Minthara: Difference between revisions

{{ up to date | 2024-02-01 }}

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{{CompanionTab|Minthara}}

{{Infobox character

| name = Minthara

| full_name = Minthara Baenre

| image = Minthara Big.webp

| imagesize = 0.8

| class = [[Oath of Vengeance]] [[Paladin]]

| role = [[Companion]]

| hometown = [https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/Menzoberranzan Menzoberranzan], [[Underdark]] (former)

'''Minthara Baenre''' is a recruitable [[Companion]] with the [[Noble]] background. She is a [[Lolth-sworn drow]] and a [[Oath of Vengeance]] [[Paladin]] first appearing during [[Act 1]].

{{NoExcerpt|{{Q|Bhaal, Lolth... the Absolute. They do not have followers - they only have victims, and they reward devotion with death.|Minthara on gods.}}}}

{{hatnote|For a full overview of Minthara's starting features, see the articles [[Paladin]], [[Oath of Vengeance]] and [[Drow#Lolth-sworn_drow|Lolth-sworn Drow]].}}

A member of the ancient [https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/House_Baenre House Baenre], Minthara is a [[True Soul]] in the service of the Absolute and one of the three leaders of the [[Goblin Camp]] in the [[Wilderness]]. She and her fellow True Souls, [[Gut|Priestess Gut]] and [[Dror Ragzlin]], set up a base of operations in an old Selûnite temple in search of a [[Mysterious Artefact]] by order of the Absolute. Will her cruel efforts be rewarded by the one she so reveres, or will she be cast aside as broken tool in the Absolute's path of conquest?

Minthara starts as a Paladin, with a focus on dual-wielding maces. Her subclass is Oath of Vengeance, giving her a more offense oriented toolkit, with more ways of controlling and debuffing foes in battle.

* Minthara has the passive {{SAI|Soul Branding}}, allowing her to grant herself or an ally an additional 5m (17ft) of movement and {{DamageText|2d4 + 1|Fire}} damage on their next attack

* Furthermore, she will already have access to the following [[Illithid Powers]]:

** {{SAI|Favourable Beginnings}}  

** {{SAI|Charm}}  

** {{SAI|Concentrated Blast}}  

** {{SAI|Psionic Backlash}}

Minthara does not have a personal quest like other companions, however, she is directly involved in two important quests.

As part of the main-quest [[Save the Refugees]], the party can decide to which side to support in the conflict between the goblins and the druids of the grove. If siding with the druids and refugees, Minthara will be hostile and an objective of [[Defeat the Goblins]]. If sided with the forces of the Absolute, she will appear as an ally as part of [[Raid the Grove]].

In [[Decide Minthara's Fate]], the party can decide what will happen of Minthara after her trial at the hands of [[Ketheric Thorm]] and [[Z'rell|Disciple Z'rell]] at [[Moonrise Towers]].

Although Minthara can be encountered in [[Act One]], she cannot join the player's party as a permanent companion before reaching [[Moonrise Towers]] in [[Act Two]].

====Act Two====

* If left alive after the events of Act 1, Minthara will be found at Moonrise Towers facing trial by Ketheric Thorm for failing to find the mysterious artefact. Sentenced to death, she is taken to the [[Moonrise Towers Prison]] to be tortured until her execution. The party can find her and help her escape, and if invited to camp, she'll offer to join them. The only requirement for this is that she survived the events of Act 1.

** Should the party side with Minthara during [[Save the Refugees]] and raid the grove with her, no additional steps need to taken in order to ensure she appears at Moonrise Towers.

** If the party sides with the druids instead, but still wishes to ensure she appears at Moonrise Towers, when fought at the goblin camp in Act 1, she must be [[Knocked Out (Temporary) (Condition)|knocked out]] while being [[Temporarily Hostile (Condition)|temporarily hostile]]. She will only appear at Moonrise Towers if both of these conditions are fulfilled. The easiest way to do this is to commit a crime in front of her. After knocking out Minthara the party needs to kill the other two goblin leaders in one go without a [[Long Rest]].{{note|Prior to Patch 5, a bug could be exploited to recruit Minthara even when siding with the grove. Minthara had to be knocked out temporarily in Act 1, after which she would recover after a Long Rest. Once the party reached Act 2 and acquired polymorph and dominate beast spells, they had to return, turn her into a sheep and dominate her. The party then had to fast-travel back to Moonrise Towers and then had to move Minthara as a sheep into the throne room, where the judgement continued as if Minthara lived. After the cutscene she was transported to the dungeon. The party had to attack her quickly once imprisoned, (as she would begin to run away otherwise) and then turn invisible and exit combat. Minthara was then part of the interrogation scene and her recruitment could proceed as normal. This exploit became unnecessary once Patch 5 made her recruitable simply by making her [[Knocked Out (Temporary) (Condition)|temporarily unconscious]] in Act 1.}}{{cite web

===Approval===

{{Hatnote|See main article: [[Minthara/Approval]]}}[[File:Minthara Approval.png|50px|left|alt=Minthara Approves|link=|Minthara Approves]]

Minthara dislikes shows of compassion, especially towards those she considers weak. She will disapprove of any form of benevolence without something to gain for it, as well as senseless violence that does not aid the party in some way. Above all, she despises shows of weakness and any form of worship of [[Lolth]].

{{Hatnote|See main article: [[Minthara/Romance]]}}

If the party sides with the absolutists and successfully raid the druid grove together, the player can have a one-night stand with Minthara to celebrate their victory.

==Description==

===Appearance===

With a stern countenance and piercing eyes, Minthara has an imposing presence. Like most drow, she has purplish-blue skin, with crimson eyes and pointed ears. Her silver hair is kept in a messy top bun, with stray strands of hair adorning her face. On the left side of her neck, she bears the seal of House Baenre in black, marking her as a member of the ancestral house. Her combat equipment is well-made, and her at-ease clothes reflect some of her noble upbringing.

Power hungry, she is always looking for way to increase her standing among her peers, product of her drow upbringing. Having been a follower of Lolth once, she also knows that violence, deception and cruelty are great tools to obtain what she wants.

Whether due to her looks or attitude, Minthara reveals she's had quite a few lovers in the past{{ref|Various locations, party banter between Minthara and Karlach.}} and even has a few suitors among the goblins, unbeknownst to her.{{cite text|Parchment (Goblin Camp)|Unknown}}{{cite text|Unfinished Love Letter|[[Klagga]]}}

==History==

===Menzoberranzan===

Sometime during her life there, she encountered a [[True Soul]] and two novices preaching the message of the [[Absolute]]. Minthara had them hanged and displayed as a warning against heresy,{{ref|Campsite, lines spoken by Minthara when asked how she came to be indoctrinated.<br>''"A True Soul came to my city preaching a message of togetherness, accompanied by two novices. Menzoberranzan is not fertile grounds for such messages. I killed them, and hanged their bodies in my garden."''}} but curiosity got the best of her, and after using necromancy on the corpses to find their base of operations, she prepared a retinue of warriors to strike at [[Moonrise Towers]].

===Indoctrination and time in the Cult===

Minthara gathered her allies to battle the absolutists, yet, when they arrived at Moonrise Towers, they were met with a lavish feast and a welcome fit for a house matron. [[Ketheric Thorm]] had been expecting her, and invited her to partake of his feast alongside [[Orin|Orin the Red]]. He explained he wished to form an alliance between Moonrise and Menzoberranzan, flattering Minthara and playing to her pride.{{ref|Campsite, lines spoken by Minthara when asked how she came to be indoctrinated.<br>''"I expected a battle, but found a fully-laden feast table, and a welcome befitting a house matron. (...) Ketheric proposed an alliance between Moonrise and Menzoberranzzan. I admit, I was captivated by him."''}} Lowering her guard, Minthara was unable to react in time as Orin jumped on the table and sliced her men's throats as she approached her. Standing before her, Orin expressed her interest in Minthara, and Ketheric approved of it, ordering her to be taken to the [[Mind Flayer Colony]].{{ref|name=orin|Campsite, lines spoken by Minthara when asked how she came to be indoctrinated.<br>''"Then, quick as lightning, she climbed onto the table, a dagger in each hand, and skipped toward me, slicing the throats out of my men as she passed them. (...) ''I want this one'', she said. Ketheric nodded his permission, and I was taken below."''}} There, Minthara was held for some time, helplessly watching as her men were processed for food or to be turned into thralls. Eventually, Orin returned and placed the tadpole in Minthara's eye, sealing the drow's fate as part of the [[Cult of the Absolute]].{{ref|name=tadpole|[[Moonrise Towers]], lines spoken by Minthara in the throne room after slaying Ketheric Thorm.<br>''"There was no god. Orin held me down in a cocoon of flesh, while a mind flayer forced a parasite into my brain. And she laughed at my fear."''}}

Under orders of her new god, Minthara participated in many massacres carried by the cult, mostly against religious communities who refused to convert. She became a zealot, and in time, even began to admire Orin. Orin would manipulate her further, telling her lies of how she was a True Soul, chosen by the Absolute as her greatest weapon.{{ref|name=orin2|Moonrise Towers, lines spoken by Minthara in the throne room after slaying Ketheric Thorm.<br>''"When I first visited Moonrise, I stood before the Absolute in awe. It was more of an idea than an entity. Pure love, total power. Orin was by my side. She told me that god had chosen me to be a True Soul. Blessed and adored."''}} For Minthara, the Absolute was more than just a god, it was everything she ever truly wanted.{{ref|name=orin2}} With a new purpose, Minthara heads to the [[Wilderness]] in search of a powerful weapon her new goddess desires, hungry to prove herself.

===Save the Refugees===

====Act One====

Minthara is first encountered at the [[Shattered Sanctum]] within the [[Goblin Camp]], planning an attack on [[Emerald Grove]] at the behest of the [[Absolute]]. When spoken to, she will quickly identify the party as fellow [[True Soul|True Souls]] and reveal that she believes the druids are hiding a powerful weapon at their grove that the Absolute desires. She has been surveying the land in search of the weapon, sending search parties to track the leader of the grove, Halsin.{{cite text|Drow's Letter|Minthara}} Minthara will probe the party's minds with her tadpole, possibly leading to the grove's location being exposed.

The party can fight Minthara as part of the quest [[Defeat the Goblins]], turning her and the rest of the goblins around her hostile. Fighting her will turn the rest of the camp hostile, leaving siding with the goblins to raid the grove off the table. With one of the three goblin leaders dead, [[Dror Ragzlin]] and [[Gut|Priestess Gut]] are next.

Alternatively, the party can entertain the possibility of raiding the grove with the absolutists. This will add the quest [[Raid the Emerald Grove]] to the journal. If they choose to ally with the forces of the Absolute and disclose the grove's location, the raid of the grove will begin after the next [[Long Rest]]. Carrying on with the raid will cause [[Karlach]] and [[Wyll]] to permanently leave the player's party. After the grove has been destroyed, Minthara and the goblins will join the party at their camp and celebrate their slaughter of the druids, even if they ultimately failed to find the weapon the Absolute desired. Minthara will also offer to have a casual encounter with the player character, rejecting her will anger her, but will have no negative consequences.

After the celebrations, Minthara will urge the party to join the forces of the Absolute at [[Moonrise Towers]] in the [[Shadow-Cursed Lands]]. She will give the party her [[Spider's Lyre]] to summon a guide that will help them through the deadly shadows, and departs shortly after.

===Decide Minthara's Fate===

====Act Two====

Should Minthara have survived the events of Act 1, whether friendly or hostile, she will be next encountered in Moonrise Towers on trial by [[Ketheric Thorm]] for failing to retrieve the [[Mysterious Artefact]]. The party can intervene on her behalf, but Ketheric will sentence her to death regardless of what's said. This will begin the quest [[Decide Minthara's Fate]].  

The party can choose to follow, in which case they'll find her at the [[Moonrise Towers Prison]], undergoing torture by two Questioners. Here, a choice can be made: join the questioners in erasing Minthara's mind, turning her into a witless thrall of the Absolute, or slay them instead and help her escape. If freed, the party will need to escort Minthara out of the prison, either through dialogue or violence. Regardless, once out, Minthara can go on her own way or be convinced to join the party, at which point she will join the camp.

If the party allows [[Balthazar]] to take the [[Nightsong]] during [[Find Ketheric Thorm's Relic]], and finds [[Isobel]] for the absolutists, they will be granted an audience with Ketheric Thorm who will allow them to pray at the altar of the Absolute. Doing so will ultimately result in the party being imprisoned in pods in the [[Mind Flayer Colony]], where Balthazar will attempt to turn them into zombies in his service. In the fight that ensues the party may battle a [[Zombie Dror Ragzlin]] and [[Zombie Minthara]], if either of them died during the events prior.

===Get Orin's Netherstone===

====Act Three====

Minthara can be one of possible victims of Orin's kidnapping during Act 3 as part of [[Rescue Orin's Victim]]. If so, once Orin's defeated and Minthara's been rescued, she will have some words about the entire ordeal. Additionally, she'll also express being disheartened after killing her former abuser, as even though Orin could only copy the surface characteristics of her victims, Minthara saw her herself in Orin's bloodlust and madness, a shattered but possible version of herself had she not broken free from the Absolute's control.

====Return to Menzoberranzan====

===Companion interactions===

====Act Two====

* Upon joining the party in camp as a companion, she will talk about some of her time under the Absolute and vow vengeance.

====Act Three====

===Unique interactions===

====Act Two====

====Act Three====

{{Infobox statistics

| race = Lolth-sworn drow

| class = Oath of Vengeance Paladin

| type = Humanoid

| armour_class = 16

| hit_points = 52

| hit_points_tactician = 67

| movement_speed_meters = 9

| movement_speed_feet = 30

| weight_kg = 75

| weight_lb = 150

| feature1_name = Superior Darkvision

| feature1_description = Can see in the dark up to 24m.

| feature2_name = Opportunity Attack

| feature2_description = Automatically attack an enemy moving out of your reach.

| feature3_name = Defence

| feature4_name = Dual Wielder

| feature5_name = Dual Wielder: Bonus Armour Class

| feature6_name = Divine Health

| feature7_name = Drow Weapon Training

| feature7_description = Proficient with Rapiers, Shortswords, and Hand Crossbows.

| feature8_name = Extra Attack

| feature9_name = Fey Ancestry

The battle against Minthara isn't too daunting, but requires preparation in order to avoid being overrun by her allies.

Minthara will be found at the war table with Rozzak, planning their attack on the grove. A scrying eye will patrol the area between the library and the war table, any hostile action will alert the eye and it will in turn alert nearby enemies. Disabling the eye, such as pushing it off the bridge connecting both aforementioned areas, is the best solution. Near the war table, overlooking the chasm, is a [[Goblin Camp#War Drum:|war drum]]. Hostile goblins will attempt to use it to alert allies, so it's best to destroy it before the fight begins.

Minthara will cast {{SAI|Hold Person}} on enemies, and buff her allies with {{SAI|Soul Branding}} and {{SAI|Bless}}, so it's best to prioritize or incapacitate her quickly. Her goblin allies will quickly swarm the party, so any crowd control spells work well to manage the dangers. The area surrounding the war table has quite a few chasm drops, so it's possible to shove enemies into them for easy kills, albeit losing their loot. The bridge connecting both areas can also be collapsed by attacking the wooden supports, preventing reinforcements from arriving as easily.

Finally, Minthara can be killed effortlessly by agreeing to raid the grove. She will then mote to marshal the goblins, crossing the wooden bride. This gives the party an easy opportunity to collapse the bride under her, killing her instantly but will lose access to her loot.

===Enemy allies===

* [[Bez|Warrior Bez]]

* [[Sazza]] — if alive and freed

Minthara can be killed and looted. She will have the same items as her starting equipment, except for her underwear.

* {{MdRarityItem|Mind Flayer Parasite Specimen}}

File:Edward-vanderghote-minthara-portrait.png|Portrait by Edward Vanderghote.

File:Minthara Concept Art.png|Digital Deluxe artbook concept.

{{noteend}}

{{reflist}}

==External links ==

{{NavGoblinCamp}}

[[Category: Bosses]]

[[Category: Drow]]

[[Category: Companions]]

[[Category: Followers of the Absolute]]