Legend has it that every corner of the city in the Baldur’s Gate 3 video game reeks of a rather unpleasant stench-- even when compared to the scents of a typical medieval city. The source of this urban olfactory offence? None other than the Steel Watch.
The Steel Watch refers to the group of enormous Constructs that serve as the city's law enforcement. They loom ominously over the citizens, monitoring and ensuring their obedience. A ruthless force, they keep Baldur’s Gate in a firm grip.
However, the city's foul stench does not stem from a malign intent of the watch, nor does it attribute to a lack of cleaning. The reason behind it is much more sinister: the terrifying reality conceals within these Constructs themselves.
During Act 3 of the game, players who closely explore the Steel Watch Foundry may stumble upon this highly guarded secret. The Constructs in the Steel Watch are horrifyingly composed of zombies, with their brains removed and subsequently infected with mind flayer tadpoles.
This bleak revelation enables players to understand why the city of Baldur’s Gate might smell revolting. The idea of rotting corpses encased within each construct that patrols the city makes one question the possibility of an unbearable stench emanating from them.
However, the smell attributable to the Steel Watch is only a fraction of the olfactory quandary situated in the city. Several other conditions bedeck the city, which would conceivably render it inhospitable for those with a keen sense of smell.
Firstly, there are numerous sites across the city, notoriously known as ‘murder houses’, allegedly reeking of death. As the name suggests, these murder houses likely witnessed a considerable number of untimely deaths, indicating an abundance of decaying remains.
Moreover, the city guards' indifference towards these murder houses further exacerbates the state of these premises. They do not seem to be bothered enough to even knock at the doors of such houses, allowing the stench to perpetually linger around the neighboring areas.
Apart from murder houses, one can also find various ‘murder basements’ in the city, making it locally infamous for its intense odor. The remains of victims from an untraceable number of murders might lie forgotten in these basements, contributing to the widespread stench.
Thus, it's clear that Baldur’s Gate is far from a haven and leans towards the macabre end of the spectrum. By the third act of Baldur’s Gate 3, it's evident that the city struggles to manage its morbid issue revolving around murders and corpses.
While dealing with an assortment of decaying bodies poses one problem, the havoc caused by unruly gaming characters such as the evil Dark Urge, leads to even more chaos. The resulting aftermath significantly contributes to the city's burgeoning aroma.
Baldur’s Gate 3, like many other video games, draws richly from medieval history and fantasy. As typically portrayed in such settings, hygiene isn't prioritized in medieval cities - and Baldur's Gate is no exception.
However, the city stands out in terms of its peculiar situation. Sure, it might share the characteristic stench of a medieval city, but it also has its assortment of undead zombies, embodied Steel Watches and corpse-filled basements that notably amplify the odor.
Thus, the aroma of Baldur's Gate might seem uniquely repulsive by medieval standards. It isn't just a city aroma mixed with the scent of livestock and fresh-baked bread. Instead, it is a city that is a host to a concoction of numerous distinct and harrowing stenches.
Nonetheless, these detailed olfactory descriptions contribute to building an immersive experience for players. The unsettling revelations about gruesome crimes and shocking secrets balance the thrill of the gameplay perfectly, leaving players intrigued and eager for more.
Every gameplay detail is intricately planned, and the explanation for the city's offensive smell is a testimony to that level of detail. Even though it is a fictional reality, the world-building in Baldur’s Gate 3 is so rich that players can almost smell the repugnant city from their screens.
Overall, while the stench may seem unbearable at first whiff, it is precisely this gruesome experience that pulls game lovers further into the sprawling, fascinating and uniquely odorous world of Baldur’s Gate 3.