Except when he lied about his relationship with Duke Bellyne. Empi wants to destroy the netherbrain. I'm not sure if this is just me reaching but when The Emperor explains his past and in the Letter to Ansur found on the dragons body it really seems like the devs are implying that Balduran and Ansur were partners before he got yk mind flayered, this would explain why Ansur tried so hard to cure Balduran but idk if I'm just. idk, unnecessary? forced? out of nowhere? I mean the one guy who helps us and happens to be an illithid is also the guy who founded the damn city ?. The Wyrmway was built to honor the oathbound duty of Ansur, where he had resided for a long while, until Ansur helped the Emperor break free from the Elder Brain. The Emperor's Sword +2. It is why he became an undead. And I think that's backed up at the end. Act 3 - Spoilers. The Emperor in Baldur’s Gate 3 is a Mindflayer character you’ll meet during Act 3. This makes The Emperor's motivations seem very confusing and contradictory. . — Yasmin Mwanza. The Emperor is not Balduran. The fact that he is Balduran seems so. This is the legendary hero Balduran, the founder of Baldur's Gate. You can see where to. The characters can grow and you can see them grow, The Emperor probably is the most hated one and i don't understand, he is the sole reason you and your companions are alive, he was Balduran, people likes to bring Ansur all the time, "the emperor is bad he killed his best friend and possible lover" well maybe if Ansur didn't wanted to kill him. I am one of the weird ones who decided to romance Balduran/The Emperor and I’m not sure. Baldurian. dude has zero integrity, lmao. It seems Larian might have improved the flow of the game at cost to the ending. Balduran going to Moonrise was quite recent, based on my research it was around ~30 years. . The founder of Baldurs Gate became a Mindflayer lol. +1 to AC and Saving Throws. Discover more posts about bg3 the emperor, bg3 emperor, mind flayer, the emperor bg3, the emperor, balduran, and illithid. See a recent post on Tumblr from @thistlearts about balduran. Ansur was friends with Balduran, the founder of Baldur’s Gate, and swore to. . Let's assume that Ansur has found a powerful magician who is capable of bringing back the human Balduran, and is ready to cast the necessary spell. In this role, he becomes known as the Emperor. He was Balduran, a great adventurer and founder of Baldur's Gate. The Emperor has not once lied to us, only concealed matters he determined to be irrelevant to our cause. I gather Orpheus just stopped giving The Emperor his protection and he fell back under control of the brain. He’s no longer balduran. But. And there's that dialogue option when facing it: 'I want to know everything about you!' Seriously hoping Larian steps up and adds more to the Emperor's narrative and essential reactions during encounters. Locked post. Turn left from the entrance and head to the end of the hall where you find two Dragon Head Torches. Agreed. Or Karlach. The Emperor's Sword +2. (I know some people don't have the same values, but what is missing is a non-negotiable staple of the genre in my eyes) Re: Daisy, the Absolute, and the Emperor [SPOILERS] Nerovar # 881410 15/08/23 10:40 PM. Power/Intimacy. Anyways in the cut scenes the emperor is stabbed and beaten to death by the citizens of baldur's gate along with non descript generic illthids. The butter knife line is actually a very clever piece of foreshadowing for the revelation that The Emperor is actually Balduran, the founder of the titular city of Baldur's Gate who has been. She counted on Balduran's rebellious nature and desire to be free of elder brain domination as a means. Could not avert his fate. Balduran's Giantslayer is one of the Greatsword Weapons in Baldur's Gate 3 . Balduran as the emperor also doesn't make SENSE. dude has zero integrity, lmao. idk, unnecessary? forced? out of nowhere? I mean the one guy who helps us and happens to be an illithid is also the guy who founded the damn city ? Isn't it a bit much? On a side note, when he joins the Netherbrain in the end if you refuse to give him the stones. I somehow think emperor just inherited the worst parts of Balduran but the best parts (the merits in the trial) are lost. The butter knife line is actually a very clever piece of foreshadowing for the revelation that The Emperor is actually Balduran, the founder of the titular city of Baldur's Gate who has been turned into a mind flayer, but has broken free from the elder brain to take down The Absolute. Ansur could not accept the Emperor as an Illithid, leading to Balduran reluctantly killing Ansur. However, on Ansur's body is a. " even if you pick a Background like Outlander which contradicts it by Stating "You grew up in the wilds. By this point in the game, players would have heard of Balduran several times. The Emperor is openly selfish, a manipulator, and evil (if you learn about his interactions with the Bronze Dragon Ansur) 2. After defeating Ansur the party is able to learn more about Balduran, who it is revealed is still alive and helping the group in BG3 as the Emperor. Helm of Balduran . After running the Knights of the Shield, which it coopted (and presumably converted into a more mercantile operation) from Belynne Stelmane's Gargauth (devil) worshipping cult (info from. A knave, a wizard, devil, gith. We see this through his trials in Wyrm's Rock and also by the fact his best friend was a good-aligned metallic dragon. •. The quest that Bioware and Black Isle created was ambiguous as to the fate of the mythical adventurer. Ansur tried to mercy kill him in his sleep. I'd like to see Omeluum and the Society of Brillance take a more proactive role in dealing with the Emperor/Balduran wicked ways, and have more tasks and dialog strings to tie things more securely. And as much as it wants to convince itself and you that it's Balduran, even if it truly believes it. BG and BG2 wants to present a story-centric gameplay, while BG3 wants to present a player-centric gameplay. So after act two you go into the astral prism to help the emperor against the gith guard. The Emperor is being manipulative again when he claims that Orpheus will immediately attempt to kill all of us. . So, there is a spoiler about the real identity of the Emperor. So, there is a spoiler about the real identity of the Emperor. By this point in the game, players will. He knows if he leaves, you're forced to turn someone into a mind flayer on your team to beat the netherbrain (for equally contrived reasons but I *could* ignore it). Ansur wanted to find a way to reverse this process and bring balduran back. His former allies did not accept him, so one tried to kill him, and the other wanted to turn him in. 6 The Emperor Is Balduran Just as the party is coming to grips with working with a mind flayer, BG3 throws another twist with the Emperor at the team. How to Get the Helm of Balduran in Baldur’s Gate 3. . The Emperor's timeline. . Secondly is independence. New recommendations Song Video Search. 19 aug @ 11:47 every companion. He could feel the agony of Ansur wanting to reverse the ceremorphosis when he himself didn't. He constantly supported the city with his wealth and was overall known as a honorable leader. This is. I gather Orpheus just stopped giving The Emperor his protection and he fell back under control of the brain. In theory, this revelation would give players more justification to trust The Emperor. Balduran's Favour: You have a + 1 bonus to AC and Saving Throws. Even so the guy is so heroic that he is willing to become himself a mindflyer and passing the leadership of the cause against Vlaakith to Lae'zel. Especially for a Tav who has angered Vlaakith. Balduran as the emperor also doesn't make SENSE. Discover a vast variety of The Emperor Is Balduran The Creator Of Baldur S Gate Baldur S Gate 3 Secrets advertisements on our premium marketplace. What's left and what is there is just scary as hell. e. but Raphael reveals his true form almost. 1. Above all else, he will do anything to survive. Balduran disappeared over 300 years ago and was human. This isn't me asking if some remnant of Balduran exists inside of the Emperor, but rather if Balduran is even his origin in the first place. Act 3 - Spoilers. Following his ill-fated voyage, it was left in the wreck of his ship, the Wandering Eye, on Werewolf Island. When three, though dead, assailed his port. Though if what people are saying and there's a conversation, before Orpheus is free, where the emperor explicitly joins the brain then I concede the point. Above all else, he will do anything to survive. He constantly supported the city with his wealth and was overall known as a honorable leader. Which felt out of character for my TAV who did genuinely grow to love them. Warning: spoilers for the end of the game and the specific identity of the Emperor! So, depending on if you follow Wyll’s character quest through to the end, you might learn something about the identity of the Emperor. Spoiler: The Emperor is LITERALLY Balduran. At some point, he married Cethlann. The Emperor's choice was between killing Ansur or being killed by Ansur, not between being an Illithid or not. I mostly enjoyed the. For Catarina, this story comes to light with a shadow of deepest dread. Confront the Elder Brain . He even says it during the fight against Ansur. StannisLivesOn. The Emperor is actually Balduran - yeah, the Balduran who founded Baldur's Gate - and he was once infected by the mind flayer colony in Moonrise Towers and only broke free because Ansur, a dragon ally of Balduran, broke him free. I guess you didn't care that the emperor is actually Balduran. The Emperor human face appearance as a human before he became Mind Flayer Cutscene Baldur's Gate 3 video. Ansur hints at a deeper connection with Balduran, alluding to their relationship before Balduran's transformation and slaying of Ansur. No, players learn, he is calling The Emperor that, for The Emperor was Anduran's greatest ally in his past life, the found of Baldur's Gate, Balduran. I was really excited getting to this part and really let down by the boss. dude has zero integrity, lmao. Omelum was not evil. I don't think so. So boring and not climactic at all for a dragon fight (one of I. suprpiwi. I guess you didn't care that the emperor is actually Balduran. And, apparently, the dude who murdered his best friend, the Bronze Dragon Ansur. Ok edit: I saved before the fight just in case there is some way, but after I killed him it's revealed that Ansur tried to mercy kill The Emperor/Balduran, so he "defended himself" and killed Ansur. The Emperor is a cunning, manipulative survivalist throughout the whole game (and shown in his backstory with Belynne Stelmane where they used to be allies in this evil cult masquerading as a trade enterprise, before he took over the way you do in evil cults, by mind controlling the competition) but he is not chaotic evil. You can't blame Balduran (The Emperor) for fighting back. Baldur's Gate 3 is available on Steam : on Spotify: and Publ. I mostly enjoyed the. He apparently later is captured by the absolute in 1492, even though he is basically a. 11. . I mean in every way it matters he basically is Balduran. Extinguish these torches, then hit them with Lightning and relight them. Did you know you can romance a Mind Flayer? Watch this video to find out what a love scene with The Emperor / The Guardian looks like :) !Note: I quickly add. This opens a secret passage. Apparently they were in love with Duke Stelmane long ago and that person was a girl. Emperor, a catfishing lying manipulator who only cares about himself. (Maybe this is why he has not informed us of his involvement with Gortash. Who, let us say, is mightily pissed even after all these years. According to his own words, he was turned into an illithid while searching for treasures at Moonrise Towers. Thanks to all the commenters who contributed. I hadn’t gotten that far and based on what I know of the guy, I didn’t think that was possible and it still doesn’t make any sense based on previous lore. Daisy being either the Absolute or your dark self manifested via your tadpole offered many more possibilities. The choices you get here won’t impact anything, but you can find out who the Emperor really is, and its relationship to Ansur. I loved the quest and the trials, and I think it goes to show that YOU -- not this long dead champion whose been twisted beyond recognition -- are the hero of the story. [Verse 1] O, sing a song of Balduran. Apparently the tadpoles have souls so yeah. Both are planes conquering maniacs except Orpheus posesses real innate power against mindflayers. [Verse 2] When three, though dead, assailed his. ok so the dragon lair part really fucked me up, i m sure that emperor is lying but i m always unsure which part he is lying about. The most logical answer is a time dilation between the material and astral plains, or at least the astral prison. #2. But no such cure. Apparently they were in love with Duke Stelmane long ago and that person was a girl. Memories of Balduran only amount to learning one spell when you become a mind flayer i guess 😂. Am I the only one that feels the flow of the narrative suffered. I thought that the emperor was making up some BS background story about being an adventurer, but no it turns out he's the founder of Baldur's Gate itself. Joined: Oct 2023. Yeah that was pretty shocking. Enter Balduran, and an extra bit of lore than people/soldiers/etc from Baldur are always 'Baldurian', and never 'Balduran' because poking fun at the dude's name is not allowed. When Balduran was turned into an Ilithid, Ansur suffered greatly and did everything he could to find a way to cure Balduran. The ancient dragon under the city tells you what a shit person Balduran was. Ansur was the one who tried to kill him in his sleep. That’s Balduran. Baldur's Gate 3 > General Discussions > Topic Details. Unlike the typical evil Mindflayer, the Emperor portrays complex emotions and even showcases a gentler side. I mostly enjoyed the. . See a recent post on Tumblr from @mintcrows about illithid. Thirdly, he wants to be accepted by you, having been rejected by all his closest allies. After Ansur's death, Balduran came to be called the Emperor as he used his. As commenter Wutras points out, the Song of Balduran, which plays in the Elfsong Tavern camp, pretty much spells the damn thing out word for word. Ansur hints at a deeper. 3. So either the Emperor is a straight male or a gay girl (or bisexual or whatever the fuck, doesn't matter. #2. . I mostly enjoyed the. There was really no added benefit to the story for the Emperor to be Balduran, other than a plot twist just for the sake of it. . S. Given the emperor just takes on the form of the dream visitor to make you trust him more, I can't see why he wouldn't transform into a dragonborn. Mysterious. The Emperor is just a typical illithid. She's been playing like 13th dimension chess and planned for the Emperor to rebel and recruit tadpoled-empowered adventurers to help him get one of the Netherstones from the Dead Three Chosen. The Emperor's Identity. And when he lied about the dragon under Wyrmrock. In the final path when you fail to dominate the brain, he offers for you to take Orpheus's power as your own. . . Wearer is immune to Crits. As The Legend of Ansur says, The Dragon’s Sanctum is history begging to be unearthed. venacoeurva. As commenter Wutras points out, the Song of Balduran, which plays in the Elfsong Tavern camp, pretty much spells the damn thing out word for word. The Emperor is exceptional in this regard, he has a unique personality shaped by his origins. "O, sing a song of Balduran. Much like her burgeoning feelings for the Emperor. Newcomers place a bet. Hi guys, there is a point a didn't actually grasp from the Emperor's (i. The choice was obvious. . suprpiwi. idk, unnecessary? forced? out of nowhere? I mean the one guy who helps us and happens to be an illithid is also the guy who founded the damn city ? Isn't it a bit much? On a side note, when he joins the Netherbrain in the end if you refuse to give him the stones. He originates from Balduran and has all of his memories, so his identity / personhood is a mixture of Balduran and mind flayer-ness. "O, sing a song of Balduran / Who founded Baldur. The Emperor is just a typical illithid. Joined: Jan 2023. Let's consider the Emperor before his transformation. Moonrise towers and the surrounding City were built 150~ years ago by Ketheric BEFORE he lost it. Basically emperor pulled Vader out of Anakin and lived as Vader ever since. Who founded Baldur's Gate. Yeah, about the "break free" part, the Emperor didn't break free on its own. Though if what people are saying and there's a conversation, before Orpheus is free, where the emperor explicitly joins the brain then I concede the point. Location: Ukraine. It seems Larian might have improved the flow of the game at cost to the ending. Secondly is independence. idk, unnecessary? forced? out of nowhere? I mean the one guy who helps us and happens to be an illithid is also the guy who founded the damn city ?. The fact that he is Balduran seems so. dude has zero integrity, lmao. The odds. Balduran is not the human character. Use lightning spells on both torches to turn their flames blue. The Emperor talks about how he wanted freedom but settled to be a slave when Tav has made up their mind. Premise: Emperor is approximately equal to Balduran, depending on how one defines the essence of a person. Finding out he is Balduran does nothing really for Tav or Emperor taking down the brain. suprpiwi. This is a difficult battle due to the large health pool that Ansur has which ranges from 400 (Explorer) to 600+ (Tactician) as well as its propensity to use a lot of. . . But game's not over yet. dude has zero integrity, lmao. Baldurian. idk, unnecessary? forced? out of nowhere? I mean the one guy who helps us and happens to be an illithid is also the guy who founded the damn city ? Isn't it a bit much? On a side note, when he joins the Netherbrain in the end if you refuse to give him the stones. Later on, during Act 3, you learn that the Dreamlover is actually the Illithid Mind Flayer Emperor. às 11:47 every. idk, unnecessary? forced? out of nowhere? I mean the one guy who helps us and happens to be an illithid is also the guy who founded the damn city ? Isn't it a bit much? On a side note, when he joins the Netherbrain in the end if you refuse to give him the stones. The Emperor (Balduran died) almost definitely killed Ansur out of self-preservation in his lair. The fact that he is Balduran seems so. Now that you’ve been able to find and pass the trials, we can teach you how to beat Ansur the Dragon in Baldur’s Gate 3. It could also offer a better evil ending if pursued. The fact that he is Balduran seems so. In Gortash's interrogation, he says he was enslaved to the Elder Brain for just short of 14 years before escaping during a mission where he was sent to Baldur's Gate. And it seems it pays out siding with him since he, unlike his kin, was content to rule from the shadow it seems. In the Year of the Banner, 1368 DR, Mendas in Ulgoth's Beard hired Gorion's Ward to go to. Shopping. From what I understand of mind flayers, they get memories from the brains they devour. Ansur, Balduran's dragon companion recognise him when you meet him. The characters can grow and you can see them grow, The Emperor probably is the most hated one and i don't understand, he is the sole reason you and your companions are alive, he was Balduran, people likes to bring Ansur all the time, "the emperor is bad he killed his best friend and possible lover" well maybe if Ansur didn't wanted to kill him. another trick from the Emperor. You can't blame Balduran (The Emperor) for fighting back. 6 comments. The fact that he is Balduran seems so. But game's not over yet. After defeating Ansur the party is able to learn more about Balduran, who it is revealed is still alive and helping the group in BG3 as the Emperor. Ansur and Balduran . Balduran's Vitality: The helmet heals you 2 hit points every turn. Along with his sword and armor, Balduran's shield was stolen from a museum in the city of Baldur's Gate. the founder of Baldur's Gate and, like you, he didn't choose to become illithid. To him that was an achievement. 2023 with better and more accurate information. From here, head to our BG3 guide hub for more topics like how to get Helldusk Armor or 10 things we need in a DLC. The fact that he is Balduran seems so. This is the part missing and why sympathy. idk, unnecessary? forced? out of nowhere? I mean the one guy who helps us and happens to be an illithid is also the guy who founded the damn city ? Isn't it a bit much? On a side note, when he joins the Netherbrain in the end if you refuse to give him the stones. So the Emperor was still alive on the top of the brain when I killed the netherbrain. As The Legend of Ansur says, The Dragon’s Sanctum is history begging to be unearthed. The Emperor is not a humanoid. I gather Orpheus just stopped giving The Emperor his protection and he fell back under control of the brain. Is Balduran an immortal?The Shield of Balduran was the shield wielded by the legendary explorer Balduran. So in act 3, it’s revealed that the Emperor/Guardian was Balduran before they turned. Found a minor ending variation. ) I've read that articles refer to it as a he, but then why does he take a female form as the dream visitor? Balduran's Giantslayer in Baldur's Gate is a great legendary weapon for any 2H melee user, but it's much more than just a handy combat tool. He's a monster with the memories of a man, who uses that knowledge to manipulate people similar to the kind of man his memories belonged to, because he knows how they tick. idk, unnecessary? forced? out of nowhere? I mean the one guy who helps us and happens to be an illithid is also the guy who founded the damn city ? Isn't it a bit much? On a side note, when he joins the Netherbrain in the end if you refuse to give him the stones. First off, The Emperor aka Balduran is perhaps the most idiotic character ever. it is believed that his mother gave the. Ansur himself makes it very clear that he was the instigator and that the Emperor acted out of self-preservation. dude has zero integrity, lmao. I mostly enjoyed the. every. suprpiwi. Balduran going to Moonrise was quite recent, based on my research it was around ~30 years. It is here that the Emperor’s final secret is revealed as Ansur shows the party that the Emperor used to be Balduran. I think Balduran’s Gate rolls off. I mean, considering Ilithid nature he is very much different, more willing to cooperate. Published Sep 25, 2023 Throughout Baldur's Gate 3, the party is kept safe and aided by the mysterious Emperor, but who are they, and should they be saved at a crucial point?. I gather Orpheus just stopped giving The Emperor his protection and he fell back under control of the brain. The deceased dragon taunts the Emperor, suggesting he's. As a reminder on how The Emperor ends up where it does. Emperor joins BEFORE you free orpheus and ♥♥♥♥♥ off and says "well I'm joining the netherbrain then if you want to free orpheus" this is BEFORE you free him. I mostly enjoyed the. The fact that he is Balduran seems so. Could not avert his fate. Each room will use a different set of "skills". Adding the emperor is the 2nd worst change Larian did at the end of EA right after consequence free tadpoles, and those things are in the end connected. By this. The emperor knows you need a mind flayer to use the netherstones to subjugate the netherbrain. These lines are of course about. Succumbed as threat from nether years. Baldur's Gate was first featured in the 1e Cyclopedia of the Realms and first described in detail in the 2e Forgotten Realms Adventures. fandom. The odds are cast anew. v 11. idk, unnecessary? forced? out of nowhere? I mean the one guy who helps us and happens to be an illithid is also the guy who founded the damn city ? Isn't it a bit much? On a side note, when he joins the Netherbrain in the end if you refuse to give him the stones. 19 de ago. He would have hunted Balduran to the edges of the planet to kill him. The Emperor's Sword +2. The Emperor desires the death of the elder brain so much that he won't even resist when you're actively beating him to death. While the game does touch on the Emperor quite a bit, you'll notice a lot of it's just repetitive fluff without much depth or new info. Rude. Yeah, that Balduran, the founder of Baldur’s Gate. (I know some people don't have the same values, but what is missing is a non-negotiable staple of the genre in my eyes) Re: Daisy, the Absolute, and the Emperor [SPOILERS] Nerovar # 881410 15/08/23 10:40 PM. They use ppl to their own needs, when those ppl are not useful anymore they are dropped from the equation. Mind flayers seem to have remnants of the personality of their victim, so perhaps more mind flayers would attempt to exist peacefully if it weren't for the elder brains turning them all. The fact that he is Balduran seems so. I guess technically the first brain the parasite that became The Emperor devoured was Balduran's, so it may not be Balduran but it has his memories. old hand. After battling an undead dragon, it is revealed that the Emperor was once Balduran. As for the Wizard, I’d want to say Balduran/Emperor since their flashback showed the casting of Feather Fall (Spell Wizards can use) and they are more directly involved with the Astral. There are 4 things the Emperor treasures the most: Survival, Independence, Acceptance and Ambition. Any Baldur's Gate 3 player is going to be slightly suspicious of the Emperor, well before his tentacles appear. He was captain Barbossa with legendary great sword and helmet. As The Legend of Ansur says, The Dragon’s Sanctum is history begging to be unearthed. 19. Balduran, or The Emperor now, grew to accept his. #2. The Emperor is just one of them, and there's a particularly surprising reveal that sets the stage. The Baldurans were a race of mammalian humanoids from the Expansion Region planet Baldur. The Emperor has glimpsed into Orpheus' thoughts and very well knows that the Prince will be willing to work with the adventurers. Players will design and first meet him as BG3's Dream Visitor/Guardian, but even in. Balduran's Giantslayer - 6-19 slashing; on hit, double the damage from your Strength modifier; gain advantage on attack rolls against large, huge, and gargantuan creatures; +3 weapon enchantment. The Emperor having a set of cutlery that he thinks very. Balduran's Favour: You have a + 1 bonus to AC and Saving Throws. Their past life is irrelevant. 19. Ansur, Balduran's dragon companion recognise him when you meet him. The Emperor's Sword +2. The Song Of Ba. Upon entering the prison, turn left and you should see 2 dragonhead torches flanking a bare wall. I gather Orpheus just stopped giving The Emperor his protection and he fell back under control of the brain. Balduran) timeline. How To Romance The Emperor In Baldur’s Gate 3. Could not avert his fate. Or perhaps that is precisely as he intended, for this makes him the perfect candidate to. This is the legendary hero Balduran, the founder of Baldur's Gate. Take a look between the two characters in your first screenshot and see who is lying in bed between them. Mediocre Mar 25, 2021 @ 7:36am. . He wants to be free of the Elder Brain's control. The massive Seatower of Balduran rested on a rocky island in the bay of Baldur's Gate. That said, Mind Flayers only live like ~150 years max and there is a book "Evading the Elder Brain" that says the Emperor was enslaved under the Elder Brain for 13 3/4 years before escaping to Baldurs Gate. Balduran, or The Emperor now, grew to accept his. idk, unnecessary? forced? out of nowhere? I mean the one guy who helps us and happens to be an illithid is also the guy who founded the damn city ?. 2- he and Balduran where in hiding/isolation for years or even decades at that point 3-surprise attack. I mostly enjoyed the. Finding out he is a Mind Flayer is detrimental to his plans because it causes you to lose trust (and if you found out earlier, most likely. you get a bit of interesting lore about the Emperor. Found a minor ending variation. The Emperor has Balduran’s memories and knows what motivates an adventurer like the PC because Balduran knows that. It felt like a lot of time was spent on Karlach but not so much the others. It had a full armory and catapults to battle hostile ships, and a massive chain which could. Search. I'm pretty sure the Emperor/Balduran is meant to be an astral-grade asshole. kl. idk, unnecessary? forced? out of nowhere? I mean the one guy who helps us and happens to be an illithid is also the guy who founded the damn city ?. #2. This is also ignoring the red flags the Emperor throws your way even in a good relationship with him, like being Balduran, killing Ansur, trying to convince you to become illithid, lying about being a Mind Flayer.