31 replies to this topic

[Miloch]

Has anyone ever seen an explanation of how the Bhaalspawn could be 18/20 years of age? Not looking for something perfect, just something reasonable.

Yeah, I dunno. Given his/her stated age (20 in BG1 I think), CHARNAME would had to've been conceived a year or two after Bhaal was banished from Faerun in 1346 (as chronicled in the various FR timelines and in Doug Niles's Moonshae books).

Then again, do we really know the PC's true age? If you fudged it a year or two (making him 21 or 22 at the beginning of BG1 in 1368), he could've been conceived right before Bhaal was banished. That seems the easiest resolution anyway.

[MorningGlory]

Has anyone ever seen an explanation of how the Bhaalspawn could be 18/20 years of age? Not looking for something perfect, just something reasonable.

Yeah, I dunno. Given his/her stated age (20 in BG1 I think), CHARNAME would had to've been conceived a year or two after Bhaal was banished from Faerun in 1346 (as chronicled in the various FR timelines and in Doug Niles's Moonshae books).

I had thought he was banished only from the Moonshaes. Is it chronicled in Niles' books that he's bumped from all of Faerun? (Any specifics are appreciated. )

Then again, do we really know the PC's true age? If you fudged it a year or two (making him 21 or 22 at the beginning of BG1 in 1368), he could've been conceived right before Bhaal was banished. That seems the easiest resolution anyway.

Unless Bhaal did some extensive mathematical calculations as he planned his wholesale dalliances, I would think that given the differing gestation times of races and species we could be looking a quite a range of ages for the Bhaalspawn. I would give the old boy credit, however, that he probably planned and coordinated the estimated times of birth (and rates of differing species' maturation) to coincide with his end goal of being brought back from the dead.

[Ilmatar]

Unless Bhaal did some extensive mathematical calculations as he planned his wholesale dalliances, I would think that given the differing gestation times of races and species we could be looking a quite a range of ages for the Bhaalspawn. I would give the old boy credit, however, that he probably planned and coordinated the estimated times of birth (and rates of differing species' maturation) to coincide with his end goal of being brought back from the dead.

Besides, he's was a god, anyway. He could have spent years and years impregnating women all over Faerun while he was taking care of his other godly business - starting from those races that take the longest in maturing (like dragons and elves and giants and whatnot), and moving on to humans and chinchillas.... Was it ever even said when exactly he foresaw his own death? It could have been a hundred years before Times of Troubles, for all we know. (?)

Edited by Ilmatar, 15 June 2007 - 07:45 AM.

[MorningGlory]

Unless Bhaal did some extensive mathematical calculations as he planned his wholesale dalliances, I would think that given the differing gestation times of races and species we could be looking a quite a range of ages for the Bhaalspawn. I would give the old boy credit, however, that he probably planned and coordinated the estimated times of birth (and rates of differing species' maturation) to coincide with his end goal of being brought back from the dead.

Besides, he's was a god, anyway. He could have spent years and years impregnating women all over Faerun while he was taking care of his other godly business - starting from those races that take the longest in maturing (like dragons and elves and giants and whatnot), and moving on to humans and chinchillas....

That was my point about him 'doing the math.'

Was it ever even said when exactly he foresaw his own death? It could have been a hundred years before Times of Troubles, for all we know. (?)

I looked for it, but didn't find anything. I would guess that it goes back to some reference in one of the many FR novels, but I couldn't even guess where. Hopefully, someone can give the answer.

As a side thought, however, I think it is a bit interesting to speculate where 4.0 edition will go with the events and timelines of Faerun. Especially, since as Bluenose pointed out, there's a blurb that a Bhaalspawn is attempting to raise armies, and it's a 'fact' that Bane has recently returned to the Pantheon. I can see the possibility of some "Unholy Wars" being in the planning stages there!

[IronDragon]

I'm outlining a story about Gorion, and I'm running into major problems trying to reconcile the Bhaalspawns' timeline with events that are historically canon. That is, the ascension of Bhaal to godhood (am referring to the story of Bane, Myrkul, and Bhaal's encounter with Jergal where they won the bulk of his portfolio in a game of chance), then Bhaal rousting about Faerun creating offspring during/before (?????) the Time of Troubles and his death.

The main issue seems to be the age of the PC in Baldur's. If, as most sources indicate, Bhaal did his cavorting with mortal females during the ToT (1358DR), and in-game seems to indicate the year being approximately 1368 (iirc the towncriers shouting updates about the border skirmishes to the south of Amn) then what, if any, do we use to explain the disparity of Bhaalspawns' maturity/age with the ToT timeline of only ten years prior.

Has anyone ever seen an explanation of how the Bhaalspawn could be 18/20 years of age? Not looking for something perfect, just something reasonable.


MG

PS: Mr./Ms. Moderator, if this belongs in a different forum, pls move. Thanks!

Hi MG.

Oh?nice space here

Well the game does offer something this issue.

From the SoA opening movie:
?,,,You and Sarevok were a product of the Time of Troubles. A chaotic period where Gods were made flesh and forced to walk the Earth. Once such deity foresaw his own death and walked the land before the cataclysm. He left a score of mortal offspring??

I know the game isn?t cannon?but why not take advantage of it?s little loophole?
Bhaal ?knew? of his impending death, and considering he was the God of death it would seem appropriate that he would know this.




As for the timing issues.
I opted to add a few years between the Time of Troubles and the events of Baldur?s Gate. I just couldn?t deal with a main character who was twelve years old.

[IronDragon]

Unless Bhaal did some extensive mathematical calculations as he planned his wholesale dalliances, I would think that given the differing gestation times of races and species we could be looking a quite a range of ages for the Bhaalspawn. I would give the old boy credit, however, that he probably planned and coordinated the estimated times of birth (and rates of differing species' maturation) to coincide with his end goal of being brought back from the dead.

Well he must have started long?.long before that. remember Abazigal has managed to make Bhaal a granddaddy. And little Draconis is no kid when we meet up with him.

Edited by IronDragon, 20 June 2007 - 09:08 AM.

[MorningGlory]

Unless Bhaal did some extensive mathematical calculations as he planned his wholesale dalliances, I would think that given the differing gestation times of races and species we could be looking a quite a range of ages for the Bhaalspawn. I would give the old boy credit, however, that he probably planned and coordinated the estimated times of birth (and rates of differing species' maturation) to coincide with his end goal of being brought back from the dead.

Well he must have started long?.long before that. remember Abazigal has managed to make Bhaal a granddaddy. And little Draconis is no kid when we meet up with him.

Hi, IronD Yep, it's the only explanation, and not a far-fetched, either.

As for the timing issues.
I opted to add a few years between the Time of Troubles and the events of Baldur?s Gate. I just couldn?t deal with a main character who was twelve years old.

This is vexing, and the crux of my original post, but for my purposes, adding 'time' between ToT and the game timeline didn't work either. I have worked out what I think is a simple way around it without resorting to the 'Bhaalspawn aging more quickly,' etc. (All things considered, that's a flimsy, and cheesy, excuse explanation. Duh.. Like no one would notice during the formative years?) So, yeah.. Actually, it's all come together. Plus, Gorion doesn't 'lie' in BG1, and neither does the Solar in ToB.

Thanks to all here for opinions and insights -- much appreciated, as always.

MG

[Chevalier]

You might want to read this Bhaalspawn saga

[MorningGlory]

You might want to read this Bhaalspawn saga

Thank you, Chev... (I had run across this one before while digging through Candlekeep.)

[Kellen]

The link seems broken to me.

[MorningGlory]

The link seems broken to me.

Was working a few weeks ago, and I got it late yesterday, too. Maybe a temporary thing?

[Kellen]

Ah. Well it's back now.