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Baldur's Gate III: The Black Hound (working titles included Project Jefferson and FR6) is a cancelled computer game developed by Black Isle Studios. The game would have been the third main game in the Baldur's Gate series.
Development[]
The Black Hound in Maralie's book from Icewind Dale II intro, teasing The Black Hound.
In early 2001, it was said that Black Isle Studios started developing a new game in the Baldur's Gate series, referenced as Project Jefferson or FR6. The game should have used a new 3D engine.
According to the memories of game's lead designer, Josh Sawyer, the development of Baldur's Gate III: The Black Hound lasted for 2,5-3 years.[1]
The development of the game was halted in 2003 due to Interplay Entertainment's loss of rights to create more Dungeons & Dragons games for the PC platform.[2][3]
Game title[]
Though the game used "Baldur's Gate" name in it's title at the period when the game's development was stopped, Josh Sawyer revealed that the game was supposed to be a different story having no relations with the Bhaalspawn saga. The only reason to use this name was the terms of the license Interplay had at that time, which allowed to use the names "Baldur's Gate" and "Icewind Dale" in Interplay's Dungeons & Dragons PC games.[4] John Deiley, a Black Isle Studio designer who took part in the project, also admitted that the game had little to do with the previous Baldur's Gate games.[5]
Lighting[]
The concept art showing the locations' lighting, by Chris Appelhans.
Models[]
Years later, Glenn Price, the Senior 3D Artist at Black Isle Studios, published some human models with outfits with base skin textures created by Vance Kovacs. They were modeled using Lightwave, and textured using a combination of Deep Paint, Corel Painter, and Photoshop. According to Glenn Price, all races used the same geometry and texture maps and the 3D artists used morph targets (blend shapes) to shape the character into the different races. Characters also used a single 512x512 map for the skin, outfits, and all accessories.[7]
Interplay's license problems[]
Sequels[]
Prior to the game's cancellation, there were plans for development of The Black Hound trilogy of games. The choices made by the character in the first game would have played a role in shaping the story of the planned sequels.
Gameplay[]
A screenshot of the north-western part of White Ford location.
A screenshot showing a fight with goblins.
The game's motto would have been: "You cannot kill guilt".
The maximum reachable character level was level 8 (28,000 XP).
The leaked Van Buren Tech Demo had files with snow textures. As they didn't seem to be the part of the developed Fallout game, it could be that file could be previously used for the change of seasons meant to be in The Black Hound. Josh Sawyer also tried to use the seasonal changes in his The Black Hound mod for Neverwinter Nights 2.
Epithets[]
| Epithets | Сonditions |
|---|---|
| Antagonistic Barb | PC provoked people into violence. |
| Blessed Charity | PC refused even richly deserved rewards. |
| Cruel Master/Mistress | PC treated NPCs with cruelty. Could be obtained during interaction with Keldaen.[note 1] |
| Forge of Rage | PC flipped out attacks at the slightest insult. |
| Gentleman/Gentlewoman of Distinction | PC was extremely polite even when horribly insulted. |
| Golden Hand | PC was known to kill for money. |
| Helter Skelter | PC hurt/killed allies with careless attacks. |
| Mercenary[speculation] | No details known. Could be obtained during interaction with Keldaen.[note 2] |
| Porcelain Mask | PC was indifferent to other people's problems. |
| Rapier of Wit | PC cut people down with scalding retorts. |
| Wind of Death | PC killed everything in his path. |
Plot[]
May Farrow art, by Vance Kovacs.
The adventurer-to-be sought refuge from the storm by the fire in an old barn somewhere in Dalelands. The person's rest was interrupted by a black hound entering the barn and approaching the person. Suddenly the dog let out a final cry before breathing its last on the adventurer's lap, struck by two arrows unleashed by raiders bursting into the building. The leader of the gang, May Farrow, alleged that the person was collaborating with the Hound. She and her raiders spent weeks on the trail of the dog planning to get rid of it as the Black Hound was the "essence of May Farrow's guilt" for unleashing a formidable evil. According to May, the accused one had become the new essence of guilt and posed a danger to her. Only the well-timed appearance of Archenriders saved the person from untimely decease.
The Archenriders interrogated the individual and escorted them to the magistrate, who conducted additional questioning. The magistrate instructed the adventurer not to depart from the regions of Archendale, Battledale, Deepingdale, and North Sembia.
The adventurer unraveled the story of a farmer's widow, burdened by immense guilt over her husband's demise. Believing herself responsible for his death, she endeavored to bring him back to life. When she had finally succeeded in it, the widow discovered that her husband had turned into an abomination. For unknown reason, the woman couldn't end his life once more, even though the abomination was initially weak. The story turned out to be about May Farrow and her husband Brien.
Chapter 1: Archendale[]
| Location | Number of maps |
|---|---|
| Archenbridge | 90 Maps |
| Grave Hollow | 5 Maps |
| Tantal Mine | 3 Maps |
| Swordpoint | 10 Maps |
| The Weeping Rock | 4 Maps |
| White Ford | 20 Maps |
| Shepherd's Glen | 5 Maps |
- White Ford
- Shepherds' Glen
Shepherds' Glen was a name for an area planned to be located to the south of White Ford.[8]
- Swordpoint
- Archenbridge
| Quest Name | Information |
|---|---|
| Thayan Defection | |
| Sara's Secret Affection | |
| Ogre Saint Killer | |
| Delvin's Bar Tab | |
| Save Jon Arlan's Job | |
| Drunken Lion Bar Room Brawl | |
| Break Thendarion's Curse | |
| Mirshka's Magic Glasses | |
| Zhents Send Message to People of the Black Blood | |
| Magic Swords for the Archen Riders | |
| Caed Marr's favor | |
| Find Gray Hurth for Feul Zaddekhar | |
| Find Caravan | Related to Guard Caravan |
| Guard Caravan | Related to Find Caravan |
| Stone Crab Traitor | |
| Ending Quest of the Stone Crab Coster | |
| Deal with Lady Tarina | |
| Convince Grandfather Baulaukiir to Step Down | |
| Send Grandfather Baulaukiir to the Afterlife | |
| Help a Baulaukiir Grandchild Win Halvar's Favor | |
| Help Rond Baulaukiir Convert His Family | |
| Convince Rond Baulaukiir to Leave His Home | |
| Ithrymm Quest | |
| Investigate Gem Smuggling | |
| Return the Stolen Gems to their Rightful Owners | |
| Return the Stolen Gems to the Sembians | |
| Reveal that the Silver Ravens Are Behind the Gem Theft | |
| Tantals' Dirty Secret Revealed | |
| Get Rid of the Annoying Poor | |
| Narc on the Nobles to Belan Miller | |
| The Peasants are Revolting | |
| Kill and Grind the Peasants | |
| Glerry's Rider Troubles | |
| Fallen Lathanderite | Alguuna had some problems and she required help. |
| Tell a Story to Harold Baulaukiir | |
| Arrange Work For Harold Baulaukiir | |
| Sir Haiden and the Exorcism | |
| Assassination One | |
| Assassination Two | |
| A Bard for Old Stonebows |
- Archenbridge West
- Archenbridge East/Central
The adventurers party could help Thendarion, the Wizard of the Boot residing in Elgath's Provisions, break his curse and return back to his original body.[9]
- Archenbridge South
- Grave Hollow
- Weeping Rock
- Tantal mine
![Tantal Mine exterior[speculation], concept art by Vance Kovacs.](/wiki/File:Black_Hound_loc17.png "Black Hound loc17.png (412 KB)")
![Tantal Mine[speculation], concept art by Vance Kovacs.](/wiki/File:BGIIITBH_mine.png "BGIIITBH mine.png (437 KB)")
- Aldcrown estate
A person named Aldcrown is mentioned in 4 lines of the Van Buren Tech Demo. Aldcrown could give the adventurer a quest. Little is known about the location. It could have been part of Archenbridge South, White Ford or any other place in Archendale.[speculation]
- Unknown location
In the campaign, you have the opportunity to meet a lot of Sembians, many of them members of the Silver Ravens. At one location, you can come across a group of Silver Ravens involved in a standoff with a group of Red Wizards. Out of personal pride, neither group wants to break the standoff despite the fact they are out in the middle of nowhere. One of the Sembians is this intense dude named Guelfa who is seething with rage over the murder of a comrade by the Thayans. If you ask him why he's so worked up, he goes off on a bit of a rant.[10]
When a man fights a man, he does it with honor, blade to flesh. The Thayans used eldritch storms to kill my cousin and Ricci's schoolmate. They are not men, but whores of the occult and wretches of dishonor. It is well enough that their women also go bald, since they are no better, simply the mud-brown bitches to the red curs of Thay.
They are lower than dirt, and just a shade lighter. Unsightly, hairless worms that dig their insidious tunnels through the soil of every land to which they spread, uninvited. They bring only iniquity and maledictions, leave only weakness. Spineless, untrue, selfish corruptors, one and all. Had I the hand of Hoar as my own for but a moment, I would drown them in the Sea of Fallen Stars where they could not voice the words that undo nations!
Chapter 2: Deepingdale[]
| Location | Number of maps |
|---|---|
| Highmoon | 40 Maps |
| Hunter's Down | 5 Maps |
| Kindling Mills | 10 Maps |
| The Enchanted Garden | 15 Maps |
| The Darkwatch | 6 Maps |
| Glaem-Azzaren | 10 Maps |
- Highmoon
A visit to Highmoon offered several questlines, including the investigation of strange animals lurking in the Enchanted Garden.
- Leaves of Learning
At the Leaves of Learning the adventurer could meet Maralie Fiddlebender. The location was planned to be used for the "Black Hound" game since the development of Icewind Dale 2 and it's exterior was shown in the intro video, as a place, where Maralie wrote her book.
As the game had a concept art of an illithid, it could be assumed that it was planned to introduce an illithid threat line which could be somehow connected to the city of Oryndoll[speculation], as the city's inhabitants were considered a major threat to the Leaves of Learning library in Highmoon during the mid-to-late 14th century DR.[11]
- Enchanted Garden
| Quest Name | Information |
|---|---|
| Recover Comrades for Company of the Fell… | |
| Investigate the Abnormal Animals | |
| Make Nal-Alin Cease Experimentation | At some point of the quest there was a conflict between Nal-Alin Hessan and Highmoon. |
| Gather Rare Plants for Miltipo | |
| Relocate Red Wizards of Thay |
Enchanted Garden was a two-storey manor surrounded by a hedge maze. A half-elven wizard Nal-Alin Hessan (CN hem Wiz 16) was conducting his experiments there. It caused problems for Highmoon, and the adventurers party could help the city make Nal-Alin cease experimentation.
Two constructs, the Mortician (N construct) and the Groundskeeper (N construct), were spotted at the Enchanted Gardens' territory.[9]
- Darkwatch
The Darkwatch was supposed to be one of the places of interest. May Farrow used the forest as a hiding place, as little to no one wanted to enter its dangerous alleys, including the elves of Deepingdale.[12]
Chapter 3: Battledale[]
| Location | Number of maps |
|---|---|
| Essembra | 30 Maps |
| Hap | 20 Maps |
| The Tower of Dracandros | 8 Maps |
| The Ghost Holds | 15 Maps |
| The Abbey of the Sword | 10 Maps |
| Briarbosk | 5 Maps |
Chapter 4: Tasseldale[]
| Location | Number of maps |
|---|---|
| Moontassel | 20 Maps |
| Endrain Academy Ruins | 10 Maps |
| Glaun | 15 Maps |
| Glaun Bog | 5 Maps |
| Blackfeather Bridge | 10 Maps |
![Glaun Bog[speculation], concept art by Vance Kovacs.](/wiki/File:Black_Hound_loc2.png "Black Hound loc2.png (441 KB)")
![Glaun Bog[speculation], concept art by Vance Kovacs.](/wiki/File:Black_Hound_loc9.png "Black Hound loc9.png (399 KB)")
Chapter 5: Tangled Vale[]
| Location | Number of maps |
|---|---|
| The Dark Road | 1 Map |
| The Vale of Lost Voices | 10 Maps |
| Venominhandar's Lair | 5 Maps |
| Opus | 5 Maps |
| The Cathedral of Celestial Mourning | 2 Maps |
Among the Chapter 5 locations mentioned in the leaked files were Opus and the Cathedral of Celestial Mourning. As the ancient Netherese enclave of Opus was located in the Gates of the Moon, it is possible that the adventurers party had to perform or prevent the Ritual of the Waxing. The ritual would open a portal to the Gates of the Moon letting the enclave return to Faerûn.[13][speculation]
Characters[]
- May Farrow: CN a human female cleric.
- Salea of Elventree: a seasonal merchant who appeared in White Ford Market Square from time to time.[8]
- Caed Marr: a reasonable young human male enchanter and the official leader of the Red Wizards of Thay from the The Whiteturrets enclave.
((Thay, progressive) - LN hm Enc6/Red2)
- Feul Zaddekhar (also Zaddechar): an older traditional human male Thayan invoker regularly opposing Caed Marr.
((Thay, traditional) - CE hm Evo6/Red5)
- Guelfa
Quests[]
| Quest Name | Information |
|---|---|
| Find Youth Potions for Occadian | |
| Free Elisa | |
| Alliandra kidnapped | Alliandra could be found in the mines |
| Vale Quest | Get hero's bones from the Vale of Lost Voices. |
| Aldcrown Quest | |
| Deln Quest | |
| Grayan Quest | |
| Headboard Quest | |
| Hella Quest | |
| Marga Quest | |
| Termite Quest | |
| Ailara Quest | |
| Cure N Quest | |
| Memory Quest | |
| Think Loud Quest | |
| Mark Dragon Parts Quest | |
| Delana Quest | |
| Ranger Mine Quest | |
| Set Keldaen free | |
| Dragon Parts | PC been to Glaun Bog before Grave Hollow for hero's bones |
Index[]
- Only the content having links has appeared in the Forgotten Realms setting.
- Some of the content might be referenced only, but there's no way to find it out.
- The information about player companions was contradictory. The only affirmed character was Maralie Fiddlebender from Icewind Dale II. Some sources mentioned Iselore (Icewind Dale II) as a cameo while others as a companion.
Characters[]
- Companions
- Chiloptec • Edward Raith • Ferran Pilot (Ferran Martinez)[speculation] • Indrakshi • Iselore • Maralie Fiddlebender • Pieter Alleman • Shikah Lilah
- Other Characters
- Adan Baulaukiir • Adreva • Aerika • Ailara • Aldcrown • Alden • Aldo Dreshen • Alender • Alguuna • Alliandra • Angus • Ark • Arlin • Arzira Anskuld • Aurion • Azar Uuthrakt • Baiar • Baresh Zavarri • Bastine • Belan Miller • Ben Smallfield • Berder Kallim • Beritar Drasden • Beryon Tantal • Bess Ithrymm • Beth • Betta • The Black Hound • Bresha • Brien • Buckmin • Caed Marr • Caral • Carry Osler • Cooper • Coud • Dane Art • Daphine • Dargas Dal • Darinia Ithrymm • David Evenwood • Delana • Deln • Delve • Delvin Hammerfell • Devath • Dinjail • Dorn • Dracandros • Draness • Durham • Edgar • Eduard • Eirek • Eldrin • Elgath • Elisa • Enetta • Erias • Evans • Falat • Farro • Feebol Wender • Felix Talonel • Felsharp • Ferran Martinez • Feul Zaddechar • Gaven • Gerdon Knight • Glen Baulaukiir • Glerry Moor • Gondan • Gorron • Graham • Grathus • Grayan Hearth (Gray Hurth) • Greg • Griffith • the Groundskeeper • Guelfa • Guzz • Gwen • Halvar Baulaukiir • Harold Baulaukiir • Harrid • Haz • Hella • Helm • Hesla Yazir • Ilaun • Iluna • Invae • Iracus • Izadhar • Jalia Mossgreen • Jessica • Jolin • Jon Arlan • Kaldek • Kasey • Keldaen • Kerrick • Kharm Gerahn • Kiri Baulaukiir • Lady Tarina • Lallara Nuln • Lauren Ithrymm • llbran Ralanphar • Lorisel • Lutz • Madsa Clover • Marga • Mark • Mary • May Farrow • Melisa Arlan • Midri-an • Miltipo • the Mortician • Mugoolu • Murret • Murrick • Nagalat Sekh • Nal-Alin Hessan • Naoli Dresk • Nate Baulaukiir • Neg Slater • Nephos Khal • Niamh • Occadian • Otto • Padron Miller • Peak • Penman • Phapay Thrakt • Phen Thurn • Pirith Baulaukiir • Polenia • Porgatt • Pych • Raglahd • Rassauva • Regio • Ricci • Roal • Rond Baulaukiir • Rowen • Rumshi • Salea • Sara • Selain • Sharron • Shikha • Shirrye • Shopehk Nul • Sir Dylan • Sir Haiden • Sirrat • Sopsek Zan • Sorvat Flass • Stellaga Brightstar • Sven • Symon • Tahood • Talera • Tanin Peninwale • Targin Ithrymm • Tedelhan • Thade Merchant • Thag Drasden • Thaliach Mindogar • Thendarion • Theresa Whitecrown • Tilver Taleteller • Tom • Tosstra • Trespik • Umlar Tark • Urlan Boyer • Valas Trull • Venominhandar • Vince • Violet Ithrymm • Vold Baulaukiir • Willem Breeves • Zauk
![A druid (possibly Iselore[speculation]), concept art by Vance Kovacs.](/wiki/File:Black_Hound_char1.png "Black Hound char1.png (791 KB)")
![A bard (possibly Tanin Peninwale[speculation]), concept art by Vance Kovacs.](/wiki/File:Black_Hound_char8.jpg "Black Hound char8.jpg (123 KB)")
![May Farrow[speculation], concept art by Vance Kovacs.](/wiki/File:Black_Hound_char9.jpg "Black Hound char9.jpg (183 KB)")
Creatures[]
- barbazu • bee (giant, queen) • dragon (black) • dwarf • elf (drow) • genasi (fire) • gnome • goblin • half-elf • half-orc • human (Dalesmen, Thayan) • mantrap • monstrous centipede (huge, medium) • illithid • rust monster • spider (large monstrous) • stag • thorn-slinger • wereboar • yellow musk creeper • yellow musk zombie
![A bard model.[speculation]](/wiki/File:BGIIITBH_model12.jpg "BGIIITBH model12.jpg (7 KB)")
Items[]
Props art.
Locations[]
- Bodies of Water
- River Arkhen
- Referenced only
- Sea of Fallen Stars
- Bridges
- Arkhen Bridge • Blackfeather Bridge
- Buildings & Structures
-
- Businesses & Shops
- Darkwater Brand • Elgath's Provisions • Heward's Mill • High Market • Mirksha, Mirksha and Mirksha • The Old Dragon Down • Stone Crab Coster • Sandan's Sawmill • Tantal Mine • Three Shoes Smithy
- Castles & Fortresses
- Arch Hold • Beacon Tor • Swordpoint • Wolfwall
- Dungeons, Crypts, Tombs, and Vaults
- Archenbridge sewers • Hedge Maze • Venominhandar's Lair
- Graveyards
- Grave Hollow • Vale of Lost Voices
- Inns & Taverns
- The Black Horse • The Bridge and Bow • Drunken Lion • Hanged Hobgoblin • Old Stonebows
- Residences
- Baulaukiir estate • Enchanted Garden • Ithrymm estate • Tantal estate • Whiteturrets Manor
- Ruins
- Endrain Academy • Ghost Holds
- Temples
- Abbey of the Sword • Bounty of the Goddess • Cathedral of Celestial Mourning • Glory of the Morning • Leaves of Learning • Shrine of Swords
- Mountains & Hills
- Marching Mountains • Weeping Rock
- Roads
- Dark Road
- Settlements
- Archenbridge • Blackfeather Bridge • Briarbosk • Essembra • Glaun • Hap • Highmoon • Moontassel • Opus • Shepherd's Glen • Tangled Vale • White Ford
- Wilderness
- Archendale • Arch Wood • Battledale • Darkwatch • Deepingdale • Glaun Bog • Hunter's Down • Mistledale • Sessrendale • Tasseldale • Vale of Lost Voices
- Miscellaneous
- Glaem-Azzaren • Kindling Mills • Seven Chambers
Magic[]
- Chauntean Ritual • lycanthropy • sacred blessing • Shadow Weave
- Referenced only
- eldritch storm
Organizations[]
- Archenriders • Baulaukiir family • Brand family • Church of Lathander • Elves of Deepingdale • Harpers • House Cadorna • Ithrymm family • Malarite People of Black Blood • Ogre Saint Killers • Red Wizards of Thay • Silver Ravens • Summerday family • Tantal family • Tetherman family • Whitebone family • Zhentarim
Plants[]
Deities[]
- Chauntea • Hoar • Kelemvor • Kossuth • Lathander • Malar • Mask • Moander[speculation] • Oghma • Sune • Talos • Tempus • Waukeen
Miscellaneous[]
- Indrakshi's legend (Fated Knight)
Game Credits[]
- Producer: Chris Parker
- Lead Designer: J.E. Sawyer
- Lead Artist: Vance Kovacs
- Lead Programmer: Brian Hendley
- Artists: Justin Sweet, Brian Menze, Glenn Price, Vera Milosavich, Chris Appelhans, Dennis Presnell, John Dickenson, Aaron Meyers, Abdul Brown, Carlos Cheek, Dany Martinez, Mustazar Essa, Trent Campbell, Chris Marleau
- Designers: John Deiley, Damien Foletto, Scott Everts, Kihan Pak, Sean Reynolds
- Programmers: Jake Devore, Jay Fong, Yuki Furumi, Mark Murakami, Chris Jones, Dan Spitzley, Dave Vodhanel
Appendix[]
Further reading[]
- Development of Baldur's Gate III
Impact and legacy[]
Interplay retirements[]
The cancellation of Baldur's Gate III: The Black Hound and the mounting problems at Interplay caused the retirement of some employees. Chris Avellone resigned from Interplay in 2003. It was said that for him the cancellation of The Black Hound was the last straw.
Mod for Neverwinter Nights 2[]
On January 7th, 2007, Josh Sawyer revealed him making a mod for Neverwinter Nights 2 game, called The Black Hound. It was an attempt to tell the story previously developed by Black Isle Studios. The mod was developed by Josh Sawyer himself http://twofoldsilence.diogenes-lamp.info/2012/09/the-black-hound-what-its-deal-was.html Josh has also asked for occasional help and advice from some of his Obsidian Entertainment colleagues and discussed the modding issues with the people from the forum threads devoted to the mod.
In January 2009, Josh Sawyer launched a blog called The Herald of Archenbridge where he reported the progress made on his mod.[15]
The mod was meant to use D&D 3.5 Edition rule system. The known differences included the absence of warlock[16] as a playable class and the revised armor and weapon system.
- Texts from the-black-hound.com that were used for the mod development
- Text 1
- “The field was an old one, as far as Dalesmen were concerned. It had seen blood and fire and wheat all in equal parts, blessed by Lathander, damned by Bane, trod by men and women for centuries. Under sun and empty sky alike, it had been host to celebrations of marriage and witness to interment. It gave the comfort of tangibility to common people at odds with the ephemeral nature of the world around them.
The men and women filed in from the foggy woods, their shoulders and feet heavy from hunting for so many days. Their cloaks were heavy from the rabbits and fowl carried within. Like parents with children in swaddling clothes, they approached the stream at the base of the rain-soaked valley, a tributary of the River Arkhen. Despite their bountiful harvest, the hunters were quiet and uneasy; they had failed to capture the desired quarry. Their conversation came in whispers and murmurs, barely covered by the flowing water.
The mistress of the hunt was the last to leave the woods. Her steps were labored, and her hot breath streamed between the slits of her helmet like a cooling kettle on a dying fire. Her hips throbbed from the weight of the black and purple plate skirt and the mud caked on her shins and feet. She was used to the pain, but the night's labor had yielded no bounty. Beneath her helm, sweat mingled with trickling tears on her face. She winced as she made her way down the incline, her ankles burning at the grade. For a moment, she relaxed, and her right foot gave out underneath her.
Bandits down the hill turned in shock as they saw the side of her armored head slap against the muddy ground. Her arbalest flew from her hands and slid down the hill into the stream. A few bandits, Cormyrean expatriates, moved to help her. The Dalesmen knew better, and extended arms and cautionary glances. The armored woman lay still on the ground. After many long moments, she sighed deeply, placed her hands next to her chest, and pushed herself up. The bandits around her continued to look on with uncertainty. One of the older Dalesmen hopped to the edge of the river and plucked the arbalest from the water. He purposefully strode up the hillside and held the weapon out towards the woman.
"Thank you, Alden." She held out her gauntleted hand and touched the smiling man's bearded face. He nodded, and she grimaced slightly at the sight of the mud from her hand seeping into the happy wrinkles around his blue eyes. She pulled her hand back. Alden reached up and touched the mud. He smiled again, more broadly.
"Oh, it's fine, May. Just a little mud." He continued to hold out the crossbow. May hesitated for a moment before taking it. The rest of the bandits looked on with suspicion. May could feel their scrutiny bearing down on her. She turned her head towards the bandits and pulled her helm off in a few quick movements. As she lifted it clear of her face, she assumed an appropriately dreadful demeanor.
"Get down to the river and start some fires," she snapped. She looked each of the curious men and women in the eyes in turn until they broke away and ambled towards the water. May's face was matted with damp blonde hair and had the stern countenance of an angry mother, a look many of them had only known from her. May nodded at Alden to go with them. His smile weakened, and he walked away. May stood on the hillside with the black and purple enameled helm in her hands. The moonlight illuminated its interior, even through the fog. Her asters were still inside, but crushed and damp with sweat. Then the voice came, softly, behind her.
"Don't worry, May. I will pick you some fresh ones soon." May shivered as she felt his presence chill her flesh. "It will not be long 'till..." May bit her lower lip and closed her eyes to hold back tears as she saw the aster blossoms rapidly dry and wither. "Brien, I don't know if I can do this. They're getting suspicious. They don't know why I'm not mending their wounds any more, or why I haven't gone north in so long. It's too hard." May felt the chill intensify until the pain in her hips went numb. "I need you, May. It is still out there." The voice lowered to a nervous whisper. "If you don't kill it... "
May clenched her jaw with resolve, then relaxed. She stood in numbed ecstasy on the hillside for a few moments longer, resting in Brien's presence. A distant howl echoed through the valley. May's head whipped around, towards the moon. Some bandits bolted to their feet. Others sighed and slumped forward. May threw her helm down the hill and grabbed her crossbow with both hands. She pointed at the campfire nearest her. All leisure was gone from her expression, all stiffness burned from her limbs.
"You! Grab your crossbows. There is much to do."
”
- Text 2
- “"The priestess set two asters in my hair, just behind my right ear. And I pulled one of them out to put it behind Brien's. My hands were shaking so much. I was crying, so I couldn't see his face clearly. I just... put my hands on the sides of his head and kissed him. I closed my eyes because I didn't want anyone to tell me I had done it wrong. It was so warm in that room with the sun shining on us through the stained glass windows. It was all I ever wanted."”
- Text 3
- “"We have the same goals. We have different interests. It is a subtle distinction, one I trust you are able to make. I will not lie to you. The Whiteturrets enclave is not the friend of Archendale. We are also not her enemies, whatever bias these people have against Thay. What should it matter, the reasons why May Farrow meets her end? It is the same goal. Do you see?"”
- Text 4
- “"I could not ask you to undertake this. It is a calling from within that few hear and fewer answer. You must to know that we cannot burn away the darkness. The best we may do is swallow up the black lamps for a while. The cost of complacency is dire, but there is also a toll for vigilance. And you must pay it."”
- Text 5
- “"Lot of old-timers 'round here got stories about it, going way back. But if you try to put them all together, there's no sense to be made of them. Like trying to knit back together an unraveled skein. Whatever pattern it used to hold's been lost. All dust now."”
Pillars of Eternity references[]
The Black Hound inn window from the game Pillars of Eternity using the cover art of Baldur's Gate III: The Black Hound'
The name of the first met inn in the game Pillars of Eternity, The Black Hound, is a reference to the cancelled Baldur's Gate III: The Black Hound. The stained glass window near the door is a close crop of the original box art for the game by artist Vance Kovacs.
I had a little poster in my office of the old promo art for Baldur's Gate III, and while we were thinking of names for this place, I started using "The Black Hound" as a placeholder, thinking that it wouldn't stick. It ended up getting thumbs up, and Josh Sawyer asked art to implement the poster image as a stained glass window on the lower floor. The dog upstairs actually came later. Once we started assigning locations to the various pets, the placement for the black dog seemed fairly obvious.
Trivia[]
- The Black Hound from the game is presumably based on the English folklore black dog.
- The ideas around the Black Hound could have been intended to be added to the next, also cancelled, Black Isle Studios game, Fallout 3. The Devil Dog, a possible companion in Fallout 3, could have shared some tropes with the Black Hound.
- Black dogs appeared multiple times in Justin Sweet's artworks, including the illustrations for Fallout 2 and the illustrations shown in the Eclipse: The Well and The Black Sea, an artbook featuring the conceptual art of Justin Sweet and Vance Kovacs. The both artists worked on Baldur's Gate III: The Black Hound, and they used some of cancelled game's concept arts during the promotional campaign of their artbook on Kickstarter.
Notes[]
See Also[]
- Volo's Guide to the Dalelands (sourcebook)
- Cormanthyr: Empire of the Elves (sourcebook)
- The Forgotten Realms Atlas (sourcebook)
- Baldur's Gate III (video game)
- Curse of the Azure Bonds (video game)
Gallery[]
External Links[]
Disclaimer: The views expressed in the following links do not necessarily represent the views of the editors of this wiki, nor does any lore presented necessarily adhere to established canon.
Baldur's Gate III: The Black Hound article at the Baldur's Gate Wiki, a wiki for the Baldur's Gate games.- Baldur's Gate III: The Black Hound article at Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia.
- Baldur's Gate III: The Black Hound article at the Interplay Entertainment Wiki, an Interplay wiki.
- Project Jefferson article at the The Vault, a Fallout wiki.
- Some mysterious book about the game nobody have ever seen.
References[]
- ↑ Josh Sawyer's reply on Twitter about the game development time.. Retrieved on 2023-12-26.
- ↑ Josh Sawyer's reply on Twitter about the reasons some projects were cancelled.. Retrieved on 2023-12-26.
- ↑ Desslock (August 2004). “Alternate Lives: D&D: Prospects bleak for a PC revival”. In PC Gamer #123 ed. [Firme], p. 98
- ↑ Josh Sawyer's reply about the game's development time on Twitter. Retrieved on 2023-12-26.
- ↑ John Deiley Interviewfor GameBanshee. Retrieved on 2024-06-26.
- ↑ Matt Chat 171: Josh Sawyer on Icewind Dale and Neverwinter Nights. Retrieved on 2024-02-05.
- ↑ 3d Modeling by Glenn Price. (2024-01-19).
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 The Herald of Archenbridge blog.. (2024-01-25).
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Template:Citebook/
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Josh Sawyer's sample dialogue from The Black Hound. (2024-02-05).
- ↑ Template:Cite webenhancement/The Leaves of Learning
- ↑ Gamebanshee. The Black Hound Interview. (2024-01-19).
- ↑ Richard Baker, Ed Bonny, Travis Stout (February 2005). Lost Empires of Faerûn. Edited by Penny Williams. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 111. ISBN 0-7869-3654-1.
- ↑ The full Chris Avellone interview: Baldur’s Gate 3, Fallout: Van Buren, and the failings of Pillars of Eternity. (2024-01-19).
- ↑ The Herald of Archenbridge. The Black Hound Blog - A Neverwinter Nights 2 Mod (web.archive.org). (12-21-2023).
- ↑ Baldur's Gate III Rises from the ashes of neglect (based on the inaccessible text from TBH.baator.info). (12-13-2023).
Connections[]
Other settings
Al-Qadim: The Genie's Curse • Planescape: Torment (Enhanced Edition) • Ravenloft: Stone Prophet • Ravenloft: Strahd's Possession • Spelljammer: Pirates of Realmspace
Collaborations
Dragonheir: Silent Gods • Stumble Guys
| Baldur's Gate series | |
| Games | Baldur's Gate (Tales of the Sword Coast • Siege of Dragonspear) Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn (Throne of Bhaal) Baldur's Gate III • Baldur's Gate III: The Black Hound (cancelled) |
|---|---|
| Enhanced Editions | Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition (The Black Pits) Baldur's Gate II: Enhanced Edition (Gladiators of Thay) |
| Novelizations | Baldur's Gate • Shadows of Amn • Throne of Bhaal |