Character Biography

Name of the Game: Baldur’s Gate 3

Chosen Character’s Name: Raphael

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Raphael is a cunning, dramatic showdevil who loves making deals and the sound of his own voice. This is reflected in his drawling tone and his tendency to speak in riddles and nursery rhymes. He spends most of the story as a vague, sort-of ally by claiming he can cure the party in an instant, but he can potentially become a foe depending on the player’s actions.

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Why he is Important to the Story

Raphael wants the Crown of Karsus from the Elder Brain so he can rule the hells (and the rest of the world), something the player is in a unique position to give him. Once he offers the party his ultimate deal for the Crown, the player can choose to either accept it or not, which impacts the ending of the story.

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Regardless of if the deal is taken, the player can break into his House as a side quest, which enrages Raphael so much that he calls upon all his power to defeat them in an epic boss battle.

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Why he is Important to the Game

Throughout the game, Raphael pops up occasionally to offer the player deals, sometimes in the form of a quest. He is also an optional side boss. Raphael’s House affects the game’s Economy/Progression system because it has some of the best gear in the game, which are extremely rewarding to find and take. It also helps build the World, since Raphael’s House is one of the only glimpses players get of the hells in the entire game.

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For the Art and Animation Team

For Raphael’s appearance, think “sinister Shakespeare”. Human form is largely unremarkable besides his expensive looking clothes. Cambion form is noticeably taller and stronger, with red skin and large curved horns. His monstrous ascended form embodies the fire of the hells with his horns overtaking his animal skull of a face and a body twisting like burnt embers.

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Running animations needed for his cambion and ascended forms for combat. This character is almost larger than life, so even basic animations like running should be slightly dramatized. Facial expressions needed are devilish smirking, annoyance, fury, satisfaction, intrigue. No genuine, “real” expressions besides annoyance and fury; since Raphael is “putting on a show” for the player, he closely guards his true emotions and carefully rehearses his expressions.

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Raphael’s game purpose is a side-quest giver and a side boss. His narrative purpose, while minimal in the main story, is to play a key role in companion quests and act as a hypothetical easy way out of the predicament the player has found themselves in.