can you just pickpocket his boots or aren't they a valid item for pickpocketting ? I've never really used that skill until recently, since I've read some threads here about thieves. In fact, all I EVER used to use thieves for was detect/disarm traps and open locks. Probably a hangover from BG1 when you only had enough thieving points for the essentials. I'm currently using a thief with all skills at 100 and pickpockets on (IIRC) 130. I've also just discovered how good backstabbing and setting traps are (lol). But I'm getting offtrack.

So can you steal his boots or do you have to kill him ?

<font color="gold">I'm pretty sure that you need to kill him, as he wears the boots and doesn't just have them in his inventory. ;)

Theoretical question: Would it work to cast Time Stop, kill Renal during the effect of this spell, and then go away without making the Shadow Thieves hostile?</font>

You are correct. I've tried it quite a few times, and pickpocketing the Boots from him is impossible.

I don't really understand what you're suggesting here.
Something like "cast Time Stop -> kill Renal -> end of Time Stop -> loot corpse -> run away"?

I think that is what Sir Exxon is suggesting, specifically as a means of escaping Arkanis Gath's instant kill.

It's worth a shot - though I believe I read recently that feebleminding Renal works as well.

It should work since my necromancer feebleminded Mazzy in her own home and no one went hostile - "Look what you've done to our daughter! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"

Yeah, you've probably read it in this very thread. ;) :D

this is the one main cheat I use in every Baldurs game because I get tired of waiting for the slow walking pace I put in the Item code "BOOT01" 6 times then all six of my team get the boots of speed and it has never caused any glitches in the game.