Available in Early Access since October 2020, Baldur’sGate 3 is a rapidly approaching RPG that marks the coming together of a popular series and one of the most acclaimed RPG studios currently active. With an extensive character creation system and thousands of different endings, Baldur’s Gate 3 continues the effort that BioWare began in 1998. But then the reins changed hands, with Larian Studios, the team behind the acclaimed Divinity: Original Sin series, taking over the reins. Additionally, Baldur’s Gate 3 is set in the world of Dungeons & Dragons, a vast world with enough lore to keep even the most dedicated fans exploring for years.

What I want to say is that there’s a lot going on in Baldur’s Gate 3. But don’t worry. We’ve done all the work and compiled all the major plot points from the series so far so you can get ready to roleplay before its August release. 3 PC release date.

How does the Baldur’s Gate series fit into the D&D universe?

The story of the Baldur’s Gate series, told in a series of five novels called the Avatar series, begins with a remarkable event in a forgotten realm known as the Time of Troubles. This occurred when Ao, the creator god at the time, banished the once vast pantheon of the gods to the mortal realm of Toril (also known as Avail-Toril) as punishment for stealing the Tablets of Fate, which kept the balance between Chaos and Law.

During this time, the gods were given mortal form and became vulnerable for the first time. Cyric, a human who traveled with the protagonists of the Avatar series, murdered the murderous king Baal out of selfish desire to eventually become a god. However, Baal had already prepared for the inconvenience by creating children who could take on his essence and spirit after his death. These children became known as the Baalbrood.

The Time of Mourning finally came to an end, and with it the remaining gods restored their divinity and returned to their realms after the Tablets were restored. However, Baal had practically planned his final reincarnation before his death, and as his children grew, so did his dark essence. This all leads up to the events of the first Baldur’s Gate, where the consequences of Baal’s actions culminate in the Times of Tribulation.

What happened in the first Baldur’s Gate?

Baldur’s Gate takes place several years after the Time of Troubles, with the descendants of Bhaal now scattered across the world. You create your own character and assume his role (though it is important to note that Wizards of the Coast has canonized the Bhaalspawn Abdel Adrian through the official novelization and a tabletop RPG module we will discuss later). You revisit his life in the learned city of Candlekeep, accessible only through information exchange. You are unexpectedly approached by Gorion, a powerful wizard and your character’s adoptive father, who is snatched away in the night after several attempts on his life by would-be assassins. During the holiday, Gorion is mowed down by Sarevok, a mysterious man in armor who later turns out to be a Bhaalspawn as well.

From here, you are joined by your half-sister Imoen, and in true D&D fashion, other characters you can recruit along the way. These include the human ranger Minsc and the half-elven druid Jaheira (a recurring party member from Baldur’s Gate 3). Each character has their own backstory and questline, but the player character is free to choose who to accompany them as long as it doesn’t derail the main plot. However, to understand the story of Baldur’s Gate 2, it is important to know the actual canon group: the rogue Imoen, Jaheira, the half-elven warrior Khalid, the sorcerer Dynahale, and Minsc.

As you travel the Sword Coast, you finally learn that you are one of Bhaal’s descendants, just before solving the iron crisis (iron shortage engineered by Sarevok) that plagues the empire. It is at this point that you learn Sarevok’s intentions to kill other Bhaalspawn to become more powerful. He bases this plan on Aland’s prophecy (which foretold the character’s arrival) and intends to eventually take Baal’s place in the realm of the gods.

In addition to his vile murderous plans, Sarevok has sowed the seeds of war between Baldur’s Gate and the city of Amun – the more blood that is shed because of him, the more likely he is to become a god. After resolving the crisis and returning to Candlekeep with the precious book, you and your party find yourself imprisoned on false charges. However, with the help of one of Candlekeep’s sages (someone you knew as a child earlier in the game), you are transported to the catacombs beneath Baldur’s Gate, where you learn something surprising: – It is Sarevok who has deceived you. You confront him, kill him, and stop the war he was trying to start.

In the Siege of Dragonspear expansion, released alongside Baldur`s Gate: Enhanced Edition in 2016, you take part in the titular raid to the site where Bhaal was murdered by Cyric during the aforementioned Time of Tribulations. The campaign focuses on the side events leading up to the opening of Baldur’s Gate 2: Shadows of Amn, but also takes you to the Nine Hells, home to demons and devils. Based on the appearance of certain creatures in the first few hours of Baldur’s Gate 3, the plot of the expansion may prove significant on August 3. Shortly after the siege ends and this arc concludes, both the player character and the canonized group of Imoen, Jaheira, Khalid, Dinahail, and Minsc are captured, leading directly to the events of Baldur’s Gate 2.

What happened in Baldur’s Gate 2?

At the beginning of Baldur’s Gate 2, you wake up in a mysterious dungeon when your half-sister Imoen frees you from a cage. You find out that you have been captured by a man named John Irenicus, who has imprisoned the other party members (the aforementioned canon characters) and tortured you all. It seems that the worst is in store for you and Imoen, and it would be better to awaken the latent powers that lie dormant within you both. Together with Imoen, Jaheira, Minsc, and the mysterious Yoshimo, they escape to Askatra, a beautiful and vast trading city with several distinct districts. Irenicus, who had been following the group after the outbreak, confronts you just before he gets into a spell fight with Imoen. The two are held captive on an island called Spellhold outside the city. (BioWare really liked trapping characters!) This doesn’t stop Irenicus for long though, and he is able to break free from its bonds. He takes over Spellhold and conducts further experiments on Imoen.

While all this is happening, you seek help from one of two factions to save your sister. One of them is led by Alan Linvale, leader of the Shadow Thieves Guild working directly against Irenicus. The other is led by the vampire Bodie, who later turns out to be John Irenicus’ sister. There’s a lot of sibling drama in Baldur’s Gate 2!

Once you’ve chosen your faction, head to Spellhold. There, things start to get pretty bad. No matter who you choose, Bodhi will become your enemy during your showdown with Irenicus. Irenicus has already succeeded in ripping your sister’s soul from her body and will do the same to you. With your soul in hand, he entrusts your sister’s soul to her. With your true loyalties revealed, Bodhi attacks your group, but not before you transform into the Slayer, an incarnation of Baal and a merciless, murderous monster.

With this newfound power, retreat Irenicus and Bodhi into the Underdark. This location is one of the most iconic in the Forgotten Realms, home to the Drow (or Dark Elves) and creatures called Ilithids, featured in Baldur’s Gate 3. You fight your way to the surface, slay Bodhi, recover Imoen’s soul, and receive a relic that grants you access to the elven city of Surdanethelaar, occupied by Irenicus.

Eventually, your characters defeat Irenicus, but he still has your true soul, so he drags you to the Nine Hells. In a final encounter, you and your party finally defeat Irenicus, recover your soul, and return to the kingdom as heroes.

The (so far) conclusion of the Baldur’s Gate story ends with the expansion Baldur’s Gate 2: Throne of Baal, where you go on a quest to kill the remaining Brothers of Baal, who are waging a war across the empire due to their internal conflict. With the help of a woman named Melisan, you and your group (which may include Imoen, a resurrected Sarevok, Jaheira, and Minsc) defeat the brothers, but discover that Melisan is actually behind the conflict. She turns out to be Amemélisan the Blackheart, a priestess in service to Baal. It seems she is trying to kill you to become the next Murderous Lord.

Defeating them will give you a chance to become the next Murderous Lord in place of your father. However, there are other options, such as giving up divinity and living as a mortal or becoming a benevolent god. Canonically, you choose to walk the realm as a mortal. The Bhalspawn story ends with the TTRPG module “Murder at Baldur’s Gate”, in which either Abdel Adrian (the aforementioned canonical protagonist) or the only known Bhalspawn, Vakan, is transformed into a Hunter. The latter is then defeated by the Flaming Fist, who effectively serves as the guardian of the metropolis and the group you play within the module.

Done! The lore of Baldur’s Gate, and therefore D&D, can sometimes be a bit confusing, but it’s important to remember that Baldur’s Gate is a series that is primarily about secret identities, feuding brothers, and divine prophecies. Minsc and Jaheira return in Baldur’s Gate 3, and you can also befriend, court, and even begin romances with them, along with other new companions. Though the Bhaalspawn won’t be returning to Larian’s RPG, their story has caused some considerable ripples in the series’ lore, some of which we may get to see when Baldur’s Gate 3 launches on PC on August 3rd.