Aran Linvail

Aran Linvail is the Shadowmaster of the Shadow Thieves criminal organization and is busy warring with Bodhi's Vampire Coven by the start of Shadows of Amn. He can be found in a secret room in his hideout that's connected to the Shadow Thieves Guildhall in the Docks area. Access to the hideout is gained with a key obtained from Gaelan Bayle after paying him the required sum of or killing Gaelan for it.
There are two InfoBoxes on this page. The top one reflects Aran if not sided with Bodhi. The second one is the creature faced if siding with Bodhi and is the most likely version a party will face in any combat situation. 
Attacking Aran or any of the guild area Shadow Thieves outside of the sided with Bodhi situation (unless he has outlived his usefulness in Chapter 6) is not recommended due to the punishing attack(s) the unkillable Arkanis Gath unleashes upon the party. 
==Gameplay==
Dialogue and plot are different depending on whether the party sides with the Shadow Thieves or Bodhi. Aran's dialogue and plot behavior are different as well based on these two paths, and that changes the necessary quests and tasks for the party and the opening of chapter 3.
If for any reason the party has come into conflict with Aran and the Shadow Thieves, then Aran will respond in a combat situation as a Mage / Thief. As soon as Aran is alerted and detected an enemy party member near his lair he will apply the following buffs:
Stoneskin, Globe of Invulnerability, Protection From Magical Weapons, Protection From Normal Missiles, and Mislead.
A Protection From Evil and then a Cacofiend gate will be attempted.
More spell casting will be attempted from memorized spells listed in the InfoBox, including disabling types like Teleport Field and Confusion. Aran will also try to strike any detected enemies in melee range from invisibility, which will be a Backstab. If injured or needing to quickly turn invisible again, Aran is scripted to use his carried potions. He also may stay out of melee range and fire bolts from distance. Beware use of the Bolt of Biting. 
Aran is not without help in his lair, so he will enjoy at least a few rounds of support from other thieves and cleric of cyric.
===In Chapter 6===
Assuming Aran is still alive during Baldur's Gate II Chapter 6, the party can seek out Aran in his hideout and attempt to ask for assistance for The final battle with Bodhi.
Through dialogue exchange, Aran might agree to help, or not, depending on dialogue selections and trust between he and Gorion's Ward.
If the party failed to destroy Bodhi in Chapter 3, or if Hexxat is a party companion, both issues will affect the decision, as can the tone of the dialogue and if Aran is threatened.
If Aran agrees, the players journal updates as follows:
:Journal entry: Allies recruited for the struggle against Bodhi
:Aran Linvail has agreed to aid in the fight against Bodhi, even though the guild is weaker because of her. Any assassins he can spare will meet me beneath the Graveyard District when I am ready to face the vampire.
And if Aran says no to providing help, the journal is updated with this:
:Journal entry: Allies recruited for the struggle against Bodhi
:I asked Aran Linvail for the help of the Shadow Thieves against Bodhi, but he does not trust me enough, and the guild is too weak to give me any aid. His decision is certainly final.
==Notes==
Aran's alignment was changed from True Neutral to Lawful Evil in .
==Gallery==
Aran Linvail NPC BG2.png|Original SoA image
==Mod Content==
===Mods===
Installation of the Rogue Rebalancing mod provides Aran with a unique enchanted weapon known as the "Dagger of Accumen". It is a handy weapon for any kind of Rogue. You'll need to either pickpocket him for it (extremely difficult) or take it from him by force.
The Sword Coast Stratagems mod makes modest changes to Aran, but the main revisions will be to the AI scripts for smarter spell casting behavior, and additional backstabbing plans. His spellbook is changed in terms of memorized spells. 
Aran's initial protective (previously cast) buffs are: Mirror Image, Improved Haste, Shadow Door, Minor Globe of Invulnerability, Minor Spell Deflection, SI Divination (or Dispelling Screen with SR mod), Shield (spell), Stoneskin, and Non-Detection.
He'll be able to deploy a prepared Minor Sequencer and Spell Sequencer during the battle. Aran can cast Remove Magic, Secret Word and Breach to take down player enemy protections. He has a mixed assortment of offensive damage and disabling mage spells as well. With the Icewind Dale spell component, he has two spells for use from that component.
Expect backstabbing attacks if his AI finds a detected party member. He'll go for the vulnerable and can turn invisible several times in the heat of combat.
With the Spell Revisions mod, all Aran's arcane spell will be the SR version. The SR Non-Detection spell makes Aran immune to divination attacks like Invisibility Purge, Oracle or True Sight.
The Alternatives mod provides additional decision pathways to deal with the Shadow Thieves/Aran Linvail and Bodhi and her vampire coven guild war - An alternative path allows the player to destroy both the thieves AND the vampires before taking transportation to Brynnlaw.
===Gallery===
ARAN.jpg|thumb|Aran Linvail, Shadowmaster in Athkatla from Portraits Portraits Everywhere
rrarans.jpg|thumb|Aran Linvail from Rogue Rebalancing and resized by The Picture Standard for BGEE 1 & 2
==External links==
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Category:Shadow Thieves