Baldur’s Gate 3 tests its players’ decision-making skills by giving them various choices throughout the game. It is up to the players to evaluate the circumstances, look for better options, and then face the consequences. One such deal is presented to the players by Gortash in Baldur’s Gate 3, who wants to get his hands on an item called the Netherstone during the “Consider Gortash’s Bargain” quest.
You will come across this quest as part of the “Get Gortash’s Netherstone” quest and must decide wisely. So, without further ado, let us get into this quest and the consequences of each choice.
Should you side with Gortash or Orin in Baldur’s Gate 3?
This is the case of choosing the lesser evil. While there are no definitive answers to moral dilemmas in BG3, we will try our best to explain what happens if you side with one at the expense of the other.
Lord Enver Gortash is a politician who wishes to obtain all the Netherstones and wants your help. Gortash will offer you a deal during his coronation ceremony at Wyrm’s Rock Fortress to become the Archduke of Baldur’s Gate. Gortash wants you to help him get Orin’s Netherstone, and in exchange, he will help you control and defeat the Elder Brain.
If you choose to go ahead with Gortash’s deal, you will just have to worry about dealing with Orin to get the Netherstone in BG3. Instead of fighting two Netherstone holders, you will now only have to defeat one of them, as Gortash will be your ally. As a gesture of good faith, Gortash will also tell you that Orin has planted a doppelganger in your camp.
Accepting Gortash’s deal will make the game a lot easier for you. However, if you want to romance Karlach in BG3, you shouldn’t accept the deal. Due to Karlach’s ancient history with Gortash, she is unaccepting of any deal made with the devil or his accomplices.
If you seal this deal, Karlach’s approval rating will go down immensely, and you cannot romance her in Baldur’s Gate 3. Orin will use shapeshifters to attack your camp and ultimately abduct one of your party members to kill them.
However, if you go ahead with the deal, Gortash will help you while confronting the Elder Brain, and he will die in the process, so not much benefit comes from this deal. However, you will end up gaining a massive advantage during the battle with Elder Brain as both Steel Watchers and Flaming Fists factions will join your cause.
In my opinion, Gortash is still the lesser evil of the two. And if you are not interested in romancing Karlach, siding with Gortash over Orin should be a no-brainer. However, the final decision depends on you depending on how you want to proceed with your playthrough.
What happens if you don’t make a deal with Gortash
If you decide to make a deal with Orin over Gortash, she will stop attacking your camp and allow you to become an unholy assassin of Bhaal. The consequences of not making a deal with Gortash are pretty straightforward. You will simply turn against him in BG3.
You have to attend Gortash’s coronation ceremony, and you can even attack him there. Considering the number of Steel Watchers and Guards around him, it will take you forever to beat him, and you will make things unnecessarily hard for yourself.
It is advised to spare Gortash during the coronation if you do not accept his deal and attack him later after destroying the Steel Watch Foundry.
Not making a deal with Gortash will also help you gain Karlach’s approval and give you better chances of romancing her in BG3.
Baldur’s Gate 3: Get Gortash’s Netherstone bug
In case you don’t find Gortash’s Netherstone from his body after he is killed, don’t worry. This is not a bug. The Netherstone is in his glove. Don’t send Gortash’s gloves to the camp. Instead, put them inside the inventory of one of your party members, and voila.
