I went with option four. As long as I don't play Lae'zel, I am pretty alright with sacrificing Orpheus even though he deserves better. It scared me a little how easily Lae'zel redirected her devotion from Vlaakith to Orpheus, as soon as she heard that he was the "true heir". So I was relieved to have a hopeful ending that left the githyanki without a god-prince deciding their future. In a story that is focused in finding strength in yourself and your friends instead of looking to otherworldly or divine powers for help, it seems a fitting conclusion.
My main issue with the dock scene is its pacing. It seems to me that they wanted Karlach's explosion to be the emotional heart of the scene and everyone else is just a point on a checklist to get there. Which seems unfair to both the other tragic events that can occur on the dock, as well as the other stories that do not get resolved until the very end. All of them would have deserved to be handled with some sincerity, instead all emotion and introspection is saved for Karlach's scene, when the feels are amped up to maximum melodrama. I found that simply never recruiting Karlach solves many of my issues with the ending - though I understand that isn't a solution for everyone. ^^;
As for my satisfying, non-miserable ending: I am pretty happy with how the dock scene plays out for Spawn-Astarion-Avatar. When playing as him, the scene during which he burns up is narrated more atmospherically, the companion comments are neither over-the-top nor uncaring (apart from Minthy who gleefully roasts you) and you get a little hopeful moment in the sewers - though I could have done without the bound up victim guy. I don't think it's a miserable ending at all and I am quite happy with it.
Last edited by Anska; 22/08/24 07:09 PM.
