In the early stages of a Dark Urge playthrough in Baldur’s Gate 3, players encounter two shocking moments that set a grim tone for the rest of their journey. The first occurs when players are presented with a seemingly straightforward choice involving Gale, one of the game’s main characters. If the player considers biting Gale’s hand off while he’s reaching through a portal, they are abruptly punished by losing Gale permanently.
This unexpected consequence illustrates the game’s willingness to take control out of the player’s hands, delivering a harsh reminder of its darker themes.
The second, even more unsettling event happens early in Act One. The tiefling bard Alfira, a friendly and hopeful character, visits the party’s camp. The next morning, the Dark Urge wakes up next to her gruesomely mutilated body, having killed her in a subconscious frenzy.
Unlike Gale’s fate, which can be avoided with careful choices, Alfira’s death is unavoidable unless the player goes to great lengths to prevent her from staying at the camp. This brutal encounter further emphasizes the Dark Urge’s uncontrollable nature and the dire consequences of embracing its evil path.
Alfira’s death, though tragic, is essential to the narrative of the Dark Urge’s storyline. Her demise serves as a crucial plot device to highlight the severity of the Dark Urge’s influence and the game’s willingness to upend player expectations.
While it’s undeniably sorrowful for fans of Alfira, the absence of her character after this event is a deliberate choice by the developers to underscore the stakes and enhance the impact of the Dark Urge’s journey through the game.
The narrative shift that follows Alfira’s death shows the game’s design intent. From this point onward, players have more agency to resist the Dark Urge’s impulses and make different choices.
Her death becomes a poignant reminder of the game’s brutal stakes, pushing players to either rebel against their dark nature or fully embrace it. The struggle against the Dark Urge’s influence becomes a central theme, and the memory of Alfira’s fate drives home the consequences of giving in to evil.
By the time players reach Act Three, the story of the Dark Urge culminates in a powerful redemption arc. Players face the challenge of reconciling their actions with their desire to defy their predestined evil nature.
Alfira’s memory serves as a stark reminder of what’s at stake, motivating players to fight against their darker impulses and seek redemption. The developers’ choice to keep Alfira’s death permanent reinforces the gravity of the Dark Urge’s narrative, making the struggle for redemption all the more compelling and significant.
