Early inBaldur’s Gate 3, players will pass through a ruined area referred to as the Blighted Village. The village is currently in a state of disrepair, with caved-in buildings, broken walls, and goblins looting the old homes for everything they’re worth. But remaining signage identifies the village as once having been called Moonhaven, andremaining religious iconography makes it clear this was a place of Selûnite worship.
[Warning: Spoilers for Shadowheart’s story in Baldur’s Gate 3.]
From old jewelry to crumbling statues of the goddess to even the village’s name, it’s clear the moon goddess held power here, but it’s not quite clear at first glance what happened to its inhabitants. Fortunately, there are ways of learning more about the location, especially with the help of a certain party member: Shadowheart. Despite Shadowheart’s hatred of the moon witch,her interactions around the area make it clear she has some hidden connection to this place.
Shadowheart’s Connection To The Blighted Village
A Lost Childhood, Uncovered
Shadowheart’s memories have been taken by Shar as part of her service to the Lady of Loss, but certain things around Moonhaven seem to spark something in her. Interacting with an old book in a schoolhouse or approaching a statue of Selûne behind a mill will cause Shadowheart to feel some sort of connection, which is immediately punished by her current goddess. Shadowheart has a wound on her hand, inflicted by Shar, which players will come to learnhurts her whenever she reaches for parts of her past or lost memories.
Jennifer English On How Baldur’s Gate 3’s Shadowheart Was “Her Dream Job”
Jennifer English discusses playing Shadowheart in Baldur’s Gate 3, her love for the role, and how she found the truth behind her character.
Shadowheart has clearly been here before, andit’s likely that she even grew up here. Players will eventually learn that Shadowheart was found by Shar while out in the woods, participating in a Selûnite tradition where kids venture out alone and return home. Given that Shadowheart was found by the nearby Baldur’s Gate branch of Shar’s followers stationed in theHouse of Grief, and her recognition of parts of Moonhaven, this was likely Shadowheart’s childhood home. A home that was, eventually, encroached upon by Sharrans.
What Happened In Moonhaven?
A Battle Between Light And Dark
Selûne and Shar are natural enemies, and Sharrans will usually try to wipe out Selûnites when they meet. If the Sharran group that kidnapped Shadowheart was able to get close enough to Moonhaven to get her, they would also have been close enough to attack, andit’s probable that the village was destroyed by Sharrans.This also lines up with the Sharran presence in nearby parts of the Underdark, and the Sharran outposts established nearby byKetheric Thorm.
This is not the only theory as to what happened in Moonhaven. It’s possible the town’s destruction had to do with the necromancer known as Ily, who posed as an alchemist in town and wasresearching the Necromancy of Thay. It’s also possible that the tunnel from the Underdark, which connects to the village’s well, would have allowed monsters through to the surface. ButShadowheart’s connection to Moonhaven feels the strongest, and it would thematically make sense if the town’s erasure was part of her loss of identity prior to the events ofBaldur’s Gate 3.
Baldur’s Gate 3
Developed and published by Larian Studios, Baldur’s Gate 3 is an upcoming role-playing game set to release in August of 2023. Players will create a character to embark on a large-scale journey and can do so solo or cooperatively with a friend. Combat is a turn-based style this time around.
