The Emperor Romance
This is slightly going off-topic, but I really wish that the Emperor weren't so overtly interested in sex with the player. It feels incredibly strange coming from a mind-flayer, and this character seemed like one who'd be a good candidate for a character the player would have to be the one to express sexual interest in. There can still be a quiet scene of the Emperor expressing that they've come to enjoy the player's company and possibly even reflecting on missing their days of working with their party, but I think it should be up to the player to express romantic interest in the Emperor, which the Emperor can go along with after expressing some confusion.
Also, I feel like the ability to romance this character should probably be exclusive to the Trust path (i.e. not a player who's constantly telling the Emperor how much they hate him / mind-flayers), and some other conversation can occur here on the Distrust path -- still on the subject of companionship, but with a different tone. For example, for the Emperor to remark that he knows that neither of you are happy about the current arrangement, but trying to encourage you to stay focused on your mutual goal of beating the Netherbrain and then going your separate ways. This seems like a good way for the scene to still have the overtones of "the Emperor reaching out" while still acknowledging the distrust between the parties.
This might be an odd take, but I didn't feel the Emperor was interested in sex with the player, but that the Emperor - much like Withers - thought that all mortal beings are most interested in romance, so it uses a romance speed-run to reel the player in when the situation starts to become serious. The Emperor's attempt at seduction mimics the development of the PC's romance with their chosen companion, without properly understanding the emotions tied it. It observed how we started to trust our chosen companion as they reveal things about themselves, their past, things they like and eventually fall for each other. Its house tour and the conversation about Stelmane have elements of this but they are fake, it never cared for Stelmane and the things it shows us during the house tour is basically trash. Even if the objects had sentimental value during its human life, they are just random objects now.
For me, this all seemed like an (hilariously bad) attempt to win over a PC who had previously rejected the Astral Tadpole and overall tried to keep the Emperor at arm's length.
I second that I would like a second path to discover the truth about Stelmane because the only way to currently uncover the truth - being incredibly rude to the being that holds the wellbeing of your party in its grasp - is just plain stupid and I was surprised that it did not end with some kind of power display from the Emperor. I was also disappointed, that I could not talk about the revelation with my companions.
I would also like it if the friendship with or among the companions would factor in how well the group can resist the Emperor. The book about defending against illithid influence especially states how important close friends are, so it would be nice if this information had relevance.
Concerning Orpheus. While I think that the current mind flayer transformation is odd, Orpheus handing over the reins of the rebellion to Lae'zel, is essential for a good ending - especially for a good githyanki ending. With Orpheus alive and in charge the githyanki will never be truly free, they will just replace a Lich-Queen with a Mythical Prince. In a game in which freedom equals the option but also the plight of making your own choices, this blind obedience cannot be a good ending. In Orpheus's case, this either has to come through him telling his people that they are strong enough on their own (the current route) or Voss and Lae'zel have to realise that they do not need Orpheus in some other manner. Maybe he does not have to die but he has to be removed from the pedestal the rebels currently have him placed on.
