Wielded by Balduran, the founder of Baldur's Gate and friend to his. Everyone he directly harms through his lies is actually evil (stelmane was a devil worshiper, he ate brains of criminals, the gith. It usually becomes more mindflayer-like over time, something the Emperor is not immune to judging by. The Emperor's timeline. Emperor is a Boss in Baldur's Gate 3. By this. He isn't anymore, but he believes he is. dude has zero integrity, lmao. The Legend of Ansur is more than just a fancyful fairytale in Baldur's Gate 3 – the Dragon Ansur, Balduran's once-ally, really resides beneath the city, awaiting a true hero's return. Succumbed as threat from nether years. The Emperor is just one of them, and there's a particularly surprising reveal that sets the stage. Emperor Solarius is the main antagonist of the Overlord sequel game. . As goofy as it sounds, the name of the founder is Balduran and not simply Baldur. If he couldn't survive with his free will, he might as well just try to survive period. That’s Balduran. But the emperor will tell you many times that he is not balduran. The Emperor is one of them as he retains the memories of Balduran and is heavily connected with him. The first thing to understand is the Emperor's List of Priorities : Survival. suprpiwi. (potentially big spoilers) I really just feel like it’s a whole cop out. Ansur and Balduran . About the emperor…. 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. The fact that he is Balduran seems so. 47 every. This obviously is a huge spoiler and if you have not progressed act 3 far or have no rescued Wyll's dad and went to find the dragon friend under Baldur's gate then turn around. 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 ?. 1- the soul is destroyed when he became a ilithid, or his soul became an ilithid soul, whatever the case he can’t bring Balduran back, just (maybe) The Emperor. September 2012. See a recent post on Tumblr from @thistlearts about balduran. The Balduran's Giantslayer greatsword, which you can loot from Ansur, and Balduran's Helm, which rests on a podium at the back of the room. Ansur hints at a deeper connection with Balduran, alluding to their relationship before Balduran's transformation and slaying of Ansur. Ansur tried to mercy kill him in his sleep. The helm also protects your mind from stunning effects – you are immune to any spells or attacks that could stun you while wearing Balduran’s helm. A knave, a wizard, devil, gith. There is a signigicant difference in that. The only way The Emperor fights you is if you free Orpheus, and Orpheus has every reason to *hate* The Emperor. Our guide discusses whether or not you should help the Emperor. That’s what you need to know about all the. Like, boy it sure is convenient that this Mind Flayer was the single most revered adventurer in all the land so. But the reveal that the Emperor was Balduran, the founder of the city, just feels fanfiction levels of contrived. So either the Emperor is a straight male or a gay girl (or bisexual or whatever the fuck, doesn't matter. They don't think they do and most when they die would rather assimilate into an Elder Brain. The Emperor's Sword +2. So in act 3, it’s revealed that the Emperor/Guardian was Balduran before they turned. They don't think they do and most when they die would rather assimilate into an Elder Brain. But the Emperor, unlike all other Mind Flayers, has retained the identity of the host completely, and identifies himself as Balduran. He still can't. Stun immunity. Emperor was not an anomaly, it was part of the (grand)design. m. 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. Minthara is the best character and she NEEDS to be recruitable if you side with the grove! Re: Romance with the Emperor, the Mind Flayer. (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. From what I understand of mind flayers, they get memories from the brains they devour. . 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. It seems Larian might have improved the flow of the game at cost to the ending. I mostly enjoyed the. Far from being created for the games that bear its name, the city of Baldur's Gate has been a part of the Forgotten Realms campaign setting since it was first published. The most logical answer is a time dilation between the material and astral plains, or at least the astral prison. The Emperor's Sword +2. In BG3, each type of weapon has different ranges, damages, and other features (Finesse, Versatile, Dippable, etc. When the Person that is infested with the Tadpole of a Mind Flayer, the Tadpole literally consumes the person, right down to their Soul, in order to. Empi wants to destroy the netherbrain. When talking to the dragon, you figure out that the Emperor was actually Balduran himself. The emperor is a great npc. The Emperor talks about how he wanted freedom but settled to be a slave when Tav has made up their mind. Balduran's Vitality: The helmet heals you 2 hit points every turn. [deleted] • 1 mo. So, there is a spoiler about the real identity of the Emperor. 1. I mean in every way it matters he basically is Balduran. I finished the game after 304 hours last night! But something that I feel was a bit lackluster was the endings for each companion and the romances. Remember, you freed Orpheus and the only reason any of you are able to resist is because of Orpheus's power. She counted on Balduran's rebellious nature and desire to be free of elder brain domination as a means. Withers explicitly says they have no souls left, no true remnant of the person they were, only memories and traces of emotion. The Emperor is Later Revealed to Be Balduran. The Song Of Ba. Could not avert his fate. The Emperor talks about how he wanted freedom but settled to be a slave when Tav has made up their mind. 19 AGO a las 11:47 a. Emperor's friend Bronze Dragon Ansur reveals Emperor dark secret Baldur's Gate 3 All Cutscenes. Wearer is immune to Crits. The Emperor's Sword +2. Players will design and first meet him as BG3's Dream Visitor/Guardian, but even in. Deep under Baldur's Gate is the Wyrmway, a dungeon filled with puzzles, an undead dragon called Ansur, and a lot of lore about the founder of Baldur's Gate: Balduran. The Emperor Is Balduran . "O, sing a song of Balduran. I don't think so. That just makes the most sense to me considering the tadpole, um, logistics. suprpiwi. If you succeed, you get to go to the last room where there is a dragon. 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. 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. He's only better in that a gith civil war could lead to the collapse of the gith as a prospective empire (after the death of the netherbrain of course). Joined: Oct 2023. 19 de ago. 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. . Despite players' hopes to enlist Ansur's help against the Absolute threat, the encounter with the dragon leads to a dialogue exchange with the Emperor and ultimately results in a combat scenario where Ansur is defeated. 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. 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, there is a spoiler about the real identity of the Emperor. The fact that he is Balduran seems so. I think Balduran’s Gate rolls off. 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 ?. Premise: Emperor is approximately equal to Balduran, depending on how one defines the essence of a person. Wearer is immune to Crits. So yeah, I don't like him. Balduran reinserts himself into Baldur's Gate politics, mind controlling Duke Belynne Stelmane and through her taking over the Balduran branch of the Knights of the Shield, a devil-worshipping group of merchants, nobles and information dealers. Traversing this trap and puzzled-filled area will eventually lead the party to Ansur, a powerful dragon boss. But instead of leaving, Ansur decided he was going to kill the Emperor in his sleep. 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. It is likely a. The fact that he is Balduran seems so. If you have him take the power he helps you defeat the brain and, unless you convince him otherwise or. He was captain Barbossa with legendary great sword and helmet. He's a survivor, just as Balduran always was, and chose to not be killed against his will. The fact that he is Balduran seems so. Below are an image of the cinematic Illithid, a generic Illithid, and the Emperor. We are led to believe, in the end, that we might also get so lucky if we transform. . Turn left from the entrance and head to the end of the hall where you find two Dragon Head Torches. Looking for an adventure? Than this is the right place! This time, we get told the whole story of Balduran, his hero days, his downfall and how that broke An. So to conclude, here's why I think BG3 is a complete reversal of the BG franchise: BG and BG2 have accidental depth due to D&D ruleset, while BG3 have depth built in as a design feature. He kept the memories of Balduran, yet still becomes a whiny bitch who constantly moans about how illithids are superior, and is only in it to save his own skin despite claiming to care about Baldur's Gate. This unique situation happened in a very rare case. . [Verse 1] O, sing a song of Balduran. And, apparently, the dude who murdered his best friend, the Bronze Dragon Ansur. 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. And as much as it wants to convince itself and you that it's Balduran, even if it truly believes it. Context clues really suggest that Balduran took the initiative and killed Ansur in. Players soon realize that Anduran actually addresses the Emperor as a Coward since the Emperor was Balduran, Anduran's greatest ally in a previous life. StannisLivesOn. 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. Since the Emperor's true identity is Balduran, the founder of Baldur's Gate, I assume that he must've been a mindflayer for hundreds of years before meeting Tav. Thirdly, he wants to be accepted by you, having been rejected by all his closest allies. Ansur: Have you come to dance on my bones, Balduran? Was slaying me not satisfaction enough? However, the truly startling revelation comes in Act 3 when you are tasked by Duke Ravenguard to find and secure the help of the mighty Bronze Dragon named Ansur - companion of Balduran, the founder of the city. First, go to Wyrm’s Rock Fortress and head down to the prison. It is cataclysmic. The fact that he is Balduran seems so. Balduran disappeared in the mid 1000s DR and became a mind flayer. It was a settlement called Grey Harbour before that. Balduran is not the human character. . We see this through his trials in Wyrm's Rock and also by the fact his best friend was a good-aligned metallic dragon. After Ansur's death, Balduran came to be called the Emperor as he used his. Let’s cut to the chase with this one: While both options are. Ketheric's imprisonment of Aylin happened around 1391 DR, when he first raised an army of Dark Justiciars in Shar's name (that's why she is imprisoned in Shar's domain, the Shadowfell). Ansur was friends with Balduran, the founder of Baldur’s Gate, and swore to. Delving into the Wyrmway beneath Baldur’s Gate, the party can discover even more about their illithid ally. so either Balduran the legendary Explorer just wanted to rob a temple in a town full of peopleor he wasn't going to. The fact that he is Balduran seems so. For Catarina, this story comes to light with a shadow of deepest dread. The Emperor is not Balduran. Balduran might have been a decent dude. So, there is a spoiler about the real identity of the Emperor. I gather Orpheus just stopped giving The Emperor his protection and he fell back under control of the brain. The Emperor is being manipulative again when he claims that Orpheus will immediately attempt to kill all of us. This is the legendary hero Balduran, the founder of Baldur's Gate. He obviously identifies with Balduran in some way. Here's the most interesting thing, with the Emperor's case. The Emperor is just a typical illithid. Yeah that was pretty shocking. I gather Orpheus just stopped giving The Emperor his protection and he fell back under control of the brain. Ms. . 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 ?. Newcomers place a bet. Also know that the. dude has zero integrity, lmao. dude has zero integrity, lmao. Ansur wanted to find a way to reverse this process and bring balduran back. What happens if you let The Emperor Dream Visitor Die Baldur's Gate 3 guide & lo. 1- the soul is destroyed when he became a ilithid, or his soul became an ilithid soul, whatever the case he can’t bring Balduran back, just (maybe) The Emperor. The shocker though is that, well, remember The Emperor, the World’s Only Friendly Mind-Flayer™? Um, his real name is Balduran. I mostly enjoyed the. As The Legend of Ansur says, The Dragon’s Sanctum is history begging to be unearthed. Emperor retains SOME humanity in the form of memories but chose to be detached. It felt like a lot of time was spent on Karlach but not so much the others. The Emperor might even want the best for Baldur's Gate, as far as he sees it. According to his own words, he was turned into an illithid while searching for treasures at Moonrise Towers. Minthara is the best character and she NEEDS to be recruitable if you side with the grove! Re: Romance with the Emperor, the Mind Flayer. He does lie, manipulate, and kill people but he does have a moral code (of sorts). Finding out he is Balduran does nothing really for Tav or Emperor taking down the brain. Players will design and first meet him as BG3's Dream Visitor/Guardian, but even in. The truth is, Orpheus will immediately attempt to kill only him . After the scene, the battle with Ansur will begin. 19. Apparently the tadpoles have souls so yeah. Any promise he makes. After escaping the control of the Elder Brain for the first time, the mind flayer. 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 ?. 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 ?. Just as the party is coming to grips with working with a mind flayer, BG3 throws another twist with the Emperor at the team. He's a survivor, just as Balduran always was, and chose to not be killed against his will. So the Emperor was still alive on the top of the brain when I killed the netherbrain. All races but Half-Drow, Drow and Githyanki get this tag Baldurian which states "Those raised in Baldur's Gate know the city well,. This is the legendary hero Balduran, the founder of Baldur's Gate. The Emperor himself: he is Balduran, yet Balduran was adventuring in the year(s) 1000s-1100, he was also prominently featured as dead and gone in Tales of the Sword Coast where he was allegedly infected with lycanthropy, he was also human, so he is long dead. That said, the Emperor shares nothing of Balduran's original traits. It's just that everyone in Faerun considers a mind flayer to be an "it" , rather than an actual individual. He’s always made the choice that lets him survive on the long run. The Emperor is not a humanoid. The Emperor's choice was between killing Ansur or being killed by Ansur, not between being an Illithid or not. And the Emperor told him to be free and fly away instead of suffering next to him. ). The Emperor’s Secret Identity. So my first playthrough I broke Wylls pact and ended up not freeing his dad in the iron throne but in this playthrough I did. Joined: Oct 2023. The fact that he is Balduran seems so. #14. Except when he lied about his relationship with Duke Bellyne. The Emperor is a mind flayer created from Balduran’s body and mind. . Our Illthid Guardian - the Emperor - is fucking Balduran? Balduran the founder? And Balduran is the one that killed Ansur? WHAT THE HELL. For being a mind flayer, a species that only thinks in strengths and weaknesses, in how people can be used for their own ends, beings who only think with logic and manipulation, what the ♥♥♥♥ was his plan? When siding against the netherbrain,. Ansur himself makes it very clear that he was the instigator and that the Emperor acted out of self-preservation. 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 ?. Argumentatively, he’s well written as the emperor, but poorly written/developed as Balduran. #2. . I am one of the weird ones who decided to romance Balduran/The Emperor and I’m not sure. The Emperor's Identity. #2. He still can't. But the reveal that the Emperor was Balduran, the founder of the city, just feels fanfiction levels of contrived. Sign in . 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 ?. ago. dude has zero integrity, lmao. Found a minor ending variation. Traversing this trap and puzzled-filled area will eventually lead the party to Ansur, a powerful dragon boss. Obviously the emperor is dead too but IMO he was kind of an asshole for choosing power over his best friend (Ansur). So while something of the person pre-soul loss remains, it's a twisted, amoral version of them, with only their darker impulses left. The fact that he is Balduran seems so. I was really excited getting to this part and really let down by the boss. He was Balduran, a great adventurer and founder of Baldur's Gate. The Emperor was once the great adventurer and founder of Baldur's Gate, Balduran. 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. Balduran's Favour: You have a + 1 bonus to AC and Saving Throws. It's just that everyone in Faerun considers a mind flayer to be an "it" , rather than an actual individual. I gather Orpheus just stopped giving The Emperor his protection and he fell back under control of the brain. For a few reasons. Who, let us say, is mightily pissed even after all these years. So if you free Orpheus it makes sense for. 19 aug @ 11:47 every companion. Most mind flayers would eat brains and execute "lesser beings" on spot. Balduran/The Emperor interacts with the main character as a central plot device, and gives the player a very important item. We know that as a man Balduran was very honorable. Ms. dude has zero integrity, lmao. Especially for a Tav who has angered Vlaakith. Afterward, the Emperor can be spoken to, where they will show flashbacks to. (As an additional note, the murals in the wyrmway strongly suggest Balduran was an elf once upon a time, not a human). But ultimately Ansur is correct: Balduran is dead. The thing is, Ansur wouldn't have stopped either. So why did Larian feel the need to turn Balduran into that cunt the Emperor? This dungeon under the city is full of lore about the founder of Baldur’s Gate, a hero known as Balduran. Is it the soul, or is it his memories, his way of thinking, his emotions, his personality? Emperor's means and feelings don't come from the elder brain, and his most important component belongs to Balduran, so I'd still be willing to. This +3 shield made the wielder feel weak, but possessed the powerful ability to reflect the eye rays of beholders. 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. Joined: Jan 2023. Act 3. Locked post. Balduran was kidnapped off the island in BG1 later named after him (aka werewolf island) by kuo-toa and taken prisoner to the Elemental Plane of Water where, due to the slower flow of time and/or magic items, he is still alive, although probably quite mad by now. A well-known adventurer, Mind Flayers transformed him into one of them when he ventured into the Moonrise Towers. 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 ?. I mostly enjoyed the. (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. The Emperor make it looks like Orpheus is a rampage murderer who is gonna obliterate anyone that isn't a gith. Not that long ago, she was desperate to be rid of the tadpole in her head, but now, she is no longer sure. Now hope is gone, or so it seems. The most logical answer is a time dilation between the material and astral plains, or at least the astral prison. Balduran is dead. But. Ansur addresses the Emperor as Balduran, prompting a response that the name's resurgence was unexpected, especially from a familiar voice. Above all else, he will do anything to survive. I guess you didn't care that the emperor is actually Balduran. The fact that he is Balduran seems so. suprpiwi. What's left and what is there is just scary as hell. Let's consider the Emperor before his transformation. He’s no longer balduran. With the Emperor the door for such content is rather closed since the guy does not want to corrupt you like Daisy. 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, formerly known as Balduran, was once a human who constructed Baldur's Gate. But the Emperor is not Balduran. As a reminder on how The Emperor ends up where it does. So after act two you go into the astral prism to help the emperor against the gith guard. Named after Balduran, the tower could be reached by a bridge from the western shore linking it to the mainland. . There's a mural in the Wyrmway you can interact with and it says "an elf and a dragon. At the end The Emperor is just like “well people here won’t like me so I’m out somewhere” and walks away. I feel as tho Wizards of the Coast gave them the idea to add the Balduran aka The Emperor into the game. Ansur himself makes it very clear that he was the instigator and that the Emperor acted out of self-preservation. - He is an Illithid, which means that his. These images have not been altered or color-corrected in any way. . He was captain Barbossa with legendary great sword and helmet. kl. Website: more guides and information about each game be sure to check out my webs. He could feel the agony of Ansur wanting to reverse the ceremorphosis when he himself didn't. Balduran paradox. I mostly enjoyed the. This opens a secret passage. None of this is to say the Emperor is objectively evil or the wrong choice or anything. To claim. Baldur's Gate was first featured in the 1e Cyclopedia of the Realms and first described in detail in the 2e Forgotten Realms Adventures. Yeah that was pretty shocking. . The Emperor is not a humanoid. #2. Basically emperor pulled Vader out of Anakin and lived as Vader ever since. 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. New cards are drawn, new hands are played. suprpiwi. 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. But when you get inside, you. Secondly is independence. Fact #3: The Emperor strongly resembles the Illithid in the opening cinematic. Ansur, Balduran's dragon companion recognise him when you meet him. Balduran's Giantslayer is an excellent weapon with the power to confront almost any larger creature. The Emperor wants you to be as powerful as possible no matter what, because he knows how tough the end fight is. The Baldurans were tall, muscular, gray-skinned mammalian humanoids with. — Zoe Mills. Killing Orpheus is an obvious and right decision - the emperor never betrayed your trust, Orpheus on the other hand is a threat to the whole plan and you can’t be sure about his reaction. Balduran was an adventurer and seafarer in Faerun who amassed wealth and founded the city of Baldur's. - While he is an Illithid, he doesn't want more to be created and he doesn't ally himself with any other questionable creature. Wearer is immune to Crits. In the underdark you stumble across another mind flayer, Omeluum, whom you can overhear have a. 6 comments. Queue Autoplay Autoplay is on. The fact that he is Balduran seems so. He couldn't let it go that Balduran was a mind flayer and alive. Confront the Elder Brain . 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. He would directly tell you that having. Go straight and then take the first left in the prison. I gather Orpheus just stopped giving The Emperor his protection and he fell back under control of the brain. Their past life is irrelevant. The Helm of Balduran gives you: Two hit points at the beginning of each turn. The fact that he is Balduran seems so. The two form a connection but as their love grows, the return of Halsin adds a new twist of a second chance at love. He is, after an encounter with a dragon named Ansur, revealed to be Balduran. Balduran was a pirate who were strong enough to attract a dragon as friend. Ansur hints at a deeper. Looking for an adventure? Than this is the right place! This time, we get told the whole story of Balduran, his hero days, his downfall and how that broke An. It was used as a barracks, naval base, dungeon, and fortress. It is accompanied by a montage of him enslaving Duke Stellmane. 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. 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. The fact that he is Balduran seems so. 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. 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. (potentially big spoilers) I really just feel like it’s a whole cop out. . How is everyone feeling about the Emperor as a character? Do you find his trustworthy and reliable, or do you distrust him and go against his advice? Personally, for most of the game I was on his side even after finding out that he was an illithid, but many of the details you discover later on in the game made me reconsider my view, He was an unwitting pawn of the Elder Brain for the entire. 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. Yes, Balduran was becoming Illithid, but it is still in most people's nature to not want to die. He is, after an encounter with a dragon. I don't think "Daisy" was a fake cover, I think she was just an early prototype of the idea they were playing with that ended up getting changed, which is common in big projects like this. I mostly enjoyed the. This makes The Emperor's motivations seem very confusing and contradictory. The moment one turns into a mindflayer it essentially deletes the old person from existence.