"And that's how you defeated Sarevok the first time around?"
Our party was once again in the Temple of Bhaal, in the Undercity down beneath Baldur's Gate. The composition of our party this time around though was rather different.
"In a matter of speaking. The Temple itself looked rather different back in the day however. They must have renovated the place quite a bit in the past hundred years," came Jaheira's familiar voice in response.
Jaheira wasn't as she was back then either. Her hair was now ashen grey, and her face showed clear signs of aging.
Astarion, Shadowheart, Karlach, Gale, Wyll and Lae'zel had gathered around her and Minsc where they were exchanging stories over the campfire. Halsin and Minthara stood to the side, listening in.
The party had defeated Orin earlier, and were trying to make sense of the Bhaalspawn saga. Jaheira and Minsc had experienced it firsthand, after all.
Gale stroked his beard, puzzled. "It's odd though. Wasn't Gorion's Ward supposed to be a guy named Abdel Adrian?"
Jaheira shook her head. "How could someone with the surname Adrian be Gorion's ward? Gorion's surname isn't Adrian," she replied. "Adrian is another Bhaalspawn who agreed to be named as Gorion's Ward on Sonny's behalf. It made things easier for Sonny."
"Easier? What ridiculous Faerun logic is this?" Lae'zel asked, contemptuous. "One does not simply allow others to steal credit for one's kills."
"Sonny always wanted glory and renown, but once he had it he realised he worked best when he was unknown element. Makes infiltration work easier," Jaheira explained.
"Yes, I know that," Astarion said, his eyes narrowed, "But infiltration work is for spies and thieves, not gods! What of his divine lineage? He didn't become a god in the end?"
Gale sat at attention at Astarion's words.
"Aha! If Sonny became a god, who'd give evil a good butt-kicking when it shows its round bottom sticks out!" Minsc said excitedly.
"Yeah! Being a god's totally overrated!" Karlach said in agreement. "Butt-kicking for goodness is better!"
Karlach and Minsc whooped and did a fist bump.
Gale grimaced. "There's a world of difference in what a god can do compared to a mortal. Based on your stories so far, I would have thought Sonny would have understood that much. For one, Bhaal wouldn't have been able to resurrect himself if a new god had arose empowered by Bhaal's essence."
"You are not wrong. Sonny did in fact intend to become a god himself," Jaheira said. She and Minsc shared a glance, grinning at each other. "It's just that he found he would be leaving someone behind if he did so."
Everyone around the camp smiled, some blushed.
"I'm guessing that someone isn't you," Shadowheart said to Jaheira, amused.
"HELL NO."
Minsc looked at Jaheira funny, then looked to Boo the hamster in his hands, and back to Jaheira. "Boo says thy protest too much. Why, he remembers you tried to-"
"NO. Boo is mistaken. Nothing of the sort happened. We were only every friends, the end!"
Minsc looked to Boo again then shrugged. "Okay, if you say so..."
"So who did Sonny leave godhood for?" Shadowheart asked. "Not Viconia, surely. Imoen's actually his sister. Was it Aerie? Or perhaps..."
Shadowheart's voice trailed off.
Jaheira coughed. "I don't think that is for me to say."
"It's not like he's here now. Come on, spill the tea-"
Jaheira sighed. "You really don't know him after adventuring with him this long. He came back from his toilet break long ago and has been listening in for some time now."
There was a chuckle from the shadows, and a familiar raven-haired halfling with a child-like demeanor walked towards the middle of the group. "You really heard me? I must be losing my touch."
Jaheira smiled back. "I didn't. I just wanted to be sure if you were."
Damn. "Touche."
Everyone had a laugh at my expense as I rubbed the back of my head, pouting at getting exposed.
"So what did happen between you and Neera?" Shadowheart asked with a sly smile.
"Ah, I didn't realise she had a thing for me until our run in with Irenicus in Athkatla, Amn. That's came much later," I said.
It took me that long to realise what was going on because I remembered the romance conditions for the game wrongly. All the potential romantic partners in Baldur's Gate 1&2 DO show an interest in halflings. Just not the other short races like dwarves or gnomes. Humans, elves and halflings were all considered attractive by everyone, for some reason I still fail to understand (why devs, why?). So I actually had a bit of a love triangle to juggle, a love square even.
Then my eyes narrowed. "Wait. How'd you know it was Neera?"
"I didn't. Just took a cue from Jaheria and made you say it yourself," Shadowheart said, smug.
What, again? My face contorted in disbelief.
The party laughed at my expense as I blushed in embarrassment.
Wyll leaned forward, his hand raised. "No offense, but how are you even here Sonny? The events of the Bhaalspawn saga happened so long ago. You don't look like you've aged at all. Were you petrified all this time as well?"
I shook my head. "No, nothing like that. I passed on naturally some time ago. But I was brought back, in a sense. My stupid dead-beat father liked having his most capable son under his command, apparently. But he brought me back without my original memories, so I didn't remember my role in the Bhaalspawn saga until now. I just got a lot of my memories back when Withers brought me back the last time."
Bhaal is alive again, not a dead god like in the original Bhaalspawn saga. So a Bhaalspawn like me refusing to heed Bhaal's call results in Bhaal taking his essence back, along with my life. Withers resurrected me though, without the taint, so it's all good.
Also, I had just lied. I got my memories back as soon as I found myself in the Nautiloid at the beginning of the Baldur's Gate 3 story. The damage Orin did to my brain somehow undid Bhaal's work in keeping my memories away, somehow.
Or maybe it was Dallah Thaun's doing. I'm not certain if I'm really her Chosen anymore, or if that is actually a thing. I'm still not sure if she's actually a thing here either, for that matter.
Karlach was grinning ear to ear. "But now that you're here, all our troubles are over! The Champions of the Bhaalspawn saga are with us. Why, mindflayers and cultists is no big deal for you."
I exchanged a look with Jaheira and Minsc. "Mindflayers, cultists, evil gods, rampaging orcs... There's always some trouble in the realms. Faerun will always need new adventurers to come save it from some terrible crisis or another," I said to the newbies. "Don't sell yourselves short. You've all done great up until now. Now, how about we go pay Gortash a visit then kick some mindflayer butt?"
Everyone cheered together, pumped and ready to take on the new day. The Absolute had better watch out, because we were coming for it!
---
For those willing to pick up the sword, Faerun will never be short of thrills and peril. New adventures await!