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Volo: Difference between revisions

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* Volo met the protagonist of the previous ''Baldur's Gate'' games twice, and even got his hands on Irenicus' notes on torturing the protagonist (see ''[[Regarding the Slayer]]'').
* Volo met the protagonist of the previous ''Baldur's Gate'' games twice, and even got his hands on Irenicus' notes on torturing the protagonist (see ''[[Regarding the Slayer]]'').
* If an [[Instrument]] is played near Volo, he joins in by whistling.
* If an [[Instrument]] is played near Volo, he joins in by whistling.
* If approached in his cell at the Goblin Camp, Volo will always recognize a character he spoke to previously at the Grove, even if they look completely different due to an effect like {{SAI|Disguise Self}}, suggesting he may have some form of Truesight capability.
* In the Emerald Grove, Volo claims that he never learned how to speak with animals, despite carrying and selling a [[Potion of Animal Speaking]].
* In the Emerald Grove, Volo claims that he never learned how to speak with animals, despite carrying and selling a [[Potion of Animal Speaking]].
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Revision as of 20:56, 4 January 2025

Volothamp Geddarm, or Volo, for short, is a Camp Follower in Baldur's Gate 3. He can be first found at the Sacred Pool during Act One, interviewing a bear. Volo is a recurring character in Forgotten Realms media and a returning character from Baldur's Gate and Baldur's Gate II: Throne of Bhaal.

Portrait Volo.png
Our fates are bound, my wisdom vast, I dearly hope our kinship lasts!
Volo's dedication written in Volo's Guide to Baldur's Gate (Signed)

Overview

Volothamp Geddarm is a widely travelled wizard, most known for his guidebooks such as Volo's Guide to Monsters and Volo's Guide to Waterdeep. Elminster Elminster, an occasional fact checker and editor of his books - notably Volo's Guide to Monsters - has said he is prone to "exaggeration, misrepresentation, and flights of fancy".[1]

Involvement

Act One

Volo is found at the Sacred Pool in the Emerald Grove. If the party interact with him, he requests an interview on the recent goblin assault against the Grove. He soon departs for the Goblin Camp, intent on documenting goblin behavior from the inside.

The party will later find Volo as a captive to the goblins, forced to act as their jester and "entertainment". After a difficult performance, Volo is locked in a cage inside the Defiled Temple. If he is rescued, the party can invite him to their Campsite. If Volo is not freed before the conclusion of the Grove's quest line, he remains in the Goblin Camp awaiting rescue.

If the party attempt to pickpocket Volo during his dialogue after opening the cage door, Volo does not drink a Potion of Invisibility. Instead, he stands still and initiates combat with any patrolling goblin that sees him. The party is not forced into combat even after Volo dies.

If Volo arrives at the party's Campsite, he can offer to remove the mind flayer tadpole from the player character's skull via a highly questionable eye surgery. Agreeing to his eye surgery will end in catastrophe, but the player character permanently receives Volo's Ersatz Eye Volo's Ersatz Eye as compensation. This offer is only available during Acts One and Two. After the surgery, Volo leaves.

At the conclusion of the Emerald's Grove quest line, Volo attends the celebratory party regardless of which side the party aligned with. If the Grove was protected, he sings a song. If the Grove was attacked, he is kept in a cage (for his own protection) and asks the player character pointed questions as to how they justify slaughtering the refugees.

If the player character does not allow Volo to perform eye surgery, he remains in the camp until the end of Act Two. He does not have any new dialogue but can act as a vendor via the "Trade" option in the dialogue UI. Like other Traders, his inventory continually refreshes with 5 Potions of Animal Speaking and various scrolls that roughly match the party's level, including up to Level 6 spells. Being caught pickpocketing Volo has no consequence besides him briefly fleeing and losing some opinion of the offending character.

Act Three

In Baldur's Gate, Volo can be found trapped in front of the Steel Watch Foundry near the Grey Harbour Docks, tied to a railcart loaded with Smokepowder Barrels and with an angry mob ready to execute him. After rescuing and talking to him, he appears again at camp and offer the book Regarding the Slayer.

Companion approval

  • If Volo is allowed to perform his operation Astarion disapproves -1 Lae'zel disapproves -1 Shadowheart disapproves -1 Karlach disapproves -1

Combat

Attacks and abilities

Volo has no spell slots, but knows the following spells:

Colour Spray.webp
Colour Spray Colour Spray (+ )
Blind Blind creatures up to a combined 33 Hit Points.
 Range: Self
AoE: 5 m / 17 ft (Cone)
Grease.webp
Grease Grease (+ )
Cover the ground in flammable grease. It becomes Difficult Terrain and creatures within can fall Prone Prone.
DEX Save
 Range: 18 m / 60 ft
Magic Missile.webp
Magic Missile Magic Missile (+ )
Damage: 6~15
D4 Force.pngD4 Force.pngD4 Force.png
1d4 + 1Damage TypesForce
+ 1d4 + 1Damage TypesForce
+ 1d4 + 1Damage TypesForce

Create three darts of magical force, each dealing 1d4 + 1Damage TypesForce damage to its target.

The darts always hit their target, and can each be targeted individually.

 Range: 18 m / 60 ft

Store

Corresponds to the DEN_Volo_Trade treasure table.

Item Quantity Chance
Scroll Table 9 Always
Potion of Healing 3 Always
Grease Bottle 1 Always
Thieves' Tools 4;5;6 Always
The Whispering Promise 1 Always
Potion of Animal Speaking 5 Always
Poor Trader Table 1 Always
Common Music Instrument Subtable 3 Always

In addition, he sells a random Scholar/Travel/Monster/Politics/Entertainment book.

Related literature

Gallery

Notes

  • Volo is voiced by Stephen Hogan, replacing Rob Paulsen from previous games.
  • Volo has appeared in multiple adventures, notably Tomb of Annihilation, Waterdeep: Dragon Heist and Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage, as well as several video games such as Neverwinter Nights 2: Storm of Zehir, Baldur's Gate and Baldur's Gate II: Throne of Bhaal.
  • Volo met the protagonist of the previous Baldur's Gate games twice, and even got his hands on Irenicus' notes on torturing the protagonist (see Regarding the Slayer).
  • If an Instrument is played near Volo, he joins in by whistling.
  • If approached in his cell at the Goblin Camp, Volo will always recognize a character he spoke to previously at the Grove, even if they look completely different due to an effect like Disguise Self Disguise Self, suggesting he may have some form of Truesight capability.
  • In the Emerald Grove, Volo claims that he never learned how to speak with animals, despite carrying and selling a Potion of Animal Speaking.

References

  1. Greenwood, Ed (January 1996). Volo's Guide to the Dalelands. TSR, Inc, pp. 4–5.

External links

Volothamp Geddarm on the Forgotten Realms Wiki