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Lovecraftian horror is a core theme of Baldur's Gate 3, and it's no surprise that one of the first choices you'll be asking yourself is, should I really help a talking brain? You might want to sit this bit side content out if you're squeamish.
In the prologue of BG3, you'll awake on the Nautiloid, a living ship complete with the Lovecraftian-inspired Mind Flayer menace. These creatures have octopi features, tentacles, and protruding heads. Unfortunately for you and Lae'zel, a Mind-Flayer has infected you with a disgusting tadpole parasite, giving you abnormal and psychic powers.
Baldur's Gate 3 is currently in Early Access. Information within this guide is subject to change.
Where To Find The Talking Brain
After the chaos ensues across the unworldly ship and you and Lae'zel are free, you'll walk into the following room, and you will hear a voice call to you from the floor above.
You can reach the second floor by taking the fleshy elevator up. Here you will discover Myrnath, another helpless captive who has met a grizzly end.
The Mind-Flayer tadpole in your head will grant you the ability to telepathically talk to the Intellect Devourer stuck in Myrnarth's head. It will call itself "Us" Thinking that you are an ally, the Intellect Devourer will ask for help to remove it from the body.
You have a few options here:
- You can destroy the brain on the spot.
- Free the brain from the body.
- Free the brain from the body and weaken it.
Should You Help The Talking Brain
None are for the faint of heart, but there really is no reason not to free the brain unless you are role-playing.
Once free, the brain will transform into an Intellect Devourer, a grotesque creature with thin tentacle appendages protruding from its fleshy bulbous brain and sprout legs and razor-sharp claws.
The Intellect Devourer will explain that you need to reach the helm of the ship to escape, giving you your first objective.
However, if you are to ignore the brain or destroy it, Lae'zel will give you the same objective.
The Intellect Devourer will join you as a temporary companion. It has a decent claw attack that proves itself helpful in a fight. However, once the Nautiloid crashes, you will lose the Intellect Devourer as a companion.
Larian Studios will be adding difficulty settings on the launch of Baldur's Gate 3, so if you're playing a challenging difficulty level employing the Intellect Devourer as a companion will help you fight through the Nautiloid.
Since the talking brain can be used to aid you, you should help the talking brain unless you don't want to for roleplay purposes.
Either way, you can continue the story by receiving the quest from someone else if you don't help the brain and receive the quest there.
Keep Your Companions Close And The Mind-Flayers Closer
You can find other Intellect Devourers on the Nautiloid, but none will attack you unless you attack them, in which they will call you a threat and claw you in retaliation.
The Intellect Devourer has weak armor and low health points, but its claws are nothing to scoff at.
You have low hit points at level one and can be downed in as little as two attacks, so second guess attacking these little blighters.
You're probably wondering why the Mind-Flayers do not attack you and help you escape the Nautiloid. In an attempt to escape the Githyanki attack, the Mind-Flayer teleports the Nautiloid to Avernus (Hell).
This explains why we see Zariel, the arch-devil of Avernus, fighting a Mind-Flayer in the final part of the prologue.
You can use the Intellect Devourer to take out the imps in the area while you dash to the transponder.