Baldur’s Gate 3: Every Character That Returns From BG1 & BG2

Being the third installment in the series, it was expected that Baldur’s Gate 3 would have some familiar faces return as part of the epic RPG. With rosters of companions, villains, and side characters to choose from all along the Sword Coast and Baldur’s Gate, long-time fans knew that at least some of their favorites might make a cameo in the game. Thankfully, although the number of returning characters is low, their quality is high, and their reasons for appearing are grounded in the plot.

[Warning: This article contains spoilers for Baldur’s Gate 3.]

As Baldur’s Gate 3 takes place over 120 years after the events of Baldur’s Gate 2: Shadows of Amn, there was no way for all the beloved companions to return. Although there were longer-lived races, such as the gnome Jan Jansen or Korgan Bloodaxe, a dwarf — BG2’s companion roster had a lot of humans who wouldn’t have lived long enough to see the rise of the Absolute. Those who did return for BG3 are plot-relevant in most cases and are either well-known Dungeons & Dragons characters or appeared in both the first and second Baldur’s Gate games.

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Bhaal – God Of Murder

Plays Key Roles In BG1 & BG2

Including Bhaal without mentioning all the other gods in the Forgotten Realms pantheon might seem like an odd choice, but Bhaal has a uniquely personal connection with the Baldur’s Gate series. In the first two BG games, Bhaal and his Bhaalspawn are the focus of the main plot, and each time Bhaal’s impact on the plot is felt more than other deities, although there are those that get recurring mentions more than others such as Shar and Mystra. In BG1 Sarevok attempted to take over from Bhaal, while in Throne of Bhaal a former high priestess of Bhaal, Amelyssan, sought to usurp his godhood.

In BG3 Bhaal returns once more, working alongside the other member of the Dead Three, Bane, and Myrkul, to enslave the Sword Coast using illithid parasites. Bhaal’s involvement can become even more personal for those playing as the Dark Urge, who throughout the story is revealed to be a Bhaalspawn and Bhaal’s former Chosen. Those playing as the Dark Urge will have much more interaction with Bhaal because of this connection.

8

Elminster Aumar – Powerful Wizard

Appears In BG1 & BG2

Elminster is one of the most famous DnD characters, so his appearance in the Baldur’s Gate series was almost guaranteed. In BG1, Elminster will appear several times as he attempts to speak to the party and offer advice. While in BG2, he can help restore Jaheira’s position within the Harpers when she has been forced to renounce it, as well as share information about Balthazar in BG2‘s expansion Throne of Bhaal.

Elminster’s role in BG3 is more limited, as he will only appear a couple of times to aid Gale specifically. Elminster will meet the party as they arrive in Act 2 with a message for Gale from Mystra and a spell to stabilize the orb. This meeting is more impactful when playing as Gale, but coming face to face with a DnD legend is fun in any playthrough.

7

Naaber – Annoying Civilian

Part Four Of Running Baldur’s Gate Joke

Naaber is not technically a returning character and is unique to BG3; however, he is the fourth installment of a running joke throughout the Baldur’s Gate series. Noober was an NPC that could be found in Nashkel in BG1 and was extremely irritating with his constant talking. This joke was continued in BG2 with Neeber in Trademeet, who would pester the party, along with Nüber in Siege of Dragonspear.

In BG3, Naaber will be inside Carm’s Garm in Act 3 and is very excited to meet the party. He explains that he wants to be an adventurer too, and will go through each of the DnD classes in turn. If he is spoken to enough, he will eventually complete his mini-quest after deciding that multiclassing is the future and reward the party with the Absolute Confidence Amulet.

6

Amelyssan, Sendai & Illasera – Deceased Bhaalspawn

All Appear In BG2

Amelyssan, Sendai, and Illasera all first appear in Baldur’s Gate 2: Throne of Bhaal, with each playing a different role in the plot. Illaera appeared at the very beginning to attempt to kill the player character, while Sendai is met later in her enclave and must be killed by the party. Amelyssan is revealed to be the antagonist of Throne of Bhaal close to the end, who has tricked the player into killing other powerful Bhaalspawn for her.

In BG3, Amelyssan, Sendai, and Illasera all appear as echoes during the Murder Tribunal in Act 3. Each will provide a different buff to Sarevok during combat with him as well as offer support with spells such as haste, slow and sanctuary. If the player character decides to become an unholy assassin of Bhaal then each of them can be spoken to about their backstories.

5

Sarevok Anchev – Bhaalspawn

Appears In BG1 & BG2

Sarevok acts as the primary antagonist during Baldur’s Gate, seeking to replace Bhaal as the Lord of Murder. Sarevok in BG1 aimed to kill all his fellow Bhaalspawn and engineer mass murder by starting a war between Baldur’s Gate and Amn. Despite being killed in BG1, Sarevok returned in BG2 and Throne of Bhaal, and it was possible to take on a quest to help him regain his mortality and change his alignment from evil.

It was because of this quest that some BG fans were angered by his reappearance in BG3. Sarevok can be found in Act 3 in the sewers of Baldur’s Gate, sitting as the judge for the Murder Tribunal, having apparently gone back to his evil ways. If speak with dead is used when inside Bhaal’s Temple to speak with Sarevok’s daughter Helena, then she will reveal that Sarevok is also Orin’s father who wished to create the perfect offering for Bhaal.

4

Viconia DeVir – Cleric Of Shar

Companion In BG1 & BG2

Viconia appeared in both BG1 and BG2 as a recruitable companion and was available to romance in BG1‘s DLC Siege of Dragonspear and BG2. When met, Viconia is wanted for murder and will proudly tell the party that she was once from Menzoberranzan. As a drow and a Shar worshiper, having her in the party wasn’t always easy for a good playthrough, and if the party’s reputation grew too high, Viconia would leave.

In BG3, Viconia appears as the Mother Superior of the Sharran enclave in Baldur’s Gate and Shadowheart’s mentor. Choices made with Shadowheart will change how Viconia interacts with the party. Whatever the reason for Shadowheart visiting the House of Grief, Viconia will demand the party hand over the artifact. This will usually result in a fight, with Viconia’s fate left in the hands of the party.

3

Volothamp Geddarm – Famous Author

Appears In BG1 & BG2

Just as with Elminster, Volo is a well known DnD character, and his inclusion in the Baldur’s Gate games reflects this. In BG1, Volo can be found in the Belching Dragon Tavern in Nashkel where he will tell stories and provides rumors that lead to quests. In BG2: Throne of Bhaal, Volo is once again in a tavern, the Tankard Tree, but provides no quests this time, instead just commenting on whichever companions the player has with them at the time.

Volo’s part in BG3 is much more substantial, although not crucial to the plot. Volo can first be met in Act 1 in the Druid Grove and eventually will need rescuing from the Goblin Camp. After this, he will join the party camp, where he will act as a vendor and offer to remove the illithid parasite.

2

Jaheira – High Harper

Companion In BG1 & BG2

Jaheira and her husband Khalid are two of the earliest companions to find in BG1, although Khalid is tragically killed just before the events of BG2. Much of Jaheira’s presence in BG1 and BG2 ties in with the Harpers, and it is through the organization that she will first agree to help the player, having known the character’s guardian, Gorion. After Khalid’s death and a period of mourning, Jaheira was available as a romance option in BG2 for male player characters.

In BG3, Jaheira returns as a recruitable companion after Act 2 if the Nightsong is freed. Much of Act 2 is spent helping Jaheira and her Harpers defend Last Light Inn from the Shadow Curse before she joins the party permanently. In Act 3 Jaheira is required in order to recruit Minsc and has some interesting unique dialogue for those playing as the Dark Urge.

1

Minsc & Boo – Rashemaar Warrior & Miniature Giant Space Hamster

Companions In BG1 & BG2

Minsc and his trusty companion Boo appear in all previous installments of the Baldur’s Gate games and, to some extent, have become the face of the series. When first met in BG1, Minsc is on a mission with his ‘dajemma,’ a powerful witch named Dynaheir, who is killed just prior to BG2. At some point after the events of BG2, Minsc and Boo were petrified and turned into a statue, only to be released after a century by a wild magic surge from a mage named Delina.

After rejoining the living, Minsc and Boo eventually reunited with Jaheira and aided her with many of her Harper mission. In Baldur’s Gate 3, the party will find that Minsc has also been implanted with an illithid tadpole and tricked into serving the Absolute. If Jaheira is with the party, he can be saved and recruited and will gladly join the party in defeating evil.