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| image = Emperor Model.png | | image = Emperor Model.png | ||
}} | }} | ||
{{ | {{Infobox character | ||
|name = The Emperor | | name = The Emperor | ||
|image= | | image = The Emperor.png | ||
| voice = Scott Joseph | |||
| role = [[Temporary companion]] | |||
| race = [[Mind flayer]] | |||
| hometown = [[Baldur's Gate]] | |||
| | |||
| | |||
| | |||
}} | }} | ||
{{Tab | {{Tab | ||
|one=The Emperor | |one=The Emperor | ||
|one-name=The Emperor | |one-name=The Emperor | ||
|two=The Emperor/ | |two=The Emperor/combat | ||
|two-name=Combat | |two-name=Combat | ||
|three=Dream Guardian | |three=Dream Guardian | ||
|three-name=Dream Guardian | |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, | '''The Emperor''' is a [[mind flayer]] who appears in [[Baldur's Gate 3]]. It{{note|The Emperor, like other mind flayers, is addressed using the "it" pronoun. It is incidentally referred to as "he" in-game, and "they" in the game's files, possibly due to an oversight, or characters conflating its current and previous identities.}} 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. | ||
{{SpoilerWarning|act=3}} | {{SpoilerWarning|act=3}} | ||
== Overview == | |||
== | === Identity === | ||
==Identity== | |||
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. | ||
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{{Q|"Don't let my form deceive you. I am the one that's been protecting you. I am the one that came to you in your dreams. Help me.|The Emperor, during Act 3}} | {{Q|"Don't let my form deceive you. I am the one that's been protecting you. I am the one that came to you in your dreams. Help me.|The Emperor, during Act 3}} | ||
=== Personal quest === | |||
After reaching the [[Elfsong Tavern]] in Act Three, the Emperor will initiate the quest [[Visit the Emperor's Old Hideout]], in which the player can better get to know the Emperor. It discloses some of its past, during its time in the city and from before it became illithid. | |||
=== Recruitment === | |||
The Emperor can appear in multiple combat encounters as a controllable ally, a neutral ally, or an enemy. It cannot, however, become a full member of the player's party or camp. | |||
=== Romance === | |||
The Emperor can have a romance with the player during Act Three. See [[#Romance_2|Romance]]. | |||
==History== | ==History== | ||
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During those four centuries, it also came to be associated with the Knights of the Shield, a lawful and neutral evil conglomerate of politicians and merchants manipulating events behind the scenes. [[Belynne Stelmane|Duke Stelmane]] was a major figure of this secret society, acting as the Emperor's envoy while it secretly kept her enthralled. {{note|name=stelmaneModule}} | During those four centuries, it also came to be associated with the Knights of the Shield, a lawful and neutral evil conglomerate of politicians and merchants manipulating events behind the scenes. [[Belynne Stelmane|Duke Stelmane]] was a major figure of this secret society, acting as the Emperor's envoy while it secretly kept her enthralled. {{note|name=stelmaneModule}} | ||
Sometime before the events of the game, [[Enver Gortash]] and [[the Dark Urge]] captured the Emperor, and brought it back under the thrall of the Moonrise Elder Brain, who was now wearing the Crown of Karsus and had become the Netherbrain masquerading as the [[Absolute]]. The Netherbrain, sought to have all three Chosen of the Dead Three killed, and specifically picked the Emperor to lead a team of illithids on a nautiloid to search for and steal from the [[Githyanki]] the Astral Prism containing | Sometime before the events of the game, [[Enver Gortash]] and [[the Dark Urge]] captured the Emperor, and brought it back under the thrall of the Moonrise Elder Brain, who was now wearing the Crown of Karsus and had become the Netherbrain masquerading as the [[Absolute]]. The Netherbrain, sought to have all three Chosen of the Dead Three killed, and specifically picked the Emperor to lead a team of illithids on a nautiloid to search for and steal from the [[Githyanki]] the Astral Prism containing their prince, Orpheus.{{ref|[[The Netherbrain]]'s dialogue to the player at the [[Morphic Pool]].}}{{clear}} | ||
}} | }} | ||
== | == Events of Baldur's Gate 3 == | ||
=== Act Two finale === | |||
{{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 Guardian calling out for help. However, when the party reaches them, it is only to discover the true identity of their visitor | 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 that the true identity of their visitor is 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 | 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 an [[Astral-Touched_Tadpole|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 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. | 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. | ||
== | === Act Three === | ||
==== Elfsong Tavern ==== | |||
{{main|Visit the Emperor's Old Hideout}} | {{main|Visit the Emperor's Old Hideout}} | ||
As the party nears the [[Elfsong Tavern|Elfsong]], the Emperor will remark that the tavern is the location of its old hideout. The hideout proper is in the basement, past the Knights of the Shield's hideout. In it, the player will find various sentimental knick knacks from the Emperor's previous life, before becoming an illithid. | As the party nears the [[Elfsong Tavern|Elfsong]], the Emperor will remark that the tavern is the location of its old hideout. The hideout proper is in the basement, past the Knights of the Shield's hideout. In it, the player will find various sentimental knick knacks from the Emperor's previous life, before becoming an illithid. | ||
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There are also some more illithid-adequate items such as chains for its preferred prey - allegedly criminals and lawbreakers - and jars for brains. | There are also some more illithid-adequate items such as chains for its preferred prey - allegedly criminals and lawbreakers - and jars for brains. | ||
== The | ==== The Wyrmway ==== | ||
{{see also|Wyrmway|The Blade of Frontiers}} | {{see also|Wyrmway|The Blade of Frontiers}} | ||
Once the party completes the Wyrmway trials, they will find the corpse of [[Ansur]] the Dragon. Interacting with his body will awaken Ansur's spirit, | Once the party completes the Wyrmway trials, they will find the corpse of [[Ansur]] the Dragon. Interacting with his body will awaken Ansur's spirit, which briefly possesses the player in order to communicate. As Ansur's introduction concludes, he will detect the Emperor within the Astral Prism. | ||
{{SpoilerBox|act=3| | |||
Ansur will reveal that the Emperor in fact was formerly [[Balduran]], the founder of [[Baldur's Gate]]. Furthermore, he explains that while the Emperor initially did not want to become a mind flayer, it eventually fully embraced its new form, and its comfort with this caused a rift between the Emperor and Ansur. | |||
This development is somewhat foreshadowed when the player first meets The Emperor in their true form, as the song that plays during the encounter heavily mirrors [[The Elf Song]], which prominently features Balduran in its lyrics.}} | |||
===Endings=== | |||
{{SpoilerBox|act=3| | |||
;Let the Emperor use the Netherstones | |||
:While the Emperor is duplicitous, it appears mostly concerned with its survival and prosperity. Should the player allow it to wield the Netherstones, it will follow through on destroying the Elder Brain, at the cost of letting it "assimilate" with [[Orpheus]]. | |||
:The Emperor will mention that it thought of controlling the Elder Brain, becoming the source of the [[Absolute]]. But unless otherwise persuaded, it will refuse, claiming that as long as the [[Cult of the Absolute]] remains, they will be in an open war with the [[Githyanki]], which is a war it is not certain it will survive. The Emperor will destroy [[the Netherbrain]], and the parasites within its control in this ending. | |||
;The Emperor controls the Netherbrain | |||
:It is also possible to persuade it to take control of the Netherbrain. In this scenario, it does not free the player or their party, instead making them mindless thralls and assuming absolute control of them, continuing the Grand Design. | |||
;Orpheus is freed | |||
:If the player frees Orpheus, the Emperor will abandon the party, and side with [[the Netherbrain]] for the sake of its own survival, as it believes - or claims it believes - that Orpheus will kill it. | |||
;Attack the Emperor | |||
:The Emperor can be attacked and killed when it first reveals itself to be a mind flayer. This will result in the influence of the Netherbrain taking over control of the party, ending the game.}} | |||
== List of interactions == | == List of interactions == | ||
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Engaging in the primary scene has no effect on other ongoing romances, even when romancing [[Lae'zel]], who is generally hostile to illithids. | Engaging in the primary scene has no effect on other ongoing romances, even when romancing [[Lae'zel]], who is generally hostile to illithids. | ||
}} | }} | ||
==Achievements== | ==Achievements== | ||
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Balduran3.png|The Emperor feeding on criminals | Balduran3.png|The Emperor feeding on criminals | ||
Edward-vanderghote-emperor.webp|Character portrait by Edward Vanderghote | Edward-vanderghote-emperor.webp|Character portrait by Edward Vanderghote | ||
Emperor Model Staff.png|The Emperor's model | |||
|alt-file2-px=250Emperor Concept Art.png|Concept Art | |||
</gallery> | </gallery> | ||
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* The Emperor's existence confirms the [[Dream Guardian]] as being an illithid influence, albeit in a different way. | * The Emperor's existence confirms the [[Dream Guardian]] as being an illithid influence, albeit in a different way. | ||
** 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 [[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}} | |||
== Footnotes == | == Footnotes == | ||