At the crossroads of moral ambiguity, Starfield presents players with a second in-game decision in All That Money Can Buy (after deciding Nicolaus Slayton‘s fate) that may leave many scratching their heads.
What to do with Musgrove, a character as complex as he is pitiable. Stuck in a room with a dying Musgrove, the protagonist, alongside their AI companions, must choose between setting him free, sending him to jail, or putting him out of his misery. Each choice has tangible and moral consequences, influencing your relationships with other characters and potentially affecting your loot.
Verdict: I couldn’t find any reason to not set Musgrove free other than the 1,178 Credits, 54 1.5 LZR Cartridges, a Calibrated Solstice, a Suit with Lapel Pin, and Zipper Bandages you can loot for him. The guy worked for Slayton for 10 years and got fired, lost all the money from the Artifact, and took quite a beating as we can see. I think that’s enough of a lesson, and we didn’t have any issue with his ethics when we negotiated for the stolen Artifact.
Set Musgrove Free
Opting for mercy can offer an unexpected sense of humanity in the high-stakes universe of Starfield. If you decide to free Musgrove, your companions reactions will vary. For instance, Alejandra, one of the potential companions, doesn’t offer much other than a brief lecture to the ailing Musgrove. Musgrove’s former employer, Slayton, acknowledges your kindness and releases your impounded ship anyway.
Send Musgrove to Jail
On the other side of the ethical coin, there’s the option to jail Musgrove. Many would argue that this could be a fair middle-ground, a chance for Musgrove to atone for his theft. If you choose this route, companion reactions will again be varied. Alejandro, another AI companion, approves of this action. You are then rewarded with a Rare Rifle named Fiscal Quarter and 10,000 Credits from Walter, adding significant value to your inventory.
Kill Musgrove
The last and most controversial (and worst, other than the loot) option is to end Musgrove’s life. This action is met with disdain from almost all companions. Walter, for instance, openly expresses his revulsion, while Andreja dislikes this option if you have her as your follower (I assume every other follower does, too). Slayton, however, is thrilled. The reward here is the most lucrative, but you have a whole apartment to loot anyway. Alongside the 10,000 Credits and the Fiscal Quarter rifle, you can also loot many items from Musgrove, including a suit and cartridges.
I only recommend this path if you are going for a straight out evil direction for your character.
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Whatever decision you make it will undeniably affect your experience in Starfield. If you want to maintain the integrity of your crew relationships, freeing or jailing Musgrove seems the best option. Killing him, however, could provide you with the most material benefits but at a considerable moral cost.
Before jetting out of Neon, check out local companions for recruitment. After making such a tough decision, a new ally might be what you need to continue navigating the complexities of the Starfield universe.
So, should you free, jail, or kill Musgrove? Ultimately, the choice is yours, and each option will leave an indelible mark on your journey through the stars.
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