Orpheus: Difference between revisions

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]]. 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 which starts {{Quest|Help Your Protector}}. Though there is the option to attack their protector, this will lead to a [[Game Over screens|Game Over]], as the player character and all party members either fall 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 completes both {{Quest|Discover the History of Prince Orpheus}} and {{Quest|Discover the Artefact's Secrets}}, as well as starts {{Quest|Free Orpheus}}.

While visiting to the party's camp in [[Act Two]], Kith'rak Voss directs the party to meet him at [[Sharess' Caress]] in [[Wyrm's Crossing]]. [[Baldur's Gate]]. Upstairs, in the [[Devil's Den]], he can be found attempting to make a deal with the devil {{CharLink|Raphael}}, who eventually dismisses him. Talking to the devil reveals he has the {{SmRarityItem|Orphic Hammer}}, a magically imbued hammer with the ability to free Orpheus from his infernal chains. This starts {{Quest|Deal with the Devil}}. He promises to give the artifact to the party in exchange for the {{IconLink|size=20|Crown of Karsus Faded.png|Crown of Karsus}}, signing a {{SmRarityItem|Soul-Sworn Contract|override_icon=Soul-Sworn Contract.png}} with the player character if they accept. The player character has serveral options to act:

# The player character accepts the deal, which starts {{Quest||Escape the Deal}} and also {{Quest|Fulfill the Deal}}, and does not betray Raphael. At the final battle, after freeing Orpheus, Raphael appears and gives them the Orphic Hammer. As his deal involves handing over the Crown of Karsus, this prevents {{CharLink|Gale}} from either giving the crown to {{CharLink|Mystra}} or using it to become a god, and causes Raphael to appear at the celebration in the [[Epilogue]].

At the [[Morphic Pool]], the player character attempts to wield the Netherstones and control the Netherbrain, but is overwhelmed. The Emperor brings the party into the Astral Prism, and tells them that only an illithid can successfully wield the Netherstones. Here Orpheus' fate must be decided, with most decisions depending on whether or not the party acquired the Orphic Hammer.

Orpheus can be "assimilated" by either the Emperor, a mind flayer player character, or a mind flayer {{CharLink|Karlach}}. If Lae'zel has rejected Vlaakith and embraced Orpheus, the player character must pass a {{Ability check|Persuasion|30}} or she turns hostile. Speaking with her again before entering High Hall gains her scorn, and a {{Ability check|Persuasion|30}} or Intimidation check must be succeeded for her to not change her mind and attack the party. Upon leaving the Astral Prism and reaching [[The High Hall|High Hall]], an enraged Voss turns hostile unless convinced not to, which requires a {{Ability check|Persuasion, Deception|30}}, with an additional prerequisite {{Ability check|Persuasion, Intimidation|25}} if the player character was the one to "assimilate" Orpheus.  If Voss turns hostile, he can no longer be recruited as part of {{Quest|Gather Your Allies}}.

The party can refuse to allow the Emperor to "assimilate" Orpheus. Alternatively, a mind flayer player character can refuse to "assimilate" Orpheus, though a check is required to prevent their hunger from getting the best of them. Either choice causes the Emperor to defect to the Netherbrain, and the party then can free Orpheus. If the player character made the deal with Raphael and did not betray him, then he shows up and gives the Orphic Hammer to the party.

If not having optained the Orphic Hammer at this point, then Raphael appears and makes his offer again. Refusing the offer causes a Game Over, so the player character is forced to {{Quest|Fulfill the Deal}}.

Regardless, Orpheus is freed and offers an alliance to the party, though he scolds them for not freeing him sooner, for stealing the {{SmRarityItem|Githyanki Egg}}, causing [[Crèche Y'llek|Crèche Y’llek’s]] destruction, and / or fornicating with The Emperor. Like the Emperor, he tells the party that the only way to wield the Netherstones is to become an illithid. There are several options at this point:

# If the player character and any other party members refuse to become a mind flayer, Orpheus offers to make the sacrifice instead. Lae'zel is dismayed but does not turn hostile.

Regardless of who transforms, Orpheus joins the party as an [[Attached Follower]] for the final battle. Depending on who is transformed, Voss expresses either confusion or dismay, but does also not turn hostile.

Orpheus' role in the ending depends on whether or not he is transformed into a mind flayer.

If Orpheus turned into a mind flayer, he appears on the docks and asks Lae'zel to lead the githyanki fight for freedom without him, as he is now an abomination and seeks death. asks another party member (usually the player character or Lae'zel) to kill him. If his request is not fullfilled, he kills himself unless the player character convinces him refrain with a {{Ability check|Persuasion|20}}. If passing the check, he leaves the docks for places unknown.

If the player character or another party member turned into a Mind Flayer, he appears on the docks, thanking the party's ceremorph for their sacrifice. Beeing now ready to begin a new rebellion against Vlaakith's tyranny, he calls two red dragons, and invites 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 is automatically be rejected if the player character became a mind flayer, or take the player character along with her, if the player character 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.

If Orpheus did not transform into a mind flayer, then the player character finds a letter from him in the {{SmRarityItem|Chest of Grateful Words}}, titled {{SmRarityItem|The First Protocol}}.  In it, he praises the player character as ''Mla'ghir'' ([[Githyanki vocabulary|Gith]] for "liberator"), and tells them of the success of his ongoing rebellion against Vlaakith.

If Orpheus transformed into a mind flayer but is convinced not to kill himself, then a unique dialogue option asking about him is present when talking to Lae'zel. Her response indicates that Orpheus has disappeared and gone into hiding, but that she holds out hope that he might re-emerge one day.