He Who Was is a Shadar-Kai NPC and boss encountered in Act 2 of Baldur's Gate 3, found in the Ruined Battlefield area of the Shadow-Cursed Lands. He is a gloom weaver, a type of elf transformed by the Shadowfell, serving the Raven Queen, a goddess of death and fate. He Who Was is involved in the quest "Punish the Wicked," where he seeks to punish the spirit of a deceased woman named Madeline, who was involved in a tragic betrayal and death
. In the quest, He Who Was tasks the player with finding Madeline's ledger and then conducting a trial to judge her spirit. Players can choose to have Madeline stab herself, call her a coward, or try to placate her. Depending on the choice, the player may have to fight He Who Was and his raven companion or be rewarded with the Raven Gloves, which summon a familiar that can blind and ensnare enemies
. He Who Was is characterized by his shadowy, mournful existence between life and death, his connection to the Raven Queen, and his role as a necromancer- like figure who manipulates spirits and dark magic
. His abilities include spells like Bane, Confusion, Darkness, and Fear, making him a challenging combatant
. In summary, He Who Was is a Shadar-Kai gloom weaver who serves the Raven Queen and plays a pivotal role in the "Punish the Wicked" quest in Baldur's Gate 3, where players decide the fate of Madeline's spirit
