I have questions about Lae’zel’s underwear

One of the most charming details about Baldur’s Gate 3 is that each companion’s specific clothing is given its own unique description. And yes, that extends to their undergarments.

For the most part, these underwear descriptions are very funny and character-accurate. On Astarion’s beautiful pants is the description: “Embroidered in the fabric: ‘If you are reading this, you have managed to go to bed or behead me. Anyway, you were lucky.’” Gale asks that he may have cast a spell on them (as a Gale romantic, I hope that’s true). Shadowheart’s dark, sassy song goes, “If underwear could brood…” And for the most part, these descriptions pretty much match the look of the underwear.

Except Lae’zel.

Lae’zel is a Githyanki fighter. Pragmatic, ruthless, she has trained since childhood to become mean on the battlefield. As such, her underwear description reads, “Built for function rather than fun.” Fitting! Except…

This is what it is about. Lae’zel’s underwear is impractical. Not at all. In fact, it looks like a leather BDSM number, complete with harnesses and buckles. Her whole ass hangs out, her buttocks framed by straps. It’s the furthest from function over fun I’ve ever seen.

Image: Larian Studios via Polygon

Lae’zel is incredibly candid about her sexual desires (seriously, I had to softly reject her after she told me she wanted my body carnal), so I wouldn’t be surprised if she’s in on the whole leather scene. (Maybe that’s where the feature comes into play.)

Still, that’s not really something you learn about her unless you get enough approval and the resulting dialogue going for her to come to you. When it comes to the role of a hardened fighter battling monsters in Faerun, I can’t think of an undergarment less fitting. Imagine the sanding! And making sure all those straps stay in place while she charges at goblins? Does the armor hold it in place? Is it magically enchanted not to drive up?

I’m not against sexy underwear. I think Shadowheart’s coy, sassy number makes sense. I was very happy when I found a sultry corset top for my avatar, because I think it suits her character very well. And I definitely think Lae’zel deserves to live her best life in strappy leather armor. But let’s be honest about what we call that ensemble: it’s not function over fun! It’s just fun, with little function!

But who knows? Perhaps githyanki society values ​​uncomfortable undergarments because it proves one’s allegiance to Supreme Queen Vlaakith or something. Don’t know. Vlaakith doesn’t seem like the type to value crotch space or breathability. Perhaps the scarcer the underwear, the higher the commitment. Perhaps each of the leather bands symbolizes a conquest. Perhaps somewhere in the githyanki nursery there is a book detailing the githyanki undergarment rituals.

The good news is that you can put any party character in anyone’s disposable underwear. Which means you can put beefcake Halsin in Lae’zel’s strappy ensemble. For science, of course.

Image: Larian Studios via Polygon