The pivotal moment in the Shadowfell concerning the Nightsong profoundly impacts Shadowheart’s personal quest and your relationship with her in Baldur’s Gate 3. Understanding the consequences of your choices is crucial for players aiming to maximize Shadowheart’s approval or guide her down a specific path. This guide will illuminate the different paths you can take when encountering Dame Aylin, the Nightsong, and how each choice affects Shadowheart.
Upon entering the Shadowfell, you might find Balthazar already present if he survived earlier encounters. He reveals the Nightsong is not an object, but an Aasimar woman, Dame Aylin, held captive by Ketheric Thorm. This revelation sets the stage for a critical decision with significant ramifications for Shadowheart.
Your interactions with the Nightsong offer several branching paths, each influencing Shadowheart’s approval and her destiny:
Option 1: Allowing Balthazar to Capture the Nightsong
If you choose to let Balthazar take Dame Aylin to Moonrise Towers, Shadowheart will approve of this decision, initially. This aligns with Shar’s will, as Shadowheart believes freeing the Nightsong defies her goddess. However, siding with Balthazar has long-term negative consequences for Shadowheart’s personal arc, potentially locking her out of a more fulfilling narrative and impacting her overall character development. While you gain temporary approval, this path ultimately diminishes Shadowheart’s potential and leads to a less rewarding outcome for her storyline.
Option 2: Freeing the Nightsong
The alternative path involves freeing Dame Aylin. This choice immediately presents a further divergence based on Shadowheart’s actions:
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Shadowheart Kills the Nightsong: If Shadowheart is in your party, she has the unique ability to attempt to kill Dame Aylin with the Spear of Night. Succumbing to Shar’s influence and killing the Nightsong will solidify Shadowheart’s path as a Dark Justiciar. This action grants significant approval from Shar and transforms Shadowheart, granting her the Shar’s Spear of Evening. However, this choice comes at the cost of losing a powerful ally in Dame Aylin and steers Shadowheart down a darker path, potentially impacting relationships with other companions who disapprove of such ruthless actions.
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Shadowheart Spares the Nightsong: The more nuanced and arguably more rewarding path is convincing Shadowheart to spare Dame Aylin. This requires a successful persuasion check and demonstrates a significant turning point in Shadowheart’s character arc. Sparing Dame Aylin leads to Shadowheart defying Shar, resulting in Shar abandoning her. While Shadowheart initially faces Shar’s torment and loses her goddess’s favor, freeing Aylin ultimately leads to a more positive character development for Shadowheart. Dame Aylin, grateful for being spared, will grant Shadowheart the Moonlight Glaive as a token of gratitude. This decision, while initially displeasing to Shar, opens up a path of redemption and strengthens Shadowheart’s resolve to forge her own destiny, earning significant approval from companions who value compassion and free will.
Consequences and Long-Term Approval
Choosing to free the Nightsong and persuading Shadowheart to spare her is generally the path that maximizes positive long-term approval with Shadowheart and aligns with a more heroic playthrough. While initially, she experiences Shar’s wrath, this act of defiance is crucial for her personal growth and allows her to break free from Shar’s manipulation. Choosing to kill the Nightsong grants immediate Shar approval and the Dark Justiciar status, but it comes at the cost of Shadowheart’s potential for growth and may lead to disapproval from companions who favor more compassionate choices. Letting Balthazar take the Nightsong provides minimal approval and locks Shadowheart into a less desirable narrative path.
Ultimately, the “best” choice depends on your desired playthrough and your relationship goals with Shadowheart. If you aim for a positive and fulfilling character arc for Shadowheart and high approval, freeing the Nightsong and convincing her to spare Dame Aylin is the recommended path. This decision showcases compassion, fosters Shadowheart’s independence, and sets the stage for a stronger, more well-rounded companion throughout the remainder of Baldur’s Gate 3.
