Hardly any character in Baldur’s Gate 3 is as crazy, annoying, and yet lovable as Volo. But do you know the true story behind Volo?
In Baldur’s Gate 3, there are numerous characters and NPCs that you can encounter. Some are more important than others – but some have much more story than one might initially suspect. Because the quirky bard Volo is a quite significant character from the Dungeons & Dragons universe.
Where can you find Volo? You can meet Volo at different times in Baldur’s Gate 3. Either you encounter him at the beginning in the Druid Grove or shortly after in the Goblin Fortress, where he has been captured. Depending on your choices, he stays in your camp for a while, and ultimately you can encounter him again in the final act of the game, where you must rescue him from an explosive situation.
What does Volo do in the game? While you are looking for a rescue for the mind flayer larva in your head, Volo is one of the first characters to actually offer his help, albeit in a brutal manner: He wants to remove the larva from your head using a hammer and chisel, right past your eye.
If you undergo this procedure – and endure the very uncomfortable scene until the end – you will lose an eye. This will then be replaced by “Volo’s Replacement Eye,” which grants you the permanent ability to detect invisible enemies.
However, your character will also look quite battered afterwards – and some NPCs will make comments that you only have one eye left.
Aside from that, Volo serves as a merchant and has many amusing dialogues. He usually wears his heart on his sleeve, but can be quite condescending. For a good story, he is also happy to twist the facts a bit to ensure that his next book is a great success – especially when it comes to dragons; he likes to add a few details to the story.
Who is Volo really?
Now for the first revelation: Volo is not a bard at all, even though he constantly tries to sing and is devoted to the arts, like writing. Instead, Volo is a level 1 wizard (in some sources also a mage).
This at least explains why he couldn’t even convince the goblins with his singing.
However, the biggest secret about Volo is that he has been chosen by the goddess Mystra. The goddess has chosen several mortals as “weave anchors.” Should anything ever (again) happen to Mystra, these anchors would ensure that the weave remains intact and that the world does not plunge into chaos.
That Mystra chose Volo is, however, a questionable honor. Because she chose Volo because no one would suspect that he has this role. Not even Volo himself knows that he has been chosen by Mystra. Only Elminster knows this, which is why he comes to the rescue at times to save Volo from precarious situations – even if we see little of that in Baldur’s Gate 3.
By the way, Elminster is friends with Volo, and the two talk regularly. Elminster sometimes unwittingly helps Volo when it comes to publishing new books. Elminster corrects some misinformation and obscures dangerous knowledge that should better be kept from the world.
Even though Elminster is often irritated by Volo and has wanted to kill him several times, he also appreciates Volo and sees positive traits in him – such as the strong desire to help his friends at all costs or always saying what he thinks with direct honesty, even if often obscured by cruel bard songs.
Apart from the various “travel guides” that Volo has published, he also writes other books: erotic novels. However, he writes them under a pseudonym and would probably never admit that he has authored these books. Also mainly because they bring him most of his money.
Finally, Volo is also a character who has existed for several centuries. This is not necessarily unusual for magically gifted beings – but considering how often he maneuvers himself into trouble, it is remarkable that Volo is still alive. He owes this most recently to Elminster, who often saves him and even gave him a special ring that heals even serious injuries.
You see, Volothamp Geddarm is a special and long-established character, behind whom there is clearly much more than the first impression might suggest.
Even if he is unfortunately not a bard at all. But that was somewhat to be expected given his “singing talents,” right?
Volo is so peculiar that he would surely find the idea of a barrel magician quite grand.
