Baldur's Gate 3 is set in the Forgotten Realms (Faerûn), a universe with decades of D&D history. Understanding the cosmic forces at play will completely change how you view the main villains.
1. The Illithid Empire (Mind Flayers)
Thousands of years ago, the Mind Flayers ruled an interdimensional empire. They enslaved countless races, feeding on their brains and reproducing via Ceremorphosis (inserting a tadpole into a humanoid's eye, which consumes the brain and mutates the host into a new Mind Flayer).
Mind Flayers have no individual souls. They are part of a hive mind controlled by an Elder Brain. Their empire eventually collapsed due to a massive slave rebellion led by a warrior named Gith, but pockets of Illithids still exist in the Underdark, waiting for the "Grand Design" to rebuild their empire.
2. The Githyanki & The Astral Prism
The slaves who overthrew the Illithid Empire split into two factions: the peaceful Githzerai and the militaristic Githyanki (Lae'zel's people). The Githyanki live in the Astral Plane and dedicate their entire existence to hunting down Mind Flayers across the multiverse, riding Red Dragons.
They are currently ruled by the Lich-Queen Vlaakith. However, she is a usurper. The true heir to the Githyanki empire is Orpheus. Vlaakith imprisoned Orpheus inside the Astral Prism because he possesses the unique genetic ability to disrupt Illithid hive-mind communications. This is why the Prism protects your party from the Absolute's mind control.
3. The Dead Three
The true antagonists behind "The Absolute". They were once three mortal adventurers who approached Jergal, the original God of Death, and demanded his power. Bored with his duties, Jergal gave them his domain, splitting it three ways.
Bhaal, Lord of Murder
The god of assassins and violent death. His chosen is Orin the Red, and his followers embrace chaos, blood, and ritualistic slaughter.
Bane, Lord of Tyranny
The god of oppression, fear, and control. His chosen is Enver Gortash, who seeks to conquer Baldur's Gate through politics and his Steel Watch army.
Myrkul, Lord of Bones
The god of the dead and necromancy. His chosen is Ketheric Thorm, an immortal general commanding an army of undead in the Shadow-Cursed Lands.
4. The Crown of Karsus & Netheril
Long ago, there was a floating human empire of unparalleled magic called Netheril. An arrogant wizard named Karsus created an ultimate spell to steal the power of Mystryl (the Goddess of Magic). He crafted the Crown of Karsus to hold this divine power.
The spell succeeded, but Karsus couldn't handle the power. The weave of magic collapsed, Mystryl died (later rebirthed as Mystra), and the flying Netherese cities crashed into the earth, wiping out their civilization instantly.
Now, The Dead Three have unearthed the Crown of Karsus, using it to dominate an Elder Brain and transform it into the Netherbrain, which controls the Cult of the Absolute.
5. The Blood War (Devils vs Demons)
In the D&D cosmology, there is an eternal, apocalyptic conflict called the Blood War taking place in Avernus (the first layer of the Nine Hells).
- Devils (Lawful Evil): Inhabitants of the Hells led by Asmodeus and Zariel (Raphael is a Devil). They make contracts, obey strict hierarchies, and want to rule the multiverse.
- Demons (Chaotic Evil): Inhabitants of the Abyss. They are infinite in number, have no rules, and simply want to destroy all existence.
The Devils are the only thing stopping the Demons from destroying the multiverse. Karlach was sold to Zariel (an Archdevil) and forced to fight on the front lines of this Blood War for 10 years before escaping on the Nautiloid.
6. The Dark Urge & Bhaalspawn
The "Dark Urge" is not just a custom origin, but a canonical figure in the lore. Bhaal, the Lord of Murder, foresaw his own death and scattered his essence across Faerûn by fathering mortal children known as Bhaalspawn.
The Dark Urge was created directly from Bhaal's own flesh to be his perfect avatar. They actually masterminded the theft of the Crown of Karsus alongside Gortash, before being betrayed and mind-wiped by Orin the Red (their own family member) prior to the events of the game.
7. Jergal (Withers)
The mysterious skeletal figure you find in the Dank Crypt, Withers, is heavily implied to be the avatar of Jergal, the original God of Death.
Centuries ago, Jergal willingly gave up his godhood to the Dead Three (Bane, Bhaal, and Myrkul) because he was bored. Seeing how terribly they have mismanaged their power by orchestrating the Absolute plot, other gods (or perhaps Ao the Overgod) forced Jergal out of retirement to assist your party in cleaning up the mess he indirectly caused.
8. The Emperor & Balduran
The "Dream Guardian" that protects you from the Absolute is eventually revealed to be an independent Mind Flayer known as The Emperor. However, his true identity is one of the biggest twists in the Forgotten Realms lore.
Before ceremorphosis, he was Balduran, the legendary human explorer who founded the city of Baldur's Gate. After discovering the colony in Moonrise Towers centuries ago, he was infected, became a Mind Flayer, and later broke free from the Elder Brain's control with the help of his dragon companion, Ansur (who he later killed in self-defense).
9. Gods of Faerûn
Selûne & Shar
Twin sister goddesses of the Moon (Light) and Darkness (Loss). Their eternal war is the focal point of Shadowheart's entire character arc and the Shadow-Cursed Lands.
Mystra
The Goddess of Magic and the Weave. Gale's former lover who tasked him with blowing himself up to destroy the Absolute and atone for his arrogance.
Lathander
The Morninglord, god of dawn and birth. His hidden monastery in the Mountain Pass holds a legendary mace crafted from his literal blood.
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