Fun Fact: BG3 classifies Dame Aylin as an aasimar (the descendant of a celestial entity like an angel) but, lorewise, she'd almost certainly be a full-fledged Celestial. An aasimar can (and will) eventually die, either from old age or by violence, but Aylin cannot. This is how Ketheric was able to become invincible; he was transferring his own wounds to Aylin, who could never be killed. A full-fledged Celestial, especially the higher tier ones, is VERY tough to put down. Some, like Solars (uber-powerful angels that can duel Demon Lords), are almost impossible for a mortal to wound. Dame Aylin seemingly being virtually immune to injury from mortal weapons DOES fit quite well with the descriptions of what it's like to try and fight a high-tier Celesitial. An aasimar can channel the power of their divine heritage only for a short time. Their wings aren't a permanent thing they can just whip out whenever. Dame Aylin appears to have a limitless supply of divine energy that she can tap into at will. This is very wierd for an aasimar but perfectly on-brand for a full celestial. An aasimar is a lot more likely to be the descendant of a lesser celestial, such as a Deva (a low-ranking angel). Being the literal child of an actual goddess (let alone one as powerful as Selune) immediately puts her WAY higher in the power hierarchy than even the most powerful aasimar. Dame Aylin has certain dialogue lines that imply that she has the authority to speak on behalf of Selune (like when she gives Shadowheart the purified Spear of Night). An aasimar cannot normally do this. An aasimar likely has a guardian angel assigned to guide them but they wouldn't be speaking directly to a deity in the same manner, let alone on their behalf. That Aylin DOES have the power to grant minor miracles (such as when she conjured the purified Spear of Night) is strong evidence that she's not an aasimar.
Sorry, I know this late, but it's funny that you mentioned Aylin being a celestial. Someone on tumblr found some data mined content from act 2 that later got scrapped, where Aylin was named dropped as a celestial.
Honestly Shadowheart's good endings just require that she spares Nightsong and defies Shar. Her more ideal ending imo involves her saving her parents. She leaves the city to settle down and live the nice, quiet life on a farmstead out in the countryside with her parents. It's a very sweet ending for romancing her, especially as a Dark Urge who resisted and won out against their worse nature, and just wants to enjoy their new life with her in peace and quiet, without being solicited by dark gods looking for Chosens
Don't leave out not giving her up to her old mother superior, too, lol. You can definitely make saving the nightsong much much more difficult if You're approval isn't decent because a player refuses to stop being nosy, demand answers you, by all rights, haven't earned the right to demand yet by simply refusing to stop being nosy, demanding answrs and still refusing to respect the boundaries she clear lays out. So ya, those are tge key moments that determine her outcome, but there are a lot of moments slong the way that can make it easier or harder to accomplish
I also think saving her parents is the better choice here. It's basically physical pain (like an old injury) vs actually losing your parents. And that is just a word, Shar can do nothing to her except cause physical pain , which depending on the person might actually be a good motive to work against Shar (ex. become a devoted cleric of Selune and fight against other ppl who might fall victims to Shar's manipulations). Not to mention if Shadowheart does indeed follow the Selune path (which is likely since her parents are now alive) it's definitely easier to break a curse from a goddess, than actually resurrect your dead parents (we all saw how it went for Ketheric :P)
@@valor144 I think Jaheria said it best: "Shar thinks us so fearful of pain that we would empty our lives of all other feeling just to escape it." What better way to make a goddess of loss and sorrow look like a lack-wit than proving that somethings are too important to forget even if it is painful.
I killed Nightsong but then defied Shar and refused to kill her parents. Got the good ending for Shadowheart. I killed Nightsong because the way it is written she turned from Shar waaaaay too fast.
The reason Shadowheart is openly hostile to Laez’ell is because she was part of a strike team to steal the astral prism and her fellow cloister members were murdered by Gythyanki.
I love Shadowheart’s romance arc so much as a dark urge character. It was quite cool having a romance between two women both fighting their way back to the light from pure darkness.
Also Shadowheart is very supportive of those who are different. Nocturne is trans and when Shadowheart realizes she praises her name choice by saying it suits her well
this game is like modern writing in a nutshell. murder or enslave people= cool being homophobic or transphobia=whoa fella you crossed a line both are bad but the game really does turn a blind eye to a lot worst atrocities.
@@Nopeasaurus Sir. This a DnD game. There will be fighting. Also you free *multiple people from slavery.* One of the main villains is a god of tirany ffs
Sacrificing Nightsong is very grim, but I love the choice where Shadowheart becomes a Dark Justiciar then leaves the cult with her parents alive in ACT 3. With her parents, her memories, and her freedom she has everything she needs to heal and become a better person, but she has also done more wrongs in Shar's name. It's a classic redeemed villan arc. It blends well with my in progress conflicted resisting Dark Urge playthrough.
Shadowheart can also choose to save her parents depending on how much of the city you explore, also you can get her memories back using the noble stalk
@@kingofgrim4761 It does, but there's only 1. It's in the back of the cave where you save Baelen from the bibberbangs. It can reveal some of Shart or Dark Urge's memories
@@kingofgrim4761I haven’t seen it for myself, but I have heard that if you give the noblestalk to the dwarf lady in the underdark when you reach Baldur’s gate her stock will reset per long rest
Viconia does not want to kill her because she left the cult. She tries to kill her even if she comes back when she chooses to kill Nightsong. If you read Viconia's diary its clear that she is jelous of her. Viconia was serving Shar her whole life, yet Shadowheart got favored constantly. The only difference is that some sharrans will fight on your side when you fight her.
Shadowheart chose to save her parents in my play through and I was honestly surprised but I found out it’s because I found the all things that she remembers in the city. Also thanks for feeding my hyper-fixation with another great video!
@@TurnersTea I went into the house of grief thinking the same thing and was fully prepared to lose her parents. Not only did I find the things she remembers in the city I also gave her the noblestalk so my interpretation of her reasoning for saving them is that because she had already got a handful of information of her past that she was just too curious about what else she’s missing that she’s unable to let go of her parents and their memories of her.
Maybe this is my own trauma, but i dont see her giving up her parents to shar as the "good ending". Shar is the lady of loss. She wants shadowheart to always feel the loss and the guilt. By killing her parents, shar has won. I feel that keeping the parents fuck up shar's plan because it feels like shar is more interested in mental anguish then physical. The mental anguish of killing her parents is more juicy to shar then the the physical pain shar inflicts if the parents are save. I feel like shadowheart's trauma is the type of situational trauma where you cant severe connection or get revenge towards your abuser(s). In my opinion, shadowheart's story is more about making peace with living trauma (physical pain from shar or the mental anguish from guilt) when closer is never possible. Just feel like keeping the parents alive is not giving in to shar.
Shadowheart doesn't really get a "good ending" . If her parents die. She has to live with that guilt. If her parents live. Shar continues to harass her. Since that magic wound thing binds them.
I completely agree. Shadowheart is used to the hand pain, and I always felt that Shar was a fool for thinking that it was worth sacrificing her parents and the happy future with she'd have with them.
Shadowheart to me feels more like a journey of religious reconstruction. She abandons the people who used their faith as a weapon & finds a LITERAL ANGEL who offers her compassion where she was expecting ridicule. It resonated with me because I myself am a Christian with religious trauma who has taken the time to reconstruct his faith & I can solidly say I feel closer to God now than I did when I tried to follow the Doctrine & Dogma of those who use their faith as a weapon. (p.s. using your faith as a weapon is directly against Biblical Scripture)
Honestly, I'm not a christian in the slightest, but folks like you give a good name to your religion. I believe there's nothing that can make one's faith stronger than questioning their beliefs and finding answers, and there's no better way to display that than standing against those who use their beliefs to do harm. Personal enlightenment will always be stronger than blind faith, even a near atheistic agnostic person like me can see that.
There's good and bad examples on every religion. The commandment to not use God's name in vain doesn't mean not to use his name when swearing or cursing but also not to commit evil deeds and sin in his name.
Shadowheart was basically raised in a monastic cloister, so sequestered might be a better word than sheltered. Especially since she was abused by the Sharrans. Also romancing Shadowheart as a Selûnite Cleric is top tier and I HIGHLY recommend it.
If you dont save her on the nautoloid, she will be at the crypt door, trying to batter it down. The first interaction with her is overall more hostile, doubly so if you didnt even attempt to try to save her. She caves in to following you in the end but you start at an overall lower approval. Which is not necessarily a bad thing, since it makes for some great dialogue. Also Drow get options to both intimidate her(unsuccesfully) and compliment her on her name( which is a good start i think for a romance playthrough)
I didn't notice her being hostile towards me. I failed a roll and couldn't open the pod she was in and left her behind. I used arcana based rolls to open the pod. Once I failed there was no way to open it.
I missed the room that the rune is to save her was in, so she was relatively nice to me at the door. She said something like "at least you tried to save me". I love the variation this game has with playthroughs
@@DecScapeyeah basically, you just need the rune found on a dead body in the next room to unlock shart, no check needed! (Although it isn’t realistic for the game itself)
@@DecScapeits cuz ya tried. Ya have to tell her no i wont help for her to be upset. She was always upset in early access since they never made it possible to help her back then. Just talk to her. The rune to free her didnt exist.
Shadowheart gives off sheltered pastor’s kid vibes, which is something I relate too. I love helping her break free from Shar because, again, I relate to it. Her story reflects mine, albeit with more magic lol. I doubt it was intended, but I love feeling that recognition. She’ll always be my fave
Thank you for feeding my obsession with my most beloved companion! Yeah, Shadowheart is great, as is her romance, but it doesn't impact her story that much. But to be fair, there are some things about her that you could learn through her romance; for example, you would learn how insecure she is about herself. If there is another love interest for your Tav, she wouldn't believe why you could possibly choose her. I don't know if this is romance-specific, but Dame Aylin says that being a Dark Justiciar would mean that she would never feel love. But I would agree that her story influences her romance more than the other way around. And well, she doesn't love githyanki that much because she has the Artifact that she stole from them, while all other members of her group (that were sent on this suicidal mission) were killed by Lae'Zel's kin. So there is not only her presumption against githyanki based on their reputation, but also based on the fact that any gith that she would come around can be after her to retrieve the Artifact. I love the whole segment in Shadowfell. From the descent where Shadowheart prays to Shar. One could think that it's her inner zealot showing herself... but if you chose the option to ask her if she really wants to do so, she would say that there is "no turning back." She is not only praying to Shar but also tries to reassure herself that by following her goddess's teaching, she is doing the right thing. I think you understand that I was romancing Shadowheat on my first playthrough. I was super invested, and let me say this: that was the most stressful hour in the whole game, aside from choice in the House of Grief. And then, to hear "Nighsong" music when I trusted her and she tossed a spear in the chasm... And I love the cosmic irony of the whole mission that Shadowheart was sent on! Like, if Viconia didn't send her to get the Artifact, then either way she wouldn't become Shar's new Chousen (which is bad for Viconia) or she would discover how much she was robbed by the Lady of Loss (which is bad for both Viconia and Shar). Then, there is Viconia's diary where you can learn how Shadowheart, despite years of brainwashing and whipping her memories, still resisted Shar's teachings. When the moment came, in the House of Grief, I said that she knew what was the right thing to do. And she saved her parents! I think both of these endings (saving parents or releasing them) are good; they are both bittersweet, where Shadowheart needs to sacrifice something to be happy and heal. But my girl chose to save her parents, so I committed to supporting that decision no matter what. Also, another thing about Shar!Shadowheart ending: It's probably not a good ending because she is now in the same position as Viconia was. Someone who leads the cloister and "favorite" of her goddes, but should Shar decide to, would be replaced. That's just grim and sad. Sorry for the wall of text; I can basically talk about Shadowheart all day))
Shadowheart is a great romance companion. She is my go to romance when I am playing a good aligned person. Her whole story is tragic. And when she is put into the position of having to kill her parents or leaving Shar able to torment her using the wound on her hand. It breaks my heart. I literally had to go walk away from the game for a bit. My character encouraged her to let her parents die. After all her father does ask for her to kill them.
Calling Sharrans evil is just the self-righteous and self-serving excuse that Paladins use to go full muderhobos with a clear conscience. But true Selunite chads know that being a Sharran is just sad. For the most part, what Sharrans need is therapy and hugs.
Oh really??? I don't know a whole lot about Paladins asdfasdf But I guess that makes sense. I'd assume a lot of Sharran followers went through the same breaking down and manipulation that Shadowheart went through under Shar.
few points : 1- githyanki are more like space brits, they do (forced labour) themselves 2- shadowheart was sent on this missions to die, is quite inexperienced 3-technically, viconia is right,shart is keeping the relic that she was sent to retrieve and she is camping with the daughter of the enemy 4- in act three , if shart has dark hair (iykwim) and decides to torture her parents, they mention that shart has tortured them before and ( probably lying to his wife to ease her mind) tells that this is also an illusion . love the content, durgetash gang out
in my durge playthrough, i have commited many war crimes, betrayed druids, killed isobel, probably became the strongest durge canonically can, but Shadowheart's dark end was the one choice that disgusted me , i felt evil, i was fine with all the rest of the choices in the campaign , but this choice was the one that made me say "damn thats low"
That's fair, I've been having a terrible time choosing to betray the grove because I really like a lot of the tieflings there! And just taking that misery forward, I'm not looking forward to all the choices I'll make in regards to hurting other characters I really like. Thank you for the further clarification of what githyanki are like!
@JordanJumpin there were 300,000 white slaves taken from London in the 1600s and 1700s alone. Poor Brits have often been slaves or indentured servants throughout history.. so forced labor is in their history
Good call on Shadowheart’s choice between her parents and her freedom as a metaphor. I did not catch that, and it is excellent! I had a friend who left, and eventually went back to, a cult their entire family belonged to. Shadowheart’s treatment by her fellow cultists, from the hostility and abuse to the one friend expressing admiration over Shadowheart’s bravery, rang very true. I think the best non-academic definition of a cult is a religious group that tries to isolate you from anyone outside of the group. You are not in a cult just because you like to go to church. You might be in a cult if your church friends tell you you cannot have social contact with or trust anyone outside of the cult.
Came for your Astarion video and still here cause I love bg3 and enjoy hearing you talk. Feels like listening to a friend chat about my favorite subject while I tidy my house :)
Shadowheart story is so sad holy moly. Brilliant video! Her name for Shar is so sad, like Shar is a shadow upon her heart. The brainwashing, abuse, betrayal and turning her against her own self and family is so damn sad!!! Very interesting character
Honestly, I find it impossible to do evil playthroughs. I always start with that intent, but as soon as I have to kill, or otherwise harm, an innocent person...Im a baby and HAVE to help them instead!
Lol same, the only game I’ve done an “evil” play through of is dragon age origins and that’s only bc most of the evil choices are at least somewhat justifiable
I find it so interesting that even on my full evil dark urge run, i believe shadowheart is going to spare aylin. I havent reached her yet, but i recruited minthara & asked her opinions of all the companions. When i asked about shadowheart, she spoke as if shadowheart had already defied shar. I’m going to let her decide on her own when I reach aylin and see if she spares her like minthara said, which would be surprising considering i’ve been doing an evil run & we aren’t very close in that save.
Not sure if you made it there yet, but the trigger is if she shares the memory about the wolf, aylin will mention her fear of wolves and this piques sharts interest in saving her
@kingofgrim4761 from my experience if you just let her do her thing right off the bat she ALWAYS kills nightsong. You have to ask her not to do it which(if shart shared her wolf memory) will trigger aylins dialogue where she brings up her fear of wolves and shart spares her to learn more when you trust her then.
Ooh, that's so interesting! I do love how our behavior in game is influencing what the characters choose to do though! That's very cool to me, and I love seeing which characters are more susceptible to your influence.
Shadowheart is basically a lot like Kaneki from Tokyo Ghoul. Both had a traumatic Childhood, both lost their parents at a young age and both have gone through a lot of crap in their respective stories. While Shadowheart starts out as unlikeable, Kaneki starts out as whiny, weak and cowardly. But after a huge change in their lives, both Kaneki and Shadowheart's hair color turns white and gain a lot of character development. Kaneki's relationship with Touka and Shadowheart's relationship with Tav are both signs that despite all that they've been through, they will end up finding love in the end.
If you don't save Shadowheart at the ship, she'd be awake and trying to get into the door into Jaergal's temple. She'd be really mad and refuses to join at all. You only meet her right before you leave the location because she realises that she's got no choice but to seek strength in numbers.
I got Viconia's help in one playthrough. It was because Shadowheart had left my party. I wasn't romancing her or taking her out of camp much at all that playthrough, so I did the Shadowlands without her, including freeing Dame Aylin. When I got back to camp, Shadowheart was pissed. She told me that I had stolen Shar's approval of her and she left the party. When I went to the House of Grief the only option I got when Viconia asked for Shadowheart was to tell her that Shadowheart was dead. Then you have to pass a high DC to convince Viconia not to kill you. She really hates Shadowheart and really wanted to sacrifice her. The only thing is that I found a bug at that point with your companions. They still act like you gave Shadowheart to Viconia even though she left in Act 2, and you never see her again.
That is so interesting!! Kind of reminds me of the choosing to break Wyll's pact but still finding a way to save his dad path. The game almost treats it as if Wyll didn't break his pact with Mizora at times. But that could be a limitation on written and recorded dialogue.
What struck me about that first thank you from Shadowheart is how emotionally damaged she must be because in my eyes freeing her has always been the only good option.
This was a great video!! I've been doing a shadowheart origin run and act 2 while playing as her is so insightful, especially once you get to the gauntlet of shar. It's mad when you learn just how much shar is literally in her head talking to her during that section when you would never know otherwise. You even get to see exactly what happens when you spare nightsong and get trapped in the shadowfell. its so heartbreaking. As someone who has romanced her more than once, I've come to prefer saving her parents as she just seems so happy with the decison and her epilogue living in the cottage with her is just the sweetest, more so when you play as durge. Plus the fact that she takes in a wolf pup as well it really feels like a full circle moment for her.
@@PocketLeavesMy first Durge was a Wizard with a 2 level Cleric dip to be a Selûnite. In her romance there was religious tension at first, then there was murderous tension when my Durge was being possessed in the night and just barely managed to wake her up before blacking out.
My durge is very similar but he's a light cleric of Ilmater. So literally the goodie two shoes god of wanting to spare people from pain vs the goddess of darkness and loss lol
My first playthrough, i missed the last light inn. I missed the entire battleground area too, so we never got to meet isobel. After going to kill dame, it shows a cutscene of the sheild over the last light inn breaking and everyone dying. I knew something was up a while later when i was way underleveled for kenthric. I went back and explored some more, and the big diff was finding isobel and saving her. I think THATS the condition for if you wanna have her kill dame on her own
I also thought that Shadowheart sparing Nightsong is default outcome if you do not interfere, but recently found a video about Nightsong points which decide it. And basically what it comes down to is that you need at least four of them collected throughout the story for Shadowheart to start questioning Shar's doctrine and eventually spare Aylin. But when I knew what these points were I almost broke down. They're just the most basic decent things, like freeing her from the pod or empathizing with her pain. Like this girl who has been brainwashed (quite literally) her entire life needs ONE kind or even remotely decent person in her life to turn back to light. And only if you're playing as a complete bastard and somehow manage to not do even 4 kind deeds through 2 acts does she assures that world is indeed as cruel and dark as she was tought. Gods, I love her so much, she's such a magnificent character, gods favourite princess indeed!
I also realized that, before Shadowheart was captured by the mindflayers, she was actively being hunted by the githyanki after her Sharran team stole the artifact. She was the sole survivor and got snatched while fleeing. Escaping your pod to immediately encounter a gith as other githyanki on dragons are attacking the mindflayer ship in pursuit of you with said stolen artifact on Vlaakith's command - she was extremely wary because she didn't even know if Lae'zel was one of the ones after her. If Lae'zel wasn't, she could still turn Shadowheart over to the others upon finding out what she has in her possession. So, there's that - on top of the githyanki's reputation. It was a late revelation I only became aware of in the past week or so, so it has completely changed my perspective.
Shadowheart, at her core, without any player or Divine influence is a good person. So strongly a good person in fact that it's something that Shar can't erase. I believe Shar has erased Shadowhearts memories many many times, before and after every mission. But Shar can't seem to erase Shadowhearts true nature. Enter the Sharran wound on her hand. No other Sharrans we meet have that wound. It's specific to Shadowheart. To keep her obedient. Notice it only hurts her when she feels happy, does good, or learns information Shar doesn't want her to know. Shadowhearts father is a werewolf. He and her mother were at home, when he caught wind of the Sharran attack he took the wolf form to get there quicker but was too late. I believe that the Blighted Village in act one is actually Shadowhearts home village. There are posters of missing children hanging around, a selunite temple very close (Goblin camp) and in the building you meet the ogres there is a bookshelf with a school registry on it. If you have Shadowheart read the book, she seems to recognize some of the names and then the Sharran wound hurts her. If you want a bit more backstory on Nocturn, give Shadowheart the noblestalk from the underdark. She'll remember her friend and prompt more speech options when you meet up at the cloister. Can we as a collective please stop making shadowheart use firebolt? That's the reason she always misses. She's Wis not int
OH! I didn't know that about the Blighted Village! That's so cool! And also really sad. I have recently seen the back story with Nocturn and Shadowheart though! It's very cool, and I'm excited to get to act 3 on that play through and see how that changes the interaction with Nocturn. ALSO YES! Shadowheart can be really good if we use her correctly in battle!
I dont believe that Shadowheart would defy her goddess over some information that may or may not be true. I think it was the straw the broke the camels back and she had enough of the secrecy and wanted to he good. Of course this is dependant on your playthrough but you know what I mean. SH is good and her inner light outshines the darkness.
I mean Shar is supposed to be the goddess of darkness, loss, nothingness, and no attachments, yet Shadowheart is very nice, kind, grieves and feels guilt over evil things (killing the tieflings), has no problems romancing the player long before the Shadowfell, and so on. Her turning on Shar isn't some plot twist out of nowhere, it's a very obvious conclusion based on the contrast between Shadowheart's professed beliefs and the way she actually acts/feels. Which is called good writing lol
Honestly whats wild to me is hearing that shart killing ker parents is the "good ending". Cause what you said about having too much empathy, i also have that. I let her choose in the cloister and i felt so fucking bad, i had to save scum. I couldnt live with shadowheart having to live with killing her own parents on her mind, and to my mind letting shadowheart kill her parents is truly letting shar have the last laugh, they are the only thing shar has left to take from her. Also for what its worth "living on a farm with a managerie of animals(including an owlbear if you send the cub with her) and the family she thought was dead" didnt exactly scream BAD ENDING WRONG CHOICE during the epilogue.
That's fair. I hadn't played through that ending yet, so I didn't know how that played out in the epilogue. But to me hearing her father practically beg her to let them make this sacrifice for her to be free seemed like the choice the game wanted to be the best choice. I also thought letting Shar keep that hold on Shadowheart through the wound would have ended up impacting her more than it sounds like it did. Which, I'm glad that it still turns out good to save her parents.
@@PocketLeaves to me when I hear her dad say all that stuff my immediate thought was "this man has been held prisoner and continuously tortured for like 30 years, he is not in the mental state to be deciding that" and that's not to mention her mother who had the best years of her life stripped from her, the least I felt I could do was not have what few good years she has left be stripped away just for the potential at a version of peace of mind for shadowheart. Another axis (and one I use more broadly in RPGs) her parents aren't just her parents they are people, they have a whole history and future that would be thrown to the aether. But I'm given to understand that my way of viewing this, that applying that sense of real world moral weight to these decisions in video games is considered not normal, and that it's usually considered a bit of buzz kill, and that I think way too deep on this stuff what with it being a silly d&d game and all. At least that's how it's been expressed to me.
@@beverlyshields2399 I don't think there's anything wrong with that! It's so fascinating to see what morals people carry over into gaming, and how much they treat the characters like real people. I do the same when I form an attachment to a character. I'll admit part of why I felt fine letting Shadowheart make the decision to let them die, was that they're older than Shadowheart, so she'd have more of a future that's impacted. But that's not fair to her parents either. But I wouldn't have even thought about that deeper without people like you!
I always saw Shadowheart sacrificing her parents as the 'bad' ending, or Shar winning. Shar teaches that loss is the answer to pain and suffering. Shar's darkness contains nothing, including suffering. In letting her parents die in order to save herself from the wound in her hand, she is accepting loss in order to avoid pain. If Shadowheart chooses to save her parents she accepts that living a full life means embracing pain, and that some things are worth enduring pain for. In my most recent playthrough she saved her parents and is living very happily with them in the epilogue. The wound is still there, but she's content.
That's fair! I think many people feel that way as well. I prioritized cutting Shar off completely, and her dad does say that's what he wants her to sacrifice them. So that always felt like the choice the game was considering better. But I'm so glad that it seems the game doesn't punish the player or Shadowheart for saving her parents, and that she still gets to get away from Shar pretty much. And that point on the loss of her parents to avoid pain from the wound is such a good point I hadn't considered!
@@PocketLeaves Yeah, it’s such a fantastic game that these options all lead to interesting outcomes! In my first playthrough I let her sacrifice them (although I think she chooses to save them if you unlock the right memories?) and she was still content at the end. I think I personally prefer the happy family idea, but that’s why I love this game so much - you can choose! Great video btw :D
You are definitely correct that a romanced Shadowheart doesn't change how her story is presented in a massive way like Astarion, but I do wish you would have included more of her romance specific moments. I absolutely love her Act 3 romance scene, having her conquer her fear of swimming and then laying together on the beach with a full moon in the sky (Selune watching over them) is incredible! I relate a lot to shadowhearts story but not in all of the religious/cult symbolism. But rather in her willfulness and drive to see the best in life regardless of the terrible things that happened to her. I will say after hundreds of hours of playing and being obsessed with this charcter, i do prefer the ending where you save her parents. Or even better the ending where she chooses to save her parents her self. But I absolutely where someone is coming from if they think breaking the Shar curse is the better option. Wonderful video btw!
Yes!!! I love that!!! It's so casual too, which is amazing! I know we don't get to see much of Nocturne, but she gets to be a character beyond being trans! Which is so fun! BG3 has done such a good job at integrating LGBT representation!
Shadowheart herself is also very trans coded, especially with regards to her finding her own identity, changing her appearance to better reflect her true self, and choosing to go by the name she picked for herself instead of her birthname. She even gets some great dialogue with her father regarding her name back at camp if you save her parents where he's very supportive of her decision and that her happiness matters more to them than what name she goes by, it's very sweet. I'd definitely recommend reading some of the interviews her actress has done because she also talks about how her own experience as a queer woman influenced her performance as shadowheart
This is my first video of yours i found. And im so excited! It looks like you have a lot of BG3 content and i see some Black Butler too! That was my all time fav anime when i was younger! I really appreciated Shadowhearts story. My mom was raised in a cult, and we still talk with that part of the family a lot, so i relate to a lot of characteristics people have when growing up in a cult. Fortunately, my mother made sure i witnessed the behavior from a safe distance, so i dont have a lot of personal trauma from it. But shadowhearts story does a lot of things really well. Also from a narrative standpoint, its REALLY impressive how the writers present the player an objectively "evil" character, but immediately have you sympathize, and relate to them.
Also the part for me that told me im not a fan of her is just a small moment with Astarion as youre running through the forest in Act 1. Shart strikes up a convo with Astarion, he gives a joking and skightly cryptic answer, and she goes 'thats what i get for trying to strike up a conversation'. And im like girl chill, youre cryptic and mysterious af you dont like it back? 😂
38:37 if you play as origin shadowheart you see shar torture her in full display… i almost never get genuinely overstimulated while playing a video game, but that scene was so intense that i almost started sobbing and had to take a break before moving onto ketheric. not to mention that when the returns to the mausoleum entrance shadowheart spawns in KNOCKED PRONE, implying shar caused her so much pain that she fell unconscious and shar essentially TOSSED her out of the shadowfell like a scrap of rotten food. the little details are so incredible yet so heartbreaking😔
If you don’t save shadowheart because you missed knowing she was in the pod and instead headed straight for the helm, she would be at the other side of the beach. Shes at the entrance of the overgrown ruins temple where the beach portal is. I missed helping her out when I started playing and I restarted to just help her
3:00 Now. hold on. 'Making sand castles' with her in act 3 is not only vital to understanding Shadowheart as a character but also offers a much more nuanced interpretation of the cycles of abuse present throughout the narrative of Baldur's Gate 3. In all seriousness, good video essay.
For me the best ending was also the one where Shadow let her parents go. To say Shar has the last laugh here: she has it anyways. Either with shadow feeling guilty or with staying connected and being tortured by Shar. Also what we should not forget is that Shadow tortured her parents herself - as Viconia said and she would feel guilt anyways as well. I don't like the idea of her parents watching her suffer when Shar likes to inflict pain either. Shar stays connected that way and doesnt just torture one person, but at least 3. I am not sure to which extend Shadows mother was "broken" by Shar. No idea if this can be fixed or repaired. Probably not after decades of torture. And to go even further: what are they able to tell Shadow about her past? Wasn't she 5 or 6 when she was abducted? She lived 40 years that are lost and forgotten no matter what. Giving up her parents means you actually respect their wish, getting rid of Shars curse and actually giving freedom to shadow. Sure she mourns the loss of her parents but that is for all children to do at some point. She deserves a future without torture imo. Also if her parents are the little lightballs (moondust or sth?) they could possibly help others in need as well. No matter what you choose, shar is a bitch. I find peace in thinking that shadows parents save lost souls as these little moon-thingys and that she can live a life without torment. Surely her parents would want the same. Hell I hope my daughter would sacrifice me for her future. (hopefully it never comes to that though xD)
the only time she’s sacrificed nightsong in my runs is when i went with the selunite option telling her to spare her. i use the mod that shows approvals and other specific tags, said option had “brokeoath”, so i should have realized it was bad. along with the nightsong points + wolf memory, you cannot force your own belief on her, which i feel is a really nice touch!
As to the shart laezel fight and shadowhearts class vs laezels, not only is she a cleric, she's a SHARRAN cleric. Their entire indoctrination process involves behavior more like rogue assassins than a cleric. Theyre in stealth, disguise, missieraction... it's 100% the sharran thing to do going up against a warrior if you know your life is at risk. You're not going to fight fair, you're going to do whatever you can, right dirty, to win. But it was clear with her pleading with lar'zel to chill out that she didn't WANT to kill larzel, but until she felt assured she's non longer underv threat, she will fight her opponent on her own terms
I love that they gave her time to grieve her old life. In other games, things can be so rushed. One minute they’re a devotee of Shar and then they immediately move on. But I felt so much for Shart when she’s working through the change. She doesn’t want to talk as much and needs time to herself. Those little human moments are what matter to me in a character more so than major plot points and world changing decisions
The artifact jumps to you if you get too close to the goblin camp without her in the active party and will also jump to you if you cross this goblin camp proximity line but don't go to it and the next time you take a long rest without her in the party.
I feel like the romance with Shadowheart says a lot more when playing Durge. They’re both similar but also different depending how Durge acts. it’s quite poetic and they mirrors each other over the conflicts with the organizations they’re affiliated with (Bhaal and Shar). Spoilers in the end but It’s also fitting in the end that if your romancing Shadowheart and playing the Durge storyline, you can actually become free of the darkness and urge to live a normal life, free depending on what you imagine Durge’s been through they gets to smile properly as they’re in peace now. You give up the fighting and trauma to live in a nice cottage and adopt several cute animals (including a squirrel that looks at you funny….). SHE’S SECRETLY A PRINCESS by how she mentions soooo many animals you adopt with her. I genuinely think that while BG3 has multiple storylines and romances, Shadowheart is the companion/love interest for Tav/Durge as unlike other romances (as much as I like Astarion) her story and dynamics perfectly suits Durge as while you help her, she helps you in many ways - suiting perfectly on her being a ride-die partner. Ya’ll are kinda like Frodo and Sam in a way despite that sounding far-fetched at first xd
That is very sweet!! Shadowheart and Durge can definitely relate on bad gods determining their lives, and it also helps that while Bhaal is Durge's father, Shar tries to paint herself as a mother figure for Shadowheart. So it's like they both get the religious trauma and parental issues in regards to that. I didn't know about the cottage ending though! That is so precious!!
I managed to nat 1 trying to save Shadowheart in the nautiloid, on both that save's Tav and Lae'zel. (Lae *is* a second chance for this task, I was super unlucky that run) She was basically like "at least you tried" lmao
Shadowheart's choice on whether or not she kills the Nightsong actually depends on how you talk to her through the game. The game keeps a secret tally of how much you encourage her Sharran tendencies vs. Redeeming her, and she acts accordingly if you don't persuade her. Same with Astarion's ascension, Gale's willingness to let the orb explode, etc.
Currently playing an Oath of Devotion Paladin who served as directed by his oath, faithfully and loyally. He had to break it in order to save the Ironhand Gnomes and has now become an Oathbreaker hellbent on justice and defending the weak. Eirikir and Shadowheart have a great dynamic of choosing new paths in life, and whereas her main theme is Religious Trauma his is PTSD and the unfortunate reality of being a soldier and knight tossed away by those he’s served and nearly died for many times.
She saves her parents on her own if you find her "memories" (marks) in Baldur's Gate. It's the grafitti, the cementery and there was supposed to be a third, but I forgot now.
Abdirak's lesson is exciting once you are used to it. I only wish that Abdirak would turn up in Act 2 to provide more lessons for my companions so that they can get the bonuses too!
@@PocketLeaves Was highly disappointed when all of my naked companions requests to Abdrirak for extra lessons was refused. I don't think I will ever recover from this heartbreak. Neither would my companions I think.
The choice SH makes with Nightsong and her parents on her own actually depends on some conversations or scenery you encounter. If you have the conversation with her about her fear of wolves and then the one about the wound on her hand, you're well on your way to saving Aylin without effort. The ones that make her choose to save her parents are a bit more obscure, so I can understand why most people got her to let them go. There's a video about "nightsong points" somewhere in the depths of YT that explain it in more detail
A side note about saving Shadowhearts parents, there's a way to get her to choose to save her parents without your input, there are a few places in the city that trigger memories, and if you trigger all/most of them, she'll choose to save them on her own. And honestly, I'd argue that's the better choice. The choice of letting her parents die to cure the wound is just one final and petty win for Shar. It's Shadowheart being forced to experience the loss of her parents at the hands of the *Lady of Loss* to avoid the pain of the wound. But choosing to save Shadowhearts parents and dealing with the wound is her truly rejecting her Sharan upbringing by choosing love over loss, in spite of the pain.
That is so beautifully put! I always saw it as the wound giving Shar a way to maintain control over Shadowheart, but the way you worded it, saving her parents and keeping the pain is like the antithesis to Shar's beliefs.
@@PocketLeaves Just saw another thing about a line in game that goes along with what I said above. Earlier on in the game Shart says "You can tolerate a great deal of suffering, as long as it has meaning." Once she saves her parents, she has truely given the suffering of the wound meaning.
As much as we all love Astarion and he certainly has one of the best written of the companion stories, Shadowheart's story in breaking the abuse cycle is one that hits differently and just as impactfully. Shadowheart in all her zealousness is someone that is desperately trying for the approval and love of someone that will never give it to her and enjoys watching her jump through every hoop they set up; a child desperately wanting and needing the love of her parents but is told that she will never be good enough, hence all love is conditional and if she could only just be better they would give her what she needs. Anyone that's wrestled with an abusive caregiver will understand that. Even down to sinister twist of Shadowheart's story where it was all engineered from the start and when she would start to remember or rebel against this treatment her memories would be taken, if that's not a magical metaphor for gaslighting I don't know what it. But just like Shadowheart's abuse was engineered from the start so it is with narcissistic and/or abuse parents/caregivers; people like that don't have children to love and cherish, they have children as a ready made person that will always want their love and attention and in many cases will do anything they want to gain it. It hurts like a Mysterious Sharran Wound when you realize this but Shadowheart's good endings show that the best revenge is a life well lived.
The funny part about Shadowheart is, just as you did, I came into Baldur's Gate 3 and the Forgotten Realms completely blind. I didn't even know that the FR are a thing. So, when she came out as a Sharran, I was like "Ah, neat. Gods actually exist here, so I guess it's fine? She says most consider her evil, but what Shadowheart approves of and says about her don't seem too bad". That was on my first character, and I never finished Act 3 with them, nor did I visit the Cloister of Sombre Embrace to see what Sharrans are actually like. On my second character, and first full playthrough, I got a slight nudge in my head when Shadowheart started talking about her beliefs "Damn, she's just going down the NPC dialogue line that they taught her. This is all just rehearsed lines to convert people." Halsin also agrees with me, if you take Shadowheart and Halsin into the Gauntlet of Shar, he tells Shadowheart that she's saying all those things, but there is zero belief or understanding in them. She's just repeating memorized talking points. So, when you get to her cloister, you learn the actual truth. I spoiled parts of her questline, so I knew of her parents and the choice later, but I was still somewhat surprised just how evil the Sharrans are. These people are in a death cult, a doomsday cult. The perfect darkness they speak of is nonexistance, they don't want the world, or anything to exist. My conclusion later was that, it's not that Sharrans are fine and dandy and misunderstood - it's that Shadowheart was just a terrible Sharran, probably due to how stubborn she is, and Nocturne's help with saving some parts of her memory. And playing as a Paladin of Selune, someone who swore to protect the world from darkness and spread light and joy everywhere, gives the romance a bit of a twist. Instead of you just being a rock for Shadowheart to cling on as her world and faith shatters, you almost function as a spiritual guide to her too. The romance goes from hate kissing in the Grymforge to the two of you later travelling together and battling Sharrans, visiting Selunite monasteries. In both choices (Nightsong and her parents), my character let her choose, even though there were Selunite options to try and convince her. I guess it's mainly because Shadowheart has had her agency taken away for 40 years (yes, she's 50 years old, one of the oldest companions in the group, I think only Jaheira and Minsc are older than her), it would've felt wrong to push her to what I wanted, especially since we were a couple. Also, if you check Shadowheart's tags after the Gauntlet of Shar, you see her switch from a cleric of Shar, to a cleric of Selune. Without a beat, Selune immediately jumped in when Shar abandoned Shadowheart, and granted powers back to her, even though she spoke foul of her and almost killed her daughter, without a single prayer to her. Just gives you a sense of how different the two sisters are, with Shar being one of the pettiest, most spiteful characters I've seen yet, and Selune going balls to the walls and giving a girl who hates her incredibly strong powers without even being asked. Edit: I only later remembered that Halsin exists. Yes, he's probably the oldest, since he's like 350 years old. Edit 2: And Astarion, I somehow forgot him. Okay, just disregard that part of my comment, I'm just saying stupid shit at this point.
I completely missed the last part of Shadowheart’s quest in my first play through and as someone who is firmly in her grasp (I’m working on it) I absolutely cried when I had to watch her sacrifice her parents
47:54 Yeah, it was really bad. I had to bring in every summon I could come up with basically to get enough turn economy. Jinn, 2 water myrmidons, ice memphits, the woodland being, azer Also upcasted aid and used hero's feast to make everyone tankier and then it finally worked oit.
I think it’s so sad that shadowheart is such a genuinely good person at heart and was beaten down and brainwashed/mind wiped every time she started to break away from shar. The fact that all it takes for her to break the cycle and turn to good is to just have someone be nice to her and for the mindflater abduction to get her away from Viconia Long enough to break through the brainwashing. She’s truly a tragic and well written character and seeing her embrace her true self in act 3 after saving Aylin is so satisfying
I never got Shadowheart being tortured by Shar for not sacrificing Nightsong. (Or I could be misremembering or forgetting). But damn… I love Shadowheart. Thanks for another great video!
The part where the merchant is angry at Shadowheart honestly reminds me of those bits you hear about where your religious relative accuses you of being selfish and how those 'selfish actions' have embarrassed them in front of their friends and church members.
i’m playing sharts origin and something i noticed is that in the blighted village she sees evidence of sharrans kidnapping children and even a list of missing kids on one of the gates. i have been doing alot of forgotten realms lore and a lot of people arnt kidnapped by sharrans. people stricken with grief and loss follow shar as a means to answer their pain like kethric thorm-but shar literally doesn’t give a shit about her followers. i read a book i found in the game called “the unclaimed” and it talks about a sharran at the gate of judgement after they die. Shar never comes to claim them and they stay in limbo for the rest of eternity. anyways shar is the diety of what society traditionally thinks of as cults
also in my shart run she will have a good ending and i’ve been keeping the book “unclaimed” in her inventory for some fun roleplay of a sharran that’s in doubt
With the dynamic between the two, I'd be there for a fantacy intersteller budy cop adventure with Shadowheart and Lae'Zel. IMO, by act 2, they at least grudgingly respect each other and in act 3 if one of them gets kidnapped, the other is 100% in support of getting the other back. I kind fo feel liek by end of game, they've gone through parallel enough events that they're 100% on each others side.
Combat-wise, Shadowheart has been my MVP. Her Spiritual Guardians is major clutch! It takes out so many enemies. I always consider her to be a sweet friend. I can understand why she's so easy to romance.
I was playing an evil character, and made it to the cloyster with a white hair shadowheart, and then, just cause i wanted to see what happens, i turned her over. She isnt killed but is wiped of her memory if you.
True, I got put off by Laezel trying to drag me to the bush, Gale trying to talk me to death, Astarion's and Karlach overwhelming approach at first. Shadowheart is easier to accept by comparison. I want to focus on the game, not gaming for everyone's else bedroll.
Love the video. Re her parents, i think letting her make her own decision and being supportive of that decision id the only right thing to do. Theres no right answer and itll be painful for her regardless, but i always feel that its not for the player to tell her what to do when it comes to something so personal. She has been controlled her whole life and deserves the opportunity to decide her own future, even if that decision is truly horrible. I will always pick the 'this is your decision but i will be there for you whichever you choose option'. Seems like what she decides varies based on your relationship, approval and previous decisions.
Four things I want to mention in Shadowheart's story. 1: I read a comment somewhere once suggesting that after sparing Dame Aylin, she didn't dye her hair white. Instead, the pain and grief of what Shar did to her was so great, that it just turned white and she acts like she dyed it to avoid worrying anyone. 2: An idea I've always had concerning her wound is that she could solve the problem by cutting her hand off, and hoping Shar doesn't think to move it to another body part. 3: Noctern is a woman, but if you find the noblestalk muhroom in The Underdark and convince her to eat it to regain some of her memories, I'm 100% certain that she refers to Noctern as a boy. I don't know if this was just a mistake on Larien's part or if she's trans, but my mind go's for the second option. And 4: I hate that Shadowheart is called 'Shart', because I know what a shart is.
You are sooo adorable for doing these videos! Watched the Astarion twice now, and every other one too! Great insights! Keep doing 'em! Everyone. The game has ample material to work on! :D oooh --- Auntie Ethel ?
Dnd has a lot of evil deities but, none compare to Shar. She embodies the darkness that predates creation. Shar's main goal is to restore this darkness. An empty endless void. When Shadowheart becomes a Dark Justiciar. Shar scts like a proud mother. This is chilling. When you actually understand her motivations.
Fun Fact: BG3 classifies Dame Aylin as an aasimar (the descendant of a celestial entity like an angel) but, lorewise, she'd almost certainly be a full-fledged Celestial.
An aasimar can (and will) eventually die, either from old age or by violence, but Aylin cannot. This is how Ketheric was able to become invincible; he was transferring his own wounds to Aylin, who could never be killed. A full-fledged Celestial, especially the higher tier ones, is VERY tough to put down. Some, like Solars (uber-powerful angels that can duel Demon Lords), are almost impossible for a mortal to wound. Dame Aylin seemingly being virtually immune to injury from mortal weapons DOES fit quite well with the descriptions of what it's like to try and fight a high-tier Celesitial.
An aasimar can channel the power of their divine heritage only for a short time. Their wings aren't a permanent thing they can just whip out whenever. Dame Aylin appears to have a limitless supply of divine energy that she can tap into at will. This is very wierd for an aasimar but perfectly on-brand for a full celestial.
An aasimar is a lot more likely to be the descendant of a lesser celestial, such as a Deva (a low-ranking angel). Being the literal child of an actual goddess (let alone one as powerful as Selune) immediately puts her WAY higher in the power hierarchy than even the most powerful aasimar.
Dame Aylin has certain dialogue lines that imply that she has the authority to speak on behalf of Selune (like when she gives Shadowheart the purified Spear of Night). An aasimar cannot normally do this. An aasimar likely has a guardian angel assigned to guide them but they wouldn't be speaking directly to a deity in the same manner, let alone on their behalf. That Aylin DOES have the power to grant minor miracles (such as when she conjured the purified Spear of Night) is strong evidence that she's not an aasimar.
Sorry, I know this late, but it's funny that you mentioned Aylin being a celestial. Someone on tumblr found some data mined content from act 2 that later got scrapped, where Aylin was named dropped as a celestial.
Inspector Valeria is also called an aasimar when she's obviously a celestial.
Honestly Shadowheart's good endings just require that she spares Nightsong and defies Shar. Her more ideal ending imo involves her saving her parents. She leaves the city to settle down and live the nice, quiet life on a farmstead out in the countryside with her parents. It's a very sweet ending for romancing her, especially as a Dark Urge who resisted and won out against their worse nature, and just wants to enjoy their new life with her in peace and quiet, without being solicited by dark gods looking for Chosens
Don't leave out not giving her up to her old mother superior, too, lol. You can definitely make saving the nightsong much much more difficult if You're approval isn't decent because a player refuses to stop being nosy, demand answers you, by all rights, haven't earned the right to demand yet by simply refusing to stop being nosy, demanding answrs and still refusing to respect the boundaries she clear lays out. So ya, those are tge key moments that determine her outcome, but there are a lot of moments slong the way that can make it easier or harder to accomplish
I also think saving her parents is the better choice here. It's basically physical pain (like an old injury) vs actually losing your parents. And that is just a word, Shar can do nothing to her except cause physical pain , which depending on the person might actually be a good motive to work against Shar (ex. become a devoted cleric of Selune and fight against other ppl who might fall victims to Shar's manipulations). Not to mention if Shadowheart does indeed follow the Selune path (which is likely since her parents are now alive) it's definitely easier to break a curse from a goddess, than actually resurrect your dead parents (we all saw how it went for Ketheric :P)
@@valor144 I think Jaheria said it best: "Shar thinks us so fearful of pain that we would empty our lives of all other feeling just to escape it." What better way to make a goddess of loss and sorrow look like a lack-wit than proving that somethings are too important to forget even if it is painful.
@@jodieg6318 Well said my friend
I killed Nightsong but then defied Shar and refused to kill her parents. Got the good ending for Shadowheart. I killed Nightsong because the way it is written she turned from Shar waaaaay too fast.
The reason Shadowheart is openly hostile to Laez’ell is because she was part of a strike team to steal the astral prism and her fellow cloister members were murdered by Gythyanki.
I find it poetic that Laez'ell and Schadowheart are from the story beat so close both Laez'ell and her are indoctrinatetd by cult like structures
But also Githyanki are space Nazis
@@richardbubb6062especially when you know that SH stole the prism from Laez-ell’s creshe
They shoudn't attack in the first place..
@@skyesmith5683
How do you know that. Laezel background barely explained even if you exhaust her dialog and max approval.
I love how all the companions in this game respectfully tackle the turmoil of different types of abusive relationships
I love Shadowheart’s romance arc so much as a dark urge character. It was quite cool having a romance between two women both fighting their way back to the light from pure darkness.
Also Shadowheart is very supportive of those who are different. Nocturne is trans and when Shadowheart realizes she praises her name choice by saying it suits her well
this game is like modern writing in a nutshell.
murder or enslave people= cool
being homophobic or transphobia=whoa fella you crossed a line
both are bad but the game really does turn a blind eye to a lot worst atrocities.
@@Nopeasauruslmao when does the game ever act like slavery isn’t a big deal? 1:10
@@Nopeasaurus
Hahaha XD
@@Nopeasaurus Sir. This a DnD game. There will be fighting. Also you free *multiple people from slavery.* One of the main villains is a god of tirany ffs
Sacrificing Nightsong is very grim, but I love the choice where Shadowheart becomes a Dark Justiciar then leaves the cult with her parents alive in ACT 3. With her parents, her memories, and her freedom she has everything she needs to heal and become a better person, but she has also done more wrongs in Shar's name. It's a classic redeemed villan arc. It blends well with my in progress conflicted resisting Dark Urge playthrough.
DJ Shadowheart can leave the cult even after drinking the koolaid? How do you manage that?
If you turn in Shadowheart in Baldurs Gate even Minthara disaprooves so you know doing that is just pure evil.
Shadowheart can also choose to save her parents depending on how much of the city you explore, also you can get her memories back using the noble stalk
Almost 4 playthroughs in, and I've never once thought to actually follow up on Derryth Bonecloak and the noblestalk lmao
I don’t believe noblestalk exists
@@kingofgrim4761 It does, but there's only 1. It's in the back of the cave where you save Baelen from the bibberbangs. It can reveal some of Shart or Dark Urge's memories
@@blakeritchie9088 oh I was trying to be funny, but damn. That’s the only spot in the game for it?
@@kingofgrim4761I haven’t seen it for myself, but I have heard that if you give the noblestalk to the dwarf lady in the underdark when you reach Baldur’s gate her stock will reset per long rest
Viconia does not want to kill her because she left the cult. She tries to kill her even if she comes back when she chooses to kill Nightsong. If you read Viconia's diary its clear that she is jelous of her. Viconia was serving Shar her whole life, yet Shadowheart got favored constantly. The only difference is that some sharrans will fight on your side when you fight her.
If you play your cards right it's basically the entire Shar coven turns on Viconia. Not all but most
Shadowheart chose to save her parents in my play through and I was honestly surprised but I found out it’s because I found the all things that she remembers in the city. Also thanks for feeding my hyper-fixation with another great video!
Ooh, okay that's really interesting!!
@@TurnersTea I went into the house of grief thinking the same thing and was fully prepared to lose her parents. Not only did I find the things she remembers in the city I also gave her the noblestalk so my interpretation of her reasoning for saving them is that because she had already got a handful of information of her past that she was just too curious about what else she’s missing that she’s unable to let go of her parents and their memories of her.
Maybe this is my own trauma, but i dont see her giving up her parents to shar as the "good ending". Shar is the lady of loss. She wants shadowheart to always feel the loss and the guilt. By killing her parents, shar has won. I feel that keeping the parents fuck up shar's plan because it feels like shar is more interested in mental anguish then physical. The mental anguish of killing her parents is more juicy to shar then the the physical pain shar inflicts if the parents are save. I feel like shadowheart's trauma is the type of situational trauma where you cant severe connection or get revenge towards your abuser(s). In my opinion, shadowheart's story is more about making peace with living trauma (physical pain from shar or the mental anguish from guilt) when closer is never possible. Just feel like keeping the parents alive is not giving in to shar.
That's a totally fair read on this!!!
Shadowheart doesn't really get a "good ending" . If her parents die. She has to live with that guilt. If her parents live. Shar continues to harass her. Since that magic wound thing binds them.
I completely agree. Shadowheart is used to the hand pain, and I always felt that Shar was a fool for thinking that it was worth sacrificing her parents and the happy future with she'd have with them.
Shadowheart to me feels more like a journey of religious reconstruction.
She abandons the people who used their faith as a weapon & finds a LITERAL ANGEL who offers her compassion where she was expecting ridicule.
It resonated with me because I myself am a Christian with religious trauma who has taken the time to reconstruct his faith & I can solidly say I feel closer to God now than I did when I tried to follow the Doctrine & Dogma of those who use their faith as a weapon.
(p.s. using your faith as a weapon is directly against Biblical Scripture)
Honestly, I'm not a christian in the slightest, but folks like you give a good name to your religion. I believe there's nothing that can make one's faith stronger than questioning their beliefs and finding answers, and there's no better way to display that than standing against those who use their beliefs to do harm. Personal enlightenment will always be stronger than blind faith, even a near atheistic agnostic person like me can see that.
There's good and bad examples on every religion. The commandment to not use God's name in vain doesn't mean not to use his name when swearing or cursing but also not to commit evil deeds and sin in his name.
Shadowheart was basically raised in a monastic cloister, so sequestered might be a better word than sheltered. Especially since she was abused by the Sharrans.
Also romancing Shadowheart as a Selûnite Cleric is top tier and I HIGHLY recommend it.
If you dont save her on the nautoloid, she will be at the crypt door, trying to batter it down. The first interaction with her is overall more hostile, doubly so if you didnt even attempt to try to save her. She caves in to following you in the end but you start at an overall lower approval. Which is not necessarily a bad thing, since it makes for some great dialogue. Also Drow get options to both intimidate her(unsuccesfully) and compliment her on her name( which is a good start i think for a romance playthrough)
Ooh, thank you for letting me know!!
I didn't notice her being hostile towards me. I failed a roll and couldn't open the pod she was in and left her behind. I used arcana based rolls to open the pod. Once I failed there was no way to open it.
I missed the room that the rune is to save her was in, so she was relatively nice to me at the door. She said something like "at least you tried to save me". I love the variation this game has with playthroughs
@@DecScapeyeah basically, you just need the rune found on a dead body in the next room to unlock shart, no check needed! (Although it isn’t realistic for the game itself)
@@DecScapeits cuz ya tried. Ya have to tell her no i wont help for her to be upset. She was always upset in early access since they never made it possible to help her back then. Just talk to her. The rune to free her didnt exist.
Shadowheart gives off sheltered pastor’s kid vibes, which is something I relate too. I love helping her break free from Shar because, again, I relate to it. Her story reflects mine, albeit with more magic lol. I doubt it was intended, but I love feeling that recognition. She’ll always be my fave
Thank you for feeding my obsession with my most beloved companion! Yeah, Shadowheart is great, as is her romance, but it doesn't impact her story that much. But to be fair, there are some things about her that you could learn through her romance; for example, you would learn how insecure she is about herself. If there is another love interest for your Tav, she wouldn't believe why you could possibly choose her. I don't know if this is romance-specific, but Dame Aylin says that being a Dark Justiciar would mean that she would never feel love. But I would agree that her story influences her romance more than the other way around.
And well, she doesn't love githyanki that much because she has the Artifact that she stole from them, while all other members of her group (that were sent on this suicidal mission) were killed by Lae'Zel's kin. So there is not only her presumption against githyanki based on their reputation, but also based on the fact that any gith that she would come around can be after her to retrieve the Artifact.
I love the whole segment in Shadowfell. From the descent where Shadowheart prays to Shar. One could think that it's her inner zealot showing herself... but if you chose the option to ask her if she really wants to do so, she would say that there is "no turning back." She is not only praying to Shar but also tries to reassure herself that by following her goddess's teaching, she is doing the right thing. I think you understand that I was romancing Shadowheat on my first playthrough. I was super invested, and let me say this: that was the most stressful hour in the whole game, aside from choice in the House of Grief. And then, to hear "Nighsong" music when I trusted her and she tossed a spear in the chasm...
And I love the cosmic irony of the whole mission that Shadowheart was sent on! Like, if Viconia didn't send her to get the Artifact, then either way she wouldn't become Shar's new Chousen (which is bad for Viconia) or she would discover how much she was robbed by the Lady of Loss (which is bad for both Viconia and Shar). Then, there is Viconia's diary where you can learn how Shadowheart, despite years of brainwashing and whipping her memories, still resisted Shar's teachings.
When the moment came, in the House of Grief, I said that she knew what was the right thing to do. And she saved her parents! I think both of these endings (saving parents or releasing them) are good; they are both bittersweet, where Shadowheart needs to sacrifice something to be happy and heal. But my girl chose to save her parents, so I committed to supporting that decision no matter what.
Also, another thing about Shar!Shadowheart ending: It's probably not a good ending because she is now in the same position as Viconia was. Someone who leads the cloister and "favorite" of her goddes, but should Shar decide to, would be replaced. That's just grim and sad.
Sorry for the wall of text; I can basically talk about Shadowheart all day))
Shadowheart is a great romance companion. She is my go to romance when I am playing a good aligned person. Her whole story is tragic. And when she is put into the position of having to kill her parents or leaving Shar able to torment her using the wound on her hand. It breaks my heart. I literally had to go walk away from the game for a bit. My character encouraged her to let her parents die. After all her father does ask for her to kill them.
Calling Sharrans evil is just the self-righteous and self-serving excuse that Paladins use to go full muderhobos with a clear conscience. But true Selunite chads know that being a Sharran is just sad.
For the most part, what Sharrans need is therapy and hugs.
Oh really??? I don't know a whole lot about Paladins asdfasdf But I guess that makes sense. I'd assume a lot of Sharran followers went through the same breaking down and manipulation that Shadowheart went through under Shar.
few points :
1- githyanki are more like space brits, they do (forced labour) themselves
2- shadowheart was sent on this missions to die, is quite inexperienced
3-technically, viconia is right,shart is keeping the relic that she was sent to retrieve and she is camping with the daughter of the enemy
4- in act three , if shart has dark hair (iykwim) and decides to torture her parents, they mention that shart has tortured them before and ( probably lying to his wife to ease her mind) tells that this is also an illusion .
love the content, durgetash gang out
in my durge playthrough, i have commited many war crimes, betrayed druids, killed isobel, probably became the strongest durge canonically can, but Shadowheart's dark end was the one choice that disgusted me , i felt evil, i was fine with all the rest of the choices in the campaign , but this choice was the one that made me say "damn thats low"
That's fair, I've been having a terrible time choosing to betray the grove because I really like a lot of the tieflings there! And just taking that misery forward, I'm not looking forward to all the choices I'll make in regards to hurting other characters I really like.
Thank you for the further clarification of what githyanki are like!
well the brits really didnt do forced labour themselves either lmao
@JordanJumpin there were 300,000 white slaves taken from London in the 1600s and 1700s alone. Poor Brits have often been slaves or indentured servants throughout history.. so forced labor is in their history
We brits were the first civilisation in history to end "forced labour". Learn your history.
You didnt talk about her living in a cottage with her parents after saving her parents if they're alive. She's SUPER happy there tbh.
Good call on Shadowheart’s choice between her parents and her freedom as a metaphor. I did not catch that, and it is excellent!
I had a friend who left, and eventually went back to, a cult their entire family belonged to. Shadowheart’s treatment by her fellow cultists, from the hostility and abuse to the one friend expressing admiration over Shadowheart’s bravery, rang very true.
I think the best non-academic definition of a cult is a religious group that tries to isolate you from anyone outside of the group. You are not in a cult just because you like to go to church. You might be in a cult if your church friends tell you you cannot have social contact with or trust anyone outside of the cult.
Now I understand why Keldron in BG2 wanted to smite Viconia when he saw her.
Came for your Astarion video and still here cause I love bg3 and enjoy hearing you talk. Feels like listening to a friend chat about my favorite subject while I tidy my house :)
Shadowheart story is so sad holy moly. Brilliant video! Her name for Shar is so sad, like Shar is a shadow upon her heart. The brainwashing, abuse, betrayal and turning her against her own self and family is so damn sad!!! Very interesting character
Honestly, I find it impossible to do evil playthroughs. I always start with that intent, but as soon as I have to kill, or otherwise harm, an innocent person...Im a baby and HAVE to help them instead!
Lol same, the only game I’ve done an “evil” play through of is dragon age origins and that’s only bc most of the evil choices are at least somewhat justifiable
I find it so interesting that even on my full evil dark urge run, i believe shadowheart is going to spare aylin. I havent reached her yet, but i recruited minthara & asked her opinions of all the companions. When i asked about shadowheart, she spoke as if shadowheart had already defied shar. I’m going to let her decide on her own when I reach aylin and see if she spares her like minthara said, which would be surprising considering i’ve been doing an evil run & we aren’t very close in that save.
Not sure if you made it there yet, but the trigger is if she shares the memory about the wolf, aylin will mention her fear of wolves and this piques sharts interest in saving her
@@huckbearbut isn’t that a guarantee? Doesn’t that mean Shart will never kill the nightsong on her own? Only if you fail rolls?
@kingofgrim4761 from my experience if you just let her do her thing right off the bat she ALWAYS kills nightsong. You have to ask her not to do it which(if shart shared her wolf memory) will trigger aylins dialogue where she brings up her fear of wolves and shart spares her to learn more when you trust her then.
“DJ Shart” oh my god girl, you kill me with laughter at some point in almost every video 😂😂😂
your analysis eats every time and i love hearing u speak
Ooh, that's so interesting! I do love how our behavior in game is influencing what the characters choose to do though! That's very cool to me, and I love seeing which characters are more susceptible to your influence.
Shadowheart is basically a lot like Kaneki from Tokyo Ghoul. Both had a traumatic Childhood, both lost their parents at a young age and both have gone through a lot of crap in their respective stories. While Shadowheart starts out as unlikeable, Kaneki starts out as whiny, weak and cowardly. But after a huge change in their lives, both Kaneki and Shadowheart's hair color turns white and gain a lot of character development. Kaneki's relationship with Touka and Shadowheart's relationship with Tav are both signs that despite all that they've been through, they will end up finding love in the end.
Shadowheart's story made me cry like 3 times throughout the game. Such a well written characters
If you don't save Shadowheart at the ship, she'd be awake and trying to get into the door into Jaergal's temple. She'd be really mad and refuses to join at all. You only meet her right before you leave the location because she realises that she's got no choice but to seek strength in numbers.
I got Viconia's help in one playthrough. It was because Shadowheart had left my party. I wasn't romancing her or taking her out of camp much at all that playthrough, so I did the Shadowlands without her, including freeing Dame Aylin. When I got back to camp, Shadowheart was pissed. She told me that I had stolen Shar's approval of her and she left the party. When I went to the House of Grief the only option I got when Viconia asked for Shadowheart was to tell her that Shadowheart was dead. Then you have to pass a high DC to convince Viconia not to kill you. She really hates Shadowheart and really wanted to sacrifice her. The only thing is that I found a bug at that point with your companions. They still act like you gave Shadowheart to Viconia even though she left in Act 2, and you never see her again.
That is so interesting!! Kind of reminds me of the choosing to break Wyll's pact but still finding a way to save his dad path. The game almost treats it as if Wyll didn't break his pact with Mizora at times. But that could be a limitation on written and recorded dialogue.
What struck me about that first thank you from Shadowheart is how emotionally damaged she must be because in my eyes freeing her has always been the only good option.
This was a great video!! I've been doing a shadowheart origin run and act 2 while playing as her is so insightful, especially once you get to the gauntlet of shar. It's mad when you learn just how much shar is literally in her head talking to her during that section when you would never know otherwise. You even get to see exactly what happens when you spare nightsong and get trapped in the shadowfell. its so heartbreaking.
As someone who has romanced her more than once, I've come to prefer saving her parents as she just seems so happy with the decison and her epilogue living in the cottage with her is just the sweetest, more so when you play as durge. Plus the fact that she takes in a wolf pup as well it really feels like a full circle moment for her.
I can't wait for a Minthara deep dive
So my first play through was a light domain cleric of lathander and was romancing shadowheart and it was kinda of poetic
That sounds so nice! I've also seen people make Selune Clerics to romance Shadowheart as well, which adds a fun spin to the narrative.
@@PocketLeavesMy first Durge was a Wizard with a 2 level Cleric dip to be a Selûnite. In her romance there was religious tension at first, then there was murderous tension when my Durge was being possessed in the night and just barely managed to wake her up before blacking out.
My durge is very similar but he's a light cleric of Ilmater. So literally the goodie two shoes god of wanting to spare people from pain vs the goddess of darkness and loss lol
My first playthrough, i missed the last light inn. I missed the entire battleground area too, so we never got to meet isobel. After going to kill dame, it shows a cutscene of the sheild over the last light inn breaking and everyone dying. I knew something was up a while later when i was way underleveled for kenthric. I went back and explored some more, and the big diff was finding isobel and saving her. I think THATS the condition for if you wanna have her kill dame on her own
I also thought that Shadowheart sparing Nightsong is default outcome if you do not interfere, but recently found a video about Nightsong points which decide it. And basically what it comes down to is that you need at least four of them collected throughout the story for Shadowheart to start questioning Shar's doctrine and eventually spare Aylin.
But when I knew what these points were I almost broke down. They're just the most basic decent things, like freeing her from the pod or empathizing with her pain. Like this girl who has been brainwashed (quite literally) her entire life needs ONE kind or even remotely decent person in her life to turn back to light. And only if you're playing as a complete bastard and somehow manage to not do even 4 kind deeds through 2 acts does she assures that world is indeed as cruel and dark as she was tought.
Gods, I love her so much, she's such a magnificent character, gods favourite princess indeed!
Saving her is weird because it feels like the intro you get of her if you don't is more to her character.
“Gale is just…Gale” sums it up perfectly
I also realized that, before Shadowheart was captured by the mindflayers, she was actively being hunted by the githyanki after her Sharran team stole the artifact. She was the sole survivor and got snatched while fleeing. Escaping your pod to immediately encounter a gith as other githyanki on dragons are attacking the mindflayer ship in pursuit of you with said stolen artifact on Vlaakith's command - she was extremely wary because she didn't even know if Lae'zel was one of the ones after her.
If Lae'zel wasn't, she could still turn Shadowheart over to the others upon finding out what she has in her possession.
So, there's that - on top of the githyanki's reputation.
It was a late revelation I only became aware of in the past week or so, so it has completely changed my perspective.
thank you so much for these videos ! much love 💞
Shadowheart, at her core, without any player or Divine influence is a good person. So strongly a good person in fact that it's something that Shar can't erase. I believe Shar has erased Shadowhearts memories many many times, before and after every mission. But Shar can't seem to erase Shadowhearts true nature. Enter the Sharran wound on her hand. No other Sharrans we meet have that wound. It's specific to Shadowheart. To keep her obedient. Notice it only hurts her when she feels happy, does good, or learns information Shar doesn't want her to know.
Shadowhearts father is a werewolf. He and her mother were at home, when he caught wind of the Sharran attack he took the wolf form to get there quicker but was too late.
I believe that the Blighted Village in act one is actually Shadowhearts home village. There are posters of missing children hanging around, a selunite temple very close (Goblin camp) and in the building you meet the ogres there is a bookshelf with a school registry on it. If you have Shadowheart read the book, she seems to recognize some of the names and then the Sharran wound hurts her.
If you want a bit more backstory on Nocturn, give Shadowheart the noblestalk from the underdark. She'll remember her friend and prompt more speech options when you meet up at the cloister.
Can we as a collective please stop making shadowheart use firebolt? That's the reason she always misses. She's Wis not int
OH! I didn't know that about the Blighted Village! That's so cool! And also really sad. I have recently seen the back story with Nocturn and Shadowheart though! It's very cool, and I'm excited to get to act 3 on that play through and see how that changes the interaction with Nocturn.
ALSO YES! Shadowheart can be really good if we use her correctly in battle!
I dont believe that Shadowheart would defy her goddess over some information that may or may not be true. I think it was the straw the broke the camels back and she had enough of the secrecy and wanted to he good. Of course this is dependant on your playthrough but you know what I mean. SH is good and her inner light outshines the darkness.
I mean Shar is supposed to be the goddess of darkness, loss, nothingness, and no attachments, yet Shadowheart is very nice, kind, grieves and feels guilt over evil things (killing the tieflings), has no problems romancing the player long before the Shadowfell, and so on. Her turning on Shar isn't some plot twist out of nowhere, it's a very obvious conclusion based on the contrast between Shadowheart's professed beliefs and the way she actually acts/feels. Which is called good writing lol
The whole Dame Aelyn thing is so funny to me because in my dnd game one of our players was revield to be Shars daughter xd
OMG! Aylin's cousin! That is really fun
Honestly whats wild to me is hearing that shart killing ker parents is the "good ending". Cause what you said about having too much empathy, i also have that. I let her choose in the cloister and i felt so fucking bad, i had to save scum. I couldnt live with shadowheart having to live with killing her own parents on her mind, and to my mind letting shadowheart kill her parents is truly letting shar have the last laugh, they are the only thing shar has left to take from her. Also for what its worth "living on a farm with a managerie of animals(including an owlbear if you send the cub with her) and the family she thought was dead" didnt exactly scream BAD ENDING WRONG CHOICE during the epilogue.
That's fair. I hadn't played through that ending yet, so I didn't know how that played out in the epilogue. But to me hearing her father practically beg her to let them make this sacrifice for her to be free seemed like the choice the game wanted to be the best choice. I also thought letting Shar keep that hold on Shadowheart through the wound would have ended up impacting her more than it sounds like it did. Which, I'm glad that it still turns out good to save her parents.
@@PocketLeaves to me when I hear her dad say all that stuff my immediate thought was "this man has been held prisoner and continuously tortured for like 30 years, he is not in the mental state to be deciding that" and that's not to mention her mother who had the best years of her life stripped from her, the least I felt I could do was not have what few good years she has left be stripped away just for the potential at a version of peace of mind for shadowheart. Another axis (and one I use more broadly in RPGs) her parents aren't just her parents they are people, they have a whole history and future that would be thrown to the aether. But I'm given to understand that my way of viewing this, that applying that sense of real world moral weight to these decisions in video games is considered not normal, and that it's usually considered a bit of buzz kill, and that I think way too deep on this stuff what with it being a silly d&d game and all. At least that's how it's been expressed to me.
@@beverlyshields2399 I don't think there's anything wrong with that! It's so fascinating to see what morals people carry over into gaming, and how much they treat the characters like real people. I do the same when I form an attachment to a character. I'll admit part of why I felt fine letting Shadowheart make the decision to let them die, was that they're older than Shadowheart, so she'd have more of a future that's impacted. But that's not fair to her parents either. But I wouldn't have even thought about that deeper without people like you!
I always saw Shadowheart sacrificing her parents as the 'bad' ending, or Shar winning. Shar teaches that loss is the answer to pain and suffering. Shar's darkness contains nothing, including suffering. In letting her parents die in order to save herself from the wound in her hand, she is accepting loss in order to avoid pain. If Shadowheart chooses to save her parents she accepts that living a full life means embracing pain, and that some things are worth enduring pain for. In my most recent playthrough she saved her parents and is living very happily with them in the epilogue. The wound is still there, but she's content.
That's fair! I think many people feel that way as well. I prioritized cutting Shar off completely, and her dad does say that's what he wants her to sacrifice them. So that always felt like the choice the game was considering better. But I'm so glad that it seems the game doesn't punish the player or Shadowheart for saving her parents, and that she still gets to get away from Shar pretty much. And that point on the loss of her parents to avoid pain from the wound is such a good point I hadn't considered!
@@PocketLeaves Yeah, it’s such a fantastic game that these options all lead to interesting outcomes! In my first playthrough I let her sacrifice them (although I think she chooses to save them if you unlock the right memories?) and she was still content at the end. I think I personally prefer the happy family idea, but that’s why I love this game so much - you can choose! Great video btw :D
You are definitely correct that a romanced Shadowheart doesn't change how her story is presented in a massive way like Astarion, but I do wish you would have included more of her romance specific moments. I absolutely love her Act 3 romance scene, having her conquer her fear of swimming and then laying together on the beach with a full moon in the sky (Selune watching over them) is incredible! I relate a lot to shadowhearts story but not in all of the religious/cult symbolism. But rather in her willfulness and drive to see the best in life regardless of the terrible things that happened to her. I will say after hundreds of hours of playing and being obsessed with this charcter, i do prefer the ending where you save her parents. Or even better the ending where she chooses to save her parents her self. But I absolutely where someone is coming from if they think breaking the Shar curse is the better option. Wonderful video btw!
Btw! Nocturne is canonically trans which I think is just such good representation especially since she’s adorable
Yes!!! I love that!!! It's so casual too, which is amazing! I know we don't get to see much of Nocturne, but she gets to be a character beyond being trans! Which is so fun! BG3 has done such a good job at integrating LGBT representation!
Shadowheart herself is also very trans coded, especially with regards to her finding her own identity, changing her appearance to better reflect her true self, and choosing to go by the name she picked for herself instead of her birthname. She even gets some great dialogue with her father regarding her name back at camp if you save her parents where he's very supportive of her decision and that her happiness matters more to them than what name she goes by, it's very sweet.
I'd definitely recommend reading some of the interviews her actress has done because she also talks about how her own experience as a queer woman influenced her performance as shadowheart
This is my first video of yours i found. And im so excited! It looks like you have a lot of BG3 content and i see some Black Butler too! That was my all time fav anime when i was younger!
I really appreciated Shadowhearts story. My mom was raised in a cult, and we still talk with that part of the family a lot, so i relate to a lot of characteristics people have when growing up in a cult. Fortunately, my mother made sure i witnessed the behavior from a safe distance, so i dont have a lot of personal trauma from it.
But shadowhearts story does a lot of things really well. Also from a narrative standpoint, its REALLY impressive how the writers present the player an objectively "evil" character, but immediately have you sympathize, and relate to them.
Also the part for me that told me im not a fan of her is just a small moment with Astarion as youre running through the forest in Act 1. Shart strikes up a convo with Astarion, he gives a joking and skightly cryptic answer, and she goes 'thats what i get for trying to strike up a conversation'. And im like girl chill, youre cryptic and mysterious af you dont like it back? 😂
She's learning that crypticness hits different when she's on the receiving end adsfasdfasdf
I absolutely adore Shadowheart’s parents and how wholesome they are, even after decades of horrible abuse.
47:00 it's part of exhausting all the options, I've done everything else now it's time to see this happen
That's fair!
My Tav has definitely done his share of unpacking Shadowheart.
38:37 if you play as origin shadowheart you see shar torture her in full display… i almost never get genuinely overstimulated while playing a video game, but that scene was so intense that i almost started sobbing and had to take a break before moving onto ketheric. not to mention that when the returns to the mausoleum entrance shadowheart spawns in KNOCKED PRONE, implying shar caused her so much pain that she fell unconscious and shar essentially TOSSED her out of the shadowfell like a scrap of rotten food. the little details are so incredible yet so heartbreaking😔
If you don’t save shadowheart because you missed knowing she was in the pod and instead headed straight for the helm, she would be at the other side of the beach. Shes at the entrance of the overgrown ruins temple where the beach portal is.
I missed helping her out when I started playing and I restarted to just help her
3:00 Now. hold on. 'Making sand castles' with her in act 3 is not only vital to understanding Shadowheart as a character but also offers a much more nuanced interpretation of the cycles of abuse present throughout the narrative of Baldur's Gate 3.
In all seriousness, good video essay.
For me the best ending was also the one where Shadow let her parents go.
To say Shar has the last laugh here: she has it anyways. Either with shadow feeling guilty or with staying connected and being tortured by Shar.
Also what we should not forget is that Shadow tortured her parents herself - as Viconia said and she would feel guilt anyways as well.
I don't like the idea of her parents watching her suffer when Shar likes to inflict pain either. Shar stays connected that way and doesnt just torture one person, but at least 3.
I am not sure to which extend Shadows mother was "broken" by Shar. No idea if this can be fixed or repaired. Probably not after decades of torture.
And to go even further: what are they able to tell Shadow about her past? Wasn't she 5 or 6 when she was abducted? She lived 40 years that are lost and forgotten no matter what.
Giving up her parents means you actually respect their wish, getting rid of Shars curse and actually giving freedom to shadow. Sure she mourns the loss of her parents but that is for all children to do at some point. She deserves a future without torture imo. Also if her parents are the little lightballs (moondust or sth?) they could possibly help others in need as well.
No matter what you choose, shar is a bitch. I find peace in thinking that shadows parents save lost souls as these little moon-thingys and that she can live a life without torment. Surely her parents would want the same. Hell I hope my daughter would sacrifice me for her future. (hopefully it never comes to that though xD)
the only time she’s sacrificed nightsong in my runs is when i went with the selunite option telling her to spare her. i use the mod that shows approvals and other specific tags, said option had “brokeoath”, so i should have realized it was bad. along with the nightsong points + wolf memory, you cannot force your own belief on her, which i feel is a really nice touch!
As to the shart laezel fight and shadowhearts class vs laezels, not only is she a cleric, she's a SHARRAN cleric. Their entire indoctrination process involves behavior more like rogue assassins than a cleric. Theyre in stealth, disguise, missieraction... it's 100% the sharran thing to do going up against a warrior if you know your life is at risk. You're not going to fight fair, you're going to do whatever you can, right dirty, to win. But it was clear with her pleading with lar'zel to chill out that she didn't WANT to kill larzel, but until she felt assured she's non longer underv threat, she will fight her opponent on her own terms
I love that they gave her time to grieve her old life. In other games, things can be so rushed. One minute they’re a devotee of Shar and then they immediately move on.
But I felt so much for Shart when she’s working through the change. She doesn’t want to talk as much and needs time to herself. Those little human moments are what matter to me in a character more so than major plot points and world changing decisions
The artifact jumps to you if you get too close to the goblin camp without her in the active party and will also jump to you if you cross this goblin camp proximity line but don't go to it and the next time you take a long rest without her in the party.
I feel like the romance with Shadowheart says a lot more when playing Durge. They’re both similar but also different depending how Durge acts. it’s quite poetic and they mirrors each other over the conflicts with the organizations they’re affiliated with (Bhaal and Shar).
Spoilers in the end but It’s also fitting in the end that if your romancing Shadowheart and playing the Durge storyline, you can actually become free of the darkness and urge to live a normal life, free depending on what you imagine Durge’s been through they gets to smile properly as they’re in peace now. You give up the fighting and trauma to live in a nice cottage and adopt several cute animals (including a squirrel that looks at you funny….). SHE’S SECRETLY A PRINCESS by how she mentions soooo many animals you adopt with her.
I genuinely think that while BG3 has multiple storylines and romances, Shadowheart is the companion/love interest for Tav/Durge as unlike other romances (as much as I like Astarion) her story and dynamics perfectly suits Durge as while you help her, she helps you in many ways - suiting perfectly on her being a ride-die partner. Ya’ll are kinda like Frodo and Sam in a way despite that sounding far-fetched at first xd
That is very sweet!! Shadowheart and Durge can definitely relate on bad gods determining their lives, and it also helps that while Bhaal is Durge's father, Shar tries to paint herself as a mother figure for Shadowheart. So it's like they both get the religious trauma and parental issues in regards to that. I didn't know about the cottage ending though! That is so precious!!
@@PocketLeaves I headcanon they were dancing wholesomely after the end like Steve and Peggy in Endgame.
I managed to nat 1 trying to save Shadowheart in the nautiloid, on both that save's Tav and Lae'zel. (Lae *is* a second chance for this task, I was super unlucky that run) She was basically like "at least you tried" lmao
Shadowheart's choice on whether or not she kills the Nightsong actually depends on how you talk to her through the game. The game keeps a secret tally of how much you encourage her Sharran tendencies vs. Redeeming her, and she acts accordingly if you don't persuade her. Same with Astarion's ascension, Gale's willingness to let the orb explode, etc.
I love shadowheart more than i love myself. Your videos are such an inspiration, thank you! 😊
your laugh is everything
Currently playing an Oath of Devotion Paladin who served as directed by his oath, faithfully and loyally. He had to break it in order to save the Ironhand Gnomes and has now become an Oathbreaker hellbent on justice and defending the weak. Eirikir and Shadowheart have a great dynamic of choosing new paths in life, and whereas her main theme is Religious Trauma his is PTSD and the unfortunate reality of being a soldier and knight tossed away by those he’s served and nearly died for many times.
She saves her parents on her own if you find her "memories" (marks) in Baldur's Gate.
It's the grafitti, the cementery and there was supposed to be a third, but I forgot now.
If you don't save her from the pod she is near the door to Withers temple. Where the waypoint for the beach is.
Abdirak's lesson is exciting once you are used to it. I only wish that Abdirak would turn up in Act 2 to provide more lessons for my companions so that they can get the bonuses too!
That would be neat! Especially in multiplayer, because only one person can do the lesson with him.
@@PocketLeaves Was highly disappointed when all of my naked companions requests to Abdrirak for extra lessons was refused. I don't think I will ever recover from this heartbreak. Neither would my companions I think.
The choice SH makes with Nightsong and her parents on her own actually depends on some conversations or scenery you encounter. If you have the conversation with her about her fear of wolves and then the one about the wound on her hand, you're well on your way to saving Aylin without effort. The ones that make her choose to save her parents are a bit more obscure, so I can understand why most people got her to let them go. There's a video about "nightsong points" somewhere in the depths of YT that explain it in more detail
A side note about saving Shadowhearts parents, there's a way to get her to choose to save her parents without your input, there are a few places in the city that trigger memories, and if you trigger all/most of them, she'll choose to save them on her own. And honestly, I'd argue that's the better choice. The choice of letting her parents die to cure the wound is just one final and petty win for Shar. It's Shadowheart being forced to experience the loss of her parents at the hands of the *Lady of Loss* to avoid the pain of the wound. But choosing to save Shadowhearts parents and dealing with the wound is her truly rejecting her Sharan upbringing by choosing love over loss, in spite of the pain.
That is so beautifully put! I always saw it as the wound giving Shar a way to maintain control over Shadowheart, but the way you worded it, saving her parents and keeping the pain is like the antithesis to Shar's beliefs.
@@PocketLeaves Just saw another thing about a line in game that goes along with what I said above. Earlier on in the game Shart says "You can tolerate a great deal of suffering, as long as it has meaning." Once she saves her parents, she has truely given the suffering of the wound meaning.
As much as we all love Astarion and he certainly has one of the best written of the companion stories, Shadowheart's story in breaking the abuse cycle is one that hits differently and just as impactfully. Shadowheart in all her zealousness is someone that is desperately trying for the approval and love of someone that will never give it to her and enjoys watching her jump through every hoop they set up; a child desperately wanting and needing the love of her parents but is told that she will never be good enough, hence all love is conditional and if she could only just be better they would give her what she needs. Anyone that's wrestled with an abusive caregiver will understand that. Even down to sinister twist of Shadowheart's story where it was all engineered from the start and when she would start to remember or rebel against this treatment her memories would be taken, if that's not a magical metaphor for gaslighting I don't know what it. But just like Shadowheart's abuse was engineered from the start so it is with narcissistic and/or abuse parents/caregivers; people like that don't have children to love and cherish, they have children as a ready made person that will always want their love and attention and in many cases will do anything they want to gain it. It hurts like a Mysterious Sharran Wound when you realize this but Shadowheart's good endings show that the best revenge is a life well lived.
Came for the Shadowheart analysis, stayed for the cute giggle.
The funny part about Shadowheart is, just as you did, I came into Baldur's Gate 3 and the Forgotten Realms completely blind. I didn't even know that the FR are a thing. So, when she came out as a Sharran, I was like "Ah, neat. Gods actually exist here, so I guess it's fine? She says most consider her evil, but what Shadowheart approves of and says about her don't seem too bad".
That was on my first character, and I never finished Act 3 with them, nor did I visit the Cloister of Sombre Embrace to see what Sharrans are actually like. On my second character, and first full playthrough, I got a slight nudge in my head when Shadowheart started talking about her beliefs "Damn, she's just going down the NPC dialogue line that they taught her. This is all just rehearsed lines to convert people." Halsin also agrees with me, if you take Shadowheart and Halsin into the Gauntlet of Shar, he tells Shadowheart that she's saying all those things, but there is zero belief or understanding in them. She's just repeating memorized talking points.
So, when you get to her cloister, you learn the actual truth. I spoiled parts of her questline, so I knew of her parents and the choice later, but I was still somewhat surprised just how evil the Sharrans are. These people are in a death cult, a doomsday cult. The perfect darkness they speak of is nonexistance, they don't want the world, or anything to exist. My conclusion later was that, it's not that Sharrans are fine and dandy and misunderstood - it's that Shadowheart was just a terrible Sharran, probably due to how stubborn she is, and Nocturne's help with saving some parts of her memory.
And playing as a Paladin of Selune, someone who swore to protect the world from darkness and spread light and joy everywhere, gives the romance a bit of a twist. Instead of you just being a rock for Shadowheart to cling on as her world and faith shatters, you almost function as a spiritual guide to her too. The romance goes from hate kissing in the Grymforge to the two of you later travelling together and battling Sharrans, visiting Selunite monasteries. In both choices (Nightsong and her parents), my character let her choose, even though there were Selunite options to try and convince her. I guess it's mainly because Shadowheart has had her agency taken away for 40 years (yes, she's 50 years old, one of the oldest companions in the group, I think only Jaheira and Minsc are older than her), it would've felt wrong to push her to what I wanted, especially since we were a couple.
Also, if you check Shadowheart's tags after the Gauntlet of Shar, you see her switch from a cleric of Shar, to a cleric of Selune. Without a beat, Selune immediately jumped in when Shar abandoned Shadowheart, and granted powers back to her, even though she spoke foul of her and almost killed her daughter, without a single prayer to her. Just gives you a sense of how different the two sisters are, with Shar being one of the pettiest, most spiteful characters I've seen yet, and Selune going balls to the walls and giving a girl who hates her incredibly strong powers without even being asked.
Edit: I only later remembered that Halsin exists. Yes, he's probably the oldest, since he's like 350 years old.
Edit 2: And Astarion, I somehow forgot him. Okay, just disregard that part of my comment, I'm just saying stupid shit at this point.
I completely missed the last part of Shadowheart’s quest in my first play through and as someone who is firmly in her grasp (I’m working on it) I absolutely cried when I had to watch her sacrifice her parents
47:54
Yeah, it was really bad. I had to bring in every summon I could come up with basically to get enough turn economy. Jinn, 2 water myrmidons, ice memphits, the woodland being, azer
Also upcasted aid and used hero's feast to make everyone tankier and then it finally worked oit.
btw, in act 3, white shadowheart is a cleric of seluna
like, she gets (cleric of seluna) dialoge options
I think it’s so sad that shadowheart is such a genuinely good person at heart and was beaten down and brainwashed/mind wiped every time she started to break away from shar. The fact that all it takes for her to break the cycle and turn to good is to just have someone be nice to her and for the mindflater abduction to get her away from Viconia Long enough to break through the brainwashing. She’s truly a tragic and well written character and seeing her embrace her true self in act 3 after saving Aylin is so satisfying
I never got Shadowheart being tortured by Shar for not sacrificing Nightsong. (Or I could be misremembering or forgetting). But damn…
I love Shadowheart.
Thanks for another great video!
The part where the merchant is angry at Shadowheart honestly reminds me of those bits you hear about where your religious relative accuses you of being selfish and how those 'selfish actions' have embarrassed them in front of their friends and church members.
I saw your durge gortash vid and it was fun! I am excited for this one.❤
i’m playing sharts origin and something i noticed is that in the blighted village she sees evidence of sharrans kidnapping children and even a list of missing kids on one of the gates. i have been doing alot of forgotten realms lore and a lot of people arnt kidnapped by sharrans. people stricken with grief and loss follow shar as a means to answer their pain like kethric thorm-but shar literally doesn’t give a shit about her followers. i read a book i found in the game called “the unclaimed” and it talks about a sharran at the gate of judgement after they die. Shar never comes to claim them and they stay in limbo for the rest of eternity. anyways shar is the diety of what society traditionally thinks of as cults
also in my shart run she will have a good ending and i’ve been keeping the book “unclaimed” in her inventory for some fun roleplay of a sharran that’s in doubt
With the dynamic between the two, I'd be there for a fantacy intersteller budy cop adventure with Shadowheart and Lae'Zel. IMO, by act 2, they at least grudgingly respect each other and in act 3 if one of them gets kidnapped, the other is 100% in support of getting the other back. I kind fo feel liek by end of game, they've gone through parallel enough events that they're 100% on each others side.
Combat-wise, Shadowheart has been my MVP. Her Spiritual Guardians is major clutch! It takes out so many enemies. I always consider her to be a sweet friend. I can understand why she's so easy to romance.
I was playing an evil character, and made it to the cloyster with a white hair shadowheart, and then, just cause i wanted to see what happens, i turned her over. She isnt killed but is wiped of her memory if you.
True, I got put off by Laezel trying to drag me to the bush, Gale trying to talk me to death, Astarion's and Karlach overwhelming approach at first. Shadowheart is easier to accept by comparison. I want to focus on the game, not gaming for everyone's else bedroll.
I don’t think you loose anything other than an early approval bump if you don’t save her on the Nautaloid
Great Video! Shadowheart is my favorite companion. Goth Princess for the win!
Love the video. Re her parents, i think letting her make her own decision and being supportive of that decision id the only right thing to do. Theres no right answer and itll be painful for her regardless, but i always feel that its not for the player to tell her what to do when it comes to something so personal. She has been controlled her whole life and deserves the opportunity to decide her own future, even if that decision is truly horrible. I will always pick the 'this is your decision but i will be there for you whichever you choose option'. Seems like what she decides varies based on your relationship, approval and previous decisions.
Four things I want to mention in Shadowheart's story.
1: I read a comment somewhere once suggesting that after sparing Dame Aylin, she didn't dye her hair white. Instead, the pain and grief of what Shar did to her was so great, that it just turned white and she acts like she dyed it to avoid worrying anyone.
2: An idea I've always had concerning her wound is that she could solve the problem by cutting her hand off, and hoping Shar doesn't think to move it to another body part.
3: Noctern is a woman, but if you find the noblestalk muhroom in The Underdark and convince her to eat it to regain some of her memories, I'm 100% certain that she refers to Noctern as a boy. I don't know if this was just a mistake on Larien's part or if she's trans, but my mind go's for the second option.
And 4: I hate that Shadowheart is called 'Shart', because I know what a shart is.
You are sooo adorable for doing these videos! Watched the Astarion twice now, and every other one too! Great insights! Keep doing 'em! Everyone. The game has ample material to work on! :D
oooh --- Auntie Ethel ?
I NEED you to delve into Minthara~
I literally rolled a nat 1 on the illithid persuasion to open her pod. I physically could not free her. She thanked me for trying though.
Shadowheart and Durge BOTH give DID system coded. Murky and traumatic histories, two different personalities, fuzzy memories...
If you don’t save her in the pod she is by the door on the beach trying to get inside at lest in the beta
I think that Shadaowheart's romance is the best if you are a selune cleric
Dnd has a lot of evil deities but, none compare to Shar. She embodies the darkness that predates creation. Shar's main goal is to restore this darkness. An empty endless void.
When Shadowheart becomes a Dark Justiciar. Shar scts like a proud mother. This is chilling. When you actually understand her motivations.