This dungeon under the city is full of lore about the founder of Baldur’s Gate, a hero known as Balduran. Balduran paradox. Both are planes conquering maniacs except Orpheus posesses real innate power against mindflayers. The fact that he is Balduran seems so. I mostly enjoyed the. I mostly enjoyed the. Joined: Oct 2020. #baldur's gate 3 #bg3 #bg3 raphael #bg3 the emperor #bg3 orpheus. Info. "O, sing a song of Balduran / Who founded Baldur. They use ppl to their own needs, when those ppl are not useful anymore they are dropped from the equation. On the screen with tadpole powers it is writen partial-illithid if you accept his proposal. You can not recruit Ansur, the fact the Emperor is Balduran has 0 impact on the story. Moonrise towers and the surrounding City were built 150~ years ago by Ketheric BEFORE he lost it. The Emperor is just a typical illithid. dude has zero integrity, lmao. Let’s cut to the chase with this one: While both options are. #2. What a reveal. (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. 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. The Emperor has Balduran’s memories and knows what motivates an adventurer like the PC because Balduran. Follow the passage and enter the Wyrmway, then continue and lockpick the. But the Emperor is not Balduran. The Emperor's Sword +2. Mysterious. old hand. If he couldn't survive with his free will, he might as well just try to survive period. #2. The only way The Emperor fights you is if you free Orpheus, and Orpheus has every reason to *hate* The Emperor. Last edited by Ixal; 28/10/23 11:12 PM . 1. . Context clues really suggest that Balduran took the initiative and killed Ansur in. The Emperor is actually Balduran - yeah, the Balduran who founded Baldur's Gate - and he was once infected by the mind flayer colony in Moonrise Towers and only broke free because Ansur, a dragon ally of Balduran, broke him free. So in act 3, it’s revealed that the Emperor/Guardian was Balduran before they turned. And The Emperor does seem to have a lot of his memories but, I was under the impression that when you undergo ceremorphosis, your brain is eaten and replaced by the mindflayer tadpole. What happens if you let The Emperor Dream Visitor Die Baldur's Gate 3 video. Along with his sword and armor, Balduran's shield was stolen from a museum in the city of Baldur's Gate. What happens if you let The Emperor Dream Visitor Die Baldur's Gate 3 guide & lo. He killed one in self-defense and mind controlled another all to continue his existence. They don't think they do and most when they die would rather assimilate into an Elder Brain. The Emperor is a mind flayer with emotions. Found a minor ending variation. The Emperor is openly selfish, a manipulator, and evil (if you learn about his interactions with the Bronze Dragon Ansur). The Emperor is one of them as he retains the memories of Balduran and is heavily connected with him. dude has zero integrity, lmao. The Emperor desires the death of the elder brain so much that he won't even resist when you're actively beating him to death. He was once an adventurer and, although he didn't take an arrow to the knee, he did take a tadpole to the eye. 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. , 11:47 every. . Ansur tried to mercy kill him in his sleep. aug. srp. The odds are cast anew. 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). Ansur hints at a deeper. Discover more posts about bg3 the emperor, bg3 emperor, mind flayer, the emperor bg3, the emperor, balduran, and illithid. . 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. Probably because it has no real weight or consequence, just an offhand thing at the end of Wyll’s companion questline. I somehow think emperor just inherited the worst parts of Balduran but the best parts (the merits in the trial) are lost. Any promise he makes. The fact that he is Balduran seems so. This "special mindflayer" just so happens to be this particular character from a 1000 years ago, what are the odds?. It seems Larian might have improved the flow of the game at cost to the ending. . I don't think so. This is a difficult battle due to the large health pool that Ansur has which ranges from 400 (Explorer) to 600+ (Tactician) as well as its propensity to use a lot of. But by his own comments, he was already on his way back since he was ceremorphed in the Moonrise Towers: in the heartlands already. The Emperor is a slave like Astarion, where they have a "slave switch" hardwired in their head. He couldn't let it go that Balduran was a mind flayer and alive. Emperor will join Nether Brain and fight should you choose to free Prince Orpheus. 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. Dude isn't Balduran, he's just a mind flayer with his memories who uses everyone around him and discards anyone who doesn't wanna tell him that he's right all the time. . Anyways in the cut scenes the emperor is stabbed and beaten to death by the citizens of baldur's gate along with non descript generic illthids. . 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. Wielded by Balduran, the founder of Baldur's Gate and friend to his. If you succeed, you get to go to the last room where there is a dragon. This reveals the way into the Wyrmway. at least initially. Ms. both offer you power in exchange for working with them, but the ways they go about it are could not be more different. What im interested in is staying partial-illithid, without becoming full mindflayer. Super manipulative. While the game does touch on the Emperor quite a bit, you'll notice a lot of it's just repetitive fluff without much depth or new info. They don't think they do and most when they die would rather assimilate into an Elder Brain. So, there is a spoiler about the real identity of the Emperor. Here's the most interesting thing, with the Emperor's case. . (potentially big spoilers) I really just feel like it’s a whole cop out. 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. Discover more posts about bg3 the emperor, bg3 emperor, mind flayer, the emperor bg3, the emperor, balduran, and illithid. The ancient dragon under the city tells you what a shit person Balduran was. dude has zero integrity, lmao. Obviously the emperor is dead too but IMO he was kind of an asshole for choosing power over his best friend (Ansur). Baldur's Gate 3 is available on Steam : on Spotify: and Publ. By this point in the game, players will. I am one of the weird ones who decided to romance Balduran/The Emperor and I’m not sure. dude has zero integrity, lmao. For Catarina, this story comes to light with a shadow of deepest dread. 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. 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. Extinguish these torches, then hit them with Lightning and relight them. He's a monster with the memories of a man, who uses that knowledge to manipulate people similar to the kind of man his memories belonged to, because he knows how they tick. I mostly enjoyed the. Any Baldur's Gate 3 player is going to be slightly suspicious of the Emperor, well before his tentacles appear. The Emperor is a mind flayer created from Balduran’s body and mind. 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). . . 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. #2. When players walk into the Chamber of Strategy, and interact with the Statue of Balduran there, the challenge is presented: within two moves, checkmate the Purple King. The Emperor is not Balduran. 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. it is believed that his mother gave the. That's just stupid. Our guide discusses whether or not you should help the Emperor. But when you get inside, you. In the underdark you stumble across another mind flayer, Omeluum, whom you can overhear have a. The Emperor's timeline. And Baldur's fate now turns upon. Their past life is irrelevant. The emperor is convinced, that he is balduran, but in reality he is a mindflayer, made from the body of and with access to the memorys of balduran. dude has zero integrity, lmao. Stun Immunity. When the Person that is infested with the Tadpole of a Mind Flayer, the Tadpole literally consumes the person, right down to their Soul, in order to. No matter what he only uses discourse and attempts to convince you that working together is the only way to survive. That's just stupid. aug. 3. 2- he and Balduran where in hiding/isolation for years or even decades at that point 3-surprise attack. What we have left is a worm that has some impressions of who Balduran was. This means the towers already existed when he was a human. . One of the major themes of The Emperor is acceptance. " even if you pick a Background like Outlander which contradicts it by Stating "You grew up in the wilds. The Emperor is Later Revealed to Be Balduran. We have the Emperor on record in that Gortash interview saying Balduran's exceptionally strong personality enabled him to preserve himself for years on end, and even afforded him some mental autonomy whilst enthralled by the Brain back at Moonrise. Orpheus would've never spare the Emperor. However, a surprising turn of events quickly unfolds: The Emperor killed Ansur. I gather Orpheus just stopped giving The Emperor his protection and he fell back under control of the brain. I'm pretty sure the Emperor/Balduran is meant to be an astral-grade asshole. But when you get inside, you. . . The Emperor's Sword +2. For Catarina, this story comes to light with a shadow of deepest dread. . My mind is blown after I fought Ansur. 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 ?. Balduran's Vitality: The helmet heals you 2 hit points every turn. The most important third act decision regarding the ending involves the Emperor, Orpheus, and the player character's illithid potential. 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. 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. The fact that he is Balduran seems so. The Emperor wants you to be as powerful as possible no matter what, because he knows how tough the end fight is. 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. Delving into. The shocker though is that, well, remember The Emperor, the World’s Only Friendly Mind-Flayer™? Um, his real name is Balduran. 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. Since the Emperor's true identity is Balduran, the founder of Baldur's Gate, I assume that he must've been a mindflayer for hundreds of years before meeting Tav. S. •. . 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. . By this point in the game, players would have heard of Balduran several times. 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. . 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 thing is, Ansur wouldn't have stopped either. It was used as a barracks, naval base, dungeon, and fortress. I mostly enjoyed the. Zan, Cleric of Ilmater, remembers River from his dreams and is determined to know and understand his connection with her. But. This isn't me asking if some remnant of Balduran exists inside of the Emperor, but rather if Balduran is even his origin in the first place. S. dude has zero integrity, lmao. In the underdark you stumble across another mind flayer, Omeluum, whom you can overhear have a. dude has zero integrity, lmao. Below are an image of the cinematic Illithid, a generic Illithid, and the Emperor. He's a monster with the memories of a man, who uses that knowledge to manipulate people similar to the kind of man his memories belonged to, because he knows how they tick. Delving into the Wyrmway beneath Baldur’s. This reveals the way into the Wyrmway. After running the Knights of the Shield, which it coopted (and presumably converted into a more mercantile operation) from Belynne Stelmane's Gargauth (devil) worshipping cult (info from. The Emperor might even want the best for Baldur's Gate, as far as he sees it. Or perhaps that is precisely as he intended, for this makes him the perfect candidate to. He's the tadpole that has baldurans memories. The Wyrmway was built to honor the oathbound duty of Ansur, where he had resided for a long while, until Ansur helped the Emperor break free from the Elder Brain. I think Balduran’s Gate rolls off. Once a trusted confidant of Balduran, the proud dragon now lies in ruins, dead and broken for centuries. (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. Location: Ukraine. . emperorapologist asked: may i humbly ask for my favorite malewife mansplain. #2. Maybe that side of his story and the transition between the werewolf island and the moonrise tower could be extended in more details in the future expansion, definitive edition or something like that. Queue Autoplay Autoplay is on. 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 Emperor has Balduran’s memories and knows what motivates an adventurer like the PC because Balduran knows that. Location: Ukraine. Honestly I wouldn't even be too angry if we got to the end and it turned out that that was the case. He is no longer "Balduran" and is now only part of the Elder Brain. Ansur was friends with Balduran, the founder of Baldur’s Gate, and swore to. Am I the only one that was completely blindsided by the fact that I was so sad reading the letter on Ansurs body. This is canon now btw. The Emperor is not a humanoid. The Song Of Ba. He does lie, manipulate, and kill people but he does have a moral code (of sorts). Am I the only one that feels the flow of the narrative suffered. Wyll saying "thank Balduran" is foreshadowing because the Emperor is the one protecting all the tadpoled companions. "O, sing a song of Balduran. But game's not over yet. 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. Memories of Balduran only amount to learning one spell when you become a mind flayer i guess 😂. BG and BG2 wants to present a story-centric gameplay, while BG3 wants to present a player-centric gameplay. I'm not sure if this is just me reaching but when The Emperor explains his past and in the Letter to Ansur found on the dragons body it really seems like the devs are implying that Balduran and Ansur were partners before he got yk mind flayered, this would explain why Ansur tried so hard to cure Balduran but idk if I'm just. He apparently later is captured by the absolute in 1492, even though he is basically a. 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's Favour: You have a + 1 bonus to AC and Saving Throws. For example: He chooses to side with us despite of overwhelming odds because he knows that if the absolute and the three win, it’s over. . It involves traveling to a place called the Wyrmway underneath Wyrm’s Rock Castle and awakening an ancient Wyrm called Ansur. 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. 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. Power/Intimacy. The fact that he is Balduran seems so. The helm also protects your mind from stunning effects – you are immune to any spells or attacks that could stun you while wearing Balduran’s helm. Enter Balduran: a human (or retconned elven) adventurer who founded Baldur's Gate hundreds of years ago. wtf. But the Emperor is not Balduran. fandom. 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. like the dark secret is that they enthrall the duke but the knights of the shield are cultist worshipping a devil called Gargauth and is not clear if they did bad things or good things while in control over the knights also he is Balduran and in a book of interrogation of Gortash to the emperor part 3 is reveal that the emperor. We see this through his trials in Wyrm's Rock and also by the fact his best friend was a good-aligned metallic dragon. Premise: Emperor is approximately equal to Balduran, depending on how one defines the essence of a person. First with Ansur who was his friend back from when he was Balduran. Or Karlach. 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. " etc. The Emperor is not Balduran. The massive Seatower of Balduran rested on a rocky island in the bay of Baldur's Gate. Is Balduran an immortal?The Shield of Balduran was the shield wielded by the legendary explorer Balduran. "O, sing a song of Balduran / Who founded Baldur. Ok edit: I saved before the fight just in case there is some way, but after I killed him it's revealed that Ansur tried to mercy kill The Emperor/Balduran, so he "defended himself" and killed Ansur. Larian LOVED that idea and twist (it is juicy) and immediately thought the best spot to put it in was the Guardian slot. In theory, this revelation would give players more justification to trust The Emperor. The only way The Emperor fights you is if you free Orpheus, and Orpheus has every reason to *hate* The Emperor. He still can't. After escaping the control of the Elder Brain for the first time, the mind flayer. . Bhaal Cultist Bloodmopper…. 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 ?. Search. Enter Balduran, and an extra bit of lore than people/soldiers/etc from Baldur are always 'Baldurian', and never 'Balduran' because poking fun at the dude's name is not allowed. If you hold that the Emperor is not Balduran (i. Any promise he makes. Could not avert his fate. Website: more guides and information about each game be sure to check out my webs. Is it the soul, or is it his memories, his way of thinking, his emotions, his personality? Emperor's means and feelings don't come from the elder brain, and his most important component belongs to Balduran, so I'd still be willing to. Ansur did try to kill the Emperor. [Verse 2] When three, though dead, assailed his. Joined: Jan 2023. For a few reasons. New cards are drawn, new hands are played. According to his own words, he was turned into an illithid while searching for treasures at Moonrise Towers. Is Balduran an immortal?the parallels between Raphael and the Emperor are so compelling to me. Finding out he is a Mind Flayer is detrimental to his plans because it causes you to lose trust (and if you found out earlier, most likely. Named after Balduran, the tower could be reached by a bridge from the western shore linking it to the mainland. The fact that he is Balduran seems so. The founder of Baldurs Gate became a Mindflayer lol. The choices you get here won’t impact anything, but you can find out who the Emperor really is, and its relationship to Ansur. For being a mind flayer, a species that only thinks in strengths and weaknesses, in how people can be used for their own ends, beings who only think with logic and manipulation, what the ♥♥♥♥ was his plan? When siding against the netherbrain,. 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. The Emperor talks about how he wanted freedom but settled to be a slave when Tav has made up their mind. Let's consider the Emperor before his transformation. I feel as tho Wizards of the Coast gave them the idea to add the Balduran aka The Emperor into the game. He was captain Barbossa with legendary great sword and helmet. Like, boy it sure is convenient that this Mind Flayer was the single most revered adventurer in all the land so. 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. 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. I mostly enjoyed the. . Balduran's Log Book was the incomplete logbook of Balduran, detailing his journey to Anchorome and back. Mediocre Mar 25, 2021 @ 7:36am. I'm not sure he joins the Netherbrain willingly. The past matters, him trying to force you to become a mind flayer matters, him murdering "allies" matter as you're supposed to be one of his allies. Balduran's Vitality: The helmet heals you 2 hit points every turn. I loved the quest and the trials, and I think it goes to show that YOU -- not this long dead champion whose been twisted beyond recognition -- are the hero of the story. 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. [Verse 1] O, sing a song of Balduran. . Join our active forum today!Ansur wanted to kill him first for the crime of being Ilithid. Thank you to Ixal for pointing this out. old hand. - He is an Illithid, which means that his. There are 4 things the Emperor treasures the most: Survival, Independence, Acceptance and Ambition. We are led to believe, in the end, that we might also get so lucky if we transform. Wearer is immune to Crits. Song of Balduran Lyrics. He constantly supported the city with his wealth and was overall known as a honorable leader. The Emperor talks about how he wanted freedom but settled to be a slave when Tav has made up their mind. The truth is, Orpheus will immediately attempt to kill only him . Rude. A knave, a wizard, devil, gith. Joined: Oct 2020. dude has zero integrity, lmao. Fact #3: The Emperor strongly resembles the Illithid in the opening cinematic. (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. New cards are drawn, new hands are played. The good points : - He is an ex adventurer/hero bearing the name Balduran, that much has been proven not only by his remaining belongings but also by the wyrm in Baldur's Gate. Balduran died when his brain was eaten. The Emperor is exceptional in this regard, he has a unique personality shaped by his origins. Freedom. And when he lied about the dragon under Wyrmrock. dude has zero integrity, lmao. He hasn't been a mindflayer for that long. m. Even though if you save Orpheus as a mindflayer he's perfectly fine with you being one. The emperor is a selfish manipulative twat but he’s also a very nuanced and well designed character. I gather Orpheus just stopped giving The Emperor his protection and he fell back under control of the brain. I gather Orpheus just stopped giving The Emperor his protection and he fell back under control of the brain. The Emperor human face appearance as a human before he became Mind Flayer Cutscene Baldur's Gate 3 video. In Gortash's interrogation, he says he was enslaved to the Elder Brain for just short of 14 years before escaping during a mission where he was sent to Baldur's Gate. This is the legendary hero Balduran, the founder of Baldur's Gate. Later on, during Act 3, you learn that the Dreamlover is actually the Illithid Mind Flayer Emperor. About the emperor…. 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. From what I understand of mind flayers, they get memories from the brains they devour. . When three, though dead, assailed his port. 19. Just because he was a heroic dragon doesn't mean he wasn't completely intolerant of Balduran's ilithidness. From here, head to our BG3 guide hub for more topics like how to get Helldusk Armor or 10 things we need in a DLC. He constantly supported the city with his wealth and was overall known as a honorable leader. Balduran's Giantslayer is an excellent weapon with the power to confront almost any larger creature. Any Baldur's Gate 3 player is going to be slightly suspicious of the Emperor, well before his tentacles appear. The Emperor however is something utterly else, and its a bold step in writing that I want to see more of when it comes to romance writing. She counted on Balduran's rebellious nature and desire to be free of elder brain domination as a means. The human is just a generic npc. Discover more posts about bg3 the emperor, bg3 emperor, the emperor bg3, the emperor, mind flayer, bg3 act 3, and balduran. Players will design and first meet him as BG3's Dream Visitor/Guardian, but even in. Astrail Plane; On top of Nether Brain . Baldur's Gate was first featured in the 1e Cyclopedia of the Realms and first described in detail in the 2e Forgotten Realms Adventures. Ansur, Balduran's dragon companion recognise him when you meet him. The most logical answer is a time dilation between the material and astral plains, or at least the astral prison. It's just that everyone in Faerun considers a mind flayer to be an "it" , rather than an actual individual. Balduran is not the human character. I don't think "Daisy" was a fake cover, I think she was just an early prototype of the idea they were playing with that ended up getting changed, which is common in big projects like this. It is here that the Emperor’s final secret is revealed as Ansur shows the party that the Emperor used to be Balduran. It is accompanied by a montage of him enslaving Duke Stellmane. He obviously identifies with Balduran in some way.