Puck Darlington

. ❝ Call me Puck. Former leader of the cult of Bhaal, current amnesiac adventurer, & Daddy's favorite. Care to help ruin Father Dearest's plans . . . ? ❞

Puck Darlington is an Origin Character and a recruitable Companion. He is the Dark Urge by default but can be recruited with an altered storyline if the player chooses to play that Origin with a different character. If the player chooses Iago, he has a unique Companion Quest exclusive to that character. He can be found and recruited at the Goblin Camp.

He appears to be a Wood Half-Elf and Barbarian with The Haunted One background. If the player chooses to play the Dark Urge with a different character, Puck’s class and background will change to Ranger and Acolyte.

Puck is a man of extremes and contradictions. He is both unassuming and unsettling company to keep. Timid and slightly air-headed at first glance, he has the physical strength of a Cloud Giant and a sharp, tactical mind built for combat. He could level a city with his bare hands yet prefers to carry others on his back when their feet begin to drag. Fond of the macabre, he is impulsive and violent yet patient and sensitive all at the same time. He is always hungry. He is endlessly forgiving, always giving grace to even the least deserving of souls.

He has a habit of saying all the right things then doing all the wrong ones. He tries so desperately to be good yet always seems to come up short. He wears his heart on his sleeve and abhors deception. A bad liar himself, he will never attempt to deceive friend nor foe. When he says something, he means it. However, he is fickle and impressionable. He may not mean what he said for very long.

Above all, Puck Darlington is gentle, and he is kind.

Background

The most recent memory Puck possesses is that of waking on the Nautiloid with a Mind Flayer Parasite in his head. He knows nothing of his past, save for the fact that he finds himself inexplicably drawn to violence. Simultaneously repulsed and delighted by bloodshed, he often fantasizes about committing cruel acts⸻only to blink and realize his body has committed them of its own accord.

During the course of the game, he can either learn to resist these vile impulses or embrace them as he slowly unveils the terrible truth about his past.

Recruitment

If not chosen as the player character, companion Puck can be found at the Goblin Camp. If the player character picks a fight with the guards at the front, Puck will join the battle, helping the player character take down the goblins. Afterwards, Puck will compliment the player on their combat skills before the tadpole connects his mind with theirs. A memory sequence will play of Puck straining not to crush someone's hand as he resists the urge to attack them.

If the player character gets inside the camp through diplomatic means, Puck will meet and compliment them on their persuasion skills. Then the tadpole will link his mind with theirs, and the memory will play.

If the player character sneaks into the camp, Puck will still approach them once inside, but he will tease them about their attempt at stealth rather than compliment them. Then the memory sequence will play.

After the tadpole connection, Puck will apologize for the unsettling memory, mentioning his amnesia and disturbing impulses.

He will then lean in conspiratorially and explain that he's there to help the Tiefling Refugees currently staying in the Emerald Grove. If the player character intends to do the same, they can recruit him immediately by saying so.

If the player character only intends to find a cure for the tadpole, they can offer Puck to join them and do the same. However, Puck will only agree on the condition of helping the tieflings, too. For those who Raid the Grove, worry not; you can tell him you'll help the grove then easily persuade him that raiding it would be "fun" later.

Personal Quest

Puck's quest is called Saddest Worm Ever!!! It follows his journey discovering his past and the origin of his Dark Urges. Within his quest, there are three subquests: Maybe Later Dance, Two Halves of a Worm, and Trust Ceremony.

Maybe Later Dance

After killing Alfira in his sleep, Puck will request that the player character kill him if he ever becomes too far gone. The player can either agree, earning approval from Puck, or disagree in favor of finding another way, earning disapproval instead. The player will have multiple chances to either make good on their promise or change their mind.

Two Halves of a Worm

The player character can learn more about Puck's past from Iago after they join the party. However, unless the player character gets close enough to them, Iago's answers will mostly be lies. If the player character learns the truth from Iago, they must decide whether or not they want to share it with Puck.

Trust Ceremony

This subquest revolves around whether or not Puck chooses to embrace the Urge. The player can influence his decisions throughout the game. At first, these influences may require persuasion checks, but over time the player can convince him without trying.

Special Features

Pseudo-Immortality

Puck has unusually rapid regenerative abilities. His injuries always fully heal within a day, and his skin never* scars. If his limbs are detached, they will grow back on their own.
If Puck is injured or downed in combat, he will regain 1d4 of HP at the start of every new round. In the unlikely event that he is killed during combat, he will remain dead for one round before being revived on his own at maximum health.
If the player chooses Puck for Volo's attempt to remove the tadpole, he will not receive Volo's Ersatz Eye because his own eye will grow back after it is removed.

*With the exception of the scar on his lower back where his tail used to be before it re-grows in Act II.

Dark Frenzy

Puck must make a Wisdom saving throw when first becoming Enraged during combat. If failed, he will go into a Dark Frenzy, attacking enemies and party members alike. At the start of each turn, he will make another Wisdom saving throw until the frenzy is over.

Approval

- Not harming anyone during scenes that have Dark Urge-exclusive content (Ex: Pulling Gale out of the rock) +5

- Harming someone during scenes that have Dark Urge-exclusive content (Ex: Letting Arka shoot Sazza) +3

- Helping those in need. +3

- Morbid or sexual jokes. Generally being very silly or perhaps a bit grotesque. +2

- Intimidation dialogue options. +1

- Telling the truth. +1

- Immediate violence. +1

- Any positive interactions with Scratch, the Owlbear Cub, or any canines. +1

- Any displays of loyalty towards any companion. +1

Disapproval

- Choosing neutrality. -5

- Cruelty in the name of power or self-interest or that does not end in death. -3

- Betraying companions or allies. -3

- Treating others as lesser than yourself. -3

- Displaying cowardice. -1

- Deception dialogue options. -1

- Certain acts of premeditated violence. -1

- Taking certain things seriously when you could have been silly with it. -1

[Click here for a more detailed list of Puck's approval.]

Appearance

Puck is a Wood Half-Elf with the pale complexion of a vampire. Or, at least, that is what he claims to be. At first glance, there isn’t much about him to dispute such a fact. With his slightly pointed ears and mostly human appearance, it’s almost hard to believe he’d be anything else. Then you catch sight of the tail, and everything gets thrown out of the window.

Lovingly referred to as “Beanpole” by his twin, he is six foot nine with a lean, muscular frame and bone white skin. His shaggy hair is kept short and slicked back, a few loose strands curling against his forehead at times. It is black as crow feathers with dark red highlights. There are two cowlicks that stick up like dog ears at the top of his head, however they are often covered up by his gay cowboy hat. His eyes are akin to the sun, bright yellow and difficult to look at directly. Those who attempt eye contact with him often receive migraines as a result, sometimes even passing out⸻or worse. Though his face is clean-shaven, the rest of him is anything but.

He grew a tail after seemingly falling ill at the age of twelve. His twin Iago attempted to heal him with a spell, but the magic backfired and transformed his body in a variety of ways instead. In addition to the tail, he grew in size, reaching his full height far too young. He also grew sharp, black claws and two sets of vampiric fangs instead of canine teeth.

The tail is the same color as his hair. It is similar in length to a tiefling’s tail, but it is slightly thicker and much fluffier in texture. Often giving his emotions away, it behaves both like a dog’s tail and a cat’s. However, just before the events of Baldur’s Gate 3, Puck’s tail is severed from his body, leaving a harsh scar on his lower back. It is the first scar he’s ever had, and the only until Act III when he receives a permanent, thin line over his right eye after shattering a mirror with his own head.

Upon rejecting Bhaal, Puck is killed by his divine father but revived by Withers. During this resurrection, his hair turns stark white.

Gender

Puck is bigender, but his relationship to his gender is rather complicated. As a child, he appeared androgynous and was referred to as both a boy and a girl. One day, he rejected his femininity and insisted that he was only a boy. From then on, he was exclusively referred to and identified as male.

However, during the events of Act III, he begins to question his gender identity and explores the concept of womanhood in secret. Post-Baldur's Gate III, Puck fully and openly embraces both her masculinity and femininity.

Due to his own understanding of his gender at the time, any threads or mentions of Puck before the end of the game will always refer to him as a man. Unless the thread is about exploring gender, Puck will be confused and potentially defensive if referred to as a woman.

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