Larian Studios Forums Baldur's Gate III Baldur's Gate III - Story & Character Discussion Where is the House of Hope?

This post will contain spoilers of (duh) the House of Hope.

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I assume most of us take it as the House of Hope being located somewhere in Avernus. However, I found a book in the game that would lead to believe that the portal we open to the House of Hope is to Minauros, not Avernus. Does anyone remember seeing something in game that spelled the location?

Here is the page 1 of the book:

[img]https://imgur.com/BlIL6lg[/img]

And page 2:

[img]https://imgur.com/2Mt3V57[/img]

And, in case you can't see it, let me type the text here:

["Nine Steps to His Infernal Throne": this chapter lists each of the Hells' nine layers, its rulers, and the character of the associated ritual item required to scry but a glimpse of it.]

Avernus - Archduchess Zariel - Heliotrope, encasing shard of bone
Dis - Archduke Dispater - Ore of infernal iron
Minauros - Archduke Mammon - Single gold coin, petrified in acrid peat
Phlegetos - Archduchess Fierna and her father, Archduke Belial - Everburn Ash, perfectly balanced on a scale of stone
Stygia - Archduke Levistus - A single coal black eye, frozen in a shard of its own tears
Malbolge - Archduchess Glasya - A coronet, stained with blood of three rightful rulers
Maladomini - Archduke Baalzebul - Gorian fly, fed fat with the petitioner's blood
Cania - Archduke Mephistopheles - a singular and precious text, burned
Nessus - Lord Asmodeus - all known substances result in immediate disappearance of petitioner

Since the ritual we get from Helsik includes a Mammon coin, I imagine the portal we open would be to his layer of the Hells, Minauros. However, I see many mentions that the House of Hope is in Avernus, so I am confused. I don't remember any particular part of the game itself mentioning in which layer of the Hells the House of Hope is, only that it is "in the Hells" - but I could be wrong and that's why I am here, asking.


Aaaand I apologize if someone already brought this up. I could not find it.

Isn't there a portal to Avernus in the back room? There are several mirrors to other worlds. I thought one of them led to Avernus. No?

In the House of Hope, no? Yes, I noticed that, but was unsure if I was remembering correctly. In this case, it would make sense the House of Hope is NOT in Avernus, since there is a Portal to go there.

Karlach says it's in Avernus, and if you bring her along, she mentions that her engine has started behaving itself. I assumed that Mammon (via the coin) was acting as a sort of intermediary - the diabolist is in his service, IIRC.

Maybe. But in that case it feels a bit… confusing.

Maybe I shouldn’t have found the book and paid attention…

That's why I hope Larian is cooking a DLC and the theme will be Avernus, it makes sense Avernus to be the zone. On one hand we can continue Karlach story, on the other if Wyll still has his pact, we can try to pursue and convince/kill Zariel. Especially that BG3 happens after "Descend into Avernus" book, there are 9 layers we can see!

It would be a hell (heh) of an adventure to go down to the Hells. I hear Larian does not really do DLCs but I truly hope they do one for Avernus/the Nine Hells. There are already plenty of connections: Raphael is the son of Mephistopheles who is the ruler of one of the layers, there is Mizora who works for Zariel but some speculate could be related to Levistus (another archdevil of another layer), and Zariel herself has an extremely interesting story, and Karlach's own story could fit in there pretty neatly if one thinks hard enough.

As for where the House of Hope is, I've been trying to find a video or in my own game where Karlach says it is in Avernus but so far I only found her saying "in the Hells", which could mean any of the Nine.

Karlach says (approximately) "One more trip to Avernus. At least it's for a good cause." Helsik, the diabolist, also says you're going to Avernus - just replayed this yesterday.

On top of which, you get plenty of chances to view the landscape around Raphael's house, and it definitely does not look like Minauros.

Thanks! I did look outside the House to figure it out and it did look like Avernus (thought I admit I didn’t read what Minauros looks like to re-check EDIT: ah, it's the swampy one).

Now, I guess that settles it, and the coin/book might just be a slip or doesn’t really connect to the quest.

Again, thanks for the updated reply!