Aradin Beno

Aradin is a Human Fighter who appears in Act One. He and his adventuring party are searching for a treasure called The Nightsong.

“

We was running for our lives.

„

— Aradin Beno offers a half-arsed explanation

Overview

Background

Aradin and his adventurers were offered a large sum of money by a wizard in Baldur's Gate to retrieve The Nightsong. Their quest led them to a Goblin Camp with the First Druid Halsin, who accompanied them to learn more about the Illithid. The group's infiltration failed, leaving two of their crewmates - Brian and Liam - missing and assumed dead. Halsin also disappeared during this conflict and is believed to be held captive or killed.

Aradin and his surviving companions, Barth and Remira, flee to the Emerald Grove with goblins in close pursuit.

Involvement

Act One

Aradin is first encountered outside the Emerald Grove begging for entry before the goblins arrive. As the party approach, the goblins kill the gatekeeper Kanon, causing the gate to close and trapping the adventurers outside.

If Aradin survives the battle, he confronts Zevlor in the Emerald Grove and, depending on the interacting party member's dialogue choices and ability checks, his group will remain in the Grove or depart.

If he departs, he can later be found among the bodies of his fallen companions outside the Blighted Village at X: 84 Y: 411. Otherwise, Aradin remains in the Grove. In either location, Aradin informs the party that he is abandoning his quest for the Nightsong, offering the little information he knows for the party to seek the treasure. This initiates  Find the Nightsong.

Act Three

If Aradin survives into Act Three, he can be found arguing with an Animated Armour outside Sorcerous Sundries in the Lower City.

The party can tell him that the Nightsong is at the campsite or if the Nightsong is dead and fails the intimidation roll, it causes Aradin to hire a large mercenary group and confront the party at night at the campsite to kidnap her. His group contains the following characters:

• Baff Elkhorn
• Bearclaw
• Devilish Qora
• Lobo Denysse
• Prayerboy Zoryxx
• Quivers Antinnia
• Thunderstorm Sue

Companion approval

Act One: Emerald Grove

Upon entering the Emerald Grove, Aradin and Zevlor argue about the missing druid Halsin and the pack of goblins that arrived.

If a party member intervenes in their argument, companion approval is only gained or lost on successful checks.

• [PERSUASION] More violence won't bring back those you lost. Stop and think. (DC 15)
• [TIEFLING] He's human - malice comes as naturally as breathing. Just show him you're the better man. (DC N/A)
• [INTIMIDATION] If you want me to take both of you down, I will. Otherwise, knock it off. (DC 10)
• [BARBARIAN] [INTIMIDATION] STOP OR I'LL BASH YOUR SKULLS TOGETHER MYSELF. (DC 5 )
• [HALF-ORC] [INTIMIDATION] Want me to knock you both out? Or would you prefer to skip the broken bones and just calm down? (DC 5)

Any of the above:  +8  +1  +1  +1

• Stand back and watch.  +1
• [STRENGTH] Take a swing at the tiefling. (DC 17)  +1  -1  -1
• [STRENGTH] Aim a blow at the human, trying to knock him flat on his back. (DC 15)  +1  +1  +1

Act Three: Sorcerous Sundries

Telling him you found the Nightsong, and saying any of the following:

• She's immortal. And tough. You can forget about turning her in for a reward.
• [DECEPTION] She's gone - I'm not sure where to. (DC 15) (Note: Only the version of this line that is actually a lie will give approval.)
• [INTIMIDATION] Piss off. (DC 15)
• [GOOD CLERIC] [INTIMIDATION] She is a being of divine origin under my protection - you will go nowhere near her. (DC 15)
• [NEUTRAL CLERIC] [INTIMIDATION] She is a divine being - and I'll cut you down if you go anywhere near her. (DC 15)
• [EVIL CLERIC] [INTIMIDATION] I have greater plans for the Nightsong - go near her and I'll kill you. (DC 15)
• [PERSUASION] To chase the Nightsong is to once more rush into danger - reflect on your past mistakes. (DC 15)

Any of the above:  +1  +1  +1  +1  +1  +1  +1  +1  +1  +1

• She's in my camp. If you want to turn her in, you're going to have to take her down yourself. - Breaks  Oath of Devotion Tenets  -1  -1  -1  -1  -1  -1  -1  -1  -1  -1

• [DECEPTION] Sorry; I didn't find anything. (DC 15)  +1  +1  +1  +1  +1  +1  +1  +1  +1  +1

Act Three: Campsite

If telling Aradin that the Nightsong was at your camp, failing the roll to lie to him about not knowing where she was, or failing the roll to persuade/intimidate him out of pursuing her, then Aradin and his buddies will later attack you at camp, trying to reclaim her. There will be several dialogue options in this case, some of which can earn approval.

• You're going to regret this.
• You're making a mistake, Aradin. Stop this before it's too late.  +1
• I'm going to enjoy ripping your head off. (Note: unavailable to Fighters, Rogues, or Barbarians.)  +1  +1  +1  +1  +1  +1  +1  +1  +1
• [BARBARIAN] You DARE challenge me? I'm going to rip you apart.  +1  +1  +1  +1  +1  +1  +1  +1  +1
• [MONK] Do not let simple coin blind you. This path will lead to regret and senseless death.  +1
• [FIGHTER] You're a competent warrior - but you're nothing compared to me.  +1
• [ROGUE] You managed to track me down? I'd be impressed if I wasn't about to slit your throat.

Combat

Attacks and abilities

 Action Surge

Immediately gain an extra action to use this turn.

 Range: Self

Recharge: Short rest

 Main Hand Attack ()   –  Greatclub

Normal weapon damage Make a melee attack with your equipped weapon.

 Melee: 1.5 m / 5  ft

Notable loot

• Aradin's Key
• Stamped Handbill

Idle banter

If Aradin and Remira survive the goblin attack on the Grove and decide to stay, they can be found chatting over drinks:

• Remira: You shouldn't have brought Liam along. Lad was too young.
  • Aradin: Everyone needs to cut their teeth sometime.
    • Remira: Cut his teeth?! For his sake, I hope he's dead already.

• Remira: What comes next?
  • Aradin: We finish this bottle. Got enough dead to toast, anyway.
    • Remira: Not the worst plan you've had lately.

• Aradin: It could be worse.
  • Remira: ... how?
    • Aradin: Coulda been us they caught.

Speak with Dead

Aradin can be spoken to with  Speak with Dead.

Party member: Who are you?

• Aradin: Aradin... Beno... my group... Beno boys...

Party member: What did you want in life?

• Aradin: Money... enough... to buy... peace...

Party member: Did you have anything of value?

• Aradin: Contract...
  • Party member: What is this contract?
    • Aradin: Lotta... gold... for... Nightsong... got it from... Lorroakan...
      • Party member: Did you fulfill your contract?
        • Aradin: We... failed... goblins... so many... goblins...

Party member: Where are you from?

• Aradin: The Gate... born and bred... adventurer... by legacy...

Related quests

•  Find the Nightsong

Gallery

• 

  Model

Notes

• It was datamined in 2022 that Aradin's full name is Aradin Beno and his mercenary group is called The Beno Boys: "Aradin Beno. Leader of the Beno Boys. Adventurers for hire 'n' all." This can be confirmed by using Speak with Dead on him or one of his crew members if they are killed at the player's camp.
• In the Lower City Graveyard there is a tombstone labeled "Aradin the Elder" with the epitaph "Open the bloody gates!" As this is Aradin Beno's first line of dialogue, it may be inferred that the late "Aradin the Elder" was his father (or some other ancestor of his) and that their family generally has poor luck with this sort of thing.
• Clerics may offer to say a prayer over his men. He responds skeptically, but a devnote on his response claims that "he's not a religious man, but deep down he does want something said over his men".

External links

Aradin Beno on the Forgotten Realms Wiki