Baldur’s Gate 3 player finds D&D book Easter egg
Larian StudiosYou should choose to opt for Volo’s eye surgery
A player has noticed one important Baldur’s Gate 3 NPC may have been named by using a Dungeons & Dragons Fifth Edition sourcebook.
As a game based on Dungeons & Dragons Fifth Edition, Baldur’s Gate 3 draws a lot from the iconic tabletop RPG.
Beyond the game’s world and mechanics – including its confusing spell slot system – Baldur’s Gate 3 will feel incredibly familiar to players who have enjoyed different versions of the Forgotten Realms.
One player has even found an Easter egg of sorts that may hint that developer Larian Studios was looking through 5e sourcebooks when developing the game’s characters.
Auntie Ethel’s name can be found in Volo’s Guide to Monsters
As noticed by Reddit user Sapowski_Casts_Quen, one resource for helping Dungeon Masters create their own hags includes a name Baldur’s Gate 3 players may recognize.
The book Volo’s Guide to Monsters includes a table DMs can use to come up with hag names either by picking their favorites or rolling a d12. Included among the suggestions are “Auntie” and “Ethel.”
Baldur’s Gate 3 players will recognize Auntie Ethel as an important NPC in Act 1. While she seems like a normal old woman at first, players will quickly realize something darker is going on.
Auntie Ethel presents players with a difficult choice, and pursuing her questline also reveals she is a hag. In D&D lore, hags are evil and powerful dark fey creatures known for making bargains and corrupting others for fun.
This little tidbit is made more fun by the fact that the book Sapowski_Casts_Quen found this is written from the perspective of Volo, who also appears in Baldur’s Gate 3 as an NPC.
In-universe, it’s possible Volo at some point encountered Auntie Ethel and later included her name in his book. Interestingly, Volo also presents players with a similar choice to Auntie Ethel’s, though with a far more positive outcome.
Whether this is intentional on Larian’s part or a coincidence is unclear, but it is another example of how deep Baldur’s Gate 3 is and how rewarding it’s been for fans willing to really dive into it.
If you liked this, be sure to check out the rest of our Baldur’s Gate 3 coverage, which includes the latest news, guides, and much more.
