A player of Baldur's Gate 3 had a startling realization about Withers, a prominent character in the game. While initially appreciated for his unique traits, Withers began to reveal a less likable side when he teased Gale about his lack of a romantic partner.
As a skeletal, undead character, Withers offers a unique dynamic to the Baldur's Gate 3 gameplay. Players have the opportunity to interact with him either during Act 1 or Act 2. Regardless of the timing, Withers' character lends a rich depth to the narrative.
One of Withers' notable abilities in-game is his capacity to revive fallen party members. This makes him an essential addition to any party. As players delve deeper into the game, they continue to learn more about this mysterious and seemingly sinister character.
One such trait that piques players' interest is Withers' propensity to strongly critique any character who does not return the affections of the player. This characteristic adds an interpersonal dimension to the game and impacts the player's narrative.
Unmasking the True Withers
It was during Act 2 that Character_Abroad, an invested player, understood that Withers was not the benign individual he initially appeared to be. Withers' external charm masked what seemed to be genuine disdain towards one of the player-character's companions, Gale.
As the player navigated an interaction between Gale and Withers, it became apparent that with Withers, rejection came at a high emotional cost. Reports suggest that Withers mocked Gale when the latter approached him to reset his spells, throwing Gale's lack of a love interest in his face.
Character_Abroad described Withers as rubbing the rejection in Gale's face in a manner that was both disrespectful and inappropriate. Other witness accounts validated this player's experience, suggesting this behavior was consistent across board whenever a character had a romantic rebuff.
This general trend led to the conclusion that Withers was more interested in the player-character's love life than it initially appeared.
The Aftermath
The repeated insensitivity and overt mocking from Withers led to a wave of backlash from players. Not only is Withers unwarranted interjection into the love lives of characters alarming, but his abrasive behavior towards Gale also drew attention.
The mockery, deemed cruel and unusual by several accounts, was particularly damaging to Gale, as he was visiting Withers to reset his spells. Instead of a cordial exchange as may be expected, Gale was met with teasing and disrespectful comments about his personal struggles.
Another alarming instance was during an interaction with the character Jaheira, where Withers' unkind comments were found especially out of place given the revealed tragic backstory of her husband.
Despite this, some players found humor in the situation. They began to associate Withers' cruel jokes with the concept of being 'maidenless' and drew parallels with other gaming platforms they participate in.
Ultimately, with these interactions, players got a fuller understanding of Withers and his complicated character. It was a harsh reminder that Baldur's Gate 3 characters, much like people, have various traits, many of which only appear upon closer scrutiny.