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The Absolute is the enigmatic power behind the Cult of the Absolute.
“The Absolute is gold from the sky, She is. The blessin' in the storm an' the storm itself. We're burnin' Her name across the face o' the world, we are.„
Act One
 | Spoiler warning: The following content contains unhidden spoilers for Act 1. |  |
The Absolute is first mentioned in Act One. Most of the goblins in the area have converted to worshiping the Absolute, and are gathering as an army under their banner. Followers of the Absolute can be found searching the Wilderness for survivors of the wreck.
The Absolute seems to be tied to the mass abductions and Illithid activity. Those infected with a Mind Flayer Parasite are known in the cult as True Souls. Other followers of the Absolute are branded with the Brand of the Absolute. Those who are infected with a Mind Flayer Parasite can exert some degree of control over people who are branded.
Upon approaching the Goblin Camp the party may experience a vision from the Absolute. It is revealed that the Mysterious Artefact has been protecting the party and their companions from the influence of the Absolute.
| “ | These are my Chosen. They speak for me. |
„ |
| — A vision from the Absolute |
If Speak with Dead is cast on the Mind Flayer corpse near Dror Ragzlin and asked about the Absolute, the party receives this vision:
| “ | Curved drow blades, crude goblin torches, gnoll teeth dripping blood. You see other mind flayers arranged in a serene circle. Absolute unity. Absolute power. |
„ |
| — Dead Mind Flayer |
Act Two
| Spoiler warning: The following content contains unhidden spoilers for Act 2. |  |
After arriving in the Shadow-Cursed Lands, the party will find that the armies of the Absolute are converging on Moonrise Towers. Upon arriving at the tower, the party will find several more True Souls among the tower's ranks. Proceeding inside, the party will encounter their leader, General Ketheric Thorm, one of the Absolute's Chosen, holding a trial for survivors from the Goblin Camp (including Minthara, should she still be alive).
During the finale of Act Two, once the party reaches the end of the Mind Flayer Colony, the Absolute's true identity is revealed: it is not a god of any sort, but an enslaved Elder Brain, under the control of its supposed Chosen: Ketheric Thorm, Lord Enver Gortash, and Orin the Red, who actually serve the Dead Three. Through the use of the Crown of Karsus, the Chosen are able to command the Elder Brain, which can in turn command True Souls by controlling their tadpoles (save the party, due to the protection of the Mysterious Artefact).
Following this revelation, the Chosen command the brain to order the armies of the Absolute to march on Baldur's Gate, leaving Ketheric behind to battle the party. Once defeated, the party obtains his Netherstone, and the Dream Guardian will emerge from the Prism to discuss the situation with the player character. They reveal that the Crown's magic is what gives the mind flayer parasites their special abilities, and that the Netherstones are what control the Crown (and, in turn, the brain).
Act Three
| Spoiler warning: The following content contains unhidden spoilers for Act 3. |  |
Shortly after beginning Act Three, the Absolute attempts to dominate the party and force their transformation into mind flayers, forcing them to retreat into the safety of the Astral Prism and assist their Dream Guardian.
If Gortash is spoken to following his coronation, he will reveal the Chosen's plans for the Absolute in full: Ketheric Thorm was to use the facade of the Absolute to create an army to march on Baldur's Gate. Meanwhile, Orin would use the Cult of Bhaal to commit prolific murders all over Baldur's Gate and frame them as acts of the Cult of the Absolute. Both of these acts were intended to frighten the populace, whereupon Gortash would offer his solution by defeating the Absolute's army with the Steel Watch. The fear of the Absolute would allow him to take total control, enforcing his tyranny under the guise of keeping the population safe from the Absolute, without anyone ever knowing that he was one of its leaders.
Regardless of whether an alliance is made with Gortash or not, the party must confront the Netherbrain during the finale of Act Three, using the reunited Netherstones to dominate it. However, this attempt fails, and the Netherbrain gains full independence once more. Still posing as the "Absolute" to its armies, it commands them to launch a full-on assault on the city, forcing many tadpoled citizens' transformations into mind flayers and summoning several Nautiloids.
With the help of an illithid, the party is able to dominate the brain using the Netherstones. In a last-ditch effort to save itself, the brain surrenders to the player, proposing that they take control and rule together. Should the player choose to do so, they can betray the party and control the Elder Brain, killing their illithid ally (unless the player themselves is an illithid) and enslaving their companions. They take a seat atop the Netherbrain, proclaiming themself as the new Absolute.| “ | "In MY name." |
„ |
| — The player character, now the Absolute |
Otherwise, should the brain be destroyed, it orders the destruction of all remaining tadpoles, freeing any True Souls did not transform from the Absolute's influence and bringing an end to the Cult of the Absolute.
Followers
For all followers see the Category: Followers of the Absolute
Chosen of the Absolute
- Enver Gortash
- Dark Urge (former)
- Ketheric Thorm
- Orin the Red
True Souls
True Souls are Followers of the Absolute who have been infected with an Illithid tadpole that grants them psionic powers similar to the player. They serve as commanding members of the Absolute's army. True Souls almost always have a Mind Flayer Parasite Specimen that can be looted from their bodies if killed.
Act One
Act Two
Act Three
Related Items
Related Literature
Related Quests
Act One
- Blind the Absolute
- Defeat the Goblins
- Defeat the Duergar Intruders
- Free True Soul Nere
- Raid the Emerald Grove
Act Two
Act Three
Notes
- The Symbol of the Absolute appears to be a combination of the symbols of the Dead Three: The hand of Bane, the triangle of Myrkul and the skull of Bhaal.