Dead Three

The Mural

The Dead Three are a trio of evil death-themed deities: Bane, the God of Tyranny, Bhaal, the God of Murder and Myrkul, the God of Death. They earned their monicker after all three gods were slain during the period known as the Time of Troubles. Despite their deaths, the Dead Three eventually manage to return to life.

“	Once judged, ascended, then vanquished as one and as three.	„
	— Withers

Chapter One

Spoiler warning! This section reveals details about the story of Baldur's Gate 3.

• Passing the Investigation check for the Book of Dead Gods references the Dead Three.
• The Brand of the Absolute bears a striking resemblance to their symbols: the black hand of Bane, the skull of Bhaal, and the triangle-inset skull of Myrkul.

Chapter Two

Spoiler warning! This section reveals details about the story of Baldur's Gate 3.

• Chapter Two reveals that the Dead Three are behind The Absolute and its cult. The Chosen of the Absolute are in truth the Dead Three's Chosen, who control The Netherbrain; a powerful Illithid Elder Brain using the Crown of Karsus with the Netherstones. Their chosen are as follow:
  • Lord Enver Gortash is the Chosen of Bane
  • Orin the Red is the Chosen of Bhaal
  • Ketheric Thorm is the Chosen of Myrkul
• The Chosen summon the Elder Brain invoking their patrons's names when using their Netherstones: The Edict of Bane, the Lash of Bhaal and the Testament of Myrkul.
• During the conversation with Ketheric Thorm, he will reveal that he became Myrkul's chosen after Myrkul resurrected his daughter Isobel.
• If defeated in battle or passing a Persuasion check, Ketheric Thorm will sacrifice himself and Myrkul summons the Apostle of Myrkul.
• The Dream Visitor will talk to the Party after Ketheric's Netherstone is recovered and will give information on who the Dead Three are.
• Withers will appear in Moonrise Towers after leaving the Mind Flayer Colony wishing to speak to the Party. Talking to him will show that he is bewildered by the Dead Three's actions of building an army of Illithids, as mind flayers are devoid of souls that could empower them.
• The Party can tell Withers that he seems to know a lot about the Dead Three which he concurs and gives a brief but cryptic summary of their rise and fall.

Chapter Three

Spoiler warning! This section reveals details about the story of Baldur's Gate 3.

In the post-credit scene, Withers talks to a mural of the Dead Three and chides them for their plot with the Mind Flayers:

“	There thou art. The Dead Three. Thy faces, gods. Thy actions barely worthy of the name. Didst truly believe thy ploy would succeed? Didst believe I would not notice? Thou sought to bolster thy strength by taking away the souls of mortals. But souls vanish when their hosts become mind flayers. Didst think the other gods would not notice? Gods thou may be, yet thou hast proven thyselves fools, every one. The supplication of Bane. The whimper of Bhaal. The dead mewl of Myrkul. Felled by mortals. I overestimated thee. They did not. Vermin, away. Thou wilt trouble us no more.	„
	— Withers

Notes and Trivia

• All three members of the Dead Three were available as deity options for  25 in Early Access but were cut in the full release of the game.

External Links

• Dead Three on the Forgotten Realms Wiki