During early development, Baldur’s Gate 3 nearly featured a fully fledged bard companion — and no, it wasn’t Alfira. That honour belonged to Helia, a scrappy halfling bard with a dark secret: she was a werewolf. With extensive voice acting and a unique combination of race, class, and curse, Helia would have brought a very different dynamic to the party, including the potential for chaotic long rests and an amusing bond with Shadowheart over their shared dislike of Selûne

As the game’s narrative evolved, Helia was ultimately cut to streamline companion arcs and avoid repetition, particularly with existing supernatural secrets and multiple bard characters already in play. Despite this, traces of Helia still linger in unused dialogue and game files, making her a favourite “what if” among fans. Many still hope that Larian Studios might one day release additional content or assets — or at least allow modders to fully restore Helia and finally give Baldur’s Gate 3’s lost werewolf bard her moment in the spotlight.