If you have been playing through the first act of Baldur’s Gate, you may already have grown a liking to the Wizard of Waterdeep, Gale.
Gale has a problem and if you don’t know about it yet, let’s just say that the orb in his chest (Netherese Orb) can explode when it goes hungry for magic and is not sated.
Through the course of the game, you may encounter a certain someone who can get Gale of his borrowed time but this sort of puts him in a tight situation due to a certain task.
Feeding Gales Magic Hunger
Due to Gales Netherese Orb going hungry from time to time, it becomes necessary for you to provide him with magic items to sate the hunger.
This requires that the item is sacrificed as Gale will absorb its weave, rendering the magic item useless. (Consumes the item)
There will be a few times where Gale appears weakened and will ask for a magic item and he may even end up leaving if you deprive him of aid. (He goes off to try and solve this on his own)
Providing magic items is only a temporary way to cure Gale and later on, the Netherese Orb may be stabilized to give him more time and less of a struggle with the party’s journey.
Stabilizing The Netherese Orb
After feeding Gale a few magic items and progressing later after progressing through the Mountain Pass, you stumble upon an old friend of his.
A wizard named Elminster Aumar will be around the Rosymorn Monastery Trail and if you approach this man, a cutscene will begin.
The man talks of Mystra offering Gale redemption after you invite him to your camp, which results in the Netherese Orb being stabilized.
This however comes at a price as Gale has been instructed to head to the Absolute and sacrifice himself by detonating the Netherese Orb to eliminate the threat.
While this is what Gale intends to do as he wishes to make amends with Mystra, you may still settle with finding another way to save your companion.
Elminster Aumar Location
Elminster Aumar can be found to the west of the Trielta Crags and will be spotted once you cross a bridge where you will be able to see him standing on his own.
Judging by Elminster’s surroundings and his getup, it is given that he is a powerful wizard who can hold off on his own against enemies that would be in the area.
Gales New Destiny
Gale will later conclude that his fate is decided, and he must go through with what Mystra has requested but this ends badly for the party as they can die along with Gale.
It is up to the party to convince him to find another way, which does not involve him committing suicide with an unexpected outcome.
There will always be a way and if the party is perseverant, they will find another way to put a stop to their enemies and save Gale in the process.
Verdict
The appearance of Elminster Aumar is a brief joy to some due to the two friends being reunited but the circumstances are not that good.
Only by convincing Gale later to not go through with what Mystra asks, will there be a way for everyone to walk out alive.
After the Netherese Orb has been neutralized, the party and Gale will have less of a struggle since the hunger won’t need to be sated and another solution may be found.