In the climactic expansion of the Baldur’s Gate saga, Throne of Bhaal, players are thrust into a brutal conflict among the Bhaalspawn, offspring of the slain God of Murder. As the protagonist navigates treacherous landscapes—from besieged cities to dark fortresses—each encounter reveals the sinister machinations of Melissan, a mysterious figure with her own nefarious agenda. With the fate of countless lives hanging in the balance, players must confront not only formidable foes but also their own divine heritage, culminating in a choice that could reshape the very fabric of existence: ascend to godhood or reclaim their mortal life. Will you embrace your dark legacy or defy it?
Bhaal’s children start a war to destroy Faerun. A war for dominance and their father’s legacy. His power, his domain, his throne. Isn’t commuting a mass slaughter the best way to gain the right to all of this? And these are only five descendants of the god. The rest of those who have the Lord of Murder’s blood flowing in their veins are persecuted and hunted down. Those who survived took refuge in the city of Saradush. Since you’re related to this happy family, guess who’s gonna have to clean up the mess.
Chapter 8
In Chapter 8 of Baldur’s Gate II: Throne of Bhaal, the protagonist faces a climactic confrontation with the remaining Bhaalspawn, known as The Five. As the war for dominance escalates in Tethyr, the player navigates through intense battles and treacherous alliances, ultimately revealing Melissan’s true identity as Amelyssan the Blackhearted. This chapter culminates in a series of pivotal encounters that test the player’s strength and resolve, leading to the final showdown against Melissan, where choices made will determine the fate of the protagonist and the legacy of Bhaal.
You rest in Suldanesselar, but the peace doesn’t last long. Ellesime sends you to the sacred grove to meet the ancient gods. You listen to a not-so-optimistic prophecy. After that, you are attacked by Illasera, your sister. Only of you can survive this. When the offspring of Bhaal falls lifeless, some force pulls you to a familiar place. A place that looks like hell. It turns out to be PocketPlane, Bhaal’s private chamber. It’s a lovely place.
You are greeted by Solar, a powerful being who promises to support you with knowledge and advice in the battles ahead. After he disappears, you see a familiar silhouette emerging from nothingness. It’s Sarevok. This time he offers to serve you in exchange for a little bit of your soul. You agreed. Your nemesis has become one of your most powerful allies – and if you play the things right, you will even be able to make him good. But this will take a lot of time. In the Pocket Plane, you will also meet a chatty imp who turns out to be one of the greatest engineers in all the Planes and Forgotten Realms.
To transfer to Saradush, you must complete the first of several trials waiting in the Plane. You have to face a potential revenge that could fall on you at some point. You land in the middle of town and watch Melissana, a woman who is said to be looking after Bhaal’s children together with the town’s leader. She tries to get an audience with Gromnir Il-Khan. His soldiers treat you as a hostile – you have to fight them. The poor guys didn’t stand a chance. Melissana asks you to reach Gromnir. With the help of the newly met SisterFairelle, you find a passage to the undergrounds, deal with the vampires lurking there, and break through Il-Khan’s castle. You see the leader arresting Melissana. Gromnir doesn’t trust you, he thinks you’ve come to kill him. The host is clearly insane. The only thing you can do is to fight him. After that, Melissana shows up.
She claims that to stop the siege of Saradush, you have to kill the enemy commander, the giant Yaga-Shura. The giant, however, seems indestructible, so you go on a search for his weak spot. In the mysterious temple, where you also confront your own fears, you learn from Nyalee (who turns out to be Yaga-Shura’s guardian) that to kill Yaga-Shura, you must destroy the heart he has hidden away from him. He hid her heart in the same place. Good news: you now know your objective. Bad news: it is hidden under a volcano. Around which the fire giants built a fortress. Of course you’re going there. You sneak in or break through a squad of giants and then deal with this minor heart problem. You need to face Nyalee, but in the end you achieve your goal.
Then you go back to Saradush, go to battle with the besiegers, and finally face Yaga-Shura. No negotiation, no mercy. The battle was a carnage. In the end, the hostile commander dies at your hands, and you teleport back to the Pocket Plane. There, you talk to Solar about your past, you are put to another test, and eventually end up near Saradush again. It turns out that most of Bhaal’s followers died in the siege. To make matters worse, Yaga-Shura did not act alone; he has two more allies. Luckily, Melissana knows someone you could count on. To get help, you go to Amkethran.
Chapter 9
In Chapter 9 of Baldur’s Gate II: Throne of Bhaal, the narrative reaches its climax as the protagonist confronts the ultimate challenges posed by the Bhaalspawn war. The chapter unfolds in the chaotic land of Tethyr, where the player must navigate through intense battles against powerful foes known as The Five, each a child of Bhaal with their own sinister agendas. As alliances shift and betrayals surface, the protagonist discovers that Melissan, who initially appears as an ally, is in fact Amelyssan the Blackhearted, orchestrating the conflict to fulfill her own dark ambitions. The tension escalates as the player is drawn into a final showdown at the Throne of Bhaal, where critical choices will determine not only their fate but also the future of divinity itself. This chapter encapsulates the themes of power, identity, and destiny that have permeated the series, culminating in a profound exploration of what it means to be a child of a god.
Amkethran is a sandy settlement built around a monastery. You need to get inside the latter place. Balthazar, the leader of the order, is waiting for you there. He points out the location of Bhaal’s two children, who worked with Yaga-Shura. He seems to have no preconceptions or even an understanding of your situation. A nice change.
… especially since you will soon face two incredibly challenging enemies. It will be brutal and bloody. After all, it’s a fight with your siblings. Only one of you can survive. Also, who wouldn’t want to keep such power to themselves (apart from Imoen and Sarevok, but the latter doesn’t have much to say about that anymore).
Your first objective is the enclave of Sendai, a Dark Elf. There, you come across all the creatures that haunt you in your dreams after your last visit to the Underdark. You’re finally facing the Drow and her squad. You’re in for a tough battle with your deceptive “sister”. When she dies, you’re back in the Pocket Plane. This time Solar is asking you one of the harder questions – about the future. What is your answer?
The next target is Abazigal, a dragon. The entrance to his lair is guarded by his son, Draconis. If you think you’re going to have no problems defeating the young man, you’re wrong. It’s a living fortress – you’ll be licking your wounds long after this battle. Once you defeat the young man and break through the underground and traps, you will have to defeat Abazigal, a dragon racist who believes that only his race is worthy of Bhaal’s heritage. There is only one solution here, fight or die.
After defeating your “brother,” you end up in your infernal hideout. With the help of Solar, a vision and a conversation with the dead, you learn about the plans of the “five” – that is, Bhaal’s five children. Wait, five? Yes, because the fifth child is Balthazar. You’re going back to Amkethram. The gate of the monastery has been shut down, but you find a way to break through (maybe even with the help of your good friend Saemon Haevarian…).
You stand before Balthazar. The monk worked with his siblings and was recruited by… Melissana, who was working with her siblings from the beginning. Balthazar plans to eradicate Bhaal’s legacy from your world – and, in the end, take over the power of the god, perform a ritual with which he will kill both himself and the Lord of Murder. The idea isn’t the stupidest, but you’re finding his plan somewhat problematic. It assumes that you would have to die. An unpleasant option and the monk doesn’t want to hear any explanations. Time for a deadly battle. The brother, perhaps one of the few potentially righteous, dies. You move to the Pocket Plane for the last time.
There Solar lets you confront Melissana. She turned out to be the most trusted priestess of the Lord of Murder, and she wanted to take the power of Bhaal for herself – which she told to the god right in front of everyone. Your father should choose his co-workers more wisely. With that knowledge, you are heading for the final showdown.
Chapter 10
In Chapter 10 of Baldur’s Gate II: Throne of Bhaal, the narrative reaches its climax as the protagonist confronts the ultimate threat posed by Melissan, who reveals her true identity as Amelyssan the Blackhearted. This chapter encapsulates the intense struggle for power among Bhaal’s progeny, culminating in a final showdown at the Throne of Bhaal itself. As the player navigates through treacherous battles against formidable foes known as The Five, they must also grapple with their own destiny—whether to embrace their heritage as a child of Bhaal or to reject it and seek a mortal life. The choices made here will determine not only the fate of the protagonist but also the future of Faerûn itself, as the legacy of the Lord of Murder hangs in the balance.
You land on a big, flat ring that’s surrounded by a huge pole of energy. The souls and power of Bhaal’s children gather in this place. Now all this power belongs to Amelissana. There is no great philosophy here – only one of you will come out of this clash alive. You are in for a long, multi-stage battle, in which you slowly cut off the ambitious priestess from the source of power. When you finally defeat her, Solar shows up and explains that you actually have only two options. You will either accept Bhaal’s essence – or reject it and hide from the rest of the world. What will you become? How will you change the fate of the Forgotten Realms? Will you do it as a god or mortal? You’ve finally made your decision…
And the saga is over.
Murder in Baldur’s Gate
In “Baldur’s Gate 2: Throne of Bhaal,” the narrative weaves a dark tale of murder and intrigue as the protagonist becomes embroiled in a series of brutal killings linked to the sinister Cult of Bhaal. The player must navigate the treacherous streets of Baldur’s Gate, uncovering clues and confronting deadly foes, including doppelgängers and assassins. This quest not only challenges the player’s combat skills but also tests their moral choices, as they can opt to save potential victims or eliminate them to further their own agenda. As tensions rise and the stakes become increasingly dire, the player is drawn deeper into a web of deception that threatens to engulf the entire city.
The saga is over, but the story of Gorion’s Ward continues.
Before Baldur’s Gate 3 gets released, you can play the Murder in Baldur’s Gate campaign. It takes place just before the events of BG3, one hundred years after Baldur’s Gate 2. The uniqueness of this scenario is that it is intended to match several recent Dungeons & Dragons editions (3,5, 4 and Next), not just the latest. It includes a guide to the eponymous city with descriptions of important characters, neighborhoods, and factions.
The story itself contained in the adventure tells of the conflict between the factions that rule Baldur’s gate and the Bhaalspawn (yes, some are still alive, and the dead-though-not-quite-divine father himself may be involved in this plot). Larian Studios claims that it will be based on the Murder in Baldur’s Gate and reflect the events from that campaign. So there is a good chance that we will see some familiar faces in the game.
What are the key differences between Baldur’s Gate II and Throne of Bhaal
The key differences between Baldur’s Gate II and its expansion, Throne of Bhaal, can be summarized as follows:
Story and Setting
- Baldur’s Gate II primarily focuses on the protagonist’s struggle against Jon Irenicus, a powerful mage, and explores themes of identity and power within the context of the protagonist’s heritage as a Bhaalspawn. The game is set mainly in the city of Athkatla and its surrounding areas in Amn.
- Throne of Bhaal, on the other hand, serves as the conclusion to the Bhaalspawn saga, thrusting players into a war among Bhaalspawn in Tethyr. The narrative centers around the protagonist’s confrontation with other powerful Bhaalspawn and culminates in a choice between ascending to godhood or returning to a mortal life.
Gameplay Mechanics
- In Baldur’s Gate II, players experience a vast world filled with numerous side quests and exploration opportunities. The game emphasizes character development through various interactions and quests.
- Throne of Bhaal features a more linear structure with fewer optional quests, focusing instead on essential story-driven encounters. The expansion introduces a higher level cap (up to 40), new high-level monsters, and unique items, allowing for demi-godlike character progression.
Character Development
- While Baldur’s Gate II allows for extensive character growth through various side quests and interactions with NPCs, Throne of Bhaal narrows this focus to the main storyline, emphasizing the protagonist’s final journey and confrontations with legendary foes.
- New characters introduced in Throne of Bhaal, such as Melissan and Sarevok, add depth to the story but also shift the focus from character interaction to plot resolution.
Exploration and Environments
- Baldur’s Gate II is known for its rich environments that encourage exploration beyond main quests, featuring diverse landscapes like forests and dungeons.
- In contrast, Throne of Bhaal contains significantly fewer exploratory areas; most locations are tied directly to the main storyline, with Watcher’s Keep being one notable exception.
These distinctions highlight how Throne of Bhaal serves as both a culmination of the series’ overarching narrative and a shift in gameplay focus towards a more streamlined experience centered on epic confrontations and resolution.
How does the difficulty level in Throne of Bhaal compare to Baldur’s Gate II
The difficulty level in Throne of Bhaal is notably higher than in Baldur’s Gate II, primarily due to several key factors:
Combat Challenges
- Throne of Bhaal features battles that are often described as “nightmare” difficulty, with encounters against powerful foes such as dragons, high-level mages, and other Bhaalspawn that require strategic planning and mastery of the game’s mechanics to overcome. Many players find that the expansion leans heavily on combat-focused gameplay, contrasting with the more balanced exploration and questing found in Baldur’s Gate II.
Character Levels and Enemy Scaling
- In Baldur’s Gate II, players typically engage with enemies that scale appropriately to their character levels, providing a challenging but manageable experience. However, Throne of Bhaal raises the level cap significantly (up to 40), introducing enemies that can deal devastating damage and possess powerful abilities that can quickly overwhelm even high-level characters. The game often feels like an endurance test against multiple strong opponents rather than a tactical challenge.
Game Structure and Design
- The structure of Throne of Bhaal is more linear, with a focus on dungeon crawling and fewer opportunities for side quests or exploration. This design choice can make the gameplay feel more monotonous and combat-heavy, which some players find less engaging compared to the rich world of Baldur’s Gate II where exploration played a significant role.
Player Experience
- Players have noted that while experienced gamers may find the challenges in Throne of Bhaal manageable, many average players struggle with its increased difficulty. The need for precise timing and tactical execution in battles can lead to frustration, particularly when facing multiple high-level enemies simultaneously.
Overall, while Baldur’s Gate II provides a well-rounded RPG experience with a mix of combat and exploration, Throne of Bhaal emphasizes intense combat scenarios that can be daunting for many players.
