Should Gale consume the Shadow Weave?

[BlueButterfly]

I'm playing Gale, and I want to know if this is something he would do or if it's only something he would do if he were morally bad. Do you have any thoughts or reasoning?

[Duilf]

Let me do a few comparisons between the Weave to the Shadow Weave then you can make a decision.

If I where to define the Weave in 1 word it would be gravity not a perfect solution, but it hits close to home. If I where to define the Shadow Weave in 1 word it would be entropy no other single word is closer to a description....maybe madness, but that is only half an explanation.

The Weave is managed by Mystra the Neutral Good Goddess of Magic with titles like The Lady of Mysteries. The Shadow Weave is managed by Shar the Neutral Evil Goddess of Loss with titles like Singer of Eternal Night.

Shadow Weave spells of the Enchantment, Illusion, and Necromancy schools are stronger then their Weave counterparts while Shadow Weave spells of the Envocation, and Transmutation spells are weaker.

If you still don't get it let me give a straight answer someone would have to be in Shar's good graces, have royally pissed of Mystra, be insane, or be ignorant to the difference to think using the Shadow Weave in any form is a good idea.

[Mike Garrison]

Do you want a gameplay answer or a roleplay answer?

Gameplay answer is 100% yes. It's a free extra 3rd-level spell slot. That's an extra fireball every long rest. For the entire rest of the game. Take it.

Roleplay answer, well, Tara will let you know how stupid she thinks it is that you (Gale) haven't already learned your lesson about taking in bits of corrupted magic just to increase your personal magical power.

I personally think it is something Gale would do. But it depends on whether you think Gale truly regrets his hubris with the Karsite Weave thing or whether he only regrets the consequences of it.

[God Queen 158]

Gale is easily pressured by his peers and trying to be a "good" man. I believe in a scene where avatar Gale can consume shadow weave, that same scene with him as a companion involves him bragging about how he's the best equipped to dispel the magic. The Balthazar room in Moonrise.

It can make sense to roleplay him as refusing to consume it and show he virtuous and rule following he is. He could also refuse it out of shame over how similar it is to how he got the orb.

But also, there's another side of Gale where he simply can't keep his hands off. Too eager. Doesn't know how to wait. Have fun. But his friends and Mistress will not be pleased. So in terms of his plot, it would be the morally bad action because Gale doesn't learn his lesson.

[Mike Garrison]

Originally posted by God Queen 158:

Gale is easily pressured by his peers and trying to be a "good" man. I believe in a scene where avatar Gale can consume shadow weave, that same scene with him as a companion involves him bragging about how he's the best equipped to dispel the magic. The Balthazar room in Moonrise.

No, you are slightly confused.

Origin Gale has a special opportunity after killing any one of the Thorms (bartender, toll collecter, surgeon) to absorb some of the Shadow Weave. Non-origin Gale has no interaction there at all.

The pixie thing in Balthazar's secret room is exactly the same dialogue and choices for origin and non-origin Gale. Only difference is that if Gale has not absorbed the Shadow Weave and then he wipes away the pixie-abuse sigil, he gets an "until long rest" blessing from Mystra. If he has absorbed the Shadow Weave, origin Gale gets no blessing even if he wipes it away.

[God Queen 158]

I read the game file for this scene while trying to figure out if Mystra's Blessing was permanent or just till long rest. Could have sworn there were some flags for Origin Gale to absorb the shadow weave since it's mentioned. They might not be active if you didn't get special dialogue as origin Gale.