Session IX - 04.06.2020

General Summary

• The group takes the staircase in the kitchen of the Vanthampur estate and enters the complex below. Here they first dodge an encounter with a creature they can only assume is some sort of a devil (sulfuric smell, chain sound, emitting heat).
• First the group explores to complex to the South. Here they find a prison with two cultists and a Bearded Devil. They can convince the devil that they are cultists and Jo intimidates the devil to be able to interrogate the sole prisoner that is being kept in this room (which is the prison of the complex). This human named Falaster Fisk, was apparently tortured. The devil mentions that Falaster so far has not revelead anything of worth. Barakas uses his magical abilities to communicate with Falaster and tell him and the group is here to help him. Falaster is grateful and the group manages to convince the devil to bring the prisoner to the torture room (to have some time to talk to Falaster without the devil being present).
• In the tortute room, the group can talk to Falaster privately. He was sent by Sylvira Savikas of Candlekeep to investigate devilish activities in Baldur's Gate. He found an entrance to this underground complex but got caught by the cultists. Falaster believes that Thavius Kreeg is behind the vanishing of Elturel and that a magical cube has something to do with this. The group shows Falaster the cube they retrieved from Thurstwell Vanthampur and Falaster confirms that this is very likely this strange device. Lastly, he mentions that Thalamra Vanthampur has the Shield of the Hidden Lord stored here in the complex.
• The group discusses with Falaster to lure the devil and the cultist into the room to kill them. This indeed works although the cultists manages to escape the room briefly and call for help. Importantly, the group can retrieve a dark bracelet worn by the devil with the name Zariel on it. The group then flees back to the prison area and discuss with Falaster that he should escape the complex and later help the group with a testimony about the things going on here.
• Now the group further investigates the complex and finds a strange large dark door with infernal runes inscribed. These say "Only a token of home will open the way." Barakas uses the bracelet retrieved from the devil's corpse and the doors opens. Behind it lies the vault of the family with gold and platinum. More importantly, a small human walks around the room, later to be identified as Thavius Kreeg. Lastly, a massive shield hangs on one of the walls - The Shield of the Hidden Lord.
• As the group hears sounds from outside, they close the door and start to interrogate Thavius Kreeg. He tells the group that was held here as a prisoner for weeks to investigate something for Thalamra. Barakas sees that Thavius' shadow occasionally shows horns and a tail, clear signs for his commitment to the Nine Hells. When asked for the shield, he says that it holds Gargauth and that the group should not touch it (the group will later put a blanket over the shield and retrieve it which confers Darius who takes it a very unpleasent feeling).
• Suddenly, the magical door opens and Thalamra enters the room together with a Barbed Devil. Thalamra fishes magical rays at Thavius who loses his consciousness (later to be rescued by Darius). A battle erupts and Thalamra and the devil fight fiercely! Jo is mortally heavily wounded but can be brought back to the fight by Darius and his healing powers. Darrak is granted another use of his shapeshifting abilities by his gods who see the direness of the situation. After having spent almost all of their resources, the group finally kills Thalamra and the devil (Jo cutting Thalamra with a mighty Smite into two pieces).
• The group now needs to rest, so they decide to seal the door again (Barakas loots Thalamra's body first, of course). Thavius is being gagged by the group to cause no further harm. After the rest, the group hears noises coming from outside - the Flaming Fists have finally entered the Vanthampur estate and have also, obviously, found the underground complex.
• The group will now open the door and hopes to be able to explain the whole mess to the authorities ...

Report Date

04 Jun 2020