Most Baldur's Gate 3 players will agree that Scratch is the best camp follower and familiar in the game, which makes this user's discovery especially tragic. Encountered relatively early in the game, Scratch is not only an adorable character to have hanging around camp but he can be a valued asset with the Scratch's Ball item. Using it summons the hound to the user's side where he can sniff out hidden items and objects, provide the "Help" action, or even remove several status effects including Prone, Entangled, Burning, Downed, and Ensnared to name a few.
Posting to Reddit, user johnnyJAG shared an image illustrating that their Scratch had befallen an unfortunate fate: The dog somehow gained the status condition Shadow-Cursed Undead.
While he may not appear as such, this Scratch is mechanically a zombie; While Shadow-Cursed grants the familiar an additional 2d4+2 damage per attack, it also means his HP and Strength are reduced. What's even sadder is the fact that he's Hostile, meaning johnnyJAG would likely need to kill him to remove the condition, eliciting some very bleak responses from the rest of the party.
While the exact cause of Scratch's condition is unknown,...
