To be honest, I don't see the point of it. Orpheus' transformation is the optimal option for those who are sorry to make illithid Karlach. There is no need or motivation to become illithid yourself at all, it seems to me that this is made for those players who just want to roleplay a self-sacrificing hero themselves, well why not, great. So why torture the rest of the companions? Lae'zel may have agreed to it, but why let her down like that when you can decide her fate with a good outcome for her? I don't like the idea of some sort of “redemption” being imposed on the companions at all. Plus, pretty much every companion has moments in their storylines that could be improved upon than wasting resources on making them illithid.
Astarion is most unwilling to let the tadpole transform his body. When the player offers him an astral tadpole, he talks about how he felt when he was transformed into a vampire spawn.
“That was before I knew the cost. Before I knew it meant transforming into some grotesque beast. I remember how it hurt when I turned to a vampire. My body writhed and warped while I was utterly helpless, the grip of death owned my heart as it beat its last. I - I don't want to turn into anything else. I can't do that again. I can't watch my body be taken over.” “It isn't about the pain... it's about being beholden to the tadpole's influence.” “Just don't ask me to sacrifice my body. It hasn't been mine for so long.” “What is there left to protect, if you lose your very body to the monster? I'm not going to submit to this. Don't ask me again.”
Astarion already has the most number of bad options for him in the story. And so it seems like all the cruelest things you can do to your companions have been given to Astarion. He's had enough. He's categorically lacking in good interactions. Larian, of course, is unlikely to make any changes to the companion storyline at all now, but still, it would be a pity to waste resources on making everyone illithid instead of improving their storylines in other, more important places for them.
Last edited by Marielle; 11/02/25 02:43 PM.
