"He Who Was" is a character in Baldur's Gate 3 who is implied to be a Shadar- kai, an elf from the Shadowfell serving the Raven Queen. He is sent as a scout to gather memories and trinkets associated with pain or tragedy, often acting as a neutral observer rather than inflicting harm directly. His quest involves judging a woman who betrayed her friends, which can lead to different outcomes depending on player choices, including breaking a paladin's oath if judged harshly

. He Who Was is not a possible companion in the game, meaning players cannot recruit him to their party, which some players find unfair given his intriguing role

. His story typically ends with the quest in which he appears, and he does not return later in the game, such as in Act 3, according to player discussions

. On Reddit, players discuss the moral complexity of his quest, the impact of choices on the narrative, and the character's thematic ties to the Raven Queen and the Shadowfell