Highlights

  • Baldur's Gate 3 introduces the Dark Urge character, who starts with amnesia but has a constant desire for violence and bloodshed.
  • Both the Dark Urge and Gorion's Ward are Bhaalspawn, children of the evil god Bhaal, which grants them special powers and a tendency towards killing.
  • Players have the choice to either embrace their Bhaalspawn heritage or resist it, making decisions that can lead to different outcomes and endings for the characters.

Baldur's Gate 3 allows players to take on the role of the Dark Urge, a customizable Origin character with a mysterious past. The Dark Urge begins their journey suffering from amnesia, aware of only one thing: their near-constant desire for violence and bloodshed. As players gradually learn the truth behind Baldur's Gate 3's Dark Urge, the revealed story shows many parallels with the protagonist of Baldur's Gate 1 and 2.

baldurs-gate-3-bg1-bg2-living-companions-feature
Related
Every Baldur's Gate 1 and 2 Companion Who Could Still Be Alive In Baldur's Gate 3

These Baldur's Gate 1 and 2 companions don't appear in Baldur's Gate 3, but could still be alive somewhere in Faerun and could appear in the future.

The Dark Urge And Gorion's Ward Share Many Similarities

baldurs gate dark urge

In the first two Baldur's Gate games (and expansions Siege of Dragonspear and Throne of Bhaal), players took on the role of "Gorion's Ward," a character raised by a man named Gorion in the sheltered town of Candlekeep. Gorion's Ward started the first game with no knowledge of their past but would discover the truth through a series of recovered documents and mysterious dreams.

Both Are Children Of The Evil God Bhaal

Ultimately, both Gorion's Ward and the Dark Urge learn that they are Bhaalspawn, children born to Bhaal, God of Murder. This grisly heritage means they have inherited special powers and an inclination to kill. However, Gorion's Ward was kept from any exposure to Bhaalist teachings prior to their journey, while the Dark Urge previously served Bhaal willingly before losing their memories and becoming infected by a mind flayer tadpole.

Both Can Inherit Great Powers Due To Their Birthright

Both characters have the chance, throughout their journey, to either resist Bhaal's influence or accept their heritage. Should they accept, both are able to gain powers or items associated with Bhaal. In Baldur's Gate, a Gorion's Ward with low Reputation would gain abilities at the start of each chapter after having a dark dream. These included:

  • Larloch's Minor Drain
  • Ghoul Touch
  • Horror
  • Vampiric Touch

The Dark Urge gets an item, the cloak Deathstalker Mantle, upon killing the bard Alfira in Baldur's Gate 3. Finally, both Gorion's Ward and the Dark Urge could unlock the Slayer, a powerful, monstrous form with high stats and strong physical attacks. In Baldur's Gate 2, Gorion's Ward's Slayer Form was triggered after an attack by Jon Irenicus and his sister Bodhi. The Dark Urge, on the other hand, must kill to prove worthy of the Slayer. Potential victims include the Selunite cleric Isobel, the companion with the highest approval (usually the player's love interest), or the Bhaalspawn Orin the Red.

Slayer Form in Baldur's Gate 3

They Also Have The Option To Resist Bhaal

In many ways, the Baldur's Gate games are about choice, about not having to be tied down to one destiny. Both the Dark Urge and Gorion's Ward can choose to turn against their Bhaalspawn heritage and instead pursue good and heroic actions. In the Dark Urge's case, they can even be permanently cured of their Bhaalspawn nature by the mysterious Withers. These are generally some of the happiest endings for the Dark Urge and Gorion's Ward, as the Dark Urge otherwise becomes completely owned by Bhaal. While Gorion's Ward can become the new God of Murder, this ending involves permanently parting from their beloved companions.

Bhaalspawn Also Serve As Their Antagonists

baldurs-gate-3-orin-the-red-cinematic

Bhaalspawn are generally not a cooperative lot, and many specifically seek to kill others to earn their father's favor and power. In Baldur's Gate, the primary antagonist is a Bhaalspawn named Sarevok Anchev, who wants to become the new Lord of Murder. Throne of Bhaal, an expansion for the second game, introduced even more Bhaalspawn antagonists in the form of The Five—Illasera, Yaga-Shura, Sendai, Abazigal, and Balthazar—who hunted other spawn. The Dark Urge is similarly hunted by Orin the Red, Sarevok's granddaughter, who wants to secure her place as Bhaal's Chosen by eliminating the Dark Urge for good. Being a Bhaalspawn sentences both of these characters to a life spent fighting their "siblings" just to stay alive.