I just wanna pipe in to say that Niara, KillerRabbit, I finding your conversation incredibly interesting. Not just from an analysis perspective, since even when I don't agree with points, you are both providing brilliant analysis, but from the perspective of people who really know the setting. I know nothing about the forgotten realms or Mystra so all this other knowledge is just fascinating to me. The game thus far hasn't done a great job making me feel like the world really has thr deep, rich history thar you guys have really presented, it's made things far more interesting. So thanks for that. Before reading this stuff I hadn't given a moment's thought to the idea that Mystra just left Gale. She's a god and gods aren't the most charitable to their followers. Nor did I even understand the implications that he was her "chosen" and that that was even a thing. I figured it was just a more consensual version of what Zeus would get up to all the time, with some blessings thrown in. I'm shocked how much depth there is and a little dismayed because I'm not confident Larian has given it the same thought you both have and that they aren't just going with the surface meanings I took initially.
And KR I do want to speak up and throw iny two cents about your bomb opinions. I'm with Niara on that point, I'd go to New York too since to me it seems obvious that I'd find an expert who would be able to help me there. Granted I'm not an expert on bombs alike gale is on magic, so Gale probably has a better idea of just how likely or not actually finding an expert who can help him is. You say it's about Gale facing facts, but his condition isn't cut and dried. There's still a decent chance of finding a solution that let's everyone live.
Also it's worth pointing out, our character is doing the exact same thing, every companion is. We have tadpoles in our brain that will turn us into a deadly, mind-controling abomination and we're trying to find a cure rather than just killing ourselves on the spot. Gale at least knows a definite way he can keep from exploding. Initially we all believe that we have a hard limit of 7 days. Being out in the wilds doesn't even help in our case since if we transform the mindflayers we become are perfectly capable of finding their way to the underdark and going about their wicked work.
Yeah I think this whole conversation is implying wayyyyyyy more depth to the characters than Larian actually intends to implement. Odds are, there's an evil Gale and a good Gale depending on your choices, which will recontextualize his behavior, but he will not betray or operate against the party in any meaningful way. If you take the evil route, Gale's more arrogant and selfish nature becomes more pronounced, whereas if you choose the good route, Gale's care for others and desire to be better than he was becomes more pronounced.
Not to knock the conversation; by all means, have it. But anyone who played DOS2 knows where this is going.
Remember the human (This is a forum for a video game):
