Gale

Gale
Role	Origin character Companion
Voiced by	Tim Downie
Information
Full name	Gale Dekarios
Race	Human
Class	Wizard
Background	Sage
Hometown	Waterdeep
Family	Tara Morena Dekarios (mother)

Gale, full name Gale Dekarios, is an origin character and a recruitable companion with the Sage background. He is a human Wizard first appearing during Act 1.

A scholar and prodigy in the arcane arts, Gale is committed to unlocking the secrets of the Weave no matter the cost. He can be first found at the Ravaged Beach during Act 1 where he can be recruited into the party, and be romanced by characters of any gender.

“	There's a gust of Weave about you, but it's a mere breeze. I need a tempest.	„
	— Gale's hunger for powerful magic.

Overview

Background

A prodigy in magic, Gale is a wizard of great talent and just as great ambition. Once a Chosen of Mystra, his quest to prove himself to the goddess of magic resulted in him being cursed with a long-forgotten form of magic, a ticking time bomb with an all consuming hunger. Now, lost to Mystra's graces and with a tadpole in his brain, Gale must find a way to be rid of both curse and unwelcome guest.

Starting class

Gale starts as a Wizard with a balanced repertoire of spells, allowing him to act both as an offensive and supporting caster. Upon reaching level two, he will default to the Evocation School subclass, giving him access to a wider arsenal of offensive spells.

Special features

• In order to sate his arcane hunger, Gale must consume magic items periodically. Should he not, he will be afflicted, which has three different stages of severity:
  • Arcane Hunger gives him disadvantage to Constitution saving throws.
  • Greater Arcane Hunger gives him disadvantage on all attack rolls and saving throws.
  • Severe Arcane Hunger gives him disadvantage on all attack rolls and saving throws and his movement speed is halved.
• If Gale is slain, his corpse will emanate a Necrotic Aura, dealing 1d4 Necrotic damage every turn to those around his corpse until revived.
• Cursed by netherese magic, Gale can cast Netherese Orb Blast, obliterating everything in the vicinity and leading to a game over screen.
• Gale can create the unique Shadow Lantern in Moonrise Towers, a special item that allows summoning a shadow wraith. Alternatively, he can reject the ritual, receiving Mystra's Benevolence instead, granting him advantage on Concentration checks until the next Long Rest.
• When played as an origin character, Gale can either cleanse or consume the Shadow Weave from the corpse of Malus Thorm, Gerringothe Thorm or Thisobald Thorm, granting him one of the following boons:
  • Consumed Shadow Weave gives Gale an additional Level 3 Spell Slot that recharges on long rest if he consumed the Shadow Weave.
  • Mystra's Blessing gives Gale immunity to Fire, Acid, Cold, Force, and Thunder damage if he cleansed the Shadow Weave.
• When played as an origin character, Tara, Gale's tressym, will join him in camp as a follower.

Personal quest

Gale's personal quest is The Wizard of Waterdeep, spanning all acts of the game. In it, Gale will have to come to terms with the consequences of his unbridled ambitions, as well as deal with the ticking time bomb in his body.

Two further subquests are available that tie into his personal quest: In Case of Death..., in which the party must deal with Gale's protocol for his untimely death, and Balthazar's Experiment, where Gale can decide to finish the work of a dangerous necromancer.

Recruitment

Gale can be recruited as a permanent companion during Act One.

Act One

• Gale can be found when approaching the Roadside Cliffs Ancient Rune Circle, north of the Ravaged Beach. If investigated, Gale will stick his hand out from inside the circle and ask for help. A successful ability check is required to pull him out, with multiple options available:
• DC 7 Strength check — available to all classes
• DC 7 Intelligence check — available to Wizards
• DC 7 Charisma check — available to Warlocks, Sorcerers and Bards
• DC 7 Wisdom check — available to Druids and Clerics
• DC 12 Dexterity check —available to Rogues

If the first check is failed, a second one can be attempted with increased difficulty:

• DC 12 Strength check — available if the first unsuccessful attempt was a Strength check
• DC 7 Strength check — available if the first unsuccessful attempt was a class-specific check

Failing two checks, or choosing to leave him to his fate, will mean Gale falls back into the rune circle and cannot be recruited.

Approval

Main article: Gale/approval

Gale generally approves of doing good and helping those in need, as well as solving conflicts with tact and pragmatic solutions. He likes those who appreciate the arcane arts and are willing to learn from him, as well as those who support his grand ambitions.

Gale dislikes harming innocents and using unnecessary violence when diplomacy is an option. As a scholar, he disapproves of destroying or wasting valuable knowledge, and those who criticise his convictions and goals will earn his disapproval.

Romance

Main article: Gale/romance

Gale can be romanced by characters of any gender. In his relationship, Gale must reconcile his newfound feelings of love with the consequences of his former time with Mystra, as well as deal with his impending death.

Description

Appearance

Gale has a simple, yet refined style to him, with clothes well-made but never ostentatious. His mousy brown hair is straight and shoulder-length, swept back with an elegant flair. His eyes are chestnut brown, his gaze soft but confident, and he keeps his facial hair neatly trimmed. On his left ear, Gale wears a silver earring shaped in the form of a star, holy symbol of Mystra, representing perhaps his former relationship with the goddess or just his affinity with magic. In the middle of his chest, a dark circle with wispy tendrils can be found, the result of absorbing Karsus' netherese magic. These tendrils extend all the way to under his left eye, faint, but ever present.

Personality

Gale is an intelligent, thoughtful wizard, with a good-hearted and peaceful nature. Despite his scholarly and slightly pompous manner of speaking, he is friendly and always willing to lend his ear to friends. As an accomplished wizard and eternal scholar, he is proud of his arcane knowledge and feats achieved as an erstwhile Chosen, yet it's this pride combined with his ambition that prevent him from seeing reason sometimes, risking repeating mistakes from the past. Still, Gale isn't unreasonable, and if convinced by friends, he's willing to think twice before jumping to rash actions.

Though outwardly confident and easy-going, Gale still carries the physical and emotional wounds of his former relationship with Mystra and the consequences of dabbling in forbidden magic. As such, he is sensitive about criticism, and often reacts defensively when confronted by his past actions. All of this leads him to be willing to do anything to earn Mystra's forgiveness, even if it means sacrificing his life to do so. He also seems to hide somewhat behind his Gale of Waterdeep persona, built to project this image of a great and powerful wizard as opposed to, the way he sees it, the more mundane Gale Dekarios.

History

Life in Waterdeep

Born to Morena Dekarios and an unknown father, Gale was raised in the city of Waterdeep. A prodigy of magic from a young age, Gale learned to manipulate the Weave like a skilled virtuoso plays music, his talents and abilities manifesting in many occasions, though often with unintended consequences. One time, forbidden from having a cat of his own by his parents, Gale summoned Tara, a tressym that would become not only his lifelong companion, but also family. After Gale's departure from home, Tara would keep mother Dekarios company throughout the years. Other less successful attempts resulted in a fiery meeting with a Magma Mephit, though he kept in touch with them over the years, nonetheless. In time, Gale would be enrolled at the prestigious Blackstaff Academy, an educational institution for promising wizards and sorcerers.

Blackstaff Academy

The academy seemed the perfect place to nourish his talents, as Gale deeply believed he was destined for greatness despite being only a child. Still, young Gale's misadventures would continue even at the academy. Irritated with everyone's lack of faith in him, he attempted to cast a portal spell with the Blackstaff itself. Though it worked, rather than returning to his dormitory as he intended, the resulting portal pulled him into Limbo, facing a rather angry Death Slaad. Before Gale could face the slaad, the current Blackstaff Archmage pulled Gale back, and punished him with months of tedious work.

Chosen of Mystra

At some point, Gale was mentored by Elminster Aumar, one of the most powerful and famous wizards of Faerûn and a hero to Gale. The Sage of Shadowdale guided Gale, furthering his mastery over the Weave and arcane arts, and over time became something of a parental figure to him.

Gale's talent eventually drew the attention of the Goddess of Magic, Mystra, who made him one of her Chosen. Mystra became a teacher, muse, and eventually lover to Gale.^{[Needs Verification]} Gale's hubris sought to make her see him as an equal, and so he begged her to give him access to forbidden arcane arts, something she repeatedly refused.^{[Needs Verification]} Having learned of Karsus' Folly and his attempts at reaching godhood via his netherese magic, Gale sought out a tome containing a scrap of Netherese Weave, hoping to impress Mystra by returning it to her. /!\ However, when he opened the book, something shot from the book into his chest, and his body became an unwitting host to an extremely destructive netherese orb. To keep the orb inhabiting and corrupting his body in check, Gale was required to continually sate it with powerful magical artefacts - if he failed, the orb would detonate, bearing enough destructive power to bring down even whole cities, and Gale with them. /!\ Yet the most painful punishment for his hubris would be to lose his position as Mystra's Chosen. When she learned of Gale's recklessness, Mystra ceased all contact with him and ended their relationship for good without adding another word, leaving Gale to deal with the netherese orb within him on his own.^{[Needs Verification]}

Seclusion in Waterdeep

Abandoned and with a doomsday device in his body, Gale moved back to his tower in Waterdeep to live in quiet seclusion. As much as he wished to be alone, Tara was there to accompany him even in his lowest of lows and together, they spent most of their time locating magic items for Gale to consume. His abandonment by Mystra turned him into somewhat of a recluse with few friends remaining.

At some point, Gale left the tower in a hurry for unexplained reasons, where he was then abducted by the rogue Nautiloid and subsequently tadpoled along other victims.

Involvement

The Wizard of Waterdeep

See main article: The Wizard of Waterdeep

The Wizard of Waterdeep is Gale's personal quest. It is added to the journal upon recruiting him and spans all three acts of the game.

Act One

Likely used magic to portal out and got trapped in the process.

Over the course of Gale's personal quest, the game offers the player the choice to encourage, guide or simply mistrust him. While Gale can lie about the danger his condition poses to the party, he can eventually open up to the player character and look to them for guidance.

After the end of Act Two, Gale becomes fascinated by the existence of the Crown of Karsus, developing an obsession with it – and its power. Depending on the player's choices, he either soon regrets his hubris and makes a commitment to become more humble, or decides to reforge the crown and use it to ascend to godlike status, using his new powers to help people.

Tara disapproves of the idea of martyrdom, and will force an origin Gale to promise her he will find another way.

Interactions

Companion interactions

Gale has unique dialogue interactions as a companion available after certain events. Whenever one is available, he will have a floating [ ! ] icon above him.

Act One

• After saving Mirkon from the harpies near the grove, Gale will reminisce about his childhood with the party.
• If the party intervenes on behalf of Arabella when facing Kagha's judgment and manages to have her spared, Gale will be happy about the outcome of the confrontation.
• Upon receiving Mystra's orders via Elminster, Gale can be spoken to to learn more about his feelings on his new mission.

Act Three

• After meeting Tara on the rooftop of the Open Hand Temple, Gale will express his happiness over seeing her once more, and can be questioned about his surname.

Moonrise Towers

• Bring Gale to the hidden room in Balthazar's chamber and interact with the ritual circle. He will give you unique dialogue. Then control Gale and interact with the ritual circle to combine a Broken Moonlantern and Dead Pixie to create a Shadow Lantern.

Reithwin Town

• Interacting with the corpses of either Gerringothe Thorm, Malus Thorm, or Thisobald Thorm gives you the choice to consume the shadow magic within them, or purge it. Consuming it awards a permanent level 3 long rest recharged spell slot, purging it awards you mystra's blessing until the next long rest.

Unique interactions

Either as an origin, or in the party as a companion, Gale has unique interactions and special dialogue with the following characters, listed by the act they are first encountered in.

Act One

• Tara
• Elminster

Loot

Gale can be killed and looted, and drops the same loot as his starting equipment.

Starting equipment

• Gale's Severed Hand

Gameplay

Gale
Level 1 Wizard Human
Stats
Movement speed	9 m (30 ft)
Weight	75 kg (150 lb)
Initiative	+1
Ability scores
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA 8 (-1) 13 (+1) 15 (+2) 17 (+3) 10 (0) 12 (+1)
Proficiency bonus	+2
Saving throws	Str -1 Dex +1 Con +2 Int +5 Wis +2 Cha +1

For full information about Gale's starting features, see wizard and human.

Cantrips known:

•  Ray of Frost
•  Fire Bolt
•  Mage Hand

Spells known:

•  Mage Armour
•  Thunderwave
•  Sleep
•  Grease
•  Fog Cloud
•  Witch Bolt

Starting skill proficiencies:

• Arcana
• History
• Insight
• Investigation
• Persuasion

Achievements

Repairing the Weave
Stabilise Gale's Netherese orb.

Gallery

• 

  Gale's appearance pre-release.

• 

  Gale until Patch 7 of Early Access.

• 

  Gale's Early Access promotional art.

• 

  Early Access model (without earring).

• 

  In-game model.

• 

  Camp model.

• 

  Underwear model.

• 

  Render by Alena Dubrovina.

• 

  Promotional art.

• 

  Appearance in the character creator.

• 

  Portrait by Edward Vanderghote.

Related literature

• The Annals of Karsus

Notes

• Can be spoken to with Speak with Dead.
• According to Larian Studios, until Patch 3 of Early Access, Gale was both the most romanced and most killed companion.
• Gale received an appearance change in Patch 8. Earrings and a tattoo on his chest/collarbone were added, and his face was changed.
• Gale's last name is "Dekarios." He apparently prefers to use the title "Gale of Waterdeep", as it sounds more impressive than "Gale Dekarios". Depending on the player's choices, he may decide to switch back to using his real name at the end of the game.
• He will correct the player if they refer to Tara as "his" tressym. However, Tara refers to Gale as hers and affectionately calls him the "most expensive pet in Waterdeep".
• During the end of his Companion story, Wyll remarks, "Let's hope Gale doesn't take offence if I assume cooking duties, just the once." This implies that Gale usually does the cooking. Additionally, if he is sent to camp when recruited in Act One, he will tell the player he is going to cook a slow roast for their return.

External links

• Gale on the Forgotten Realms Wiki
• Gale's official 5E D&D Character Sheet on D&D Beyond (PDF) (Archived version from 2023-09-04).