The Unending Quest for Power and Love ~ Gale’s Story (Baldur’s Gate 3 Lore)

Childhood Fascination with the Weave

Gale Dekarios, a young human wizard hailing from Waterdeep, developed an early fascination with the Weave, the source of all magic in Faerûn. Despite his parents’ refusal to grant him a pet cat, Gale’s longing for companionship led him to conjure a tressym named Tara, who became his steadfast companion and best friend. His ultimate ambition? To become the most formidable wizard in all of Faerûn.

The Insatiable Thirst for Power

As Gale honed his magical skills and grew in prowess, his hunger for power became insatiable. He quickly realized that the more he delved into the mysteries of the Weave, the more unfathomable its depths seemed. His quest for magical supremacy knew no bounds.

Mystra’s Influence and the Fateful Orb

Gale’s exceptional talents caught the attention of Mystra, the goddess of magic herself. What began as a mentor-student relationship soon evolved into a deep friendship and even love. However, Mystra, understanding the perils of unchecked magic, imposed stringent limits on magic user’s powers. Gale, forever craving more magical might, repeatedly sought to loosen these constraints. Their relationship ultimately soured when Mystra spurned him, leaving Gale heartbroken.

Undeterred, Gale devised a plan to win back Mystra’s affection. He stumbled upon a fragment of magic, sealed within a tome of gateways and trapped in a pocket of the Astral Plane, hidden from Mystra’s reach. Gale pondered the possibility of returning this lost piece of magic to the goddess as a gesture of his devotion. Little did he know that this act would seal his fate, as the magical orb within the tome latched onto his chest, draining his magical abilities and prompting Mystra’s abandonment.

With Tara’s assistance, Gale discovered that the orb craved magical items to remain stable. As they embarked on a quest to find a means of removing the orb, they realized that its hunger was far from satiated, and they were left grappling with an unsolved predicament.

A Drastic Turn of Fate 

In the year 1492 DR, Gale’s life takes a harrowing twist as he falls into the clutches of mind flayers. They subject him to a terrifying ordeal by implanting a tadpole directly into his brain through his eye. Ordinarily, this horrific procedure would result in his transformation into a mind flayer. However, a glimmer of hope emerges from an unexpected source: his companionship with Shadowheart and the mysterious artifact she wields. This alliance not only arrests Gale’s impending metamorphosis but also grants him the extraordinary ability to communicate telepathically with others who share the same gruesome fate of hosting a tadpole within their minds.

The Arrival of Elminster and a Chance for Redemption

Coincidentally, the renowned wizard Elminster Aumar appeared in Gale’s life, bearing a message from Mystra herself. She offered Gale a path to redemption: by using the orb to destroy himself and the source of the tadpoles that plagued him, he could earn her forgiveness. Elminster temporarily curbed the orb’s hunger for magic, leaving Gale with a challenging decision.

Mystra’s Revelation and the Unquenchable Orb

In a long-awaited encounter, Mystra finally opens a dialogue with Gale, revealing a startling truth: the orb within him is not crafted from her magic but originates from Karsus himself, forever yearning for magic just as Karsus once did. As the orb took residence within Gale’s chest, it voraciously consumed his magical prowess, leaving him oblivious to the extent of the power he had unleashed. To contain the orb’s insatiable hunger, Mystra reluctantly permits it to feed on the Weave. In her plea for redemption, Mystra implores Gale to employ the orb to vanquish the Absolute, the malevolent source behind the tadpoles. If he is unwilling to do that, retrieve the Crown of Karsus, a vital artifact. Giving it to her prevents Gale or any other from ascending to godhood.

Gale’s Divergent Paths

Gale’s journey continues with multiple potential outcomes, each shaping his destiny in profound ways:

• The Sacrificial Choice: Gale obeys Mystra’s plea, using the orb to obliterate the Absolute, sacrificing himself and his companions in the process.
• The Heroic Sacrifice: Gale heeds Mystra’s request, but this time he ensures the safety of his friends before allowing the orb to erupt, leading to his own demise.
• Ascension and Defeat: After destroying the Absolute, Gale locates the scattered pieces of Karsus’ crown, reforges it, and becomes a deity. Summoned by Mystra, he challenges her, but ultimately loses the battle.
• Ascension and Return: Gale becomes a god after reconstructing Karsus’ crown. When summoned by Mystra, he returns the crown to her, and she encourages him to embrace a new life.
• The Mind Flayer’s Path: Gale transforms into a mind flayer to vanquish the Absolute. Summoned by Mystra, she offers to restore his humanity if he joins her in Elysium.
• The Mind Flayer’s Offer: Opting for the mind flayer transformation, Gale earns Mystra’s gratitude, along with her promise to answer his prayers.
• The Pursuit of Love: Gale rejects Karsus’ crown’s power, choosing a life of romance and settling down in Waterdeep.
• The Quest for Ascendancy: If Gale opts not to pursue romance, he embarks on a quest to locate the pieces of Karsus’ crown.
• Absolute Control: Origin Gale seizes the three stones controlling Orpheus, granting him dominion over the tadpoles and mind flayers, potentially altering the fate of all.