Shadowheart

Loyal Warrior
Shadowheart
Stats
Level 1
STR 13 (+1) DEX 13 (+1) CON 14 (+2) INT 10 WIS 17 (+3) CHA 8 (-1)
Race	High Half-Elf
Type	Humanoid
HP	10
AC	15
Movement Speed	9m / 30ft
Size	Medium
Weight	75kg / 150lbs
Proficiency Bonus	+2
Initiative	+1
Passive features
Darkvision  Fey Ancestry  Fear of Wolves
Character information
Class	Trickery Domain Cleric
Background	Acolyte
Location	Nautiloid, Ravaged Beach, Emerald Grove
Faction	Sharran
Family	Arnell Hallowleaf (father) Emmeline Hallowleaf (mother)
Allies	Shar
Enemies	Selûne
Additional information
Voice actor	Jennifer English
Models

Overview

Approval

Banter

Romance

Shadowheart is an Origin character and companion with the Acolyte background. She is a half-elf and a cleric specialising in the Trickery domain.

As a loyal servant of Shar, Shadowheart can be cold and calculating, willing to do whatever is necessary to serve the Dark Lady with devotion. She can be first found on the Nautiloid during the prologue where she serves as a temporary companion, and properly recruited at the start of Act 1.

We're in this together, but I'll happily go it alone. My faith will keep me company.

— Shadowheart's strong devotion.

Overview

For a full overview of Shadowheart's starting features, see the articles Cleric, Trickery Domain and Half-elf.

Background

A loyal cleric of Shar, Shadowheart is the sole survivor of a holy mission undertaken on the Mistress of the Night's behest. She alone must deliver a relic of immense power to her coven in Baldur's Gate, while threatened by a strange new magic that is burgeoning from within.

Description

With raven black hair and attire, Shadowheart makes as strong of an impression as her personality. Zealously devoted, independent and headstrong, she prefers pragmatic solutions to issues, decisive action and staying uninvolved in the problems of others. While she initially seems guarded and reserved – hesitant to reveal information about herself – she is in fact amnesiac, with little memory of her own past. Over time, however, she will show more depth, with a sarcastic wit to match Astarion, a fondness for animals and flowers, and an aversion to indiscriminate violence, despite her Sharran background.

Personal quest

Shadowheart's personal quest is Daughter of Darkness, spanning all acts of the game. Throughout it, Shadowheart will uncover fragments of her nebulous past, re-examine her relationship with her goddess Shar and decide her own future: remaining in the dark embrace of the Lady of Loss or free from the past.

Two further subquests are available that tie into her personal quest: The Chosen of Shar, in which Shadowheart's faith will be tested, and A Familiar Face, where parts of her past will come to light.

Recruitment

Shadowheart can be recruited as a temporary companion during the Prologue on the Nautiloid by freeing her from the Mind Flayer pod. She can then become a permanent companion during Act 1.

Prologue

• Shadowheart is first encountered on the Nautiloid during the Prologue, trapped inside a Mind Flayer pod. She can be freed by interacting with the nearby console or using certain class-restricted dialogue options on the pod. If she is freed, she will join the party as a temporary companion. Upon escaping the Nautiloid, she leaves the party.

Act One

• Shadowheart can be found a second time at the Ravaged Beach inside the Wilderness. If she was freed from the pod during the Prologue, she will be unconscious on the ground and wake up when interacted with. If she was not freed, she will instead be found attempting to gain entry to the nearby Dank Crypt. Either way, she can be invited to join the party after speaking with her.
• If Shadowheart is not interacted with at the Ravaged Beach, she will move to the Druid Grove on her own in search of a healer. She can be spoken with there and invited to join the party.
• If the player enters the Goblin Camp without having recruited Shadowheart, she will show up and save the party from the Voice of the Absolute using the Mysterious Artefact. If not recruited, she may be convinced to wait here, or fought to the death.
• If the player ignores the Goblin Camp and walks towards the Mountain Pass, she will similarly appear to save the party members from the Voice, as the party members attempt to cross the bridge into the main area.
• If the player ignores the Goblin Camp and the Mountain Pass, and manages to enter the Underdark, she will appear to save the party from the Voice of the Absolute, as the party members enter the elevator to the Shadow-Cursed Lands.

Approval

See main article: Shadowheart/Approval

Shadowheart likes finding pragmatic and efficient solutions to problems. She appreciates discretion, privacy, and open-mindedness. Shadowheart generally responds well to acts of heroism.

Shadowheart dislikes those that disapprove of her worship or people pressing her for answers or details. She does not like needless cruelty or violence and can respond unfavorably to being too open with untrustworthy or unknown individuals. While she is afraid of wolves, Shadowheart loves animals and will always react favourably to positive interactions with them and negatively to cruelty towards animals. As a devout sharran, she also approves of acts against Selûne and selûnites in general.

History

Early life

Born to parents Arnell and Emmeline Hallowleaf, Jenevelle, as she was named, was raised in a Selûnite household in the forests near Baldur's Gate. Devout followers of the Moonmaiden, they worshiped her in quiet seclusion away from the city, raising young Jenevelle in the ways of Selûne. In time, she would take part of an ancient Selûnite inititation rite: abandoned in the wilds, she would have to rely on her skills and faith to fend for herself, proving herself as a devout believer once she returned.

Yet Shar, Selûne's dark sister, had other plans for the child, and commanded Viconia DeVir and a cadre of Sharrans to kidnap the child. Together, they slayed Jenevelle's parents before her and took young Hallowleaf to Baldur's Gate to a secret cloister of the Dark Lady.

Daughter of Darkness

Quest rewards

• Shar's Spear of Evening — reward for slaying the Nightsong as part of the quest The Chosen of Shar
• Dark Justiciar Half-Plate — reward for slaying the Nightsong as part of the quest The Chosen of Shar

Loot

Killing Shadowheart allows the player to loot her.

Starting equipment

• Camp Supply Sack
• Keychain
• Alchemy Pouch
• Mace
• Studded Shield
• Circlet
• Chain Shirt
• Leather Boots
• Shadowheart's Clothes
• Tasteful Boots
• Scroll of Detect Thoughts
• Potion of Healing x2

Related items

• In Service of the Night

Notes

• According to Larian Studios, until Patch 3, Shadowheart was the most romanced female companion and the second most romanced companion overall.
• At the time of the events of Baldur's Gate 3, Shadowheart is over 40 years old..
• Shadowheart appears to have grown up in Moonhaven, which is featured in the game as Blighted Village.

Achievements

To Bloom in Darkest Night
Gift Shadowheart a night orchid - her favourite flower. Always knew she was a softie.

Gallery

• 

  Shadowheart's appearance pre-release

• 

  Shadowheart's Early Access promotional art

• 

  Shadowheart during Early Access

• 

  Early Access model

External links

• Shadowheart on the Forgotten Realms Wiki
• Shadowheart's free D&D Character sheet pdf on D&D Beyond