Absolute

The Absolute is the enigmatic power behind the Cult of the Absolute.
== Involvement==
=== Act One ===
The Absolute is first mentioned in Act One. Most of the goblins in the area have converted to worshiping the Absolute, and are gathering as an army under their banner. Followers of the Absolute can be found searching the Wilderness for survivors of the wreck. 
The Absolute seems to be tied to the mass abductions and Illithid activity. Those infected with a Mind Flayer Parasite are known in the cult as True Souls. Other followers of the Absolute are branded with the Brand of the Absolute. Those who are infected with a Mind Flayer Parasite can exert some degree of control over people who are branded. 
Upon approaching the Goblin Camp the party may experience a vision from the Absolute. It is revealed that the has been protecting the party and their companions from the influence of the Absolute. 
If is cast on the Mind Flayer corpse near and asked about the Absolute, the party receives this vision:
=== Act Two ===
After arriving in the Shadow-Cursed Lands, it is revealed that the armies of the Absolute are converging on Moonrise Towers. If arriving at Moonrise Towers to further, several more True Souls can be found among the tower's ranks as well as their leader, General , one of the Absolute's Chosen; he is holding a trial for survivors from the Goblin Camp (including , should she still be alive).
During the finale of Act Two, once the party reaches the end of the Mind Flayer Colony, the Absolute's true identity is revealed: it is not a god of any sort, but an enslaved Elder Brain, under the control of its supposed Chosen: , , and , who actually serve the Dead Three. Through the use of the , the Chosen are able to command the Elder Brain, which can in turn command True Souls by controlling their Tadpoles (save the party, due to the protection of the Mysterious Artefact).
Following this revelation, the Chosen command the brain to order the armies of the Absolute to march on Baldur's Gate, while Ketheric remains behind to battle the party. Once defeated, the party obtains his , and the Dream Guardian emerges from the Prism to discuss the situation with the player character. They reveal that the Crown's magic is what gives the mind flayer parasites their special abilities, and that the Netherstones are what control the Crown (and, in turn, the brain).
=== Act Three === 
Shortly after beginning Act Three, the Absolute attempts to dominate the party and compel their transformation into mind flayers, forcing them to retreat into the safety of the Astral Prism and assist their Dream Guardian.
If is spoken to following his coronation, he reveals the Chosen's plans for the Absolute in full: Ketheric Thorm was to use the façade of the Absolute to create an army to march on Baldur's Gate. Meanwhile, Orin would use the Cult of Bhaal to commit prolific murders all over Baldur's Gate and frame them as acts of the Cult of the Absolute. Both of these acts were intended to frighten the populace, whereupon Gortash would offer his solution by defeating the Absolute's army with the Steel Watch. The fear of the Absolute would allow him to take total control, enforcing his tyranny under the guise of keeping the population safe from the Absolute, without anyone ever knowing that he was one of its leaders.
Regardless of whether an is made with Gortash or not, the party must the Netherbrain during the finale of Act Three, using the reunited Netherstones to dominate it. However, this attempt fails, and the Netherbrain gains full independence once more. Still posing as the "Absolute" to its armies, it commands them to launch a full-on assault on the city, forcing many tadpoled citizens' transformations into Mind Flayers and summoning several Nautiloids.
With the help of an illithid, the party is able to dominate the brain using the Netherstones. In a last-ditch effort to save itself, the brain surrenders to the player character, proposing they take control and rule together. If agreeing, they can betray the party and , kill their illithid ally (unless the player character themselves is an illithid) and enslave their companions. The player character will take a seat atop the Netherbrain, proclaiming themself as the new Absolute.
Otherwise, the brain can be ordered to destroy itself and all remaining tadpoles, freeing any True Souls who did not transform from the Absolute's influence and bringing an end to the Cult of the Absolute.
== Followers of the Absolute==
For all followers see the Category: Followers of the Absolute
The members of the Cult of the Absolute are the primary antagonists of Baldur's Gate 3.
=== The Chosen ===
Leaders of the Cult of the Absolute, the Chosen of the Dead Three lead the movement from the shadows.
* 
* (former)
* 
* 
=== Cultists ===
Cultists of the Dead Three that are aware of the true plot behind the Absolute.
* 
* 
* 
=== True Souls ===
True Souls are Followers of the Absolute who have been infected with an illithid tadpole which grants them psionic powers similar to the player character. They serve as commanding members of the Absolute's army. True Souls almost always have a that can be looted from their bodies if killed.
==== Act One ====
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
==== Act Two ====
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
==== Act Three ====
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
True Souls infected with an illithid tadpole believe they have been personally chosen by the Absolute to impose her will, and have been granted special powers to do so. In truth, True Souls have been forcefully tadpoled without their consent, with the Netherbrain manipulating and ordering them through the parasites in their brains.
=== Soldiers ===
Rank and file members of the Absolute's army that have yet to be granted an "audience" with the Absolute or receive a . The living forces of the Absolute are composed of a wide variety of entities with varying motives: some are devoted cultists, others simple soldiers or opportunists, and even some who have been enthralled by the Netherbrain to an extent.
* Absolute Questioners
* Acolytes of the Absolute
* Adepts of the Absolute
* Inquisitors of the Absolute
* Zealots of the Absolute
* Many goblins, bugbears, hobgoblins, and ogres
* Packs of gnolls
* Hordes of undeadYouTube Video: ZaFrostPet. First Enver Gortash & Orin & Ketheric Thorm summon The Absolute Cutscene Baldur's Gate 3: 4:08
The majority of the Absolute's forces are being led by an officer corps primarily composed of drow warriors, often former Lolth-adhering veterans that have been tadpoled. The overwhelming majority of cultists adhering to the Absolute legitimately believe that they are serving a new goddess, having fallen into the religious hoax.
== Related items ==
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
== Related literature==
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
== Related quests ==
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
== Quotes ==
== See also ==
* List of Followers of the Absolute
* List of Equipment associated with the Absolute
== Notes ==
* The Symbol of the Absolute appears to be a combination of the symbols of the Dead Three: The hand of Bane, the triangle of Myrkul and the skull of Bhaal.
== References ==
== External links ==
* 
Category:Followers of the Absolute
Category:Cult of the Absolute