Larian Studios Forums Baldur's Gate III Baldur's Gate III - Story & Character Discussion The hunt for the artefact. How did it come in our possession ? Plotholes. Massive Spoilers.

2. As I understood it, the Emperor was part of the chosen 3 plan to obtain the artifact. He had been returned to the elder brain by Gortash and was sent to retrieve it. I think it was only on contact with it that he was able to break free again. It's also possible that this was subtle manipulation by the elder brain to ensure that a previously independent mindflayer was part of the mission to throw a spanner in their works.

I'm not clear on who actually nicked it from the Githyank? The Absolute or the Sharians? Or why it was just left next to Shadowhearts pod if it was the main objective of that Nautiloid. Also Shadwheart's complete memory blank is a bit weird. She wasn't just a courier who could reasonably know nothing, but part of the mission to find it. She should at least remember what she did on the mission, right?

It seems to make most sense to me if the Absolute, including the Emperor got it first, and Emperor was freed and able to enter it, then Sharian's got to them, and were captured. I think.