Bhaal

Bhaal is the God of Murder, a member of the Dead Three and the progenitor of all Bhaalspawn, who are his children. He is associated with the domain of Death. Bhaal cannot be the deity of a Cleric player character. His worshippers in Baldur's Gate 3, the Cult of Bhaal, also play a prominent role in Act Three.

“

Domination. Slaughter. Mountains of corpses, you standing atop them. You must destroy this world. It is what you were made for.

„

— Bhaal, to his chosen spawn

Revelations

Act Two

 Orin the Red is revealed to be Bhaal's Chosen. In the Mind Flayer Colony underneath Moonrise Towers, Orin is accompanied by  Enver Gortash and  Ketheric Thorm. It is uncovered that the Dead Three – ⁠Bane, Bhaal, and ⁠Myrkul – have once again formed an alliance to have their chosen create the Cult of the Absolute. Using her  Netherstone, the Lash of Bhaal, Orin orders the Netherbrain to march the Absolute's armies on Baldur's Gate.

Act Three

During the confrontation with Orin at the Temple of Bhaal, she can be told the truth about how  Sarevok Anchev was the one who ordered her mother,  Helena Anchev, to kill her when she was young. If so told, she refuses to believe it at first, but a successful Deception or Religion check causes her to have a mental breakdown; Bhaal then personally intervenes and transforms a hysterical Orin into the Slayer.

Orin is devastated by the player character's revelations of her past.

After Orin the Red is defeated,  Sceleritas Fel will inform the Dark Urge that Bhaal is coming. Several blades will appear from Sceleritas's body, seeming to stab through him. Within the reflection of his blood is the Avatar of Bhaal, who appears identical to Sceleritas, except with glowing red eyes and a deep, imposing voice. The Avatar will offer the Dark Urge to become their Chosen, whether they have been resisting or indulging their urge up to this point.

If accepting the offer, the Avatar will grant the player character the Slayer form if they did not previously have it, and will allow for the player character to pursue controlling the Absolute in the name of Bhaal.

If refusing the offer, the Avatar will drain the essence of Bhaal from the Dark Urge, killing them, before they are ultimately resurrected by  Withers, free of the Dark Urge forever.

Cult of Bhaal

The Cult of Bhaal is a faction of cultists that serve the Faerûnian God of Murder, Bhaal. Characters belonging to this cult can be encountered at many points throughout Baldur's Gate 3, but most frequently of all during Act Three, where the party must visit the Bhaal Temple and can even become their ally.

The Cult of Bhaal has been a major antagonistic faction in prior Baldur's Gate franchise titles. Their actions in past centuries are well remembered and often referenced in Baldur's Gate 3 when characters acknowledge the history of the city.

Followers

The followers of the Cult of Bhaal are often referred to as Bhaalists, but there are many potential roles within the cult and specific names that refer to them.

Mundane rankings

Bhaalist characters in Baldur's Gate 3 often use names that include their rank as a cultist, and usually include the suffix "of Bhaal."

Some ranks observed to exist include:

• Invoker
• Death's Head
• Reaper
• Night Blade

Bhaalspawn

Main article: Bhaalspawn

The Bhaalspawn are literally the "Children" of Bhaal, though they are not always 'born' in the same way that other people are. Although "Bhaalspawn" is not a "rank" that other Cultists can achieve, other cultists often treat the Bhaalspawn with great reverence for one reason or another.

Chosen of Bhaal

Some Gods prefer to keep multiple Chosen, but Bhaal is not one of them. If more than one contender for the role of 'Chosen' exists, Bhaal's doctrines demand that they duel to the death, until only one Chosen remains alive.

Orin the Red is Bhaal's "last Chosen standing" at the time of Baldur's Gate 3, but in somewhat recent history, Orin served as the second-in-command to a different Bhaalspawn before defeating them and taking over the cult. The identity of Orin's predecessor is eventually revealed to be none other than the Dark Urge, a playable Origin character.

Unholy Assassins

See also: Impress the Murder Tribunal

An unholy assassin is a specially anointed rank of Cultist, achieved by the rare few who can follow the strict murderous rituals to earn it, and win the favour of the overseeing Murder Tribunal.

Unholy assassins will be able to trade with  Echo of Abazigal in the Murder Tribunal.

The Murder Tribunal

A special governing body that serves the Cult of Bhaal, evaluating the actions of Cultists who want to become 'unholy assassins.' The 'current' members of this Tribunal during Baldur's Gate 3 are revealed during Act Three, such as during the quest Impress the Murder Tribunal.

Bhaalist Echoes (Red Ghosts)

The Cult of Bhaal sometimes employs the spirits of its dead cultists in various roles, and many characters like this appear in-game. They are distinguishable from other Cultists by the red, blood-like sheen covering their entire bodies. However, some of these Bhaalist spirits are observed to revert to their "original" form at specific times, for reasons uncertain.

Items related to Bhaal

•  Amulet of Bhaal
•  Assassin of Bhaal Cowl
•  Bhaalist Armour
•  Bhaalist Gloves
•  Bloodthirst

Related literature

•  A is for Azuth, and other Gods III
•  A Promising Candidate
•  Assassin's Instructions
•  Baldur's Gate Temple Of Bhaal
•  Bhaal Cult Resurgence
•  Bloodstained Parchment
•  Concerning Orin the Red
•  Death & Divinity: A Godly Guide
•  Dinner Planning
•  Exploits of the Order of Keen Strike
•  Legacy Ledger
•  Our Enemies' Fate
•  Orders from J
•  Parchment (Undercity Ruins)
•  Seekers
•  Surveillance Notes
•  The Ecstasy of Murder
•  The Lord of Murder's Songbook
•  URGENT - Bhaalist Resurgence
•  Wealth Offering to Bhaal

Related characters

•  Abby
•  Barnz
•  Blythe
•  Cilarea
•  Cirian
•  Dogaletto
•  Echo of Abazigal
•  Echo of Amelyssan
•  Echo of Illasera
•  Echo of Sendai
•  Elda
•  Farslayer of Bhaal Ghislev
•  Grimlark
•  Helena Anchev
•  Kevo Phogge
•  Kryss
•  Orin the Red
•  Phylle
•  Sarevok Anchev
•  Spaulder
•  Strangler Luke
•  Velki

Related locations

• ⁠Temple of Bhaal

Gallery

• 
  Bhaal's symbol as found in his temple
• 
  Concept art
• 
  Bhaal's Avatar

Notes

• Bhaal is voiced by Doug Cockle. He is the third actor to play Bhaal. Bhaal was previously voiced by Kevin Michael Richardson in Baldur's Gate and Michael Dorn in Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn. Kevin Michael Richardson was also the original voice of Sarevok.
• Bhaal was available as a deity for Clerics in Early Access, but the option was cut in the full release of the game.
  • Many of the dialogue options for a Cleric of Bhaal remain in the game files and can be accessed with mods.
• The main menu screen for Baldur's Gate 3 also features The Temple of Bhaal, which is encountered during Act Three.

External links

• ⁠Bhaal on the Forgotten Realms Wiki