Originally Posted by t1mekill3r
Rescuing Shadowheart also doesn't result in the narrator telling you you lost something, right? That only happens when you use the tadpole power on a person.

The "You lost something" is based on using the tadpole for a 2nd time. So using the Illithid Wisdom on the Nautiloid still counts as an actual first use and thus awakening the tadpole as the Narrator comments.

  • Which is why in Early Access a player was able to summon the Dreamer so fast before even stepping 5m from the Grove. Shadowheart > Wyll > Ed (cultist outside the Grove) = Spawn Dreamer and get Illithid class power.
  • In full release using it on the Nautiloid now also requires a full long rest to be able to use it again and naturally triggers the very first step on getting the True Soul tag.

An actual pure run would entail leaving Shadowheart imprisoned, unless one plays a Barbarian or Sorcerer as they can both free her without it.