It’s probably no surprise to you, butBaldur’s Gate 3is a stellar example of well-planned, heartfelt, and thorough game design in an industry where some argue that player expectations are too high while others say that large studios have lowered their own standards.
Regardless of your position, it’s hard to dispute BG3’s success; clearly they’re doing something right, which is a refreshing sight for many. One of those reasons is likely the in-depth, multifaceted nature of dialogue within the game. Speaking of which, why not check out the intriguing, oftentimes wild or bizarre writingLarian Studiosthrew behind theSentient Amulet?
To avoid confusion, Sentient Amulet dialogue includes any lines said by the Cursed Monk, the spirit trapped within the amulet.
6Laughing About His Granddaughter’s Remains
Yeah… That’s Not The Best Look
It’s technically not his fault for laughing, given the curse and all, but peering into a coffin, seeing your granddaughter’s remains, and saying, “Oh ho, honoured Shirra. Her spirit hath fled - and her body but merely a husk. Heh heh hee-hee-HEE!” is pretty bizarre, if not downright disrespectful.
To be fair, though, that’s the kind of comment that makes you exclaim in shock or laugh along with the Cursed Monk simply because it’s such an unexpected “out-of-pocket” thing to say. Plus, the Cursed Monk says this linewhile possessing his granddaughter’s corpse, so that adds to the madness of the whole situation.
5Asking You To Bear His Curse
So This Is How You’re Going To Repay Me?
After going well out of your way to help the Cursed Monk get to the remains of his granddaughter, he eventually asks, “Who, now, shall bear the madness Shar has wrought on me, so I might no longer suffer?”
The sheer gall of this Monk, whose very own madness you had to resist when initially picking up the Sentient Amulet, is trying to reward you with that very same madness so that he can rest in peace. It’s time to throw hands and teach this Monk a thing or two about consent and decency.
4Most Situations Have A Silver Lining
Is This Him, Or The Curse Talking?
Touching on the totally lighthearted nature of eternal torture, one of the first lines the Cursed Monk gives you after picking up the Sentient Amulet is, “Sharrans broke my body. But my spirit, they could not. Well - not completely, Hee HEE!”
Given the severity of this madness, inflicted by enemies of Lathander, it’s a particularly cruel joke to be forced to laugh about your suffering, and it might make you feel a bit bad for the Monk. In contrast, though, it is kind of funny to see such a forced ‘silver lining’ mentality.
3An Ironically True Acknowledgment
This Monk’s Company Isn’t The Worst Sometimes
If you happen to have the Sentient Amulet on you as you explore and solve puzzles in Rosymorn Monasteryduring the Blood of Lathander quest, you’ll eventually hear it say, “The Blood of Lathander, as I barely live and hardly breathe. HahaHAhaha.”
There’s something special when a joke and the truth can share space together, and while the Cursed Monk isn’t always fun to have around or deal with, it’s remarks like these that let him grow on you a little; maybe that curse isn’t entirely composed of downsides after all.
2Sharran Blood Is Different, Supposedly
He Seems Just As Enamored About Blood As Astarion
While it’s true that Shar and Lathander, the god the Cursed Monk swore allegiance to, aren’t exactly fond of one another, to put that lightly, it seems a bit much to stumble upon a bloodbath and exclaim, “Hehehehe - a horrific display. There is no red deeper than a Sharran’s blood.”
While this line is certainly open to interpretation, it seems like the Cursed Monk is delighting in the sight of Sharran blood, despite previously acknowledging the carnage and likely knowing full well that dead Sharrans don’t help him directly; the entire situation is a bit unhinged, but being trapped in an amulet for that long will do that, apparently.
1The Cursed Monk Can’t Resist A Circus
The Curse Be Damned; Who Doesn’t Love Good Entertainment?
If you manage to get yourself and your party into the fancy multi-planar circus, after getting a thorough sniffing from Benji, of course, and you’re allowed to pass through the main gate, the Sentient Amulet will perk up and exclaim, “Ho ho, a circus! How I love the raucous revelry, the goofs and the guffaws.”
Not only is this comment random, funny, and unexpected, sure to catch most of you off guard the first time you hear it, but it makes you wonder what the Cursed Monk was up to before he got trapped in an amulet. Does Lathander even approve of such revelry?
