Baldur’s Gate 3 player discovers “sad as hell” Halsin lore

Baldur’s Gate 3 players have been left shocked after one fan discovered a “sad as hell” detail regarding Halsin’s backstory.

Just like Dungeons & Dragons, Baldur’s Gate 3 is filled with deep lore, whether that’s for the players, NPCs, main villains, or lovable companions. It’s part of what many fans adore about the game, and makes scouring the world for smaller items, notes, or just different dialogue options so rewarding.

Naturally, this lore not only heightens the immersive nature of the game, but can also introduce some pretty devastating stories if you’re willing to look deep enough. This is exactly what happened to one player when they dove into Halsin’s backstory.

Baldur’s Gate 3 player shocked after discovering sad Halsin backstory

Sharing their discovery on Reddit, one user explained how they discovered why Halsin is so dedicated to getting rid of the Shadow Curse and finding Thaniel.

“Going through the different dialogue options, and hearing him talk about how Thaniel was his first friend, how he fought Ketheric Thorm, and how he became archdruid, it dawned on me” explained the player, revealing how Halsin “doesn’t just feel responsible for the Shadow Curse because he fought Ketheric the first time. He was born there, grew up there, and lived there for 2/3s of his life before the curse came down. He didn’t come to the Emerald Grove until after the Shadow Curse was cast after Ketheric’s first death.”

As an Archdruid, Halsin is likely to be hundreds of years old when you first meet him, as the estimated life span is thousands of years. So, with him and Thaniel being so close for so many years, it’s understandable why he’s so dedicated to finding the boy, and given he’d spend most of his time in those woods, he’s essentially lost his home to Ketheric’s deeds, twice.

It’s clear other players were touched by the lore with one commenting: “Yeah that whole Thaniel quest gets me in the feels every time. The way he feels so much emotion for Thaniel but also for the land and the life itself, to the point where he will march right the hell into the Shadowfell, a horrific land of colorless terror and undead, where he could easily die. That dude’s got the heart of a momma bear and is just as fearless as one too.”

“Halsin is a much better character than I think a lot of people give him credit for” explained another, with many others praising Larian for creating such a well-rounded character with a rich backstory.

Every companion has some deep lore behind them, but few are as tragic as losing your home, family, and friends in quick succession – at least you can hug Halsin in the epilogue.