Jergal: D&D’s Lord of the End of Everything

Baldurs Gate 3 Lore fans rejoice! Today we are going over the original God of Death from the Forgotten Realm Setting, Jergal. His story is pretty unique and interesting, especially considering he had a behind the scenes presence in BG3 as "Withers".
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[@jandocarrillo2731]

"Fate spins along as it should."

[@eileenlu4108]

Correct

[@TobyKBTY]

“No”

[@Mr_Welch]

In 3.5 he is listed as LN, so per the rules you can have a paladin to him. Since one of his requirements was to record the names of the dead, our paladin ran around smiting his enemies and then identifying them. He was literally kicking ass and taking names.

[@The_NaturalOnes]

That’s awesome

[@cellamuert]

Jergal is my favorite god in DnD, with BG3 being my introduction to the universe and Withers being so awesome. It seems like Larian really took his story and wrote the next part

[@thenson1Halo]

Jergal was a Weaver originally. The last one remaining it would seem. He has some bones to pick with Vecna and I always hoped we would see it.

[@The_NaturalOnes]

Do you know where that’s from? I read he was associated with the weavers but not verified that he was one

[@thenson1Halo]

@@The_NaturalOnes I'm having trouble finding the official source since WotC has gotten so stingy. I do remember reading it though and I believe Ed Greenwood mentioned it in one of his videos. Not technically an "official" source even if I remember correctly, but it is hard to cast doubt on that particular fellows words.

[@The_NaturalOnes]

@@thenson1Halo Oh ya, the word of Ed Greenwood is canon (FR at least). Too bad I didn't come across that.. Thanks for this though!

[@alexwagener4677]

​@@The_NaturalOnes check out AJ Pickets video on forbidden secrets of the forgotten Realms, He gives a good breakdown on Jergals true Form. The weirdest and most interesting forbidden knowledge in Dnd something that vecna will definately turn you into a nothic for.

[@D--FENS]

I believe this is from Eric L. Boyd's Jergal: Lord of the End of Everything. While it is a DM's Guild product, Boyd has written official material for decades.

[@Star_dragon8]

also one other possible reason Jergal looks like a mummiefied inscet is because he was the god of death since primordial times when dinosaurs monstrous beast and giant insect roamed the world

[@Mrryn]

My only issue with the theory that goes against the Dead 3 story of Jergal stepping down is that Jergal, by all accounts I am familiar with, is never characterized as even remotely covetous or ambitious. He is Lawful Neutral and strictly is Death - the end, the psychopomp, and the destination. He had every bit of power, even over gods; existence was solved for him. What would "overtaking" Ao in power even accomplish other than what he already had +1? If anything that sounds something more akin to Vecna or the Greyhawk god of death Nerull than Jergal - using the portfolio of death as a means to a greater end, rather than exemplifying the portfolio. That, tbh, is what makes Jergal more fascinating a character for me. A death god that ended up not just bored but feeling stagnant, trapped in his position, and seeking a change and something new to strive for...if anything, it's weirdly human, which is interesting for someone who is ostensibly the most powerful being short of the Overgod. All the power in existence, everything solved and accounted for...and yet because that's what he is, that's all he has. So he seeks something new, even if he is not sure what will happen. If anything, that's the point: he finally doesn't know for certain and things can be somewhat exciting for him. It all being a long-con ruse, even against himself, to just take back all the power he had +1 and, what, render the entirety of existence to death? Just feels dumb and Machiavellian for the sake of it, as if there aren't enough entities with the exact same plan. Adding Jergal to the pile, in the act of making him seem cool and devious, ironically makes him boring and derivative.

[@The_NaturalOnes]

I agree… but I do think it may not be ambition in the traditional sense. He doesn’t want power for powers sake, it’s more about control. I don’t think I’m completely satisfied by this eternal entity bring “bored” of this position, there is no other behavior to support this. I think your theory is interesting though

[@morrigankasa570]

I agree with you Mrryn. What's more any lore/ideas that only come from D&D adjacent videogames I don't consider truly Canon. I have played the "Baldur's Gate Dark Alliance" on GameCube, yet little to none of that lore is deeply connected to anything else in Forgotten Realms/D&D. Anyway, @Natural Ones could you do a deep dive into Myrkul Lore? He is my favorite of the "Dead Three" including his legendary crown. I created 12 different Lvl 1 Characters in case I found a group, my "Death Domain Cleric" I originally considered him as her Deity but then decided on The Raven Queen after considering their 5e specifics.

[@Mrryn]

@@The_NaturalOnes I think the juxtaposition of the Dead 3 to Jergal is the point, more than anything. 3 mortals, doing unspeakable acts in a grand plan to defy their mortality and become all-powerful gods vs ostensibly an all-powerful god that has existed for time immemorial, has all the knowledge of the world past and future, instead choosing to step down from it and, in turn, becoming "more human" in seeking a change and feeling of new experiences and a lack of control for the sake of a feeling of fulfillment, literally self-actualization at the top of the Maslow triangle. The irony and frankly simplicity of it is fascinating enough imo and gives what could be just another bog-standard Death stand-in turned big bag (see Vecna, Nerull, Orcus, even Death in media like Castlevania) an interesting twist to the character and concept of Death in the world.

[@netbekaaron7270]

I hope you read and answer my comment. First let me tell you that I agree, ambition seems completely out of place for Jergal. But what if it is not ambition that drives him but the feeling or justice that all things have or should have an end. So his plan is not so much to usurper power from Ao, as much as simply kill him, or make him mortal, to end him. As all things should have an end. Even gods. This reminds me of the of the "thermal death of the universe". Perhaps Jergal is simply maximum entropy manifest.

[@m_d1905]

In my first 5e campaign as a player, I played a triefling cleric of Jergal. Best memory was using divine intervention to reattach our Paladin's arm. We had just swung the balance of the the Realms from evil.

[@Tyraelaus669]

Ed Greenwood has confirmed Withers is Jergal.

[@The_NaturalOnes]

Sweet! I know it was like 90%, but I didn’t see Ed talking on it. Did he make a video?

[@Tyraelaus669]

@@The_NaturalOnes It was mentioned at the end of one his Baldur's Gate( the City not the games) related videos. If I can remember which I'll let you know.

[@deantevin2350]

So this is the ghost scribe that wyrm bard get his lyrics from...

[@MonsterCodex]

The real winner of BG3. His name even starts with a W 🫡

[@torinmccabe]

So he has the death note power... But does he have Light's villainous laugh?

[@korgclips868]

Probably had something similar to that in his Netherese days

[@KS-PNW]

Oh man I haven't thought of Jergal since I read the kelevmore (sp?) Trilogy back in the day.. takes me back 👍👍

[@thenson1Halo]

Kelemvor. The successor to Jergal's successor.. well one of the 3.

[@robertcorr6971]

I'm a big fan of Malar and made him a recuring big bad in my campaigns and I had no idea he had a part in the dead three's ascension. Looks like I have a lot to learn, maybe Malar needs a video?

[@The_NaturalOnes]

It’s kinda hilarious, like he shows up, gets told to kick rocks, then when he comes back they’ve already divided up the roles. Like why was he necessary in the story

[@dilanbrinkley3587]

Malar is literally the stay dog NOONE wants around

[@THEMILKMAN-cb2ud]

At some point a video on Zargon the Returner would be amazing.

[@The_NaturalOnes]

Hmm I’ll put it on the list, haven’t heard of that one

[@boldcitylongsword9941]

If Vecna is the god of secrets, I wonder if he knows Jergal’s secret plan?

[@medramonmasquedecendres2966]

There's something about Withers being Jergal that bothers me. Spoilers for BG3 below, be warned. If you play as Karlach and refuse to go back to Avernus. Or if you transform as a Mindflayer and then perform Sepuku, rejecting the monster you've become, you end up in the fugue plane. À limbo for the godless and the souls unclaimed. Yet Withers goes out of his way to find you there and talk to you. If not out of sheer benevolence, or gratitude for foiling the dead three, then why?

[@NoahofWill]

He names you friend in the Dark Urge playthrough, so maybe that's why? He's grown somewhat fond of you, so he went to see if you want a job offer lol

[@dilanbrinkley3587]

He just likes you. The same way you like random people, dieties aren't much different. Not EVERYTHING has a purpose or reason.....some things....just are. Plus, of all the gods of "death"....Jergal and Kelemvor are really chill.

[@DeanNatheos-eq3hl]

Excellent I wanted to hear about him thank you and have a good day.

[@The_NaturalOnes]

Thanks! You too

[@anon-yw4wd]

Tharizdun enters the chat.

[@The_NaturalOnes]

Why Tharizdun

[@anon-yw4wd]

He/It is a Lord of the End of Everything. Ending reality seems to be a popular goal.

[@The_NaturalOnes]

@@anon-yw4wd ah I see, it’s a different kind of end I suppose. I do have a video on Tharizdun. I suppose they are two lawful and chaotic sides of the same coin

[@irishbatman2917]

I'd love to see you do a video on Kyuss!

[@The_NaturalOnes]

For you, anything. On the list!

[@Gnomkiller2000]

Wait withers a good guy? I always killed him

[@The_NaturalOnes]

“Good guy” is relative. His goals do line up with the players in the story so he is helpful, he’s a homie

[@Fossil_Frank]

How did you do that? He's invulnerable.

[@donnyrokk]

I had seen Jergal mentioned in connection with the Age of Worms. But I didn't know about his potential "end game" involving Kyuss. I'm tempted to use that as part of the Age of Worms campaign I'm starting. Was that written somewhere?

[@The_NaturalOnes]

Yup I found it in Dragon Magazine #130, page 17

[@donnyrokk]

@@The_NaturalOnes Much appreciated. Keep up the amazing work!

[@markcurtis8122]

All that just to end up in my camp making fun of me for not getting laid

[@Adam_First]

Great video

[@netbekaaron7270]

I hope you read and answer my comment. First let me tell you that ambition seems completely out of place for Jergal. But what if it is not ambition that drives him but the feeling or justice that all things have or should have an end. So his plan is not so much to usurper power from Ao, as much as simply kill him, or make him mortal, to end him, or to bring Ao closer to his end. As all things should have an end. Even gods. Even the God of all. This reminds me of the of the "thermal death of the universe". Perhaps Jergal, is simply maximum entropy manifest.

[@spooklyshiba]

The best time for Jergal's plans to work is now, for DnD is dead. Long live dnd.

[@The_NaturalOnes]

DnD will never die as long as we keep playing. Who cares what WOTC is putting out, that was never what made DnD

[@Raizelga]

"Gerbil" 🐹

[@austinjohnson6642]

Comment for the algorithm god

[@The_NaturalOnes]

Homie

[@MRDLT00]

Jergel….am I’m stroking out cause I’m pretty sure it was Nergel, at least in edition 3.5 😅

[@The_NaturalOnes]

Nergal is a different dude

[@MRDLT00]

@@The_NaturalOnes Wait there really is just another God of Deatg called Jergal in all of this?!?!! God D&d can be weird at times. 😅

[@mangamango1340]

Did Metroman play DND or did Jergal watch Megamind

[@ANGRYWOLVERINE2060-ft2nc]

But why make the strange bargain with the 3 evil Gods he helped to make and then come back to in effect help thwart them.

[@The_NaturalOnes]

Allegedly because Ao won’t let him amass enough power to overthrow him by letting him grow in power of time. So instead he divides power between three gods he can manipulate, so that one day he can absorb them all and instantly have more power than even Ao

[@HarmlessHamshire]

​@@The_NaturalOnes 5D chess 😮

[@luckyowl6432]

Obligatory comment

[@The_NaturalOnes]

Love you

[@HellbenntTube]

It’s pronounced yer-gal

[@The_NaturalOnes]

Everything I saw was JER-gul, trust me I wanted to pronounce yer-gal. Where did you see this?

[@ct578]

balduws gate

[@The_NaturalOnes]

Troll

[@satchelraidincoming636]

Where does Jergel get his power? Nobody is praying to him anymore I'd presume...

[@NoahofWill]

Afaik, truly old gods like Jergal don't rely on the power of mortal souls in their domain like other, younger gods

[@twilitlloyd7167]

I feel like every time anyone or anything reaches their final end, whether it’s natural or artificial, their soul would have to pass through his domain to be recorded for a final time. Whether you pray to Jergal or not, all things are of his domain, for all things eventually end. In the words of Death the endless: “When the first living thing existed, I was there waiting. When the last living thing dies, my job will be finished. I'll put the chairs on the tables, turn out the lights and lock the universe behind me when I leave.”