The Low Lantern
We find our adventurers on a night not uncommon in Baldur's Gate: dark, foggy, and on a trip to a dubious tavern along the waterfront - the Low Lantern.
But, I'm getting ahead of myself... Let's rewind a bit.
Having defeated a cell of Dead Three cultists, and rescuing one Mortlock Vanthampur from certain death, the group took a well-earned respite in the warm, familiar confines of the Elfsong Tavern in the neighborhood of Eastway. Over the course of several days, members of the group took care of important "chores"...
- Huru took the cultist's treasure to his contacts in The Guild. Goblin Benne found fences who would buy and move objects that didn't spend easily, such as the porcelain mask and five-headed dragon crown found under the bathhouse.
- Belynor attempted to find Captain Darmin Zodge of the Flaming Fist to report back their success against the Dead Three cult. However, he was unsuccessful. Apparently life in the Lower City had devolved quickly toward anarchy in their time underground, with citizens taking over various streets and alleyways, confronting Fist patrols in mass, and surrounding guardhouses in several neighborhoods. Belynor found Captain Zodge's headquarters in Eastway totally locked down as citizens surrounding the building, demanding the Fist act to prevent the City's destruction. The rumors of what had happened to neighboring Elturel, City of Light, had firmly taken hold in the minds of the masses.
- Loki, Elias, and Douglas conducted their own affairs making sure to keep a low profile.
- The gnome tinker, Cladamdass, also turned up at this time. His trist as Belynor and Huru's bombmaker during their unsuccessful assassination of Patriar Falco Zodge paid well, and he liked the two. As the city was devolving to chaos, he figured it would be best to be among trusted associates.
There, now I have caught up. Back to the Low Lantern...
The group met on the damp docksides, following a lead from Mortlock about one of his brothers - Amrik - that he claimed was funding the Dead Three cultists. According to Mortlock, his brother ran a money-lending business out of the Low Lantern tavern. The group had a mind to question this Amrik about his brother's claims. When they arrived, the group found that the Low Lantern was actually an old two-masted ship, unseaworthy and chained to the dock. A dark, cloaked figure watched them approach before entering the lower decks of the tavern.
This was Aramil of Torm, a newly appointed member of Elturgard's fabled Companions - protectors of conviction who swore the Creed Resolute directly from the nation's High Overseer. Having led a group of refugees from Elturel to the City of Vipers, Aramil had heard rumors that the High Overseer was in the city, under guard of the Vanthampur family. Discreet questioning of locals told him that a scion of that family could be found at the Low Lantern on most nights - one Amrik Vanthampur. If the High Overseer was in the company of the Vanthampur family, perhaps this Amrik could tell him more.
Once inside, Aramil quickly found the moneylender in one of the lower decks. Belynor, Elias, and the rest of the group arrived, watching discreetly. As he spoke to Aramil, it was obvious to the rest of the group - Loki especially - that this Amrik had friends in the tavern. Things were tense as one of Amrik's associates poured something in the drinks bound for Amrik's table. By this point, Elias and Aramil had discovered their shared allegiance to Elturel and were doing their best to question the Vanthampur heir. As a toast was called by Amrik, Loki stepped forward to stop all from drinking what was surely drugged or poisoned beer. A tense standoff followed as the two groups sized each other up.
Deescalating the situation, Amrik agreed to write a letter of introduction for the group to meet his mother Duke Thalamra at her villa in the Upper City, sending his small, devilish friend (what this creature was is still unknown) to find ink and parchment.
The Villa of Duke Vanthampur
With letter in hand, the group quickly headed upslope, through the Gate of Baldur, and into the Upper City. The letter indeed gained them entrance to the Vanthampur Villa, across from Baldur's Gate's seat of power, the High Hall.
Inside the villa, it wasn't long before they heard what sounded of screaming upstairs. Rushing valiantly toward the sound, the group found a wiry, pale man of middle ages struggling with a brass and wood box, obviously magical judging by the arcane runes swirling around it. Surprised, this man called for his guards in the hall as Aramil grabbed the magical box from his hands. The man, later found to be Duke Thalamra's eldest son Thurstwell, reflexively called forth magical fire to defend himself, singeing Aramil as Elias, Dass, and the group dealt with the oncoming help. A swift pommel strike to the head by Aramil dealt with the scared Thurstwell.
What could have turned bloody was brought to an abrupt end as the High Overseer of Elturgard, Thavius Kreeg, appeared from an adjacent doorway, flanked by a familier face: Baldur's Gate Minister of Public Welfare, Falco Zodge. A private discussion ensued between High Overseer Kreeg, Dass, Elias, and Aramil.
Kreeg told the three companions that he was here voluntarily, having escaped the disappearance of Elturel through sheer luck. He had been treated well by the Duke and Minister Zodge as he struggled to research what could have happened to his city. His prayers to mighty Torm were being left unanswered, he said, and he was being forced to look elsewhere for insight into Elturel's destruction. His research into the city's archives had revealed that a powerful outsider had been trapped long ago into a shield by the mighty Balduran, a hero of legend and founder of Baldur's Gate.
If the High Overseer could commune with this outsider, perhaps he could use it as a conduit to Torm, and thus gain some answers into the destruction of Elturel. Aramil and Elias were skeptical of bringing such a powerful artifact into the House of Vanthampur. Given what the group had learned of the Duke's sons, and the family's apparent ties to the Cult of the Dead Three, who can blame their reluctance? The party decided, with Kreeg's input, to seek out Balduran's Shield, and to protect it. Better in their noble hands than those of potential ne'er-do-wells, as Kreeg said.
The Tomb of Balduran
The tomb of legendary hero Balduran lies beneath the High Hall, accessible only to those of noble birth. Falco Zodge met that requirement, and upon Kreeg explaining the situation to him, he agreed to escort the party to the tomb's entrance that very night.
Once inside, the group learned much of the mythical exploits of Balduran. They confronted his elemental protectors, who helped them gain further admittance into the catacombs. They defended themselves against ghostly spirits of Balduran's faithful Six protectors, deciphered the magical locks that hindered their progress, and came face to face with Listharia, consort of the ancient king. Defeating the spectral queen and her shadowy guards, the group found the final resting place of the city's founder. His tomb was a humble one, flanked on four sides by simple statues of his greatness. Heeding the myths, the group knelt in homage to the king, and his sarcophagus was magically opened. Upon his skeletal remains were his most important posessions, his silver axe, his simple yet impressive bloodstone crown, a bloodstone ring and pendent, and the treasure the group had come for - the golden Shield of Balduran, adorned with angelic inscriptions, now twisted into a foreboding, fanged face.
Upon liberating the shield, as well as Balduran's magical bloodstone pendant, the group retreated to the darkened passageways of the High Hall above them, careful to reset the magical wards that protected Balduran the Conqueror.
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