From what I understand, there were a number of story elements that had to be abandoned when Russia invaded Ukraine. The entire St Petersburg studio had to be shuttered and the employees evacuated to the other studios. Doing so we lost the return to Avernus, etc. There does appear (when speaking to the gnomes and steel watchers) there was a quest line about/for karlach’s heart, that didn’t get implemented.
The staff was evacuated because Sven saw the writing on the wall and didn’t want his employees drafted in the war.
RQ, I do agree with you somewhat; however, Orpheus likely can read the Emperors motives like when he read you mind. Doing so he would have known all the false hoods the Emperor was saying and likely would have immediately attacked all of you. By betraying the Emperor first, he atleast he knew you could be either used until no longer needed (like the Emperor maybe doing), or at minimum an enemy of my enemy is “currently” my friend type scenarios.
