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[[File:Balduran Statue.png|thumb|200px|Balduran's Statue near his city]]
[[File:Balduran Statue.png|thumb|200px|Balduran's Statue near his city]]


'''Balduran''' is a legendary historical figure mentioned in [[Baldur's Gate 3]], credited as being responsible for the founding of [[Baldur's Gate]] among other accomplishments. Several statues found within the game are said to depict his likeness. His "true" history ''within the game setting''<ref name="Balduran 1">Balduran's story within Baldur's Gate 3 is most likely intended to act independently from his story in the broader Forgotten Realms universe.{{Verify}}</ref> <ref name= "Balduran 2">Balduran's story ''may'' be a game element that can fluctuate depending on the player's actions, because many parts of the game story seem to change in similar ways. This would achieve Larian's product goal for Baldur's Gate 3 of allowing each playthrough to feel like a unique story. {{Verify}}</ref> can be gradually discovered by the player through specific conversations, books, and quests, all of which are predominantly accessible during Act Three. <!--Please note that I deliberately use the term "credited" here so that we can keep the debate and references to the "significance" section. -ArcaneFocus-->
'''Balduran''' is a legendary historical figure mentioned in [[Baldur's Gate 3]], often credited with the founding of [[Baldur's Gate]]<ref name= "Balduran Founds A City">''[[Balduran Founds a City]]''</ref><ref name= "Elfsong">''[[The Elf Song]]''</ref><ref name= "Baldurian Dialogue">''Baldurian character dialogue.''</ref> among other accomplishments. Several statues found within the game depict his likeness.  


==Significance==
== History ==
Various pieces of in-game content offer the following information about why '''Balduran''' is significant to [[Baldur's Gate 3]].<ref name="Balduran 1"></ref><ref name= "Balduran 2"></ref>
* Balduran is generally understood to be the "founder" of the city of [[Baldur's Gate]].<ref name= "Balduran Founds A City 1">[[Balduran Founds a City]]</ref>
* The city of [[Baldur's Gate]] is generally understood to be named after him.<ref name= "Balduran Founds A City 1"></ref>
* ''"Balduran's Bones!"'' is a popular exclamation used in conversations and ambient banter by multiple in-game characters.<ref>[[Wyll]] can be observed to use this exclamation in multiple voice lines. A list of other cases has not been compiled.</ref>


===Statues in Wyrmway===
Balduran was a legendary sailor who returned from his adventures with vast wealth. He invested his wealth in a small coastal village known as Grey Harbour<ref name="What Abides Below">''[[What Abides Below]]''</ref><ref name="Annals of Baldur's Gate">''[[The Annals of Baldur's Gate]]''</ref>. Through his patronage, the village grew into the city today known as [[Baldur's Gate]].
 
Balduran's legendary status gives rise to many tall tales. In [[Baldur's Gate 3]], the party might hear mention of how he saved Baldur's Gate by driving away raiders upon his ship, the ''Wandering Eye''<ref name="Alfiras Story">[[Alfira]]'s story. A Baldurian character will dispute its accuracy.</ref>, and how he sailed to the edge of the world<ref name="Bard Dialogue">Bard dialogue with one of the children enamoured Alfira's story</ref>.
 
== Statues in Wyrmway ==
[[File:Balduran Statue2.webp|thumb|One of Balduran's Statues at Wyrmway]]
[[File:Balduran Statue2.webp|thumb|One of Balduran's Statues at Wyrmway]]
There are multiple statues of Balduran with recorded messages from him.<ref>The recorded messages from Balduran were created using the [https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/Magic_mouth Magic Mouth] spell.{{Verify}}</ref> They guide the player through the challenges on their way to find a character named [[Ansur]] beneath [[Wyrmway]].
There are multiple statues of Balduran with recorded messages from him. They guide the party through the challenges on their way to find a character named {{CharLink|Ansur}} beneath [[Wyrmway]].


===Equipment===
== Related items ==
* {{RarityItem|Balduran's Giantslayer|25}}  
* {{RarityItem|Balduran's Giantslayer|25}}  
* {{RarityItem|Helm of Balduran|25}}
* {{RarityItem|Helm of Balduran|25}}


===Misc. Items===
=== Related literature ===
* {{RarityItem|Dear Ansur|25}}
* {{MdRarityItem|Balduran Founds a City}}
* {{RarityItem|The Illustrated Adventures of Balduran|25}}
* {{MdRarityItem|Dear Ansur}}
* {{RarityItem|Balduran Founds a City|25}}  
* {{MdRarityItem|The Annals of Baldur's Gate}}
* [[What Abides Below]]
* {{MdRarityItem|The Elf Song}}  
* [[The Elf Song]]
* {{MdRarityItem|The Illustrated Adventures of Balduran}}
* [[The Annals of Baldur's Gate]]
* {{MdRarityItem|The Legend of Ansur}}
* {{MdRarityItem|What Abides Below}}


==Story==
==Fate==
{{UnderConstruction}}
During the [[Wyrmway|Wyrmway Trials]] you may learn Balduran's ultimate fate.


{{SpoilerWarning|act=3}}
At some point Balduran became {{CharLink|The Emperor}}.


At some point {{Blur|Balduran became [[The Emperor]]}}.
After securing enough money to fund the building of the Wall that led to Baldur's Gate founding, he felt the call of the sea once more. On the voyage, and following a shipwreck, Balduran made his way to [[Moonrise Towers]], in search of fortune. There he was captured by a colony of mindflayers, becoming infected with the tadpole as a result. As a record of his interrogation by {{CharLink|Enver Gortash}} during the planning phases of the Absolute Hoax states, he spent ten years under the thrall of the Moonrise [[Netherbrain|Elder Brain]]. His friend, {{CharLink|Ansur}} the Dragon, eventually managed to bring him back to independent thought and free will.   
{{SpoilerBlur|
After securing enough money to fund the building of the Wall that led to Baldur's Gate founding, he felt the call of the sea once more. On the voyage, and following a shipwreck, Balduran made his way to [[Moonrise Towers]], in search of fortune. There he was captured by a colony of mindflayers, becoming infected with the tadpole as a result. As a record of his interrogation by [[Enver Gortash]] during the planning phases of the Absolute Hoax states, he spent ten years under the thrall of the Moonrise [[Netherbrain|Elder Brain]]. His friend, [[Ansur]] the Dragon, eventually managed to bring him back to independent thought and free will.   


The Emperor, however, does not disclose this information initially. He very carefully divulges the information he deems necessary, sometimes arguing that the player is not ready for the answer yet or that he will reveal specific information in the future. The Emperor will only reveal his former identity after the player finds [[Ansur]] the Dragon. Furthermore, [[Ansur]] the Dragon further reveals more information - as while The Emperor initially did not want to become a Mind Flayer, He now fully embraced his new form, and his comfort with this caused a rift between him and Ansur.
The Emperor, however, does not disclose this information initially. He very carefully divulges the information he deems necessary, sometimes arguing that the player character is not ready for the answer yet or that he will reveal specific information in the future. The Emperor will only reveal his former identity after the party finds Ansur the Dragon. Furthermore, Ansur the Dragon further reveals more information - as while The Emperor initially did not want to become a Mind Flayer, He now fully embraced his new form, and his comfort with this caused a rift between him and Ansur.


Ansur attempted to kill his former friend as the latter slept, (Ansur believed this would be a merciful death) - This attempt was felt by Balduran. In his struggle to protect himself from being murdered, Balduran killed Ansur in self-defence.  
Ansur attempted to kill his former friend as the latter slept, (Ansur believed this would be a merciful death) - This attempt was felt by Balduran. In his struggle to protect himself from being murdered, Balduran killed Ansur in self-defence.  


After Ansur's death, Balduran came to be called the Emperor as he used his newfound psychic influence to rule Baldur's Gate from the shadows. For the next four centuries, he made his haven under the tavern of Elfsong, keeping various sentimental knick knacks such as his old dog Rascal's collar, his favourite recipe (fiddlehead soup), his first adventuring sword, or his mother's gifted cutlery set (the butter knife having been lost during his last shipwreck on the eponymous Isle of Balduran, inside the wreck of the Wandering Eye ship), but also more illithid-adequate items such as chains for his prefered prey - allegedly criminals and lawbreakers - and jars for brains. He established a partnership with [[Belynne Stelmane|Duke Stelmane]].  
After Ansur's death, Balduran came to be called the Emperor as he used his newfound psychic influence to rule Baldur's Gate from the shadows. For the next four centuries, he made his haven under the tavern of Elfsong, keeping various sentimental knick knacks such as his old dog Rascal's collar, his favourite {{SmRarityItem|Recipe for Fiddlehead Soup|Fiddlehead Soup}}, his {{SmRarityItem|Sword of the Emperor|first adventuring sword}}, or his mother's gifted cutlery set (the butter knife having been lost during his last shipwreck on the eponymous Isle of Balduran, inside the wreck of the ''Wandering Eye''), but also more illithid-adequate items such as chains for his prefered prey - allegedly criminals and lawbreakers - and jars for brains. He established a partnership with {{CharLink|Belynne Stelmane|Duke Stelmane}}.  


During those four centuries, he also came to be associated with the Knights of the Shield, a lawful and neutral evil conglomerate of politicians and merchants manipulating events behind the scenes. Duke Stelmane was a major figure of this secret society.  
During those four centuries, he also came to be associated with the Knights of the Shield, a lawful and neutral evil conglomerate of politicians and merchants manipulating events behind the scenes. Duke Stelmane was a major figure of this secret society.  


Sometime before the events of the game, Enver Gortash and the Dark Urge once again captured the Emperor, and brought him back under the thrall of the Moonrise Elder Brain, now wearing the Crown of Karsus and having become the Nether Brain masquerading as the Absolute. He was only freed when he was ordered to retrieve the [[Mysterious Artefact]], which led to his freedom once more, as well as its discovery of [[Orpheus]], the Prince of the Comet, as named by the [[Githyanki]].
Sometime before the events of the game, Enver Gortash and the Dark Urge once again captured the Emperor, and brought him back under the thrall of the Moonrise Elder Brain, now wearing the Crown of Karsus and having become the Nether Brain masquerading as the Absolute. He was only freed when he was ordered to retrieve the {{SmRarityItem|Mysterious Artefact}}, which led to his freedom once more, as well as its discovery of {{CharLink|Orpheus}}, the Prince of the Comet, as named by the [[Githyanki]].
 
The Nether Brain, as she admits to the party in the endgame section, sought to have all three Chosen of the Dead Three killed, and specifically picked the Emperor to lead a team of illithids on a nautiloid to search for and steal the {{SmRarityItem|Mysterious Artefact|Astral Prism}} containing Orpheus from the Githyanki.


The Nether Brain, as she admits to the player in the endgame section, sought to have all three Chosen of the Dead Three killed, and specifically picked the Emperor to lead a team of illithids on a nautiloid to search for and steal from the Githyanki the [[Astral Prism]] containing Orpheus.


<gallery mode="nolines" widths="240px" heights="130px">
<center>
Balduran1.png|''An Adventurer, I came from Baldur's Gate, though i was never one to be constrained by circumstance. I longed for more.''
<gallery heights="250px">
Balduran1.png|''An Adventurer, I came from Baldur's Gate, though I was never one to be constrained by circumstance. I longed for more.''
Balduran2.png|''That longing brought me to Moonrise Towers on a search for treasure. To a colony of mind flayers who caught me and changed me.''
Balduran2.png|''That longing brought me to Moonrise Towers on a search for treasure. To a colony of mind flayers who caught me and changed me.''
Balduran3.png|The Emperor feeding on criminals
Balduran3.png|The Emperor feeding on criminals
Balduran4.png|I had the fortune of meeting Duke Stelmane. ''We formed a partnership''
Balduran4.png|I had the fortune of meeting Duke Stelmane. ''We formed a partnership''
Balduran5.png|''They called me The Emperor''
Balduran5.png|''They called me The Emperor''
Ansur Murals.webp|Ansur and Balduran on a mural
</gallery>
</gallery>}}
</center>
}}


== Gallery ==
<gallery heights="250">
File:Ansur Murals.webp|Ansur and Balduran on a triptych
File:Balduran Statue Model.png|Statue Model
</gallery>


==External links==
==External links==
Line 62: Line 70:
<references></references>
<references></references>


<br>{{NavCharacters|3}}
{{Wyrm's Rock Fortress}}
[[Category:Characters in Act 3]]
[[Category:Characters]]
[[Category:Characters in Wyrm's Rock Fortress]]
[[Category:Characters in Act Three]]

Latest revision as of 16:56, 10 November 2024

Balduran's Statue near his city

Balduran is a legendary historical figure mentioned in Baldur's Gate 3, often credited with the founding of Baldur's Gate[1][2][3] among other accomplishments. Several statues found within the game depict his likeness.

History[edit | edit source]

Balduran was a legendary sailor who returned from his adventures with vast wealth. He invested his wealth in a small coastal village known as Grey Harbour[4][5]. Through his patronage, the village grew into the city today known as Baldur's Gate.

Balduran's legendary status gives rise to many tall tales. In Baldur's Gate 3, the party might hear mention of how he saved Baldur's Gate by driving away raiders upon his ship, the Wandering Eye[6], and how he sailed to the edge of the world[7].

Statues in Wyrmway[edit | edit source]

One of Balduran's Statues at Wyrmway

There are multiple statues of Balduran with recorded messages from him. They guide the party through the challenges on their way to find a character named Ansur Ansur beneath Wyrmway.

Related items[edit | edit source]

Related literature[edit | edit source]

Fate[edit | edit source]

During the Wyrmway Trials you may learn Balduran's ultimate fate.

At some point Balduran became The Emperor The Emperor.

After securing enough money to fund the building of the Wall that led to Baldur's Gate founding, he felt the call of the sea once more. On the voyage, and following a shipwreck, Balduran made his way to Moonrise Towers, in search of fortune. There he was captured by a colony of mindflayers, becoming infected with the tadpole as a result. As a record of his interrogation by Enver Gortash Enver Gortash during the planning phases of the Absolute Hoax states, he spent ten years under the thrall of the Moonrise Elder Brain. His friend, Ansur Ansur the Dragon, eventually managed to bring him back to independent thought and free will.

The Emperor, however, does not disclose this information initially. He very carefully divulges the information he deems necessary, sometimes arguing that the player character is not ready for the answer yet or that he will reveal specific information in the future. The Emperor will only reveal his former identity after the party finds Ansur the Dragon. Furthermore, Ansur the Dragon further reveals more information - as while The Emperor initially did not want to become a Mind Flayer, He now fully embraced his new form, and his comfort with this caused a rift between him and Ansur.

Ansur attempted to kill his former friend as the latter slept, (Ansur believed this would be a merciful death) - This attempt was felt by Balduran. In his struggle to protect himself from being murdered, Balduran killed Ansur in self-defence.

After Ansur's death, Balduran came to be called the Emperor as he used his newfound psychic influence to rule Baldur's Gate from the shadows. For the next four centuries, he made his haven under the tavern of Elfsong, keeping various sentimental knick knacks such as his old dog Rascal's collar, his favourite Fiddlehead Soup, his first adventuring sword, or his mother's gifted cutlery set (the butter knife having been lost during his last shipwreck on the eponymous Isle of Balduran, inside the wreck of the Wandering Eye), but also more illithid-adequate items such as chains for his prefered prey - allegedly criminals and lawbreakers - and jars for brains. He established a partnership with Belynne Stelmane Duke Stelmane.

During those four centuries, he also came to be associated with the Knights of the Shield, a lawful and neutral evil conglomerate of politicians and merchants manipulating events behind the scenes. Duke Stelmane was a major figure of this secret society.

Sometime before the events of the game, Enver Gortash and the Dark Urge once again captured the Emperor, and brought him back under the thrall of the Moonrise Elder Brain, now wearing the Crown of Karsus and having become the Nether Brain masquerading as the Absolute. He was only freed when he was ordered to retrieve the Mysterious Artefact, which led to his freedom once more, as well as its discovery of Orpheus Orpheus, the Prince of the Comet, as named by the Githyanki.

The Nether Brain, as she admits to the party in the endgame section, sought to have all three Chosen of the Dead Three killed, and specifically picked the Emperor to lead a team of illithids on a nautiloid to search for and steal the Astral Prism containing Orpheus from the Githyanki.


  • An Adventurer, I came from Baldur's Gate, though I was never one to be constrained by circumstance. I longed for more.

    An Adventurer, I came from Baldur's Gate, though I was never one to be constrained by circumstance. I longed for more.

  • That longing brought me to Moonrise Towers on a search for treasure. To a colony of mind flayers who caught me and changed me.

    That longing brought me to Moonrise Towers on a search for treasure. To a colony of mind flayers who caught me and changed me.

  • The Emperor feeding on criminals

    The Emperor feeding on criminals

  • I had the fortune of meeting Duke Stelmane. We formed a partnership

    I had the fortune of meeting Duke Stelmane. We formed a partnership

  • They called me The Emperor

    They called me The Emperor

}}

Gallery[edit | edit source]

  • Ansur and Balduran on a triptych

    Ansur and Balduran on a triptych

  • Statue Model

    Statue Model

External links[edit | edit source]

Balduran on the Forgotten Realms Wiki

Notes[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ Balduran Founds a City
  2. ↑ The Elf Song
  3. ↑ Baldurian character dialogue.
  4. ↑ What Abides Below
  5. ↑ The Annals of Baldur's Gate
  6. ↑ Alfira's story. A Baldurian character will dispute its accuracy.
  7. ↑ Bard dialogue with one of the children enamoured Alfira's story
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