Okay, let's talk about the elephant in the room—or should I say, the tyrant in the Steel Watch Foundry. Enver Gortash. One of the big bads in Baldur's Gate 3, and honestly? The guy has fans. Like, really dedicated fans who've been begging Larian Studios since launch to let them romance the ambitious, power-hungry Archduke. I mean, come on, look at that side profile! The man has a certain... dramatic flair.
For years, official patches came and went, but our dreams of a Gortash romance were left in the dust. All we ever got was that tantalizing, vague hint if you played as The Dark Urge—that maybe, just maybe, you and Gortash had a little... history before the game began. Talk about a tease! It was enough to drive a Durge player crazy. So, where do we turn when the developers don't deliver? You guessed it: the glorious, chaotic, and endlessly creative modding community.
And finally, in 2025, the prayers of the 'Durgetash' shippers were answered. A modder on Nexus Mods named Nuage12 dropped a mod called 'Kiss Gortash'. Let me tell you, the forums exploded. This isn't some full-blown, hearts-and-flowers romance path—let's be real, that wouldn't fit Gortash's vibe at all. Instead, it's a subtle, perfectly timed moment that feels like a logical, if tragic, conclusion to that hinted-at Dark Urge backstory. It's that one moment of connection before everything goes to hell. Literally.
So, How Do You Get That Villainous Smooch?
You can't just walk up and plant one on him. Oh no. With this mod, you have to play the ultimate long game. You need to make choices that will absolutely shatter the morale of your party, especially a certain fiery-hearted companion. Here’s the step-by-step guide to villainous courtship:
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Form the Alliance: When Gortash proposes his alliance in Wyrm's Rock, you have to say yes. This means agreeing to work with the man who literally sold Karlach's heart to a devil. Yeah, about that...
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Take Down Orin: You have to follow his instructions and eliminate Orin, the other Chosen of Bhaal. No negotiating, no clever tricks.
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The Power Play: This is the crucial part. After you have both Orin's and Ketheric's Netherstones, you return to Gortash. DO NOT hand them over when he asks. You have to stand your ground and insist on keeping them. If you give them up, he'll see you as weak and attack. You need to show him you're an equal, a partner in tyranny, not a subordinate.
If you succeed, something amazing happens. Gortash will actually join your party on the final march to confront the Netherbrain. Just imagine the party banter... Actually, maybe don't.
The Moment of Truth
Once he's in your camp on the way to the final battle, the mod triggers new dialogue options. When you talk to him, you'll get the chance to... you know. Do the thing.
It's a bittersweet moment, honestly. In a way, it feels like the game finally acknowledging that 'what if' between a Bhaalspawn and the Lord of Tyranny. It's not a happy-ever-after; it's a 'this is probably the last sane moment we'll have' kind of kiss. And then... well, the game remembers it's a tragedy.
The Inevitable, Heartbreaking Aftermath
Let's not sugarcoat it. This is not a fairy tale. Shortly after your moment of connection, the Netherbrain does what it does best—it removes a problematic pawn. Gortash gets taken out in one shot. Oof.
My pro-tip? If you're going down this path, bring Karlach with you for this scene. Her reaction is... iconic. It's the perfect blend of fury, disgust, and 'I told you so' that will make you laugh and cry at the same time. Sorry, Durgetash fans. Your ship finally set sail, only to immediately hit an iceberg. But hey, you're in good company—how many BG3 romances actually get a clean, happy ending? Not many!
This mod is a love letter to a very specific, very dramatic corner of the fandom. It doesn't rewrite the story; it just adds a layer of poignant depth to a path already soaked in betrayal and ambition. It's that final, tragic beat in a villain's romance arc we never knew we needed. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to start a new Dark Urge playthrough... for research purposes, of course. 😉
| Step | Action Required | Party Morale Impact |
|---|---|---|
| 1. The Deal | Accept Gortash's Alliance | 📉📉📉 (Karlach is fuming) |
| 2. The Hit | Kill Orin as instructed | 📉 (Wyll & Jaheira side-eye) |
| 3. The Test | Refuse to give up the Netherstones | ✅ (Gortash respects you) |
| 4. The Payoff | Talk/Kiss him before the final fight | ❤️🔥 (Bittersweet victory!) |
| 5. The Reality | Watch the Netherbrain end things | 😭 (Karlach's laugh is your therapy) |