Isobel's Mysterious Death in Baldur's Gate 3: A Deep Dive

Most of the second act in *Baldur's Gate 3* centers around the conflict between your party and Ketheric Thorm, the chosen of Myrkul and the general of the Absolute's army. However, digging deeper into the region reveals a more complex story. Ketheric's turn to the god of death was triggered by the loss of his wife, Melodia, and his daughter, Isobel. He serves Myrkul because the god resurrected his daughter, though she rejects his allegiance to the Dead Three.

The game explores Isobel's identity and Ketheric's motivations, but it never explicitly states how Isobel died. While it's mentioned that her mother succumbed to illness, the cause of Isobel's death remains ambiguous. The clues scattered throughout the Shadow-Cursed Lands don't offer a complete picture. By examining the available evidence, considering content removed from the early access version, and exploring the lore of Faerun's deities, we can piece together a more informed theory about who might have killed Isobel Thorm.

Isobel's Death: The Cut Content Explanation Originally, the game included an explanation for Isobel's death in cut content. In the early access version of *BG3*, the story differed significantly. Wyll's character was different, and Isobel's fate was rewritten. Initially, Halsin was supposed to have killed Isobel during the war with Ketheric Thorm, supposedly using the glaive called Sorrow. Both were sent as negotiators, but talks failed, leading Isobel to attack, forcing Halsin to kill her.

This storyline would have provided context for Halsin's guilt regarding the Shadow Curse and the glaive locked away beneath the Emerald Grove. However, in the final release, the notebook detailing this information was removed. Halsin lacks any unique interactions or dialogue concerning Isobel, and it appears Isobel died before the war at Moonrise. Therefore, Halsin likely didn't kill Isobel in the current version, and the curse associated with Sorrow is unrelated to her death.

Clues from Moonrise Towers Ketheric's diary and conversations with Squire offer insights into Isobel's demise. In the current storyline, the most straightforward explanation for Isobel's death is that she died from the same mysterious illness that claimed her mother. This aligns with the timeline, as they died shortly after each other. Despite Dame Aylin's presence as a paladin, she couldn't cure Melodia's illness, suggesting that Isobel's affliction was beyond her healing abilities.

However, certain details don't quite fit. Squire, the undead canine in Moonrise Towers, states that he died "defending" Isobel. "Defending" implies an attack rather than an illness. The fact that Squire also died suggests a sudden, fatal event. This raises the possibility that someone killed Isobel before Ketheric turned to Shar and started a war. It's possible Squire's dialogue is a remnant of the cut Halsin storyline, further complicating the mystery. Another detail is Isobel's lack of memory regarding her death. It's unusual for her to have no recollection of her final moments, especially if she succumbed to a gradual illness. Perhaps the trauma of death and resurrection obscured her memories. Alternatively, something might be deliberately concealing the truth about Isobel's death.

Shar's Potential Involvement The goddess Shar may have played a role in Isobel's death. It's conceivable that Shar herself was responsible for Isobel's death, or that her power was the cause. Isobel, Ketheric, and Melodia were followers of Selune, and blessed by Dame Aylin. Shar, known for her vindictiveness, would have seen destroying this family as a victory, similar to her destruction of Moonhaven. She might have also sought to corrupt Ketheric, as she does with Shadowheart. Perhaps the illness that killed Melodia, Isobel, and Squire was a manifestation of Shar's power, explaining why Dame Aylin couldn't combat it and why Squire was defending Isobel. Shar's ability to alter memories could explain Isobel's memory loss and the vague accounts of her death. Reithwin's rapid transformation into a Sharran headquarters after Ketheric's fall implies that Shar's followers were already present. Assassins of Shar could have taken Isobel's life. By killing his family, Shar could drive Ketheric to villainy. He might have initially been unaware of Shar's involvement, becoming her follower with the promise of resurrection. However, by the time Myrkul restored Isobel, Ketheric had discarded his Sharran symbols, possibly realizing Shar was his family's tormentor. This may have motivated him to join the Dead Three in *Baldur's Gate 3*.