Summary
The Forgotten Realmshas many planes of existence and settings within those planes. One of the settings that hasn’t received as much attention in 5e is the Underdark, a massive network of subterranean caves and passages that house a multitude of races, flora, and fauna. While 5e has passed over the Underdark in recent years,Baldur’s Gate 3turned the Underdark into a marvel, where exploration of it felt like venturing into an alien world. The Underdark is encountered in Act 1 ofBaldur’s Gate 3, and has several entrances.
The Underdark as a Setting
For many of the inhabitants of Faerun, the Underdark is as alien as the Astral Plane, but there are characters and factions who live out their lives there without ever seeing the surface. The Underdark has a reputation for being cutthroat and ruthless, with the Underdark itself having an alignment that ranges from Neutral to Chaotic Evil. The de factorulers of the Underdark are the drow, elves with gray skin and white hair who typically worship Lolth, the Spider-Queen. The drow have a matriarchal society and are renowned as slavers, typically enslaving deep gnomes and duegar. The drow primarily live in the Underdark city of Menzoberranzan, which is located in a massive cavern.
Races who originate from the Underdark include:
Though the Underdark appears grim with monstrous creatures,Baldur’s Gate 3shows that there are also a lot of positives about the setting. As the Underdark is totally underground, the caverns are lit thanks to bioluminescent fungi. Other incredible plants, such asthe beautiful Sussur tree, are unique to the Underdarkand provide both valuable resources and wonderful experiences. The hunt for the Noblestalk, hidden among the bibberbang mushrooms, showcases the danger of the Underdark through its environment, which hides a resource treasured by those who live on the surface.
Baldur’s Gate 3’s Depiction of the Underdark
While the Underdark’s beauty is distinct,Baldur’s Gate 3makes it clear that danger lurks around every corner. The dangers of the Underdark are both natural and artificial, thanks to theabandoned Arcane Tower, the defenses in the abandoned Selunite outpost, the duergar, possible enemy myconids, poisonous fungi, hook horrors, a bulette, a Spectator, random drow, and minotaurs. The myconid colony is a civilization that feels distinct from anything else seen inBaldur’s Gate 3, but despite this, the group still provides refuge to runaway slaves at great cost to the colony.
How BG3 Successfully Depicts Scale
The Underdark is a massive setting and that scale is hard to convey in a video game, even if the area itself is big. Still,Baldur’s Gate 3’s Underdark traverses the entirety of the Shadow-Cursed Lands, as well as the area beneath Act 1. This is evident by theUnderdark entrances, which are scattered across Act 1’s area. Grymforge, which lies within the Underdark, used to be a Sharran temple, and is a part of the Gauntlet of Shar encountered in Act 2.
All the major races that originate in the Underdark are depicted in the Underdark inBaldur’s Gate 3, including drow, duergar, and deep gnomes. WhileBaldur’s Gate 3doesn’t depict Menzoberranzan, the drow NPCs who are present give an overview of their society and culture. With the scale of the Underdark, its beauty, and its resources, there may not be a vital reason to visit, butBaldur’s Gate 3makes the setting a worthwhile diversion for every playthrough.
Baldur’s Gate 3
WHERE TO PLAY
Abducted, infected, lost. You are turning into a monster, but as the corruption inside you grows, so does your power. Forge a tale of fellowship and betrayal, sacrifice and survival, and the lure of absolute power. Caught in a conflict between devils, deities, and sinister otherworldly forces, you and your party will determine the fate of the Forgotten Realms.THE ULTIMATE D&D EXPERIENCEChoose from a wide selection of D&D races and classes, or play as an origin character with a hand-crafted background. Adventure, loot, battle, and romance as you journey through the Forgotten Realms and beyond. Play alone or as a party of up to four in multiplayer – and select your companions carefully.A CINEMATIC STORYTELLING EPICForged with the new Divinity 4.0 engine, Baldur’s Gate 3 gives you unprecedented freedom to explore, experiment, and interact with a world that reacts to your choices. A grand, cinematic narrative brings you closer to your characters than ever before, as you venture through our biggest world yet. Romance, deceive, aid, obstruct, and grow alongside your friends thanks to Larian’s next-generation RPG engine.
