10,000 gold with persuasion or intimidation.
- Convince Helsik to make a deal: she will assist with the ritual, and you will fetch the “Gauntlets of Hill Giant Strength” from the House of Hope for her.
- Go to the second floor of the shop and find a grimoire with information on how to open a portal to the House of Hope. Some items for the ritual can be found on the second floor, while the rest can be bought or stolen from Helsik. You can then perform the ritual on the pentagram yourself.
Upon reaching the House of Hope, go to the Archives and talk to the Archivist. If successful at deception, he will direct you to the boudoir, where you will meet Rafael’s personal incubus, Haarlep. Regardless of the outcome, you will receive the key to the safe.
Press the button under Rafael’s large portrait in the boudoir and disarm the trap. In the safe, you will find:
- Five soul coins (for Karlach).
- The devil’s records containing a password for either removing the dome from the Orphic Hammer or tearing up your contract (depending on whether you made the deal or not).
Return to the Archives. Your contract is in a secret section; tear it up as soon as you get it.
On your way out of the location, Rafael will meet you near the pentagram. After the dialogue, there will be a tough battle with Rafael and his minions.
Consequences of this choice:
- If you stole the hammer from Rafael but did not break your contract, the devil will consume your soul after the dialogue, ending the game.
- If you handed over Karsus’s Crown to Gale and made him a god, Rafael will interrupt your conversation with Gale in the epilogue. He will demand the crown, but the wizard will send the devil back to Avernus. Gale will hint that Rafael will return, and he will prepare for it.
Video where godlike Gale gets rid of the impudent devil:
Refusing the Deal
To refuse the deal, choose the dialogue option:
- No deal, Rafael, I refuse. And I’m leaving.
Rafael will be disappointed but will wait at “Sharess’s Caress” in case you change your mind.
Consequences of this choice:
- Your companions will approve of your refusal of the deal with the devil.
- The Emperor will be pleased.
- Githyanki Voss will be upset, but if you tell him you will get the Orphic Hammer yourself, he will calm down.
- Githyanki Voss will also give Lae’zel the legendary “Silver Sword of the Astral Plane” if you bring him the hammer.
- You will have to go to the House of Hope for the Orphic Hammer (if you want to free Orpheus).
- If you do not free Prince Orpheus, the Emperor will not betray you and will help in the final battle against the Absolute. If you free him, the Emperor will leave to join the elder brain.
- You can keep Karsus’s Crown for Gale.
The Final Offer from Rafael
In Act 4 in the Astral Plane, the Emperor will ask you to give him the Netherstones. You will have several options:
- Do as the Emperor says.
- Become a mind flayer yourself.
- Reject the Emperor’s offer.
But another unexpected option will appear — to make a deal with Rafael.
This is possible only if you:
- Refuse to sign the contract in “Sharess’s Caress”.
- Do not steal the Orphic Hammer from the House of Hope.
- Do not give the Netherstones to the Emperor.
Rafael will appear, laugh at the dead end you have found yourself in, and offer to make a deal again. If you agree, the devil will give you the hammer to free Prince Orpheus, and the bad ending with Rafael will automatically trigger at the end of the game.
