Baldur's Gate II: Throne of Bhaal

Baldur's Gate II: Throne of Bhaal is the expansion pack for the computer role-playing game Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn, and is the final chapter in the Baldur's Gate series. It adds one large optional bonus area to the Baldur's Gate II game called Watcher's Keep, which is a multi-level dungeon of sorts. It also extends the main plot line to an epic conclusion. There are also several new powerful weapons, a higher level cap, and new class-related feats and magical skills. A novelization of the game exists, written by Drew Karpyshyn.

Plot
War breaks out throughout Tethyr between the agitated Bhaalspawn who turn out to be numerous and fight each other for power. The player must venture through treacherous regions, including the besieged city of Saradush, the Fire Giant-controlled Marching Mountains, and the desert village of Amkethran. Five legendary Bhaalspawn, each so powerful that they are impervious to normal weapons, rise to power and notoriety, forcing the player character to defeat them either for personal glory or for the fate of Tethyr. The player comes a long way from his or her humble beginnings in Candlekeep, himself one of the most powerful Bhaalspawn. Ultimately, the player must vanquish all competitors and be presented with the choice of ascending the throne of Bhaal and becoming the new God of Murder, or destroying it and returning to peaceful life as a mortal. The Main Character may also ascend the throne of Bhaal and banish Bhaal's evil essence, becoming a deity dedicated to good and righteousness. (There are other minor Bhaalspawn in the game that want to be left alone as well.)

Characters

 * Melissan:  A mysterious woman who meets the main character early in the game and offers help and information. Melissan claims to help the innocent Bhaalspawn who are caught up in the war and solicits the main character's help throughout the game. Her real motives remain mysterious throughout most of the game. Voiced by Heidi Shannon.

The Five Bhaalspawn destroying Tethyr and attempting to fulfill the prophecy are:


 * Illasera:  A surprisingly weak human Bhaalspawn with a lot of bravado. She is the first Bhaalspawn the player character encounters in the Throne of Bhaal. Voiced by Grey DeLisle.
 * Yaga-Shura:  A Fire Giant besieging the city of Saradush with his army. He would be invulnerable but for an Achilles' heel in which the player character has to sooner or later solve in a series of quests which involve destroying his heart to render him vulnerable but no less fearsome. Voiced by Kevin Michael Richardson.
 * Sendai:  Drow Cleric/Mage. The player character does not get the chance to draw swords against her immediately but must first defeat wave after wave of statues of Sendai, all of different classes. Voiced by Vanessa Marshall.
 * Abazigal:  A half-dragon of great power. The player character has to first kill his son, Draconis, outside Abazigal's lair before setting up a meeting with him. Both Abazigal and Draconis start off in human forms before changing into their immensely more powerful dragon forms during their respective encounters. Abazigal is voiced by Jim Cummings.
 * Balthazar: A good-aligned Monk of immense power, who feels the only way to destroy the curse of Bhaal is to become the Lord of Murder, and then end his own life. Such is his power that he is even immune to the Timestop spell. Voiced by Jeff Osterhage.

All of the previous recruitable NPCs from Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn are available with the exception of Yoshimo. The expansion disc adds Sarevok to the game, who is resurrected (albeit with none of his original divine essence) and may join the player's party.

Other prominent NPCs are:


 * Gromnir Il-Khan: A half-orc Bhaalspawn who is the leader of the town of Saradush. While at the beginning it is believed that he is mad and paranoid, his wild theories about Melissan turn out to be perfectly true. Voiced by Jim Cummings.
 * Solar: A benevolent celestial being who guides the player character through the education of his/her past and future. Voiced by Charity James.
 * Cespenar: An imp who can refer to his 'secret recipes' in order to forge wonderful weapons from special bits of items that the player collects along the journey. He claims that he is the main character's private butler and respects him/her as the "Great One". Voiced by Jeff Bennett.
 * Demogorgon: A demon prince of tremendous power and arguably the most difficult opponent in the series, included in the Watcher's Keep expansion area. Voiced by Jim Cummings.

Awards

 * GameSpy.com awarded Throne of Bhaal its Best of 2001 PC Expansion Pack.


 * IGN.com awarded Throne of Bhaal an Editors' Choice Award.
 * The Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences named Baldur's Gate II: Throne of Bhaal as Role Playing Game of the Year for 2001.