Who is the Dark Urge - Baldur's Gate 3

[@LamboDA]

Nothing in this game tops Withers walking in, flipping off Bhaal and reviving you before leaving again.

[@LamboDA]

Also Popper deep dive PLEASE I BEG OF YOU

[@n.henzler50]

​@@LamboDA what dwells within the heart of a kobold that would have him traffic in "treatos?" Are some born to don fancy hats, or is it a fickle wind of chance that places the accoutrement upon their heads? Perhaps we shall never know, but maybe - just maybe - the key to our enlightenment lies in the tale of one humble circus vendor.

[@DragonFriends-m1c]

When I got that outcome during my first playthrough I thought I was going to have to reloade my save from before I beat oren

[@LisaLynnsTavern]

...👀

[@baconbitzlol]

Withers: Ah, Bhaal. Prithee, hast thou heard of the Law of Ligma. Dark Urge: *pogface* Withers: The Law of Ligma, Bhaal.

[@The-Random-Hamlet]

Baldur's Gate 3 aka How Jergal Cleaned Up His Mess.

[@grigoregruesome3606]

How Jergal got his groove back.

[@lablabs2613]

Being a gith dark urge is hilarious because when someone asks about a memory there’s almost always a GITH option that contradicts the Durge XD

[@MissChambersxo]

I’ve always viewed the dark urge as having tried to fight Bhaal’s influence. Maybe it’s because of how I play them but it’s really implied with Sceleritas saying they struggle to conduct themselves properly and Gortash outright stating that unlike Orin, they can control themselves. The situation with Alfira was set up by Sceleritas, as was Isobel in a way since he basically implies that if you don’t kill her, you might end up killing someone really, really dear to you (notably, killing her at Last Light doesn’t count as an Oath Break action despite being undeniably evil). I view Dark Urge, pre amnesia, as being evil in the same way that a child soldier is evil - they’re beaten into it from a young age. They fully believe they are unlovable, wicked, and wretched. Their Urge isn’t really their own fault either, they were created to be that way by Bhaal, and because of it they weren’t able to have a happy childhood, murdering their adoptive parents likely in an act completely out of their control - they were a child. Suddenly coming to their senses to see their parents dead by their own hands, likely in a similar way to how they wake up to Alfira. Then suddenly forced from their home into an insane murder cult ‘family’ where the only comfort they get is praise for indulging in hideous acts, likely punished if they don’t. How many situations would they have been put in like the situation you get put in if you don’t kill Isobel? Forced to kill their lover? What punishment did they face for trying to be good? It’s outright stated, if you play a Paladin, that you were part of an order of knights, likely trying to be a good person or at least fight for something other than Bhaal, until your Urge took over and you killed them. The Dark Urge likely had no friends, no lovers (except maybe Gortash and even then you can find a note where they’re begging father’s forgiveness for that), no one they could call a proper family, nothing. It says a lot that likely the best thing to happen to the Dark Urge is Orin betraying them, taking their place and leaving them for dead, because it means a life away from Bhaal, even with the Urges, where eventually on their journey they can start on their own path. And they won’t be a victim of Bhaal like Orin ultimately ends up being when you inevitably kill her. It gives them a chance to not become lost to madness and blood as they were before. Because really, for as horrible as the Dark Urge was before the game, they were ultimately… just another victim of Bhaal. Completely unable to forge their own fate or act of their own free will. And would have disposed of when Bhaal no longer found use for them. Minthara says it best - ‘Lolth, Bhaal, the Absolute. They do not have followers, they only have victims, and they reward devotion with death.’

[@chelseahill1293]

You put into words my exact thoughts on Durge. They're a very tragic character and its very up for debate how much blame they hold for all of their actions. How much of it was Bhaal, using them as his avatar?

[@Broomer52]

@@chelseahill1293 in Lore at least the Urge to Murder is basically genetic in Baahl Spawn. It’s an instinct and gut reaction and are tormented by nightmares of murder until they give in, then those nightmares of murder became more like pleasant dreams even if the content hasn’t changed. A Baahl spawn with no restraint like Orin would then be considered more like an animal because they’re nothing but murderous instinct. In life Baahl loved murder and so when he became a God that became his entire essence and thus it became a core part of his children. His Spawn can only rebel when they have something else to fight for. If they want to protect with all their heart people special for them it can fight back that murderous urge. In short Love conquers Baahl’s Influence. Love is antithetical to Baahl. You can’t kill when theirs people you care about and you realize how much it goes against the God with Durge. In your very core you’re disgusted by Alfira for no greater reason than how pure she is. Similarly with Isobel her purity pushes you to want to kill her and if you love someone you’ll be overcome with the urge to end them. Dark Urge grew up knowing love and even in their darkest moments still had loved ones. Their Butler loved them almost like Durge was their own child and it’s strongly implied Durge and Gortash had relations. There were reasons Durge wanted to show more restraint.

[@TheKillaShow]

The way urge is described by everyone who actually knew them, they were the epitome of evil. The amnesia is what potentially changes them.

[@e.s.r5809]

I found some interesting lines where Sarevok tells Durge about Bhaal bearing the disgrace of creating life, feeling no pride in his children, and how all they can do is "atone for the shame of birth"... Which makes the way Sceleritas calls DU 'vile', 'rotten', 'awful', man, idk. It's cute, but in that context it sounds like encouraging Durge to hate themself and feel contempt for being alive. They're not allowed to love anyone, even *themself.* Clearly doesn't excuse the things they've done. But, seeing as Bhaal wants them to kill everyone then commit suicide... Bhaal really wants Durge to feel they'd be better off dead, huh? And that they literally have nothing else to live for.

[@MissChambersxo]

@@e.s.r5809 in a game so much about the cycles of abuse it makes perfect sense seeing as Bhaal, and by extension, Sceleritas, is basically D Urge’s abuser. It all depends how you read the D Urge and interpret/headcanon their character. Honestly I kind of think pre game Dark Urge as being a bit like pre rescue Minthara. Where she says that it wasn’t so much that she couldn’t choose, but that as she says, everything she did felt like a choice and felt like she was doing the best thing at the time, but in reality she didn’t have the freedom to do anything else and was being enthralled. And it’s only on their travels that they were able to finally act of their free will. There was a time before Bhaal when the Dark Urge was happily playing with other kids and had loving adoptive parents.

[@trinitygarcia5028]

Durge is so compelling and such an amazing part of the story- How there’s such obvious self-loathing and even when you embrace the urges there is still the smallest hint of regret or wishing they could be different. I wish there were more specific interactions w durge- like the memories that resurface after eating noblestalk. It’s always genuinely SOOOO interesting I’m sat

[@LisaLynnsTavern]

I know right! It's kind of a shame some of these interactions are easily missed because they give so much context to the character.

[@Broomer52]

I’ve always had the idea that Dark Urge had such control and restraint because they knew love. They had people they cared about which kept them focused even as a follower of Baahl. They had a normal childhood, parents, friends. Once joining the cult they still had people they loved and who loved them like their Butler and Gortash. As you play the game you’re motivated to resist because you fear hurting those you care about whereas if you give in it’s because you never cared for them. You treat them as tools to be used and thrown away. Love is always what kept them grounded

[@prinsauce]

Amazing video! Given what Durge has done, losing their memory is arguably a huge mercy they probably don't deserve. However, I still can't help but sympathize with them at times. To add to your well-spoken points, I've noticed Durge show signs of immense guilt, fear and self-loathing? It's more illicitly implied than anything, but it drives me to think that, especially redeemed Durge is in a lot of mental anguish that's not only because of the manifestations of resisting the Urge. When waking up Withers for the first time, one of the answers you can give to his question as Durge is "my life seems to worth little as my blood calls me to harm others". Or when the Narrator refers to Durge as an "unlovable carcass" when you eat the noblestalk after meeting Sceleritas. These to me imply the self-loathing. A remarkable comment they make which gave me pause the first time I heard it; upon entering Blighted Village, passing near the hopscotch on the ground, Durge will say "was I also sweet once? Did I play games like this too?" and, it's such a loaded thing to say for someone like them. 😅

[@eliasapollo4131]

Also Durge telling themselves "wretched thing, pull yourself together!" Sigh. Can someone give this cannibalistic necrophilic cult leader a hug please?

[@LisaLynnsTavern]

Thank you so much! And that's a really good point actually, you're right. There are several times where the narrator says things like this, like at one point she also says something along the lines of ''How many innocents have died by your hands?''. Another great example of the guilt Durge is feeling. As you said, them losing their memory is a mercy, the guilt and self-loathing would probably be so much worse if they still remembered everything

[@eliasapollo4131]

Another instance is Durge telling themselves "wretched thing, pull yourself together!" Crying in the club over a murderous cult leader

[@prinsauce]

​@@LisaLynnsTavern Yes! Also, upon killing the bard, if you choose to wash up the blood, the Narrator will say something along the lines of "no matter how much you scrub your hands the blood doesn't seem to come off. But when you look closer, you realize it's the guilt staining your hands and not the blood itself." Another thing that really got me, and I think this is added with patch 6 because I don't personally remember the conversation going like this previously, is first time talking to Karlach after recruiting her. You know when you can ask her "I didn't see myself ending up here" bit. Previously, I remember there also being options you could respond with as a Baldurian but the updated version has removed those and added Durge version ones. With one particular option being that Durge can say they think they're from Baldur's Gate and they might be able to find somewhere they can belong there, and this one actually broke my heart a little. 😅

[@prinsauce]

@@eliasapollo4131 Honestly, same. 😂 Maybe I played too many redeemed Durge runs and I've softened up a little too much on them but it all made me want to care for that little murderhobo like I care for Astarion or any other companion, for that matter. I'd say even Durge needs a big comforting hug!

[@stephanieking8299]

Half Drow Rogue Dark Urge was my first playthrough. It's crazy how much longer the game is when you don't murder and betray everyone 😂 I did not resist the urge at all.

[@LisaLynnsTavern]

Yeah you lock yourself out of so much content when you go murder hobo hahah

[@thebronzebean3766]

A reminder (I forgot the choices I made) but if it's hinted that durge is "resisting" or if he was a child. The goblin boy slips up that he set up alfira to be a wonderful kill for durge which could imply that they've been making/setting him up to kill very young. Just like orinn

[@santiagojara8056]

Blood in Baldur's Gate happens 15 years before the start of BG3. Durge was already around doing his thing, so he's at least 30.

[@Aristocles22]

The Dragonborn default version makes the most sense for scenes which involve biting. Yes, there's some of that. Goblin toe.

[@Lunakitty1234]

I know and I do want to keep things canon but idk I’m not really interested in seeing the characters I romance f**k a dragon. Just like I don’t want to see anyone f**k a bear lol it’s always going to be humanoid creatures for me thanks lol

[@anomitas]

There is no canon apperance.

[@MR.LMR1996]

It is better to be free than it is to be powerful. That is the message I got from the Dark Urge's journey. To resisit the Dark Urge is an act of rebellion one must follow to be free. Giving in and submitting to Bhaal's will is a fate worse than death.

[@Shinigami-ve1mf]

I love that there is a cut scene of Astarion threatening to tell Durged "daddy" and the Urge pouts 😂😂😂

[@jakeparkinson8929]

My durge was a complete pacifist, you get special dialog if a companion kills the bard, (alfira gets a head injury once per long rest so she doesn't die,). I kept mine away from corpses, used other companions to loot, mine was og good gay dragon from the start of his amnesiac adventures with pals. Thats the best durge.

[@partiallyhealedsunburn1881]

in my playthrough i resisted the dark urge. when it came time to fight orin (i was getting smoked by her omfg), i just had my companions step into the ring which triggered the regular fight with orin and cultists. bhaal killed me afterward but withers brought me back and i was cured of the urge after that! so i feel like i cheated by not fighting orin myself but it worked out anyway lol

[@hea6399]

Same thing happened to me!

[@LisaLynnsTavern]

Oh huh that's odd! Maybe they changed this in a later patch? My first duel with Orin went terrible and she killed me in like 2 turns, so I swapped to my companions and revived my character and finished the fight. However I got no cutscene of Withers reviving me afterwards, which is why I ended up reloading 😅 All I got was Bhaal and Sceleritas being super disappointed in me because I had lost haha

[@readytoenditall]

@@LisaLynnsTavernIf you win the duel with Orin and resist Bhaal, Withers will revive you and give a beautiful speech about overcoming your urge!

[@879SCSP]

They Wyll Romance ending is honestly the best for durge considering you can adopt a child and there's just something so heartwarming about Durge not only getting to earn their freedom but to help improve the life of someone else as well

[@LisaLynnsTavern]

Ah that's really sweet!

[@grecia3146]

I also really like that ending. Wyll with Durge is almost sweetly ironic, the fairy tale hero with someone who could have become the biggest villain. Plus them making a family without Bhaal's influence like Durge said, really cute.

[@Lunakitty1234]

I like Astarion for durge , he can relate to the dark urges and is very supportive, no matter whether you resist or embrace it. But a good heroic character like Wyll could also work because he could be their moral compass at times when they’re struggling to resist :)

[@KutluMizrak]

You can do that with Laezel as well, if you kept the egg.

[@grecia3146]

​@@Lunakitty1234 ​I think it fits pretty much to all the companions one way or another; Being part of a cult (Laezel), worshipping a god who doesn't really care about you (Gale), dark urges (Astarion), being god's favorite but not really (Shadowheart), fighting the battles of a higher being with not much choice (Wyll and Karlach).

[@AlTariqLuqmanMuhammad]

I actually went back and restarted my first Tav playthrough to do a Dark Urge one instead because it didn't feel personal enough. A resist playthrough is just such a unique and rewarding experience, especially when you romance a companion and support one another theough your terrible predicaments lol. I plan to do an evil Dark Urge for my Honor Mode run, so I'm looking forward to that as well.

[@jakeparkinson8929]

For dragon born tavs im like: "ah yes the two genders, twink and guy."

[@problematicmonika3723]

I loved playing Durge. My first time was a redemption run, and I ended up getting really attached to my character, enough that I actually teared up at the temple scene. Such a good playthrough.

[@Synthpopper]

I honestly wish Dark Urge was a party member outside of the Origin

[@KutluMizrak]

It doesnt really work because it'd be like the Grey Warden being a companion while Alistair was the Player char in Origins. Story is pretty much canon built for a Bhaalspawn, to continue along BG1-BG2-BG3 thread. It works less for a full custom. Origin chars as main chars feel better, as they all have some ties to the plot. But Durge.... is the one who started this all. Netherbrain tells you point blank, you placed the Crown on her, you gathered Dead Three's acolytes, you did all this. Essentially... Darth Revan.

[@tinyguy1015]

​@kutlumzrak2689 not gonna lie that makes me like him more thinking of him as Darth Revan.

[@deusrelicta--7200]

I’ve always wondered if the bhaalspawn in Orin’s chambers was actually the DU. In my headcannon, he is was just kept there as a prize like she did with her mom. She’s twisted like that, so that’s what I assumed! On another note, great video! Super fun to watch, I’ll be following for more for sure!

[@LisaLynnsTavern]

Yeah that's definitely something Orin would do (x Thank you! Glad to hear that 😀

[@e.s.r5809]

Oh, fun fact about Orin's mum! The datamined dev notes suggest Sarevok was the one who preserved and displayed her, not Orin... so he could remember her. Because she was his favourite daughter. Just... yeuch. SO messed up.

[@SpiritHunterDSG]

The saddest thing about Durge playthrough is Alfira 😭😭😭 you can save her but it requires extra cheeeeeeese

[@LisaLynnsTavern]

I know right :(

[@aaronhumphrey2009]

That was shocking, but also a deciding moment for my Durge playthrough to go with a redeemed path ..😢..poor Alfira..

[@samcreed9951]

Can't you just tell her to go back to the grove and not get the cloak?

[@jeffulloa218]

@@samcreed9951 Nope. Whether you take her in or tell her to go away she will die by your hand. The only way to save her is for her to be knocked out when the moment triggers (my advice if you want to do this is 1. save before every long rest, because while it's triggered very soon after reaching the grove, it could take two or three long rests to trigger, and 2. have a hireling do it on their own, because if you or one of the origin companions does it they'll lose attitude with the party and will refuse to talk to you or them ever again). If Alfira is ''unavailable'' (already dead or knocked out), then another bard, this time a Dragonborn girl named Quil Grootslang, will take her place and will be killed by Durge instead. She's just a sweet as Alfira, but she doesn't appear anywhere else in the game so killing her is easier than my baby girl Alfira.

[@LisaLynnsTavern]

@@samcreed9951 Sadly not, I believe if you refuse her she'll still end up dead

[@OakandIV]

Always great to see a BG3 character analysis. Durge is such a well done character in so many ways. As you said, Durge let’s you feel much more part of the world than a Tav. I am not sure if I want to do another Durge play through anytime soon, though. As much as I loved playing, my redemption arc Durge, I am just not sure how much he deserves a happy ending.

[@Nyghtmare6380]

Im glad a friend showed me a way to make sure she survives the scenario

[@platinumshadow5626]

The Dark Urge feels like BG3's answer to the Detective from Disco Elysium or The Nameless One from Planescape Torment.

[@witchboy44]

When I first got this game I started a normal Tav run but my character just wasn’t connecting with me. I had heard a little bit about the dark urge and loved to play evil characters in RPGs so I tried it out and my first run was a full embrace dark urge run, I had so much fun and I’m glad that it was my first experience with the game (the ending felt a little bit like an anti-climax to me but the whole experience was great 10/10, would murder again)

[@precious_toebeans]

Thank you for breaking this down! I literally could not do a durge run without severe anxiety but i still wanted the whole story. You're the best!

[@LisaLynnsTavern]

You're very welcome, glad you enjoyed it! And thank you for watching 😄

[@Pufty]

I ran with Dark Urge on my 2nd play to simply go nuts and it ended up being an amazing eye-opener. The whole new angle, different approach, simple choice to do whatever I want. My biggest surprise was the path I could take with Minthara... someone I easily killed before, but now indulged and came around to liking the same way Shadowheart was unbearable and had the best character growth. Interesting how the game gave me every chance to be redeemable and in the end it was another irredeemable person to curb the path of maximum carnage Also I feel like with Minthara you both seem to be the analogs to Orin and Gortash. Either you or Orin could be Bhaal's carnage, either Minthara or Gortash could be the Tyrant ruler. Two broken creatures still finding love is a different level of wholesome

[@willfanofmanyii3751]

There was once a little fan comic that summed up Durge's journey with a before and after panel. -Durge before his amnesia, being that one guy who shouldn't be allowed in the same state as children. -Durge after redemption, simply taking the kid out for a hunting lesson, lol.

[@blackwings724]

Did anyone else roleplay both Tave and Durge in the same party? I did and it was a blast!

[@orelyosif5852]

Dark Urge is the canon protagonist, it seems. Story is heavily tied to it

[@melodiusalien]

I am tempted to play Dark Urge. I love the choices and seeing the struggles. You have a good story. As dark as it is, it is an amazing option to play. I liked your points here. I love how many endings there are.

[@LisaLynnsTavern]

Would definitely recommend giving it a try yourself! And thanks, glad to hear that 😄

[@Infernalicon]

î think dark urge is the original games mc for a variety of reasons, but what mostly gave it away to me was the orin fight, you can make her fall from faith and she gets turned into the slayer, showing that bhaal has the power to just mind control any of his *children*.but he chose not even to punish us like amelyssan, but just kill. at this point we have resisted bhaalbloods calling twice, both times defeating his most powerful servants (bg2 tob it was the ravager) and now the slayer.we have become too dangerous, so he drains us of his godsblood that would allow us to challenge his position. in killing us and abandoning us to godlessness he hoped he could banish us to the fugue plane but he failed because grampa withers was not having it.

[@Basshead004]

7:50 Bhaal's end goal (as I understand it) is for Durge and his progeny to kill literally everything, including themselves. Why he wants that? Good question

[@vibinbrb]

Durge was my first finished play through. It made me cry it was so good. Durge is my favourite character

[@LuffyL-ch1ku]

I think Bhaal just gets power from every murder done in his name, if you murder everyone in his name, he'll get a lot of power

[@pablosanhueza5290]

"Above all else....problems worth solving" . I woulda said hear hear! To jergal! the one who makes us pay a fortune to live again!

[@VChong1991]

When the murderer has a Shakespearean intro

[@maryhales4595]

That opening monologue is seriously so good.

[@Mohmar2010]

Im excited to see what new endings the Durge will get in addition for Tav's evil endings for Patch 7

[@LisaLynnsTavern]

Same!

[@jaxsonfanta5420]

The dark urge does something that very few video games have ever been able to correctly do…. They make you the player feel as though you are part of the story. Star Wars knights of the old republic 1, Baten Kaitos, and now Baldurs gate 3 are the 3 games who put you in the world and make you influence it. It’s amazing storytelling, and world building.

[@-0NI-]

As a durge if you romance with Minthara you can break her neck while she Is hugging you after you slept together. Is hilarious to me because you kill her literally the first time She shows vulnerable 😭

[@LisaLynnsTavern]

Yeah :((

[@Stereo-hb2lo]

I played durge before i finished the game as a custom character, and i dont regret it. Such an amazing story

[@cloutlaw5824]

For the longest time i thought the dark urge was the only way to have a custom character

[@graysenm1320]

Loved the video. I wish I played Durge sooner. I think it was my 4th playthrough and man I loved it

[@LisaLynnsTavern]

Yeah it's so good!

[@graysenm1320]

​@LisaplaysGames I super agree that it's best to play a custom Tav first (or the first few times honestly) before going straight to Durge. The story is so huge with many moving parts that are easy to miss, so once you have a good grasp on the story, being able to add the chaos that is Durge into the mix is wonderful.

[@thedeed8740]

The voice actors put their whole soul into the voice acting 🥶

[@scrollkeeper5272]

My first run was as a good Durge and it was the most epic rpg adventure I have had to date. I really hope Larian makes more characters like Durge in the future for their games and great job with this awesome vid.

[@mistress_of_the_dark380]

This is my #1 favorite way to play this game ❤❤❤❤ 0:23

[@anna-friedavandyk]

I played Durge as my first run because I knew I wouldn't be satisfied playing Tav- and it was sooo good. Its so much more satisfying to be a good person since you have to actively resist your blood and inherent drive for violence. It contextualizes every good deed as a choice- not made without thought. Since you have to fight to be good- overcoming it is a greater triumph. Also side note: If you romance Astarion (as you should imo- since he has the most amount of dialogue and is the most supportive of resistance.) Technically their tastes haven't changed- they still like the dead. But in all seriousness durge x astarion is the otp- fite me.

[@cavik977]

Funny story: there’s text scattered around the world that implies Durge and Gortash had a thing going between them. Out of all the companions, I'd say Astarion is the most similar in terms of type 🙂

[@anna-friedavandyk]

Oh I don't disagree- with all the hints, I almost wonder if the devs are even trying to be opaque about the precise relations.@@cavik977

[@LisaLynnsTavern]

Yeah the Astarion romance is so good when playing a resisting Durge

[@maryhales4595]

Just started my redemption Durge run and I'm going to romance Astarion! Can't wait to see how it progresses.

[@anna-friedavandyk]

@@maryhales4595 I wish you luck- I know you'll love it.

[@ingolf82]

The Dark Urge is the real protagonist of BG3, but yeah I do recommend trying a custom character first as well.

[@aligacrystenia]

I played Durge as embrace right up until Baal offered to make me his chosen. After having killed Orin I gave him the finger and the scene with Withers where he revives Durge. There's a really cool line after Withers refers to Durge as "Savior" if you pick the "evil" response, where they say to themselves "just because I'm in control of myself doesn't mean I'm going to be **good**" and how now the terrible things they do will be ALL their own doing. Which was just the perfect preamble to stabbing the Emperor in the back and becoming the Absolute 😈

[@jeanette_voerman]

Great video! It's definitely rewarding playing Durge.. although I can never bear to kill Alfira. Thank goodness for Quil!

[@LisaLynnsTavern]

Thank you! And yeah it really is. I do feel kinda bad for Quil too though haha

[@mistress_of_the_dark380]

Or you send them through the barrier and have Withers revive you 😂 28:34 I love this part so much

[@eliasapollo4131]

Durge was my very first playthrough. I don't regret at all, though I can confirm that after a Durge, playing custom Tav feels... a little empty and way less personal. Durge, to me, is the more immersive way of playing because due to being a semi-origin (so to speak) character with certain fixed aspects to your past, the game can actually connect certain important events, people and places to you personally. Imo, it makes dealing with the Absolute feel way more personal because hey, that's YOUR old pet project. Orin and Gortash also become more interesting and fleshed out when you experience their characters as Durge. Both the Durge-Orin and the Durge-Gortash dynamic are immensely fascinating to me. Note: some other things that are established about pre-game Durge are that they felt immense religious guilt for doing anything that wasn't in Bhaal's interest (note: Prayer for Forgiveness), that they always at least somewhat looked down at Orin (book: Concerning Orin the Red), and that they never had children despite many other Bhaalists like Sarevok (and probably Bhaal himself) expecting that of them. This is referred to as a sin/disgrace in game, ergo yet another way Durge resisted Bhaal's wishes pre-amnesia!

[@LisaLynnsTavern]

Agreed, Orin and Gortash are so much more interesting when playing Durge. (Though I still think Gortash should've gotten a little more screen time and a bit of a bigger role when it comes to having power in the city. Apart from the initial meeting and him controlling the Steel Watch he doesn't really do much. Orin on the other hand stalks you and shows up frequently) And you're right! Good points.

[@eliasapollo4131]

@@LisaLynnsTavern I think a lot of Gortash content was probably cut/compressed when they decided to scrap the Upper City. Which is a damn shame, I hope they'll release a definitive edition in a year or two where the Upper City is actually available, like Cazadors palace and the Jannath estate were clearly also supposed to be situated there. But hey, at least patch 6 gave us some juicy new lines of dialogue!

[@LisaLynnsTavern]

@@eliasapollo4131 That would be great honestly. And yeah Cazador also felt kind of lacking in terms of content, he's supposed to be really politically powerful within the city but we don't really see that in the game. Seeing him having actual influence would've made him feel a lot more threatening

[@nickbrown638]

I’m inclined to believe either someone else sculpted Durge in the temple of Bhaal, or Durge was actually constructed by Bhaal, but ages quicker because he was constructed, rather than being conceived naturally.

[@BartEmbregts]

I always play my Dark Urge character in baldurs gate 3 like how I would react in those moments.

[@lostonessoul5154]

In my opinion Dark Urge was supposed to be what Tav was, the OG player character, but...the fact that they were optional made all difference. Kinda like when you manage to make friends with a wild animal, it's a option, a very rare option, but an option....and I love it.

[@naiadsouls]

love listening to your lore vids while i paint

[@LisaLynnsTavern]

Aaa I'm really glad to hear that! 😊

[@shilomclain8773]

About the Ne***philia… There is a ten-tier classification of it, so it doesn’t necessarily mean durge ‘did it’ with a corpse. If you are curious about the classifications: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Necrophilia#Classification

[@matturso2224]

I really loved this video and it made me want to play Durge both ways!

[@LisaLynnsTavern]

Glad to hear that 😄 Make sure to tell me about your experience as Durge!

[@maximeboure9028]

Thank you for your time too your work is amazing

[@kingsim9288]

I can’t wait to see the rest of the companions deep dives.

[@iantercero5380]

Great video breakdown. Like the pithy humor you injected. Keep it going!🎉

[@LisaLynnsTavern]

Thank you!!

[@Enzevil]

Another such well crafted video Lisa! Keep up the great work and the amazing content! :)

[@LisaLynnsTavern]

Thank youuu! 😄

[@estellelecardonnel6132]

My first playthrough was Durges, I know nothing about him, I didn’t even listen to his story in CAS, so I wasn’t mentally ready. He turned out evil, since somehow I messed up every dice which allowed you access to village. Rip myconite colony, the last light inn, and many other unfortunates. I had a lot of fun and since somehow diplomacy never worked, my second playthrough seemed brand new. Playing Tav after durges feels a bit empty, if you didn’t think about your character’s personality and background beforehand

[@ShadmehR_23]

In game BG3Wiki says Dark Urge is (Special Origin) this word is used for first time in any Larian games i know about.. He really was intended to be main protagonist... makes sense after you meet gortash... talking about whole elderbrain plot.. or talking to whiters for first time.. Dark Urge is the missing link..

[@Shark_Rock]

I have a headcannon, that my Durge (who has embraced Bhaal), convinced Bhaal to allow them to destroy the nether-brain because it would “be unworthy offerings” to use the nether-brain to do the killing. So uh, yeah.

[@Shark_Rock]

I also do have it my Durge ultimately betrays Bhaal and becomes the new goddess of murder.

[@kingofgrim4761]

I tried my first honor mode playthrough as evil durge. I just fought Orin, and ffs, I got her to 1 more hit to kill, and her legendary action hit me for 130, making me a failed bhaalspawn 😭😭

[@valkyrie666maybury3]

I am currently playing a durge monk (way of the open hand cause its awesome) but sone of the options are funny cause you can do something really dark (normal durge) and then say something really nobel and wise its pretty funny

[@realdaggerman105]

I just finished my first honour mode run. Decided to play Durge for the first time for it as well. Oh, that was an interesting run.

[@LisaLynnsTavern]

Nice! I'm sure it was! 😎

[@junebug4004]

I wish the other classes get a dark urge outfits like sorcerer does.

[@brandonorcutt362]

I love playing the Dark Urge on Honor Mode and how things play out determines alot about what direction I take in the playthrough

[@LisaLynnsTavern]

Yeah we had a Durge in our Honour mode group as well, and can be really helpful too if you decide to take a certain route

[@chocol8r41n]

Ive started a dark urge playthrough. Im in act 3 now, but oh damn there were sum suprises there

[@LisaLynnsTavern]

Yeah act 3 is great as Durge

[@chocol8r41n]

@@LisaLynnsTavern I'm excited, misses alot on my first run 😅😅

[@koastyyyyyy]

Love this game so much man can’t wait for a dlc or something

[@LisaLynnsTavern]

Sameeee, hopefully we'll get something later down the line (Especially with those teasers from Withers at the end, come on! 😄)

[@brandonorcutt362]

The Dark Urge is linked to the Baldur's Gate series via Baldur's Gate 2 Throne of Bhaal and bonus content in which you play through all the parts referenced in the Dark Urge story and it had the illusion of choice of you tried to be good you still ended up at the same point everything from forming the original tribunal with Saevock and Orin to enslaving the elder brain breaking into hell with Gortosh fighting Kethric and losing and having Orin pokes holes in your brain ect but the Dark Urge is the player character from the original series after thing is go horribly wrong and Shadow Heart also part of the original series and the Dark Urge storyline

[@brandonorcutt362]

The bonus content was actually pretty horrible fighting hard to get to an ending where you are defeated and Orin is giving a speech about what she learned about human brain and how she could poke hole in the right spots to make you easy to control I think that after this the Dark Urge became a programed murderer and walked the streets of Baldur's Gate as a killer serving the Cult before being stuffed in the pod for being. "Defective" and ended up on the nautaloid

[@CuteGallifreyian]

Intersting lore, I have been playing a Githyanki Dark Urge. I have to admit playing a Githyanki who is Bhaal's chosen has been interesting.

[@LisaLynnsTavern]

I can imagine!

[@GabrielBadwolf]

I saved Alfalfa I knocked her out before long resting after finding the grove. Only for another random bard to show up in camp, dam it! 😅😂 At least the cloak you get for it is pretty awesome 😅😊

[@LisaLynnsTavern]

Yeah sadly someone has to go. xD But yeah the cloak is worth it, it's so good

[@irgendwer3610]

the dark urge are the boots that have seen everything

[@wafflingmean4477]

My headcanon for my Durge was that while he did not resist the urge (unless it was a situation where it would directly harm him), he lost all of his fanatical loyalty to Bhaal. As much as he hated Orin, she freed him. Now all power he sought was his own. But for now, there was no reason to anger Bhaal when they both stood to gain from my Durge's show of loyalty. I became his Chosen, and took control of the Netherbrain. However, my Durge has Gale and Astarion under his command. For a power boost I will use the brain to force Astarion to turn me into a vampire spawn and feed me his blood to turn me into a true vampire (as the Netherbrain for a time followed the orders of the Chosen despite them not actively giving it commands, so to me it seems it enforces the most recent command until the Netherstones' power wears off and is reapplied, so briefly dying wouldn't be a problem). Then my Durge will gather the required thousands of innocents to turn into spawn with the help of his mindflayers, and become a vampire ascendant. All the while Gale is forced to examine the crown and figure out the required spells for the ascension to the God of Ambition. But for me, not for himself. To be honest even in the best possible circumstances for him, I think my Durge would fail to become a god. I suspect channelling so much Netherese magic through his orb would be enough for Gale to resist the Netherbrain for a moment, realise what I had tried to make him do, and then turn all of that power against me as punishment for my betrayal, probably nuking me, the brain, and my army in one fell swoop, and perhaps even surviving to still become a god himself. Not to mention if Bhaal realised what I was up to beforehand, he'd have bent me to his will and I'd have ended up as that jittering lunatic we see at the end of the Durge storyline, and/or he'd have tried to seize Karsus' power himself. Not to mention this is all dependant on controlling the Netherbrain long enough for Gale to even figure out the Crown, and given I stabbed Mindflayer Orpheus in the back the second he subdued the brain, I don't have another Mindflayer I could trust to wield the stones without just turning on me the second they had command of the Netherbrain. So once the brain gets loose, it stays that way. It's possible I would be forced to kill it before Gale could figure out the godhood spells, and once I had to put down the brain, he'd turn on me for betraying him. I'd probably be forced to free Astarion and give him a Netherstone to have any hope of controlling the brain long enough, and while he was my closest companion (even unromanced) in my playthrough, achieving world domination like he wanted only to enslave him two seconds in is not something he'd forgive. He'd likely be forced to work with me for a time to have any hope of controlling the brain, but the second I let my guard down I'd have the vampire ascendant and all his spawn trying to kill me. Plus Sarevok would be plotting against me the whole time. I doubt he'd be as bold as he is if you go to him between killing Orin and fighting the brain, but I only realised he'd challenge me when I loaded back to before fighting the brain to explore the city more. So in my version, Sarevok and the cult of Bhaal survive into my reign as the Absolute, notably free of tadpoles. And I was actually convinced of Sarevok's loyalty after duelling Orin. So honestly I think my Durge would have given Sarevok a Netherstone, giving him the means to turn on me without fighting the mindflayers too.

[@skibadeeskibadanger6641]

Well, sooner or later your Dark Urge will have to ponder an important question - "why do I need all this power?" Do keep in mind, we are talking about someone who feels physically ill and depressed when he is not actively killing people. It doesn't matter whether he is loyal or not - Bhaal's Chosen is doomed to follow Bhaal's designs. Dark Urge is carrying his slave shackles in his very blood, so the first step in his plan to become powerful should've been "reject Bhaal". The rest of the plan doesn't make any strategic sense without being Urge-free. To put it simply: your character is somehow smart enough to formulate complex plans but also dumb enough to miss a critical point of failure in all of them.

[@rennyboy_]

you can save alfira if you knock her out before she comes to camp :3

[@skibadeeskibadanger6641]

I don't know if this is intentional but some heroic choices become somewhat sinister if you play as Dark Urge. Like in this one instance where you convince Rolan and his siblings to stay and protect Emerald Grove - one interpretation is that your character unwittingly creates the situation in which as many people as possible will die unless you actively prevent the inevitable massacre. Another example is The Last Light Inn. Did you really help those Ironhand gnomes and tieflings to escape Moonrise - or were you just making sure that the murder of Isobel would lead to the biggest possible blood sacrifice in the name of Bhaal? For as long as Dark Urge is carrying the blood of Bhaal in their veins, there is no real way to determine what motivates them. It can be their long-neglected "heart of the hero" but there is always the "mind of the killer" as well. That's my take, at least. Oh, and after seeing the bad Urge ending I wish some of the creepy animations were implemented as regular idle expressions so they sometimes show up in regular conversations. Astarion does comment on Durge's uncanny behaviour, after all - this means that the mask of sanity is imperfect and sometimes falls off.

[@e.s.r5809]

That ended up being EXACTLY how I played my first run (went straight for Durge origin lol). Saved everyone through acts 1 and 2, brought them all to Last Light... then murdered Isobel after Marcus brought his pals. EVERYONE died (RIP Jaheira). So many bodies. Walking through Last Light afterwards, with the music changed, and the light gone, and blood everywhere... total massacre. Arguably worse than raiding the grove.

[@MegaOgrady]

Unrelated to the video but I got to the Gortash's part and I just had to say. Is it just me or does he feel "dirty" to someone else? Like, he genuinely feels like someone who wouldnt shower. Always felt a bit disgusted by him because of it

[@meagangeorgia3511]

He looks like his breath smells lol

[@MegaOgrady]

@@meagangeorgia3511 Tbf, at that age and time, everyone's breath probably did lol

[@katerynasirko1832]

I cheated and beat Orin with my whole party and I still was cleansed of all Bhaal blood. So maybe there are some other factors at play.

[@KutluMizrak]

The Main Character, obviously. And the canon of BG3, since it pretty much is a direct tie in to BG1 and BG2. My first playthru was a Resist Durge, in opposition to Larian's advice, and I still think that was a weird advice on their part. Any other char or custom I played felt... less in comparison. They clearly was going for Durge default on custom chars in EA, some of us remember hints at that possibility. Options are good, but I definitely think it maybe should've been selected by default. Sidenote: Defeating SlayerOrin in 1v1 is laughably easy in anything except Honour mode...And in Honour mode I min maxed the f out of my durge so Orin died in a single turn to an overcharged Fire Sorcerer that just burned them to a crisp.

[@JustAFatherlyNerd]

It's hard to be evil hard for me to kill the other characters since I've played good so much.

[@commandershep7120]

If you romance minthara as a durg, she actually encourages you to keep on with the whole evil etc

[@LisaLynnsTavern]

Interesting 👀

[@KutluMizrak]

thats not entirely true. She doesnt like it when you indiscriminately kill. She wants the chaos imposed by murder, but adhering to a plan in mind.

[@crwndcontent]

You've got your own Dark Urge editing this fully in AE instead of Premiere..

[@LisaLynnsTavern]

I am stubborn 😂

[@jessesoares8100]

i will only play darkurge because i need the achievement.

[@kevingalvan1905]

Embraced... anything for the achievement

[@LisaLynnsTavern]

Hahaha fair enough 😂Tbf I am planning on getting all the achievements at some point myself

[@adamaccountname]

I'd like if you could pick your own background skills for the dark urge, always having to take those 2 is a bit limiting when custom tav can be anything

[@jamesnevamind1474]

Hell yeah got a Sub From Me Fantastic work and very well put together 🙌🏾💯🙌🏾 gonna see what else you have to watch 😁

[@LisaLynnsTavern]

Thank you, I appreciate that a lot!!

[@CharLynnWiegel]

Mine are always redeemed durge playthroughs and ysually always with astarion romance. I think one is lae'zel but she ia a dragonborn jack of all trades run 😊

[@nailsnailsgoodinbed]

I'm sorry, every time you said "romance partner" all I could hear was Baron from the Baronies talking to Riz.

[@Macaronracaron.]

I love how the entire bg3 cast is just a party made up of edgelords and the dark urge is just the edgiest one. Then there’s tav who really is just a random person lol

[@KutluMizrak]

You are using the word wrong. The only real edgelord in the group is Shadowheart, the rest just have extraordinary circumstances of abuse / brainwashing / interference from gods etc.

[@Macaronracaron.]

@@KutluMizrak nah they all got edgy backstories. It’s cuz you know the characters but if you were in a dnd group you’d think ‘wow what an edgy character’

[@audreyrewinded]

​@@Macaronracaron.Having a backstory is not the same as being an edgelord lol

[@Macaronracaron.]

@@audreyrewinded maybe edgelord is not the word, but you can’t deny they don’t have edgy backstories.

[@henkspreeuw]

Subbed, love the video

[@LisaLynnsTavern]

Thank you!

[@DexIsTireD]

Great video!

[@LisaLynnsTavern]

Thank you!

[@dovahkensei4463]

People struggled on the Orin fight? On honor mode I would kinda understand, but on tactician I found her to be a joke even in a 1v1 resisted urge. Tbh I felt like she was the easiest Boss in act 3 on both of my Durge runs. On my custom character run she put up a decent fight, but theres only so much she could do against my full party even with the slayer form.

[@LisaLynnsTavern]

I've actually heard a lot of people say she's an easy boss, and I'm pretty sure it was just my lack of experience and maybe my build that wasn't 100% optimised haha.

[@Mister-Thirteen]

So I can answer the question about Bhaal's goals and the contradiction in their logic. Gods are generally one and the same with their domain, the aspect of reality they embody. Ao once showed Mystra the god Talos as a man who could not perceive anything around him expect as something to destroy. That despite their higher reasoning and godly perception of reality; the gods cannot help but see the world through the lens of their domain. To Talos the world and everything in it is something to destroy; this is how he conceives of everything that exists. Just as Mystra sees the world as magic to be governed or Mask sees the world as something to steal. *Bhaal sees the world as something to be killed.* Even if that means he no longer has anything left to act upon; because to Bhaal that is fundamentally what the world is. Something to be killed. He cannot conceive of the world as anything else because he is murder itself. Bhaal's goal isn't power ; power is just the necessary tool for killing what must in his mind be killed. Namely, everything.

[@LisaLynnsTavern]

Ahh that makes so much sense actually, thanks for explaining that. I like the D&D lore but I'm not as caught up with it (x

[@Mister-Thirteen]

@@LisaLynnsTavern Its old Realms lore from Ed Greenwood and the hundreds of novels they use to publish. I was sort of addicted to those books back in the day.

[@emelychoi958]

I feel like you are an Astarion fan, as almost every time you say romance he is on the screen 😁

[@LisaLynnsTavern]

😇😇

[@lukesguywalker]

Relations with the unliving!! 😟

[@goddamnpavuk1099]

28:03 that's not true i killed Orin with help of my companions and got killed by Bhaal and resurrected by Withera all the same

[@sakarakit5835]

excellent

[@LisaLynnsTavern]

Thank you!