Prologue, Baldur's Gate 1 Original

Baldur's Gate 1 Prologue: Candlekeep

This post presents an overview of the tutorial-based prologue of Baldur's Gate 1 Original, along with the scripted ambush by Sarevok. The following text scrolls over a prerendered backdrop of the interior of Candlekeep. It is fully voiced by KMR.

The introductory narrative states that CHARNAME is an orphan, now 20 years old, brought up within the secluded citadel-library of Candlekeep by the great sage, Gorion, a wise old owl, who raised Charname on a thousand tales of heroes and monsters, lovers and infidels, battles and tragedies.

Gorion has been troubled lately, growing a little distant; but now, he has given Charname instructions to prepare for an "unplanned and unexpected journey". This is a reference to Tolkien's The Hobbit (1937).

Chanters in Candlekeep, melodically reciting the Prophecy of Alaundo:

Charname begins the adventure standing outside the Candlekeep Inn, looking every bit the first level scrub that he or she unmistakably is: dressed in peasant garb, holding a wooden stick (a quarterstaff), pockets jingling with the 120 GP given by Gorion in order to prepare for travel.

Stepping inside the common room, the portly innkeeper, Winthrop, greets Charname with the immortal line: "My hotel's as clean as an elven arse!" A merry song is played in the background, though no bard is in sight.

Outside Candlekeep Inn, where it all begins...

Interestingly, a locked receptacle in the upstairs lodgings can be looted for a very useful Potion of Clarity (Immunity: Feeblemind, Confusion, Fear, Charm, 5 turns). In fact, in the right hands, that potion could be the single-most valuable in the game for the power-progression it facilitates.

Another locked receptacle, containing a valuable Star Sapphire, requires a Halfling thief with maxed Open Lock skill and Dex 19 to pick (Lock difficulty 65); otherwise, it's not available until Chapter Six, when the player returns to Candlekeep as part of the plot.

Less skillful thieves may succeed with repeated attempts as some randomness is involved with lockpicking, but the character's score in the skill needs to be within five or so points of the lock difficulty to have a chance.

Map of Candlekeep

FedEx Quests

The Prologue offers six generic FedEx quests (fetch a book, fetch a scroll) and an obligatory "kill the rats" quest, found around the inner and outer grounds of Candlekeep, resulting in paltry material and experience rewards (e.g, a gem, 50 XP).

Players who explore inside the buildings will have two separate attempts made on their lives by scrubby assassins, Shank and Carbos (20 XP ea).

Evil players or power-gamers (same thing) can try their hand at murdering Firebead Elvenhair (2,700 XP), who nevertheless is encountered later in the town of Beregost, presumably resurrected and suffering from memory loss (he greets you kindly).

Phlydia is also a juicy target (975 XP), as are the respawning Watchers who can be farmed to gain several levels, if you have the patience, and do not mind employing inordinate amounts if cheese (175 XP ea, Plate Mail Armor).

For the rest, the Prologue is more blatantly a tutorial, what with the horde of monk tutors and a couple of boring training segments for totally new players; I never completed them.

The best thing about the Prologue is that it can be safely and speedily bypassed and ignored: one can make a bee-line straight for Gorion, suffering only an interception by childhood friend, Imoen, a carefree, roguish teenager who seems to know a little of what's going on, having taken a peek at Gorion's letters.

Waiting at the entrance to Candlekeep itself is Charname's foster father, the silver-haired and gray-robed Gorion, who isn't exactly cool, calm and collected.

You see, the sinister threat likely to infiltrate The Keep is more serious than Shank and Carbos; so much so, that traveling through the woods at night is preferable to being behind stone walls.

Scripted Ambush

The departure and subsequent ambush are presented entirely as scripted, voiced segments. 

Before venturing forth from Candlekeep, Gorion tells Charname that they need to reach the Friendly Arm Inn where old friends of his are waiting (Jaheira & Khalid).

Darkness falls as the two scurry through the woods of The Coast Way, Gorion assuring Charname that he'll explain everything as soon as shelter is found.

Suddenly, the two are ambushed by an Armored Fiend (later revealed to be Sarevok) flanked by a priestess (his tragic lover, Tamoko) and supported by two ogre berserkers.

Sarevok demands that Gorion hand over "his ward" (the progonist aka Gorion's Ward); Gorion staunchly refuses and orders Charname to run. Charname does so and escapes into the shadows. In Charname's absence a battle ensues, and the old man is cut down after exhausting his arcane repertoire, consisting of low level evocations. 

Scripted ambush

Unable to find Gorion's Ward in the darkness of the night, the ambushers take their leave.

The next morning, the adventuring begins as Chapter One kicks off:

In conclusion, the Prologue and scripted ambush manage to set the stage and draw the player into the campaign.

Next up: Baldur's Gate Exploration.

Baldur's Gate 1 Original (Index) | Baldur's Gate 1 Review (Index).