Withers: Difference between revisions

{{Infobox creature

| va = [https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0101540 Stephen Boxer]

| race = [[Skeleton]]

| type = [[Undead]]

| ac = 10

| hp = 1

| movement m= 9

| weight kg = 50

| wis save prof = yes

| passives = Immune To Control Undead, Opportunity Attack

'''Withers''' is a mysterious [[undead]] entity that joins the party on their adventures as a [[camp follower]]. He calls himself ''"a scribe, a seneschal - a keeper of records"'', and offers resurrection services to the party, allows characters to change or reset their class and provides the services of [[hireling]]s.

{{DiQ|What is the worth of a single mortal's life?|Withers}}

===Gameplay===

*Withers is an [[Undead]] creature whose level scales with that of the party.

*He can be encountered in Act 1 and remains with the party throughout the game.

*He cannot be damaged nor killed.

*He is the only means of changing class in the game.

 

Withers has pale-brown, desiccated skin splotched with red spots. Strikingly, he lacks a nose but retains his other facial features. His outfit is tattered by the passage of time, and he wears bandages around his arms and chest. Despite his looks, his face, arms and parts of his collarbone are adorned with elaborate gilded strips of metal, giving him a regal look.

Though he may seem cryptic at times, Withers seems genuinely invested in the party's success against the [[Absolute]] and not only offers his services to aid them, but also provides information and guidance, in his own mysterious way. He is very matter-of-fact when spoken to, especially when it comes to gods and divinity, but he's never rude. He respects those with the courage to stand up to fate and take destiny into their hands, such as [[The Dark Urge]] when rejecting [[Bhaal]] for good.

At times, he also shows a kindness rarely seen as is the case with [[Arabella]] should she join the party as a camp follower. Withers soothes her after she finds her parents are dead, and will gently guide her in her journey of understanding of the Weave. He also organised the gathering after the events of the game simply for the enjoyment of the companions, and rescued [[Milil]] from the Fugue Plane he was trapped in, even if it only was to provide music and entertainment. Furthermore, he seems to enjoy more mundane activities as evidenced by his multiple luncheons with [[Tara]] and [[Gale|Gale's]] mother.

In the epilogue, Withers can be seen speaking to the mural of the [[Dead Three]] not only with a familiar tone, but also with great disdain, dismissing them as fools and vermin. Whatever his relation to them, he has no apparent respect for them, and chides them.

**Characters cannot change their race, appearance, origin, or background.

Later, Withers will appear at the [[Campsite|campsite]] and join as a [[Camp Follower|camp follower]]. If the party reaches the courtyard of the goblin camp, or progresses far enough without completing [[Explore the Ruins]] and meeting him in the crypt, this will still happen. If the party then visits the crypt, they'll still be able to complete the aforementioned quest, but the sarcophagus will be empty.

If the [[The Dark Urge]] is chosen as [[origin]] and refuses to become the Chosen of [[Bhaal]] after killing [[Orin]], Bhaal will seemingly kill the player character. However, in the final moment, Withers will appear and tell the player character that while Bhaal could destroy his own spawn, he could not destroy the new self that the player character had become by resisting the Dark Urge. He pronounces the player character redeemed and free of Bhaal's influence and brings them back to life.

Though the game never explicitly states it, it heavily implies Withers is actually [[Jergal]], the erstwhile ''"Lord of the End of Everything"'', a powerful god who willingly gave up part of his divine portfolio to three evil adventurers who would then become the [[Dead Three]]. Jergal would henceforth carry out his duty as a bookkeeper of the dead. For more information see [[Jergal]].

 

 

* Ah, yes. Well struck.

* Thy accuracy would be lauded, had it a purpose.

* Hast thou considered this is a waste of mortal energy?

* When one tries and fails so many times, it is often named madness.

==Loot==

Withers cannot be killed or looted.

<gallery heights="200px" mode="packed">

Withers.webp|Appearance during Early Access.

Withers Model.png|Withers' in-game model.

* Withers puts the gold he receives for his services into a pickpocketable inventory, so it's possible to steal back any money paid. Withers will not react to failed pickpocketing, allowing unlimited attempts.

* If speaking with a hireling, it is revealed Withers is in fact controlling them remotely. In a sense, this makes Withers indirectly a companion as well.

* There is never a point where Withers actually reveals that his name is Withers, this information is revealed purely via the subtitles. It is unclear how the party members themselves learn this.