If you take the Shadow thief boss up on his transport offer to teh asylum, does that mark the beginning of teh end of the game? Or do teh encounters with Irenicus continue after the Asylum?

I have been avoiding going through taht because I ahve been under teh impression that it is the final battle.

Yes, No?

If no, what marks "the beginning of the end?"

MAJOR SPOILER
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The fight with Irenicus in the Asylum is only one of three fights with him, so no, the asylum part is not the beginning of the end. The beginning of the end is when you are in Suldanellesar.