What are the two heads on the cover of SoA?

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You know, the two heads that are opposite each other on the cover of the box and instruction manual of the game.

Is it a surface elf and dark elf? Or does it have anything to do with Amn that is not mentioned in the game or I am unaware of?

 

I don't want to spoil the game...

The meaning of the Shadows of Amn logo becomes clear near the end of the saga.

 

I've beaten it before (I even think I've discussed the endings with you before).

Unless I'm stupid, or just less smart than you, I still don't get it.

 

I had a couple of thoughts on it but most likely are all insane babbling.

1) Good/evil - just plain and simple
2) Elliseme/Bhodi - the good and evil in your enemies life.
3) Elf/Drow - the Drow rule supreme
4) Birds/Ankhegs - Yes, I was hyper. They do look a bit like it though
5) Reference to ToB, probably wrong anyways.

Does it become apparent in SoA O black hawky one?

BTW - are the heads male or female???

 

These are the heads of the Child of Bhaal - your character.
Obviously, he has only one head, so this is some kind of a symbol of his choice: to be good and battle his blood, or to be evil and relinquish to it.
Inspired by Black&White, perchance?

 

IMHO I think that the upper head means Shadow thieves and the lower one means Bodhi and her vampires..They're the oposite groups in SoA.

 

i agree with zvijer, i think they represent both sides of the coin, your either good or your evil, and thats the only constant in the story line throughout the BG saga, good vs evil

i will say this though, wasnt BG2 was out before black and white?

 

Yeah, it was.

 

There's a recent post that have a similar question...and I will say something near to what I said there. I think the heads represent the liberty of each character in the game (something very similar to what Zvijer said), as if every single soul is being tested by its own mind. So the heads would be a representative of the main character and the other would be his shadow...so it comes the name Shadows of Amn. As you would always have two paths to follow...the good and the evil(just as Zvijer said)!

[ February 15, 2003, 19:14: Message edited by: The Silver Bear ]

 

Don't the heads look like the head from the statue that you see during loading screens, and is also the statue within a temple (I think Lathander)? IIRC Lathander is a Lawful Good God of dawn, births, spring, renewal and new beginnings. His shadow, or darkside if you will, would be CE and a power of endings and destruction.

You can play 'good' stopping the Five and either become a God of good or remain mortal, starting a new age with more peace. Or you could be evil stopping the Five just so you could become an evil God of death and destruction.

Or it's just the circle of life, Lathander representing the beginning (BG1) and his shadow the ending (BG2-ToB). Just my thoughts.

 

I think it's just a slick piece of art with little bearing on the whole story -- I heard an author talk once who complained that the graphic artist who had done her book had obviously no real idea of the story.

And Lathander, according to PnP rules, is Neutral Good.

[ February 15, 2003, 21:57: Message edited by: Depaara ]

 

Just as everyone said they are the opposite of each other,and the place they connect is balance.

 

Thanks for all your suggestions. It really gets me thinking...

 

Due to the designs on the heads, I've always thought the upper head was an Elf, and the lower head was a Drow. I just makes sense to me.

 

You have my apologies... my age must be finally catching up to me....

Anyway, the logo, as I interpret it, has several meanings. The two pictures are of an elf and drow - with the drow in the fallen position.

This makes sense given it is the plot of the game (or at least the hidden plot). The logo also had meaning for Irenicus - who, like the Drow, is a fallen elf.

And of course, the logo mirrors your character's dilemma - whether you will fall.

When you come to think of it, the plots of Shadows of Amn are exemplary.

 

**wasnt BG2 was out before black and white**

Yes, apparently it was, my bad. But both games were in making at the same time, and you know how it goes, demos and interviews are made, people steal ideas...
Probably both of them were inspired by constant battle between Good and Evil.

 

Wouldn't it have something to do with evil organizations in Amn or something cause the game is called Shadows of Amn?

 

I think it's called "Shadows of Amn" because the game takes place in Amn and it's surroundings.

If you think about it, "Tales of the Amnish Coast" just doesn't sound right. Nor does "Trials of the Baalspawn". The developers probably couldn't think of anything that fit in with the story...hence, the name it has.

 

They clearly missed a trick by not calling it "Baldur's Gate II - The Wrath of Irenicus". Or should that be "The Wrath of Jon"?

 

Wrath of the bald elf

I never actually got Irenicus... does he have a leather thing sewn onto his head or somthing? Elves without their elfeness look goddamn freaky