#I'm in Act 3 obviously but I haven't even been to the Upper City

[tambutt]

WHEN DOES THIS GAME END????

[crossdressingdeath]

I knew it would be risky to give one of the netherstones to that loose catapult Orin, but when I look in her eyes I feel something, though I'm not sure what to call it - and after all, what's the point of a grand alliance of the Dead Three without old Bhaal? I thought I could depend on that aged stump Ketheric, however, it never even occurred to me he could be brought down by a random collection of shabby adventurers. Obviously, possession of the Weapon, but do the vagabonds possess the Weapon or does the Weapon possess them? It's just as the great sages say: a plan will take you only so far, and then you have to fall back on principles. And inasmuch as control is the guiding principle of the committed Banite, it's axiomatic that I must be in control of all three netherstones. The solution is obvious - pit the vagabonds against the loose catapult, and once they bring me the other two netherstones, we'll find suitable positions for them in the new order to follow. Not the illithids' Grand Design, of course, but the Golden Reign of Gortash. Yes, that has a nice ring to it. Then we shall deal with our naughty Absolute brain and its growing propensity to throw petulant psionic tantrums. It's no accident that I chose to place it in a domed cavern beneath the Upper City - the location is perfectly formed to concentrate the psychic force of the netherstones, concentrate it to such a degree that not even our Netherese-enhanced brain will be able to resist my commands. Once I control all three netherstones, naturally, and the sooner the better.

I can only assume this was written in the period between Ketheric's death and the start of act 3 cutscene where Orin reveals that Durge survived and is leading the "shabby vagabonds" who brought him down. I don't think Gortash would've been so dismissive in his writing if he knew his favourite assassin was on their way. Also, he clearly doesn't yet know about how one person alone can't control the brain. It's interesting seeing him talking about how he does in fact intend to stab his remaining ally in the back so that he could control all three Netherstones and the brain when he seems to have genuinely intended to rule with Durge (at least given him being genuine when he re-offers an alliance at the coronation).

It's fascinating seeing Gortash's response to the alliance with Orin as Bhaal's representative versus his response to having Durge as Bhaal's representative. Like... the alliance only exists because he really really liked Bhaal's Chosen. Having him now kind of lightly complaining about having to include Bhaal and talking about how he thought he could rely on Ketheric is absolutely bizarre when you know that all evidence suggests that he had to be forced into letting Ketheric into the alliance because he was entirely happy with it just being him and Durge. The tone of this also doesn't match with how pleased with their partnership he is when he's telling Durge about their plan. Maybe I just have Durgetash brainrot, but it really does feel like some of the spark went out of the whole thing for him once he wasn't going to be ruling with Durge.

Interesting that he seems to have always intended to uphold any bargain he made with the party, even before he realized he'd need at least one co-ruler to keep the elder brain under control. He wasn't going to rule with them, but he wasn't going to kill them either. It's also still very funny that he dropped the elder brain in a place accessed from right beside the Temple of Bhaal while grumbling about not being able to find the temple. And I love him calling Orin a loose catapult, because obviously cannons haven't been invented yet. The etymology doesn't really work (the phrase "loose cannon" refers to a cannon that's come untied and is now rolling around the deck potentially crushing people and breaking shit, which doesn't really happen with catapults), but it's still fun.