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The Netherbrain
 | Spoiler warning: The following content contains unhidden spoilers for Act 3. |  |
| Overview | Combat |
| The Netherbrain | |
|---|---|
| Level 20 | |
 | |
| Role | Overarching antagonist |
| Voiced by | Cissy Jones Various |
| Information | |
| Title | The Absolute |
| Race | Elder Brain |
| Age | Unknown |
The Netherbrain is an Aberration of massive proportions that serves as the final boss of the game. An Elder Brain empowered by the ancient Crown of Karsus, the Netherbrain is the overarching antagonist of the game, its insidious plans having set in motion the events of the story.
| “ | Bhaal's Chosen placed the Crown upon me in the depths of Moonrise Towers, and there I was born. |
„ |
| — The Netherbrain |
Overview
Background
An Elder Brain enslaved by the Crown of Karsus, the Netherbrain is the true identity behind the Absolute and its enigmatic cult that quickly spread all over the Sword Coast. Chained and under control of the Chosen of the Dead Three, in truth, the brain is the mastermind behind their plans, using the proud Chosen merely as pawns to serve it the Crown, amass an army and plant the seeds to control over Baldur's Gate and beyond.
Gameplay
- The Netherbrain is a level 20 Aberration type Elder Brain
- It serves as the main antagonist throughout the game, as well as the final boss
- Mentioned first in Act 1, it briefly appears at the end of Act 2 before becoming a proper enemy during Act 3
- Depending on player choices, its fate can vary and affect the endings of the game
- Dialogue choices can have an effect on its HP when entering the final battle
Quests
Description
Appearance
The Netherbrain is a gargantuan elder brain easily towering above most buildings in the Lower City. The brain is flesh colored, with crimson blood vessels and purple-blue chitinous growths emerging from the sides and the top, shaped in menacing spikes running along its dome, the flesh noticeably darker where the growths surface. It has an extremely long spinal cord and tentacles adorn the front of the brain. The Crown of Karsus sits on top of its head, simple yet well-made, adorned with rose jewels and intricate details.
When interacted with, it uses an illusion that grants it the visage of a familiar mind flayer. A huge face appears at the front of the brain, skin pale blue with eyes dark orange and pitch black pupils. The tentacles are larger, resembling that of a nautiloid, allowing it to emote similarly to other illithid.
Personality
Highly intelligent and extremely devious, the Netherbrain is a cruel creature, willing to do anything to achieve the Grand Design. It views any creature other than illithid is lesser, and is perfectly willing to use its followers as pawns. The Netherbrain also shows some curiosity when discussing its plans with the Urge, impressed by the former's cruelty, but lost interest the moment they were removed from the plan. Though chained, its immense appetite for domination and destruction made even Ketheric and Gortash wary, taking careful steps to keep it subdued.[text 1] Much like other illithid, self-preservation guides its actions and, if defeated and facing destruction, it submits to the victors in order to survive.
History
Before the events of the game, a mind flayer colony was established under Reithwin Town and what would later be Moonrise Towers. With the colony steadily growing unbeknownst to the inhabitants of the town, in time, an Elder Brain would emerge to lead it into furthering the Grand Design, a sacred mission to restore the once vanquished illithid empire.
At some point during his efforts to take over Baldur's Gate, Enver Gortash stumbled into the colony when visiting Ketheric Thorm at Moonrise and, sensing an opportunity, hastily formulated a plan: using the Crown of Karsus, an ancient artifact of immense power belonging once to the archwizard Karsus of Netheril, he would enslave the brain in order to harness its power and take over the Sword Coast in Bane's name.[text 2] Together with his partner, the Bhaalspawn, they hired the services of a diabolist named Helsik to provide passage to Mephistar, lair of Mephistopheles and location of the crown. With the crown obtained, the pair returned to Moonrise to join Ketheric and chain the elder brain, yet after the Bhaalspawn placed the crown on the brain,[1] Orin the Red, second in command of the Bhaalspawn, betrayed her superior, slaying them and pronouncing herself the new Chosen of Bhaal.[text 2]
With the brain under control, the Chosen of the Dead Three begin their plan of taking over the Sword Coast, coming up with the Cult of the Absolute, a sect dedicated to the figure of the Absolute, the name given to the newly enslaved brain. Using it, they would hatch tadpoles to infect the population of important cities and amass as army to take over the entire coast, luring them with the promise of a powerful, new goddess that welcomed the meek, the outcasts. The netherese magic of the crown allowed them to create special tadpoles that would remain in their victims in a suspended state of ceremorphosis, able to be controlled psychically while not becoming properly illithid yet.[text 3] This way, the group would be able to target important targets while maintaining the ruse of religious fervor instead of the more sinister truth.[text 2][text 4]
Unbeknownst to the Chosen three, the brain was willing to go along with the Bhaalspawn's plan until they began infighting.[1] The brain then began plotting, and one of its plans included the Astral Prism, a ancient arcane item that was the key to breaking the control of its masters.[text 5] While the brain could be controlled so long as all three netherstones were separate from the crown, it was still able to guide events to its favour. The Netherbrain, the elder brain's new form after being infused with the crown's netherese magic, granted the Emperor its freedom so it could retrieve the Prism, and planted the knowledge of Orpheus' power, setting in motion it's grand plan for liberation.[2]
Involvement
Act One
Act Two
Act Three
Combat
The Netherbrain serves as the final boss of Act 3 and of the game. Its defeat marks the end of the main adventure, giving way to the Endings and the Epilogue.
Loot
The Netherbrain cannot be looted as the game ends immediately after it is defeated.
Achievements
Hero of the Forgotten Realms
Save the day: kill the Netherbrain and destroy the Absolute tadpoles.
Absolute Power Corrupts
Reign with terror: take control of the Netherbrain and bend the world to your will.
Sins of the Father
Claim your Throne of Blood: take control of the Netherbrain for Bhaal and break the world.
Gallery
Concept art
Illusion
Crown of Karsus close-up
Cinematic
Cinematic
Notes
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Morphic Pool, lines spoken by the Netherbrain when confronted by the Dark Urge and their companions.
"You placed the Crown upon me in the depths of Moonrise Towers, and there I was born. (...) Your plan was devious, your cruelty unparalleled. I would have followed it, were your mind not destroyed by your sister. But with you gone, the three pitiful Chosen fought like children in your wake. I gave them power to harm one another with, while I crafted my design." - ↑ Morphic Pool, lines spoken by the Netherbrain when confronted by the party.
"Who do you think told the Chosen about the Astral Prism? Who do you think planted the knowledge of Orpheus' power, and the fear of what it could do? When the Chosen sent my thralls to retrieve the Prism - who do you think let the 'Emperor' slip its leash, knowing it would be the one to bring you to me?"
- ↑ Elder Brain Domination – Ketheric Thorm
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Memoir Notes with Recent Addenda – Enver Gortash
- ↑ Accelerated Grand Design – Enver Gortash
- ↑ Next Steps – Enver Gortash
- ↑ The Astral Prism Heist – Enver Gortash
External links
The Netherbrain on the Forgotten Realms Wiki
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