Summary
- Withers is a character in Baldur's Gate 3 who offers resurrection services and access to hirelings, but his cryptic conversations and hints about his identity raise questions.
- Through conversations with Arabella, it is revealed that Withers has always been a "bone man" and may be immortal.
- Withers may be far stronger than is initially hinted at in BG3.
Baldur's Gate 3 features a variety of NPCs who offer their services throughout the game, but Withers is particularly unique. It's easy to him off as a way to implement mechanics like hirelings and reviving companions, but both his direct conversations and those that can be overheard with characters like Arabella start raising questions about him. Overall, Baldur's Gate 3 builds a lot of mystery around a character that, at a glance, is only there to fulfill mechanics unrelated to the story itself, but this is far from the truth for Withers.
[Warning: This article contains spoilers for Baldur's Gate 3.]
Withers s the campsite in Act 1 either after freeing him from his sarcophagus in the Ancient Ruins or he simply shows up if he's not found in the crypt. The first conversation with him includes an explanation of how he can resurrect dead party and give access to hirelings, a set of NPCs from each class who can be added to the party. While it's possible to keep talking to Withers throughout Baldur's Gate 3, he remains cryptic regarding his identity and why he's able to revive the dead or supply NPCs willing to the fight against the Absolute.
Baldur's Gate 3 Teases Withers' Identity Through Conversation
If Arabella is saved from Kagha's snake in Act 1, she'll end up spending time at the campsite in Act 2 while she's separated from her parents, during which she talks to Withers almost exclusively. The dialogue appears above their heads, but it's also voiced, so it's possible to listen in on what Arabella asks Withers and, more importantly, to hear Withers' answers. His responses sound cryptic, which is normal for him, but they reveal crucial bits of information connected to his identity upon further inspection.
At one point, Arabella asks Withers if he has always been a bone man, wondering about him being undead and, if so, what he was like when he was alive. Withers will say that he has, in a sense, always been a bone man, and while this seems like a standard answer, it's useful when it comes to solving the mystery of his identity. At one point, he refers to himself as being unliving and that there's no death for such creatures. However, this can be interpreted as Withers not being mortal because he's neither living nor dead, which would make him immortal.
Withers Revives The Dark Urge In Baldur's Gate 3
In a Dark Urge playthrough, which feels like the intended main character of Baldur's Gate 3, one of the last decisions for the personal quest "The Urge" is to accept or reject Bhaal's gift. Choosing to reject the gift is the morally good option, but it also leads to a cutscene with Withers that heavily hints at his identity. He explains that the Dark Urge should be fated to wander the Fugue Plane for eternity but that anybody who can face Bhaal and deny him deserves a better fate.
He revives the Dark Urge, calling them a child of none now, and one dialogue option leads to him saying that once everything with the Absolute is over, he'll find the Dark Urge a home now that they're free from Bhaal. This means that Withers is not mortal, has a level of control over death, and that can help determine what happens to a soul in the afterlife. It's clear that Withers was once a powerful being if he's able to perform these tasks without access to his full power, as he says that he still has some control, implying that he's weaker than he used to be in the past.
Withers When The Absolute Is Destroyed In Baldur's Gate 3
At the end of Baldur's Gate 3, Withers shows up in one of the final cutscenes for the "Destroy the Absolute" ending. He's speaking to a painting of Myrkul, Bhaal, and Bane like he's belittling them, and that, combined with the other hints, points to Withers being Jergal. The ruins where Withers is found in a sarcophagus used to be a temple dedicated to Jergal, the former Lord of the Dead, who divided his powers among Myrkul, Bhaal, and Bane when he was tired of his position and wanted to step down. Their failure to do their jobs led to Withers speaking to the painting with contempt.
Jergal is able to appear as any undead creature, which fits with his appearance as Withers and his previous answer to Arabella that he has, "in a sense," always been a bone man. As the former Lord of the Dead, he'd have no issues resurrecting party during the playthrough or convincing NPCs to help fight in the form of hirelings.
Additionally, it'd be possible for him to defy the laws of life and death by bringing back the Dark Urge if they refuse Bhaal's gift. Plus, digging around the Grand Mausoleum in Baldur's Gate, reveals a journal where Jergal asks the same question that Withers asks, "What is the worth of a single mortal's life?" which officially ties the two characters together.
Jergal Can't Directly Interfere In Events In Baldur's Gate 3
Although he disagrees with the actions of Myrkul, Bhaal, and Bane, Jergal can't directly go against the office of Death since he's still a servant of Death. However, he offers the help that he can to the person he thinks will be able to defeat the Dark Three, the main character of Baldur's Gate 3, and their companions. This would also explain why his resurrection services are much cheaper than they should be in the Forgotten Realms; he has a vested interest in the group's success, and giving them a discount to increase their chances of winning would be a good deal for him.
Withers could've been left as a mystery whose purpose was to implement game mechanics, but the developers gave him a place in the story and scattered hints about his identity as Jergal to create a mystery that could be solved by paying attention to details. These details that connect to larger pieces of the game and Faerûn overall make the world feel alive. Without additional background, Withers is interesting enough, but hinting at his identity as Jergal and working against the Dark Three gives more depth to his character and the world of Baldur's Gate 3.
