Speaking of speculation, I initially thought your suggestion of him worshipping Shar or having a connection to Shar was out of nowhere, but then I thought about it. There are a few lines he has with Shadowheart that suggest... something. I don't think he's a sconnected as you theorize (I think it would feel weird if we had two disconnected Shar-related characters in the story this way) but I can believe there's SOMETHING going on with that.
the interesting thing is, gale cann't recognize that i am a sorcerer, gale says "you, i think you can not understand the knowledge XXXX."
this make me feel angry, and i think "this mage can not sense that i am a sorcerer?? is this mage an idiot?", and i reply "i am a sorcerer, i am more powerful than a mage."
but gale senses shadowheart the first time meeting, gale praises shadowheart's eyes as he senses the shadowheart's relationship with shar(the meanwhile i don't know, but gale can sense it?? ).
