Speed Running Act 1 So I Can See Her Sooner

Speed running act 1 so I can see her sooner

HELLO I AM HERE WITH RESULTS

I found a save file in SoD right before the temple of bhaal so I decided to record all of Madele’s lines I could find to piece together a timeline for the temple I’ve tried my best to make things clear I’m so sorry if something doesn’t make sense. Madele’s lines will be colored blue, Gorions ward (GW) will be colored pink, Jaheira is green.

Anything with a 1. Is a dialogue choice, 1: is the result of that dialogue choice

I present:

ALL OF MADELE’S DIALOGUE AND TEMPLE TIMELINE

FIRST MEETING

Who's there? My eyes are gone, but I can hear you... smell you. My dark lord sends me company! Speak to me, you who smells of sunlight and blood. Tell me who it is that visits my dusty prison.

1. I am (character name). Who are you?

2. Which dark lord is yours? There are so many these days...

3. Be silent, woman. If I would hear your voice, I will let you know when I wish it.

1: Faithful! Though my name has withered to dust in this endless night, still I may be called FAITHFUL. Lone travelers walked too close, fell into our nets, and we cut out their hearts. Blood ran down my arms, and I felt the Lord of Murder's blessing!

2: The lord of Murder, he who was lord here before treachery and deceit ended him. Still, though I lost both my sight and freedom that fateful day, I remain faithful.

3: my fate was written long ago. now… I rest. (End convo)

1-2 to lead to:

Faithful! Though my name has withered to dust in this endless night, still I may be called FAITHFUL. Lone travelers walked too close, fell into our nets, and we cut out their hearts. Blood ran down my arms, and I felt the Lord of Murder's blessing!

1. The temple lies in ruin now, and you are caged, your eyes gouged from your skull. How did this come to pass?

2. I am one of Bhaal's children.

3. The days of Bhaal are long past.

4. I don't care who you are. Bother me no more.

1: The base god of treachery now rules here, his mocking laugh sears my brain. I will not say his name. She can never make me say his name! A new age of Bhaal will be upon us, and soon. The Harpers stole and slew our children, but still I remain faithful. The Lord of Murder will rise again.

2: *gasp* that a child of murder should stand before me! All is ordained. It is no chance that brings you here, divine one.

3: same as 1

4: my fate was written long ago. Now… I rest (end convo)

1-2-3 lead to:

The base god of treachery now rules here, his mocking laugh sears my brain. I will not say his name. She can never make me say his name! A new age of Bhaal will be upon us, and soon. The Harpers stole and slew our children, but still I remain faithful. The Lord of Murder will rise again.

1. The Harpers stole children? I do not believe you.

2. Tell me exactly what happened here.

3. Speak no more of Bhaal, or of anything else for that matter.

1: (if you have jaheira with you)

J: “Stole” is not the proper word. “Liberated” is more accurate. Harpers sometimes rescue innocents from cults prepared to sacrifice them.

A: What tale shall I spin for you? That of our stolen children, or of our collapse?

(If not skip straight to) “What tale shall I spin for you? That of our stolen children, or of our collapse?”

2: What tale shall I spin for you? That of our stolen children, or of our collapse?

3: my fate was written long ago. Now… I rest (end convo)

1-2 lead to:

What tale shall I spin for you? That of our stolen children, or of our collapse?

1. I would hear about the children.

2. Tell me of the temple’s fall.

3. There is nothing you can tell me, if you have truly been locked up for years.

1: A priestess and a Harper spy, meeting in darkness. Hiding their passion. Oh, but WE saw; WE knew. His passion let him to careless speech, and she brought his words back to the temple. He thought his love could be stronger than the will of murder! Ha!

When the Harpers raided the temple, he came upon his lover with a dagger raised over her living child. Her GIFT to raise our slain master. How he pleaded with her not to send her own flesh to the Lord of Murder. An arrow from one of his allies pierced her throat even as she laughed at his folly.

They took our children, the blood we would have used to return Bhaal to power. I, I didn't give up!

My faith holds strong! Before we could try again, though, the others came.

2: We plotted and planned, wailing in the darkness for our lost god. Then they came, the followers of… I will NOT say his name. They came for us, gloating and preening, their shiny knives raised

I got the best of HER, though. I said I would slay them all in Bhaal’s name, while my followers fled. Even the Lord of Murder keeps his promises! I broke their teeth with my dagger-blade, and gouged out their throats while their bloody gums gnawed at my hand! HeheheheeeeHAHAHAHA…

But she caught me in the end, yes. My faithful were safe, but I was trapped. Dusty bones in a rusty cage. Powerful wards to keep me alive long after I should have died. She took my eyes and tells me tales of her lord’s power. She says Bhaal is gone, and Cyr… no. I will not say his name. I will NEVER say his name!

3: The years do not matter, they did not break me, did not end my devotion! Ah heh. Heehee.HeeheeheehahaHAHAHAHAAAaaa...

(If you asked the Children question)

1. Tell me about the temple's collapse.

2. You've been locked up for almost a decade, then?

(If you asked Temple question)

1. Tell me about the stolen children

2. You've been locked up for almost a decade, then?

(You can repeatedly ask questions however many times you want to continue the conversation you must choose 2)

Both 2: The years do not matter, they did not break me, did not end my devotion! Ah heh. Heehee.HeeheeheehahaHAHAHAHAAAaaa...

The years do not matter, they did not break me, did not end my devotion! Ah heh. Heehee.HeeheeheehahaHAHAHAHAAAaaa...

1. I need to get you out of that cage.

2. I've come here seeking a wardstone stolen by a priest of Cyric. Do you know where I might find such a thing?

3. Well, then. I'll just be going as far away from you as possible now.

4. Be silent, woman, lest you attract the attention of your captors.

1: Out? To get out I… ugh. UGGGGGH. My head… MY HEAD!

2: You… you can… ugh. UGGGGGH. My head… MY HEAD…!

3: same as 2

4: same as 2

All lead to:

Tired… so tired. Ziatar knows, she has… what you need. I must rest now… almost over. Almost done.

1. What’s almost done? What do you mean?

2. I’ll find ziatar and then return to free you.

3. You and that cage deserve one another. I will find Ziatar and leave you to your fate.

1: The voice, it tells me… this is almost at an end. Soon, I shall rest.

2: Go. I shall rest.

3: my fate was written long ago. Now… I rest.

1 leads to:

The voice, it tells me… this is almost at an end. Soon, I shall rest.

1. I’ll find Ziatar and then return to free you.

2. Well, that was cryptic. Farewell.

3. I’ll find Ziatar and leave you to your fate. It’s no more than you deserve.

1: Go. I shall rest.

2: same as 1

3: my fate was written long ago. Now… I rest.

End

IF YOU TALK TO HER AGAIN AFTER GOING THROUGH THE FULL CONVERSATION

Alone in the dust. Alone in the rust. Hahahahaha! Forgotten servant of a forgotten god.

1. I will return once I have the means to free you.

2. Rot in your cell. You deserve no better.

Both: Go, then. GO.

IF YOU TALK TO HER AGAIN AFTER YOU DISMISSED HER BEFORE GETTING THROUGH THE FULL CONVERSATION marked with (end convo)

Alone in the dust. Alone in the rust. Hahahahaha! Forgotten servant of a forgotten god.

1. What forgotten god do you serve?

2. I will return once I have the means to free you.

3. Rot in your cell. You deserve no better.

1: The lord of Murder, he who was lord here before treachery and deceit ended him. Still, though I lost both my sight and freedom that fateful day, I remain faithful. (Starts convo over)

2: Go, then. GO.

3: same as 2

IF YOU RECRUIT KHALID BEFORE TALKING TO HER BY DESTROYING THE CRUSADE AT THE BRIDGE

No changes, if jaheira is dead he doesn’t comment on the Harpers taking the kids because I’m sure the developers did not expect you to do it this way lol

FREEING HER (NOT CLEARING TEMPLE)

1. I am here to free you. I found the key to your cell.

1: Free? I will never be free, I am bound to the Lord of Murder. He guides me even when he is silent... so silent. I AM HERE, I DO AS YOU WILL.

1. I am a child of Bhaal. I command you to leave this place and find a way to amend for your misdeeds in life,

2. I am a child of Bhaal. I command you to leave this place and uphold my father's teachings. Murder any who offend you. Make all mortals fear the Lord of Murder even in death.

3. Stay or go, it makes no difference to me.

1: Your orders contradict everything my lord has taught me... but you are his child! How can I deny you? But how can I defy him? I.. I will try, child of murder.

2: Your words are like cold water on a parched throat. For you, child of murder! I will kill in your name!

3: Perhaps one day my lord will hear my prayers once more.

(She will leave and you will not be able to talk to her again)

TALKING TO HER AFTER KILLING THE MINDFLAYER

1. I found the mindflayer who had taken over the temple. It was your mind that allowed him access.

1: She thought I was POWERLESS. She thought the Lord of Murder had abandoned me. But I told it everything, EVERYTHING. I know each voice here, each step, each slamming door. I told it that SHE was the one to control. And now she's gone... gone forever! And the temple of the betrayer falls.

(She says this even if Akanna is still alive)

And that’s all the dialogue I could find, if anyone has any extra dialogue that I missed please tell me how to get it and I’ll add it

MY THOUGHTS

I believe there might be a misconception here due to the line “so you’ve been locked up for almost a decade” after asking about the harpers taking the kids. The harpers did NOT imprison Madele, the followers of Cyric did.

Something you may have noticed is that Gorions Ward says “you’ve been locked up for almost a decade” when Madele literally said nothing about that. This is correct because we know she’s been locked up for about 8 years since the followers of Cyric took over the temple as stated in Akanna’s journal:

1360 DR

We have seized the temple of the Lord of Murder. We killed many of Bhaal's clergy. Others escaped, but I claimed a prize for myself: the high priestess Madele. I have caged her while I decide what glorious things to do with her. Praise Cyric. Fear the Dark Sun.

How did GW know? You get this dialogue before reading the diary entry so not from that. Perhaps they knew when the Harpers took the kids but I doubt it, Gorion obviously didn’t tell them, jaheira seemed to know the situation but since GW is surprised harpers took kids I doubt she told them either. I know it’s not explicitly stated that the Harper described was Gorion but… It was Gorion, I feel that’s clearly the intention. Plus, when the Harper’s were there doesn’t indicate anything about how long she’s been imprisoned since they didn’t imprison her. The two events could have both happened in 1360 DR which I guess could explain the “almost a decade” after asking about the kids but again there’s no way GW could have known that.

I’m chalking this up to a mistake in the code. You can ask Madele about the kids and the temple over and over again until you select “you’ve been locked up for almost a decade” to continue the conversation. You could have already asked about the temple before you ask about the kids so the option needs to come up after asking the kids question. I hope that made sense

As for GW somehow knowing it’s been almost a decade I’m chalking that up to a writing error. Again, if anyone has any ideas as to how they knew I’d love to hear it

The million dollar question: when did the harpers take the kids?

GW had to have been born so the earliest is 1348 DR, and it happened before the followers of Cyric so the latest is 1360 DR. Serevok visited the temple sometime after because in his note he mentions his plans for the iron throne starting to gain traction, the wiki says his iron throne scheme began in 1365 so I’ll hesitantly say it was around that time without knowing where that information is from.

The wiki also says apparently serevok was left behind by the harpers during this raid and I genuinely have no idea where this comes from and contradicts serevok’s backstory in bg1 so if anyone knows please tell me

THE TIMELINE

The Harpers take the kids (1348 DR ~ 1360 DR) -> Followers of Cyric take over the temple (1360 DR) -> Serevok visits (~1365 DR) -> Seige of Dragonspear (1368 DR)