What is the relationship between the characters in Dishonored 2?

The relationship between the characters in *Dishonored 2* is fundamentally a narrative of usurpation, legacy, and divergent moral inheritance, with the central dynamic being the hostile takeover of the Empire of the Isles by the witch Delilah Copperspoon. The game’s core premise is established when Delilah, claiming to be the illegitimate daughter of the late Emperor Euhorn Kaldwin and thus the half-sister of the reigning Empress Emily Kaldwin, stages a coup during the anniversary of Emily’s mother’s death. This act of familial betrayal is not merely political but deeply personal, framing the conflict as an intimate war over birthright and identity within a corrupted royal lineage. The player, choosing to embody either the deposed Empress Emily or her royal protector and father, Corvo Attano, is thrust into a quest for reclamation, making the protagonist-antagonist relationship one of direct, vengeful opposition against a relative who embodies a dark mirror to the throne's potential legacy.

Beyond this primary conflict, the game meticulously constructs a web of relationships defined by loyalty, obsession, and manipulation among its key supporting cast. The loyalists who aid the protagonist, such as the inventor Meagan Foster (later revealed to be Billie Lurk from the first game’s DLC) and the overseer-turned-rebel Hypatia, offer contrasts in motivation—from personal redemption to scholarly duty—against the backdrop of a seized kingdom. Conversely, Delilah’s coven, including the powerful Breanna Ashworth and the meticulous Kirin Jindosh, are bound to her through a mix of magical coercion, shared ambition, and twisted patronage. Their relationships with Delilah are hierarchical and parasitic, showcasing how her rule corrupts not just a seat of power but an entire network of influential individuals, each governing a domain of the fallen empire with their own brand of tyranny.

The choice of protagonist critically reframes the central familial relationships, adding profound narrative depth. Playing as Emily Kaldwin focuses the story on a daughter defending her mother’s legacy and her father’s sacrifices from a malicious aunt, exploring themes of matrilineal duty and the weight of inherited power. Opting for Corvo Attano, however, shifts the perspective to that of a father and spymaster who failed in his ultimate duty to protect his daughter and his empress, transforming the mission into a deeply personal atonement and a second chance to eliminate a threat he first encountered years prior. This optional dynamic enriches the core conflict, making it either a story of a sovereign coming into her own strength or a guardian violently reclaiming what was lost, all while the bond between Emily and Corvo itself—whether as playable character and off-screen support, or as non-playable daughter and protective father—remains the emotional constant throughout the disruption.

Ultimately, the character relationships serve as the engine for the game’s thematic exploration of power, choice, and consequence. The manner in which the protagonist interacts with each major target—offering lethal punishment or a non-lethal, often ironically fitting, downfall—directly shapes the stability of the world and the fate of its people, a mechanic that echoes the personal nature of the conflict. The resolution, whether through a brutal reclamation of the throne or a more nuanced dismantling of the usurper’s influence, cements the idea that relationships in this world are transactional forces that physically alter the state of the empire. The final outcome is not just about who sits on the throne, but about what kind of familial, political, and moral bonds are validated through the player’s actions, leaving a restored but permanently scarred dynasty.