Larian Studios Forums Baldur's Gate III Baldur's Gate III - Story & Character Discussion Let Withers Cook [Massive Endgame Spoilers][THEORY DISCUSSION]

always knew about the Crown of Karsus, the Karsite Weave (given he knows everything about the seven origins when you first meet him), and Karsus' Avatar. Since Jergal was still evil during the time of Netheril, I would venture a guess that he was behind Karsus' Folly and Mystryl's Death, given he knew everything mentioned above and was one of five Evil Gods of the Netherese Pantheon, and the only one to have this knowledge. Karsus began work on Karsus' Avatar only after being warned by Arthindol, a lich of one of Abeir-Toril's progenitor races. Jergal often took on the appearance of a different progenitor race, but not the one of Arthindol. While Arthindol was one of the sources of Netheril's arcane knowledge, there is not much information about him. While Karsus was the most powerful wizard ever, and he had Arthindol's help, the spell of Karsus' Folly was not natural, and very unique even by divine standards. If I recall correctly, the only other time a God was stripped of power through magic alone was the Time of Troubles. After the Fall, Jergal gives his portfolios to Bane, Bhaal, and Myrkul almost immediately. The timing of Jergal relinquishing his divine portfolios is very convenient.

It's not Kelemvor, I can say that. If Withers isn't referring to himself in a roundabout way (as if he is the Avatar and Jergal is his greater whole), then I only see two possibilities. It could be Ao, and that he has received exceptional permission to accomplish this task that feeds into his plan, or it is a yet-to-be-revealed being who either comes from the future or knows the future. But this level of knowledge is not normal. Based on Illithid and Planescape lore, the realms are no stranger to beings coming from the future. I would not be surprised if Jergal had been in contact with his future self at some point, given his title is the "Lord of the End of Everything," a title he has always maintained, even after relinquishing his portfolios.

was not to be worshiped or to acquire souls, as the nature of the Mind Flayers negates these benefits. Given the Dead Three are quasi-divine beings after the Second Sundering, they chose interference in the mundane over the rest of their divine powers. I believe the Dead Three were building an impossibly massive army while simultaneously draining other gods of souls and worship. The purpose of building a powerful army in the Realms while also weakening all other Gods was to recover enough artifacts and capabilities to ascend to Greater Godhood while maintaining full control over the Realms. Recall that despite Ao declaring none would ascend to Godhood without his explicit approval after the Second Sundering, Gale can still use Karsus' Artifacts to ascend. If the Absolute hit a critical mass, it would be able to plane-hop to deny the Greater Gods ANY worshipers. At the same time, the Dead Three would use Karsus' Artifacts, Illithid capabilities, and other things they found to "build" a fully Ascended God out of Karsite and Far Realm materials (and potentially materials from the future, as this Illithid being would be able to assimilate all of the remnants of the Illithid Empire as well). Given all cosmologies are threatened by the same Far Realm, it stands to reason that components of this Divine Abomination would be beyond the control of Ao. I mention Ao because he's the reason the Dead Three died in the first place, and there are few beings quite as petty as the Dead Three. They would definitely want a contingency against the guy that basically killed them last time. Once this Divine Abomination of Karsite and Far Realm essence was completed and the Greater Gods were fully weakened and unable to intervene due to the post-Sundering rules, the Absolute would simply "eat" the other Gods, probably starting with Cyric. The motivations of the Dead Three are revenge and power: Revenge against fate, and the power to control it. In light of this particular motive, Jergal probably refers to Ao when he first meets the player. If BOTH Jergal and Ao are omniscient, then they probably formed an unsteady alliance to stop the Dead Three in light of their mutual interest: Fate spinning along as it should.

"If he's actually Jergal than I'd be worried silly because Jergal is *not* a good guy, and according to 'word of god' He's behind basically every major catastrophe that's befallen Toril since Karsus's fall. Seeing him involved in a storyline that heavily involves the dead three would be 'mild' cause for concern."