Shadowfell

Walkthrough

The area in the order you play it. Tick things off as you go: they tick off in the checklists below too.

1. 1

   Arrival and Descent

   When you arrive on the high rocky landing of the Shadowfell, note the reduced gravity that allows your party to leap vast distances across the chasm without sustaining fall damage. Follow the chain of floating stone islands downward toward the northwest. Before leaping across to the central platform, check the skeleton on an intermediate ledge to your northeast for missable gear.

   Dark Justiciar Helm: from the floating landing islands above Nightsong's Prison, head to coordinates X: -516, Y: -1397 on an eastern intermediate rock ledge next to a skeletonHow: walk to the skeleton at X: -516, Y: -1397 and search the remains on the groundMissable because: permanently unreachable once you take the portal out of the Shadowfell Don't miss New

   Tip: Use the altered gravity to leap effortlessly between islands without needing movement-enhancing spells.

2. 2

   Confronting Balthazar

   When you leap onto the central plateau of Nightsong's Prison (X: -606, Y: -1435), Dame Aylin sits bound in Shar's circle, where Balthazar confronts you to claim her for Ketheric Thorm if you did not destroy him earlier in the Gauntlet. If Balthazar is present, refuse to let him take her to trigger an all-out battle across the platform while he summons legions of undead from bone piles. Once you destroy Balthazar, search his remains immediately to claim his unique headwear, alchemy supplies, and rare scrolls before speaking with the captive.

   Key fight: Confrontation over the Nightsong
   Circle of Bones: Looted from Balthazar's corpse if defeated during the encounter here Don't miss

   Tip: Counterspell Balthazar's high-level Animate Dead or shove his heavy undead summons off the edges into the void.

   Watch out: Handing the Nightsong over to Balthazar causes Shadowheart to immediately turn hostile and permanently leave your party.

3. 3

   Deciding Dame Aylin's Fate

   When you approach the trapped Dame Aylin with Shadowheart, speak with the captive aasimar to initiate the defining moment of Shadowheart's devotion. If you urge Shadowheart to fulfill Shar's decree and execute Dame Aylin with the Spear of Night, Shar immediately blesses her with legendary armaments. Alternatively, if you trust Shadowheart to choose for herself after Aylin reveals her childhood memories—or succeed on a difficult Persuasion check—she casts the spear into the void, liberating Dame Aylin and granting your party a radiant weapon upon her ascent.

   Moonlight Glaive: Rewarded directly to the party upon freeing the Nightsong (Dame Aylin) Don't missShar's Spear of Evening: Awarded to Shadowheart by Shar if she slays the Nightsong Don't miss

   Tip: Let Aylin mention Shadowheart's childhood wolf memories first so you avoid an otherwise staggering DC 30 Persuasion check.

   Watch out: Killing the Nightsong causes the protective barrier at Last Light Inn to collapse, condemning Isobel, Jaheira, Dammon, and nearly all inn residents to death.

4. 4

   Departure from the Shadowfell

   After the confrontation concludes, speak with Shadowheart to process the outcome of her devotion and her standing with her goddess. Once Dame Aylin ascends toward Moonrise Towers or her corpse lies cold, interact with the planar portal to leave the Shadowfell and return to the material plane. Ensure your entire party is thoroughly healed and rested before stepping through, as you exit back into the Gauntlet of Shar before marching on Moonrise Towers.

   Watch out: You cannot return to the Shadowfell once you step through the exit portal, permanently sealing off any unlooted items.

What you decide here and what it leads to.