Chapter Twelve "Goodbye Baldur's Gate" (2026-06-20)

30th Flamerule

The group continues up through Vanthampur Villa and encounters two guards on the stairs. The fight takes a long time, but eventually the guards are taken down.

At the top of the stairs they find a vanity room, including a closet full of fine clothes, wooden chests, a vanity unit, hats and three wedding dresses. The next room is the Duchess Vanthampur's bedroom, containing a large bed, a bathtub and a padlocked iron chest. The padlock is carved with the image of a scorned devil.

Honey finds a key that fits the chest. Inside are three leather books, writing equipment and a set of pan pipes. As Honey begins taking the contents, the chest springs a trap and poison gas fills the room. The group quickly runs out.

Further investigation reveals the chest also contains a healthy amount of platinum, gold and silver, a poisoner's kit, calligrapher's supplies and legitimate business records for the Duchess Vanthampur, written in Infernal.

While the others investigate the chest, Sima tries to comfort Talon about the maid he killed, but he's deeply upset about what happened.

Vaantrick searches the vanity room and finds valuable perfume, jewellery and trinkets.

The next room contains a suit of black armour and a writing desk. An orange light begins glowing within the armour and it attacks. The armour is a Helmed Horror, a sentry construct designed to guard the room. It's hard to hit and hits hard. The group manages to do some damage to it before deciding to flee rather than continuing the fight.

Honey finds a balcony with a short drop of around twenty feet down to the gate.

Continuing through the villa, the group finds Mortlock's room. Sima takes Mortlock's stuffed childhood bear, intending to return it to him in Conyberry Village, where she had sent him earlier.

Looking through another balcony, the group sees a workshop with lights on and smoke coming from it.

They then find a well-decorated room belonging to Thurstwell Vanthampur. The group attempts to talk him down, but he proves unhelpful. A scuffle breaks out and Flea manages to wrestle the infernal cube away from him.

Once Thurstwell has been subdued and refuses to be of any more help, the group murder hobo him.

In Thurstwell's room they find a chest containing ink and paper, along with a book titled Apocalypto, described as poetry and prophecy about the end of the multiverse.

The next room is Amrik Vanthampur's room. It contains fine clothes, a Vanthampur signet ring and jewellery. A large mirror hangs on the wall, an ornate frame depicts  rats, ravens and spiders. The group investigates the room thoroughly but cannot find anything else of interest.

Honey argues that the group should return to fight the Helmed Horror. She believes there may still be treasure or exposition in the room it was guarding. Talon argues that the job is done and that the group should leave while they still can. Vaantrick agrees with Honey, while Flea and Sima side with Talon. Democracy wins and the group leaves through the sewers.

The group agrees to meet Fisk at Basilisk Gate when ready. They stock up on supplies and potions, then meet Falister at the gate, where he has four horses prepared. Falister takes one horse and the rest of the group doubles up for the journey.

As they leave Baldur's Gate for what may be the last time, they pass through the Outer City and reach the Great Wyrm Bridge. Falister tells the group to take one last look at their city, then explains that Candlekeep is four days away.

During the journey, the shield speaks to Talon about Sima, who is riding behind him and leaning against it. The shield asks, "She is not human, is she? She doesn't have any warmth."

Talon isn't happy about the line of questioning and the Hidden Lord says it enjoyed the way Talon killed the maid. The Hidden Lord wants Talon to meet Fisk's mistress, Sylvira Savikas, and find out what she knows. It asks Talon what he believes is inside the infernal cube. Talon says that whatever it is, it is not worth the trouble.

The shield argues that a powerful devil must have made the cube, so there must be something powerful inside it.