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As they approached the main gates at Wyrm’s Crossing, they felt tremors in the ground – and all around them people stumbled. They weren’t quite sure what was up with that, but it was unlikely to be good.

While passing through the gate they were stopped by another Steel Watcher. But this time it spoke with Gartash’s voice… and invited them to come speak with him in the audience chamber before witnessing his coronation as ArchDuke!

They were directed to an entrance hall where a number of influential Baldurians were waiting to enter the audience chambers. They met an all-too-familiar-looking woman there who motioned for their attention. She was in a mortal guise, but it was *clearly* Mizora. She expressed her “sympathies” for Wyll’s father becoming a slave to the Absolute, and told them they should speak with him inside and then return to discuss the “situation” with her.

Gortash had a lot to tell them. The tremors they had felt were brainquakes… consequences of the Elder Brain attempting to break free. Now that they were attempting to control it with only two stones rather then three it was no longer accepting new commands. Once it completed its current assignment, it would be free… and that would be disastrous for *everyone*. A free Elder Brain with possession of the Crown of Karsus could enslave the entire world.

He also told them that the Chosen of Bhaal, going by the name “Orin the Red”, was betraying their alliance… seeking to kill both he and Jasper, take the stones for herself, and direct the Absolute Army towards mindless slaughter for the glory of Bhaal.

So Gortash proposed an alliance. Kill Orin, take her stone, and together he and Jasper could re-establish control of the Elder Brain… and use it to rule Baldur’s Gate. He made no claims to be anything other than he was… a Chosen of Bane. But as such his goal was rulership of a strong and proud city, not death and destruction.

Jasper agreed to “consider” the offer. He had no interest in ruling together, but a temporary alliance to eliminate the more insane of the two remaining Chosen was not the worst of all available options.

Karlach was *not* pleased. But she understood the practicality of the situation. She stormed out to wait for them, as she could bot bear to watch Gortash be named ArchDuke. The ceremony was elaborate, with Lord Ravengard solemnly swearing Gortash in as he promised to work for the prosperity of all Baldurians. Jasper was not fooled.

They attempted to speak with Lord Ravengard after the ceremony, but it quickly became apparent that he was completely subservient to the Absolute’s will. Wyll attempted to get through to him, and saw perhaps a few flashes of doubt flit across his father’s face, but then he recovered and re-affirmed his devotion to Gortash and the Absolute.

Back in the entrance hall, Mizora informed them that with the coronation completed Lord Ravengard had been spirited off to a “secure location”, and was unlikely to see the light of day again. Wyll swore at her, but she tsk.. tsked. “I will see you soon with a solution darling. I always repay my debts”. Jasper had a very bad feeling about this.

When they reunited with Karlach outside, she was furious and slamming a wall in frustration. After all Gortash had done to her, to see him *rewarded* like this? And to be forced into the position of potentially allying with him? It was almost more than she could take. She eventually recovered control of herself. But Jasper could tell this path would be quite difficult for her.

They returned to camp outside the city to consider their options, but that night things grew worse. Mizora reappeared… with three sisters in tow. She called them the “Sisters of Justice”, and revealed that they were here to witness a new contract. Then she spelled out for Wyll his options. He could sign over his soul to Zariel in her name, and she would tell him where in the planes his father had been hidden and ensure that he remained safe until they could rescue him. *Or* he could refuse, allow his current contract to expire…. and know that his father would die.

And as Jasper feared, with a choice like that – Wyll chose to sign over his soul. Damning himself to save his father. Jasper swore under his breath, but the wheels were already spinning in his brain. They already had potential plans to break into a devil’s stronghold in the hells to steal the Orphic Hammer from Raphael. Perhaps they could double down and steal a contract from Zariel while they were at it. His mind boggled at the lengths to which he found himself pushed nowadays.

The next morning he spoke with Jaheira about what would be necessary to find and rescue Minsc. Given the impossible tasks that were rapidly piling up on their agenda, gaining another ally who had already accomplished a legendary list of impossible tasks seemed a wise course of action.

Jaheira led them to a seedier part of the city, and then down into the sewers. A short trip later they found themselves stepping into the Baldur’s Gate Thieve’s Guild. Jaheira told them that since they had been cut off from the Harper’s information network, they would have to settle for the next best thing.

The head of the Thieve’s Guild was a hard woman known as Nine-Fingers Keene. She apparently had a history with Jaheira, though it was unclear how friendly a history it was. When Jaheira told her why they were there, she stared for a while, and then told them she knew exactly where he was. And she intended to kill him that very day.

Apparently Minsc now worked for the Absolute as “The Stone Lord” – the brutal leader of a burgeoning rival Thieve’s Guild who had been systematically attacking her personnel, destroying her markets, and attacking businesses which had been paying her for protection. Jaheira could not believe her ears, but Keene told her she would have to sit this one out. She could not reveal her either her plan or Minsc’s location.

Afterwards Jaheira promptly suggested they starting questioning some of the other thieves. At Jasper’s raised eyebrow she merely quipped, “She said *she* couldn’t tell us. She has a reputation to protect. She didn’t say anything about the rest of her crew”.

Sure enough, with a little persuasion and surreptitious prodding Jasper soon learned what was going on. The thieve’s had baited a trap in the Counting House Vault, and “the Stone Lord” planned to attack it tonight!

On the way out Jasper spotted a familiar face he had not expected to see again. Mol! The tiefling child who had been carried off from the Last Light Inn! He asked her how she had survived and escaped, but she merely blew a raspberry. She said when you had survived what she had – literally escaping from hell with her people as a child – a cultist fortress was nothing new. Jasper suspected there was more to it than that – and that Raphael had been involved. But he didn’t press her. For now.

Jasper asked about the odd name “The Stone Lord”, and Jaheira grimaced. It seems that Minsc had spent most of the last century turned to stone… disguised as a statue of himself! Jaheira had even spent time in front of that very statue wondering what had happened to him, and critiquing its representation compared to her memory. She did not know how he had been restored, but felt guilty that she had not realized he had been in front of her the whole time.

At the Counting House it took quite some convincing to be allowed down to the Vault, but when Jasper learned an intimidating foreign dignitary named the Stone Lord had already descended, he talked the guard into believing he was one of the Lord’s retinue and that the powerful Lord would be most displeased if they were prevented from joining him..

Below they came upon Minsc – and it was clearly him – threatening a dwarven banker. The banker had a chest brought out, and Minsc threw open the lid to reach its contents… only to discover it was a Mimic which promptly swallowed him! The dwarf briefly smiled at the successful ruse, before – to his horror – the huge man forced his way back *out* and smashed the Mimic into paste.

“You lied! No treasure in there little dwarf!”

Jaheira started forward to call out to Minsc, and then froze in shock. As she saw *herself* stride up from behind and whisper in his ear.

Then the two of them vanished into smoke before she could reach him…

And cultists of the Absolute attacked the bank guards, and they were forced to fight them off.

Afterwards, Jaheira swore in frustration, “I so *hate* dopplegangers!!” The bank representative was distraught. The “Stone Lord” had made off with a substantial portion of the bank’s assets. He would be ruined! As well as many of the citizens who had trusted him to keep their funds safe. Jasper promised to recover what he could, and noticed Minsc had left behind footprints with a particularly “fragrant” scent. The sewers. Of course.

So they returned to the sewers, searching for Minsc’s hideout.

They eventually came upon Minsc and his current “underlings”. And Jasper instantly recognized who they were meeting with. A Zhentarim trader. As they were noticed, Minsc turned to face them – a grim look on his face.

Jasper and Jaheira immediately focused their attention upon subduing the giant man. He was the most dangerous opponent on the field, and they really wanted him out of commission without harming him. A combination of Jaheira’s vines and Jasper’s mind tricks kept him contained.

The false Jaheira attempted to interfere, but the real article was in no mood. “You like shapeshifting so much? You think you can be *me*? Match this!”

Meanwhile Karlach took out her frustrations on the remainder of the Stone Lord’s forces.

Once the cultists were defeated, Jasper asked the Emperor to extend the prisms protection to Minsc.. and he refused. He said Minsc was a risk and a liability and he did not want his help. To which Jaheira replied that if cooperation was not soon forthcoming she would personally enter the Prism, drag him out by his slimy misbegotten tentacles, and force him to *eat* said Prism until he reconsidered his position. The Emperor decided that perhaps cooperation would be more productive than getting into a grudge match with her.

Minsc was initially overjoyed to be re-united with the real Jaheira, but then remembered some of what he had been made to do as the Stone Lord. And completely lost it when he realized he had abandoned Boo… He smashed through walls until he reached what had apparently been a former shrine/hideout. There he apologised to Boo, and submitted himself for judgement.

Fortunately, Boo was inclined to be forgiving. On the way out Jasper noticed an apparent shrine. He asked about it, but Minsc did not reply. Jaheira merely stared for a few minutes, and then answered “A memorial to old friends”. And would say no more.

Minsc stopped suddenly then, realizing he had remembered something important. The Stone Lord had been meeting with the Zhentarim trader… because he had been arranging an assault. The Zhentarim were being paid to help eliminate Nine Fingers Keene and her Thieve’s Guild so that the Absolute could take over the Underworld of Baldur’s Gate!

Jaheira said that while Nine Fingers was by no means “benevolent”, she was a devoted to her city and her people. She would be a strong ally in the fight to reclaim Baldur’s Gate from Gortash and the Absolute. They would have to rescue her.

When they arrived back at the Guild, the attack was already underway.

Minsc charged in to help with the ground level assault.

Jasper helped deal with snipers.

Shadowheart used her newly developing Moon Motes to excellent effect.

Jaheira took a truly terrifying form, and sent Absolutists and Zhentarim running for cover.

And Keene herself dove right into the fray.

When it was over, Minsc was very displeased that they would not be continuing to eliminate the Thieve’s Guild as well. Jasper tried to talk sense to him, until Keene mentioned that her people were not warriors – and could not fight as heroes did. That settled it for Minsc. What the Thieve’s Guild needed was a Berserker Lodge, so that he could teach them all to be heroes.

Keene looked stunned, and then stared at a smirking Jaheira. “You really expect me to go along with this?” “Would you rather have him as an enemy or as a friend?” asked Jaheira. “I honestly don’t know”, responded Keene – shaking her head as they left.

On the way back through the sewers, they saw motion ahead in the darkness. Investigating they found a wounded Lae’zel limping towards them! She warned them to run, because Orin the Red was coming for them. But when they got close she changed… It *was* Orin. And she threw at their feet a bag and a sword. Lae’zel’s sword. Lae’zel’s equipment. She had taken Lae’zel as leverage. They could have her back when they slew Gortash and brought Orin his stone and his head… And she further wanted Jasper to agree to fight her one-on-one. Winner gets all the stones. Loser dies. In one move she had secured herself against their direct assault, and forced them to work for her.

Or so she apparently thought as she disappeared laughing back into the shadows. Jasper was rarely one for “direct” anyway. This had just become very *personal*. And Orin was not the only one who could play at deception and misdirection.

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This set includes the first time I have used an image not from DALL-E, as the new MAI-Image-1 renderer did a much better job of reproducing the specific mementos I wanted for Minsc’s shrine.