This article contains MAJOR SPOILERS for Baldur’s Gate 3. Proceed at your own risk.
Summary
Illithids, more commonly known as mind flayers, are the antagonists ofBaldur’s Gate 3. From the first moments of the game, the narrative shows players precisely how terrifying these creatures are: they abduct people, cram a toothy tadpole into their brains, and then wait for their victims to transform into tentacled mind flayers. This is how they reproduce. They are part of a hive mind and constantly aim to create more mind flayers to bring into the fold. It is demonstrated early on that they can manipulate the mind and pose an imminent threat while exploring the Sword Coast inBaldur’s Gate 3.
But then there is The Emperor. This character is also, as players discover, a mind flayer, but unlike the mind flayers that capture the player at the start, The Emperor is independent of the illithid hive mind and serves himself, working against the antagonistic Absolute. The Emperor’s character neatly fits a common trope utilized by dungeon masters: a recurring, but suspicious NPC who can make or break the game based on the players' trust.
The Dream Visitor Unveiled
Before players know the true identity of The Emperor, they know himas their Dream Visitor. This character can be designed, or randomized, by players right after they choose their own character. At first, it isn’t clear how this Dream Visitor will come into play nor if they are actually real. This unnamed character assures players that they are doing all they can to help them, namely preventing them from turning into an illithid. This devotion should sway players toward trusting their apparent knight in shining armor, butBaldur’s Gate 3is a game all about choices: it is entirely up to players whether to trust the Dream Visitor.
Later, the Dream Visitor is unveiled to actually be a mind flayer known as The Emperor. This illithid claims to have broken free ofthe Elder Brain hive mindand is actually working to defeat the Absolute, a would-be god. The Emperor wants the player to help with this mission, but that requires a certain amount of trust. Players have to decide if this illithid is lying, thrown off by how friendly and forthcoming he seems. The Emperor invites the player to decide for themselves after investigating his old stomping grounds in Baldur’s Gate.
The Emperor’s Empire Provides Valuable Context
The Emperor earned his name through a vast trade empire that he secretly orchestrated from his base beneath the Elfsong Tavern in Baldur’s Gate. It’s there that the dungeon master, or Larian Studios in this case, has scattered various objects that confirm his claims about his previous life as a normal man and his past relationship withDuke Stelmane, among other things. With this evidence in mind, the players can make a more informed decision about the motivations of The Emperor.
The Emperor is One of BG3’s Biggest Choices
The narrative ofBaldur’s Gate 3allows players to make up their own minds about The Emperor. Even if they decide that he is ultimately working against the same enemies that the player is battling, the player has a variety of options on how to proceed:
Whatever the player chooses to do, it will affect theirrelationship with The Emperor. He isn’t a character created solely to help the player – he has his own motivations, namely self-preservation. He can serve as a powerful ally, or a devastating enemy. It all depends on the choices that the player makes. The Emperor introduces a solution to the problem of the Elder Brain threatening to enslave the whole of the Sword Coast, but his way is just one of many.
Dungeon masters often insert suspicious but impactful recurring characters like The Emperor to nudge players in one narrative direction or another. Like any good dungeon master, Larian Studios allows players to decide if theseBaldur’s Gate 3NPCsare going to betray them when the chips are down. The Emperor ofBaldur’s Gate 3is a prime example of Larian’s skillful efforts as a dungeon master to guide the player to the conclusion of the campaign while letting players shape the specifics of their relationship.
Baldur’s Gate 3
WHERE TO PLAY
Abducted, infected, lost. You are turning into a monster, but as the corruption inside you grows, so does your power. Forge a tale of fellowship and betrayal, sacrifice and survival, and the lure of absolute power. Caught in a conflict between devils, deities, and sinister otherworldly forces, you and your party will determine the fate of the Forgotten Realms.THE ULTIMATE D&D EXPERIENCEChoose from a wide selection of D&D races and classes, or play as an origin character with a hand-crafted background. Adventure, loot, battle, and romance as you journey through the Forgotten Realms and beyond. Play alone or as a party of up to four in multiplayer – and select your companions carefully.A CINEMATIC STORYTELLING EPICForged with the new Divinity 4.0 engine, Baldur’s Gate 3 gives you unprecedented freedom to explore, experiment, and interact with a world that reacts to your choices. A grand, cinematic narrative brings you closer to your characters than ever before, as you venture through our biggest world yet. Romance, deceive, aid, obstruct, and grow alongside your friends thanks to Larian’s next-generation RPG engine.
