3,951
editsThe Emperor: Difference between revisions
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
m
no edit summary
(changes to history to be chronological, added quest sections, fix pronouns + added note, moved some notes to footnotes, fix case) |
mNo edit summary |
||
| Line 43: | Line 43: | ||
|two=The Emperor/Combat | |two=The Emperor/Combat | ||
|two-name=Combat | |two-name=Combat | ||
|three=Dream | |three=Dream Guardian | ||
|three-name=Dream | |three-name=Dream Guardian | ||
}} | }} | ||
'''The Emperor''' is a [[mind flayer]] who appears in [[Baldur's Gate 3]]. It{{note|The Emperor, like other mind flayers, uses it/its pronouns. It is incidentally referred to as he/him in-game, and they/them in the game's files, possibly due to an oversight, or characters conflating it's identity with that of {{blur|Balduran}}.}} plays a key role in the main story, but its identity is intentionally obscured until later parts of the game, allowing the player to ultimately decide for themselves if they want to know more about it, and whether or not it is trustworthy. | '''The Emperor''' is a [[mind flayer]] who appears in [[Baldur's Gate 3]]. It{{note|The Emperor, like other mind flayers, uses it/its pronouns. It is incidentally referred to as he/him in-game, and they/them in the game's files, possibly due to an oversight, or characters conflating it's identity with that of {{blur|Balduran}}.}} plays a key role in the main story, but its identity is intentionally obscured until later parts of the game, allowing the player to ultimately decide for themselves if they want to know more about it, and whether or not it is trustworthy. | ||
| Line 57: | Line 57: | ||
The Emperor plays a key role in the main story of [[Baldur's Gate 3]], and as part of this role its identity and personal background are kept obfuscated for much of the game. It very carefully divulges information that it deems necessary, sometimes arguing that the player is not ready for the answer yet, or that it will reveal specific information in the future. | The Emperor plays a key role in the main story of [[Baldur's Gate 3]], and as part of this role its identity and personal background are kept obfuscated for much of the game. It very carefully divulges information that it deems necessary, sometimes arguing that the player is not ready for the answer yet, or that it will reveal specific information in the future. | ||
During Acts One and Two, the Emperor only "meets" with the player as the [[Dream | During Acts One and Two, the Emperor only "meets" with the player as the [[Dream Guardian]]. At the beginning of Act Three, the player finally meets the Emperor face to face, an event which reveals that it is a mind flayer. | ||
Through all three Acts, the Emperor generally serves as a guide, and unlikely ally to the party, having the means to protect their minds from the influence of the [[Absolute]], through the use of the prisoner within the [[Mysterious Artefact|Astral Prism]]. | Through all three Acts, the Emperor generally serves as a guide, and unlikely ally to the party, having the means to protect their minds from the influence of the [[Absolute]], through the use of the prisoner within the [[Mysterious Artefact|Astral Prism]]. | ||
| Line 85: | Line 85: | ||
== Help Your Protector == | == Help Your Protector == | ||
{{main|Help Your Protector}} | {{main|Help Your Protector}} | ||
On the way to Baldur's Gate, the party will be ambushed by a group of Gish'ra warriors while resting at Wyrm's Lookout. Entering the portal to the Astral Prism, the party will hear their Dream | On the way to Baldur's Gate, the party will be ambushed by a group of Gish'ra warriors while resting at Wyrm's Lookout. Entering the portal to the Astral Prism, the party will hear their Dream Guardian calling out for help. However, when the party reaches them, it is only to discover the true identity of their visitor, as the illithid known as the Emperor. | ||
After defending the Emperor, it will explain how it used the power of the Prism and [[Orpheus]] to protect the party from the Absolute, and recite to the party its [[#History|history]] as an adventurer and finding freedom from the Absolute. The Emperor will offer the party the Astral Touched Tadpole, which causes the user to transform into a [[partial-illithid]]. It insists the path of the mind flayer is preferable, regardless of the player's view on them. | After defending the Emperor, it will explain how it used the power of the Prism and [[Orpheus]] to protect the party from the Absolute, and recite to the party its [[#History|history]] as an adventurer and finding freedom from the Absolute. The Emperor will offer the party the Astral Touched Tadpole, which causes the user to transform into a [[partial-illithid]]. It insists the path of the mind flayer is preferable, regardless of the player's view on them. | ||
Though this may seen contradictory to its previous promise as the Dream | Though this may seen contradictory to its previous promise as the Dream Guardian; to ensure the party do not become mind flayers, this promise refers to the player becoming a mind flayer unwillingly because of the Elder Brain. The Emperor is in favour of the player becoming a mind flayer of their own volition and without the influence of the Elder Brain. | ||
== Visit the Emperor's Old Hideout == | == Visit the Emperor's Old Hideout == | ||
| Line 106: | Line 106: | ||
== List of interactions == | == List of interactions == | ||
{{hatnote|See [[Dream | {{hatnote|See [[Dream Guardian]] to read about its previous conversations with the player when it was in disguise.}} | ||
Players have a limited number of opportunities to interact with the Emperor, and as such, opportunities for conversation are much more limited compared to that of [[companions]]. | Players have a limited number of opportunities to interact with the Emperor, and as such, opportunities for conversation are much more limited compared to that of [[companions]]. | ||
| Line 140: | Line 140: | ||
Players have a limited number of opportunities to interact with the Emperor, and as such, opportunities for romantically-styled interactions are ''much more limited'' compared to the other primary [[companions]]. | Players have a limited number of opportunities to interact with the Emperor, and as such, opportunities for romantically-styled interactions are ''much more limited'' compared to the other primary [[companions]]. | ||
If the player visits [[Crèche Y'llek]] prior to the start of Act 3, killing the [[Dream | If the player visits [[Crèche Y'llek]] prior to the start of Act 3, killing the [[Dream Guardian]] will subsequently lock the player out of romancing the Emperor, and from interacting with it in general. | ||
There are many possible ways to interact with the Emperor in the available conversation scenes. It currently ''seems'' that the primary way to unlock "romantic" options is by choosing dialogue that generally treats the Emperor more like "any other person", and does not show explicit hostility towards its actions, or its illithid characteristics. | There are many possible ways to interact with the Emperor in the available conversation scenes. It currently ''seems'' that the primary way to unlock "romantic" options is by choosing dialogue that generally treats the Emperor more like "any other person", and does not show explicit hostility towards its actions, or its illithid characteristics. | ||
| Line 181: | Line 181: | ||
==Notes== | ==Notes== | ||
{{notebegin}} | {{notebegin}} | ||
* The Emperor's existence confirms the [[Dream | * The Emperor's existence confirms the [[Dream Guardian]] as being an illithid influence, albeit in a different way. | ||
** In [[Early Access]], the Dream Visitor was implied to be a mental manifestation of the player's tadpole, as it eased them towards using their powers more, as well as showing them a future of domination and control. | ** In [[Early Access]], the Dream Guardian (known then as Dream Visitor) was implied to be a mental manifestation of the player's tadpole, as it eased them towards using their powers more, as well as showing them a future of domination and control. | ||
** In the Full Release, the Emperor plays a similar role, in the sense that it also encourages the player to expand their potential through using the tadpole's power, but it is much more passive. In addition, its interests seem to be aligned against the [[Absolute]] | ** In the Full Release, the Emperor plays a similar role, in the sense that it also encourages the player to expand their potential through using the tadpole's power, but it is much more passive. In addition, its interests seem to be aligned against the [[Absolute]] | ||
{{noteend}} | {{noteend}} | ||