The Dark Urge (Origin)

The Dark Urge Origin has unique gameplay and content in Baldur's Gate 3, and adds many new interactions and opportunities to the game.

Special Origin
The Dark Urge
Stats
Race	[[Any,  White Dragonborn (default)|Any,  White Dragonborn (default)]]
Type	Humanoid
Character information
Class	[[ Any,  Sorcerer (default) | Any,  Sorcerer (default) ]] [[Category:Any,  Sorcerer (default)s]]
Background	Haunted One

Notice: This article is about the unique gameplay of the Dark Urge Origin. For the article about the character itself, see The Dark Urge.

Unlike the other Origin Characters, The Dark Urge can be played using any race, class, and gender, and will not be part of the player's party if they are playing any other Origin Character.

Background

You remember nothing of your past besides that you walked a path paved with blood. As you venture on, you find yourself inescapably drawn towards unimaginable cruelties. Where do these thoughts come from?

Gameplay

See Also: The Urge/objectives

A character with The Dark Urge Origin remembers nothing of their past and are plagued with dark urges of violence and cruelty. The Dark Urge's primary personal quest is called The Urge, and like the other Origin Characters, The Dark Urge adds a unique storyline that surfaces over time as the true nature of The Dark Urge is revealed.

Over the course of the game, the player can choose to resist or indulge in their character's urges, as they slowly learn more about their past and their nature.

Act One

Spoiler warning! This section reveals details about the story of Baldur's Gate 3.

During Act One, the Dark Urge will eventually have a long rest event where they murder a camp follower. If she is available, this will always be Alfira. Otherwise, it will be Quil. Soon after, in a separate long rest event, their butler will introduce himself, and gift the player the Deathstalker Mantle.

Unique Interactions

• Long resting early in the act can give hints at the character's true nature. The hints given are dependent on the character's race and class, providing a lore-friendly explanation of each.
• Eating the Noblestalk mushroom as Dark Urge will unlock one of two memories:
  • If eaten before meeting Sceleritas Fel. they remember acts of cannibalism.
  • If eaten after meeting Sceleritas Fel, they remember the torture and murder of one of their victims.
• Tearing off Gale's arm when first meeting him. This prevents you from recruiting him.
• On meeting Timber the Squirrel at the Druid Grove, the Dark Urge will punt the squirrel with no input. The player can only control this choice if they have Speak with Animals active.
• Encourage Arabella to leave by flicking your eyes towards the exit, leading to her death.
• Tear off the Wings from the Wounded Bird that is being treated by Nettie ((Has to be done before prodding it))
• Killing Alfira while she is visiting the camp (Or a Dragonborn bard named Quil if Alfira is unavailable for any reason), leading to the first meeting of Sceleritas Fel. The player can not control this choice.
• Killing Minthara after sleeping with her if the Dark Urge sided with the Goblin Camp against the Grove.

Act Two

Act 2 Spoilers! This section reveals details about the story of Baldur's Gate 3.

During a long rest event, The Dark Urge will be given the task of killing Isobel at the Last Light Inn.

If the player kills either Isobel or their companion, they are they are granted the Slayer form, a gift from their father.

Should the player forego killing Isobel, at a later long rest they will be informed that they will kill their closest companion, usually their lover. The player can choose to wake their companion up, if they pass a Wisdom check. If they fail the check, choose to go back to sleep, or choose to kill their companion, they must pass a separate check, or the camp will turn hostile.

Unique Interactions

• The Dark Urge has unique dialogue and interactions with multiple characters at and around Moonrise Towers.
• Killing Isobel. The player can choose whether or not to do this, but will lead to a different event. Killing Isobel rewards the Dark Urge with the Slayer form.
• Killing your lover or closest companion. The player can choose to warn their companion of this, or choose to simply kill them. Doing this rewards the Dark Urge with the Slayer form.
• After freeing the trapped fairy from the Moonlantern, the player can choose to crush it.
• The player can torture a group of goblins in a variety of ways at the Moonrise Towers.
• Walking by the graves of the Last Light Inn will reveal that it was once the Dark Urge's hunting grounds.

Act Three

Act 3 Spoilers! This section reveals details about the story of Baldur's Gate 3.

If the player refused to kill either Isobel or their companion, after arriving at Wyrm's Crossing, it is revealed that the Dark Urge is a Bhaalspawn, and was once the leader of the Cult of Bhaal, before being betrayed and murdered by their sister. Further conversation with Gortash reveals they were one of the original members of the Chosen of the Dead Three, and alongside Gortash, had originally schemed to use the Crown of Karsus on the Elder Brain to falsify the religion of the Absolute. In this sense, the Dark Urge is very well the catalyst for the main story's events.

The only reason the Dark Urge is not within this position is because Orin the Red, envious of the Dark Urge's power and control over the cult, betrayed them, inflicted amnesia upon them, and took control of the cult herself.

After confronting Orin, the Dark Urge may restore themselves as Bhaal's Chosen, or refuse the title.

Should they refuse to become Bhaal's chosen, the Dark Urge will be drained of their father's blood, immediately dying, dooming them the to be lost in the Fugue Plane for eternity. However, soon after Withers invests a portion of his power into the Dark Urge, entwining their fates. The Dark Urge is reborn as Wither's champion, free from the Urge.

The player may still select Dark Urge options in dialogue, with the implications that it is now their character's choice to engage with those desires.

Unique Interactions

• The Dark Urge has unique throughout the entirety of Act three.
  • They may re-establish their partnership with Gortash.
  • They have unique interactions with Orin and the Cult of Bhaal.
  • The Dark Urge has unique dialogue with the Netherbrain.
  • The Dark Urge has unique dialogue and interactions in the majority of quests in Act three.
• After learning of their true self, Oathbreaker Paladins can confront the Oathbreaker Knight, and learn that it isn't the first time they've broken their oath.
• If Heal is cast on the Dark Urge, they unlock one of two memories:
  • If cast prior to killing Orin, they remember that they killed their foster parents.
  • If cast after killing Orin, they remember playing with friends in childhood, after being taken in by their foster parents.
  • While Heal could, theoretically, be cast earlier than Act three, it will only become available to the player at level 11 and above, which is typically only reached after Act two.

Achievements

Embrace Your Urge
Become Bhaal's ultimate weapon - become his Slayer.

Sins of the Father
Claim your Throne of Blood: take control of the Netherbrain for Bhaal and break the world.