What are Withers`s Hirelings exactly in lore?

[RedHaze1911]

I dont get where he gets them, why they sound so weird...
Who are they? Are they just enslaved people being forced to follow me around?

[GARFIELF]

People killed by the Absolute Cult that have been dead just long enough that their personalities are gone, Withers is just puppeting their bodies for you.

[Muffanzo]

I'd have to assume random people he found who's skills fit with what we ask for.

[venn]

How do you guys use them? Are you durging all your origins?

I've yet to try for the achievement, are they good for anything?

[RedHaze1911]

Originally posted by GARFIELF:

People killed by the Absolute Cult that have been dead just long enough that their personalities are gone, Withers is just puppeting their bodies for you.

Theres an expire date when your personality fades?? xD

[FoxFox]

Originally posted by GARFIELF:

People killed by the Absolute Cult that have been dead just long enough that their personalities are gone, Withers is just puppeting their bodies for you.

Yes, but also they are from another plane of existence that somewhat mirrors our own (according to Whithers). No idea if there's any base in lore for that idea though.

[BigDongle]

So this is their way to implement hirelings, without the negatives. In live campaigns hirelings are used to fill roles of players char who leave or a class that no one fits, go to the inn or tavern and ask around. The DM roles their sheet and usually controls them, maybe puts a little twist in their backstory for fun, like being afraid of wolves etc.

Here in BG3, this person from Withers serves the same purpose and removes their personality or motivations. Imagine them as dirt dumb mercenaries, they dont care about your morals, your decisions or if you want them to completely reroll/retrain; if they complete the mission they get paid. They just don't know what mission complete means, so they will go along with it to the end.

So there is no 'lore' here; they are hands for hire, you just don't pay much in this situation and you can control them at every level since they are from Wither's plane of existence not the local tavern. Win / win.

[Orion Invictus]

Originally posted by RedHaze1911:

Originally posted by GARFIELF:

People killed by the Absolute Cult that have been dead just long enough that their personalities are gone, Withers is just puppeting their bodies for you.

Theres an expire date when your personality fades?? xD

Mortal memories are not infinite nor perfect. Eventually you forget your mortal life altogether.