Who Paralyzed Duke Stelmane?

[seeker1]

I wanted to mention this in the earlier Stelmane thread, but it got shut down. I'm not interested in discussing her royal title. It's lore accurate. This is the point I wanted to make before the thread closed.

This is from Murder in Baldur's Gate, a 2014 adventure, where she is a character.

This Wiki entry is from *2014* and referencing her role as a character in that module.
https://murder-in-baldur-s-gate-4.obsidianportal.com/characters/belynne-stelmane

"Stelmane recently suffered a seizure and a long period of unconsciousness, after which she awoke a changed woman. Half of her handsome face is paralyzed now, and an uncertain gait and a constant tremor in her left arm have replaced her once legendary grace. Stelmane’s mind also suffered. Even though she continues to perform her ducal duties and jealously guards her privileges, her thinking seems slow, and her words come even more slowly.

The duke is conservative and unimaginative in all matters except for trade strategies and financial maneuvers. She has made few pronouncements or controversial court judgments since her illness. Due to her wealth and business connections, most Gate power players consider her a valuable ally or a pawn rather than a target.

It was recently revealed that Stelmane’s stroke was the result of mental assault by a Mindflayer. The creature had enthralled the willful Duke and was using her towards its own ends, until the heroes of Baldur’s Gate rescued her and apprehended the otherworldly beast.

Who is this referring to if not the Emperor?

[seeker1]

Now, here is how she is described in the Gazetter section of Descent into Avernus, a 2019 WotC module ... many of its events set into motion things we see in BG3 and are referenced by many characters.

Descent Into Avernus

"Once a vigorous and formidable politician, Duke Belynne Stelmane recently suffered a seizure that left her with a partially paralyzed face and slowed speech. In truth, a mind flayer provoked the duke’s “seizure” when it took mental possession of her. Now Stelmane wages a silent war against the mind flayer’s influence, biding her time until she can find a way to signal for aid or regain her will. Not even Stelmane’s aides are aware of her secret struggle, though they cover for her as best they can.

Given her current situation, Duke Stelmane is in no position to oppose attempts by her fellow dukes to seize the reins of power in Baldur’s Gate."

This is the Emperor - basically.

When you ask Wyll about her having a stroke, he will say his father always viewed it as suspicious, but doesn't elaborate.

[Kiyaya]

If you violently reject the Emperor's seduction, you literally get a scene that 100% confirms that the Emperor was the exact mind flayer responsible for Stelmane's decline.

[Kittybass]

Yes, I was just going to say that. If you pick the right dialog options, the Emperor shares his memory that tells you he was the one who did it.

[seeker1]

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥. I mean, I always tend to side with Orpheus. I did ONCE, because I have to see all the permutations, see what happens if you choose to side with the Emperor. But in any subsequent playthrough, I always choose Orpheus. I have always felt he was manipulative; even in other dialogue he pretty much ADMITS that. "This is my nature". But wow. I have never seen this scene because I usually only politely reject him.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mbBs1b7g-6Y

Holy crap. Also note the youtube creator's notes on journals you can find about the situation near the Emperor's lair. I'm not sure I noticed this.

My spider sense about this guy was right. He admits EXACTLY what I thought was true about him. "YOU ARE MY PUPPET".

and from that journal -- "mind flayers have wants and desires, but basically will discard you once yours and theirs no longer align, and you are no longer useful."