You'll meet many followers of the Absolute in Baldur's Gate 3, and Act One introduces you to Nere, a drow who believes you were sent to test his faith in the Underdark. One way or another, you're likely to encounter him, whether you're seeking to help the Myconid colony and Thulla or infiltrate the cult of the Absolute on your own on the way to Moonrise Towers.
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Nere is an interesting character, to say the least, and a formidable boss if you cross him. This particular worshiper is quite quirky, talking often in the third person and of his devotion to the Absolute. Don't underestimate him, however.
Updated January 10, by Zoë J. Osik: Nere is a formidable foe, and potentially a great ally to you. With recent updates to the game, we've added new information about how you can convince Nere to abandon the Absolute if you side with him during the fight.
Who Is True Soul Nere?
True Soul Nere is a force to be reckoned with in the Underdark. Many you'll encounter in this strange place know of him. As a devout follower of the Absolute, he executes her will without a second thought and answers to the General for his mission. You've likely already developed an understanding that Absolute members are ruthless and, most likely, evil.
He'll assume you're a test of his faith and demand you pick a side in a fight you cannot avoid (not without potentially failing the quest and killing him anyway). If this isn't enough to sway you, or if you're playing an evil-aligned character, Nere can prove a valuable ally.
He cannot be recruited as a party member, but he can aid you in your quest to reach Moonrise in one piece.
Where To Find Nere
To find Nere, you need to enter the Underdark, find Grymforge, and free him from the rubble. This is a multi-step process where you'll likely encounter several other questlines, like the Myconid Colony and the Duergar camp, before reaching Nere himself.
Once you reach Grymforge, you'll find him buried behind a massive pile of rubble in the Abandoned Refuge while a handful of deep gnomes desperately try to dig him out.
This is a time-sensitive objective. If you take a long rest after interacting with the rubble wall, you'll see a cutscene of Nere suffocating in a poison cloud in the rubble. You don't have much time to free him, and if you rest too many times, he will die before you can speak with him.
The rubble can be cleared in a variety of ways, including seeking out an escaped deep gnome with runepowder. Once you free Nere from the rubble, he'll approach you quickly and start a conversation.
There's no way to avoid this conversation, so it's recommended to save before blowing a hole into the rocks.
What Happens If You Side With Nere
Siding with Nere is, clearly, the evil option. Whether you're playing as an evil character or want to try and infiltrate the cult of the Absolute, aligning your party with Nere in the confrontation adds flavor.
Siding with Nere involves encouraging him to finish off the deep gnomes who tried to dig him out and turning on Brithvar's rebellion if you negotiated with the disgruntled gnome earlier.
You'll also watch him execute Thrinn, even if you come to her defense by saying that she tried her best to free Nere. Some of your party members will disapprove of this choice, both for telling Nere to eliminate the gnomes and siding against the Duergar you just bargained with.
Thrinn has a Ring of Absolute Force, which lets the wearer deal one additional Thunder damage if they bear the Absolute's Brand. It also grants the wearer access to the Thunderwave spell, which can be useful for launching enemies across the field.
This makes the following battle much easier, as most of the duergar are on your side, and so is the spell-slinging Nere. Eliminate the remaining deep gnomes quickly, and Nere will initiate conversation again. He's enraged that a simple operation went awry because the General will not be pleased, but that's okay because you're going to tell him.
Nere sends you to Moonrise Towers to find the General, but his Moonlantern is broken. Nere warns you not to make for the Towers without protection. This is where you part with Nere, as he will go to the temple to track Balthazar, the General's advisor.
When you part, Nere gives you a lyre to alert hidden allies in the cursed lands. Head to the elevator and make sure to rest up before progressing further in the game. This will begin Act Two.
Nere Abandons The Absolute
Alternatively, you can tell Nere the truth about the Absolute and the mindflayers behind it all. This requires you to side with him, then refuse to do anything he asks. Being belligerent will enrage him, leading him to say that the Absolute would demand your head–except he cannot hear her voice.
When he asks what you've done, you'll have to pass a check to reveal the truth to him.
Afterward, you can either mock him for being a fool or you can convince him to run from the Absolute. He's thankful that you've revealed the truth to him and will reward you, before wandering off to question his choices.
What Happens If You Side Elder Brithvar
Siding with the duergar is the best way to get through the fight and complete the Myconid questline in the Underdark, though Nere will die in the fight. When presented with the choice, select Side with Brithvar and the rebels. You'll have more enemies on the field but also more allies.
After the fight, Brithvar will strike up a conversation with you and warn you that Moonrise Towers is where the cult of the Absolute is located. It acts like their base, and they answer to the General. Before you go, convince Brithvar to release the deep gnomes.
You can persuade him that they'll only slow him down or intimidate him into letting them go; the choice is yours.
Brithvar offered you up to half the gold Nere has on him, but you can actually claim all 1,000 gold from Nere's corpse if you loot it during the fight. No one will bat an eye, and you won't have to share the spoils.
Having searched Nere's body, you'll find a broken Moonlantern. Unfortunately, the item is beyond repair. You'll need to find a new one soon, but focus on moving forward for now. Leave the Underdark and move on to Act Two. Don't forget to complete any remaining quests from Act One before doing so.
Don't forget to take Nere's head back to the Myconid colony. If you haven't discovered the quest yet, you can go back and start it, then return to the Abandoned Refuge to collect Nere's head.
If You Saved The Deep Gnomes
If you've saved Thulla the deep gnome, you can tell her that you've also saved her friends from certain death before heading into Act Two. The Ironhand clan is grateful for the help and thanks you for your service. You can speak to the other deep gnomes who survived to learn more about them and what they'll do next.
If you've saved Barcus Wroot from the windmill in the Goblin town, you'll notice he's gone and gotten himself captured again in search of his friend Wuldren.
Make sure to speak to Beldron before leaving. He can give you more information about what the cult is up to before you head into the next act.
What Happens If You Side With No One
You can potentially take the third option of siding with one, though it's not recommended. Instead of having more allies, you'll face both those loyal to Nere and Brithvar. There's more loot for you to take, but you'll have to fight tooth and nail for it. The fight will be much harder, and you'll be sorely outnumbered, but careful planning will see you through.
If you've already bargained with Brithvar to team up, the "Say nothing" option won't change anything. The only way to fight alone is to not make a deal with Brithvar and turn against Nere.
Should You Side With True Soul Nere?
Deciding to align yourself with True Soul Nere can be a difficult choice to make, but there are several benefits to both sides.
If you run a good-aligned character, it will benefit you to eliminate another True Soul and help the deep gnomes escape their captors. You'll also get a decent amount of loot from the encounter, which can help you get through Moonrise Towers in Act Two.
If you're playing an evil-aligned character or want to infiltrate the cult of the Absolute, siding with Nere works in your favor.
Similar to recruiting Minthara, the Lolth-Sworn Drow, aligning yourself with the True Souls requires you to forsake many innocent lives in the pursuit of power.
If you want to save the deep gnomes for Thulla, siding against Nere is your best choice. Otherwise, he will eliminate all the deep gnomes, and you will fail the quest. You'll have to convince Brithvar to let them go, but at least they'll be alive.
Ultimately, the choice is up to you. You can help the people who suffer at the hands of the cult, or you can join the ranks of the Absolute. It all depends on how you want to play and what choices you can live with.
