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Baldur’s Gate 3 is set in a popular fantasy world called Forgotten Realms. Thanks to its engaging storyline and immersive gameplay, players feel like they’re in the game world and their choices matter immensely. If you’re interested in playing Larian’s newest game, you probably want to know about Baldur’s Gate 3 story and lore. Even though the game can have many different outcomes based on what players decide, there’s a main storyline that this article will focus on. Let’s dive in and explore that main story.
Baldur’s Gate 3 Story: Mind Flayer confrontation journey
The plot of Baldur’s Gate 3 picks up 140 years after the events of its predecessor, Baldur’s Gate 2. It seemed the author tried to bring a fresh perspective to the series by giving such a large gap. At the beginning of the game, players are given the option to choose their characters. They can either create their character or select from seven pre-available characters. The entire plot is divided into two acts.
The first act commences with your characters, accompanied by companions, being held captive on a mind flayer Nautiloid ship. During this time, Illithid tadpoles are implanted in your character. These parasites can transform their host into mind flayers, the most feared creatures in Baldur’s Gate 3. Fortunately, you and another character encounter an attack on your ship by Githyanki monsters just before the transformation begins. This battle enables the protagonist to escape the ship and return to Faerun using the same vessel.
Upon reaching Faerun, the ship eventually crashes, freeing your character. Act 1 then revolves around finding a way to remove these parasitic tadpoles. The journey is complex filled with numerous barriers and threats. As a result, you have to place significant emphasis on assembling companions. These companions include fellow victims such as Shadowheart, Gale, Lae’zel, and many more.
Hunting the Absolute: An Elder Brain
A crucial part is encountering Goblins cults who worship a strange entity called the Absolute. It’s thought to be the creator of Mind Flayers. These goblins have a mission to bring more victims to the moonrise tower and infect them with tadpoles. You will find Halsin to heal your parasite. The decisions made by the player character at the end of Act 1 will shape the story’s direction in Act 2. They can either proceed on their journey to Baldur’s Gate or explore other areas of Faerûn.
In the second act, the adventure takes you through the Shadowcursed land. Players can get there by choosing the Underdark or the Mountain Pass route. Upon arrival, completing certain quests uncovers the truth that the Absolute is, in fact, a mighty Elder Brain. These Elder Brains can command large numbers of other mind flayers. Now, a question arises: Who controls these Elder Brains? To answer this, you must recall details from the previous series that discusses the Dead Three—Bane, Bhaal, and Myrkul.
Baldur’s Gate 3 ending: Two opposite choices
The main quest evolves in the “Confront the Elder Brain” quest. You will have to gather different Netherstone. These stones can be used to control the Elder Brain. Once again, two choices will be either to control or destroy the brain, producing different endings: Good and Evil.
In the positive ending, destroying the Elder Brain is the right choice to remove its curse from the city. This brings everything back to normal, and the people under the Elder Brain’s control begin to wake up. Once you return to the city, everyone shows gratitude for your victory over the Elder Brain. After the final scene, Baldur’s Gate 3 comes to an end.
However, in the Evil endings, if you choose to go down a darker path, you can take control of the Elder Brain. This allows all the victims infected with Illithid tadpoles to become your army. This can also prevent the invasion of Baldur’s Gate and gives the player various options to decide what to do about the Elder Brain, the cult members, and the mind flayers. Finally, you have a complete understanding of the lore and history of Baldur’s Gate.
Related:
How To Use the Baldur’s Gate 3 Character Builder
Baldur’s Gate 3 is now available on PC.
