Orpheus in Baldur's Gate 3: how to rescue and release from the astral plane

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In Baldur's Gate 3 Orpheus is a powerful prince of the Githyanki and the true successor of the great Gith, who once saved her people from the oppression of the illithids - the main enemies of the race of dragon lords. Due to political intrigue, Orpheus unjustly became a traitor to the Githyanki while he himself was being held captive by the Emperor. The Prince has the power without which it is impossible to defeat the Elder Brain, but there are many ways to use it. In our guide you will learn how to find and save Orpheus, as well as whether it is worth doing, and how your choice will affect the ending of the game.

How to save Orpheus in Baldur's Gate 3

Where is the Githyanki Prince?

Orpheus is imprisoned in the Emperor's abode - space called Astral plane. An allied illithid keeps him under a special dome that binds the gith's body and mind. His release will be impossible until the very end of the game, that is, the episode before the large-scale battle against the Elder Brain.

One of the main tasks of Act 3 is collecting Netherian stones, and when you have them all, the plot will inevitably lead to a final meeting with the Emperor in the astral plane. Here players will have the following choices:

Take the side of the Emperor, give him the stones and allow him to absorb the prince / do it for Karlach or himself;
Reject the help of the illithid and free Orpheus.

Let's look briefly at the consequences of each of these choices.

If you side with the Emperor

One way to enter the final battle with the Absolute is to remain on the Emperor's side. In this case you can:

Give the stones to the illithid;
Become a brain eater yourself;
Allow Karlach to go through the transformation.

In any case, you will have to go to kill Orpheus. The only difference is who will absorb its power and become the owner of the stones. From his corpse, you can subsequently collect only 278 gold and a couple of bottles with a healing potion.

This choice there are inevitable consequences : the prince's death is inevitable will ruin the relationship With Laesel (or will make her a hostile character altogether) and may prevent you from supporting a Githyanki unit in the battle with the Brain.

The death of the prince will not go unnoticed by his faithful relatives, so after teleporting to the Upper City, you will almost immediately have to talk with Kitrak Voss. If in a conversation with him you do not pass one of the checks with 30th difficulty[Обман или Убеждение] , the only outcome will be a battle.

And even in this case, you have a chance to talk your way into the Gith commander and gain his support. But remember: there will be only one attempt to get the coveted 30 points (if you like this plot scenario, it’s better to save at this point).

If you choose the side of Orpheus

If your plans do not include killing the only hope of the Giths, when speaking with the Emperor, select the answer " ...we can free Orpheus "(or immediately attack the dome without talking to it). Stay true to your decision, and the Emperor will not come up with anything better than leave and join the Absolute army . In the battle against the Brain, he will attack our squad and allied groups.

Will remain smash two scarlet stones with an Orphic hammer , surrounding Orpheus's dungeon, and negotiate with the freed one on options for using the Netherian stones Someone will have to become an illithid anyway.

Let Orpheus become an illithid

If you select the answer option “ ...will you make such a sacrifice? ” or express reluctance to become a brain-eater, Orpheus will take on this burden.

It will be he who will defeat the Absolute, but in this case his people will have to look for another way to escape the oppression of the usurper Vlaakith.

Let Karlach become an illithid

Orpheus can avoid transformation in two cases: if you do it, or if Karlach does it. In order for our tiefling partner to decide to take such a step, answer like this:

There must be another way.../...I will do it;
But why you? / Better you than me ;
...I can only say one thing... Thank you .

Karlakh in alien form will feel healthy, will be a key character in the final battle with the Absolute and, as a result, will save Baldur's Gate from being captured by the illithids.

Agree to become an illithid instead of Orpheus

If you decide to insist that becoming a brain eater is your duty, Orpheus will thank you and carry out the transformation.

This is perhaps the most heroic of all the events, as the Githyanki people will reunite with the prince and overthrow Vlaakith, Karlach (if Will hasn't left you) will return with Ravengard to Averno, and you can defeat the Elder Brain as your key character. The achievement given with this choice is: Ceremorphosis.

How to find the Orphic Hammer

To save the heir of Gith, you need to find Orphic Hammer - the only weapon capable of breaking the shackles of the astral dome. Without him, a happy ending for Orpheus is impossible.

The relic is located in House of Hope, it can be stolen from the central pedestal in the Archive (X:-6540 Y:2920). After this, you will inevitably bring down the wrath of Raphael and fight with him, but there will be no consequences for the final outcome.

Alternative option - enter into a deal with Raphael and receive the hammer in exchange for a promise to give the crown of Karsus to the devil. At the beginning of Act 3, go to the pleasure house "Weasel Shares" (Dragon's Crossing/X:-14 Y:105) and talk with the devil in one of the luxury rooms on the third floor.

After completing the deal you get the hammer right away , but in the final you will be obliged to give the diadem of Karsus to Raphael.

Is it worth freeing Orpheus?

As you know, your choice will determine who exactly will receive the power of the Netherian stones: the Emperor, Orpheus in the guise of a braineater, or a squad character (the abilities of the companions were shown in the screenshots below).

Regardless of the decision made, in the final choice you will have the right to:

Go over to the side of evil, becoming the new deity Absolute;
Order the monster to self-destruct along with you.

Saving Orpheus makes the post-victory scene even more fulfilling, as does Laezel's ending: the Gith will have the opportunity to overthrow Vlaakith and resurrect the race under the rule of a true king. But this is only if he himself does not become an illithid, otherwise the final outcome for the Githyanki prince will not be so rosy: he will want to die at your hands, and you can dissuade him only after successfully passing the test.