Emperor is balduran. For Catarina, this story comes to light with a shadow of deepest dread. Emperor is balduran

 
 For Catarina, this story comes to light with a shadow of deepest dreadEmperor is balduran Either way Balduran is f'd (his soul) and The Emperor very well knows that, and knows he is not Balduran when he talks with you

And the Balduran "twist" is the biggest meh twist Ive seen for a long time. . . , 11:47 every. Join our active forum today!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. This is canon now btw. aug. 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. The truth is, Orpheus will immediately attempt to kill only him . Like, boy it sure is convenient that this Mind Flayer was the single most revered adventurer in all the land so. 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. It is cataclysmic. Likewise, lust for power and revenge ended up driving Irenicus, and Balduran's love of the titular city has manifested in the Emperor staying rooted there, trying to dominate it. The Emperor, formerly known as Balduran, was once a human who constructed Baldur's Gate. I mostly enjoyed the. 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 mostly enjoyed the. Balduran's Favour: You have a + 1 bonus to AC and Saving Throws. 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 tried to mercy kill him in his sleep. On the screen with tadpole powers it is writen partial-illithid if you accept his proposal. . At the end The Emperor is just like “well people here won’t like me so I’m out somewhere” and walks away. Either way Balduran is f'd (his soul) and The Emperor very well knows that, and knows he is not Balduran when he talks with you. So yeah, I don't like him. The choice was obvious. This reveals the way into the Wyrmway. . In this role, he becomes known as the Emperor. 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 Baldurans were tall, muscular, gray-skinned mammalian humanoids with. Upon entering the prison, turn left and you should see 2 dragonhead torches flanking a bare wall. It felt like a lot of time was spent on Karlach but not so much the others. The Emperor has Balduran’s memories and knows what motivates an adventurer like the PC because Balduran knows that. A hero’s heart entombed, waiting underground to fulfill an oath of eld: the great wyrm would aid Baldur’s Gate in its time of need. 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. Compared to Astarion's master, a kind of strong vampire that took a day's work to handle. Baldur's Gate 3 > General Discussions > Topic Details. 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. Balduran was. dude has zero integrity, lmao. . at least initially. 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 mean in every way it matters he basically is Balduran. it is believed that his mother gave the. In the Year of the Banner, 1368 DR, Mendas in Ulgoth's Beard hired Gorion's Ward to go to. Any Baldur's Gate 3 player is going to be slightly suspicious of the Emperor, well before his tentacles appear. If he can't use the party for it anymore he sides with the netherbrain. I mean, FIRST he tricks you but stull saves you, then he’s a mindflayer, then he talks about how he’s just a used-to-be person, then we find out HE’S BALDURAN??? He founded baldurs gate, he’a saving you, yet siding with him gives you the bad. Baldur's Gate 3 is available on Steam : on Spotify: and Publ. New recommendations Song Video Search. Balduran's Favour: You have a + 1 bonus to AC and Saving Throws. He sired Ethniu, who mated with the. Balduran's presence is limited to some statues and a very powerful version of the spell Magic Mouth, D&D's answer to pre-recorded greetings cards. Upon entering the prison, turn left and you should see 2 dragonhead torches flanking a bare wall. Ansur himself makes it very clear that he was the instigator and that the Emperor acted out of self-preservation. Is Balduran an immortal?The Shield of Balduran was the shield wielded by the legendary explorer Balduran. but Raphael reveals his true form almost. Astrail Plane; On top of Nether Brain . What Emperor asks you is to become partial-illithid in that scene. " even if you pick a Background like Outlander which contradicts it by Stating "You grew up in the wilds. The fact that he is Balduran seems so. . Joined: Jan 2023. The Emperor is not Balduran. Or Karlach. The truth is, Orpheus will immediately attempt to kill only him . That’s Balduran. the model used for Balduran during the Wyrmway quest, where the Emperor is revealed to be Balduran, is present as a character in the end cutscene of the game. About the emperor…. dude has zero integrity, lmao. . Bhaal Cultist Bloodmopper…. dude has zero integrity, lmao. Now maybe the romance was just sexual manipulation but if. He is the "HERO" Balduran and also killed the Green Dragon just to save his own mindflayer ass again. But the Emperor, unlike all other Mind Flayers, has retained the identity of the host completely, and identifies himself as Balduran. This means the towers already existed when he was a human. Thirdly, he wants to be accepted by you, having been rejected by all his closest allies. It's time to try Tumblr. Joined: Oct 2020. 2023 with information regarding Balduran's/Emperor's lifespan being way, way longer than it should. He isn't anymore, but he believes he is. But the Emperor, unlike all other Mind Flayers, has retained the identity of the host completely, and identifies himself as Balduran. You can not recruit Ansur, the fact the Emperor is Balduran has 0 impact on the story. The Emperor's choice was between killing Ansur or being killed by Ansur, not between being an Illithid or not. Baldur's Gate 3 Soul Coins : Find them all Baldur's Gate. A knave, a wizard, devil, gith. 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. I mostly enjoyed the. And, apparently, the dude who murdered his best friend, the Bronze Dragon Ansur. Balduran's Vitality: The helmet heals you 2 hit points every turn. 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. Secondly is independence. I gather Orpheus just stopped giving The Emperor his protection and he fell back under control of the brain. So as we meet the emperor turns out he's Balduran the founder of baldur's gate turned into a mindflayer long ago. Extinguish these torches, then hit them with Lightning and relight them. 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. The Emperor make it looks like Orpheus is a rampage murderer who is gonna obliterate anyone that isn't a gith. Super manipulative. A very divisive character imo. In Baldur's Gate III, Balduran is revealed to be the illithid "The Emperor"; he had somehow escaped or avoided his implied stranding and death on the Isle of Balduran,. The Emperor having a set of cutlery that he thinks very. Probably because it has no real weight or consequence, just an offhand thing at the end of Wyll’s companion questline. The Emperor might even want the best for Baldur's Gate, as far as he sees it. . Context clues really suggest that Balduran took the initiative and killed Ansur in. - While he is an Illithid, he doesn't want more to be created and he doesn't ally himself with any other questionable creature. He’s always made the choice that lets him survive on the long run. 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 Emperor is Later Revealed to Be Balduran. If you can pass his trials, however, he'll grant. Wearer is immune to Crits. Joined: Oct 2020. The lyrics to Song of Balduran which plays in the room in the Elfsong are pretty interesting. As The Legend of Ansur says, The Dragon’s Sanctum is history begging to be unearthed. 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. Except when he lied about his relationship with Duke Bellyne. Ansur, Balduran's dragon companion recognise him when you meet him. That's just stupid. Following his ill-fated voyage, it was left in the wreck of his ship, the Wandering Eye, on Werewolf Island. Ansur and Balduran . Balduran died when his brain was eaten. I mostly enjoyed the. Website: more guides and information about each game be sure to check out my webs. . dude has zero integrity, lmao. The Emperor is just one of them, and there's a particularly surprising reveal that sets the stage. But the reveal that the Emperor was Balduran, the founder of the city, just feels fanfiction levels of contrived. 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. Moonrise towers and the surrounding City were built 150~ years ago by Ketheric BEFORE he lost it. K. Apparently the tadpoles have souls so yeah. Balduran's Giantslayer is a legendary greatsword that receives doubled damage bonus from Strength, grants its wielder the Giant Form class action and the Topple the Big Folk weapon action, as well as Advantage on Attack rolls against Large, Huge, and Gargantuan creatures. So boring and not climactic at all for a dragon fight (one of I. What happens if you let The Emperor Dream Visitor Die Baldur's Gate 3 guide & lo. BG3 retconned Balduran to be an elf. Now hope is gone, or so it seems. The Emperor tells you that he was defending. Withers explicitly says they have no souls left, no true remnant of the person they were, only memories and traces of emotion. First with Ansur who was his friend back from when he was Balduran. He apparently later is captured by the absolute in 1492, even though he is basically a. We are led to believe, in the end, that we might also get so lucky if we transform. Ansur tried to mercy kill him in his sleep. She counted on Balduran's rebellious nature and desire to be free of elder brain domination as a means. Wearer is immune to Crits. 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. As goofy as it sounds, the name of the founder is Balduran and not simply Baldur. Bosses in BG3 are powerful enemies that have increased health and pose a bigger challenge for players. September 2012. Take a look between the two characters in your first screenshot and see who is lying in bed between them. 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 ?. So, there is a spoiler about the real identity of the Emperor. The fact that he is Balduran seems so. The Emperor is not a humanoid. One of those relics is the missing butter knife the Emperor mentions, with the quest note reading, "Legends often speak of Balduran's Butter Knife. The Emperor isn't a full on evil character, but he isn't a nice dude either. 11. I gather Orpheus just stopped giving The Emperor his protection and he fell back under control of the brain. . This is the legendary hero Balduran, the founder of Baldur's Gate. The human is just a generic npc. 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 guess you didn't care that the emperor is actually Balduran. "O, sing a song of Balduran. He apparently later is captured by the absolute in 1492, even though he is basically a. Balduran's Vitality: The helmet heals you 2 hit points every turn. By default, the party is allied with the Emperor, an independent mind flayer and the true identity of Baldur's Gate 3's Guardian, who reveals that the party is being protected from the influence of the Absolute. The Emperor is one of them as he retains the memories of Balduran and is heavily connected with him. 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. He obviously identifies with Balduran in some way. Rude. (potentially big spoilers) I really just feel like it’s a whole cop out. So after act two you go into the astral prism to help the emperor against the gith guard. 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. Extinguish these torches, then hit them with Lightning and relight them. He was the grandson of Buarainech, and the cousin of Bres. If betrayed the Emperor immediately shows their true colors, and joins the villains. that they are two living creatures, in which Balduran is perished and the Emperor is a newborn mind flayer who has stolen Balduran’s full or partial memories), then you would have to admit that Balduran did not kill Ansur, but rather, a mind flayer named the Emperor killed. Mysterious. dude has zero integrity, lmao. The fact that he is Balduran seems so. Basically emperor pulled Vader out of Anakin and lived as Vader ever since. 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. The fact that he is Balduran seems so. . During Act 1 and Act 2, The Emperor only "meets" with the player as the Dream Visitor. The founder of Baldurs Gate became a Mindflayer lol. dude has zero integrity, lmao. Locked post. The most important third act decision regarding the ending involves the Emperor, Orpheus, and the player character's illithid potential. The Emperor has glimpsed into Orpheus' thoughts and very well knows that the Prince will be willing to work with the adventurers. But instead of leaving, Ansur decided he was going to kill the Emperor in his sleep. 6 comments. As for the Emperor, the infamous scene where he admits to being a monster is more complicated than people give it credit for. Edited as of 09. "O, sing a song of Balduran / Who founded Baldur. Or Karlach. I mostly enjoyed the. The Emperor was once the great adventurer and founder of Baldur's Gate, Balduran. Enter Balduran: a human (or retconned elven) adventurer who founded Baldur's Gate hundreds of years 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 ?. The fact that he is Balduran seems so. It usually becomes more mindflayer-like over time, something the Emperor is not immune to judging by. 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. 19 de ago. Balduran's Vitality: The helmet heals you 2 hit points every turn. e. . Finding out he is Balduran does nothing really for Tav or Emperor taking down the brain. Discover more posts about bg3 the emperor, bg3 emperor, mind flayer, the emperor bg3, the emperor, balduran, and illithid. (Maybe this is why he has not informed us of his involvement with Gortash. com The Emperor plays a key role in the main story of Baldur's Gate 3, and as part of this role his identity and personal background are kept obfuscated for much of the game. 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. 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,. But ultimately Ansur is correct: Balduran is dead. Stun immunity. Each room will use a different set of "skills". Ms. Ideally you should also have at least one mage. fandom. Wearer is immune to Crits. No, it appears that in Baldur's Gate 3, there is no way to save Ansur the Dragon. . (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. It is here that the Emperor’s final secret is revealed as Ansur shows the party that the Emperor used to be Balduran. The Emperor has glimpsed into Orpheus' thoughts and very well knows that the Prince will be willing to work with the adventurers. 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). In theory, this revelation would give players more justification to trust The Emperor. Wyll saying "thank Balduran" is foreshadowing because the Emperor is the one protecting all the tadpoled companions. The Emperor is really an old mind flayer when you consider this guy lived on the first millenia of the DR calendar. 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. Bronze Dragon Ansur reveals Emperor hidden secret Baldur's Gat. Tap to unmute. #2. 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. So the Emperor is not really Balduran, it’s the tadpole that’s using. That’s Balduran. The Emperor is exceptional in this regard, he has a unique personality shaped by his origins. I think Balduran’s Gate rolls off. 19 sierpnia o 11:47 every. So Baldur's Gate can't have been named for Baldr, because Baldr was known to be active on Earth's plane at the time. I mostly enjoyed the. Location: Ukraine. That’s what you need to know about all the. He risks losing not only her trust but placing her life in danger. Daisy being either the Absolute or your dark self manifested via your tadpole offered many more possibilities. The Emperor is being manipulative again when he claims that Orpheus will immediately attempt to kill all of us. at least initially. But. suprpiwi. 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. . Balduran was a pirate who were strong enough to attract a dragon as friend. BG3’s Everburn Blade built a reputation early on, as players can only get it by defeating a hard boss in the opening sequence, and that weapon will carry gamers through the early game and beyond. StannisLivesOn. No matter what he only uses discourse and attempts to convince you that working together is the only way to survive. He even says it during the fight against Ansur. If I remember correctly, in the first Game set in the 1360s DR, it was discovered that Balduran shipwrecked during an unfortunate expedition and that his crew got cursed/infected. One of those relics is the missing butter knife the Emperor mentions, with the quest note reading, "Legends often speak of Balduran's Butter Knife. "O, sing a song of Balduran. (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. Delving into. às 11:47 every. (As an additional note, the murals in the wyrmway strongly suggest Balduran was an elf once upon a time, not a human). What we have left is a worm that has some impressions of who Balduran was. ) 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. These companions quests are WAY too fucking good. dude has zero integrity, lmao. Moonrise towers and the surrounding City were built 150~ years ago by Ketheric BEFORE he lost it. . . But from the quest and conversations we have about it, we learn that The Emperor only did it out of self-preservation, and that there was no other way because Ansur was always going to kill him first. Ansur was the one who tried to kill him in his sleep. [deleted] • 1 mo. That said, the Emperor shares nothing of Balduran's original traits. The Emperor's Sword +2. [he is literally Balduran, he picks the form from the player's mind/desires]]--- and there is NO DOUBT into saying that when you meet the guardian, up to right before getting to Baldur's Gate. There is no romance dialogue at the end, nor does my TAV has the option to do anything with them. The emperor even tells it as Ansur came to him in his sleep, which again given that you find Ansur dead in his own lair really casts some doubt as to the chain of events. Am I the only one that was completely blindsided by the fact that I was so sad reading the letter on Ansurs body. Agreed. I mostly enjoyed the. Withers explicitly says they have no souls left, no true remnant of the person they were, only memories and traces of emotion. Which felt out of character for my TAV who did genuinely grow to love them. Traversing this trap and puzzled-filled area will eventually lead the party to Ansur, a powerful dragon boss. Baldur's Gate 3 is available on Steam : on Spotify: and Publ. The fact that he is Balduran seems so. First, go to Wyrm’s Rock Fortress and head down to the prison. The Emperor is not Balduran. In the final fight I didn't kill the emperor before jumping into the portal. 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. Empire golden built on trade. To him that was an achievement. dude has zero integrity, lmao. The Emperor Is Balduran . Baldur's Gate 3 > General Discussions > Topic Details. None of this is to say the Emperor is objectively evil or the wrong choice or anything. He would directly tell you that having. . Ansur did try to kill the Emperor. Power/Intimacy. I mostly enjoyed the. v 11. If you choose it, he literally roasts you 😐 I had to reload a save just to save my character from the embarrassment. Afterward, the Emperor can be spoken to, where they will show flashbacks to. After the scene, the battle with Ansur will begin. Balduran's Giantslayer is an excellent weapon with the power to confront almost any larger creature. Along with his sword and armor, Balduran's shield was stolen from a museum in the city of Baldur's Gate. And when he lied about the dragon under Wyrmrock. If you hold that the Emperor is not Balduran (i. The Emperor's Identity. 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. Ansur could not accept the Emperor as an Illithid, leading to Balduran reluctantly killing Ansur. 2- he and Balduran where in hiding/isolation for years or even decades at that point 3-surprise attack. This unique situation happened in a very rare case. Tw: this post is 90% spoilers about the Emperor. But the reveal that the Emperor was Balduran, the founder of the city, just feels fanfiction levels of contrived. Provided to YouTube by DistroKid Song of Balduran (From "Baldur's Gate III") · PelleK Song of Balduran (From "Baldur's Gate III") ℗ PelleK Released on: 2. It is cataclysmic. He wants to be free of the Elder Brain's control. Our Illthid Guardian - the Emperor - is fucking Balduran? Balduran the founder? And Balduran is the one that killed Ansur? WHAT THE HELL. They don't think they do and most when they die would rather assimilate into an Elder Brain. Hailing from the sparsely settled village of Gray Harbor, while still only a young man, he sailed the Trackless Sea beyond Evermeet, in search of resources such as forests that could be logged. The moment one turns into a mindflayer it essentially deletes the old person from existence. No, The Emperor flees well before you free him. Chamber of Strategy: Turn 1. Yet once again, because of the fact that Balduran leaves, he seems genuinely afraid of Orpheus or somehow sees him as a bigger threat than the netherbrain to warrant him joining it. I gather Orpheus just stopped giving The Emperor his protection and he fell back under control of the brain. He originates from Balduran and has all of his memories, so his identity / personhood is a mixture of Balduran and mind flayer-ness. According to his own words, he was turned into an illithid while searching for treasures at Moonrise Towers. The most logical answer is a time dilation between the material and astral plains, or at least the astral prison. Discover more posts about bg3 the emperor, bg3 emperor, mind flayer, the emperor bg3, the emperor, balduran, and illithid. Our guide discusses whether or not you should help the Emperor Mind Flayer in Baldur's Gate 3, as. The Emperor plays a key role in the main story of Baldur's Gate 3, and as part of this role his identity and personal background are kept obfuscated for much of the game. The fact that he is Balduran seems so. New cards are drawn, new hands are played. às 11:47 every. Balduran is dead. I gather Orpheus just stopped giving The Emperor his protection and he fell back under control of the brain. It's just that everyone in Faerun considers a mind flayer to be an "it" , rather than an actual individual. The Emperor is one of them as he retains the memories of Balduran and is heavily connected with him. But game's not over yet. The fact that he is Balduran seems so. Yes, Balduran was becoming Illithid, but it is still in most people's nature to not want to die. In BG3, each type of weapon has different ranges, damages, and other features (Finesse, Versatile, Dippable, etc. It's just that everyone in Faerun considers a mind flayer to be an "it" , rather than an actual individual. How to Get the Helm of Balduran in Baldur’s Gate 3. Of course, legendary. But game's not over yet. Unlike the typical evil Mindflayer, the Emperor portrays complex emotions and even showcases a gentler side. Obviously the emperor is dead too but IMO he was kind of an asshole for choosing power over his best friend (Ansur). Context clues really suggest that Balduran took the initiative and killed Ansur in. This is the legendary hero Balduran, the founder of Baldur's Gate. 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. #2. The fact that he is Balduran seems so. Balduran disappeared in the mid 1000s DR and became a mind flayer. She counted on Balduran's rebellious nature and desire to be free of elder brain domination as a means.