Question about romance and sidequests in Chapter 6

[Isengrym]

I'm playing BG2 for the first time, and have consulted wikis and walkthroughs some in order to guide my play, but I've tried not to spoil too much for myself. I had thought all sidequests would still be open in Chapter 6, but I seem to have run into a complication and would appreciate some advice.

I left a few quests open to finish after I had Imoen back, including "Find the Kidnappers Who Buried Tirdir." When I got back to Athkatla, I went to the Graveyard District during the day to question the Gravekeeper, but it automatically became night and Bodhi appeared to taunt my party, then ran away. I left and came back during the day, and have since found the Gravekeeper and finished that quest.

Now I just stumbled across the information that if you've completed your chosen romance arc before running into Bodhi in Chapter 6, an additional sidequest occurs. My Charname is romancing Jaheira and has not completed the romance yet.

My question is twofold: Would I be sorry to miss this additional romance-related content? I can go back to an earlier save, but I don't want to ditch progress unless I'm sure it's worth it (especially since I would have to fight the Twisted Rune again, ugh). And secondly, if I do backtrack and avoid the Graveyard, will I be able to finish Tirdir's quest after dealing with Bodhi, or will I just have to give up on it?

I would appreciate any advice!

[D'amarr from Darshiva]

So, Chapter 6 which you mention so prominently refers to the return from the Underdark.

It amazes me how you refer to a chapter number as if most players have them memorized all the time.

There are so many web sites about this old game, they cover everything, I think.

The only extra content you could mean would be this:
http://baldursgate.wikia.com/wiki/Reviving_Your_Dead_Lover

[Isengrym]

Sorry if the thread title is weird. I wanted to give an idea of how far I was in the game without being too spoilery, because people who are playing for the first time might glance at the discussions but not want to know the developments I'm referring to.

I did skim the wiki entry you linked before I posted my question. What I'd like to know that the wiki can't tell me is, to what degree do players who've played that quest feel that it enhanced their experience of the game in general or of their character's romance in particular? Does it carry an impact and bring satisfaction, or is it more of a nuisance or gimmick?

I also couldn't find an indication of whether it's possible to quest in the Graveyard after dealing with Bodhi. (I still don't want to spoil the whole story for myself, so if someone could just tell me yes, I could come back later, or no, I couldn't, I'd really appreciate it.)

[D'amarr from Darshiva]

Originally posted by Isengrym:

I also couldn't find an indication of whether it's possible to quest in the Graveyard after dealing with Bodhi.

There's one out of two things you could test quickly. You've got the savegame to do it.

Since you've started the quest earlier, the piece of red cloth should be in your inventory already. Just avoid the graveyard and search the bridge district directly, and if you cannot find the person in red clothes, it may be a strict requirement to interrogate the grave keeper first. If that's the case, the question that remains is whether the grave keeper will still be available after dealing with Bodhi. On the other hand, you've mentioned you could talk to the grave keeper "during the day", so that means you would be able to advance the quest easily before encountering Bodhi.

[Isengrym]

Thank you for the suggestion! I did go back to my last pre-Graveyard save, but Am-Si (the man in red) was not where I'd found him after talking to the gravekeeper, and when I tried to get into the kidnapper's house, the game told me the door was barred from the other side. It seems you have to speak to the gravekeeper to advance the quest. If I'd known this would be a problem, I would've done it before I left for Spellhold, but I didn't really expect Bodhi to return to the lair I'd just kicked her out of. My mistake.

The game seems programmed to forward the time to night the first time you go to the Graveyard in Chapter 6. I made sure it was day when I selected the Graveyard on the map, but when I arrived it was suddenly night and Bodhi immediately appeared and threatened my character before taking off and leaving a few vampire minions to die. I just left the area after killing the vampires and came back later after the sun was up. That time, it was daylight in the Graveyard and I was able to find and question the Gravekeeper. The game seems to prevent any activity in the Graveyard prior to meeting her in Chapter 6, though once she had fled I was able to continue with other quests.

Maybe I'm the only fool who ever failed to do everything in the Graveyard before the first confrontation with Bodhi. Do you happen to remember if the game forces you to go anywhere right after killing Bodhi? What I've seen online says that all other quests need to be done before following Elhan to the Elven City. If I can put off doing that, I could be a jerk and take my sweet time getting the Rhynn Lanthorn back to him, provided I'm still free to wander Athkatla at that point. :P

In any case, thank you very much for your responses!

[D'amarr from Darshiva]

Originally posted by Isengrym:

Do you happen to remember if the game forces you to go anywhere right after killing Bodhi?

You don't need to. Final confrontration with Bodhi is just a quest after returning from the Underdark. You can complete everything else afterwards - such as killing dragons and Liches - before travelling to Suldanessellar.

[IKosaedro]

To restore your lover, go to the TEMPLE RUINS area. Make your way to the lettered-floor room (where you can only cross safely by stepping on the letters AMAUNATOR) . cross and enter the left room with the giant statue. Place the body and Bodhi's Heart -you must kill Bodhi before- in the arms of the statue (x 2615 y 1620). Your lover will be restored back to life.

[Isengrym]

@ D'amarr from Darshiva--Thanks, that's very good to know! I think it bodes well that I was able to find the gravekeeper in Chapter 6 after Bodhi appeared. I'll just revert to the save from just before I went to the Graveyard, try to do everything that doesn't involve that area, then finish up the Graveyard after dealing with her. It seems like "Reviving Your Dead Lover" was meant to be part of the game's romance narrative, so I feel like I shouldn't miss out on it.

@IKosaedro--Thank you. I was more trying to figure out whether sidequests I didn't finish before Chapter 6 were interfering with each other and the main story, but I appreciate your response! (I'm not at the point of trying to actually do the quest of reviving a lover yet.)