Summary (TL;DR)
In Baldur’s Gate 3, set nearly a century after Baldur’s Gate 2, players find themselves aboard a mind flayer vessel in the Nine Hells. Infected with a tadpole, they must escape and return to Faerun near Baldur’s Gate. The game’s first act revolves around finding a way to remove the tadpole while gathering companions and aiding tiefling refugees. Seeking answers, they venture to Moonrise Towers through the Underdark, facing perils and making critical choices along the way. The game’s full release is on August 3, 2023.
Escaping the Nine Hells
In the world of Faerun, nearly a century has passed since the events of Baldur’s Gate 2. The tale of Baldur’s Gate 3 begins in the dark and treacherous realm of Avernus, within the Nine Hells. You, the player character, find yourself aboard a nautiloid, a mind flayer vessel, where a horrifying discovery awaits. A tadpole has been implanted into your eye, a sinister parasite that could transform you into a mind flayer unless removed.
As the nautiloid comes under attack by Githyanki knights, you seize the opportunity to break free from your pod and fight for your survival. Amidst the chaos, you join forces with the fierce Githyanki warrior, Lae’zel. You have the choice of recruiting Shadowheart, a mysterious high-cleric and a benign intellect devourer, forming an unlikely alliance in your quest for freedom. The nautiloid must escape the Hells, but first, it must weather the onslaught of Avernus’ terrifying denizens.
Successfully reaching the helm of the ship, you manage to navigate the nautiloid back to Faerun, specifically to the wilds near Baldur’s Gate. However, the vessel sustains severe damage during the escape, leading to a crash landing. Though you are now free from immediate danger, the mind flayer tadpole remains a grave concern, necessitating a solution.
Unraveling the Tadpole Mystery
The primary focus of the first act revolves around searching for a way to remove the insidious mind flayer tadpoles from your body and your companions’. Unusually, the ceremorphosis process, has not commenced for you and your allies. This mystery demands answers.
During the first few days, your mission includes recruiting various companions to aid you in your endeavors. Among them are Astarion, a vampire spawn rogue; Gale, a human wizard; Shadowheart, a half-elven cleric (if you did not recruit her earlier); Wyll, a human warlock; and of course, Lae’zel. Their skills and personalities will play a crucial role in the challenges that lie ahead.
While searching for companions, you stumble upon a druid grove where tiefling refugees are besieged by goblins. Some of your companions may be indifferent to their plight, but the presence of Master Halsin, a powerful healer and druid captured by goblins, provides a compelling reason to assist the refugees. Furthermore, the goblins’ worship of a mysterious entity called the Absolute, tied to the mind flayers, introduces more questions about the tadpoles.
Seeking Solutions
In the druid grove, various figures offer their aid in removing the mind flayer tadpoles, each with different intentions and methods. Nettie, a healer residing in the grove, offers a risky solution involving poison, while the cambion Raphael and hag Auntie Ethel also claim to have solutions. However, not all of them are to be trusted, and the consequences of your choices may have far-reaching implications.
To progress further, you must decide whether to save Master Halsin from the goblins, aiding the druid grove, or side with the goblins and their priestess, embracing your role as a “True Soul.” Both paths come with distinct challenges and consequences, shaping your journey and companions.
The Journey to Moonrise Towers
With no immediate cure for the tadpoles found in the druid grove, you learn that answers lie at the Moonrise Towers. Though several paths to the towers exist, only the Underdark route is currently accessible in the game, leading to a perilous journey filled with duergar and myconoids.
Navigating the treacherous Underdark, you and your companions brave countless dangers to reach the Moonrise Towers. The journey tests your wits, courage, and alliances as you inch closer to uncovering the truth.
Updates Coming Soon!
As the story of Baldur’s Gate 3 unfolds, more details and content will be updated here and across the site, promising a captivating and ever-evolving journey. The full release of Baldur’s Gate 3 is set for August 3, 2023. Be sure to check the screenshot below to confirm the release time in your region.
