eXputer

QuestmajorMain storyHard

Find the Nightsong

A recurring Baldur's Gate 3 quest that begins with a search for an artifact and ultimately reveals the Nightsong's identity, linking the Gauntlet of Shar, Ketheric Thorm, Dame Aylin and Lorroakan.

RoleMajor cross-act quest involving the Nightsong's identity, the Shadowfell, Dame Aylin's fate and the consequences of confronting those who seek to control her.
Statusactive
Importancemajor
RewardMajor story progression, changes to Act 2 outcomes and potential support in Act 3.
TimeSpans multiple acts and cannot be completed in a single location.
  • Quest typeCross-act story quest
  • Primary actsAct 1, Act 2 and Act 3
  • Main dungeonGauntlet of Shar
  • Key realmShadowfell
  • Central figureDame Aylin
  • Major decisionSave or kill Dame Aylin
  • Related itemSpear of Night

The quest spans multiple acts, and its exact length depends on when the party follows the investigation and which decisions it makes.

Key takeawaysSpoilers

The quest's apparent objective changes as the party learns what the Nightsong is and why several factions want control of her.

  • The Nightsong is a person The search eventually reveals Dame Aylin, an immortal Aasimar and daughter of Selûne, rather than a recoverable artifact.
  • The Shadowfell is the main Act 2 decision point The party reaches Dame Aylin only after progressing through the Gauntlet of Shar and entering the Shadowfell.
  • Ketheric Thorm's immortality is tied to her captivity Dame Aylin is being used as the source of Ketheric Thorm's immortality, which gives the confrontation immediate consequences for Act 2.
  • The quest continues after Act 2 Freeing or killing Dame Aylin changes later events, and the quest can culminate in Act 3 through Lorroakan's attempt to capture her.

Find the Nightsong: overviewSpoilers

Find the Nightsong is one of Baldur's Gate 3's longest-running quests, beginning as a search for an artifact and developing into a major conflict over Dame Aylin's fate.

The quest begins in Act 1, when the party encounters rumors that an important artifact called the Nightsong is somewhere in the region. The search is framed as a retrieval job connected to a wizard, but the early investigation does not immediately reveal what the Nightsong actually is. Its significance becomes clearer as the party follows the trail through later areas and learns that the search is tied to much larger powers.

In Act 2, the investigation leads into the Gauntlet of Shar and then the Shadowfell. These locations are central to Shadowheart's personal story and to the religious conflict surrounding Shar and Selûne. The party must complete the relevant trials and explore the Silent Library before it can properly confront the Nightsong's fate. The Spear of Night is an important item in this part of the quest.

The central revelation is that the Nightsong is not an artifact at all. She is Dame Aylin, an immortal Aasimar and daughter of Selûne. Ketheric Thorm has held her captive and used her as the source of his immortality, making the decision in the Shadowfell one of the defining turning points of Act 2.

The quest continues into Act 3 rather than ending when Dame Aylin is freed or killed. Her relationship with Isobel becomes part of the aftermath, while the wizard Lorroakan seeks to capture her. The player's earlier decision changes the support and story circumstances available later, so the quest is best treated as a continuing chain rather than a single dungeon objective.

Where this sitsSpoilers

Act 1Hear rumors and begin the search
Act 2Explore the Gauntlet of Shar and reach the Shadowfell
Act 3Resolve the conflict involving Lorroakan
  1. ●Begin the searchstoryThe Nightsong is introduced through rumors of an artifact.
  2. 2Explore the Gauntlet of ShardungeonComplete the dungeon's progression and investigate its connection to Shadowheart.
  3. 3Enter the ShadowfellstoryReach the place where the Nightsong's true identity and fate are revealed.
  4. 4Decide Dame Aylin's fatechoiceSave or kill the Nightsong, with major consequences.
  5. 5Resolve the Act 3 pursuitstoryConfront the consequences of Lorroakan's interest in Dame Aylin.

Find the Nightsong is a cross-act quest, not a one-area objective.

Requirements

Progress requires following the Nightsong investigation into Act 2 and completing the relevant route through the Gauntlet of Shar.

  • RequiredBegin the Nightsong investigationFollow the early rumors and accept the search as a continuing objective rather than expecting an immediate artifact recovery.
  • RequiredReach the Gauntlet of SharThe Act 2 portion cannot be resolved without entering this major dungeon.
  • RequiredComplete the dungeon progressionThe party must deal with the Gauntlet's trials and investigate the Silent Library before the route to the Shadowfell can be completed.
  • RecommendedPrepare for a companion decisionShadowheart's personal connection to Shar makes the Shadowfell confrontation especially significant if she is present.
  • RequiredMake a permanent decisionThe confrontation with Dame Aylin includes a save-or-kill choice that changes later story outcomes.

ObjectivesSpoilers

  1. Investigate rumors of the NightsongThe initial objective presents the Nightsong as an artifact sought by others.
  2. Reach the Gauntlet of SharContinue the investigation into the Act 2 dungeon tied to Shar and Shadowheart's story.
  3. Find a way into the ShadowfellComplete the necessary Gauntlet progression and reach the realm where the Nightsong is held.
  4. Discover the Nightsong's identityLearn that the Nightsong is Dame Aylin, an immortal Aasimar and daughter of Selûne.
  5. Choose Dame Aylin's fateDecide whether to save her from captivity or allow her to be killed.
  6. Deal with the Act 3 consequencesResolve the later conflict involving Dame Aylin and Lorroakan.

WalkthroughSpoilers

  1. 01

    Investigate the rumors

    Start the search for the Nightsong

    Follow the rumors that introduce the Nightsong as a valuable artifact and treat the objective as a long-term investigation. The early part of the quest does not provide the final answer about the Nightsong's nature, so continue through the story instead of expecting to collect it immediately.

    TipRecord the quest as an ongoing lead; its most important location is not reached during the opening investigation.

  2. 02

    Continue the search into the Act 2 region

    Advance into Act 2

    Carry the investigation forward until the party can enter the area containing the Gauntlet of Shar. This is the point where the quest becomes directly connected to Shadowheart, Shar and the fate of Ketheric Thorm.

    Watch outDo not treat the early artifact description as the complete truth about the Nightsong.

  3. 03

    Navigate the Gauntlet of Shar

    Enter the Gauntlet of Shar

    Explore the Gauntlet and complete its progression rather than rushing past its trials. The dungeon contains the route to the Shadowfell and also provides context for Shadowheart's relationship with Shar.

    Location: Gauntlet of Shar

    TipIf Shadowheart is in the party, allow room for her reactions to the Gauntlet's religious significance.

  4. 04

    Find the Spear of Night

    Search the Silent Library

    Investigate the Silent Library as part of the Gauntlet's route. The Spear of Night is found there and is central to the later confrontation in the Shadowfell, making the library an important stop rather than an incidental room.

    Location: Silent Library

    TipSearch the library carefully before leaving; the spear is a key item for the Shadowfell sequence.

    Missable
  5. 05

    Find the Nightsong

    Reach the Shadowfell

    After completing the required Gauntlet progression, enter the Shadowfell and follow the route toward the captive Nightsong. This transition moves the quest from investigation into a major story confrontation.

    Location: Shadowfell

    Watch outSave before the confrontation so the consequences of the decision are clear and deliberate.

  6. 06

    Discover the Nightsong's identity

    Learn who the Nightsong is

    The party discovers that the Nightsong is Dame Aylin, an immortal Aasimar and daughter of Selûne. She is not an object to retrieve; she is a person whose captivity has been used to sustain Ketheric Thorm's immortality.

    Location: Shadowfell

  7. 07

    Determine Dame Aylin's fate

    Decide Dame Aylin's fate

    Choose whether to save Dame Aylin or allow her to be killed. This decision changes the course of Act 2 and affects the support and circumstances available in Act 3.

    Location: Shadowfell

    Watch outThis is a major, potentially irreversible story choice.

    Checkpoint
  8. 08

    Resolve the Nightsong's remaining conflict

    Follow the aftermath into Act 3

    Continue the story after the Shadowfell decision and look for the consequences involving Dame Aylin and Isobel. The quest's later resolution centers on Lorroakan, who seeks to capture Dame Aylin.

    Watch outThe Act 3 outcome depends on what happened to Dame Aylin earlier in the quest.

Mission mechanicsSpoilers

Find the Nightsong is structured as a delayed-revelation quest. Its initial wording encourages the party to think in terms of locating an artifact, but later information reframes the entire objective. This means that progress is measured less by collecting a single item and more by following the investigation across acts and recognizing how different characters interpret the Nightsong.

The Gauntlet of Shar functions as both a dungeon route and a companion-story setting. Its trials and the Silent Library are part of the practical path toward the Shadowfell, while Shadowheart's connection to Shar gives the area additional narrative weight. The Spear of Night links the library to the confrontation that follows.

The Shadowfell sequence is the quest's principal branching point. Dame Aylin's captivity is connected to Ketheric Thorm's immortality, so the decision made there changes more than one character's immediate circumstances. The consequences continue into Act 3, where Dame Aylin's bond with Isobel and Lorroakan's attempt to capture her become part of the quest's resolution.

What works and what does not

Strengths

  • The quest rewards patient investigation by transforming an apparent artifact hunt into a character-driven revelation.
  • Its route through the Gauntlet of Shar connects environmental progression with Shadowheart's personal story.
  • The Shadowfell decision has consequences that remain relevant beyond the immediate Act 2 encounter.
  • The Act 3 continuation gives the Nightsong storyline a second major resolution instead of ending immediately after the reveal.

Weaknesses

  • The early objective can be misleading because the Nightsong is initially described as an artifact rather than a person.
  • The quest is spread across three acts, so its conclusion may be separated from the moment it first appears in the journal.
  • The most important choice is tied to a later dungeon sequence and can be easy to underestimate if the party has not followed the surrounding character stories.

Best uses

  • Follow it alongside Shadowheart's story for the strongest narrative context.
  • Treat the Gauntlet and Silent Library as essential quest locations rather than optional detours.
  • Make a manual save before the Shadowfell decision if comparing story branches.

Encounter phasesSpoilers

  1. 1

    Investigation phase

    Starts: The party hears rumors of the Nightsong in Act 1.

    The quest is introduced as a search for an artifact connected to a wizard's request. The central identity of the Nightsong remains hidden.

    • Keep following the quest across acts instead of expecting an immediate retrieval objective.
  2. 2

    Gauntlet phase

    Starts: The party reaches the Gauntlet of Shar in Act 2.

    The investigation becomes part of the Gauntlet's progression, with the Silent Library and Spear of Night serving as important parts of the route.

    • Bring companions whose personal stories connect to Shar and Selûne if you want the surrounding dialogue and stakes represented.
  3. 3

    Shadowfell decision phase

    Starts: The party reaches the captive Nightsong.

    Dame Aylin's identity is revealed, and the party must decide whether she lives or dies. Her captivity is tied to Ketheric Thorm's immortality.

    • Pause before committing to the choice; the decision has major Act 2 and Act 3 consequences.
  4. 4

    Act 3 resolution phase

    Starts: The party encounters the later conflict involving Lorroakan.

    The quest's final stage deals with the consequences of Dame Aylin's fate and Lorroakan's desire to capture her.

    • Judge the Act 3 situation in light of the Shadowfell decision, because the available aftermath changes between branches.

Boss encounterSpoilers

  • Location
    Shadowfell and the later Act 3 conflict involving Lorroakan
  • Health
    Not specified

The quest's defining confrontation is not presented as a single conventional boss encounter. In the Shadowfell, focus on understanding the situation around Dame Aylin and make the save-or-kill decision deliberately. The later Lorroakan sequence resolves the consequences of that choice and should be approached as a narrative confrontation as well as a combat risk.

Rewards

  • Major story progression
  • Changed Act 2 outcomes
  • Potential future support in Act 3

Choices and consequencesEnding spoilers

  • Save Dame Aylin in the Shadowfell

    Dame Aylin survives, changing the Act 2 outcome and allowing her story and relationship with Isobel to continue into later content.

    Spoiler
  • Allow Dame Aylin to be killed

    The quest takes a substantially darker route, with consequences for Act 2 and reduced or altered future support in Act 3.

    Spoiler
  • Continue the quest after the Shadowfell

    The storyline can lead to a confrontation involving Lorroakan, who seeks to capture Dame Aylin.

    Spoiler

Quest checklistSpoilers

  • Follow the initial rumors about the NightsongThe early objective begins the long investigation.
  • Reach the Gauntlet of SharThis is the main Act 2 dungeon connected to the quest.
  • Complete the Gauntlet's relevant progressionThe route to the Shadowfell depends on progressing through the dungeon.
  • Search the Silent LibraryThe Spear of Night is located here.
  • Reach the ShadowfellThis is where the Nightsong's identity and fate are confronted.
  • Learn that the Nightsong is Dame AylinThis is the quest's central revelation.
  • Decide whether Dame Aylin livesThe choice affects later story outcomes.Optional
  • Continue the storyline into Act 3Look for the resolution involving Lorroakan.

Collectibles and key itemsSpoilers

  • 01
    Spear of Night

    Where: Silent Library in the Gauntlet of Shar

    A notable item involved in the quest and central to the encounter in the Shadowfell.

    Missable

Failure conditionsSpoilers

  • Dame Aylin is killedAllowing the Nightsong to die commits the quest to a major alternate branch and changes later outcomes.
  • The party leaves the relevant progression unresolvedThe quest cannot reach its central revelation until the Gauntlet of Shar route and Shadowfell sequence are completed.
  • The party overlooks the Act 3 continuationThe quest does not necessarily end with the Shadowfell decision; its later resolution involves Lorroakan and may be missed if the party stops pursuing it.

On failure

Make a manual save before the Shadowfell decision because the save-or-kill choice has lasting consequences.

Rewards and dropsSpoilers

  • Story progression
    Resolving the Nightsong advances the major plot surrounding Ketheric Thorm and Act 2.
  • Dame Aylin's support
    Saving Dame Aylin can preserve future support and story involvement in Act 3.
  • Spear of Night
    This key item is found in the Silent Library and is central to the Shadowfell sequence.
  • Branching Act 3 outcomes
    The fate chosen in the Shadowfell changes the later storyline involving Dame Aylin, Isobel and Lorroakan.

Characters in this missionSpoilers

AftermathSpoilers

The Nightsong's story continues

The Shadowfell decision is not the complete ending of Find the Nightsong. If Dame Aylin survives, her bond with Isobel and the later conflict with Lorroakan carry the consequences into Act 3; if she dies, those later possibilities are altered or removed.

Trivia

  • The quest title deliberately conceals the Nightsong's true nature for much of the investigation.
  • The Nightsong is revealed to be Dame Aylin, an immortal Aasimar and daughter of Selûne.
  • The quest is unusual in spanning all three acts rather than ending when its central identity is revealed.
  • The Spear of Night connects the Silent Library to the Shadowfell portion of the quest.

Relationships

characters

locations

  • Gauntlet of SharAct 2 dungeonThe party explores the Gauntlet of Shar before reaching the Shadowfell.
  • ShadowfellDecision locationThe party confronts the Nightsong's fate in the Shadowfell.