DurgeTash Explained! - A Baldur's Gate 3 Analysis

Ever wonder what people see in the Dark Urge/Enver Gortash ship from Baldur's Gate 3?

[@HPFireYT]

I hate Gortash so much, but the idea of Evil Durge and Gortash in a relationship really is the two worst people you know that definitely should only be with each other so other people aren't subjected to them.

[@allisoncampbell1631]

YES

[@user-wx4bw3fs1i]

Morals and ethics aside, Gortash is pretty impressive

[@alexis8500]

This is purely a headcanon but to me, the rivalry between Bhaal and Bane makes their romance seem like a fucked up version of Romeo and Juliet. Maybe once Gortash became Bane’s Chosen, the Bhaal Temple had interests in killing him as an act against Bane. Therefore as Bhaal’s chosen, the Dark Urge would be tasked with killing him. But ofc after meeting him and seeing how intelligent he was, Durge thought he would be better as an ally to further both Bhaal and Bane’s agendas. Thus, terrorizing Faerûn and eventually becoming more than just allies. However, Orin would take note of this and see it as a betrayal of their father that Durge would fraternize with the enemy. So once the plan to control the Netherbrain with the Crown of Karsus was put into motion, Orin overthrew Durge to become Bhaal’s new chosen. Family drama + forbidden romance + death + betrayal = basically a soap opera Edit: sorry that was so long I just really find their relationship fascinating 😅

[@MadsKing00]

Yes I can see it. Does feel very Romeo and Juliet-esque. And I live for the drama

[@Sofia-ge6wm]

GOD THIS IS SO GOOD

[@PocketLeaves]

YES!!! I feel like the rivalry really does add to the dynamic of DurgeTash! I'm on board with this headcanon!

[@samf.s.7731]

This is good NGL. It's not a ship for me, it's more like a legit theory, one that's worth entertaining! I know that everything can be a ship here, but even if you don't "ship it", this may have been how it was. It would be soap opera stuff LMAO but hey BG3 is pretty soapy

[@TomoMomoDomo]

fanfic fanfic fanfic

[@allot5530]

The Gortash Romance option was a missed opportunity

[@portgasdann3389]

There isn't in canon?? 😭😭

[@Abimin100]

@@portgasdann3389 nah, I don't even think Larian intended for Durge and Gortash to have been anything more than very good allies. But their chemistry in-game and the ambiguity of the notes related to them created a monster in the fandom, lol

[@El_chara]

@@Abimin100 I hate the fact that all of this is on accident and they were just allies but Gale teaching you how to make the air feel funny is somehow a sign he wants to show you his cock

[@lordknightalex]

just last night i came across the famous "forgive me father" letter again and noticed there is a note at the end, in balthazar's handwriting, saying something like "ha! so orin was right!" which is such a funny detail to me like, balthazar looked at that and went "oh they fucking"

[@DragonQueen-cv5mw]

Honestly, it really does seem like the difference between "forgive me father for I have sinned" and "sorry daddy I've been naughty"

[@quentinlelievre276]

Lil bro gortash aged 20 years after carrying the other chosen for 2 month, no wonder he loves durge so much

[@DragonQueen-cv5mw]

Well yeah. He had to deal with Orin AND the loss of his truest love! I bet Durge also picked out Gortash's outfits bc Gortash has a TERRIBLE sense of style.

[@silentshorex]

There is a scene if you ally with Gortash just before the brine pool. If you smack him you'll get a short bit of dialogue where you can say "sorry, my hand slipped" and without hesitation he will kick you in the shin and say "what a coincidence, so did my foot". The way it's delivered, they were certainly close lol such a silly scene but reinforced Durgetash to me

[@PocketLeaves]

That is so funny! That sounds like malicious flirting too

[@silentshorex]

@PocketCon I agree! It also comes across to me like they were pretty comfortable with one another for that to be his immediate reaction haha

[@mlj3347]

Obsessed with them both

[@SniffanyBlues]

“Sorry dad, Gortash is hot.” -DU

[@ShadmehR_23]

Wtf bro😂😂😂😂😂

[@charlotteembrich9603]

Yeah I'm not a well adjusted or mentally healthy person. I love gortash for dark urge.

[@decomposies]

just to add wood to the fire, if you meet Gortash alone with no companions he actually smiles more fondly at you, and after patch 6 before hot fix 19 they added new dialogue when you bring him the stones that just adds so much more vibes that it was romantic, how "he DID miss this" or the insight check to see he's "teasing you".

[@toolatetothestory]

Reading all these comments just makes me ship it even harder omg

[@eliasapollo4131]

The way I actually YELLED when I saw this!!! As a chronic Durge player, durgetash lives in my head rent free (and of course I let them). Important note re: Prayer of Forgiveness, in the Bhaal temple you can find notes which state that dying together on the altar is the Bhaalist version of a wedding ceremony. Dying together on the altar, which Durge was planning to do with Gortash. I need to chew on them forever i swear My favourite part about them probably is that both of them are the perfect Chosen of their respective Gods is every way, *except* for when it comes to each other. Gortash disregards Bane's creed in order to share power, Durge disregards Bhaal's creed in order to keep Gortash around until the end. They are each others sin! Absolutely insane behaviour!! (What's your tumblr btw, if you're comfortable sharing? I need more unhinged bg3 mutuals fr)

[@PocketLeaves]

OH! I missed the wedding ceremony details! That's SO GOOD!!! (my tumblr is a big mix of things including minecraft youtube stuff, but it's weeb-cheese)

[@jadeDurge1373]

I don't think I saw this? I saw the note in the moonrise towers in the mindflayer layer that Durge was asking for forgiveness off bhaal because they didn't want to betray Gortash

[@eliasapollo4131]

@@jadeDurge1373 that's the prayer for forgiveness, yeah. The notes from the couple about bhaalist marriage can be found at the entrance area of the temple of bhaal in act 3! You should be able to loot it off two skeletons

[@Lizfiz931]

We do actually know how Gortash and the Dark Urge met! After Gortash set up his secret Bane cult, he heard about the resurgence of Bhaal worship and decided to contact the Bhaalspawn leader...pretty much to make friends lol. He offered to help Durge perform a heist on the Hall of Wonders for some ancestral torture racks and the remains of another Bhaalspawn. After the heist was successful the two forged an official alliance, even before Bane and Bhaal asked them to team up for the Absolute plot. So they've been working together for at least 10-15 years. The ship practically writes itself lol

[@PocketLeaves]

Ooh! I didn't know that! That's really neat! I'll need to look for that information on my next play through!

[@darknavisoul_5110]

My heart… I fall even more for that guy…

[@CeaseEcho]

10 - 15 years and the two didn't have any kids? That's Bhaal's whole thing for his children to make more Bhaalspawn. Can you imagine a little oprhan of Gortash and the Dark Urge running about feral out there?

[@dabolympics6782]

where is that confirmed? i read it in a fanfic and thought it was just fanon but seeing it here makes me not sure! unless we've been reading the same fics 🤣

[@kittyfootsies]

I don't know about that time frame. Any sources to reference for it?

[@cyxaricus]

I actually saw a note in devkits about Gortash voice acting: he behaves respectfully with origin Tav, but in Durge case, he's "genuinely happy to see them". That's a statement in devnotes for his voice actor. Up to this, Neil Newbon made mocaps for Gortash, and his facial expressions during the meeting scene exactly copy the mocap in Astarion's confession scene. Some people also used modes to replace Astarion to Gortash in the scene, and the expression is literally the same. So yeah? They were close. It's a pity we can't romance Gortash or at least have a deep talk to him. I would like to know more about his character.

[@SunniestAutumn]

Who thought that Durgetash fans would get even more breadcrumbs at this point of the game's release? There are new narrator lines that imply Gortash and Durge always enjoying their back and forth with each other and that Gortash would never hope to make Durge submit to him.

[@ghostblade5954]

"Oh my god, they were room mates"

[@879SCSP]

Durgetash with a Wyll romance feels messy as hell because no matter how you slice it every side has DRAMA

[@PocketLeaves]

OMG YEAH!

[@StaniaMarsh]

Oh, and if you get the Slayer Form and shapeshift in front of him, you'll get some little extra drama, including Wyll saying something like: "So that hideous creature, it was you all this time?! I was praying my eye was deceiving me. You transform into what I swore to kill!".

[@TheGreatPastafarian]

Orin even calls Durge a liar when you answer "Without hesitation" when asked if you'd kill someone you cared about. Mind you, in this playthrough I killed Isobel and doomed last light, firmly evil Durge. Yet this line still happens with Orin. I think Gortash may have been the one Durge was supposed to kill, and didn't. Maybe even one of the reasons Orin betrays Durge.

[@PocketLeaves]

I can see that!! It does seem like Durge was supposed to kill Gortash at some point. It's also worth noting Durge may not care about Isobel, and killing her avoids the outcome of Bhaal asking you to kill the companion you're romancing/care the most about. Not that Durge would have known that, especially in act 2, when they didn't know who they were. But it's an interesting thought!

[@AnnaMno1]

My head connon is that the reason Orin was able to get to Durge and take over their position in the first place was by shapeshifting into Gortash. Hense why on that note about Durge asking forgiveness Bathazar made a note about Orin being right. So the line Orin says to Durge about hesitating would make sense if she has first hand experiance with it as she shapeshifted to Gortash and stabbed Durge, who hesitated to retaliate when they saw Gortash's face instead of Orin's

[@toolatetothestory]

@@AnnaMno1OH MY GOD That is such a good HC

[@DragonQueen-cv5mw]

@@AnnaMno1 That's my headcannon now as well

[@Louves192]

I like to think Gortash admires Durge so much because (just like Durge) he rose so high in the power hierarchy that he felt kinda lonely. In Dark Urge he found someone that was an equal and they shared his ambitions. That's why he is so willing to share the power after regaining control over the netherbrain (according to the emperor he is serious about this). Not gonna lie, he is my favourite ship with evil Durge. They would be the best evil power couple

[@PocketLeaves]

They are THE Evil power duo, and I love that for them!

[@eliasapollo4131]

You're so right! For them it really seems like it was the pure thrill of finding someone who matches them in their ruthlessness, their genius, their vision. Its actually insane how good of a team they made to pull several super high risk heists and get away with it

[@IIIGioGioStarIII]

Totally believe that Gortash and Durge were in a romantic relationship. I wouldn't be surprised if they both would have wanted to actually marry and be the power couple of Baldur's Gate, but because of the gods that made them their Chosen, they would have had to keep it on the down low. Orin found out about it and due to jelousy over not being Baal's Chosen and seeing Durge happy not only in senseless murder but also being able to have a secert love life just pushed her over the edge.

[@MsMorri]

As someone who plays the redemption arc for Durge, I'm a little sad that you didn't analyze this from that angle, especially with Astarion as your companion. When playing Durge, what I like about Durge x Astarion is in a way, you both are supporting each other to be better people than you were before. He knows what it's like to have no control over what you do, and of all the companions seems to be the most supportive. In a way, you could look at the comparison of DurgeTrash and Durge/Astarion as going from a relationship where you encouraged the worst in each other to a relationship where you encourage the best of each other if you don't Ascend Astarion. I know a lot of people play Durge to do an evil playthrough, but for those who do the redemption arch, it's just a cute/sweet addition if you think of Tav going from an unhealthy relationship to a healthier one.

[@PocketLeaves]

That's fair! I think some of that extra flavor does come from the player's personal narrative they have in mind, so it's a bit harder to make definitive statements on that. But I do find that DurgeTash and Durge/Astarion being opposites in the sense of what the two of you encourage in one another is so beautiful! I've been playing a redeemed Durge, and Astarion has just been the sweetest most supportive and understanding partner about it. And contrasting that with the more toxic vibes of DurgeTash is so fun! You're absolutely right about the move from and unhealthy relationship to a healthier one!

[@MsMorri]

@@PocketLeaves I’m glad you agree😊. I wondered if you were hinting about it during your analysis, but wasn’t sure. I will add, thank you for adding another element to my Durge storyline, as I hadn’t considered the relationship aspect.

[@toolatetothestory]

Basically going to "I can fix him" from the previous "I can make him worse"

[@terriblyterry]

If my Durge had a penny for every time he resisted his dark urges for an ambitious dark-haired man obsessed with dominating the crown of Karsus he'd have two pennies, which isn't a lot but it's weird it happened twice. This is my first BG3 run, I couldn't have foreseen the parallels between my Durge's current and former lovers. I understand why most players would be drawn to Astarion on their Durge run, but as soon as we chose to hold his hand over cutting it clean it was over for us. 💜 Thank you for the video. It fed my DurgeTash brain rot well.

[@ubcupid]

I swear the second my durge meets Gortash in the city, my first reaction was "No way they were not fucking"

[@Biittle]

This idea scratched my brain the same way as when I heard the theory that Raphael is an evil bard. It just feels correct.

[@PocketLeaves]

OOOH! I hadn't heard evil bard Raphael before! That man is very musical theater vibes though!!!

[@emxlyexe]

I mean he has a goddamn Disney villain musical number during his boss fight… casting Otto’s Irresistible Dance really was the cherry on top 🤣

[@ValeryValWho]

"if gortash bad, why cute" - DU, probably

[@16Vagabond]

In the new patch they added a new interaction between them and Gortash almost looks sad when you tell him you've always liked him

[@dreamingsharmat1745]

WHAT AT WHAT POINT IS THIS WHATTT

[@prinsauce]

Agreed with everything you said! Also, the first time meeting Gortash with Karlach in your party, he will refer to Durge as one of his "nearest and dearest" so, at the very least, he views them as a confidant and maybe, the closest thing he had to a friend if not lover. Also he keeps calling them 'my favorite assassin' so it's safe to say Gortash has a lot of love for Durge in whichever way we look at it. And besides, he says "I'm so glad you have returned to MY side"; maybe it's the delulu in me but Gortash wording it like that makes me feel some type of way about DurgeTash, like for sure they were a thing in the past lol. Oh, and I think that even Evil Durge/Ascended Astarion dynamic isn't entirely based on equality either. I haven't done an evil pt myself so I might be wrong but from the clips I've seen, it seems they keep trying to one-up each other, constantly engaging in this metaphorical dick-size-measuring as to which one of them can end up the most powerful by the end of it all, whereas with Gortash, it truly seems they stand on equal grounds with each other. Grotash might be a tyrant but he's honest above all. In a twisted way, I actually think DurgeTash would have a healthier relationship.

[@PocketLeaves]

Oh absolutely! Ascended Astarion falls to the flaws of paranoia and a greed for control. You're one of his spawn, you're an object he cares for but an object he seeks to maintain control over as well. Where as with Gortash, Durge isn't something he seeks to control, but a person he seeks an equal partnership with. So DurgeTash would be a lot healthier than any relationship with Ascended Astarion!

[@StaniaMarsh]

The Durge/Gortash couple has even more sense if Durge is a male. There'a a letter Gortash sent to Franc, saying "I love any man willing to birth a little more slithering, wet, malice into the world".

[@PocketLeaves]

Yes, I agree!!! Especially since default dark urge is male.

[@iam878]

yess honestly i know durge is customizable but feels weird imo to take away the m/m pairing and change durge to a woman

[@m00nrac00n]

They are the "Disaster Gays" Dark Horse. Basically both said to be "born this way" yet defy what is expected somewhat by relating to one another. An interesting dynamic for sure.

[@serenapopowich8084]

If you read Gortash's notes (either in wyrms rock or his parents house in the lower city, I can't remember) he says that when he returned to Baldurs Gate he tried to reestablish the cult of Bane but was surprised to find that the cult of Bhaal still existed there so he reached out to the leader of Bhaal's temple who of course was Durge and that's when they began their alliance. I believe a combination of Gortash's notes and Durge's diary clarifies that it was only after teaming up and later stealing the crown of Karsus that the two of them became distinguished as Bane and Bhaal's respective Chosen and the main plot of the game began. Also if you meet Gortash with Karlach in your company he makes fun of her for not realizing she's been travelling with his "nearest and dearest" the whole time, which is sort of a weird thing to say if his relationship with Durge was purely platonic lol

[@samf.s.7731]

Damn imagine being torn between Gortash and Ascended Astarion... How evil youd have to be for these two to be your choices LMAO GREAT JOB THOUGH, I get the vibe.

[@PocketLeaves]

asdfasdf RIGHT? It does make for an interesting story though, I'll give them that!

[@catika505]

Oh I am literally in the process of writing this fic. It's a slight AU where Gortash doesn't get brainsploded, focusing on what sort of person a resist Durge would have to be to both let him live and ascend astarion. World ending levels of angst.

[@Star_dragon8]

Its Easy Gortash fuck Astarion

[@gothicwitch_9993]

Honestly if I wanted durge in an evil power couple I'd pick gortash simply because he actually views you as an equal while Ascended Astarion does not (still love that that bastard tho) But that's my opinion of course but I'd fight gods just for a Durge Gortash romance option

[@NoahofWill]

With my current Dark Urge character, I definitely headcanon her as having fallen in love with Gortash over time, which was especially difficult for her because she was told for years that her only worth as an adopted child was to get married in a political alliance (she killed her first family the first time her Urge emerged, and this next family only wanted her to protect their own assets). Loyal as she was to him, Bhaal reinforced this trauma with the whole "go forth and have many mates to have many children" thing Sceleritas pushes on us, which we can only assume is an edict of our father, which in turn cased her to push away just about everyone getting too close. In comes Enver Gortash, a man only a few years older, ambitious and able to match her every step. A man who, despite his manipulations and schemes, was always honest with her (she later came to learn that a lot of his mannerisms come from the Devil who enslaved and, indeed, mentored him in his youth). He was the only trustworthy ally she had, the only one who she didn't have to slow down for (nor he for her), the only one who didn't push her most held as sacred boundaries... How could she not fall in love with him? (This isn't reflected in-game or in how I've played my character, but I headcanoned that even after her memories were gone, she remembered that she had someone waiting for her, someone whose bond was given testament in the enchanted earring in her left ear, which helped with her sense of auditory perception. An earring that matched in style with a ring on Gortash's finger, that helped his words be that little bit more persuasive...)

[@DarksideGmss0513]

I actually like regular Gortash aswell I'm a sucker for the suave, debonair villains and he's got that in spades.

[@PocketLeaves]

That's so fair! He is portrayed pretty well, and he is fun to watch on screen, regardless if you're playing Dark Urge or not!

[@Kasiarzynka]

I think the appeal to me (as someone who's still in my first Durge playthrough, resisting, allied with Gortash, killed Orin, went back to Gortash and we're besties and are gonna go beat the brain together) is mostly that Gortash is my favorite kinda villain. He's civilized and smart and eloquent and good looking (not necessarily in terms of facial features, I'm talking more like they way a person dresses and does their hair etc. and carries themselves). In a way he almost makes you forget that he's a villain because of that. He's not some mad man, hiding away in a dark dirty cavern (looking at you, Orin, but also at the archetype), he's not some bodiless ominous evil by nature being. I've always preferred those kinda villains over your classic fantasy "bad for the sake of being bad" baddies. So, seeing his fondness of Durge, the way he doesn't mind patiently bringing them up to speed because of the amnesia, the way he apparently fully intents to honor his end of the deal where he said you and him would rule as equal (and everything points to him fully planning to keep his end of the bargain and not go back on his word after reclaiming full control over the brain). His openness and honesty, and specifically for Durge, the fact that, as you mentioned, he's still willing to go through with the alliance even when you don't have Bhaal to back you up, the way he's actually happy to learn that Durge is alive and to see them... Idk it's amazing. Also, call me crazy, but I feel like they're both pretty poor fkn choices for their respective gods' chosen, lmao. The Chosen of the Tyrant God, willing to share his tyranny with another, and the Chosen of the God Of Murder, who doesn't go on murderous killing sprees for the sake of murdering people. Gortash says Durge could always control their killing urges, something that Orin can't do. Sarevok is basically like "no, I WANT YOU to go kill my granddaughter and reclaim your leadership of our cult" like wtf mate? I would've fully expected a chaotic evil alignment, one who indulges themselves in killing whenever their twisted head tells them to kill, to be the perfect chosen of a god like that. Not someone who can feel the urge to kill, one that comes from literally having a particle or few of said god, running through your veins, and has audacity to tell him "nah fam I'm not killing this one, doesn't serve my goals". Weird. Maybe that's why they were so fond of one another, because they both didn't quite fit the "perfect chosen" archetype of their respective gods, or maybe they didn't fit the archetype BECAUSE OF the bond they developed. Durge wanting to work with Gortash and thus learning to control their urges, or at least redirect them (like we've seen in act 2, you don't give in the urge of killing Isobel, you're gonna pass out and kill someone else, someone you care about). While Gortash wanting to share the pretended godhood with Durge. I mean he could've tried killing Durge and grabbing the two stones for himself (in the timeline where you ally yourself with him, kill Orin before him, then go back to his place with both the stones), there really isn't anything holding him back. But he doesn't, and he even WANTS Durge to stand up to him when he requests the two other stones (though I can't compare it to a Tav run, since there I killed him before Orin, as to not risk my kidnapped ally). Speaking of which, you might know it by now, but the game has an order for Orin's kidnapping. It's Lae'zel > Halsin > (another companion, forgot which one) > Yenna (as failsafe). So, she will always kidnap Lae'zel, if Lae'zel is sitting in your camp and not in your active party (or idk, gone, dead, whatever). If there's no Lae'zel, the game moves down the priority queue to Halsin etc. It's also only been Lae'zel for me so far, and fun fact, the scene can also play in the camp, not just the sewers. Back to Durge and Gortash, though. The Prayer For Forgiveness where Durge asks Bhaal for forgiveness for admiring Bane's Chosen really feels like such a COPIUM moment. "Yes, I DEFINITELY WILL KILL HIM I PROMISE! (enter the COPIUM emoji here)" because they know they have hard time accepting the fact they'll eventually need to do the killing, and maybe hope Bhaal will make it easier on them. Could be similar to what Gortash is going through with Bane, the "I will DEFINITELY kill Durge and rule alone in your name, yes, definitely" kinda vibe I'd imagine goes on in his head. But anyway, his respect and seeing Durge as equal really elevates this relationship, whether it was platonic, friendship or romantic. He's also the only semi-reliable person who Durge can go to who'll fill them in on the blanks. The only other person who seems to know Durge etc. is Orin and yeah, I'll trust her as far as I can stab her. Interesting insight on him continuing the cycle of violence, with selling a kid to a devil. I missed the part where it states he was sold to Raphael. I only knew about him being sold to a warlock (info I got from his parents) and assumed the warlock just wanted a slave/minion but seeing how they tend to serve devils they have a pact with, I can totally see the warlock having acquired him for Raphael. So yeah, if that's the case, definitely a cycle of abuse, like we see in Astarion's plotline (Cazador was abused by his master, grew to abuse his spawn, if you ascend Astarion - from what I've seen on YT, I have yet to ascend him myself - he also becomes a violent jerk, and even goes as far as saying things like "I should've turned you into my spawn just to teach you a lesson", full psychotic behavior 5 minutes after you ascended him. Afaik that's how full vampires work in D&D 5e (possibly older formats too, never played D&D myself) - they cannot NOT be evil bastards, by their very nature. 9/10 times I'd rather kill Astarion than let him ascend (I also naturally end up playing lawful good characters since that's ny own alignment, lol). And just like you, I'm only going to ascend him on an evil Durge run, lol, they'll be perfectly toxic for one another. Overall loved the analysis, I learned a couple of interesting things, too 😊. I would normally re-read a comment like this to make sure everything is comprehensive and there's no weird leaps in logic or in the flow of thoughts but it's 5:48 a.m. here and I woke up 2 hours ago and I'm literally slowly falling asleep so I'll just hope I didn't write anything stupid/illogical and I guess I'll leave an obligatory "sorry (hi for my bad English)" because I might've made a grammatical mistake or misspelled/used a wrong word every here and then (definitely kept calling cycle of abuse a "circle" of abuse, lmao).

[@Madziorek123]

I also headcanon Durgetash as a romantic ship. I think it fits the narrative, and as you said, the drama between the player being happily in love with somoene else and discovering they had a thing with Gortash - chef's kiss - so good! But even if to other players this is a purely platonic relationship, the game gives enough evidence that they've admired each other, worked well together and were the closes thing the other had to a true friend. I wish we had more Gortash content in the game, this dynamic is so interesting and I'd have loved to explore it more.

[@runestamp]

this is why i absolutely went ahead and romanced astarion in my first durge playthrough. even when i was playing as a regular tav and found those journals, i easily saw just how connected durgetash was and i feel like their relationship is a beautiful mirror with astarion, no matter what you pick. if you choose to ascend astarion and give in to the urge, it feels like we just regained what we lost in a way, finding gortash in astarion. but if you keep astarion as a spawn and go down redemption, it almost echoes this tragic tale that that could’ve been how durgetash ended up in another life or if they weren’t chosen. i definitely feel all romance choices are good for whatever durge you may be playing but specifically doing a redemption run with astarion feels so much more tragic and beautiful when considering gortash

[@maddona3245]

Of the three chosen Gortash is the only one I don't hate. He's not a good person but he hasn't sold his soul out to any god who will give him the things he wants or the ultimate crazy of Orin. I never considered this pairing but looking back on all the things I've found and read to their interactions I can definitely see this being a thing.

[@elseggs6504]

Use speak with the dead and you'll find Bane answering you and he pretty much says "that bitchboys soul is mine. Looking forward to your plans for world domination"

[@REIL2LYFE]

There is something else that triggers Durge's memory. It's walking into moonrise towers. Your Durge recalls "feeling like a god in this place". But I think the devs left our meeting with Gortash vague so we as a player base can head canon it or make us ponder on it.

[@marskessler]

"Forgive me Father for I have sinned" The sin in question: "I cannot help but admire the Chosen of your sworn foe: Enver Gortash" That's the most whipped confession in the entirety of the BG franchise, and people will still argue they aren't canon.

[@dunnejos8423]

Everytime I think of Gortash I just don't get it. I just quote Chrissy and think "He's not the love of your life, he is literally just a guy. Hit him with your car!"

[@PocketLeaves]

akdgahdgs that's fair. With my first Durge character, that is definitely the vibe. I've also seen people with lesbian durges say he's like the comphet for them.

[@Ralph-hq3ji]

DurgeTash is a great romance because it shows what they value the most, to the point of conflicting with their roles, the chosen of Bane talking about seeing each other as equals being a huge example, more importantly, when a person who sees everyone else as below him, calling someone equal means A LOT. Compared to a generic good guy who cares about everyone and thinks everyone is equal and loves everyone, now a person like that saying you are equals has 0 value, Gortash saying that has almost infinite value because Durge is the one person among billions that matters to him, that is the extreme level of rarity that gives their romance such value.

[@MadsKing00]

Lol. Love the video. Also not a headcanon but the moment I rolled into Baldur’s Gate I was so ready to kill Gortash for Karlach. Felt absolutely nothing for him. Well except some minor amusement at his design. But the moment he just talked to me at his inauguration. Just everything changed. And now I love him. 😣 He’s a horrible horrible man. But I’m in love. Orin’s line hit me very hard. He really did rewire something in my brain. Fr fr. And I haven’t been able to rewire it back. The brainrot became so bad that now he’s my second fave character (right behind Astarion). And I hate him for it…except not really because I love him 😅

[@PocketLeaves]

That's so real!!! I think if it weren't for Karlach, I'd probably like him a lot more. But I just love Karlach too much to really enjoy Gortash.

[@VenhedisKaffas]

Personal headcanon is that Gortash might've approached Durge with the first little bits of the absolute plot. You can find correspondence between him and Durge in the temple of Bhaal chambers (think it was there?) Written in code but Gortash is telling Durge about his idea and Durge is basically going "oh, wait I'm down with that". Also, in the temple of Bhaal chambers you can find a book (don't remember if it was a diary entry or correspondence) describing how Durge and Gortash essentially did a heist of some sort in some museum to reclaim some old Bhaal temple stuff. So, my headcanon is Gortash tried to basically win over allies first for his plans by offering them information about things they were interested in (like coming up to the Bhaal temple leader and telling them there's old Bhaal temple stuff being paraded around in a museum). They discussed plans, were partners in crime first and then started making eyes at one another throughout because they were on the same wavelength. I personally think they didn't actually make a move on one another, but that's because I kind of like the vibe of this slightly forbidden romance. Durge having a soft spot for the Banite leader and not making a move because they fear their father's reaction to it. Then they lose their memories and become who they wanted to be without the Urge and finally stop fearing their father, but Durge and Gortash no longer work as a couple because redemption-arc Durge. Listen, I love me some drama.

[@hhgnggnjngnmnnh5291]

you’re so real for this entire video i’m on this exact same wavelength of delusion ty

[@nelanequin]

I kinda like Gortash. I think because I can kinda identify with his entire parental situation. Most of all, though, I think that he is one of the most interesting characters in the game. I still also hate that you gotta kill him in the end (or that he dies either way), because I still think that a redemption arc for this big ass loser would be so fun!

[@sophia-fuckthehandlesystem]

I’ve been hyper fixated on these two bastards for months, so I’m gonna show this to my mom to try and explain my obsession with them (thanks for this)

[@PocketLeaves]

YOU ARE SO REAL FOR THAT

[@eebee8052]

durge/gortash is a mountain i will die on after playing the dark urge origin. also, i see the whole 'orin is your sister' thing is how corporate companies declare their staff as 'family' xD i play my durge on a good-aligned playthrough, deffo he would have hated the corporate family dynamics in the bhaalist cult

[@PocketLeaves]

Ah that's fair! I know they're both Bhaalspawn, but her lineage seemed to be different than Durge, just based on what Savarok says when you meet him

[@eebee8052]

@@PocketLeaves trueeee, lol imagine sarevok being that corporate manager goin around the cult like 'orin is my grand/daughter so all of yall are her siblings, we're like family here :)'

[@dodg1123]

Durgetash makes me so happy because not only do you kill Gortash physically, but you also inflict maximum emotional damage when you flaunt your new bf in his face.

[@eliasapollo4131]

More autistic ramblings since we're encouraged to leave HCs: I absolutely believe that they met before Gortash was made Bane's Chosen, since thats how he writes it in his journal (unreliable source but i have my reasons to trust this part) and since their first mission they did together, the Hall of Wonders heist, had nothing to do with Bhaal and Bane's alliance or any sort of big divinely mandated plot. But why an up and coming Gortash would approach the High Primate of the temple of bhaal and suggest they rob a quasi-museum together... thats a whole other question. Maybe he wanted to make sure he was on good footing with the most fearsome assassins in the city, maybe he wanted to build an acquaintance with Durge so he could comfortably hire them later on, to remove political enemies and such. Alas, he ended up down bad for them either way. What a loser (affectionate)

[@emmasilver2332]

My Durge is dating Astarion, but she and Karlach are besties through and through. Learning that she had worked with (and maybe even had a close bond with) Gortash was absolutely devastating to her; the sheer possibility that she might have allowed or even contributed to Karlach's suffering in Avernus was enough to get her planning his demise. At this point, she doesn't care about whether or not it's possible to rekindle the relationship she might've had with Gortash; she's already fallen head over heels for Astarion. And while she doesn't know for sure if she had anything to do with what Gortash put Karlach through, the fact that she might've is enough for her to feel responsible. Wiping Gortash from the face of the earth is, to her, the perfect opportunity to repay Karlach for what's been done to her.

[@awildpineapple9201]

In the effort of being a slight but delusional with you: Gortash wanting to ally with Tav could have been from the fact that Tav was actually created after durge to give players the option of a custom character without all the durge backstory weight, but the devs may still have wanted to give the player some choice about the whole act 3 "orin or gortash" situation

[@sophia-fuckthehandlesystem]

OMG SOMEONE NOTICED THEIR DYNAMIC- THEY ARE TOTALLY IN LOVE

[@maxpauley00]

Ngl this is kinda hot. I think it's even hotter with the default dark urge setup too

[@blind_aggression]

yeah, i'm on my first bg3 run as durge and just met gortash yesterday thinking he's just another villain i need to kill, but the way he looked at her and talked to her made me question things.

[@louletta]

GIRL YOU BETTER LINK THE FANFIC AAHHH

[@PocketLeaves]

It's an Astarion centric fic, and the DurgeTash stuff doesn't show up until later!! archiveofourown.org/works/50668558/chapters/127995079

[@starrychan33]

Small correction that doesn't take away from your point but Gortash is the one who proposes that him and Durge steal the Crown of Karsus. You can see this on the letters between him and Durge you can find in his room in his parents' house

[@samf.s.7731]

I like Gortash because of Jason Isaacs 😅 He does look like a "final fantasy character" though lol 😂

[@TwilitFall]

looks between him and Clive Rosfield Are we sure this isn't the same picture?

[@abij2191]

Your analysis is a scientific fact. Nothing will change my mind. You are not alone with your analysis (fact).

[@AmuletRebel]

FUN FACT! There IS in fact a lore reason for a customizable Dark Urge. It's not simply a "evil exists in anyone" sort of troupe. No. In seeing that he would one day perish, Bhaal went around impregnating a lot of women of all races. All Bhaalspawn have this almost instinctual need for bloodshed to them. That's why Dark Urge is customizable. Because there's more than one that exist and were born from every race and backgrounds imaginable. So in this way, Bhaal's name at least would never die. Also, to me, the Durge/Gortash ship comes down to this: Two people bringing out the best in each other while being the absolute worst to everyone else.

[@puraidoeustass]

Oh, I love Durgetash so much! It's been my current brain rot ever since I learned about Gortash. I also really like Gortash, and I love The Dark Urge. (I have seen people expressing shock about the ... morally very questionable thing Durge does, but I can only say I'm all here for it. I need more bad guys that I can play. I don't always want to be the hero! I want to be evil sometimes.) Funnily, I only have one specific Durge, that explicitly dated him. My main Durge guy Damon. All my other durges may or may not have something with him, but never too serious. And as you mentioned in the video, Damon and Gortash met while Damon was weapon shopping, and Gortash was the closest arms dealer around. It's weird sometimes. I love Durgetash, but I cannot stand a romance with Ascended Astarion. (Platonic Ascended Astarion is cool; Damon and he are vibing) I saw one clip of the romance scene, and it was an absolute no-no. And I hate the idea of one of my characters being forced to submit to Astarion (to play that route, I would have to make a specific character for that; all my other characters so far were my OCs from other fandoms; they would never listen to Astarion.) But durgetash, on the other hand. Excluding Bhaal, Gortash is the only character Damon submits to (sort of.) Gortash is the first he falls in love with and the first person he actually cares about. And while he would kill him for Bhaal, he hates the idea. (He also gets punished for being with Gortash but not killing him. It's painful). In my story, they have known each other for 11 years (including the beginning of BG3, Damon never gets a tadpole in the fiction version, only his adoptive sister. But I also played him. Was the first playthrough I finished, and I took like 10k screenshots only from the inauguration scene.) It also takes them 8 out of 11 years to realize they have fallen in love. Both are a bit dense. I should probably stop myself right now, or I will write a novel here. I liked the video, I need more durgetash. I kinda wish now we had better scenes with them. I mean, I love what we have, but there could have been more! (I also would like a Gortash romance. I mean, if we can hook up with freaking Mizora (I hate her), we could also get a Gortash scene.) Like idk, after Ketheric is defeated, there could be a scene where Durge gets flashes back to Gortash, and there are dialogue options that can determine if the relationship was romantic (much like with the Gale Weave scene where you can imagine a kiss or hand holding or a meal with friends, something like that) to trigger specific dialogue depending if the romantic option was chosen or the platonic (I have seen people complain that there is a romantic context implied. That could maybe fix it.) And if you choose the romantic way, then there could be a cut scene. And if not that, I want a better ending for Gortash! I was so mad when I saw this ending! Spoilers, I guess? Instead of getting killed by the damn brain, he could get rescued, too, and he follows you to the second confrontation as a temporary companion. Because he doesn't betray you and all. And then, when the brain choices must be made, and Durge decides to dominate the brain, there could be another cut scene where they get up from the chair and walk toward Gortash, and there could be a moment for a last kiss and then you can stab Gortash, before then ending yourself, as Durge promised to Bhaal, and so they could be reunited in the afterlife. Or something like that. God, I need a real ending for Gortash. The amount of money I would pay to have a prequel just about them. Where you can plan the heist into the vault to get the crown and all that, and where you can explore their relationship. Aaaah, they are driving me crazy. I love them so much! And now I really stop ... aaah.

[@PocketLeaves]

If Gortash is the only person Damon would submit to, it makes total sense that your character would not want to romance Ascended Astarion! That's Gortash's spot only!!! asdfasdf I enjoyed reading about your story! It would be really interesting to see an ending where Gortash survives, and the two of you are evil together. I would not shut up about that if it were an outcome adsfasdf

[@ltsoup2778]

I have binge watched all of your bg3 videos. They are all sooooo GOOD!!

[@sarabeth3016]

The drama that *I* wanna see is bringing Karlach as your new partner and seeing how she reacts to finding out that Durge, in their previous life, was with the man that sold her into servitude of Zariel, and depending on how long Durge and Gortash knew each other before the events of the game (if it was longer than 10 years), possibly was there and knew about or even encouraged Gortash to sell Karlach. I’m not sure how Karlach could be Gortash’s bodyguard and not know about Durge unless he made her wait outside or in another room during their meetings, or they kept in touch through letters pretty much exclusively. It’s possible Karlach was sold before Gortash and Durge got close, meaning there wouldn’t need to be an explanation for that. Either way, I think that would be really interesting to explore for Karlach - can she forgive Durge for what they did in their previous life, or does she turn on Durge as she goes after Gortash? Does she believe Durge has truly changed since losing their memories and going on this journey with the companions, or is she afraid that Durge is still capable of being evil (even if you’ve been resisting Bhaal)?

[@ferael0013]

you at the end of the video is literally me. I dont like Gort either, I also don't find him hot. BUT FUCK do i twirl my hair, giggle and kick my feet when thinking about Durgetash. Need to write a fic about these two finally AAAAAA. I downloaded the familiar ring and tyrant's gift mods XD

[@Wilted.lycoris]

Don’t feel anything for Gortash,but Orin does something to me man. She’s batshit insane and I hate her boss fight, but I adore her. My favorite part of the game is stealing their clothes lmao.

[@PocketLeaves]

YOU ARE SO REAL FOR THIS!! Orin is so cool, and I think she's very pretty! I love her!!

[@Wilted.lycoris]

@@PocketLeaves She’s gorgeous! I also love the unhinged way she speaks. I haven’t played durge yet, but I’m so ready to see her be the jealous sibling(?). Lmao

[@violetskies14]

Something about the unhinged ladies do it for me man. 😅

[@Abimin100]

I find her quite amusing, I like to headcanon that my Durge arranges with Gortash to keep her head like the "mental library" in the illithid colony to entertain me, lol

[@GeneralHonobi]

I love your makeup! So pretty and shimmery. I haven't played Durge yet, but I have seen some clips and I totally agree that Durge and Gortash were a thing. I also really wish Gortash were a romanceable character for a full-on evil run. It'd be great.

[@jadeitor6280]

I remember reading one of the books from Orin's room where Durge themself noted down about planning to have a meeting for the first time with this "tyrant" and I strongly believe this is the first time they met. Then what happened during the meeting? 😅 Whoo knowwwsss HEAVY SPOILERS DOWN: If Gortash join your team he will get killed by the Netherbrain, which I find so sad cause it would be sooo sooo nice and unhinged having an evil ending where both Gortash and Durge accomplish their plans and be evil and happy forever..awww Nice vid btw 👍

[@Jamie_oxo]

Literally as soon as I interacted with gortash in my durge run I was just like ‘hmm this seems kinda gay’

[@Sofia-ge6wm]

OH MY GOD THIS IS SUCH AN INTERESTING IDEA

[@witchyarch]

Durgetash is a thing in my mind. There are so many things that hint at it. Not to mention the theory about one of Durge's weapons being a gift from Gortash. I fell down that rabbit hole and am entirely convinced.

[@hntrchandler]

Look at the algorithm, I follow you on Twitter, and now I randomly get recommended a video on KZbin from you

[@catika505]

Two churches Both alike in tyranny In fair Faerun where we lay our scene From ancient grudge break to new mutiny Where rotten blood makes rotten hands clean.

[@pocketxmonster]

great video, I screamed THANK YOU when I saw the title, instant sub 💜

[@tristinmeece8148]

I love durgetash its such a nice flavor to the story for the durge. The scene of meeting him is slightyl different with a party and without and it further cemented it for me in all my durge playthroughs

[@kikithepupper6774]

I am a chaotic one. I like Gortash. He has some sweet cans and he looks like a tired goth man and I like it. MMMPPPH. And of course,, I think it's cute how Gortash respects Durge

[@zenthossohtnez8331]

Naw

[@little_kates]

20:41 The best version of this is if you're romancing Karlach lol

[@ferael0013]

ALSO HOLY FUCK DID YOU EVER SEE GORT'S CORONATION USING A FREECAM MOD?? BEcause Gortash literally touches ur hand at the end XDD

[@PocketLeaves]

OMG??? I HAVE NOT?!

[@ferael0013]

@PocketCon OK to be FAIR it is clipping but I'm delusional

[@PocketLeaves]

@@ferael0013 Fair enough asdfasdf

[@ferael0013]

@PocketCon I'm trying to paste a link to my post on tumblr about it x D It's not working

[@ferael0013]

@@PocketLeaves feraelancunin/739358128188030976/hm-actually-i-have-the-freecam-mod-and-i-went-to

[@findyourcenterbbc8483]

Pysch degree here. People that have alzthmer patents will forget everything but still, show love and affection to loved ones. Saying i know you, even if they know nothing else.

[@breejean7705]

Something that may be of note, or just completely delusional; Gortash is the only one of the chosen who is given a subjective descriptor by the narrator when they're first introduced. Ketheric is described as an armoured male elf, Orin as a pale young woman with pale eyes - these are all objectively true - but Gortash is specifically described as handsome. Whether or not the player actually agrees with the narraror and thinks he's handsome is up to them, some do and evidently many don't, as I've seen a lot people joke about it online since he's so scruffy and dirty looking (lol). It's interesting though because at no point does the narrator ever describe any other characters, including the romancable Origin characters, as particularly good-looking. Other characters may comment on their looks, but not the narrator. This is because it's a roleplay game, and it's entirely up to the players to decide who they deem attractive or a romantic option. So why describe Gortash as handsome when it's not an objective truth, but rather a matter of opinion? This leads me to believe the choice to call him handsome is a deliberate one. Remember: the narrator is describing what the player character sees, just as she also describes what they're feeling or thinking. It can be argued that even if the player does not find Gortash handsome, the player character DOES believe him to be attractive. To me this is a small easter egg which hints at their possible prior romance. Edit: I just realised the narraors tone changes for each of the chosen three in that cutscene too! When describing Ketheric as exuding power, her voice sounds heavy, implying his appearance is imposing. For Orin, she drifts off uneasily, as if there is something off-putting about her. But for Gortash? You can literally hear the narrator smiling when she descrbies his "quick and easy" smile. What does that mean?!

[@ferael0013]

FYI! Durge and Gorty met before becoming Chosen!

[@PocketLeaves]

OH! That's awesome!!!!!

[@jesse3086]

Gortash is such a great guy. Loyal and friendly. Best friendly npc out there, if your Durge

[@PirvateerKurei]

DurgeTash sounds like a twisted courtly love story. Just like Lancelot and Gwenivere meets Romeo and Juliet in a twisted maniacal evil world

[@meliannhawke3318]

These were most enjoyable twentyfive minutes, thanks for that! So much eluded me on my first and up until now only Dark Urge playthrough - but the vibes were clearly there, at least to me. In hindsight, there a two more things I appreciated and understod better: Firstly, when Gortash is described (in the vision) by the narrator as "a handsome young man with a quick smile" (cited from memory) - and then, when we actually _see_ him for the first time, I thought: Handsome? Young? Smiling? What? Now I think, this could well mean we are looking through DU's eyes, and although they don't remember explicitely, implicitly their perception is influenced by lingering, unconscious feelings. Secondly, I always wondered, _why in the Nine Hells_ this scheming, ambitious, power-greedy Banite tyrant was supposed to NOT betray us, to genuinely want to share his power with us. It seemed so completely out of character and implausible. Now I think the only explanation is personal feelings, because - what else could it possibly be? (Besides abysmal character writing, which I think we can confidently rule out with this game.) ... and yes, I'm also ignoring completely that it plays out similarly with a non DU Tav! 😅

[@LivingLikeADoctor5]

The Cloth Of Authority has me spinning. IT LOOKS SO GOOD

[@irgendwer3610]

Gotta love the giggles

[@kalebs6201]

I was so surprised by Gortash’s warm welcome

[@ataucei]

It's funny when you're playing as Durge dating Karlach and meeting Gortash, the DRAMA!

[@ichi_san]

I really enjoying this series. I love a good old 'two evils who r soft for each other' ship so this was a joy to watch

[@freyaschuler6514]

totally, I do love the idea, especially since the two gods while beeing rivales complement echt other so do Gortash and the Urge, the two are ruthless and intelegent but their goals are very diffrent. Bane whants control and Bahl wants terror, those two can go very "well" hand in hand. Terror can legitimate the rigid control even in smaller cases while the control keeps the people save from the outside, the terror keeos the people unesy and longing for savety and theirfore giving control more and more power. The twi a litterly a match made in hell. Like the weapon and prision industry in the US.

[@sizzybubbles]

Long time tumblr user + just playing through BG3 now. Was kinda curious why I kept seeing posts about these 2 when browsing the BG3 tag XD I suppose I have a better understanding now! So thank you!

[@jesseallgood8349]

I also spin these two round in my brain like a microwave, nice to know im not alone ❤

[@mlj3347]

I have a head canon that Durge met Gortash in childhood before he was sent to The Hells - your Durge can access a second repressed memory of being a child in Baldurs Gate as well. Especially if Durge was an adopted/poor, like Gortash was. Pure head canon though!!!!!

[@thecorazone3868]

They are like morticia and gomez addams

[@louletta]

absolutely loved this video it felt like we were gossiping i loved it

[@ltsoup2778]

YESSS YOU HIT EVERY POINT IVE BEEN FEELING!!

[@Abimin100]

I'm so down in Durgetash ship that I lost all interest in any other romance or MC. I even headcanon that my chosen of Bhaal loses it when Gortash gets netherbrain'd and decides to end the Absolute and herself afterwards, I'm a sucker for angst lol. Great video!

[@problematicmonika3723]

My first Durge playthrough ended up turning into a redemption playthrough, and it was honestly extremely rewarding, and I grew really attached to my character as Durge, and companions/relationships with them felt like there was more emotional depth. I'd be curious to see how all the Durge romances go, tbh

[@myheartismadeofstars]

I've been working on a fic that has Durge and Gortash is explicitly his... basically common law husband before Orin got to Durge. They LOVED and enjoyed their lives together. Durge does find love on the path back to Baldur's Gate, and when he sees Gortash again he's consumed with a pain he doesn't understand. He wants to cry because in his heart he LOVED that man. But he's not the man that Gortash fell in love with anymore. Honestly considering my Durge has spent decades trying to resist the urge and then failing, indulging and then trying again... And he was married to Gortash for almost a decade, so there is no WAY Gortash didn't SEE him trying to be better and then failing (Gortash encouraged him to give up and embrace the Urge) now that he doesn't want to be Bhaal's chosen anymore, he and Gortash aren't compatible anymore, and Durge wonders...if they ever really were. Did Gortash love HIM or did he love the violence he represented? (It's the former if you were wondering. He loved him when he resisted even though he preferred him giving in) And it explicitly says that they are both heartbroken after this. Durge can't be with his current lover right now, he's mourning. Part of him still loves Gortash, even though he sees him as a monster (if Karlach isn't his lover she's a VERY good friend and he can't imagine betraying her) and he can't move forward. "You made me worse...but i want to be better"

[@Rain0and0Thunder]

I've been holding off on Durge until the next update where they add more Durge endings. I have a playthrough for Durge up but not an evil one and I put that one on hold a bit til the new update. Also the thing with Asterion most don't realize or remember too is if you ask him about becoming a Vampire he explains that the first step if finding a vampire to drink your blood, then you drink theirs and how no Vampire would willingly let a spawn drink their blood. But if you ascend him and have him turn you, he does let you drink his blood...it's literally right there. A lot of people don't even realize that he doesn't keep you as a spawn. LMAO

[@jonathanskinner7647]

Great video. Binging all your bg3 content, but more importantly, IS THAT A MOONCAKE PLUSHIE?!?!? Ahhhhhh. Please do a video on final space. Love final space

[@neopets666]

Girly! U r exactly what I needed. 🙃

[@starrychan33]

Well the narrator will says things about Durge recognizing something of Ketheric Thorm, I just got that scene actually, they don't fully remember but they know that Ketheric was involved somehow in their betrayal and has to stuff down the Urge to kill him right then and there

[@shint8160]

hi little dinosaur in the background! also, never even thought of this. but i didnt complete dark urge so ofc i didnt haha. thank u for this vid

[@AmberDawn42069]

I think this is confirmed canon now