Enver Gortash

Lord Enver Gortash, often referred to as just Gortash, is a major story NPC who appears in Baldur's Gate 3. He is first mentioned by name during Act One, then introduced on-screen during the concluding events of Act Two, before going on to play a much larger role in Act Three.

Archduke Nominee
Lord Enver Gortash
Stats
Level 9
STR 20 (+5) DEX 26 (+8) CON 16 (+3) INT 20 (+5) WIS 16 (+3) CHA 18 (+4)
Race	[[Human|Human]]
Type	Humanoid
HP	357
AC	25
Passive features
Avatar of Tyranny  Bane's Brutality
Character information
Location	Wyrm's Rock
Faction	Steel Watch Cult of the Absolute
Family	Dravo Flymm (father) Sally Flymm (mother)
Allies	Bane Ketheric Thorm Orin the Red The Dark Urge (former/dependant)
Enemies	Ulder Ravengard Karlach
Additional information
Voice actor	Jason Isaacs

After his first on-screen appearance, it is quickly revealed that Gortash is one of the three 'Chosen' leading the cult of the Absolute. Gortash specifically, is a 'Chosen' for the God of Tyranny, Bane.

Gameplay

There are many ways to interact with Enver Gortash during the events of Act Three. While Enver Gortash is a neutral or allied entity, the player can start conversations with him at many opportunities. It is also possible for Gortash to become hostile, if provoked in certain conversations or deliberately attacked by players.

Details about his Combat behaviors can be found on: Enver Gortash/Combat

Background

Parents and Early Life

Enver Gortash was born to Dravo and Sally Flymm, the proprietors of Flymm's Cobblers in Baldur's Gate. The Flymms were in debt, and sold their son into slavery to pay them off.

Believed by the Flymms to be a warlock, Gortash was in reality sold to Raphael. Gortash became a pageboy in Raphael's and Nubalin's service. He was physically abused.

Early Career

Before he became 'Lord' Gortash, Enver started out operating as a black market weapons dealer before expanding his operation into other businesses. Even back then, Enver had many secrets.

During his time as a power player in Baldur's Gate, Gortash was a known weapons dealer, and slaver, and in secret, a worshipper of the God of Tyranny, Bane.

Employment of Karlach

At some point during his career, Enver Gortash had hired a young Karlach as his bodyguard.

Gortash later betrayed Karlach by selling her to Zariel, the Archdevil of Avernus, likely to gain access to a version of the Infernal Engine implanted in Karlach, which could survive on the Material Plane, in which he used to create the Steel Watchers.

Rise to Power

At some point, Gortash became a 'Chosen' of the god Bane, and after this he began taking more ambitious endeavors that led to him accruing more power and influence within the political structures of Baldur's Gate.

Around this time, Gortash formed an alliance with two other powerful individuals: Ketheric Thorm, the Chosen of Myrkul, and The Dark Urge, (who at the time was) the Chosen of Bhaal. The third member of this alliance was eventually deposed by Orin the Red and Gortash allowed her to join the alliance in place of her predecessor.

Pursuing both power and the aims of their patron deities, Gortash and his allies formulated a plot to enslave an Elder Brain underneath Baldur's Gate by using an ancient Netherese artifact, the Crown of Karsus, an item so powerful, it had granted its namesake a brief moment of Godhood. Gortash reveals the details of this plot during Act Two, and further explains it in Act Three.

At some point, Enver Gortash returned to his parents for revenge. What resulted, was Gortash eventually implanting Mind Flayer tadpoles into their minds, turning them into puppets that could do little more than praise their exalted son.

Introduction during Act Two

The Chosen of Bane

Enver Gortash first appears alongside his allies Ketheric Thorm and Orin the Red in the Mind Flayer Colony underneath Moonrise Towers. Using his Netherese Stone, the Edict of Bane, he issues the order to the Netherbrain to march the Absolute's armies on Baldur's Gate. Part of the group's plan is described during this moment, with Ketheric Thorm raising an army to assault Baldur's Gate, wherein Enver Gortash would repel the invasion, and be lauded as a hero.

Interactions

During Act Three, the player has multiple opportunities to directly interact with Enver Gortash.

Enver Gortash is encountered in-person by the party at Wyrm's Crossing, during his inauguration as Grand Duke of Baldur's Gate. Despite previous hostilities, Gortash will act very open to cooperating with the party, even offering them a place in his tyannical rule.

Should the player perform an Insight Skill Test, it is revealed that Gortash fully intends on sharing his rule with the player should they form an alliance. Whether this would be a temporary truth or not is unknown.

Gortash can explain the Chosen of the Dead Three's plot to the player, detailing everyone's role. Each individual had their own part to play in their plan, which would occur sequentially;

• The Chosen of Bhaal, Orin the Red would carry out a series of murders within Baldur's Gate, thinning out any forces not already under Gortash's control.
• The Chosen of Myrkul Ketheric Thorm would raise an army consisting of cultists of the Absolute, monstrous humanoids such as Goblins, Ogres and Bugbears, and undead, marching from Moonrise Tower.
• The Chosen of Bane, Enver Gortash, would use his Steel Watch, and command it in a rigged battle against the Absolute, winning in a way that indebts the city of Baldur's Gate to him, without damaging it beyond repair in a way in which he can not rule in prosperity.

If the player is playing The Dark Urge, Gortash will reveal that the original Chosen of Bhaal was not Orin the Red, but in fact, The Dark Urge themselves, and was directly involved in the plot to steal the Crown of Karsus and use it to manipulate the Elder Brain. He claims The Dark Urge was much more in control of their actions than Orin was, and very much prefers their company over hers.

Gortash can be killed at Wyrm's Crossing, which allows for the player to collect Gortash's Netherstone to progress further.

However, if the player decides to ally with Gortash, killing him is not necessary to continue. He will accompany the party to the Elder Brain to attempt to command it once more. This, however, fails. The stones will be unable to command The Netherbrain, and it will use its psionic might to kill Gortash instantaneously with a simple command to "Die."

Speak With Dead Interaction

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

If  Speak with Dead is used on Gortash he will not respond but the deity Bane will answer in his stead:

• Lord Enver Gortash: You seek Gortash? His soul is already suffering at my hands. That is the fate of all those who fail me.
  • 1. If you're not Gortash, then who are you?
  • 2. Let him suffer, then. Isn't that the fate he deserves?
  • 3. You're much more coherent than most corpses. Why's that?
  • 4. Leave.

If option 1 was chosen:

• Lord Enver Gortash: I am Bane, The Black Lord. I am the Ultimate Tyrant. I am Fear, I am Hate.
• Lord Enver Gortash: And you - you are the dagger that bled Myrkul's favoured. You are the thorns that prick at my sides.
• Lord Enver Gortash: Yet you are proof that I will still rise, and Bhaal and Myrkul will yield.
• Lord Enver Gortash: One question asked. Four still remains.
  • 1. You said I am proof you will rise. What did you mean?
  • 2. Why did you ally with Myrkul and Bhaal?
  • 3. Leave.

If option 1 was chosen:

• Lord Enver Gortash: You live for power. You have proven it with every fallen foe, every chest opened, every skill claimed.
• Lord Enver Gortash: As long as mortals and immortals vie for sharper blades and louder voices, I am strengthened.
• Lord Enver Gortash: So it is for Bhaal and Myrkul - and so it is for you. You make me eternal.
  • 1. I am no agent of yours. I seek power for proper ends, not for its own sake.
  • 2. Why did you ally with Myrkul and Bhaal?
  • 3. What can I do to earn your blessing, Lord Bane?
  • 4. Leave.

If option 2 was chosen:

• Lord Enver Gortash: Why do red dragons ally with the githyanki? Why did the Broken God befriend Tyr?
• Lord Enver Gortash: And by turning mortals illithid, you deny their souls to their keepers.
• Lord Enver Gortash: You do not stoke fear by reaping your own fields, but by burning your foe's.
  • 1. I am no agent of yours. I seek power for proper ends, not for its own sake.
  • 2. What can I do to earn your blessing, Lord Bane?
  • 3. Leave.

If option 1 was chosen:

• Lord Enver Gortash: *Chuckle.*
• Narrator: The corpse says nothing more. You did not ask a question.
  • 1. What can I do to earn your blessing, Lord Bane?
  • 2. Leave.

If option 1 was chosen:

• Lord Enver Gortash: You gained my favour when you slayed Gortash. Your need for power exceeds even his.
• Lord Enver Gortash: Use the Netherstones to commandeer the brain and unleash your infected army, and I will count you among my chosen.
• Lord Enver Gortash: Or do not. Your lust for victory still brings you one step closer to me.
  • 1. Leave.

Currently this interaction has no audio!

Spells and Abilities

•  Dazzling Ray
•  Mechanical Throw
•  Invoke the Black Hand
•  Tyrant's Bidding
• File:Action Unarmed Attack Icon.png Empowered Unarmed Strike
•  The Closed Fist of Bane

Loot

• Netherstone-Studded Gauntlet (splits into the following two items when looted):
  • Gauntlet of the Tyrant
  • Gortash's Netherstone
• Cloth of Authority
• Fabricated Arbalest
• Tyrannical Jackboots
• Note from Helsik
• Gortash's Key
• Dagger
• 63 - 70 Gold
• Smokepowder Bomb

Related Quests

• Get Gortash's Netherstone
  • Consider Gortash's Bargain
  • Disable the Steel Watch

Achievements

Fancy Footwork
Defeat Gortash in Wyrm's Rock without activating any traps.

External Links

• Enver Gortash on the Forgotten Realms Wiki
• Bane on the Forgotten Realms Wiki
• Chosen on the Forgotten Realms Wiki