Lift the Shadow Curse: Difference between revisions

This quest can only be undertaken if {{Quest|Defeat the Goblins}} was completed and Halsin agreed to accompany the party to [[Moonrise Towers]].

Once given this information, Halsin asks the party to follow him down to the lakeside, which is north of the Last Light Inn, just outside of Isobel's barrier. Speak to him and he explains that he has spent years studying and seeking the Oak Father's favour in order to find a way into the Shadowfell - but he will need the party's help to keep the portal open so that he can return, as the moment he enters, those taken by the shadow curse will swarm the portal in an attempt to destroy it.

Sure enough, once Halsin enters the portal, waves of enemies will begin to spawn, who will prioritise targeting the portal to the Shadowfell above all else. The portal must be kept intact for four turns, at which point Halsin will return. The enemies that spawn include [[Wraith]]s, [[Shadow]]s, Shadow Mastiffs, [[Shadow Creeper]]s, and Shadow-Cursed Harpers, Flaming Fists, Zealots, and Githyanki Warriors. If the portal is destroyed, then Halsin will be lost to the Shadowfell forever, and the quest fails.

If Halsin succeeds, he exits the portal with Thaniel in his arms, unconscious. He explains that something is wrong and that it seems a part of Thaniel is missing, and asks the party to meet him back at camp to discuss what to do next.

While it may seem like a 'needle in a haystack' situation at first, Halsin says that the curse cannot completely suppress Thaniel's power, and that the party should look for signs of life in the darkness such as wildflowers where everything else has died. He will point the party towards the [[Ruined Battlefield]] and a [[House in Deep Shadows|house where he saw several fresh blooms]].

At this point, Halsin joins the party as a full [[companion]]. It is advisable to make room in the current party for him to come along for the next stage of the quest.

{{CharLink|Oliver}} is the missing half of Thaniel's spirit. He's located in the [[House in Deep Shadows]] (which will be marked on the map as ''House of Flowers''), found to the east of Last Light Inn. If the party hasn't already played hide-and-seek with him, he might ask them to do so - but regardless of whether or not his game is played, Oliver will grow angry when reminded of who Thaniel is, and eventually runs away into a shadow portal.

Use the portal to follow Oliver to the middle of [[Reithwin Town]]. He shields himself under a Nightdome that reflects any damage it is dealt back to the attacker, and summons several enemies to protect him - two [[Wraith]]s called "[[Mummy]]" and "[[Daddy]]", as well as a shadowy owlbear called "[[Shadow Plush]]". He will also summon five Shadow Friends at a time. Killing each of Oliver's summoned allies will deal damage to the Nightdome without reflecting the damage back.

Once the dome is destroyed, Oliver complains about being disturbed and says he doesn't want to go back to Thaniel, who he perceives as having abandoned him. The party can choose to be kind when convincing Oliver to rejoin Thaniel and be whole again, or be aggressive; they can also let Halsin handle it.

Oliver will always agree to rejoin with Thaniel, but being aggressive about it will cause Halsin to lose approval, while allowing him to handle it or being kind will give a large boost to his approval.

After Oliver finally returns to Thaniel, the boy finally awakens. He is at camp, near Halsin's tent. He explains that even though he is awake, the land cannot truly heal until {{CharLink|Ketheric Thorm}} - the one responsible for originally cursing it - is dead, once and for all. The quest is not fully completed until {{Quest|Defeat Ketheric Thorm}} has been completed and the party leaves the Shadow-Cursed Lands to venture forth to [[Baldur's Gate]], at which point a cutscene will play showing the land beginning to heal.

If this quest is not resolved before leaving the Shadow-Cursed Lands, Halsin will leave the party and chooses to remain behind to look after the land and attempt to lift the shadow curse himself.