Players are expected to make plenty of choices while playing through Starfield, but most of their decisions end up being fairly inconsequential in the long run. However, there are a handful of choices that can have serious and permanent consequences, one of which comes toward the end of the High Price to Pay main story mission.
After returning to the Lodge in New Atlantis, Starfield players will receive word that their companions on the Eye have been attacked by a Starborn known as the Hunter. At this point, they'll be given a choice to either stay and defend the Lodge or go to the Eye to rescue their comrades. Both options will lead to deadly consequences.
Warning: The following guide contains major spoilers for Starfield.
Should You Defend the Lodge or Go to the Eye?
Regardless of which option players choose, one of their companions will die during the High Price to Pay main story mission. As for who exactly that is, it depends on a few different factors, with Sarah, Sam, Barrett, and Andreja all at risk. To figure out whose head is on the chopping block, players will first need to make a note of which two companions are with them at the Lodge and which two are at the Eye. If they stay and defend the Lodge, then one of the characters at the Eye will die, while going to the Eye will lead to a death at the Lodge. In a cruel twist, the companion who dies will be the one that players have the strongest relationship with, meaning that they are likely to lose one of their two favorite companions no matter what they do here. The good news is that they can at least guarantee that their favorite companion survives by choosing whichever location they happen to be at.
What Happens if You Stay and Defend the Lodge?
Those who stay at the Lodge will soon find themselves face to face with the Hunter. After a short skirmish, they'll need to head down to the basement and follow the tunnels until they reach the Well area of New Atlantis, where they'll encounter the Hunter several more times. It's worth killing him once for a bonus weapon later on, but doing so multiple times is pointless and only increases the chances of hitting a civilian by mistake and racking up a bounty.
After making their way to their ship and taking off, players will be contacted by the Hunter from his ship, Scorpius. They'll be given some dialog options here, but none of them make any difference. If they bested him earlier though, he'll hand over a rare laser rifle called Unrestrained Vengeance. Players will then need to head to the Eye to check up on everybody else and it's there that they'll find one of their companions dead.
What Happens if You Go to the Eye?
Those who choose to go to the Eye will need to do so quickly, as staying at the Lodge for too long will lead to the Hunter appearing and the choice being made for them. As soon as they leave the Lodge, they'll be able to fast travel to the Eye, where they'll find everybody alive, if not well. Sadly, the same cannot be said for the people at the Lodge, as upon their return, players will find one of their companions dead and lying in a pool of their own blood. From there on out, things play out much like before, with the survivors all escaping through the basement.
What Happens to the Dead Companion's Gear?
Those worried about losing their companion's gear can rest easy, as although one of their companions is gone, the contents of their inventory remain intact. After escaping New Atlantis and returning to the Eye, players will be tasked with placing the Artifacts somewhere safe. Once they've done that, they'll be instructed to return to the Lodge, where they'll be able to find their deceased comrade's belongings in a chest down in the basement. As well as everything that their former companion had in their inventory when they died, players will also get their outfit.
Starfield's Defend The Lodge or Go to the Eye Choice, Explained
Deciding whether to defend the Lodge or go to the Eye is one of the most important choices in Starfield, as depending on the actions of the player (both in the past and in the present) any one of the game's four main companions can die here. As such, it can be a little difficult to wrap one's head around the High Price to Pay decision, particularly for those who have never played a game like Starfield before.
Ultimately though, to figure out whose heads are on the chopping block, players need simply take stock of which companions are where. Of the two companions who are with the player at the Lodge, it's the one who tells them that they're going to barricade the doors if the player tries to leave who will die if players go to the Eye. Of the two companions who are at the Eye, it's the one who players have the best relationship with who will die if players decide to stay and defend the Lodge.
Starfield is available now for PC and Xbox Series X|S.