Baldur’s Gate 3 players have a soft spot for a design considered for Nightsong, which was later modified to be used for something much grander.
During its long period of Early Access, Baldur’s Gate 3 removed a lot of content, as well as radically changed several storylines and characters. This includes the character Chantenuit, who looks like an armored angel in the final game, but originally had a completely different aesthetic.
On Reddit, a user started a discussion asking fans if a specific character model was supposed to be Shar, the Goddess of Darkness. Fans pointed out that the character model was a beta design for Chantenuit, when she had a different role in the story.
As the abandoned version of Chantenuit showed a lot more skin, this caused a predictable backlash from the community.
“I like the Aylin we have, but this one is really stylish and the tattoos are beautiful. I wish they used this model for a boss or NPC in the game. (or for Shar.),” one fan wrote. Another said: “Looks like I love it now.”
“Answer this: If Shar is supposed to represent absence, why does she have all this?!”» joked one fan. One response read: “She wants people to forget their exes.”
“If so, I need to rethink my allegiance to Selune,” one fan said. Another wondered: “I didn’t understand why people loved him before. I now see the light. Or darkness.”
It appears the model wasn’t completely unused, as it resembles the Shar statues seen in Act II, as well as the avatar you can potentially face in Act III.
In the final version of Baldur’s Gate 3, Chantenuit thus presents herself as a sacred warrior thirsty for vengeance, becoming an infallible ally in crucial moments of the game. If the game had retained its initial design, accentuating her connection with Shar, this would potentially have prompted more players to embrace an evil path.
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