There are so many characters for the party to meet on their travels inBaldur’s Gate 3that it would be almost impossible to list them all. With helpful druids, adventurous tieflings, and ingenious gnomes, there is no shortage of help when facing down the forces of the Absolute. However, not everyone who crosses the party’s path is nice, with some ranging from just plain mean to completely evil, some of which might have benefitted from a personality overhaul courtesy of a tadpole.
Obviously, being a thrall to the Absolute is a terrible thing, as Minthara will explain once she is freed from its grasp and recruited. However,there are some characters who are just so awful that there really is nowhere for them to go but up, and just mindlessly carrying out the Absolute’s orders might have made them more tolerable. These are some of themost hated characters inBaldur’s Gate 3who made an impression for all the wrong reasons.
10Aradin - Rude & Racist Bully
The Absolute Could Have Improved His Vocabulary
Aradin and his team are met very early on inBG3’s Act 1, as they desperately attempt to get back into the Emerald Grove. At first, it’s possible the party might side with Aradin when he confronts Zevlor about the gate remaining shut. After all, he was running for his life, but then he goes and opens his mouth. Aradin’s attitude is horrible, something made worse by hisblatant racism towards the tiefling refugees.
Things only get worse if Aradin is encountered again in Act 3, wherehe’ll remark he would have charged extra for kidnappingwhen he finds out the Nightsong is a person. Aradin is a terrible leader, who frequently shoots his mouth off without thinking, often insulting everyone within earshot. Falling under the control of the Absolute would at the very least have made Aradin more polite and less of a bigot.
9Arfur Gregorio - Cowardly Toymaker
It Takes A Special Kind Of Chicken To Go After Children
Arfur Gregorio, despite playing only a small part in an Act 3 side quest, stands out inBG3due to his actions and opinions. Arfur is a toymaker who can be encountered by the party in Rivington, in the middle of a dispute with some refugees who have taken over his house. Even though he’s clearly wealthy enough to seek alternative accommodation or even share his home with them,Arfur is completely prepared to set his hired thugs on the unarmed civilians.
A blackmail note can be found in a chest in Arfur’s basement, although the whole area is heavily trapped.
Astonishingly, this alone isn’t what makes Arfur so awful, as a thorough investigation of the property will reveal thatthe toymaker has been donating teddy bears to the refugee children that are stuffed with explosives. The argument could be made that Arfur was being blackmailed. However, he still chose his own well-being over that of displaced children. At least as a thrall, he might have had more of a backbone.
8Araj Oblodra - Creepy Obsessive
Araj Doesn’t Like To Be Told No
Araj Oblodra is a drow who can be met at Moonrise Towers during Act 2, and although she is working with the forces of the Absolute, she is not a member of the cult. Araj is incredibly creepy, calling herself a master of the sanguine arts and requesting blood samples from the party to study the effects of the illithid tadpoles. However, the issue most, including myself, have with her ishow she speaks about and to Astarion, who she clearly fetishizes.
Baldur’s Gate 3: What Happens If You Give Araj Oblodra Your Blood
The mysterious drow alchemist Araj Oblodra has an interesting offer for the party when they meet her in Baldur’s Gate 3, but is it worth it?
Given House Oblodra’s links to illithids, which played a part in their fall from grace in Menzoberranzan, it is no surprise that Araj would ally herself with the Absolute. Perhaps that is also why she declined to “join” fully, as her research goals do not completely align. As a thrall, Araj would have been perhaps a little more in control. She would likely become hostile in Act 3 if denied more blood, but alsoa very dangerous addition to the Absolute’s forces.
7Korrilla Hearthflame - Fiendish Spy
Power Was More Important Than Her Sister
Korrilla Hearthflame can be spotted throughoutBG3, keeping an eye on the party on behalf of Raphael. Acting as the devil’s eyes and ears, Korrilla can often be found lurking in the shadows, making her seem pretty harmless. However, if the party travels to Raphael’s House of Hope in Act 3,another side of Korrilla is shown as her sister Hope is revealed to be a prisoner there.
A note found in the House of Hope’s Archive called“The Nautiloid Adventurers”shows that Korrilla was sending Raphael regular updates about the party.
Korrilla will explain that Raphael offered a deal to them both, but only she accepted, leaving Hope to be tortured by Raphael for years.Notes can be found in the Archive and Boudoir of Korrilla’s transcripts of Hope’s torture, and during the confrontation with Raphael, Korrilla cannot be persuaded to turn on him, unlike Yurgir. Overall, despite coming across as friendly, Korrilla chose power over her own sister, making her a pretty despicable person.
6Cazador - Sadistic Murderer
Having A Vampire Master Thrall Would Have Been Terrifying
There really isn’t anything positive that can be said about Cazador Szarr, the vampire lord and former master of Astarion. Astarion’s personal quest reveals that Cazador made a deal with the archdevil Mephistopheles and wasprepared to sacrifice 7,000 souls to gain more power. All of this is bad enough, but Cazador’s treatment of his “children” further serves to emphasize how twisted he is with his horrific abuse of them.
If Cazador had been a thrall of the Absolute, then at the very least his ritual would never have gone ahead, asit is doubtful either the Dead Three or the Netherbrain would want that level of competition. As a thrall, he might have also been worthy of an invitation to Gortash’s coronation, as Cazador seems to be the only Baldur’s Gate noble not invited. However, he also would have been a terrifying tool for the cult to use with his command over the other vampire spawn.
5Baelen Bonecloak - Cruel Alcoholic
Cured Or Not, A Tadpole Would Have Been An Upgrade
From powerful vampires to small powerless men, Baelen Bonecloak is an alchemist who can first be met in the Underdark. When encountered in Act 1, Baelen seems pleasant, with his muddled thoughts and harmless demeanor. However, speaking with his wife, Derryth, or their deep rothé soon reveals a different side to the dwarven merchant ashe used to be extremely violent. Finally, Derryth had enough and slippedWyvern Toxininto his porridge, addling his mind and making him easier to deal with.
10 Most Evil Choices In Baldur’s Gate 3
There are some great opportunities for the player to be a really terrible person in Baldur’s Gate 3, but some choices are more evil than others.
The party can cure Baelen by giving him someNoblestalkwhich will restore him to his old terrible self.Making Baelen a thrall would have been a win for everyone involved, as it would have freed Derryth from her husband while also giving the Absolutists a great alchemist. And after speaking with a cured Baelen, I can speak from personal experience that a tadpole could have only improved him.
4Angry Mar’Hyah - Animal Abuser
A Tadpole Could Have Improved Her Attitude
Angry Mar’Hyah really lives up to her name, as when she is first met in Act 3’s Rivington, she is shouting at her assistant Dringo and the dogs at Sword Coast Couriers. It’s obvious from the animals' reactions to her that she abuses rather than trains them as she claims, andI’ll admit to taking enormous satisfaction each time I intimidate her into leaving in a playthrough. From her horrible attitude to her belief that the dogs are property, Mar’Hyah really has no redeeming qualities.
There is nowhere to go but up for Mar’Hyah, who is forced to punch down in life to make herself feel important. By choosing those who can’t speak up for themselves,Mar’Hyah all but guarantees that only the most heartless will turn Scratch over to her, causing the party to lose one of thebest summoned creatures inBG3.
3Investigator Valeria - Incompetent Drunk
There Is Lazy & Then There Is Valeria
Investigator Valeria is a small hollyphant who works for the City Watch in Baldur’s Gate and, when met in Act 3, will be investigating the murder of Father Lorgan. Investigating is a strong word to use though, asValeria isn’t very good at her job and would rather go drinking at Sharess’ Caress. Even when the party provides clear and solid proof of a murderous plot, Valeria is simply annoyed that her drinking has been interrupted, rather than interested in the new evidence.
Later, Valeria will be kidnapped by the Bhaalists and the party will be asked to sacrifice or rescue her, which honestly isa much harder choice than it should be purely because of her irritating personality. Even when rescued and saved, Valeria will still speak to the party like dirt, making her only saving grace the City Watch forces she proves as anally buff later inBG3.
2Lorroakan - Petulant & Inept Wizard
Nothing But A Peevish Fraud
Lorroakan is the slimy proprietor of Sorcerous Sundries, located in the Lower City of Baldur’s Gate, and plays a role not only in Gale’s personal quest but also the multi-act“Find the Nightsong”quest. Lorroakan is heavily implied to be a con manwho often uses the achievements of others for his own gain, even going so far as to trick Rolan into an abusive apprenticeship.
However, Lorroakan is far worse than simply a poor wizard, ashe is the one responsible for sending countless mercenaries out to find the Nightsong, who he knows is a person, in order to use her immortality as his own. Even if the partyhelps Lorroakan instead of Nightsong, he shows no gratitude beyond aiding them in the final battle. He will even write to the party during the epilogue demanding they find him a new butler after his old one started spending too much time with Aylin.
1Wulbren Bongle - Infuriating Jerk
Like The Song Says: This One’s For Barcus
Finally,it takes a very special kind of character to unite an entire fandom in hatred, and yet this will undoubtedly be Wulbren Bongle’s claim to fame. As the leader of the Ironhand gnomes, Wulbren had the opportunity to be on the right side of history after the clan’s association with Sarevok and the construction of his Iron Throne. However, because of his own behavior and condescending attitude, Wulbren can quickly alienate even the most patient Tav.
However,the thing that bothers me the most about Wulbren is his treatment of Barcus, who is easily one of the sweetest characters inBaldur’s Gate 3. Imagine being such a jerk that when your friend risks their own life to save you, your reaction is to speak down to them like a child. All of it leaves me feeling that leaving Wulbren in Moonrise to become a thrall should have been a real option in the game.
Baldur’s Gate 3
Developed and published by Larian Studios, Baldur’s Gate 3 is an upcoming role-playing game set to release in August of 2023. Players will create a character to embark on a large-scale journey and can do so solo or cooperatively with a friend. Combat is a turn-based style this time around.
