Let's all at least be honest, that the only reason people *want* to like SH and to *desperately* try to make her be "good"/to "redeem" her, is because she is attractive and she gets to bat those eyelashes at you. To me, Lae'zel is by far the more legitimate companion for receiving the benefit of the doubt or for "redemption" by the PC, and yet nobody cares about any of that with her. Why? Because she is not cute like SH (same argument can be made about Astarion).
Et tu, Kanistha?
Sure. I enjoy SH's model. And all the models except for Gale's now that I think about it.
But. No. Noooo!
I like redemption stories. I submit that there has been trend in video game forums where posters attempt to demonstrate that they are sophisticated connoisseurs of the fantasy genre by expressing their dislike for redemption narratives; usually in the form of by "being bored by them" I have many reasons for rejecting anti-redemption narratives - in part because I'm a prison abolitionist who believes that all humans are capable of redemption but also because I think redemption stories are really entertaining.
Which would be better scene? 1) Luke does a back flip, follows with a roundhouse maneuver and takes off Vader's head with a light sabre; the irredeemable Vader lies at Luke's feet or 2) Luke throws away his light saber and acknowledges Vader as a Jedi and as his father.
Redemption for Darth Vader? Vader? The guy chokes people to death when they annoy him. He cut off the hand of his child. Hell, he dresses in black and his face looks like a skull. He's evil!
But the redemption story was so satisfying.
And while they were both rushed, the redemption stories of Viconia and Sarevok were fun. SH is clearly a replacement for Vicky and her romance is has a similar structure. V turned away from Lloth during a crisis of conscience - she wanted to be good but had no one to support her during her crisis of faith. The good charname sees the light of goodness inside her darkness: Viconia's brutal, abusive personality is a false front, a vestige of culture she's left behind, a dark shell that will disintegrate in the light of kindness the way drow armor disintegrates in the light of the sun. It's a fun story.
SH is likely Patti Hearst. I suspect that she was one of the girls kidnapped from the blighted village and the key to unlocking her memories will be her real name - like the protagonist of planscape: torment. I mean Shadowheart? Who names her kid shadowheart? Can't be a real name.
Of course she's a chosen of Selune with the potential to become a chosen of Shar. Nothing wrong with that. I'm going to enjoy seeing that story unfold.
The answer to who do I trust least is still Gale. Wyll's conflict is clear - he wants to be a hero but he's lazy. He took the easy path getting into the flaming fist and he took the easy path to becoming the blade of frontier. He's an instagram star with a catch phrase, a fame addict and braggart that will be forced to choose between the appearance of goodness and actual goodness; he's the A-train from The Boys. He can fall either way - he may choose the easy path of power and fame offered by his mistress or Tav can convince Wyll to walk the harder path to redemption
Lae'zel is pretty straightforward because she shows no signs of wanting to be redeemed. I think her conflict will not be good or evil but instead "side with Vlakith or side with Gith" But we have good reason to trust her - she made no attempt change sides when her people attacked the party and she took our lead during the conversation with the Gith.
Gale is the least truthworthy.
I disagree with the formidable, articulate Niara with trepidation but disagree I do:
Originally Posted by Niara
It's pretty simple: Gale is a genuinely good person, who has made some bad decisions based on poor emotional choices, and backed up by enough knowledge and power to believe he had more capability than he did. That willingness of his to take personal risks for the sake of extravagant gestures and power moves may recur and may be a problem, but there's nothing deceptive about it.
Originally Posted by Niara
nothing seems disingenuous about Gale's delivery
Gale's delivery is manipulative. It's in the structure of his 'asks'. He butters you up then he ask for your consent in a manipulative manner. He tells you he trusts you but refuses to divulge more info. Uh, no, Gale that's not trust. If you do trust me then you will trust me with the whys of your request; show, don't tell. That's because he doesn't trust at all he just invokes trust to trap you - if you agree you are the good, kind and generous person he just told you are. If you say no you are saying no because you are greedy, covetous and easily seduced by the power of magical artifacts. "Gee I thought you were good. Looks like I misjudged you."
"Hey can I bum a cigarette?"Sure. "Nice to meet a decent person - I asked that guy over there and he would give up one precious ciggy"Some people are like that I guess"Nice know some people are still willing to help others out"It's no big deal "Hey do you think you could spot me a fiver? I can pay you back tomorrow when I get paid. Ask anyone, I'm good for it"
To properly use the foot in the door you are first built up to be even more generous than your actions would merit *but* you are threatened with a loss of that status if you don't agree to the follow up request. If it works you are now primed for even more manipulation because your sense of self-worth is being controlled by another. You can either be an obedient, submissive good girl or trash-tier killjoy. Have I mentioned that I hate men like Gale? I do. I really, really do.
See the video
Originally Posted by Niara
when characters lie, cheat or deceive us, we get insight checks, and here we aren't, so clearly, if our tools are working correctly, they're on the level.
Note that one of the few ways you can rid your party of the Gale virus once you catch it is to use the tadpole. If you use the tadpole and get caught and/or admit it he leaves the party. He'd rather leave than be found out.
Also note that in 3rd edition the shadow weave protected the user from weave based spells so he could have an immunity to detect thoughts. Of course we don't know what the rules for the shadow weave are in 5e - in fact I thought it had been destroyed in 4e, it seems that BG3 is serving as WotC's vehicle to reintroduce it.
The tools Larian gave us are working as intended - the only place I feel railroaded is in the difficulty in getting rid of Gale. But I've learned to skirt around his gate to avoid infection . . .
