The Dark Urge (Origin)

This article is about origin. For the character and their full history, see The Dark Urge.

Character

Origin

The Dark Urge is a special origin in Baldur's Gate 3. It can be played using any race, class, and gender, and will not be part of player's party if they use any other origin character.

“	My rancid blood whispers to me: kill, kill, and kill again. My ruined body yearns to reap death in this world, and when this foul Urge calls, it possesses my whole being. Injured beyond repair, I know nothing besides this: I must resist the Dark Urge, lest it consume my mind. I must discover who I was, and what happened to me. Before my twitching knife-hand writes a tragedy in blood.	„
	— The Dark Urge, fearing their dark desires in their Introduction cinematic

Overview

The Dark Urge origin adds new interactions, quests and opportunities for that character, and can be played as good, evil, or anything in-between.

Background

The player character remembers nothing of their past besides that they walked a path paved with blood. As they venture on, they find themselves inescapably drawn towards unimaginable cruelties. Where do these thoughts come from?

Personal quest

Main article: The Urge

The Dark Urge's primary personal quest is called The Urge, and adds a unique storyline which surfaces over time as the true nature of The Dark Urge is revealed.

A character with the Dark Urge Origin remembers nothing of their past and is plagued with dark urges of violence and cruelty. Over the course of the game, options are presented to choose to resist or indulge in these urges. As they slowly learn more about their past and their nature, they are presented with unique opportunities regardless of which path they follow.

The Urge

Prologue and Act One

During the Prologue and the Act One, the Dark Urge has several unique interactions. Also, a camp event often occurs, resulting in them meeting  Sceleritas Fel – a strange creature which calls itself their 'butler'.

Unique Interactions

• Waking up on the Nautiloid, the Dark Urge, unlike all other Origins, instantly enters a unique dialogue, which gives some hints on their memory's miserable condition. The choices offered do not bear any consequences, but vaguely outline the character concept.
• 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.
• Tearing off  Gale's hand through the portal when first meeting him. This prevents recruiting him.
• Upon meeting  Timber the Squirrel at the Druid Grove, a Dark Urge player character punts the squirrel with no input. The player character can only control this choice if they have  Speak with Animals active.
• Breaking  Pandirna's legs in the storage room in the Druid Grove.
• Tearing off the Wings from the Wounded Bird that is being treated by  Nettie (must be done before prodding it)
• Encouraging  Arabella to leave by flicking their eyes towards the exit, leading to her death.
• Eating the  Noblestalk mushroom as Dark Urge unlocks 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.
• Consuming one of the many  Roasted Dwarf Bellies available in the Goblin Camp. Doing so awards the player character the "Good Ol' Long Pig" Inspiration.
• Biting off  Crusher's toe when he demands The Urge kiss his feet.
• Killing  Minthara after sleeping with her if the Dark Urge sided with the Goblin Camp against the Grove.
• During one of the gnoll encounters at Risen Road, the Dark Urge is ecstatic at watching a gnoll being born.
• Killing  Alfira while she visits the camp – or  Quil if Alfira is unavailable for any reason. Aside from possibly substituting Quil for Alfira, the player character cannot otherwise prevent this outcome. Soon after, in a separate long rest event, Sceleritas Fel introduces himself, and rewards The Urge the  Deathstalker Mantle.

Act Two

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

Should the player character forego killing Isobel, then at a later long rest  Sceleritas Fel appears and informs them they will kill one of their companions once they close their eyes to sleep. If the player character is currently in romantic relationship, this will be their paramour; otherwise, it will be the one with whom they have highest approval.

After the butler disappears, the cutscene continues as the player character approaches their possible victim. They have several options: try and save their companion, kill them deliberately, or to return to sleep ignorant to any consequences.

Although not all-inclusive, known options which are helpful in passing this check are listed below:

The player character can resist The Urge to murder their favoured companion with the aid of several buffs.

• Items which affect Wisdom Proficiency or the Wisdom Saving Throw:
  •  Amulet of the Harpers
  •  Cloak of Protection
  •  Helmet of Autonomy
  •  Ring of Protection
  •  Safeguard Shield

• Items which assist with Saving Throws, if the bearer meets certain additional conditions:
  •  Absolute's Warboard (if the bearer is branded)
  •  Circlet of Psionic Revenge (if the wearer is Githyanki)
  •  Elixir of Heroism, which can be consumed through the add bonus menu. The elixir must be in the Dark Urge's inventory before going to sleep to be available
  •  The Whispering Promise (any health potion must be drunk just before going to sleep to activate its  Bless effect)

• Class actions, spells, and feats
  • The  Aura of Protection available to Paladins (only if the Dark Urge is a Paladin themselves)
  • The  Basking in Loviatar's Love condition, if it is active before going to sleep
  • The  Bliss Spores condition, if it is still present
  • The  Forbidden Knowledge passive feat, if it was obtained earlier in Act One
  • The  Warding Bond spell, if it is cast before going to sleep
  • The  Heroes' Feast spell, if it is cast before going to sleep

“

How long has this been going on? Do I even want to know the answer to that...?

„

— Shadowheart, asking a Dark Urge player character if successful in waking and warning her

Inspirations can be used to reroll a failed saving throw as usual. The  Lucky feat can be only be used to deceive the rest of the party after the save to resist killing a close companion has failed (see below).

Some items such as  Risky Ring or  Resonance Stone provide Disadvantage on Saving Throws (including Wisdom), and may decrease the odds of success.

If the player character goes back to sleep, or fails their save to resist the Urge and gives up, or kills their companion, then, at dawn, they must pass a separate  DC 30 Deception Check against another companion (chosen at random), or the whole camp turns hostile. All of the killed companion's equipment is lost.

“

Ah ah ah! We ask before we bite!

„

— Astarion, if a possessed Urge tries to lunge at him

If the player character succeeds,

The Dark Urge manifestating itself, in futile attempts to break free

the cutscene continues, showing their hands tied behind their back by their awakened companion. The spared companion spends a sleepless night watching over the Urge manifestation possessing their friend. The reactions of the would-be victims differ, and also depend on whether the Dark Urge admitted killing Alfira in Act One (if Quil was killed instead, the dialogue lines do not change).

In the process, the Dark Urge character can pass two additional  DC 18 Wisdom Saving Throws: one to remain in control and express understanding of their companion's supportive statements and another (same DC, but with  Disadvantage if the save to remain in control is attempted first and then passed) to express gratitude. Afterwards, a short discussion of the event between the two follows. Some of the other companions may have any unique dialogue lines concerning it in the morning as well.

It is also possible to avoid this event by simply not Long Resting until the party leave the Shadow-Cursed Lands. Unlike other mandatory Camp Events, there is no fallback scenario when the party leave for Act Three; this event is not queued, The Urge is no longer scripted on a Long Rest to experience this event, and the game then proceeds as if they chose to spare both Isobel and their closest companion.

Unique Interactions

The Dark Urge has unique dialogue and interactions with multiple characters in various locations in Act Two.

• Killing Isobel. The player character can choose whether or not to do this, but sparing her leads to a different event. Killing Isobel rewards the Dark Urge with the Slayer form.
• Killing the player character's lover or closest companion, as described above. The player character can choose to warn their companion of this, or choose to kill them. Doing this rewards the Dark Urge with the Slayer form.
• Walking by the graves of the Last Light Inn is supposed to trigger a voiceline, but due to a bug, a Tav line plays instead. In the past, the voiceline meant to play at Lower City's Graveyard would play instead.
• The player character can confront and murder the  Strange Ox while taunting it for choosing to keep its docile ox form rather than fight back.
• After freeing the trapped  pixie from the  Moonlantern, the player character can choose to crush her, earning a specific Inspiration.
• Some  guards at Moonrise Towers remark that the Dark Urge seems familiar, and  The Warden of the prison despises them.
• The scene of  Ketheric's trial alters for the Dark Urge, showing that the general undoubtedly recognized them, but takes some pleasure in keeping the secret.
• After the trial, a Dark Urge player character can torture a group of goblins in a variety of ways.
• At Moonrise Towers' kitchen, the  gnolls recognise the Dark Urge, and no check is needed for them to become friendly. They will not show up during the Assault on Moonrise, however.
• The Dark Urge can kill the cat  Steelclaw when trying to remember what was forgotten.

Act Three

During a long rest in Rivington, a dream sequence reveals that the Dark Urge is a Bhaalspawn, and was once the leader of the Cult of  Bhaal, before being betrayed by  Orin. This dream can be queued by other pending nighttime cutscenes. If this happens, the Dark Urge character faints and sees the scene right after crossing the bridge into the Wyrm's Rock Fortress.

Further conversation with  Enver Gortash during his coronation 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 the catalyst for the main story's events.

The only reason the Dark Urge is not still in this position is because Orin the Red, envious of the Dark Urge's power and control over the cult, betrayed them, inflicted brain damage and amnesia while tadpoling them, and took control of the cult herself.

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

“

There is no true rest for those like thee, faithless. But when victory is won, I swear I shall find thee a home.

„

— Withers, speaking to the player character after saving them from their fate of Bhaal's execution

Defying Bhaal has a price.

Should they refuse to become  Bhaal's chosen, the Dark Urge is drained of their father's blood and essence, immediately dying and dooming them to be lost in the Fugue Plane for eternity. However, in a highly unusual move,  Withers intervenes and actually invests a portion of his remaining power into the Dark Urge, bringing them back to life. Reborn anew, the player character is free of their Dark Urge, and able to choose their own path in life. Because of this, they also lose access to the Slayer form if they had previously obtained it in Act Two.

Should they agree to become Bhaal's chosen once more, they are instead tasked to control the Netherbrain in the name of Bhaal, and gain access the Slayer form if they did not already.

After rejecting Bhaal, Dark Urge options remain available in dialogue. Additionally, the special Dark Urge voicelines on selecting the character, attacking, etc., will still play.

Unique Interactions

• The Dark Urge has unique interactions throughout the main plot of Act Three:
  • They can 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 is not the first time they have broken their oath.
• In one of the long rests after discovering their true nature,  Jaheira (if she has been recruited) comes to them, awakened by their nightmare screams. She asks them whether they are able to control themselves and, if placated, stays to guard them through the night. If  Minsc has been recruited up to this moment, they stand watch together. The Dark Urge character also has an option to confess they revel in their new status, which turns Jaheira (and Minsc as well) hostile. If the conflict is resolved peacefully, in the morning the Dark Urge can discuss their heirloom with Jaheira.
• When the party encounter  Bugthimble in the Lower City Graveyard, the Dark Urge has the option to ponder whether they have ever buried anyone alive before; doing so causes them to bury Bugthimble and the treasure she found.
• There is a cut-scene interaction at the graveyard. If the party unearth one of the graves, other characters are horrified about the state of the dug up body, while the Dark Urge remarks on it being a victim of theirs from before the game.
• The Dark Urge is supposed to remark that the gate was their hunting ground when entering the lower city graveyard. However, this interaction is bugged and a voiceline meant to play at Last Light's Graveyard plays instead.
• The Dark Urge has unique dialogue with  Volo, if the party save him from the aggressive mob near the Steel Watch Foundry. Volo recognizes them as a Bhaalspawn without any introductions, and may possibly discuss their unique interactions with Orin,  Sarevok, and their gaining the Slayer form (if any of this has happened already). The Dark Urge can also deceive Volo of not being a progeny of Bhaal (requires  DC 25 Deception Check).
• If the party speak to  Tarhun Mnemonis about  Lady Jannath's art festival, the Dark Urge can ask whether they have any art depicting Bhaal.
•  Helsik recognizes the Dark Urge from when they and Gortash dealt with her before, and gives them  Gibus of the Worshipful Servant which Sceleritas Fel left behind. For the price of 100 or 1000 gold she reveals some of their past, including the fact that she helped them break into Mephistopheles' vault to steal the Crown of Karsus.
• If the Dark Urge accepts their fate of Bhaal's Chosen in the Bhaal Temple, upon exiting it Jaheira (and possibly Minsc) wait for them with a small group of Harpers in an attempt to stop the repetition of the history. They also try to sway some of the party members to their side, and the fight is inevitable.
• If  Heal is cast on the Dark Urge, doing so unlocks one of two memories:
  • If cast after rejecting Bhaal, they remember playing with friends in childhood, after being taken in by their foster parents.
  • Otherwise, they remember that they killed their foster parents.
• The Dark Urge can enter the Temple of Bhaal without needing the  Amulet of Bhaal due to  Sceleritas Fel opening the door for them.
  • Approaching  Sarevok after confronting  Orin will change his dialogue accordingly based on the choice that the Dark Urge made.

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.

See also

• The Dark Urge page for a more thorough overview of this character. Warning: this page contains unhidden major spoilers.

Notes

• The final origin character was revealed through Blood in Baldur's Gate ARG. The players controlled a detective investigating a chain of murders. On the final day of the ARG, The Dark Urge was revealed, along with Sceleritas Fel. The ARG ends with the white-scaled dragonborn killing the detective.
• The Dark Urge is nicknamed Durge by the community.
• During a playthrough with any other origin, the party can find within the depths of the Temple of Bhaal the killed and tortured body of the default Dark Urge figure on the floor of Orin's chambers.
• Some of The Dark Urge's unique voice lines for moving, attacking, etc., make reference to their origin even if they have not learned about it yet. For instance, they may say "Father, they will die for you" upon being given a command, despite not yet knowing of their connection to Bhaal.
• A Paladin who voluntarily succumbs to their Urge causes their Oath to break regardless of the subclass chosen. This includes:
  • Chopping off  Gale's hand while he's trapped in the portal
  • Breaking  Pandirna's legs
  • Tearing off the wings of the  Exhausted Bird
  • Kicking the Githyanki egg off the cliffside in front  Lady Esther
  • Throwing  Baelen's bag in the midst of spores at the bibberbang field
  • Admiring  Alfira's /  Quil's unwitting murder at their hand
  • Crushing  Dolly Thrice after being released
  • Revealing their depravity to the  Strange Ox
  • Trying to remember what the player character did previously to  Steelclaw
  • Burying  Bugthimble alive in the Graveyard
  • Accepting  Bhaal's gifts and blessings

Gallery

• 
  Default model.
• 
  Default camp model.
• 
  Default underwear model.
• 
  The origin's default appearance
• 
  Sceleritas Fel, The Dark Urge's guide
• 
  The origin's default appearance in Larian's Release Showcase.
• 
  The origin's appearance in Blood in Baldur's Gate.
• 
  Promotional art.