Session 16: Lore drop Report
General Summary
Leaving Baldur's Gate far behind you, you traveled to the library-fortress of Candlekeep to gain more information about a series of objects that had been found in the home of Duke Thalamra Vanthampur; a woman suspected of the conspiracy against and murder of more than three dozen Elturian refugees. A couple of days on the road made it clear just how important these objects were, as your group was attacked by a pack of vengeful cambions looking to make off with one of them. However, you reached Candlekeep without much of a problem, and after exchanging your gifts with the Avowed, were allowed into the Court of Air.
You were assigned an escort, Parmak, a novice within the ranks of the Avowed who was paging through a small pocketbook when he arrived. He took you first to the Hearth in order to get you settled, and booked some rooms in the Firefly Cellar - the House of Rest and its extradimensional spaces all booked up for the time being. After some light exploring, you came back to the taproom of the Hearth to find an intelligent-looking ogre, named Little One, paging through a book about the lives of the Avowed. Fenrir struck up a conversation with Little One and the two seemed to have hit it off.
Bertha, in the meantime, had already rushed through the confusing hallways and transitions of the library fortress to meet up with her mentor, Traxigor, who was deliberating with himself about the outcome of a particular equation when the bard brought him the news of her exploits - they were to meet up with Silvira Savikas and analyze the objects brought to them from Baldur's Gate. They made off and met up with the rest of the party, who had gone through a series of Candlekeep's confounding rooms themselves, and wound up at Savikas's study.
Silvira, a middle-aged tiefling with an imp and a small demon bound to her service, received the party in her stately lounge, where she was immediately fascinated with the Shield of the Hidden Lord. Exchanging some information and discussion with Traxigor, who had now arrived with Bertha in tow, she told the party the following things about the Shield:
- It was created by Gargauth, an archduke and demigod of hell.
- Gargauth can speak through the shield.
- Anyone in contact with the shield is said to hear the Whisperings of the Hidden Lord. It’s unclear whether Gargauth can read or control the wearers’ thoughts, but it can definitely communicate telepathically with them.
- In some accounts, the wielder of the shield can create walls of fire and fireballs.
- It’s possible that there are multiple such shields, each allowing Gargauth to speak through it but perhaps manifesting a unique cluster of magical powers. In any case, the shield has turned up repeatedly throughout history, always as the instigator of great evil.
- He was once the Archduke of Avernus, the first level of Hell, as one of the Lords of the Nine.
- He was overthrown by a devil named Bel (who was, in turn, overthrown by Zariel, the current ruler of Avernus).
- Gargauth became known as the Tenth Lord of the Nine and the Lost Lord of the Pit, among other titles.
- While wandering the material plane, Gargauth feuded with a demon named Astaroth who was seeking to become a god. Gargauth slew Astaroth before that could happen and actually assumed Astaroth’s mantle for himself, effectively impersonating the dead demon and receiving the worship of Astaroth’s cultists.
- Gargauth later joined an alliance with the Dark Gods (a combination of Bane, Bhaal, Myrkul, Loviatar, and Talona) when they attempted to invade Hell itself and seize it from Asmodeus. The effort failed.
- Ever since then, Gargauth has been seeking power here on Toril. He’s known to work with Astarothian cultists (who still hear him as the voice of their God) and Dead Three cultists (who honor him for his alliance with the Dark Gods).
- In one notable instance in the 11th century, Dead Three cultists summoned Gargauth as part of an assault on the Sign of the Silver Harp, an inn that was used as a gathering place for the Harpers. (In that instance, it turned out the whole thing had been an elaborate trap staged by Elminster and the Blackstaff Khelben Arunsun. Gargauth and the cultists were defeated.)
- His agents have been frequently reported to have a great interest in the Imaskari Empire, for reasons which are unclear.
Be it known to all that I, Naja Bellandi, High Overseer of Elturel, have sworn to my master, Zariel, lord of Avernus, to keep the agreements contained in this oath. I hereby submit to Zariel in all matters and for all time. I will place Her above all creatures, living and dead. I will obey Her all my days and beyond with fear and servility. I recognize the dispensation of the device called the Solar lusidicator, hereafter called the Companion. In my capacity as High Overseer of Elturel and its vassal territories, I acknowledge thath all lands falling under the light of the Companion are forfeit to Zariel. All persons bound by oath to defend Elturel are also considered forfeit. I further recognize thath this dispensation will last fifty years, after which the Companion will return whence it came, taking Elturel and its oath-bound defenders with it, if that is Zariel's wish. All this is my everlasting pledge.
Fenrir Firecam
Ronaldus Swanstone
Caja
Report Date
03 Mar 2023
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