Netheril

Netheril was an ancient human magocracy until its fall 1831 years before the events of Baldur's Gate 3. Netherese arcanists were powerful enough to create flying enclaves - remarkable floating cities. Their empire was lost in the event that is now known as Karsus' Folly.

Karsus' Folly

A young and powerful netherese mage named Karsus felt that it was his duty to bring the Netherese Empire to its former glory. So he tried to steal divinity from a god to become a god himself. For this he chose Mystryl, who was the Goddes of Magic at that time. He designed a spell named Karsus's avatar that would allow him to steal her divinity. Immediately after he cast the spell, he was overwhelmed with the divine power he received and realized his fatal mistake - he stole magic from the one god he shouldn't have.

When Mystryl lost her ability to keep the Weave intact, the Magic became unstable. To save the Weave, Mystryl sacrificed herself before the damage became irreparable. This broke Karsus’s link to her magic and obstructed the weave, causing all magic to briefly cease functioning. Without magic the floating cities of Netheril fell along with Karsus himself, who died knowing he destroyed his belowed empire and killed everyone he ever loved.

Mystryl later reincarnated as Mystra, the new goddess of magic.

Related items

•  Karsus' Compulsion
• The Annals of Karsus
• Crown of Karsus
  • Act 3: The Netherbrain
  • Act 3: Orin's Netherstone
  • Act 3: Gortash's Netherstone
  • Act 3: Ketheric's Netherstone