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editsThe Emperor: Difference between revisions
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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}} | ||
}} | }} | ||
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=== Act Two finale === | === 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. | ||
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==== The Wyrmway ==== | ==== 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=== | ===Endings=== | ||
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;Orpheus is freed | ;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 | :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 | ;Attack the Emperor | ||
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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 == | ||