Belynne Stelmane

Duke Stelmane
Belynne Stelmane
Stats
Race	Human
Type	Human
Character information
Location	Elfsong Tavern, Lower City (formerly)
Allies	The Emperor (Charmed)

Belynne Stelmane, also known as Duke Stelmane, is a character mentioned in Baldur's Gate 3. She can not be interacted with directly by the player, but appears in a few cutscenes and plays an important role in several areas of the game's story.

Significance

• Served as a member of The Council of Four, until at least 1471 DR
• Affiliated with an organization known as the Knights of the Shield.
• Reported to struggle with health issues, and commonly believed to have suffered a stroke.

Quests

• Investigate the Murders
• Visit the Emperor's Old Hideout

Characters

Several characters in Baldur's Gate 3 describe their past experiences with Belynne Stelmane.

Wyll

During Act 3, it is possible to ask Wyll about his own experiences meeting Belynne Stelmane.

Selecting the option "Did you know Stelmane very well, back in the day?" will yield the following information initially:

“

The first time, I was a boy of seven or eight, at a banquet in the Flaming Fists's honor. One look and I was smitten. Chestnut hair that flowed behind her like willow fronds. She floated from one room to the next as if carried by clouds. The second time, Stelmane was - different. Even with the aid of a cane, each step she took was a struggle. Every word she spoke took great physical effort. 'A stroke victim?' I asked father later. 'No', he said. 'A stroke survivor.'

„

If the player passes an automatic Wisdom (Perception) check after Wyll finishes speaking, another dialogue option appears that is locked behind a Charisma (Persuasion) check. If this check is passed, he offers the following:

“

Something's always gnawed at me. At the banquet, Stelmane didn't seem to look at us, but through us. But that second time, her gaze never left me. It was steel, sharp and unyielding. It could just be my imagination. But I always felt that it was more than a stroke that had changed her. What, though... I couldn't say.

„

The Emperor

Spoiler warning! This section reveals details about the story of Baldur's Gate 3.

The Emperor describes Belynne as its former partner, but if pressed will claim that it used its illithid powers on her to make her its thrall. This eventually caused her to suffer her stroke, and left her partially paralysed.

Locations

• Elfsong Tavern
  • Stelmane's Private Room

Other Content

• Baldur's Mouth 1492 DR Issue 86
• The Stelmane Connection
• Patient Log: Duke Belynne Stelmane
• Shield Steward Interrogation Log

Trivia

• In Baldur's Gate: Descent into Avernus, the segment describing Bellyne Stelmane describes her as having a secret, mental battle against a Mind Flayer. This Mind Flayer is very likely to be The Emperor himself, and as a result, puts his entire "alliance" with Belynne Stelmane into question.
  • If The Emperor truly is the Mind Flayer described in the 5e module, it's very possible they did not have a proper alliance at all, and rather, The Emperor enthralled her for his needs. Whether this was always the case, or if they had a genuine alliance beforehand, isn't fully clear as The Emperor is an unreliable narrator.

Gallery

• 

  Stelmane listening

• 

  Stelmane and her Advisor

Notes

• During Act 3, it is sometimes possible to ask Wyll about his own experiences with meeting Duke Stelmane. Passing an automatic perception check as he finishes speaking will reveal 1 additional conversation option, requiring a DC 15 Persuasion check. If passed, Wyll will go on to describe his observations about Stelmane's behavior after she suffered her stroke.

External Links

• Belynne Stelmane on the Forgotten Realms Wiki