Ayo it's Gortash-conspiracy time, gather around.
Because this note you'll find outside the Zhentarim outpost at Waukeen's Rest is INTERESTING and led me down a rabbit hole. Uktar wrote a report for Keene about the upstart arms dealer Gortash and how he took over and replaced the existing networks. This is juicy for two reasons.
First, the Knights of the Shield. I had no clue who they were so I googled them, and hey, no biggie, it's only an organization that's been around for a THOUSAND YEARS, with a secret service leadership commited to the tenth (yes, you read that right) archdevil Gargauth (who was one of his enemies? You guessed it: Bane).
They were information brokers and political agents with a merchant front. And Gortash just annexed them. Took over their operations. Replaced them. The mind of this man. It really is no joke when everyone in-game talks about what a genius he is, because that type of shit requires not only planning, but a delicate hand to execute. It requires leadership and running a tight ship, and boy, do I find this interesting.
But second, and we already knew this but it hits me once again, the Zhentarim. Their leaders were associated Bane at some point but turned over to Cyric over history as well, with worshippers of Bane and Cyric in general being claimed by the other each time one of them was dealt a destabilizing blow. In consequence, the Zhentarim are listed as amongst the enemies of Bane.
Now to the tinfoil hat section of this. Unfortunately we have no date to this report, so it's hard to judge when Gortash started this. But I find it interesting how this all leads back to Bane again and again, how Gortash seems to wipe out organizations affiliated with Bane's foes. And it leaves me wondering, yet again, when exactly he got recruited or devoted himself to Bane. Was it during that time, when he wiped out those enemies and Bane took an interest in him? Or was that merely a test he had to pass to become the edict of Bane?
But then I'm also confused by Gortash's methods. Bane seems more tyrannical to me, whereas Gortash supplanted the networks. A tyrant might have made them grovel before him. Might have sowed fear and doubt and hate. Here, instead, Gortash just spins up his own operation. And he keeps doing that: He postures as this underdog noble man who worked his way to the top, he has this front, this act of being the hero (he even says so to Ketheric!). Being a hero is hardly something associated with outright tyranny, which would be Bane's classic modus operandi. Don't forget that it's not only about tyranny, it's also about fear and hate. Would you fear or hate your hero, your savior?
Do you know, however, whose modus operandi it would be to pose as a hero, only to dominate in the end? To infiltrate his oldest foe's followers, pose as his chosen one, only to subjugate them?
Cyric's.
He was "the god of lies, trickery, and strife, having previously held dominion over tyranny, murder, lies, intrigue, and illusion." His beef with Bane goes way back, so much so, that Cyric claims to have killed Bane before (oh, and he also killed Bhaal). He ascended to godhood as an exception granted by Ao, and took on all followers of (get this) Bhaal, Myrkul, and Bane. Now I'm aware I am fully in crackpot theory land. But how sweet would it have been if Gortash had actually been a follower of Cyric, not Bane; using the Bane-worship as a front.
It would explain why he's so ready to share his power with Tav/Durge (a true tyrant would never share power so easily – which is why I also think that if Gortash was actually a follower of Bane, he was trying to use Bane to his own advantage, which didn't really work out for him).
And Bane seems to have been skeptical of Gortash as well: He doesn't come to his aid in the fight against Tav/Durge, not even against the Netherbrain. Which is particularly juicy because Bane had the power to protect his chosen ones from psionic powers. (Yes. lol. Really) So if you take Gortash to the Netherbrain and the brain kills him with a thought, Bane could have protected him. And chose not to. Motherfucker
I know, this theory with Cyric has more holes than a Swiss cheese though, I'm fully aware, and I'm still learning the lore, so feel free to correct me. But it's fun to think about.
Anyway. Someone please release me from the chokehold this man has one me.
494 notes
·
View notes
Potential ideas for an enemies to lovers X reader fic for the one and only Enver Gortash:
1.) Reader is the child of Raphael. It writes itself folks! Maybe Enver managed to escape because he stole one of her books about the Nine Hells? Potential witty banter about her wanting her book back!
2.) Reader is a cleric/paladin/warlock of Cyric, the God of lies, trickery, and strife. Cyric and Bane have a bitter hatred for each other due to Cyric occasionally stealing Bane's domains, and their followers tend to have a kill on sight policy for each other.
3.) Reader is a Cleric of Illmater, the goodest of the good gods. She spends her free time building orphanages, distributing medical supplies, and occasionally beating the daylights out of a a few corrupt flaming fist guards that are mean to the citizens of Baldur's Gate.
28 notes
·
View notes
thinking about Zhentilars and their unhealthy desire for companionships. how they had to rely on each other no matter the personal feeling, because everyone outside of Zhentil Keep could careless about them. thus creating an almost obsessive dependency between one another once they've become attached.
12 notes
·
View notes
Gortash Lore and Theories Masterpost
Gortash's entire persona is about Raphael: Part 1 (his title and plot) and Part 2 (outfit)
Gortash and Karlach, and how he loathes her for reminding him of the goodness in him
Gortash is a Cyric worshipper, actually
Gortash's age
The way Gortash doesn't look like his parents
Gortash’s height
On whether Gortash was evil as a child
How Gortash would react to being revived by Tav
How Gortash escaped the HoH
On Gortash tadpoling his parents personally
162 notes
·
View notes
Thinking about Withers' note in the epilogue
So, "dark sun", I think we're all fairly confident that that's in reference to Cyric (or is it??? WHAT IF SOMETHING ELSE???? but then there's also a lot of other Cyric references in the game, so I'm fairly confident about this take tbh).
But what is "white sky"?
Any theories, any ideas? I'm coming up short (read: "I have ideas, but legitimately all of them are too dumb and/or far-fetched to print"), and I'd hate to just assume that because I can't think of what it could be, it's just there for poetic effect djfkghsdg
30 notes
·
View notes
So lore wise, Li'ia, my tav- worships cyric.
WHICH IS SO FUNNY TO ME BECAUSE CYRIC FUCKING KILLS MYSTRA.
This is how my brain sees it:
Gale: you've never told me whom you worship- I'm curious. I also personally feel because I am your beau- I should know.
Li'ia: ....you're not going to like this!!!!
6 notes
·
View notes