Summary
OneBaldur’s Gate 3player created a character that seems like a strange blend of Shadowheart and Lae’zel. While there are many reasonswhyBaldur’s Gate 3won Game of the Year, there is certainly an argument to be made that its iconic companions played a major role. From the roguish Astarion to the bubbly Karlach, the cast of characters that players can interact with over the course of the campaign have endeared themselves to the community, and many fans are hoping that Larian isn’t done with them just yet.
What makes thecompanions ofBaldur’s Gate 3stand out compared to BioWare or Owlcat party members is that, in true Larian fashion, players can also complete a playthrough by choosing instead to play as one of the companions themselves. This opens up some interesting role-playing possibilities, such as Karlach romancing Wyll, or Gale wrestling with the decision of what to do with the orb beating inside his chest. There even exists a special origin option for players to take with The Dark Urge, which completely transforms a playthrough by giving the main character a sinister backstory.
However, for Duelwalnut642, the concept was quite simple: they wanted to give a githyanki character a Goth-inspired look. While it may have not been the author’s original intent, the outcome looks like it combines Shadowheart and Lae’zel into one character. It’s important to note that the hairstyle comes from aBaldur’s Gate 3hair modcalled “Honey’s Hair Kitchen,” while the rest can be decently replicated using the game’s character creation tools.
With a focus on the mind flayers, the tiefling refugees of Elturel, and the githyanki warriors of Vlaakith, the main story ofBaldur’s Gate 3doesn’t shy away from the more unique aspects of the Forgotten Realms setting. In fact, one of its narrative strengths is that each Origin companion is deeply tied to either a faction or an object that the plot revolves around. Shadowheart is the reason why the Artifact comes into the party’s possession, while Lae’zel serves to point the party towards the githyanki faction (at least initially).
Ultimately, Lae’zel and Shadowheart can havevastly different endings inBaldur’s Gate 3depending on the choices made by the player character, and these outcomes are further emphasized in the epilogue, provided they survive the campaign. WithBaldur’s Gate 3now released on Xbox as well, Larian has expanded the game’s potential audience by a significant amount, as more players will finally be able to experience one of the best role-playing games in the past couple of years.
