Shadowheart: Difference between revisions

{{Hatnote|See main article: [[Daughter of Darkness]]}}

''Daughter of Darkness'' is Shadowheart's personal quest. It is added to the journal upon recruiting her and spans all three acts of the game.

The party may encounter [[Voss|Kith'rak Voss]] near the [[Mountain Pass]] who informs them that the githyanki are searching for an object very similar to Shadowheart's artefact. Whatever the outcome of the encounter, [[Lae'zel]] will confront Shadowheart about it later in camp. If left unresolved, Shadowheart will attempt to kill Lae'zel in her sleep next rest, though she can be convinced to desist and put grudges aside.

Shadowheart may also slowly reveal parts of her past. Upon an encounter with wolves, she can be asked about her apparent fear of them, to which depending on player approval, she may show a memory of a young Shadowheart being saved by a wolf attack by Sharrans. Similarly, if given the [[Noblestalk]] from the [[Underdark]], Shadowheart will remember a young tiefling named Rennald who she was friends with during her initiate years. This will add the quest [[A Familiar Face]] to the journal.

Should the party learn about [[Dark Justiciar]]s, they may ask Shadowheart more about them. She will state that they are elite warriors of Shar and that she dreams of becoming one some day. This will add the quest [[The Chosen of Shar]] to the journal.

Having high approval with Shadowheart will at some point reveal that one of her favourite flowers is the [[Night Orchid]]. One such flower can be found in the [[Ruined Battlefield]] in the [[Shadow-Cursed Lands]] and given to her. Shadowheart will express her gratitude and lament not having anything to give in return.

Within the [[Grand Mausoleum]] the party will find the [[Gauntlet of Shar]], ancient proving grounds for Dark Justiciar aspirants. Shadowheart will be excited about the possibility of proving herself to her goddess, and urge the party to complete the trials and allow her to become a Dark Justiciar. Completing the trials will lead the party to the [[Shadowfell]] and the confrontation with the [[Nightsong]]. Shadowheart's fate will diverge greatly depending on the choices made here.

If she's allowed to slay the Nightsong, Shar will be greatly pleased with Shadowheart, and will finally name her Dark Justiciar, granting her powerful rewards. Shadowheart herself will be happy she finally achieved her dream, and will vow to serve Shar faithfully until death. Alternatively, Shadowheart can be convinced to spare the Nightsong, turning on Shar to forge her own future. In doing so, the Nightsong will be freed and Shadowheart will be abandoned by her goddess for good. Finally, choosing to refuse Shadowheart the entry to Shadowfell or surrendering Nightsong to [[Balthazar]] will greatly anger her and could lead to a confrontation. Any of these outcomes complete [[The Chosen of Shar]].

Whether commanded by Shar as a Dark Justiciar, or guided by [[Aylin]], Shadowheart's next destination is the [[Cloister of Sombre Embrace]] in the [[Lower City]] of Baldur's Gate. A Dark Justiciar Shadowheart will be commanded by Shar to cleanse the cloister from corruption, while a Shadowheart who freed Aylin and turned against Shar will be spurred by the hope that she may find her parents alive there.

There, Shadowheart will encounter [[Viconia DeVir]], the cloister's Mother Superior and the person who saw to her training as an initiate. She will demand the mysterious artefact and the surrender of Shadowheart. Once more, Shadowheart's fate can go different ways depending on choices made. The party may agree to surrender Shadowheart to Viconia, losing her as a companion but gaining the Sharrans as allies for the final battle. Hearing Viconia's offer out begins the subquest [[Surrender Shadowheart to Viconia]]. Alternatively, the party can confront Viconia and the Sharrans, resulting in their demise. If surrendered to Viconia, the main quest and the corresponding subquest will be completed.

Exploring the cloister, the party may run into [[Nocturne]], a tiefling who recognises Shadowheart. If Shadowheart recovered some of her memories by eating noblestalk, she will realise that Nocturne is the young tiefling friend from her past, even though she has changed since then. Shadowheart and Nocturne can then reminisce about growing up in the cloister. This encounter completes [[A Familiar Face]].

If Viconia is refused and defeated, the party may enter the Threshold of Loss, Shar's hidden sanctum. There, Shadowheart will come face to face with her parents, long thought dead. Shar's ultimate test for a Dark Justiciar requires her to slay them. In doing so, Shar will bless Shadowheart by wiping her memory and tasking her with rebuilding the cloister. Shar's faithful will be available as an ally for the final battle. If Shadowheart turned from Shar, she will have a difficult choice to make: save her parents but be forever bound to Shar's curse, or sacrifice her parents and sever the curse at last. Whichever the choice made completes [[Daughter of Darkness]].