Malus Thorm

Overview

Combat

Malus is the undead master surgeon of the House of Healing, twisted follower of  Shar, and member of the Thorm family.

“

The objective of the scalpel, sisters, is to soothe, for a scalpel, indeed, is an extension of Shar.

„

— Malus Thorm instructing the Undead Nurses in their "medical practice."

Overview

In life, Malus directed a shift in the House's purpose from tending to the sick and injured among the populace of Reithwin to exclusively serving the Dark Justiciars of  Ketheric Thorm's army, as he believed keeping the latter healthy would help them serve Shar while the rest were better off left to her oblivion.

Having somehow kept his personality despite being in the Shadow-Cursed Lands, he believes graceful pain and calculated mutilation are the key to truly embracing the ideals of his dark faith. At his depraved hospital, he tirelessly works to train his Undead Nurses to hone such skill, yet their hollowed state leaves them lacking in ability beyond being dutiful assistants.

Interacting with Malus Thorm as well as Ketheric Thorm's other family members, grants the inspiration ⁠Thorm Family Secrets to party members with the  Sage background.

Involvement

Act Two

Arriving at the House of Healing and gaining entry to the surgery theatre, Malus can be found educating his undead nurses on a poor 'patient'. He possesses the  Battered Lute, which is required to complete the quest ⁠Wake up Art Cullagh. He is cordial at first, seeing the talking party member as a new student and preaching his view of absence being the way to understanding Shar. After mutilating the 'patient', he urges his nurses to do the same to the party. Rather than attacking, the encounter can be completed with a series of ability checks instead:

• [INVESTIGATION] Examine the sisters and their implements. (DC 14)
  • Their blades are uneven. Efficient surgery will require further training.
• [ROGUE] [INVESTIGATION] Cast your gaze over the blades of the sisters. (DC 14 )
  • Your blades are in an atrocious condition - no way you'd make a clean cut with those.
• [RELIGION] Recall what you know of Shar's teachings. (DC 14) (non-Cleric)
• [CLERIC] [RELIGION] Recall what you know of Shar's blasphemous teachings. (DC 14 ) (non-Shar Cleric only) (grants ⁠Did My Homework to party members with the  Acolyte background)
• [SHADOWHEART] [RELIGION] The goddess has greater plans for me than to submit to your scalpels. (DC 16)
• [PERSUASION] The sisters aren't ready. They'll make me sick instead of curing me. (DC 16)

If any of these checks are successful, Malus asks how to train the nurses properly, leading to more ability checks. Three of the options result in the nurses killing each other on a success:

• [PERSUASION] Why not have them hone their skills on each other? (DC 21)
• [FIGHTER] [PERSUASION] Sparring is vital to progress. Have them practice on each other. (DC 21 )
• [ROGUE] [PERSUASION] Practice - that's how I got good with a blade. They should spar each other. (DC 21 )

The other options lead to the nurses killing Malus:

• [WIZARD] [PERSUASION] In my years of study, I have found no better teacher than example. Perhaps you could volunteer? (DC 21 )
• [MONK] [PERSUASION] When the fist trembles, sometimes another is needed to steady it. A good master would volunteer themselves. (DC 21 )
• [BARD] [PERSUASION] I take joy in performing with a master of my craft - I'm sure the sisters are the same. Why don't you volunteer? (DC 21 )
• [PERSUASION] They need a better subject to practise on first. Not a student, but a master. (DC 21)

If one of the above (non-Shadowheart) Religion checks was successful and the associated dialogue option was chosen, then two alternate dialogue options may appear. They also result in the nurses killing Malus:

• [MONK] [PERSUASION] There is no greater joy than watching a master at work. You are their teacher - who better to volunteer? (DC 21 )
• [PERSUASION] The sisters require a willing volunteer, a master of the art. (DC 21)

If the party read the book  Surgery and Physiology: A Sharran's Primer in the room behind Malus, two new options which result in the nurses killing Malus appear and replace all other options leading to that result:

• [INTIMIDATION] I have read your treatise. Initiate the final lesson, or die by my hand. (DC 18)
• [PERSUASION] 'Only with sacrifice is mastery gained.' For the sisters to learn, you must submit. (DC 18)

If the nurses are convinced to fight each other, the inspiration ⁠Inhumane Trials is granted to party members with the  Guild Artisan background, and the mad surgeon indicates that he will tend to the party next. He can be attacked, proving much easier to defeat without the support of his nurses. Alternatively, he can be convinced to kill himself:

• [BARD] [PERSUASION] I am not worthy! Please, show me how a master works - I would be honoured. (DC 21 )
• [CLERIC] [DECEPTION] You do me an honour, but I am not worthy. Show me the way of Shar - I beg of you. (DC 21 )
• [FIGHTER] [DECEPTION] I am but a fumbling squire before a master swordsman. Please, demonstrate so that I might learn.. (DC 21 )
• [WIZARD] [SORCERER] [DECEPTION] My magic has blinded me - I see now that Shar is the only path. Show me how - I beg of you. (DC 21 )
• [DRUID] [DECEPTION] I sought purpose in the natural world - I see now that Shar is the only path. Show me how - I beg of you. (DC 21 )
• [PERSUASION] I would rather acquaint myself - if you show me how. (DC 21)

Awed by the party's diligence, Malus happily makes an example of himself, stabbing himself through the eye and killing himself.

Successfully making him kill himself grants the following inspiration:

• ⁠An Apple a Day Keeps the Scalpel Away ( Soldier background)
• ⁠Inhumane Trials ( Guild Artisan background)
• ⁠The Best Offence is Virtually Nonsense ( Soldier background)
• ⁠Under the Knife ( Haunted One background)

If a party member is carrying the  Sentient Amulet, after dealing with Malus – whether he was killed in a fight or he killed himself after successful ability checks – the Monk's Manifestation comments on it: "Hehehehe - a horrific display. There is no red deeper than a Sharran's blood."

Combat

Main article: Malus Thorm/Combat

Loot

•  Battered Lute
•  Surgeon's Subjugation Amulet

Related literature

• URGENT: Request for Supplies,  Sister Lidwin advises a Baldur's Gate surgeon of Malus's descent into madness under Shar

Written by Malus Thorm

• Blood Bank Log
• Notice (Malus Thorm)
• Reithwin Necrology
• Surgeon's Memorandum
• Surgeon's Research Notes
• Surgery and Physiology: A Sharran's Primer
• Tissue and Organ Register

Gallery

• 
  Malus prepares to engage the party
• 
  Concept model by Nikolai Chugunov
• 
  Concept art by Tan Bur-Ci