Orpheus: Difference between revisions

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'''Orpheus''', is a [[Githyanki]] that appears in [[Baldur's Gate 3|''Baldur's Gate 3'']], playing a major role in [[Act Three]] and {{CharLink|Lae'zel}}'s personal quest, {{Quest|The Githyanki Warrior}}. As the son of Gith herself, he acts as the supposed true ruler of the Gith Empire. However, he has been captured and is imprisoned in the [[Astral Plane]]. Being a githyanki, he seeks to destroy the [[mind flayers]] and remove {{CharLink|Vlaakith}} from power.

According to the inscribed discs, banned and deemed heretical by followers of Vlaakith, Orpheus is the first (and only) son of Mother Gith, the leader of the rebellion that freed the race that would bear her name from the Illithid Empire. Gith's impressive psionic powers allowed her to disrupt elder brain control, powers that her son inherited.  At some point during the rebellion, Gith's advisor Vlaakith made a deal with the dragon goddess {{FRWiki|Tiamat}}, in which the gith acquired their red dragons.  It was only after the split between the githyanki and [[githzerai]] that the cost of Vlaakith's deal was revealed, as Gith was summoned to the [[Nine Hells]] to become Tiamat's advisor.  Tiamat's red dragon consort {{FRWiki|Ephelomon}} came to the githyanki, and decreed that Vlaakith was to be their new ruler.

Outraged at this turn of events, Orpheus led a rebellion against Vlaakith I's rule, assembling an Honor Guard and declaring himself the rightful ruler of the githyanki.  This "War of the Comet" was said to have ended with Orpheus' death at the hands of {{CharLink|Kith'rak Voss}} and with Ephelomon devouring his corpse<ref>{{SmRarityItem|Orpheus, Prince of the Comet, Part Three: Resurrection}}</ref>.  In truth, Orpheus and his Honor Guard were sealed away in a corner of the [[Astral Plane]], accessed using the [[Mysterious Artefact|Astral Prism]].  Orpheus himself was restrained by Infernal chains, so that Vlaakith could exploit his elder brain disruption powers. The fact that Orpheus still lived was known only to Voss, the current and past Vlaakiths, and the few secret devotees of the Prince of the Comet spread throughout githyanki society.

The artifact containing Orpheus soon came to the attention of {{CharLink|The Netherbrain}}, who wanted to use it to overthrow the Chosen of the [[Dead Three]] in control of it.  It sent a team of illithids to find and take the artifact from the githyanki.  However, the leader of the group (a mind flayer known as {{CharLink|The Emperor|the Emperor}}) seized the opportunity and went rogue, taking the artifact and hoping to use it to overthrow the elder brain.

Orpheus and his role in the greater story of ''Baldur's Gate 3'' is hinted throughout the game, but is not truly revealed until the beginning of [[Act Three]] and the quest {{Quest|Help Your Protector}}.  References to him are found throughout the game, notably in the "Orpheus, Prince of the Comet" series of discs, which recount his attempted rebellion against the first Vlaakith and form the backbone of the quest {{Quest|Discover the History of Prince Orpheus}}.

While resting at [[Wyrm's Lookout]], the party are ambushed by githyanki warriors and combat ensues.  The [[Dream Guardian]] opens a portal into the Astral Prism for the party to enter, lest they fall under the [[Absolute]]'s influence.  There, the Dream Guardian reveals their true form as a mind flayer free from hivemind control, and asks the party for their aid against the githyanki.  Though the party has the option to attack their protector, this will lead to a [[Game Over screens|Game Over]], as the player either falls under the control of the Absolute, or are killed by the githyanki.  After the battle, the Dream Guardian reveals that the source of the party's protection has been an imprisoned Orpheus, and that the githyanki who attacked are his Honor Guard, who were imprisoned alongside him by the first Vlaakith.  Completing this encounter will complete both {{Quest|Discover the History of Prince Orpheus}} and {{Quest|Discover the Artefact's Secrets}}, as well as start {{Quest|Free Orpheus}}.

If the player or another party member turned into a mind flayer, he will appear on the docks, thanking the party's ceremorph for their sacrifice and ready to begin a new rebellion against Vlaakith's tyranny.  He will call two red dragons, and invite Lae'zel to join him in his new war against the Lich Queen.  Lae'zel can either join Orpheus, be convinced to stay in [[Faerûn]] (which requires a {{Ability check|Persuasion|30}}, and will automatically be rejected if the player became a mind flayer), or take the player along with them (if the player is [[Lae'zel/Romance|romancing]] Lae'zel).  Regardless of what choice Lae'zel makes, Orpheus flies on his red dragon into the sky and away from Baldur's Gate.