BG3 He Who Was Quest Guide and the Best Choices
The Shadow-Cursed Lands in Baldur's Gate 3 are filled with eerie encounters, but few are as memorable as meeting the mysterious Shadar-kai elf known as He Who Was. This enigmatic character asks the player to participate in a moral trial involving a deceased woman named Madeline. Navigating this quest requires a careful balance of dialogue choices to achieve your desired outcome.
How to Find He Who Was and Start the Quest
To initiate the quest, players must venture into the northeastern portion of the Shadow-Cursed Lands, situated northwest of the Last Light Inn. He Who Was can be found standing over a corpse alongside his white raven companion. Speaking to him reveals that he intends to punish Madeline's soul for a past betrayal, and he needs her ledger to proceed.The required ledger is located in the nearby Waning Moon distillery, guarded by the bloated barkeep Thisobald Thorm. Players can obtain the ledger by outdrinking the boss, tricking him, or engaging in standard combat. Once retrieved, return to the quest giver to begin the ritual of interrogation.
The Best Dialogue Choices and Ritual Outcomes
During the ritual, He Who Was acts as a medium, allowing Madeline to speak through him to recount her story. The narrative reveals that she accidentally caused the deaths of her friends by reporting them to the Dark Justiciars. Players must choose whether to show mercy, force her to feel guilt, or take a path of extreme punishment.
If you want to satisfy He Who Was, you should encourage Madeline to physically harm herself through his body, leading to a successful completion of his dark justice. Alternatively, convincing her that her actions were a tragic mistake allows her soul to find peace, though this path angers the Shadar-kai. Choosing to forgive her entirely will cause him to turn hostile, instigating a battle against him and his summon.
Rewards and Long Term Consequences
Completing the quest by making Madeline feel immense guilt or taking his side rewards the player with the Raven Gloves. This unique item allows the wearer to summon a shadow raven companion to aid them in future tactical skirmishes. You will also receive gold and valuable experience points to boost your party's progression.
If you decide to stand against his harsh punishments, you will be forced to eliminate him and his pet bird. Defeating him allows you to loot his body for his unique gear and standard supplies, which is a viable route for purely good-aligned characters. Your ultimate decision depends on your roleplay preferences and whether you value moral alignment over item rewards.