Imoen

Imoen is a neutral good human thief and a potential companion and main deuteragonist in and . 
==Background==
Imoen is the childhood friend of Gorion's Ward. They both grew up together in the library fortress of Candlekeep from the time when she was brought there, when they were both about the age of 10.
==Baldur's Gate & Tales of the Sword Coast==
===Prologue===
In the prologue, she will greet you when you approach the front of the Candlekeep Library proper. She surprises you by knowing more about your impending journey with Gorion than you do.
===Recruitment===
Imoen is available to be recruited from Chapter 1 on. She's the first companion who offers to join the protagonist and will join despite any answer given in dialogue.
===Gameplay===
Her valuable thieving skills, such as detect and disarm traps, open locks, pick-pockets, etc., can be very beneficial for a starting party. She also has a very high charisma, making her an effective party leader in regards to yielding better prices in shops and good reactions during particular conversations. She doesn't have major conflicts with any other party members, but despite what she says about sticking by you no matter what, she will leave if your reputation drops low enough in BG1.
Imoen has one of the highest overall stats of all companions in the entire saga, being a human thief with a Dexterity score of 18 and an intelligence score of 17. You may dual class her anytime after level 2 to a mage, and the 161,000 experience cap present in and creates a manageable cut-off point for regaining her thief skills. A dual-class by definition must have its new class exceed the level of its old class by one level in order to regain the benefits of the old class. Imoen may become a level 7 Thief at 40,000 XP, which will still allow her to reach a level 8 Mage at 90,000 XP (130,000 XP total). This allows a significant investment in 2-3 Thief skills, primarily lock-picking and find traps, as well as a third proficiency point. If you want to maximize her Thief levels, dual class her immediately after Imoen reaches level 7 Thief in order not to waste any earned experience - plus it will match up canonically with the next installment. If you want to reach level 9 Mage to gain level 5 spell slots, dual class at level 6 Thief.  At level 1, she has 8 hp and Weapon proficiency in Small Sword and Bow or Short Sword and Shortbow (Enhanced Edition). Her starting equipment is:
Short Sword, Short Bow, 40 Arrow, 3 Potions of Healing, Oil of Speed, Wand of Magic Missiles.
Her level 1 Thieving Abilities are:
*Original: Open Locks 25%, Stealth 30%, Find Traps 30%, Pick Pockets 25%
*Enhanced Edition: Open Locks 25, Find Traps 35, Pick Pockets 25, Move Silently 35, Hide In Shadows 15
===Biography===
===Quotes===
	Heya! It's me, Imoen. 	Initial meeting
	Gettin' out alive, I am. 	Morale failure
	Good on you if you save the day. 	Happy
	Mutton-mongerin' riffraff. 	Unhappy-annoyed
	I've done had enough of this. 	Unhappy-serious
	'Tis something most unnatural here, and I want no part of it. 	Unhappy-break
	Ye're all buffle-headed. 	Leader
	*yawn* I'm gettin' a little sleepy. 	Tired
	Booooorrrring. 	Bored
	My blade will cut you down to size! 	Battlecry1
	 	Damage
	I feel so cold. 	Hurt
	 	Dying
	'Tis something most unnatural here, and I want no part of it. 	Dungeon
	I care not. 	Select1
	Yep? 	Select2
	Whatcha want? 	Select3
	Ha, ye're a queer fellow. 	Select4
	This way. 	Action1
	I've done had enough of this. 	Action2
	I am gone. 	Action3
	Do ya wanna tell me a story 'bout trollops an' plug tails? Please?	Action4
	I know nothin' more, so leave me to go. 	Action5
	Good on you if you save the day. 	Action6
	Back home, Puffguts would always tell me a story. 	Action7
	Poor sod, takin' the dirt nap so soon. 	To death-general
==Baldur's Gate: Siege of Dragonspear==
By the time Siege of Dragonspear takes place, Imoen has started an apprenticeship as a mage under the guidance of Liia Jannath at the Ducal Palace of Baldur's Gate. Unlike in the other games, Imoen cannot join the party as a regular member, because she is at first too busy with her training and is poisoned by assassins during the first scenes, which prompts her to stay at the palace while the protagonist travels north to fight against Caelar Argent's crusade.
She does show up again during the finale, where she awaits the protagonist outside of the city walls of Baldur's Gate alongside Dynaheir, Jaheira, Khalid and Minsc. The six of them then leave the town behind them, starting the events of Baldur's Gate II.
===Dialogues===
	Well, here we are in a creepy ol' tomb again. The last of Sarevok's followers are down here, according to the Flaming Fist. All you gotta do is find their leader and bring her to justice.
	I really want to! I wouldn't be much help, though. Ever since I asked Duke Jannath to teach me how to sling spells, she's had me cooped up in the stuffy ol' library, studying boring books about the Weave. She only let me come down here after I promised to bring her any arcane scrolls or tomes I could find.
	It's strange having these new arcane powers. Back in Candlekeep, I never dreamed I might be a spellslinger like Gorion some day. Life sure has taken us to unexpected places. You more than me, I guess.
	It seemed practical. After all the weird places we've been, I thought it would help if I knew a couple spells and could figure out what the magical gadgets we find are for.
	Then... well, I had a knack for it. Magic. I like studying my spells and remembering how Gorion would do the same back in our Candlekeep days. Feels like I still have a connection with him, you know?
	Hey now! Dusty ol' tombs sure make you grumpy. Let's keep moving.
	You have a point. We can talk more about this later. For now, we should keep moving.
	We'll follow behind you. I've got your back.
	You sure are a ray of sunshine, aren't you?
	Can't you take anything seriously?
	I don't know why I talk to you sometimes. I really don't.
	You're the closest thing I have to family, <CHARNAME>. I love you. You know that. But after Sarevok... I need things to be... quiet, just for a little while.
	Stay here with me. Leave Caelar to the Flaming Fist. Dealing with people like her is their job—let them do it. But you won't, will you? I know that look in your eyes. I'm wasting my breath.
	Promise me you'll be careful. All right? I don't know what I'd do if... We've just lost too many people, you know?
== Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn & Throne of Bhaal ==
=== Prologue ===
At the start of Shadows of Amn, Imoen, who is already a dual-classed Thief (level 7) > Mage, has freed herself from capture, and very soon comes to the player character's rescue. When the protagonist awakes, she tells Gorion's Ward that they have been captured and tortured, but she doesn't know why.  She relates something she overheard her captor saying: he wants to release the player character's 'potential', though it is not known what that means.
The protagonist must escape the dungeon and may take Imoen with the party or not. Whatever the decision, once outside, Imoen is back with Gorion's Ward in a cut-scene in which she attacks Jon Irenicus, their captor, with magic. But what is not known to the party is that casting spells without license is forbidden in the city of Athkatla. Because of this, Cowled Wizards appear and spirit both her and Irenicus (who also used spells during the cut-scene) away to an unknown location.
=== Recruitment ===
Imoen is available to be recruited in Chapter 4, while the first part of the game consists of the party gathering information and funds, and performing quests for the purpose of finding out where Imoen has been taken, and to gather the necessary resources to rescue her, which is eventually realized in Spellhold.
In the original SoA, Imoen joins as a level 8/7 Mage/Thief with trained proficiency in Dagger, Quarterstaff, Short Bow, and Dart. In order to have only 4 Weapon Proficiency points at her level, she has to have wasted a point earned by leveling as a Mage into a proficiency she had already invested in from reaching Thief level 7, thus losing that additional weapon proficiency point when regaining her Thief levels.
In the Enhanced Edition, Imoen starts as a level 8/7 Mage/Thief with trained proficiency in Dagger, Dart, Quarterstaff, Short Sword and Short Bow.
In Chapter 4, the earliest she can be re-acquired will be when she is level 11/7. Note that in SoA, if she is acquired at a higher level, such as 13/7, she will be missing a weapon proficiency point that she should have received at level 12.
=== Gameplay ===
Imoen is a dual class Thief (level 7) -> Mage with enough skill in Open Locks and Find/Disarm Traps to fulfill the fundamental needs of any party competently and is capable of reaching maximum level in her Mage class. 
Starting in Baldur's Gate II Chapter 8 in the Baldur's Gate II: Throne of Bhaal portion of the saga, she'll eventually attain Bhaalspawn powers. The changes improve her stats as well as add a number of innate abilities. All occur at a random time through party banter. The first banter will give her the following abilities:
* Dexterity +1 permanently
*Cure Light Wounds
*Larloch's Minor Drain
With her second 'dream banter' she will lose Cure Light Wounds and Larloch's Minor Drain, but gain the following spells in their place (she will not lose the Dexterity boost, that is permanent in addition to the Strength boost).
*Strength +1 permanently
*Cure Serious Wounds
*Cause Serious Wounds
*Neutralize Poison
*Draw Upon Holy Might
Note that while there is one additional one-on-one banter between the player and Imoen after said abilities are unlocked, but that final banter exchange results in no new powers.
In SoA her Thieving Abilities at the start of the game in Irenicus' Dungeon 1st Floor are: Open Locks 95, Find Traps 85, Pick Pockets 25, Move Silently 30, Hide in Shadows 25, Detect Illusion 0, and Set Traps 5. This is 25 fewer thief points than would be expected, effectively giving her a thief level of 6 instead of 7.
In EESoA her Thieving Abilities at the start of the game are slightly boosted to match her thief level, with: Open Locks 95, Find Traps 95, Pick Pockets 35, Move Silently 35, Hide in Shadows 25, Detect Illusion 0, and Set Traps 5.
After rescuing Imoen in Chapter 4, her known spells will have reset to a fresh default selection, so it's not recommended to have Imoen inscribe any new spells during Chapter 1.
Her spells upon rejoining the party in Chapter 4 of SoA are as follows:
Level 1: Armor, Chromatic Orb, Identify, Magic Missile
Level 2: Melf's Acid Arrow, Mirror Image, Stinking Cloud, Strength, Web
Level 3: Fireball, Haste, Lightning Bolt, Monster Summoning I, Remove Magic
Level 4: Fireshield (Blue), Fireshield (Red), Improved Invisibility, Minor Globe of Invulnerability, Stoneskin
Level 5: Breach, Chaos, Domination, Monster Summoning III, Shadow Door
Level 6: Chain Lightning, Contingency, Mislead
===Biography===
===Quotes===
	No, no! No, I'm not gonna end up dead in this place! I have to get out! I have to get to the surface! 	Morale failure1
	I got enough trouble without fightin' these odds! 	
Morale failure2
	Now I remember why traveling with you was always so much fun. 	Happy
	I'll stick with you no matter what, but we should still try and be decent to people. 	Unhappy-annoyed
	I think all this has really changed you. Come on, this isn't like us at all. 	Unhappy-serious
	Aww, come on. I'm not cut out for the leadership stuff. 	Leader
	*yawn* I'm getting sleepy. Wish we could stop for a bit. 	Tired
	If we're going to do nothing, let's at least find a safer place to do it. 	Bored1
	I'm withering away just standing here. Let's get going. 	Bored2
	My blade will cut you down to size! 	Battlecry1
	If I have to fight to get out of here, so be it! 	
Battlecry2
	You're not gonna keep me here! 	
Battlecry3
	You asked for it! 	
Battlecry4
	Oh, I'll show you a fight! 	Battlecry5
	 	Damage
	Come on, now, don't let me suffer in this place. We've both had enough of that. 	Hurt1
	I'm weak enough without my wounds. Someone give me a hand over here, please? 	Hurt2
	No... no... NO! I'm not dying here! I'm not! Oh, my head hurts! I have to get to the surface. I have to go!	Dying1
	 	Dying2
	I wish I could spend more time in the forest. Oh, it feels so alive. 	Forest
	I don't feel like I fit in with the people in the city anymore. 	City
	This place is just too darn creepy. I really want out of here. 	Dungeon
	Glad to see another day. I think the light hurts my eyes though. 	Day
	Might as well be up and about. I don't think I'd sleep anyway. 	Night
	Yep? 	Select1
	Whatchu want? 	Select2
	Name it. 	Select3
	Ready and willing. 	Select4
	Somethin' up? 	Select5
	Time to move? 	Select6
	Gotcha. 	Action1
	Good to go. 	Action2
	Right you are. 	Action3
	All right, all right. 	Action4
	No problem at all. 	Action5
	You can count on me! 	Action6
	This way then? 	Action7
	Right as rain. 	Select rare1
	Just like old times. Well, except for the torture and all. 	
Select rare2
	Gotcha good! 	Critical hit
	Next time... 	Critical miss
	Gotta try something else. 	Target immune
	Sorry, but I couldn't hold that last item. It's on the ground. 	Inventory full
	Easy as pie. 	Picked pocket
	Now you see me, now you don't. 	Hidden in shadows
	Ugh! The magic fizzled. 	Spell disrupted
	Shh! It's set and ready to go. 	Set a trap
=== Dialogues ===
	Wake up, you! Wake up! Come on, we have to get outta here!
	This poor creature wishes to die? Right here? We should...
	He's... he's dead now? This pathetic creature... Death is... pretty. Why would I think that? Oh, &li;CHARNAME>, I've got to get out of this place.
	It's good to see you again, little brother. Ha ha! I rather enjoy calling you that. So... you ready to go? I'd prefer to travel with you, if I could.
	It's good to see you again, little sister. Ha ha! I rather enjoy calling you that. So, you ready to go? I'd prefer to travel with you, if I could.
	Minsc, I want a hamster.
	You know, Jan... I was listening to a story you were telling a little earlier. I thought it was quite fascinating.
	No more worthy than you, "brother." And I've learned things since we last met that you couldn't begin to dream of.
	So... Sarevok. You've had an itty-bitty piece of my soul in there for quite a while now. What's it been like?
	What... what was it like to die, Sarevok? Seeing as you've been through the experience repeatedly, I can't help but wonder if you've developed some... perspective on it?
	So... it's finally come down to this, has it? After all we've been through, right from Candlekeep and Baldur's Gate, through Irenicus and Bodhi and their plans... I wonder what Gorion would say now?
==Personality==
Imoen is a care-free, optimistic, cheerful and easy-going character. She seems happy to have escaped the boredom of Candlekeep and eager to discover the world beyond the city walls. Imoen will try to joke around with Gorion's Ward and almost any other companions in the group and lighten their spirits in the hardest moments to come. She never picks up fights with any others, no matter how different they are.
Imoen is also unyieldingly faithful, extremely attached to Gorion's Ward, to the extent that she thinks it's her responsibility to safeguard the Ward and sees herself as the Ward's guardian angel.
In Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn Imoen appears a bit worried and more mature, as she struggles with her newly-discovered Bhaalspawn heritage and the nightmares related to it. Nonetheless, she retains a great portion of her care-free attitude.
==Trivia==
*Imoen did not exist in the original concept Baldur's Gate.  Her character was a late addition to fill a non-psychotic-thief gap in the early levels. There was no recording budget left, so her lines were scraped together from voice-over left from a scrapped demo. The original character was a guard named Pique.http://www.ign.com/articles/2008/12/23/baldurs-gate-memories?page=2
*In Shadows of Amn, Imoen was supposed to die and she wasn't originally a bhaalspawn. Nalia was created to replace her being almost identical to her. That is why Imoen has almost no banters except in Chapters 1 and 4. Irenicus was supposed to kill her after escaping his dungeon, making revenge the protagonist's motivation to follow Jon to Spellhold. Then it was decided to keep her alive and she was rewritten to be a bhaalspawn so Irenicus kidnaps her instead.
*The model for Imoen's Baldur's Gate 1 portrait was the wife of the team's lead terrain artist, Dean Andersen.How BioWare revolutionised the RPG • Eurogamer.net: "And for Andersen, it gave the chance for his wife to be immortalised forever in the BioWare classic. 'She was initially pretty cool with the idea of modelling for the portrait [of Imoen],' he recalls."
*In the original Baldur's Gate during the prologue, Imoen has the portrait of Mordaine assigned, which clearly shows an elf. This is also her portrait if the player chooses to use her actual one during character generation.PORTRAIT.2da (Baldur's Gate) On the other hand, Mordaine – despite the pointed elven ears – comes as a human mage during the combat training in Candlekeep's storage cellars; being the pregenerated mage for character import, however, shows her as an elf again. The Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition fixed this by making Mordaine an elf in general, giving the prologue's Imoen her original portrait and switching to another replacerPORTRAIT.2da (Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition) for her: less elven – less thief, however, too.
*In Imoen's dialog file:Imoen: Was that another doppelganger?Chaname: The vile creature used your form to get me to lower my guard. A good trick, though not good enough.There’s also BDIMOEDO.DLG in addition to BDIMOEN.DLG which is the real Imoen’s, in BDIMOEDO.DLG, there’re unvoiced lines which a Greater Doppelganger in disguise of Imoen trying to trick charname, likely a cut content.
==Gallery==
Imoen Character BG.png|Coloring as per original Baldur's Gate
Imoen IMOEN Portrait BG2.png|Baldur's Gate I portrait, brightened for character generation in Baldur's Gate II
Hell Final Imoen.png|Imoen addresses Irenicus just before the final battle in Hell during Baldur's Gate II Chapter 7.
==Mod content==
The Ascension mod changes some dialogue and assignment of Bhaalspawn abilities in the Throne of Bhaal game portion (Chapters 8, 9 and 10). 
If Imoen is present in the final battle, there is a period of time where her taint of bhaal can be used against Gorion's Ward, at least for a time, until Imoen is able regain her self-control. She can be recruited back into the party at that time, assuming she wasn't killed by the player before that.
==Mod gallery==
Imoen Gains Bhaal Powers.png|Dialogue screenshot of Imoen discussing her bhaal powers she has already just now gained. Ascension mod shown.
==External links==
*
==References==
Category:Bhaalspawn
Category:Neutral good companions
Category:Companions of neutral ethos
Category:Companions of good morality
pl:Imoen
ru:Имоен