Orpheus

Orpheus
	Stats
	Level 12
Race	[[Mind Flayer\|Mind Flayer]]
Type	Aberration
HP	150
AC	16
Size	Medium
Weight	60kg
Initiative	+1
	Passive features
	Ability Drain Advanced Unarmoured Movement Charm Cull the Weak Deflect Missiles Evasion Extra Attack Favourable Beginnings Ki Ki-Empowered Strikes Luck of the Far Realms Martial Arts: Bonus Unarmed Strike Martial Arts: Deft Strikes Martial Arts: Dextrous Attacks Opportunity Attack Permanent Mind Sanctuary Psionic Backlash Psionic Dominance Psionic Empowerment Purity of Body Slow Fall Stillness of Mind Unarmoured Defence Unarmoured Movement
	Resistances
Character information
Location	Astral Prism
Enemies	Absolute, The Emperor, Vlaakith

	The Prince of the Comet
Orpheus
	Stats
	Level 12
Race	Githyanki
Type	Humanoid
HP	130
AC	19
Size	Medium
Weight	75 kg / 165 lbs
Initiative	4
	Passive features
	Advanced Unarmoured Movement Deflect Missiles Evasion Extra Attack Ki Ki-Empowered Strikes Martial Arts: Bonus Unarmed Strike Martial Arts: Deft Strikes Martial Arts: Dextrous Attacks Opportunity Attack Psionic Empowerment Purity of Body Slow Fall Stillness of Mind Unarmoured Defence Unarmoured Movement
	Resistances
Character information
Class	Way of the Four Elements
Location	Astral Prism
Enemies	Absolute, The Emperor, Vlaakith
Model

	The Prince of the Comet
Orpheus
	Stats
	Level 12
Race	Githyanki
Type	Humanoid
HP	130
AC	19
Size	Medium
Weight	75 kg / 165 lbs
Initiative	4
	Passive features
	Advanced Unarmoured Movement Deflect Missiles Evasion Extra Attack Ki Ki-Empowered Strikes Martial Arts: Bonus Unarmed Strike Martial Arts: Deft Strikes Martial Arts: Dextrous Attacks Opportunity Attack Psionic Empowerment Purity of Body Slow Fall Stillness of Mind Unarmoured Defence Unarmoured Movement
	Resistances
Character information
Class	Way of the Four Elements
Location	Astral Prism
Enemies	Absolute, The Emperor, Vlaakith
Model
Orpheus
	Stats
	Level 12
Race	[[Mind Flayer\|Mind Flayer]]
Type	Aberration
HP	150
AC	16
Size	Medium
Weight	60kg
Initiative	+1
	Passive features
	Ability Drain Advanced Unarmoured Movement Charm Cull the Weak Deflect Missiles Evasion Extra Attack Favourable Beginnings Ki Ki-Empowered Strikes Luck of the Far Realms Martial Arts: Bonus Unarmed Strike Martial Arts: Deft Strikes Martial Arts: Dextrous Attacks Opportunity Attack Permanent Mind Sanctuary Psionic Backlash Psionic Dominance Psionic Empowerment Purity of Body Slow Fall Stillness of Mind Unarmoured Defence Unarmoured Movement
	Resistances
Character information
Location	Astral Prism
Enemies	Absolute, The Emperor, Vlaakith

Orpheus, is a Githyanki that appears in Baldur's Gate 3. He acts as the supposed true ruler of the Githyanki. However, he has been captured and is imprisoned in the Astral Plane. Being a Githyanki, he seeks to destroy the Mind Flayers and remove Vlaakith from power.

“	"Quickly now - even here, we do not have infinite time.	„
	— Orpheus after being freed from his prison.

Background

According to to the inscribed discs, banned by followers of Vlaakith and labelled as heretical, Orpheus is the first, and only, son of Gith, the leader of the rebellion that freed the race that would then bear her name, from the Mind Flayer Empire. Sometime after the beginning of their freedom, the collective Gith race split into two cultures; the Githyanki and the Githzerai, the former, Orpheus was a part of.

Upon discovering that Vlaakith I (Not to be confused with Vlaakith CLVII) had betrayed his mother, sacrificing her to create a pact with Tiamat, Orpheus led Gith's Honor Guard in a revolt and named himself the rightful king of the Githyanki, triggering the War of the Comet. At the head of the Honor Guard mounted on red dragons, Orpheus bravely fought Vlaakith's knights in a battle in the Astral Plane, where he praised Gith and accused Vlaakith. Yet he was overcome and defeated, lost in the fiery dragon breath of the red ridden by Kith'rak Voss, and was thought dead.

Unknown to all but Vlaakith and Voss, however Orpheus was instead imprisoned within the Astral Prism, so that Vlaakith may exploit the powers he inherited from his mother.

At some time before the events of Baldur's Gate 3, The Emperor had discovered the Astral Prism, who proceeded to use it to rebel against the Elder Brain.

Act Three

Orpheus is only ever mentioned in previous acts, either as the true ruler of the Githyanki people, or as a corruptive force. He is finally found, imprisoned within the Astral Prism when the party enters it to help The Emperor. The Party can either help The Emperor keep him imprisoned, or fight to free him, but only the former yields positive results, as the party, without The Emperor's assistance, falls to the Absolute, and are likely killed by Orpheus and his honor guard.

Orpheus' fate is entirely dependant on the player, and their choices. Several events can occur based on the following criteria;

If the party collects the Orphic Hammer through any means, and uses it to free him at the end of the game, he will accompany the players through the final hurdle, and help them destroy The Netherbrain.
- If the player refuses to have anyone in their current party turn into a Mind Flayer in order to control the Netherstones, he will turn into a Mind Flayer himself. In this instance, he will desire to die, rather than to live as an abomination, but can be convinced to spare himself, only if Lae'zel takes his place as the Githyanki people's savior if she is in the party.
- If the player or a party member becomes a Mind Flayer, he will thank them for their sacrifice, promising they will be remembered as a hero. Once The Netherbrain is defeated, he will move to freeing his people from Vlaakith's rule, notably inviting Lae'zel to join him.
If the party does not collect the Orphic Hammer, or refuses to use it, The Emperor will consume Orpheus' brain, assimilating his abilities.

Combat

Attacks and abilities

Githyanki

In his githyanki form, Orpheus is a Way of the Four Elements and has the following abilities:

Illithid

In his mind flayer form, Orpheus gains Full-Illithid powers, as well as some regular illithid powers. His Permanent Mind Sanctuary ability also means he may always use Actions and Bonus Actions interchangeably. Orpheus the following illithid powers:

Related quests

Gallery

Concept art
Concept art
Trapped
Ditto
It seems we must be allies
Orpheus' Tattoo in tir'su (see trivia below)
Tattoo in-game, datamined by Chubblot

Notes

His tattoos have writing in tir'su - the gith writing system, see Gallery above.
- Mostly nonsense and a mirrored word for Vlaakith - misspeled as "Alaakith". It was probably written as a defiance to her ways.
- Githyanki and Githzerai use the same writing system but githyanki write clockwise while gitzerai - counter-clockwise, though unlike Orpheus, the githzerai do not mirror the symbols.
Orpheus is also the name of a demigod in Greek mythology who traveled with Jason and the Argonauts in pursuit of the Golden Fleece, but was primarily famous for his journey to the Underworld.
Orpheus is the only character who will comment on the player sleeping with The Emperor.

External Links

Orpheus on the Forgotten Realms Wiki

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