Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn
Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn

Important NPCs & Factions

Understand important NPCs and factions in Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn. Gain their aid and acquire items to progress through Athkatla and beyond.

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Important NPCs & Factions

Navigating the complex world of Amn requires understanding its key players. This section details crucial Non-Player Characters (NPCs) and influential factions, offering actionable strategies to leverage their aid, acquire valuable items, and progress through the main questline and significant side quests.

Key NPCs and Companions

Your journey through Athkatla and beyond will introduce you to a diverse cast of characters, many of whom can join your party. Choosing the right companions can drastically alter your combat effectiveness and unlock unique questlines.

Imoen

  • Location: Initially encountered in Irenicus' Dungeon, then later in Spellhold.
  • Role: Your foster sister and a vital part of the main narrative. She starts as a Thief/Mage.
  • Walkthrough Steps:
    1. Irenicus' Dungeon: She joins automatically at the start. Ensure she survives the initial encounters.
    2. Spellhold Rescue: After she is captured by Irenicus, your primary goal for the first act of the game is to raise 20,000 gold to secure passage to Spellhold. Once there, you will fight through the asylum to free her.
    3. Post-Spellhold: Upon her rescue, she will rejoin your party. Her dual-class potential (Thief to Mage) makes her a powerful spellcaster with utility. Consider equipping her with items that boost her casting, such as the Robe of the Archmagi (found in the Planar Sphere or purchased from Ribald Barterman) or the Amulet of Power (dropped by Bodhi in Chapter 3 or 5).
  • Important Note: Imoen's presence is central to the plot. While you can technically dismiss her, it is not recommended for story progression.

Jaheira

  • Location: Found imprisoned alongside you in Irenicus' Dungeon.
  • Role: A strong Fighter/Druid companion, and a potential love interest for male protagonists.
  • Walkthrough Steps:
    1. Irenicus' Dungeon: She joins automatically.
    2. Harper's Hold: After escaping Irenicus' Dungeon, Jaheira will eventually initiate a personal questline involving the Harpers. This begins with a Harper contact approaching you in the Copper Coronet or the Government District.
    3. Harper Plot Resolution: Follow her quest to Harper's Hold in the Docks District. Be prepared for multiple confrontations with various Harper factions and their enemies. Successfully completing her quest can lead to powerful items and solidify her loyalty.
    4. Romance: If playing a male character, pursuing her romance requires careful dialogue choices and often defending her from accusations or threats.
  • Key Items: She can effectively use scimitars and clubs. Look for items like the Belm +2 (found in the Planar Sphere) or the Club of Detonation +3 (purchased from Bernard in the Copper Coronet).

Yoshimo

  • Location: Joins your party in Irenicus' Dungeon.
  • Role: A Bounty Hunter (Thief kit) who offers excellent trap disarming and lockpicking skills early on.
  • Walkthrough Steps:
    1. Irenicus' Dungeon: Joins automatically. He is invaluable for disarming the numerous traps within the dungeon and picking locks.
    2. Spellhold Betrayal: Yoshimo's loyalty is tested in Spellhold. He will betray your party to Irenicus. You will have to fight him.
    3. Heart of Yoshimo: After defeating him, you can recover his heart. This item can be given to a priest in the Temple District (e.g., the Temple of Helm) for a small reward and to ensure his soul finds peace.
  • Important Note: Yoshimo cannot be kept past Spellhold. His betrayal is a fixed plot point.

Korgan Bloodaxe

  • Location: Found in the Slums District, specifically in the Copper Coronet.
  • Role: A chaotic evil Dwarf Berserker. Excellent tank and damage dealer, but his alignment can clash with good-aligned parties.
  • Walkthrough Steps:
    1. Recruitment: Speak to him in the Copper Coronet. He will ask for your help in retrieving a book from the Crypts beneath the Graveyard District.
    2. "The Book of Kaza": Travel to the Graveyard District and enter the crypts. Navigate the traps and undead to find the Book of Kaza. Return it to Korgan.
    3. Further Quests: Korgan has a follow-up quest involving a lost treasure in the City of Caverns (accessible via the Docks District sewers).
  • Key Items: Korgan excels with axes. Consider equipping him with the Stonefire Axe +3 (found in the Planar Sphere) or the Axe of the Minotaur Lord +4 (purchased from Joluv in the Adventurer's Mart).

Major Factions

Athkatla is a city of intrigue, with several powerful factions vying for control and influence. Aligning with or opposing these groups will shape your reputation, unlock quests, and provide access to unique resources.

Shadow Thieves

  • Headquarters: Shadow Thief Guildhall in the Docks District.
  • Role: The dominant criminal organization in Athkatla. They are initially presented as a means to reach Spellhold.
  • Walkthrough Steps:
    1. Initial Contact: After escaping Irenicus' Dungeon, you'll be directed to Gaelan Bayle in the Slums District. He acts as a liaison to the Shadow Thieves, demanding 20,000 gold pieces for passage to Spellhold.
    2. Fundraising: Complete various side quests (e.g., the Copper Coronet slave trade, Mae'Var's Guild, the Planar Sphere) to accumulate the required gold.
    3. Mae'Var's Guild: The Shadow Thieves will task you with infiltrating Mae'Var's Guild in the Docks District. This involves completing several tasks for Mae'Var, such as stealing the Tome of Umlat from the Temple of Talos and assassinating Rayic Gethras. Ultimately, you will expose Mae'Var's treachery to Renal Bloodscalp, the Shadow Thief leader.
    4. Spellhold Passage: Once the 20,000 gold is paid and Mae'Var's Guild is dealt with, Renal Bloodscalp will arrange your passage to Spellhold.
  • Important Note: Your dealings with the Shadow Thieves are crucial for advancing the main storyline.

Vampires (Bodhi's Guild)

  • Headquarters: Graveyard District sewers and the Lower Tombs.
  • Role: The Shadow Thieves' primary rivals, led by the enigmatic vampire Bodhi.
  • Walkthrough Steps:
    1. Initial Conflict: After dealing with Mae'Var, the Shadow Thieves will ask you to raid Bodhi's lair in the Graveyard District sewers. This is a dangerous dungeon crawl.
    2. Choice of Allegiance: During your first encounter with Bodhi, she will offer you an alternative: betray the Shadow Thieves and join her.
      • Aligning with Shadow Thieves: Continue fighting Bodhi. This path leads to a direct confrontation and eventually her defeat in Chapter 3.
      • Aligning with Bodhi: If you accept her offer, you will be tasked with attacking the Shadow Thief Guildhall. This will turn the Shadow Thieves hostile and change the course of the main quest significantly. This path often involves sacrificing a party member to become a vampire.
    3. Chapter 5 Confrontation: Regardless of your initial choice, you will face Bodhi again in Chapter 5 in the Lower Tombs, where she plays a critical role in Irenicus' plans. Be prepared for a challenging fight against her and numerous vampire minions.
  • Key Items: Bodhi drops the Amulet of Power upon her defeat in Chapter 3 or 5, a powerful item for spellcasters.

Cowled Wizards

  • Headquarters: Government District.
  • Role: The magical authority in Athkatla, responsible for enforcing arcane law and preventing unsanctioned spellcasting.
  • Walkthrough Steps:
    1. Initial Encounter: Early in the game, after your first few hours in Athkatla, a Cowled Wizard will approach you and demand a 500 gold license fee for casting spells within city limits.
    2. Paying the Fee: It is highly recommended to pay this fee. Refusing or being caught casting spells without a license will result in immediate hostility from all Cowled Wizards, making travel through Athkatla extremely difficult.
    3. Unlicensed Casting: If you are caught casting spells without a license, you will be attacked by a squad of Cowled Wizards. These are formidable opponents, often employing dispels and powerful offensive magic. Defeating them will result in a reputation loss.
    4. Planar Sphere Quest: The Cowled Wizards are involved in the Planar Sphere quest. If you choose to clear the sphere for them, you can gain reputation and some gold.
  • Important Note: While they can be an annoyance, cooperating with the Cowled Wizards generally makes your life easier in Athkatla.