Control the Elder Brain

A new Absolute reigns.

Control the Elder Brain is a sub-quest of the quest  Confront the Elder Brain in Act Three of Baldur's Gate 3.

Objectives

Dominate the Netherbrain.

• Whoever has control over the Netherbrain will hold unspeakable power. We could dominate it and have a thousand kingdoms at our command.

Quest Complete

• We dominated the Netherbrain.
• We chose to destroy the Netherbrain instead of dominating it.

Walkthrough

During Chapter Three, the party briefly ponders what they will do with the Elder Brain once it is confronted. This occurs during a camp event. Any decisions chosen do not lock in the choice from the party.

The true choice on what to do with the Elder Brain occurs at the very end of  Confront the Elder Brain. Once the Elder Brain, now a Netherbrain, is defeated using Karsus' Compulsion, a cutscene plays where the illithid in the party readies the Netherstones to destroy the Brain. The player character can decide to betray them and dominate the brain, or command them to destroy the brain. The following options all lead to an ending where the player character dominates the brain:

• Implore the Emperor to dominate the brain and rule the world, with you by his side.

  • The Emperor

    I admire the ambition. The thought did cross my mind.

  • The Emperor

    But whoever becomes the Absolute faces a war with the entire githyanki army.

  • The Emperor

    Strong as we are, they are legion. I cannot be sure of survival.

    • [PERSUASION] We can do it. I believe in us. (DC 20)
    • [PERSUASION] We've already killed their Prince - may as well finish what we started. (DC 20)
    • [PERSUASION] We destroyed an entire githyanki crèche didn't we? (DC 20) (if Crèche Y'llek was destroyed)
• Dominate the brain. Become the Absolute. Conquer the world.
• Betray the Emperor. Dominate the brain. Become the Absolute.
• Betray Orpheus. Dominate the brain. Become the Absolute.
• Betray Karlach. Dominate the brain. Become the Absolute.

Dark Urge characters get different options depending on whether or not they embraced Bhaal or rejected him. If the Dark Urge embraced Bhaal, they can choose to dominate the brain:

• Claim the Absolute in the name of Bhaal.
• Claim the Absolute in the name of Bhaal. Kill the Emperor.
• Claim the Absolute in the name of Bhaal. Kill Orpheus.
• Claim the Absolute in the name of Bhaal. Betray Karlach.

If choosing one of the options to become the Absolute, the illithid party member is stabbed to death, and the brain is controlled by the player character as the new Absolute. All the tadpoled companions (aside from Vampire Ascendant  Astarion or  Minthara) remain as thralls, their free will now gone.

Achievements

Absolute Power Corrupts

Reign with terror: take control of the Netherbrain and bend the world to your will.