Last Cinematic in SoA *spoilers*

[Leonar - The Bankrupt Toydarian]

But B.S. finally, through his power, was able to take the cahnce to accension. Better if you don't have a romance, otherwise, stick yourself as a mortal for all time...

So it was  all a clever plan, Cyric, he came to the pitfiends/dark 9. He says that the B.S., and IRenicus both were extremely dangerous obstacles. If Irenicus or the B.S. ever got to powerful, or out of control, then either, or both, could accend to godhood. Threatening Cyric's protfolio, because the B.S. was the rightful hier. Or Irenicus could take his step onthe throne of Mystra, due to his immensly powerful magic capability. (which died by the way, but who kknows, maybe another little trick up the sleeve for the lords of baator)
Thus Both or either would threaten Cyrics portfolio, and possibly be able to destroy the forces of baator to the last minion. Then go to the tannari and wipe them out.

So let's get this straight.

This was all a clever plan made by Cyric, and the Pitlords, to keep the B.S., and Irenicus, two beings of awsome power, under control while they could recieve enough numbers to swarm them both when the time came. Later Cyric decided it would be wiser if htey manipulated them both in to destroying each other.
Due to the fact Irenicus probably did somthing bad that exiled him to the mortal plane. He became obbsessed about life, death, and how to become immortal. So he wouldn't be punished again.
Thus the dark 8 changed the properties of the area Irenicus was in, as punishment, they disabled his spell-power, maybe even the B.S.'s but he escaped and returned to the living. The demons, now free of the spell, attacked Irenicus as punishment, revenge, and instinct.
Then the dark eight conviened, maybe nine, if Cyric was there. They discussed how the B.S. became way too powerful. Then Cyric, or the head pitlord, then laid another plan. They met Mellesan. If Mellesan did her job, she could share the portfolio of Bhall, while Cyric took the others (it had to be a sacrifice which Cyric probably did not like), thus Cyric would retain power, the baaetzu would have removed a threat, and Mellesan would achive power. So Mellesan was sent to bring the bhallspawn together, eventually the B.S. would arrive. She would then destroy him, using the powers of herself, and her underlings.
But as chronicled, the B.S. became victorious. Mellesan was defeated, and (depends) accended, removing Cyric. The Baaetzu would then be easily defeated. Maybe this should be what BG3 should be... the Baaetzu make a final strike, trying to invade the Prime Material, but the B.S., stil lretaining his mortality, defeats the swarms, by eliminating the dark eight and dark nine, as well as confronting the big daddy, Lucifer. Lucifer reveals the entire story, and thus resolves to destroy the B.S. once and for all. But as the story must go, the B.S., is again victorius, and is chosen to become one of the prime powers of the realms, ruler of the remaining Baatzu forces, and striking the Tannari, once and for all (maybe in a cinematic) thus the entire saga is concluded...

BTW, I noticed BG1, and BG2 SoA, were strories of revenge. Not about a force off to destroy the world. This is probably why I liked the original SoA more than ToB.

[Dampylle]

Close but not quite.

I think Cyric convinced the Dark 8 to set the two of them up. Cyric is a master manipulator so convincing them ti was in theri best interest wouldn't have been to hard for him. Since Baator is divinely morphic it wouldn't have been to hard for Cyric to negate Irinicus' magical abilities (possably by creating a deadzone such as those caused by the time of troubles).

Finally although the B.S. had the chance to ascend at the end of the expansion he wouldn't have been able to defeat Cyric on his own. The B.S. only had a portion fo Bhaal's divinity whiel Cyric si a full god. If the two entered a Conflict Cyric woudl have a destinct advantage. their si also the fact that Cyric is still the god of Murder in 3rd edition. I see two possabilities for that.

1.  That for story purposes it is assumed that a romance occured and thus the B.S. remained on Toril.

2.  That Cyric was concerned with slowing the acension in order to prevent the Bhall spawn from gainign any more divinity. That way when he/dhe did ascend Cyric coudl easily dispatch the B.S. and retain Bhaal's portfolio.

Either theory woudl work both in terms fo the games story and in terms of Cyrcis known behaviors. He si well known to manipulate others to reach his own goals, even to the point of sacrificing his followers.

To determin which theory best fits lets look at the facts.

Cyric is God of Murder in 3rd edition

The Developers Included Romances and expanded those romances.

IF you had a romance the B.S. remains on Toril

A group seesm to have orcastrated the conflict between Irinicus adn the B.S.

So whitch theoyr fits best

[Leonar - The Bankrupt Toydarian]

But the romances were optional. So the B.S. could ahve still accended.

This is one game out of a third edition universe. This would translate to creative licence.

[Dampylle]

Actually SoA still used the 2nd edition ruleset, they don't have nonweapon profeciency in 3rd edition. Also despite the fact that they used the specialty preists as a kit in IWD2 those are actually considered Esteem Classes that you add to a cleric at a later point in the game so 3rd edition technically doesn't have kits either.

I could point out that developers are prone to including many possable ending but that for story purposes only one is used as cannon for future story lines. I could give several examples but I don't think ti si necessary.

Basically I would theorize that for story purposes they woudl utilize the romance to explain why the B.S. didn't ascend, that way they wouldn't have conflicts with later games set in the D&D universe.  

[Leonar - The Bankrupt Toydarian]

It's more dramatic to see guys give up a chance of high power, than to give up the ones they love.

But how could you fall in llove wiht a few dialouge strings?

[Dampylle]

It also makes for a better story line.  

As for the how of it, you have to reralise in game mevhanics ti si just a string of dialog but in styory terms they went through a great deal together  and in soem cases the romantic interest was rescued at least twice by the B.S. as well as being saved from a life of undeath.

BAsicaly in story terms their si ample time for romance to develop, in game terms it si all just dialog

[Leonar - The Bankrupt Toydarian]

>>I love you
>>You do?
>>Yes

Very romantic.

Our two theories are exctly the same you know...

[Dampylle]

So what it basically boils down to is this.

Irinicus and the B.S. were manipulated by Cyric so he coudl maintain bhaal's portfolio. To that extent he enlisted the Dark 8 and they in turn enlisted Mellesan. the Baatezu attacked Irinicus when Cyric negated his magic and since they are immuen to fire the lava posed them no threat. Mellesan failed to destroy the B.S. but in th eend they had all basically been manipulated by Cyric who was counting on the B.S.'s humanity to infuence his/her decision. In the event that that failed Cyric woudl have been forced to destroy the B.S. before he/she coudl ammass sufecient power to chalenge him.

The end results are that Irinicus is dead, the B.S. depending on his/her choice si either mortal or dead, and Cyric is the current God fo Murder.

[Leonar - The Bankrupt Toydarian]

what do you mean the B.S> is either mortal or dead? Immortal or mortal you mean.

I noticed. Even if IWD2 is based on 3d edition. Bhall would still be the lord of murder at that time. Not Cyric. What a wonderful use between D&D history and 3d edition.

[Dampylle]

In 3rd edition Cyric si the God fo Murder, if anyone else has a copy fo " Forgotten Realms Faiths and Patheons" they can confirm this by checking page 10. Thus if the Bhall spawn did attempt to ascend and challenged Cyric the logical conclusion si that Cyric destroyed him/her.

Based on those Facts the B.S.  woudl either be mortal or dead

Although the game features the 3rd edition ruleset it occurs (chronologically speaking) before the "Time of Troubels", thus before Bhaal's death and before the creation fo the B.S.

I can assure you that Bhaal did not resurect after the time of Troubles and Cyric does in fact posses the portfolio of Murder.

On a side note the esteem clas cleric in IWD2 si a "Dreadmaster of Bane" not a servant fo Bhaa :Pl

[Leonar - The Bankrupt Toydarian]

Is Bane supposed to be dead in 3d edition?

[Dampylle]

Bane is a little more difficult to explain, According to Forgotten Realms Faiths and Patheons it would appear that Bane sought to create Iyachtu Xvim (his son with a poweful demon) for the soel purposes of having a way back if he should be killed. Bane was destroyed by Torm during the tiem fo troubles, but 14 years after the time of troubles (and after Xvim had been freed from Zentil keep) Bane litetrally burst forth from within Xvim. I can list the excertp from the book regarding this fi you woudl like.

Suffice to say Bane had set up a way to resurect himself shoudl he be defeated.

SO to put it simply, bane was killed buthas resurected himself so that he is alive and still the God of Hatred in 3rd edition.

[Leonar - The Bankrupt Toydarian]

... wow. Why didn't his name appear in the 3d edition manual I checked this morning?

[Dampylle]

Well since we are discussing 3rd Edition at this point I assuem you are refering to the Players Handbook. the Asnwer si actually quite simple, the dieties listed in the players handbook are generic in nature. IF you wish to find listings for specific dieties you will require a copy of "Dieties and Demigods" and if you want Forgotten Realm dietied you will require a copy of "Faiths and Pathions", the later fo which si a forgotten realms supplement to the campaign setting.

To find the listing for Bane you will need a copy fo "Faiths and Pathions", once you have a copy check pages 14-17 for a complete listing

[Leonar - The Bankrupt Toydarian]

I'm concidering getting the whole pack. But up here... Each is around $40.

Monster Manual
M.M.2
Race of Faerun
Manual of the Planes
Fiend Folio
Book of Vile darkness (I'm evil )
Faiths and Pantheons
But Dieties and Demi-Gods seems to be less situated to D&D. I'm not getting it.

So your looking for a total of around 280 bucks. Wow. Take out faiths and pantheons (not intrested in D&D theology) you still have around 240. One of the books from the place was for $12, the rest around -$4.95. Exact measures record around: $200

Bah, I'll just get the whole thing for 240.