Revenge Is A Dish Best Served Seaside

The party encounters some new friends and a recently met ally in a Vanthampur. They explore a sea tower and finally get to the bottom of the head of the rise of the cult of the dead three in Baldur's Gate while discoering hope for their loved ones lost in Avernus.

On this muggy Sydenstar eve in Baldur’s Gate, the party found themselves encountering several new comrades, Kyler Desantos, the last known relative on the Prime Material Plane of the Desantos/Darington wedding & Waldren Wimpelpuk, a chiselled Dwarvish nomad speaking of visions. Mortlock Vanthampur, who had been thought lost also made a surprising return. His transformation was startling; after taking a bath in a strange sludge, he emerged looking unusually handsome—an eerie change that left the group uneasy and perplexed.

Their evening continued as they began to explore and cull out the traps and monsters that lay in the tower floors above for the new owner, the mage Lorroakan, within the mysterious sea-themed tower. The structure was teeming with dangers, including coral golems and cunning coral mimics. They discovered portals that linked different planes and regions of Faerûn, as well as ghostly pirates guarding faded gold. The party’s exploration led them to a fearsome beast they identified as Ramazith. It remains a mystery what had happened to the former mage and his connection to the Plane of Water, but the party triumphed over his challenges and acquired an unknown magical artifact. Notably, they chose not to disclose the artifact’s procurement to Lorroakan.

After a grueling night, the party rested through the day, investigating newly bestowed items and recuperating for what lay ahead. By early afternoon, they made their way to the Wide, where they met with Jedren the Bailiff of the Wide and were able to finally secure a license to conduct business within the Wides for Scalm, the owner and shop keep of East Way Expeditions in the lower city.

Following this, the party set their sights on the Vanthampur Villa. Despite missing several guard changes while they debated their approach, they ultimately decided on a bold plan. Posing as drunk friends and bodyguards of Mortlock, they gained easy entry into the estate. Without delay, they descended into the sewer beneath the villa, where they encountered numerous devils.

Their exploration led them to a hidden worship room, where they found Lady Vanthampur surrounded by her cultist followers and a particularly girthy Spine Devil. The party launched a swift attack, taking down her followers and avoiding prolonged engagement with the devil. As Lady Vanthampur fell, her form twisted into that of a devil—her transformation revealing the dark path she had walked. She cursed Mortlock for his quest for vengeance, and during her rant, the party heard the name “Zariel,” which struck a chord with Waldren and his visions.

Delving deeper, the party found Thavius Kreeg imprisoned. Through their conversation, they uncovered the tragic events that befell Elturel, Kreeg's role in the catastrophe, and information about their loved ones. Kreeg was taken hostage, but not before Waldren felt a strange connection with a golden shield mounted on the wall. The shield, which seemed to possess a sentience of its own, pleaded for liberation and offered its assistance in Avernus if the party would take it along.

The group then discovered several prisoners, among them Falaster Fisk, a sage investigating the Vanthampurs’ devilish dealings on behalf of one of Candlekeep's sages, Sylvira Savikas. They also encountered Satiir Hhune, a noblewoman there on business with Lady Vanthampur. Satiir claimed she was owed money from a business deal gone sour, but the shield warned the party she was lying and suggested she be silenced. Relaying this to Mortlock, he was all too eager to oblige as he offed her in the filthy sewers beneath the villa.

With their objectives complete, the party ascended to the upper floors and managed to talk the guards out of their posts. Mortlock then confronted his brother Thurstwell, and despite a scuffle, Thurstwell was smothered & silenced temporarily. However, in the chaos, someone in Amrik’s room managed to escape through a window. The party did recover a devilish puzzle box from Thurstwell’s possession, which they took with them. Mortlock, satisfied with his bloody reclamation of the Vanthampur estate, parted ways, vowing to restore his family's name. The party, handsomely compensated, took their leave. He did vow to continue helping the party from a distance, after all, a Vanthampur always pays their dividends.

Before departing Baldur's Gate, the party concocted a clever ruse to ensure that Satiir Hhune's disappearance would go unnoticed. They then headed south to the Sea Tower and the Flaming Fist headquarters, where they turned in their badges, received their pay, and were rewarded by Liara Portyr, daughter of one of the Council of Four. With Ulder Ravengard still missing, Liara appeared ready to step into the power vacuum.

With their preparations complete, the party embarked on their journey south to Candlekeep, accompanied by Falaster Fisk & their previous travel companion, Serena Mantlemorn of the Elturel Hellriders. Along the way, they encountered several shops, including an exotic pet shop run by a peculiar Yuan-ti, where they geared up for the challenges ahead. Mounted on warhorses provided by the grateful Flaming Fist, they set out, wondering what awaited them in Candlekeep.

Would the sages at Candlekeep hold the answers they sought? Were their loved ones who had been sucked into Avernus still alive, or had they been lost to the hellish realms below? As the party rode south, these questions lingered heavily in their minds, foreshadowing the trials yet to come.