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Baldur’s Gate 3: The House of Grief

As they explored Baldur’s Gate north of Jaheira’s house, looking for clues to the location of the Bhaal cult holding Lae’zel, Shadowheart stopped short. She was staring at a non-descript building at the edge of a canal. “The House of Grief “, she said, “Shar’s cover in Baldur’s Gate. This is where I grew up. This is where my parents would be held”.

A shadowed luis royo painting depicting sunlit, rustic medieval temple in a city. The structure is perched on a slightly elevated platform beside a riverbank. The building is made of pale stone blocks. A red-tiled roof tops the structure, with multiple gables. Tall, narrow arched windows line the upper walls. Monks meditate in a quiet covered garden.

Inside were pamphlets extolling the virtues of forgetting pains and sorrows – healing through letting go. The woman at the door made snide comments to Shadowheart, wondering how she dared show her face here. They insisted she participate in a “Mapping of the Heart” before being allowed to enter the Temple proper. This was a Sharan ritual where ones deepest fears an failings are mapped in meditation. When it was completed, the inquisitor demanded that Shadowheart remember her. At first she could not, and then her eyes widened.

A dark Luis Royo painting depicting the interior of a dim unoccupied shrine. A welsh half-elf woman sits on a bench meditating. A shrouded woman sits beside her. The half-elf woman is age 25,pale, with silver ponytail hair. She wears breastplate armor with blue cloth. The shrouded woman;s face is veiled, and she wears tight black leather armor with a high collar and gold embossing and gloves.

Mother Superior. Mother Superior Viconia DeVir.

A dark Luis Royo painting depicting the interior of a dim shrine. A drow elf woman seated on a bench looks suspiciously at the viewer. The woman is czech and age 40, with charcoal gray skin, a regal bearing, a sinewy build, straight white hair, and red eyes, and a calculating expression. She wears tight black leather armor with a high collar and gold embossing.

Apparently Jaheira and Minsc had a history with Viconia, and exchanged some terse words abouts having the displeasure of meeting her again. Viconia merely told them that “It would be wise not to interfere in what was to come.” She then bid Shadowheart to come speak with her below, opened a door hiding stairs leading below, and vanished.

A dark Luis Royo painting depicting a tense scene in the interior of a dim shrine. A mature half-elf woman and a drow elf woman scorn each other across a room. The half-elf is Czech, with gray hair styled in rows of short beaded braids, clad in rugged leather armor and green cloth. The drow is czech, with charcoal gray skin, straight white hair, and sinister red eyes. She wears black leather armor with a high collar and gold embossing.

The area below was much bleaker and darker than the upper temple – which had been sanitized for the masses. They passed several areas which Shadowheart remembered to one degree or another. Areas which were currently strangely empty…

There was a torture chamber, where she had been made to learn “enhanced technique” for interrogation and persuasion. She shuddered at what she could remember of what she had been made to do.

A Luis Royo dark fantasy painting depicting a wide view of a dark medieval torture chamber. A welsh half-elf woman looks disturbed as she glances around the room.The half-elf woman is age 25,with silver ponytail hair and a shadowy face. She wears breastplate armor with blue cloth. A dusty iron maiden and a rack can be seen in dim purple light.

There was a room with assorted clothing and outfits. A room to learn the arts of disguise. Shadowheart stared wistfully at these. Among her favorite lessons had been here, where she could pretend – for at least a while – to be somebody else.

A Luis Royo dark fantasy painting depicting a wide view of a dark empty costume dressing room. A welsh half-elf woman looks wistfully glances in a dusty mirror.The half-elf woman is age 25,with silver ponytail hair and a shadowy face. She wears breastplate armor with blue cloth. Medieval costumes hang around the room in a dim purple light.

An echo of a memory led to her to a hidden panel opening to a secret grotto, were night orchids grew around an underground stream. She said this had been here hideaway. Her place of refuge.

A Luis Royo dark fantasy painting depicting an underground stream cavern. A welsh half-elf woman looks thoughtfully at night orchids on the short.The half-elf woman is age 25,with silver ponytail hair and a shadowy face. She wears breastplate armor with blue cloth. A dim purple light.

Then the proceeded in to a large open area of the temple, where Viconia awaited in the center. Acolytes and Justiciars lined the perimeter, silently watching and waiting.

Viconia demanded that Jasper turn over Shadowheart to her for judgement, and to hand over the Prism which had been her mission. Jasper asked why she wanted it, and she replied that she planned to use it to control the Absolute after Orin, Gortash, and the Githyanki had weakend each other fighting over it. He responded that she had no more claim to Shadowheart. She no longer answered to Shar.

A dark Luis Royo painting depicting a confrontation in a large dark auditorium. A welsh half-elf woman confronts an accusing drow elf woman. The half-elf woman is age 25,with silver ponytail hair. She wears breastplate armor with blue cloth. The drow woman is czech and age 40, with charcoal gray skin, straight white hair, and red eyes. She wears black leather armor with a hood and gold embossing. The walls are obsidian in a dim purple light. Dark priests watch.

And with that, battle commenced.

Minsc charged in to engage Dark Justiciars to allow the others time to take a more defensive position.

A dark Luis Royo painting depicting exciting motion in dark fog on obsidian stairs. A berserk bald man with a glowing hammer tackles three dark knights swinging wispy swords. The man is a burly cherokee bodybuilder, smooth-skinned, with a large purple half-face tattoo. He wears rugged armor and pants. The knights wear gothic obsidian armor and masks with purple cloth..

Jasper used mass illusions to keep the Sharans confused and unfocused.

Luis Royo painting depicting a rear view of exciting blurred motion in dark fog in an obsidian temple. A small short midget hurls wispy shadow spirits from his glowing hand overwhelming fifteen confused dark priests. The midget is Welsh with a brown beard, and wears a swashbuckler hat and leather armor over a red shirt. The priests wear black armor and purple cloth, and wildly swing wispy daggers,

While Jaheira buried them in massive ice storms, freezing them solid.

A Luis Royo painting depicting a rear view of exciting blurred motion in dark fog. A mature half-elf woman with glowing hands hurls massive swirling icy winds freezing fifteen brawling dark priests. The woman is Czech, with gray hair styled in rows of short beaded braids, clad in rugged leather armor and green cloth. The dark priest wear black armor and purple vestments, and wield daggers.

Viconia was clever and stealthy, and appeared from nowhere stabbing Shadowheart in the back!

A Luis Royo painting depicting exciting motion in a dark fog. A welsh half-elf woman with a glowing mace gasps in pain as a czech elf woman with a wispy dagger cuts her. The half-elf woman is age 25,with a silver ponytail hair, wearing breastplate armor with blue cloth. The elf is age 40, with charcoal skin, white hair, and red eyes. She wears black leather armor with gold embossing.

But Shadowheart was no longer the confused girl Viconia remembered, and returned to her decades of abuse – with interest.

A Luis Royo painting depicting exciting motion in a dark fog. A welsh half-elf woman with a glowing mace smacks a faltering czech elf woman. The half-elf woman is age 25,with a silver ponytail hair, wearing breastplate armor with blue cloth. The czech woman is age 40, with charcoal skin, white hair, and red eyes. She wears black leather armor with gold embossing.

When Viconia lay defeated and cursing, she spat at Shadowheart to finish the job. To slay her and be done with it. She told her how she had made her torture her own parents, not knowing who they were. She told her how Shar had explicitly ordered her to kidnap young Shadowheart, to twist a daughter of Selune into her own replacement. But Shadowheart saw through what she was doing. Trying to goad her into killing in anger. Trying to solidify Shar’s hold. Shadowheart merely smiled humorlessly and walked away – echoing Viconia’s own doctrine back at her. “My parents are all that matters now. I care not what happens to you. Embrace Loss, *Mother*”

A dramatic Luis Royo painting in a dark fog. A welsh half-elf woman walks away from an injured crawling drow woman. The half-elf woman is age 25,with a silver ponytail hair, wearing breastplate armor with blue cloth. The drow is age 40 and czech, with smudged charcoal gray skin, white hair, and red eyes. She wears black leather armor with gold embossing. She is irate.

They headed further back, into the deepest depths of the enclave. The passed the great Mirror of Loss, which had been used to steal so may of Shadowheart’s memories. Wiping her mind clear every time her inherent nature began to rebel against the teachings of Shar.

An ominous Luis Royo painting inside an obsidian shrine in dark fog. A short small midget and a tall welsh half-elf woman look warily up at a huge dark mirror. The midget is Welsh, with a neat brown beard, and wears a swashbuckler hat with leather armor over a red shirt. The half-elf woman is age 25,with silver ponytail hair, wearing breastplate armor with blue cloth. The mirror shows only swirls of Black magic.

And then they came to her parents, suspended in arcane restraints. Her Mother no longer appeared aware and present – muttering and singing to herself. Her father, however, recognized her. “Is this my Jennevelle? Brought before us to be erased once again?” But Shadowheart cried out “No father. Never again. I’ve come to free you!”

A dark luis royo painting showing an elf man and an elderly woman bound spread-eagled to two large glowing magical disks inscribed with bright violet runes. Their wrists are bound with radiant shackles of purple light. The scene is dark, with deep blue and purple tones dominating the environment, giving it an ethereal, somber atmosphere.

But it wasn’t quite to be that simple. Shar’s visage appeared and laid out the true choice. Her final petty revenge. As long as her parents lived, Shar’s hold on Shadowheart would remain. She would reach in through the connection and torture her at will. Without end.

Shadowheart was torn. It was an agonizing dilemma. Literally. And Jasper did not feel he could tell her what to do. It was her life, and her parents. It must be her decision. His only advice – talk to her parents before choosing. And her father gave an unequivocal answer. “We kept going all this time. We perservered through it all – with the dream that one day you would be free. We are ready to move on. We are ready to join Selune. Shar will never let go without a price. Do not let that price be your future. Do not let our suffering have been for nothing”.

A dark Luis Royo painting depicting an intimidating scene in a huge dark chamber. A welsh half-elf woman looks up in awe at a giant sinister goddess sneers. The half-elf woman is age 25,with a silver ponytail hair, wearing breastplate armor with blue cloth. The beautiful goddess has shiny black skin and a wispy purple aura, and wears large semi-circle headpiece and mask and a harem outfit. A dim purple fog.

And so she chose. She chose to honor her parents’ wishes. They dissolved into Moon Motes… messengers of Selune. They could not hold her. They could not speak to her. But they would always be there. Watching and Guiding.

A dark luis royo painting of blurred motion in a dark obsidian shrine. A welsh half-elf woman reaches up as two wispy figures dissolve into brilliant orbs of cool light. The half-elf woman is age 25 with tears,with silver ponytail hair, wearing breastplate armor with blue cloth. The figures are an exhausted elf man and an exhausted woman.

Back outside she made her way to an old, forgotten shrine. A relic of long ago she had once known. And cried over the loss of her parents. And the loss of her memories of them, and their memories of her. Jasper comforted her as he could, but as the moon rose he saw there was one other with whom Shadowheart needed to speak.

A Luis Royo painting of a worn grotto in the evening. A short small young dwarf comforts an age 25 welsh half-elf woman grieving. The small midget is Welsh, with a neat brown beard, and wears a swashbuckler hat with leather armor over a red shirt. The half-elf woman is tall and crying,with silver ponytail hair, wearing breastplate armor with blue cloth. Moon shines down on a worn statue of a robed moon goddess behind them.

And so he left her to become reacquainted.

A Luis Royo painting of a worn shrine grotto in the evening. A welsh half-elf woman on her knees looks up through tears. A wispy illusion of glowing stylized symbolic eyes appear in the stars above. She is age 25,with silver ponytail hair, brown eyes, and wearing breastplate armor with blue cloth.

This is not that long a quest in game. The final battle is quite large and hectic – with sharans shadow-porting all about and throwing mass quantities of darkness and the like. But of all the companion quests it feels the most… real. The competing natures of Shar and Selune couldn’t come through any clearer, and Shar’s vindictive pettiness in twisting the knife one last time – just because she could – fits her to a “T”.

5 responses to “Baldur’s Gate 3: The House of Grief”

  1. atcDave Avatar
    atcDave

    You’re really good with the drama of all this, very well done.
    It looks to be a well conceived quest with a satisfying resolution for Shadowheart (?).

    I understand many fans of Original BG/BG2 were really annoyed with Viconia’s story here. Obviously this is a completely unredeemed version of her character. But this also plays into why I find WotC declaring certain things “canon” so irksome. I get it, they need to chose a path for “official” game material going forward. But to me, every time I play I’m crafting a new canon. I must have 100 canon teams so far! (9 since I started my website.)

    Reply
    1. Zeno Avatar
      Zeno

      Even evil canon it’s a bit of a stretch. Before you even meet her in BG1 Viconia left Lloth and the underark because killing a child was over the line for her. She does worse here – but since she is directly being ordered/manipulated by Shar it’s not hard to believe she’s being mind-screwed as much as anyone. One thing BG3 consistently does well is portraying different kinds of evil. The Dead Three are, respectively, angry at the world evil (Ketheric), psycho evil (Orin), and practical enlightened evil (Gortash). Shar is turning people’s doubts and fears against them for the fun of it evil. And even though she’s not in any way related to the main antagonists, every time she shows up it’s personal.

      Reply
      1. atcDave Avatar
        atcDave

        Yeah that was among my problems with Vicki all the way from BG1, she has traded Lolth for Shar, which is not really an improvement.

        But for the rest, I can see what you mean as far as the different aspects of evil. Much of this seems well presented.

      2. Zeno Avatar
        Zeno

        Was just adventuring somewhere else, and Shadowheart and Jaheira had a conversation about Viconia. Basically Jaheira saying Viconia wasn’t as heartless as she liked to appear, could not have essentially raised Shadowheart without caring in her own way, and must have been twisted into how she was they way she in turn tried to twist Shadowheart. It was a very interesting and unexpected little tidbit to drop.

    2. Zeno Avatar
      Zeno

      In game it gives the best excuse ever to respec Shadowheart… but Trickery cleric is just so good at backing up Jasper’s shenanigans that I can’t bring myself to do it!

      Reply

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