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He Who Was

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He Who Was is a Shadar-kai found in the Ruined Battlefield at X: 129 Y: 106 who gives the quest Punish the Wicked. He has a Raven (white) Raven companion.

Portrait He Who Was.png
The murdered lie silent. The raven asks - will you be their voice?
He Who Was quotes the Raven

Overview[edit | edit source]

As a shadar-kai, He Who Was is a servant of the Raven Queen. Shadar-kai were formerly elves before being trapped in the Shadowfell and transformed. The Raven Queen, who is obsessed with collecting memories and essences (typically of loss and grief), sends the shadar-kai to retrieve mementos of tragic events, whether they are physical tokens, memories, or the souls of the dead. They are guided in doing so by ravens; He Who Was's raven companion is one such bird.

Shadar-kai are typically as cold and emotionless as their queen, but for an unknown reason (possibly the effects of the shadow curse) He Who Was has become petty and cruel, taking pleasure in tormenting people while gathering their memories. Ambient dialogue between He Who Was and his raven companion implies that he is no longer following the orders he has been given,[1] which the raven is displeased with.

Involvement[edit | edit source]

He Who Was can be found at a ritual circle he set up to use Speak with Dead Speak with Dead on a corpse of a dwarven woman called Madeline Madeline. Approaching him starts Punish the Wicked Punish the Wicked. He initially tells the party to clear off, but his white raven suggests they might be able to help. He explains that the dead woman was a murderer. He asks the party to find Madeline's Ledger at the tavern she worked in and bring it back so that the murderer may be brought to justice and her victims given peace.

If giving the ledger over to He Who Was, he is able to channel the spirit of Madeline through his body. The party can ask Madeline about the details of what happened, and then decide what punishment she deserves.

If making Madeline stab herself once, or shaming her for being a coward, He Who Was is satisfied. This causes Paladins with an Oath of the Ancients or an Oath of Devotion to break their oath. No Rest for the Wicked No Rest for the Wicked is granted for party members with the Acolyte Acolyte background.

Otherwise, if passing the Persuasion Persuasion checks to forgive her, or making her stab herself a second time, then He Who Was becomes enraged and attacks the party, granting the Let Sleeping Dogs Lie Let Sleeping Dogs Lie inspiration instead for party members with the Acolyte Acolyte background. Each stabbing inflicts 5 damage which persists into combat. Failing the Persuasion Persuasion check on the forgiveness option also satisfies He Who was without breaking the paladin's oath.

Combat[edit | edit source]

Attacks and abilities[edit | edit source]

Bane Spell.webp
Bane Bane (Action + Level 1 Spell Slot)
Up to 3 creatures receive a D4 Physical.png -1d4 penalty to Attack rolls and Saving throws.
CHA Save
 Range: 9 m / 30 ft
Confusion.webp
Confusion Confusion (Action + Level 4 Spell Slot)
Befuddle a group of creatures, causing them to attack at random, wander around aimlessly, and occasionally skip turns in the stupor.
WIS Save
 Range: 18 m / 60 ft
AoE: 6 m / 20 ft (Radius)
Darkness.webp
Darkness Darkness (Action + Level 2 Spell Slot)
Create a cloud of magical darkness that Heavily Obscures Heavily Obscures and inflicts Blind Blind to creatures within. Creatures cannot make ranged attacks into or out of it.
 Range: 18 m / 60 ft
Fear.webp
Fear Fear (Action + Level 3 Spell Slot)

Targets drop everything and become Fearful Fearful: they must flee from you and have Disadvantage Icon.png Disadvantage on Ability Checks and Attack Rolls.

If the target ends their turn where they can't see you, they can make another Saving throw to shake off their fear.

WIS Save
 Range: Self
AoE: 9 m / 30 ft (Cone)
Main Hand Attack.webp
Shadow Spear Shadow Spear (Action)   –  Spear
Damage: 5~54

Deal an additional 4d12Damage TypesNecrotic with your equipped melee weapon.

 Melee: 1.5 m / 5  ft

Notable loot[edit | edit source]

  • Raven Gloves - quest reward if Madeline is stabbed or called a coward, cannot be looted if Madeline is forgiven

Related literature[edit | edit source]

Related quests[edit | edit source]

Gallery[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]