No characters in Baldur's Gate 3 is debated as a lot because the Emperor. The choice to facet with him or Orpheus is likely one of the recreation's greatest decisions, and gamers aren't given an apparent reply as as to whether to maintain him on their facet. On one hand, he's the explanation the participant is alive, however on the opposite, it's comprehensible for the participant to imagine a thoughts flayer has ulterior motives.
[Warning: Spoilers for Baldur's Gate 3, Act 3.]
With the sport launched over a 12 months in the past, followers are nonetheless divided on whether or not the Emperor is nice or evil. He's an important a part of the plot, and the story would have been totally different – in all probability a lot worse – with out him. Regardless of that, many individuals nonetheless resolve to decide on Orpheus over himSo what makes the Emperor's beliefs so tough to outline?
The emperor stays true to his phrase and is a vital a part of the plot
It makes good sense that Balduran would need to defend his personal metropolis
If the participant decides to belief the Emperor, then he'll basically be helpful. He's the explanation why gamers are capable of save Baldur's Gate with out your group turning into thoughts flayerswhich turns into clear when preventing Orpheus' honor guard within the Astral Airplane - in the event that they resolve to kill the Emperor, they'll rework instantly. Whereas it might not appear noble to maintain Orpheus captive, he wouldn't be prepared to assist the participant from the start in the identical method that the Emperor does, as he nonetheless views the contaminated as illithids.
Many gamers assume that the Emperor contaminated them at the beginning of the sport - nonetheless, if gamers use Speak to the useless within the thoughts flayer within the goblin camp earlier than Dror Ragzalin is ready to, they'll acknowledge him as being the one who truly contaminated them. If the participant later succeeds and is ready to defeat the Elder Mind, then he can do away with his parasite if he decides to not turn out to be illithid. Though his strategies could also be questionable, the Emperor nonetheless holds up his finish of the discount so the participant has his tadpole eliminated.
The Emperor will solely take management of the Netherbrain on the finish of Baldur's Gate 3 if he's satisfied by the participant, which means that his motivations will not be pushed by energy, however by a real need to be free - which he himself reiterates. It's in his curiosity to maintain the group alive, as he wants allies on the fabric aircraft to gather the Lesser Stones and defeat the Chosen. He's not the one rogue thoughts flayer within the recreation both - Omeluum can be free from the affect of the older mind, however it's the Emperor who takes the initiative to save lots of his historical metropolis..
Finally, the Emperor is a thoughts flayer - can he actually be trusted?
The Emperor's manipulative and self-preserving nature leaves gamers debating his motives
It's plain that the emperor is manipulative. He persistently speaks to the participant with half-truths or simply outright lies, providing them an opportunity to do away with their parasite and claiming that he additionally needs to do away with a tadpole - though it's as much as the participant to resolve whether or not these lies are crucial. Whereas it's true that he as soon as wished to free himself from his Illithid affect, by the point gamers meet him, he appears to have totally embraced it - encouraging the participant to do the identical.
Like a thoughts flayer, it's laborious to imagine that the Emperor is able to seeing the participant as being on the identical degree as himsince he's objectively at a a lot increased cognitive degree than they're. He doesn't appear to essentially care concerning the participant and easily sees him as a way to an finish. It's not crucial for him to attempt to seduce them in Act Three, however he does it anyway to make the participant really feel nearer and extra linked to him, to construct belief.
If the participant decides to not facet with him, he'll depart to hitch the older mind, seemingly condemning Faerûn to the destiny he was making an attempt to battle in opposition to, whereas saving his personal life. He at all times acts in his personal curiosity and doesn't care who he wants to harm or step over to realize this - be it the participant, Ansur or Stelmane. Whereas that is an comprehensible motivation, his choices nonetheless paint him as a coward who's prepared to kill his finest buddy or abandon his allies moderately than do the morally proper factor.
Orpheus is greater than prepared to facet with the participant if he turns into illithid, though he would in all probability be much less inclined to facet with the one who held him captive. This isn't to say {that a} truce could be completely inconceivable if the Emperor discovered it inside himself to contemplate it. It's comprehensible that the Emperor could be cautious of the Githyanki due to their lore between them and the thoughts flayers, however he appears to free Orpheus in BG3 leads to a greater ending than siding with the Emperor, as Orpheus being useless leaves the Githyanki on the mercy of Vlaakith..
Baldur's Gate 3's Story Leaves the Emperor's Morality Open to Interpretation
The Emperor is a impartial character - his motivations are no matter most closely fits his story
It's laborious to say that the Emperor is an effective particular person, however it's additionally laborious to name him utterly “evil”. - though the truth that there's nothing to make it clear to the participant whether or not the Emperor is evil is also proof of his manipulation. Gamers are extra prepared to doubt themselves after they don't obtain a transparent reply and are left questioning in the event that they made the best selection anyway. Nonetheless, the “proper” selection could genuinely be the one the participant decides on – this isn't essentially the most satisfying reply, however it might be the one with essentially the most advantage.
Siding with Orpheus or the Emperor and defeating the mastermind will lead to a superb ending, so the query of the Emperor's morality could also be completely as much as the participant to resolve: the Emperor may be perceived as malevolent or benevolent relying on the participant's decisions. Maybe in the identical method they will make choices for the Origin characters, pushing Astarion towards or away from ascension, or encouraging Shadowheart to turn out to be a Darkish Justiciar or embrace his previous.
Close to the top of the sport, the participant should make a persuasion take a look at to persuade the Emperor to take management of the Netherbrainwhich might even be thought of a "unhealthy" ending. Regardless of evaluating him to Origin characters, most individuals would take into account unascended Astarion to be his "true" self, regardless of additionally requiring gamers to influence him to not take Cazador's place as a result of it's his "good/ higher". Due to this, the Emperor may be thought of evil in the identical method that Ascended Astarion may be.
Whether or not he was utterly mendacity from the beginning is determined by whether or not the participant believes him to be; he solely chooses betrayal when the participant perceives him as evil. In the event that they facet with him, no matter his use of the parasites, he'll congratulate them and trigger them no bother - though the narrator notes that it's tough to inform whether or not he's being honest. Baldur's Gate 3 Gamers could discover the Emperor disagreeable, however he is usually a nice ally who acts in accordance with the participant's decisions, which might be why the query of his morality is so hotly debated.