The Emperor: Difference between revisions

'''The Emperor''', is a [[Mind Flayer]] NPC that appears in [[Baldur's Gate 3]]. It acts as a guide, and unlikely ally to the party, having the means to protect your mind from the influence of the [[Absolute]] through the use of the [[Orpheus|prisoner]] within the [[Mysterious Artefact|Astral Prism]].

{{Q|"Don't let my form decieve 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, upon the player meeting it in it's true form}}

During this time, it also offers the party the Astral Touched Tadpole, which causes the user to transform into a [[Illithid Powers|Half-Illithid]]. It insists the path of the Mind Flayer is preferable, regardless of the player's view on them, This may seen contradicting with it's previous promise as the [[Dream Visitor]] to ensure they do not become [[Mind Flayer|Mind Flayers]], but this promise refers to the player becoming a Mind Flayer unwillingly because of the Elder Brain, The Emperor is in favor of the player becoming a Mind Flayer of their own volition and without the influence of the Elder Brain.

Over time, it reveals itself as formerly an adventurer, who sought out the [[Moonrise Towers]], only to find a coven of [[Mind Flayer|Mind Flayers]], becoming infected with the tadpole as a result. After it had broken free for the first time, it established a partnership with [[Duke Stelmane]]. It was discovered by [[Enver Gortash]], and was once more put under the enslavement of the [[Absolute]]. It was only freed when he was ordered to retrieve the [[Mysterious Artefact]], which led to his freedom once more, as well as it's discovery of [[Orpheus]], the Prince of the Comet, as named by the [[Githyanki]].

Ansur attempted to kill his former friend as the latter slept, (Ansur chose so because this would be a merciful death) - This attempt was felt by Balduran. In his struggle to protect himself from being murdered, Balduran killed Ansur in self-defence. After the confrontation with Ansur's reanimated body and subsequent fight, the Emperor reveals that, after securing enough money to fund the building of the Wall that led to Baldur's Gate founding, he felt the call of the sea once more. On the voyage, and following a shipwreck, Balduran made his way to Moonrise Towers, in search of fortune. There, the events unfolded in very much the way he had previously explained to the player: he discovered and was captured by a colony of mindflayers who infected him. As a record of his interrogation by Enver Gortash during the planning phases of the Absolute Hoax states, he spent ten years under the thrall of the Moonrise Elder Brain. His friend (and more) Ansur did bring him back to independent thought and free will.   

After Ansur's death, Balduran came to be called the Emperor as he used his newfound psychic influence (not sure if he used the psychic powers for this purpose) to rule Baldur's Gate from the shadows. For the next four centuries, he made his haven under the tavern of Elfsong, keeping various sentimental knick knacks such as his old dog Rascal's collar, his favourite recipe (fiddlehead soup), his first adventuring sword, or his mother's gifted cutlery set (the butter knife having been lost during his last shipwreck on the eponymous Isle of Balduran, inside the wreck of the Wandering Eye ship), but also more illithid-adequate items such as chains for his prefered prey - criminals, as he assures the player - or jars for brains.