The deepest desires of your companions are known only by an NPC in Baldur’s Gate 3. A single word reveals much about their true thoughts.
Baldur’s Gate 3 is full of great and small secrets. So many that you probably can’t find them all, even if you search thoroughly. Particularly interesting are the revelations that reveal more about your companions and the problems they are grappling with.
What kind of NPC is this? In Act 3, you can visit the brothel “Sharess’ Caress” in Baldur’s Gate quite early – strictly speaking, even before reaching the actual city at the bridge leading to the fortress. Here, you not only encounter Raphael in one of the rooms but also can save one of the ladies, Naoise Nallinto, from an attack – as her client transforms before your eyes into a mind flayer.
If you succeed, you can talk to Naoise and learn a few new details after a successful skill check.
What does she reveal? Depending on which character you converse with, you will learn different details. However, these hints are not in Naoise’s response but in the responses you can give. She asks:
“Here, you want nothing. Here, you are everything. You have only one word. Tell me, what will you be?”
In the subreddit of Baldur’s Gate 3, “AHappyGoth” compiled the responses. The first four response options are the same for all companions, but the fifth response is specific only to each character.
- Gale: “Wise.”
- Wyll: “Free.”
- Karlach: “Alive.”
- Shadowheart: “Complete.”
- Astarion: “Safe.”
- The Dark Desire: “Rational.”
What do these answers mean? If you follow the backstories of the various characters, then the respective answer is quite clear.
Gale’s desire for wisdom is understandable on several levels. On one hand, he made a big mistake when he came into contact with the destructive orb; on the other hand, he wants to gain more knowledge to master magic and please his goddess.
Wyll’s wish for freedom is also understandable. He is not only trapped in a pact with Myzora but also by the expectations of his father.
Karlach’s desire for “aliveness” is particularly tragic. Essentially, she is only alive because of the hell machine in her body and is at risk of losing this rather fleeting life.
Shadowheart’s desire for “completeness” is also justifiable. She has lost a significant part of her memories and feels the loss inflicted by the goddess Shar. This is also interesting concerning her imprisoned parents.
Astarion’s desire for safety is primarily determined by Cazador. As Astarion is the offspring of the vampire, he is constantly under his control and has only gained temporary freedom through the mind flayer larva. His yearning for more power is actually a desire to be safe from his master and the vampire hunters.
Finally, there is the Dark Desire, which wishes for reason. After all, the character repeatedly falls into murderous rages and cannot accurately remember what they have done.
Other companions, such as Jaheira or Minthara, do not have a special response option, with the exception of Minsc.
Minsc describes himself with this word: “Minsc.”
But honestly – did you expect something different?
Not all wishes come true in Baldur’s Gate 3 – especially not with the new evil endings.
