So...who is the Absolute?

[CloudKira]

The release is close so it might be the last chance for some theorizing/guesswork regarding some stuff that was teased about BG3.

Like the identity of the main villain.

From what it appears the Absolute is female as we hear a female voice when the Absolute uses a mind attack against us from a distance but Shadowheart's artifact saves us.

My top 5 options regarding the Absolute's identity:

1) The new daughter of Bhaal born right after the god returned back to life. Like Iyachtu Xvim for Bane. A quasi goddess or on the verge of becoming one if she pleases her dad.

2) Ilsensine the god/goddess of Mind Flayers. Since the story is so Mind Flayer focused and the Absolute displaying extemely powerful psionic abilities is a sign of it being Ilsensine...perhaps weakened after the Sundering. In fact I've read somewhere that Ilsensine lost a shard of its consciousness which became an artifact which Ilsensine is desperately trying to regain. Could it be Shadowheart's artifact?

3) Shar. The goddess of darkness is always up to some world encompassing schemes and willing to break rules to drown Faerun in despair. It would give Shadowheart some nice character development if she was forced to choose between the deity whom she believed to be actually good (but is revealed to be as awful as everyone says) and the whole world.

4) Amelyssan the main baddie from BG2 ToB coming back to steal the show once again after somehow coming back to life but losing much of her power and either trying to get back into Bhaal's good graces again or take over his place by gathering more power.

5) The dead three as a whole which would explain the Absolute's symbol being a mix of all their symbol's. It would mean that they are pretending to be a single person to possibly hide their involvement from what is going on and using the Absolute name as a guise of sorts.

Any other ideas?

[RakiaTime]

me, i am the Absolute

[veevoir]

It's Vodka. On brand that it makes people do weird stuff and messes with their heads.

Seriously though seeing the big connection to Mind Flayers - either it is their deity, seeing as all the shenanigans it does is based on psionics and tadpoles - which are Mind Flayer specialty.. Or indeed - the dead 3 are trying to do something odd. And TD3 also connect well to the BG/BG2 being about Baal (and possibly Dark Urge also connecting to Baal and TD3)

[CloudKira]

Originally posted by RakiaTime:

me, i am the Absolute

Did Larian grant you permission to reveal you identity before the game actually launches?

Ao level NDAs will destroy you and BG3 will need a new main villain. :(

Maybe...Darth Boo? ^^

[Psy^]

Dio

[RakiaTime]

Originally posted by CloudKira:

Originally posted by RakiaTime:

me, i am the Absolute

Did Larian grant you permission to reveal you identity before the game actually launches?

Ao level NDAs will destroy you and BG3 will need a new main villain. :(

Maybe...Darth Boo? ^^

Chaotic Evil dont care about NDAs

[BigAlzBub]

Unless Larian throw a massive curve ball, it is probably the dead three making a power play to return to godhood. True Godhood that is, as they are semi-divine at this point IIRC.

[VolcanoSheep]

Ilsensine is a good guess that I hadn't considered much myself.

The dead mindflayer shows us a circle of mindflayers linked when we ask who the absolute is

[Kyutaru]

Jergal cult, trying to unite the Dead Three back under their Lord. Bring power back to the original god of death.

[CloudKira]

Originally posted by veevoir:

It's Vodka. On brand that it makes people do weird stuff and messes with their heads.

Seriously though seeing the big connection to Mind Flayers - either it is their deity, seeing as all the shenanigans it does is based on psionics and tadpoles - which are Mind Flayer specialty.. Or indeed - the dead 3 are trying to do something odd. And TD3 also connect well to the BG/BG2 being about Baal (and possibly Dark Urge also connecting to Baal and TD3)

Makes me wonder if the crazy psychopath Orin is actually the chosen of Bhaal instead of the Absolute.

Maybe we will have a few villain groups competing with each other then if it ends up Bhaal (and possibly his 2 quasi deity allies) Vs Mind Flayer big boss.

Hmmm...

[VolcanoSheep]

Originally posted by Kyutaru:

Jergal cult, trying to unite the Dead Three back under their Lord. Bring power back to the original god of death.

Jerghals my main man back at camp charging only 200 gold to defy the laws of death. I wouldn't mind him being back in power.

[BigAlzBub]

Originally posted by VolcanoSheep:

Originally posted by Kyutaru:

Jergal cult, trying to unite the Dead Three back under their Lord. Bring power back to the original god of death.

Jerghals my main man back at camp charging only 200 gold to defy the laws of death. I wouldn't mind him being back in power.

I wouldn't rule it out, but Jergal willingly (eagerly) gave up his power to the Bane, Bhaal and Myrkul, he worked for each god of dead afterwards, and by all accounts gets on okay with Kelemvor, so something would have needed to radically change if he wanted his old job back.

[Seven of Nine]

I don't think the Mind Flayers are directly involved as you say OP, I think they are manipulated to reach the goal.

[CloudKira]

Originally posted by VolcanoSheep:

Originally posted by Kyutaru:

Jergal cult, trying to unite the Dead Three back under their Lord. Bring power back to the original god of death.

Jerghals my main man back at camp charging only 200 gold to defy the laws of death. I wouldn't mind him being back in power.

I still wonder whether the deadish guy at our camp who resurrects our companions is Jergal or Myrkul...

I recall that in 5e resurrecting is much less available than before due to Ao's orders and all deities are forbidden with interfering with mortals unless they are willing to pay a very heavy price.

Mind control spells are also less powerful than before as they last for 8 hours max when compared to days (or more) in previous editions. That might be more about Mystra's new decree in magic than more of Ao's orders though.

[CloudKira]

Originally posted by Seven of Nine:

I don't think the Mind Flayers are directly involved as you say OP, I think they are manipulated to reach the goal.

Hmmm...and the Absolute?

Is she a pawn or a chessmaster here?

Does she answer to someone else?

Or does someone more powerful play her like a fiddle?

For a moment I was even wondering if the Absolute might be Vlaakith- the crazy insane ruler of the Githyanki race obsessed with godhood.

Could it be her?

[Punished Jeremy]

Something something Bhaal. Something something The Dark Urge something something Shar