V36 - THE VANTHAMPUR VAULT

Exiting the prison cells and going down a long sewer hallway, you come to a door on the left. Misha's devil detection is going nuts, and Allynna is having a strange sensation.

This room contains four wooden tables with two small wooden coffers atop each one. Hanging on the wall opposite the door is a beautiful golden shield. Standing in front of the shield is an old man in plain garments, carrying a lit candlestick. As he turns to face the door, you see that his shadow on the far wall doesn’t match his form, but appears to be the shadow of a pudgy, horned fiend with small wings.

Misha growls, barely held by the restraint, only distracted for a moment by the beautiful shield on the wall.

"It's all because of the shield, you see.." Thavius says, noticing Misha look at it. "All of the murders, and death. Part of the master plan. I can only assume the Vanthampurs are dead." He pauses for a moment, as if communicating with the shield mentally. "I was told the exact time when the Companion would cease to protect Elturel. In the weeks leading up to that fateful hour, I urged Grand Duke Ulder Ravengard of Baldur’s Gate to visit Elturel, to help settle some longstanding disputes between the two cities. Facing political pressure at home, Ravengard reluctantly acceded, much to my delight. After greeting Ravengard’s delegation, I fled Elturel in secret and watched from a safe distance as the Companion transformed from a radiant sun into a black orb awash with crackling energy. It ripped Elturel from the Material Plane, transporting it and all its inhabitants to Avernus. A few other city folk managed to escape before Elturel disappeared, and where it once stood, only a crater remains. Disguised as a refugee, I was one of the first of my people to arrive at Baldur’s Gate with news of Elturel’s “destruction.” I slipped through the city’s gates with the help of my influential friend, Duke Vanthampur, and took refuge in her home." 

"With Grand Duke Ulder Ravengard out of the way, Thalamra was paying the Dead Three to shatter confidence in the Flaming Fist so that all payments to the decapitated organization could be cut off. Thalamra, a devout disciple of the archdevil Zariel, brokered a deal that will enable her to claim the role of grand duke once the Flaming Fist disbands, paving the way for the city’s descent into Avernus. To accomplish this last goal, Thalamra needed this artifact called the Shield of the Hidden Lord," he gestures to the shield, proudly. "Imprisoned in which is a pit fiend named Gargauth. Until recently, the shield was sealed in a tomb under the city, but Thalamra’s sons stole it and transported it to the dungeon below their villa. Here. So corrupt is the shield that its mere presence in Baldur’s Gate has contributed to the city’s moral decay for decades."

"I suppose now, that none of that is going to happen, and you all are going to slay me in brutal fashion." he admits, unafraid. "But, you are wrong. You are all too late. You cannot stop her. See you in Hell."

Allynna freezes, eyes wide with shock. ...Gargauth?

Get the Shield, 'Lynna. And kill the nasty, talkative cultist. I promise I'll explain everything as soon as you have the shield.

...All right.

Oh, and 'Lynna? Give that thieving bastard my personal regards.

Allynna narrows her eyes, dark fire flashing in her pupils. "The Lord Gargauth disapproves of your use of his Shield," she says softly, her voice carrying clearly to Thavius before being followed by a blast of fire that incinerates the man where he stands. As he burns, Allynna advances steadily towards the Shield.

Jill looks at Allynna, and then the rest of the party. "Lord Gargauth? Guys, should we do something?"

The Shield of the Hidden Lord is of celestial origin and serves as a prison for the pit fiend Gargauth, whose mortal followers revere it as a god. Over time, Gargauth’s evil has warped the shield’s appearance, so that its celestial motif and designs have become twisted into a fiendish face that subtly moves in disturbing ways.

Misha interposes.

"Chto za khren'? What are you doing?" she asks Allynna, curb stomping Thavius along the way. "Do you not know who resides in thet shield? THET is the Shield of the Hidden Lord. A very dangerous creature ees eemprisoned een eet! The very shield is corrupt, and it's influence is causing the peeple of this ceetee to violence by eet's very presence. Foul, devilry! We must take it and dispose of eet properly. Step aside, I weel carry thees burden, and rid this world of this devil's foul TAINT."

Jill also joins in. "Misha is right about this. We should take the shield and destroy it or whatever we can do to stop its influence from spreading. It can not stay here any longer and neither can we."

Earlier

Persephone walks up to Lady Satiir and gives her a hearty handshake.  "It's an HONOR to meet someone of your high nobleness and esteem, madam!"  This sucking up only served as a means to pick pocket the noble, relieving her of any expensive jewelry or coin.  Sleight of Hand: 7

After she walks away, Persephone gives anything she finds off of Lady Satiir to Allynna.  "Here, you deserve these more than that wretch."

Now

Addressing the shield, Persephone announces out loud "Who among us is emotionally strong enough, not just physically strong, to handle such a vile weapon of evil?"

"None of us are strong enough to handle this object. It is pure evil and should be disposed of so that no one else can get it."

Allynna shakes her head, putting herself between the others and the Shield. "No, you don't understand," she says quickly. I'm going to need your help to convince them here. Tell me what to say.

Of course, 'Lynna.

"Gargauth is trapped in the Shield, but that's the corrupt presence, not Gargauth himself. We can't destroy it. Gargauth is the one who's been helping me, my patron at court. I'm an adopted ward of the Hhunes, but the entire court treats me the same way Lady Satiir does." The words tumble out in a desperate rush. "Gargauth saved me, he gave me the power I needed to get out from under their thumb. I owe him everything." She takes a deep breath.

"Gargauth used to be a prince of great power, but he was cursed and bound-in the Shield, I know now-for centuries. He spent all that time trying to evade the creatures hunting him, both from the Nine Hells and Acheron, for whatever reason. He could have reached out for help at any time, but he didn't want to put people in danger."

But now that you have me, I can help. Take me to the Hells with you, let me give you assistance in your mighty battles. 'Lynna...ask them if they would be willing to speak with me directly.

Allynna takes a deep breath. "He wants to help. He wants to go to the Nine Hells, into the very home of the things hunting him, and help us fight. This...this would be a lot easier if you could talk to him directly. If he manifests, do you promise to not immediately try to murder him?"

Persephone, skeptically: "Wait....you mean he's communicating with you right now?  From the shield?!  Yeah, THAT sounds like a healthy relationship."

For the briefest of moments, Jill considers just cutting Allynna down and taking the shield, but she stops for a moment, seeing that the young woman seems to have been fed lies. Jill decides to try using her words before resorting to violence against a misguided ally. "I am sorry, Mademoiselle Allynna, but you have been lied to. I do not doubt that he was a prince of great power, but he is not as good as you think he is. He is the one that has been corrupting this city, Thavius just said so and Misha confirmed it. We cannot let him remain here and we certainly cannot free him to return to the Nine Hells."

Jill really hoped that Allynna would listen to her, since she wasn't certain that Misha wasn't going to be as nice when it came to getting Allynna out of the way.

Nok Nok steps away from Allynna, eying her with newfound understanding. “Jubi, if you’re stuck in a shield in hell, you’re staying there. Got it?” He grumbles. 

“I assure you, I am not. But you will see this through, little one.”

Nok frowns, but nods. “Great.” Louder to the others, he asks, “Now what?”

Misha stood silent for a long while in a cocktail of disbelief, anger, and betrayal before approaching Allynna, nearly nose to nose. 

"After thees explanation, the feck that you have fought side by side weeth us for weeks seence you joined us ees the ONLY reason I resist breaking you like a twig right now." she growled. "I hef to admit. Don't know now eef you are brave to say thees to us, or stupid. Perheps you theenk Misha EES stupid after what you say, but Misha ok with thet. But, now you have problem, very seemple. After everything we hef shared about each other, about where I am from, and how many of my people hef died because of devils - you expect Misha to even consider a relationsheep with Gargauth? My very exeestence, my primary PURPOSE, the reason for my BEING is to keel devils. Eef you think for a moment that I weel not keel heem, or trust heem, or let heem help us, you are insane een membrane. He ees just like all the rest. And Misha was fool for thinking to trust you."

Misha turns and takes the shield. 

"Eef you take shield from me, I WEEL keel you." she promises.

Jill says nothing as Misha takes the shield and instead just looks at Allynna, silently begging her to let Misha take the shield and not do anything dumb that they'll all regret.

"And what," Allynna asks Misha in a low, cool voice, "do you intend to do with the Shield? What makes your purpose more important than mine?" Her eyes flash. "What makes your superiors in Acheron more right than the person who has taught me to shield myself through ten years of games of power and pain? What, indeed, makes you the one to decide what to do with this Shield, other than the fact that you could break me like a twig if you wished?" She stares Misha down. "Or are you just like the pair of your fellows we found down here already, using your strength as your right, placing your goals above all else, no matter who gets hurt? I did not touch the Shield, nor do I intend to try and take it from you, despite the fact that you did the same. I asked only that you speak with him, that you try to hear the other side like I've been doing since the moment I met you." Her eyes turn cold with betrayal and hurt. "Apparently it was too much to ask that you speak to me like a friend, rather than steamroll over me like another enemy." Allynna turns away from Misha, walking towards the door.

'Lynna, I'm so proud of you. I told you the Acheronian would-

I don't want to hear another word from you until you're standing in front of me, even if it's just some kind of manifested body. And since you apparently can't do that right now without Misha trying to kill you, I guess you'll just have to be quiet until I'm alone. You may not be the complete monster she makes you out to be, but you have certainly lied to me and manipulated me. And you know now what I do to people who do that to me. You taught me what to do to people who do that to me.

Jill feels incredibly awkward about the scene that just happened, but is at least grateful that Allynna didn't force Jill to do something that she would've regretted. She is silent after the end of the conversation and stays with the Hiriarts, opting to give Allynna and Misha some time to calm down.

Misha let Allynna leave, and the grip on her warhammer lightened just a tad. She realized she was squeezing the grip hard, ready to strike if she had to. It took her a moment to control herself, and had no desire to explain to someone she met only 3 months ago the social philosophy of her people, the strife they have gone through, or the genetic properties and attributes of the Primes. She did not want to waste time with such nonsense, there was bigger feesh to fry.

"So." a voice entered her mind. "This is one of the great Primes of Acheron. Hoooww impresssive." it drawled sarcastically. "What do you intend to do now, I wonder? Your people are but a drop in a rainstorm. Such a futile attempt at resistance. Give it time, do what you must. We are eternal." it laughed, trailed off, and was silent.

The rest of the journey to the surface was awkwardly silent.

REPORTING TO CAPTAIN ZODGE

We delivered our report to Captain Zodge, surrendered our badges, and received our payment. Zodge was gratified to learn that the Vanthampurs are no longer his concern. As we were about to say farewell, our meeting with Captain Zodge was interrupted by the arrival of several Flaming Fist soldiers clad in plate armor. From behind this wall of swords and steel steps an armored woman with a white cloak and graying hair.

“Are these the maniacs who’ve stirred up every nest of rats in this gods-forsaken city?”

“Commander Portyr!” says Zodge. “I was told you wouldn’t be in Baldur’s Gate for at least another tenday.”

“That’s what the city’s government wanted you to think, captain,” she replies. Turning to you, she says, “I trust you’ve been adequately compensated? Thank you for everything you have done with The Dead Three and the Vanthampurs.”

Allynna is dead silent as she makes her way to the surface, possibly even moving ahead of the others, ignoring everyone, including a currently-invisible Cien who was eyeing Misha. Several times, Gargauth tried to speak to her again.

'Lynna, if you would just listen-

No.

Allynna, this is important-

I'm not interested.

ALLYNNA HHUNE VAREN, YOU WILL STOP THIS SULKING OR-

If you speak to me again without being physically present, or at least apparent body present, I will turn around and help Misha destroy that Shield, and you with it. At least she's always been honest about her nature, even if she's inflexible about it and thinks I'm some kind of spoiled child. I'm furious with both of you right now-you for lying, and Misha for dismissing me out of hand. So shut. Up.

Gargauth did not speak to her again the rest of the trip.

In the Shield, however...

Gargauth did not speak to Misha again, but he laid out his options before him in his mind like chess pieces. The Prime gaining the Shield was problematic, but at least he had a failsafe. Allynna's mark still pulsed in his mind, a bright beacon. Hopefully he would be able to win her back, but in the end it did not matter. Whether or not she was angry, his mark on her back served as a safe house in case the Prime did indeed have a way to destroy the Shield. And of course if they did indeed end up bringing it into the Hells, things could very well change for the better...

At the meeting with Captain Zodge, Allynna silently accepts her payment and remains at the back of the group, fully intending to leave at her first opportunity. Cold fury practically radiates off her.

Whatever awkward feelings Jill still felt after leaving the Vanthampur mansion dissipated when Captain Zodge gave her the 300 gold pieces that was promised upon successful completion of the mission. The young girl had to keep herself for jumping for joy right there, but it was very apparent that she was happy to have that much money. "You are very welcome, Commander. It is always an honor to fight devils and those who serve them."

Misha shot Allynna a dark glare when Jill said the last part, but pushed past the feelings of wanting to hear the sounds of the devil worshipper's bones cracking against her body in a spine shattering bear hug. She turned to the group.

"We should follow the advice of that preesoner we freed, Falaster, and go to Candlekeep to try and figure out what to do weeth the puzzle box and how to destroy the shield."