Gale

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Gale, full name Gale Dekarios, is an Origin character and Companion in Baldur's Gate 3. He is a Human Wizard with the Sage background.

There's a gust of Weave about you, but it's a mere breeze. I need a tempest.
— Gale, in search of powerful magic

Overview

Background

Gale is a magical prodigy – a wizard of great talent and incredible knowledge. Imbued with the devastating power of a Netherese orb, Gale must continually consume magical artefacts, lest he unleash that explosive force upon himself and his surroundings.

Personal quest

Gale's personal quest is The Wizard of Waterdeep.

Recruitment

When approaching the Roadside Cliffs Ancient Rune Circle, north of the Ravaged Beach, it will appear to be flickering erratically. The player can choose to investigate the circle more closely, or leave it alone. Choosing to investigate the circle has Gale stick his hand out from inside the circle and ask for a helping hand.

A Strength check (DC 7) is required to pull Gale free from the circle. Certain classes have alternative checks they can make instead:

If the first check is failed, a second can be attempted:

  • If the first check was Strength, the second will be a DC 12 Strength check.
  • If the first check was a class-specific one, the second will be a DC 7 Strength check.

Succeeding any of the above checks will pull Gale out of the circle, at which point he can be recruited. Wyll approves +1 Karlach approves +1
Failing two checks, or choosing to leave him to his fate, will mean Gale falls back into the circle and cannot be recruited.

Background HauntedOne Icon.png Spoiler warning! This section reveals interactions with The Dark Urge.

The Dark Urge has access to an additional option to "fantasise about hacking off the hand". If this option is chosen, then Gale will not be recruitable – instead the player will receive Gale's Severed Hand as a souvenir. Lae'zel approves +1 Wyll disapproves -1 Karlach disapproves -1

Approval

Main article: Gale/Approval.
Gale Approves
Gale generally approves of doing good and helping those in need. He approves of solving conflicts with diplomacy and appreciates thoughtful or pragmatic solutions.

Gale dislikes harming innocents or destroying or wasting valuable knowledge or lore. He also usually reacts with disapproval to criticism of his convictions and attitudes.

Description

Gale is an intelligent, thoughtful wizard, with a good-hearted and peaceful nature. He has a scholarly, slightly pompous speaking style. He speaks openly about himself when asked, describing himself as a "wizard of some renown" who enjoys good wine and occasionally writing poetry. He frequently shares anecdotes from his youth or his career as a wizard. Like Karlach and Wyll, he generally approves of the player's good-aligned choices.

Gameplay

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

Cantrips known:

Spells known:

Starting skill proficiencies:

History

From a young age, Gale was a prodigy with magic, manipulating magic like a skilled virtuoso plays music. He summoned a tressym, Tara, after his parents refused to get him a kitten. At age ten, he summoned a Magma Mephit, who he is still friends with today. [note 1]

Gale attended The Blackstaff Academy, an educational institution for promising Wizards and Sorcerers. While he was only a child, his age unknown but assumed to be in teenage years, he believed he was destined for greatness. Irritated with everyone's lack of faith in him, he even went so far as to attempt a spell with the Blackstaff stave itself. Rather than returning to his dormitory, the resulting portal pulled him into Limbo. Before Gale could face the Death Slaad he encountered, the current Blackstaff Archmage pulled Gale back. He then spent months writing lines as punishment.

Gale was at some point "plucked" from obscurity by Elminster, one of the most powerful and famous wizards of Faerûn. Elminster mentored Gale, and 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. Longing to impress his Goddess, Gale begged her to give him access to forbidden levels of magic, which she repeatedly refused. He 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. As a punishment for his hubris, Gale lost his position as Chosen, and Mystra ceased contact with him.

Prior to his abduction by mind flayers, Gale lived in a tower in Waterdeep. He and Tara spent most of their time locating magic items for him to consume. After his abandonment by Mystra, Gale became something of a recluse, and describes himself as having few friends.

Events of Baldur's Gate 3

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.

List of interactions

Act Two

Moonrise Towers

Achievements

A-Repairing the Weave.jpg

Repairing the Weave
Stabilise Gale's Netherese orb.


Gallery

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.

Footnotes

  1. It's likely that Gale's summoned mephit is the same Magma Mephit who appears in In Case of Death....

External links