My Moonshae modification (WIP)

A New Journey Begins: Exploring the Moonshae Isles in Baldur’s Gate

Even though it’s still early in development, I wanted to share some first WIP screenshots, ideas, and progress for a very personal project: my upcoming Moonshae Mod for Baldur’s Gate named Bound In Blood.

This one’s a true passion project. I’ve always dreamed of creating a large, open world in the spirit of BG1 – full of exploration, side quests, curious encounters, and that special sense of freedom that made the original game so magical.

Ever since I read the Moonshae Trilogy by Douglas Niles, I’ve been fascinated by the wild beauty and mystical nature of these isles. Now, I’m thrilled to bring them to life within the Baldur’s Gate engine – complete with unicorns, satyrs, firbolgs, pixies, quicklings, and all the other enchanting beings that dwell in the Fey-touched corners of the Forgotten Realms.

The mod will be set on the isle of Moray, a smaller Moonshae island that offers the perfect balance: it’s rich in Realmslore, yet still largely untouched in the world of CRPGs. It’s a land of rugged wilderness and simmering conflict – where House Kendrick, the seafaring Northmen, the mysterious Black Blood Tribe, and other forces all vie for control. A perfect setting for political intrigue, ancient druidic powers, and dangerous wilderness.

The world map will follow the classic BG1 approach: you’ll have to actually travel through areas to unlock neighboring ones, reinforcing the feeling of a real, untamed frontier. Moray itself will be full of variety and atmosphere – misty moors, deep forests, soaring mountain passes, ancient dwarven strongholds, and perilous dungeons all waiting to be explored.

Of course, not everything is wild and dangerous. Scattered across the island are villages and settlements, where adventurers can rest, resupply, and hear the latest rumors.

The central hub of the mod will be Dynnegal, a small lakeside village nestled by the shores of Lake Dynnegal. Inhabited by the hardy Ffolk, Dynnegal offers a moment of calm in the chaos – and in its cozy tavern, The Red Goat, you’ll find a warm fire, strong ale, and a place to recover from the dangers of the road.

The Moonshae Isles are also famous for their deep spiritual connection to nature through the divine presence of the Earthmother.

Her sacred power flows through magical Moonwells – crystal-clear, tranquil springs that radiate peace and natural harmony. On Moray, there are two such Moonwells, hidden deep within the island’s untouched wilderness. These holy places are revered by druids and nature spirits alike – but not all beings hold them sacred. A dark threat stirs, as sinister forces seek to corrupt or destroy the Moonwells at any cost, threatening to unravel the island’s balance and unleash chaos upon the land.

(WIP)

(WIP)

And there’s another layer to Moray’s mystery – one that ties directly into the legacy of Baldur’s Gate itself. The Moonshae Isles have long felt the shadow of Bhaal, Lord of Murder.

His cults once thrived here, and some say his dark influence still lingers in hidden places.

Bhaal had many followers in the Moonshaes. Some of them vanished into the mists of history – but what if one or two of them returned? Revived by forbidden rituals or sustained by lingering divine essence?

This mod may offer a chance to face villains from the original novels once more – now darker, more desperate, and with unfinished business that could shake the Realms.

And who’s to say the dead god never left a few Bhaalspawn behind on these remote shores? Perhaps there are those who would claim the Throne of Murder for themselves – and challenge the Child of Bhaal from Candlekeep for the right to ascend…