Companions | Basics NWN2: SoZ Guide
Last update: 11 May 2016
Creating a party
At the beginning of the game you will be given to create four characters who from the base for your party. Later in game you will be able to recruit NPCs to join your cause (one or two, depending on whether one of your characters has the Leadership feat). There are quite a few ways to build your party, and there isn't one that's perfect, as much depends on individual preferences and experience. In my opinion, the build suggested by the game, as it is quite effective and universal - fighter, wizard, rogue and cleric. This combination also allows you to make best use of the first NPC you will be able to recruit - Umoja (druid). When creating your characters, consider giving them different alignments, as the use of some of the items depends on your alignment.
Storm of Zehir puts emphasis on skills. They're often used in conversations and on the world map. For instance, one of the traders will offer you a magic ring, but after using dialog option with Spellcraft one of your characters reveals that the item isn't actually magical at all. Merchant will admit that he tried to misguide you and will offer you a lower price for it. This time, Appraise comes in handy, as one of your character realizes that the price is still too high for a genuine ring like this. On the world map, Survival comes in handy, as character with points in this skill moves faster than those without. Do your best to diversify and distribute skills among your characters in such a way, to gain access to as many skills as possible - if you don't have to, don't duplicate the skills - this way you should gain access to most dialog options and be able to solve your problems the way you want to. You can also take a look at the NPC companions that join you early in the game (Umoja, Inshula, Lastri), pick one of them (I recommend Umoja), check what skills he or she has and save on those skills when creating your characters.
Companions in Samarach
Umoja
You will meet him in Samargol. Talk to him and offer to join your party. Umoja will consult with his dinosaur and agree to join you. His "pet" is a quite powerful, making Umoja, a valuable cohort.
Level: 4
Race: Human
Class: Druid
Character: Neutral Good
Attributes: Strength 12 / Dexterity 14 / Constitution 12 / Intelligence 9 / Wisdom 17 / Charisma 10
Skill points in: Concentration, Listen, Spot, Survival
Inshula Sar Mashewe
You will meet her in Samargol. Talk to her for a while and ask whether she wants to join you. You may use Diplomacy and tell her that the ship crashing on the beach and your meeting was no coincidence. She will agree, but will ask you to give her 300 $ for her sister. You can also tell her to check what the cards have to say but it's not a good idea - she will ask for 500 $ if you don't stop her from doing that. You can bargain however, to lower the price to 300 $. While she's reading the cards you may use Bluff or Sleight of Hand to gain her trust - this way, Inshula will join you for free.
Level: 5
Race: Human
Class: Ranger
Character: Neutral
Attributes: Strength 12 / Dexterity 17 / Constitution 10 / Intelligence 9 / Wisdom 14 / Charisma 8
Skill points in: Concentration, Hide, Move Silently, Parry, Search, Survival
Lastri Kassireh
You will meet her at the very beginning of the game as the captain of the ship you're on. You will be able to invite her to your party after completing one of the early quests in Samargol (see quest: Missing Personel).
Level: 4
Race: Halfling
Class: Swashbuckler
Character: Neutral
Attributes: Strength 8 / Dexterity 19 / Constitution 12 / Intelligence 13 / Wisdom 10 / Charisma 11
Skill points in: Diplomacy, Lore, Parry, Tumble
Chir Darkflame
You will find him in the Black Market. He and some other gnomes are being held prisoner if you want to free him, you will need to open his cell, provoking the Illithids to attack you. After you kill them off talk to Chir, and he will join you.
Level: 3
Race: Gnome
Class: Wizard
Alignment: Chaotic evil
Attributes: Strength 8 / Dexterity 14 / Constitution 12 / Intelligence 19 / Wisdom 10 / Charisma 8
Skill points in: Concentration, Craft Alchemy, Craft Armor, Craft Weapons, Lore, Spellcraft
Companions on the Sword Coast
Soraevora Aeravand
You will meet her in the second part of the game on the Sword Coast, in the Crossroads Keep.
Level: 8
Race: Sun elf
Class: Favored Soul
Alignment: Chaotic good
Attributes: Strength 16 / Dexterity 9 / Constitution 10 / Intelligence 13 / Wisdom 10 / Charisma 20
Skill points in: Concentration, Heal, Spellcraft
Grykk Bannersworn
You will meet him in the Neverwinter tavern. Using Diplomacy you may convince him to join your party for free. Otherwise, you will have to pay a donation of 1000 $.
Level: 8
Race: Half-orc
Class: Paladin
Alignment: Lawful good
Attributes: Strength 17 / Dexterity 10 / Constitution 14 / Intelligence 8 / Wisdom 12 / Charisma 15
Skill points in: Move Silently, Parry
Belueth the Calm
She is in Waukeen temple in Neverwinter. You can hire her for 5000 $ or 3000 $ if you have enough ranks in: Bluff, Diplomacy, Intimidate.
Level: 8
Race: Aasimar
Class: Rogue (Level 6), Shadow Thief of Amn (Level 2)
Alignment: Neutral evil
Attributes: Strength 12 / Dexterity 22 / Constitution 14 / Intelligence 14 / Wisdom 10 / Charisma 10
Skill points in: Appraise, Bluff, Disable Device, Hide, Intimidate, Listen, Lore, Move Silently, Open Lock, Search, Set Trap, Spot, Tumble
Quarrel
You'll find him in West Harbor. You need to complete West Harbor - Path of the Master, to recruit him.
Level: 8
Race: Half-drow
Class: Sorcerer
Alignment: Chaotic evil
Attributes: Strength 10 / Dexterity 20 / Constitution 12 / Intelligence 12 / Wisdom 10 / Charisma 16
Skill points in: Bluff, Diplomacy, Intimidate, Lore, Move Silently, Parry, Spellcraft
Finch
You will meet him in a tavern somewhere in the Sword Coast. He will join you during the quest Sword Coast - Price of a Song.
Level: 10
Race: Half-elf
Class: Bard
Alignment: Chaotic good
Attributes: Strength 12 / Dexterity 16 / Constitution 10 / Intelligence 11 / Wisdom 8 / Charisma 20
Skill points in: Concentration, Diplomacy, Lore, Perform, Spellcraft, Use Magic Device
Ribsmasher
You will find him locked in a cell in Onyx Cave.
Level: 10
Race: Human
Class: Monk
Alignment: Lawful neutral
Attributes: Strength 22 / Dexterity 14 / Constitution 16 / Intelligence 8 / Wisdom 16 / Charisma 8
Skill points in: Hide, Move Silently, Parry, Tumble
Septimund
You will meet him in Port Llast. He will ask you to solve the undead problem (check Port Llast - Army of the Dead). After completing the quest return to do Port Llast and talk to Septimund. You need a high Diplomacy score to convince him to join you; otherwise he will leave and you'll never see him again.
Level: 13
Race: Human
Class: Cleric (10), Doomguide (3)
Alignment: Lawful neutral
Attributes: Strength 14 / Dexterity 12 / Constitution 14 / Intelligence 12 / Wisdom 22 / Charisma 14
Skill points in: Concentration, Diplomacy, Heal, Lore, Spellcraft