The Baldur’s Gate series is set within the Forgotten Realms, one of the most expansive and enduring campaign settings in Dungeons & Dragons history. The events of the series span several years and intersect with key moments in Faerûn’s history. What follows is a structured timeline focusing on major events directly referenced or depicted within the Baldur’s Gate games, including background lore crucial to understanding the characters and conflicts.
Pre-Game Era
Year of Shadows (1358 DR)
The Time of Troubles. Gods walk the earth after being cast down by Ao. During this period, Bhaal, god of murder, is slain by Cyric. In his final moments, Bhaal attempts to preserve his essence by impregnating mortal women, giving rise to the Bhaalspawn.
1358–1368 DR
Over the next decade, many of Bhaal’s children grow up across Faerûn. Their existence remains largely hidden, although some begin to show signs of divine heritage through violence, ambition, or supernatural abilities.
Events of Baldur’s Gate I
Year of the Banner (1368 DR)
- The protagonist, an orphan raised in Candlekeep, is thrust into conflict after the assassination of their foster father, Gorion.
- A conspiracy involving the Iron Throne and the scarcity of iron in the Sword Coast leads to widespread unrest.
- The player discovers their identity as a Bhaalspawn and confronts Sarevok, a fellow child of Bhaal who seeks to ignite war and ascend to godhood.
- Sarevok is defeated, halting his plan to become the new Lord of Murder.
Events of Baldur’s Gate: Siege of Dragonspear
Year of the Helm (1369 DR)
- Following Sarevok’s defeat, the protagonist becomes a celebrated hero but is soon embroiled in a new conflict.
- Caelar Argent, known as the Shining Lady, wages a crusade to breach Avernus, the first layer of the Nine Hells, in a quest to save lost souls.
- The protagonist leads a coalition against her, travelling into Avernus to end the threat.
- After returning, the protagonist is arrested by agents of the Flaming Fist under suspicion tied to their divine heritage.
Events of Baldur’s Gate II: Shadows of Amn
Year of the Gauntlet (1370 DR)
- Imprisoned and experimented on by the mage Jon Irenicus, the Bhaalspawn escapes and arrives in Athkatla, the capital of Amn.
- Irenicus seeks to steal the protagonist’s divine soul to regain his own lost power and immortality.
- The journey spans the Underdark, Spellhold asylum, and the elven city of Suldanessellar.
- Irenicus is defeated, and the protagonist reclaims their soul.
Events of Baldur’s Gate II: Throne of Bhaal
1371 DR
- As the power of the Bhaalspawn rises, the land is torn apart by other children of Bhaal seeking to dominate or destroy.
- The Five, a group of powerful Bhaalspawn, declare war across Tethyr.
- The protagonist eventually ascends to face Amelyssan the Blackhearted, who has been harvesting the essence of other Bhaalspawn to claim Bhaal’s divinity.
- With her defeat, the protagonist is offered the choice to ascend to godhood or remain mortal. This marks the end of the Bhaalspawn saga.
Post-Bhaalspawn Period
1372–1492 DR
This period sees Faerûn undergo major upheavals, including the Spellplague and the Second Sundering. Though separate from the Bhaalspawn saga, these events shape the world for later conflicts.
Events of Baldur’s Gate III
Year of the Three Ships Sailing (1492 DR)
- Over a century has passed since the Bhaalspawn era. The story opens with a nautiloid ship abducting people to implant them with mind flayer tadpoles.
- The protagonist and their allies survive the crash and begin to resist the parasite’s influence.
- The city of Baldur’s Gate is again at the heart of the conflict, tied to the re-emergence of the Dead Three: Bhaal, Bane, and Myrkul.
- The game’s events intertwine divine machinations, the spread of illithid corruption, and the political instability of the region.
Seven Swords takeaway…
The Baldur’s Gate universe spans multiple generations, shaped by divine legacies, moral choices, and high-stakes battles. While each game tells its own story, they form a continuous thread through Faerûn’s turbulent history. The city of Baldur’s Gate remains a constant anchor point: a place where the ambitions of gods, mortals, and monsters often collide.
