Confront the Elder Brain: Difference between revisions

Confront the Elder Brain (edit)

Revision as of 19:26, 4 September 2024

442 bytes added , 4 September

→‎Walkthrough: Other ways to drive the Emperor off, and more structure to the list of possible "whoops I forgot the Orphic Hammer" outcomes

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 The Emperor states that only an illithid can hope to take down the Netherbrain in its current form and that the illithid must consume the power of Prince {{CharLink|Orpheus}} in order to succeed. As an illithid, the Emperor says he can do this, and asks the Netherstones be relinquished to him.
-If the party rejects the Emperor's proposition, he states that he has no other choice but to reassimilate with the Netherbrain, and leaves the party in the Astral Realm. This can be done by selecting "I don't believe a word you just said" followed by "I will never trust you", or by asserting the intent to free Orpheus if the party possesses the Orphic Hammer. Afterwards, if the party has the {{SmRarityItem|Orphic Hammer}}, they can equip it and attack the crystals binding Orpheus.
+If the party rejects the Emperor's proposition, he states that he has no other choice but to reassimilate with the Netherbrain, and leaves the party in the Astral Realm. This can be done by selecting "I don't believe a word you just said" followed by "I will never trust you", by asserting the intent to free Orpheus if the party possesses the {{SmRarityItem|Orphic Hammer}},  by attacking him, or by equipping the Hammer and using it to attack the crystals binding Orpheus regardless of dialog. After the Emperor departs, if the party has the Hammer a character must equip it and strike both binding crystals to free Orpheus and advance the quest.
-There is also the possibility of the party not retrieving the Orphic Hammer and spurning the Emperor. In this case, {{CharLink|Raphael}} appears within the Astral Prism. He has front row seats to the final hour, and now he's come with the sole salvation of Faerun. There are no more deals: only master and vassal. Sign a contract for the Orphic Hammer in exchange for the Crown of Karsus, or the world ends. Failing to uphold the bargain means the party's souls are forfeit. Refusing to sign turns the party into mind flayers who assimilate into the Netherbrain, causing a game over. The party is forced to [[Fulfill the Deal]].
+It is possible to spurn the Emperor even if the party does not possess the Hammer. In this case, what happens next depends on the player's previous interactions with {{CharLink|Raphael}}:
-If the party made a deal with Raphael and forgot to bring the Orphic Hammer, the cambion will appear to deliver to them the hammer they negligently misplaced. If Raphael is dead and the hammer forgotten, the party transforms into mind flayers.
+* If the party did not accept Raphael's deal and he is still alive, he appears within the Astral Prism. He has front row seats to the final hour, and now he's come with the sole salvation of Faerun. There are no more deals: only master and vassal. Sign a contract for the Orphic Hammer in exchange for the Crown of Karsus, or the world ends. Failing to uphold the bargain will mean the party's souls are forfeit. Refusing to sign turns the party into mind flayers who assimilate into the Netherbrain, causing a game over. The party is thus forced to [[Fulfill the Deal]].
+* If the party made a deal with Raphael and forgot to bring the Orphic Hammer, he will appear to deliver the world-saving relic they so negligently misplaced.
+* If Raphael is dead and no member of the party was carrying the Hammer when they entered the prism, it cannot be retrieved and a game over ensues: the party is overcome by the Absolute, transformed into Illithids and assimilated.
 Once Orpheus is freed, he confronts the party on their choices, saying the party should have let his honor guard kill them, so they could have avoided this whole situation. He also confronts the party if they stole the {{SmRarityItem|Githyanki Egg}} in [[Steal a Githyanki Egg]]. However, he agrees to stand down and works with the party. He states that the Emperor was correct and an illithid is necessary to take down the Netherbrain. Either a party member can make the sacrifice, or Orpheus will if everyone refuses.