I really like your idea. It's important that the artifact is cutting off the connection to the absolute as you mentioned, so the player can see the real Minthara for a bit to feel sympathy when meeting her at moonrise.
Maybe while she is wounded, you can explore her fears like during the romance scene with her.
During her romance scene I wondered why the artifact blocks out Minthara's connection to Absolute. Act 3 implies
that the Artifact's protection is contingent on the Emperor and only works when he wants it to since he refuses to do the same thing for Minsc.
