What happens if I let Shadowheart kill Aylin in Baldur's Gate 3?
In Baldur's Gate 3, Shadowheart's personal questline revolves around her devotion to Shar, the goddess of darkness and loss. One of the pivotal moments in her story occurs when she is faced with the decision to kill Aylin, the daughter of Sel├╗ne, Shar's eternal enemy. Allowing Shadowheart to kill Aylin has significant consequences for her character development, your relationship with her, and the overall story. HereÔÇÖs a detailed breakdown of what happens and how to navigate this choice.
To reach the point where Shadowheart can kill Aylin, you must first progress through her personal questline. This involves finding the Nightsong in the Shadow-Cursed Lands, which is tied to the main story. The Nightsong is revealed to be Aylin, an immortal being and a key figure in the conflict between Shar and Sel├╗ne. When you finally confront Aylin in the Shadowfell, Shadowheart is given the choice to either kill her or spare her. This decision is heavily influenced by your previous interactions with Shadowheart and her approval of you.
If you choose to let Shadowheart kill Aylin, she will fully embrace her devotion to Shar. This act solidifies her commitment to the goddess and marks a turning point in her character arc. Shadowheart will undergo a transformation, becoming more ruthless and devoted to Shar's teachings. Her appearance may also change, reflecting her new alignment with darkness. This choice locks her into a path where she fully rejects Sel├╗ne and any possibility of redemption tied to her past.
From a gameplay perspective, allowing Shadowheart to kill Aylin has several implications. First, it affects your relationship with her. If she approves of your decision, her loyalty to you will increase, and she may become more open to romance if youÔÇÖve been building that relationship. However, this choice also means that Shadowheart will lose any connection to her previous life and the potential for a more balanced or redemptive path. This can limit her character development in certain ways, as she becomes more one-dimensional in her devotion to Shar.
In terms of combat and mechanics, ShadowheartÔÇÖs abilities may shift slightly to reflect her new alignment. She may gain access to darker spells or abilities tied to SharÔÇÖs domain, but this is more thematic than a direct gameplay change. Her role as a cleric remains largely the same, though her personality and dialogue will reflect her darker outlook.
One important consideration is the impact this choice has on the story and other companions. AylinÔÇÖs death removes a powerful ally from the game, which could affect later battles and story outcomes. Additionally, other companions may react negatively to ShadowheartÔÇÖs decision, especially those who value life and redemption, such as Wyll or Karlach. This can lead to tension within the party and affect overall group dynamics.
To ensure Shadowheart chooses to kill Aylin, you need to have built up her approval and supported her devotion to Shar throughout the game. This means making choices that align with SharÔÇÖs values, such as embracing darkness, deception, and loss. Avoid encouraging her to question her faith or explore her past, as this could lead her to spare Aylin instead. Dialogue choices that reinforce her loyalty to Shar are key to steering her toward this outcome.
A common mistake is not paying enough attention to ShadowheartÔÇÖs approval rating or making choices that inadvertently push her toward sparing Aylin. If her approval is too low or if youÔÇÖve encouraged her to doubt Shar, she may choose to spare Aylin, leading to a different outcome. To avoid this, consistently support her devotion to Shar and avoid actions that undermine her faith.
Advanced techniques involve using specific dialogue options during key moments in her questline to ensure she remains committed to Shar. For example, during the scene in the Shadowfell, choosing dialogue that emphasizes her duty to Shar and the importance of completing her mission will increase the likelihood of her killing Aylin. Additionally, completing side quests that align with SharÔÇÖs values, such as the Gauntlet of Shar, can further reinforce her commitment.
From a D&D rules perspective, this choice reflects the alignment system and the concept of character development through role-playing. ShadowheartÔÇÖs decision to kill Aylin aligns her more closely with an evil or neutral evil alignment, depending on her motivations. This is a significant shift from her potential to move toward a more neutral or good alignment if she spares Aylin.
In summary, allowing Shadowheart to kill Aylin is a major story decision that shapes her character and your relationship with her. It requires careful attention to her approval and consistent support for her devotion to Shar. While this choice strengthens her loyalty to you and Shar, it also limits her potential for redemption and affects the overall story and party dynamics. By understanding the mechanics and making deliberate choices, you can guide Shadowheart down this dark path and explore the consequences of her actions.
To reach the point where Shadowheart can kill Aylin, you must first progress through her personal questline. This involves finding the Nightsong in the Shadow-Cursed Lands, which is tied to the main story. The Nightsong is revealed to be Aylin, an immortal being and a key figure in the conflict between Shar and Sel├╗ne. When you finally confront Aylin in the Shadowfell, Shadowheart is given the choice to either kill her or spare her. This decision is heavily influenced by your previous interactions with Shadowheart and her approval of you.
If you choose to let Shadowheart kill Aylin, she will fully embrace her devotion to Shar. This act solidifies her commitment to the goddess and marks a turning point in her character arc. Shadowheart will undergo a transformation, becoming more ruthless and devoted to Shar's teachings. Her appearance may also change, reflecting her new alignment with darkness. This choice locks her into a path where she fully rejects Sel├╗ne and any possibility of redemption tied to her past.
From a gameplay perspective, allowing Shadowheart to kill Aylin has several implications. First, it affects your relationship with her. If she approves of your decision, her loyalty to you will increase, and she may become more open to romance if youÔÇÖve been building that relationship. However, this choice also means that Shadowheart will lose any connection to her previous life and the potential for a more balanced or redemptive path. This can limit her character development in certain ways, as she becomes more one-dimensional in her devotion to Shar.
In terms of combat and mechanics, ShadowheartÔÇÖs abilities may shift slightly to reflect her new alignment. She may gain access to darker spells or abilities tied to SharÔÇÖs domain, but this is more thematic than a direct gameplay change. Her role as a cleric remains largely the same, though her personality and dialogue will reflect her darker outlook.
One important consideration is the impact this choice has on the story and other companions. AylinÔÇÖs death removes a powerful ally from the game, which could affect later battles and story outcomes. Additionally, other companions may react negatively to ShadowheartÔÇÖs decision, especially those who value life and redemption, such as Wyll or Karlach. This can lead to tension within the party and affect overall group dynamics.
To ensure Shadowheart chooses to kill Aylin, you need to have built up her approval and supported her devotion to Shar throughout the game. This means making choices that align with SharÔÇÖs values, such as embracing darkness, deception, and loss. Avoid encouraging her to question her faith or explore her past, as this could lead her to spare Aylin instead. Dialogue choices that reinforce her loyalty to Shar are key to steering her toward this outcome.
A common mistake is not paying enough attention to ShadowheartÔÇÖs approval rating or making choices that inadvertently push her toward sparing Aylin. If her approval is too low or if youÔÇÖve encouraged her to doubt Shar, she may choose to spare Aylin, leading to a different outcome. To avoid this, consistently support her devotion to Shar and avoid actions that undermine her faith.
Advanced techniques involve using specific dialogue options during key moments in her questline to ensure she remains committed to Shar. For example, during the scene in the Shadowfell, choosing dialogue that emphasizes her duty to Shar and the importance of completing her mission will increase the likelihood of her killing Aylin. Additionally, completing side quests that align with SharÔÇÖs values, such as the Gauntlet of Shar, can further reinforce her commitment.
From a D&D rules perspective, this choice reflects the alignment system and the concept of character development through role-playing. ShadowheartÔÇÖs decision to kill Aylin aligns her more closely with an evil or neutral evil alignment, depending on her motivations. This is a significant shift from her potential to move toward a more neutral or good alignment if she spares Aylin.
In summary, allowing Shadowheart to kill Aylin is a major story decision that shapes her character and your relationship with her. It requires careful attention to her approval and consistent support for her devotion to Shar. While this choice strengthens her loyalty to you and Shar, it also limits her potential for redemption and affects the overall story and party dynamics. By understanding the mechanics and making deliberate choices, you can guide Shadowheart down this dark path and explore the consequences of her actions.