Editing Knights of the Shield

The '''Knights of the Shield''' is an organisation based primarily in [[Baldur's Gate]], that operates in information dealing, political manipulation, and smuggling.{{cite text|The Stelmane Connection|The Black Hand of Loyalty|name=stelmaneconnection}} The Knights keep a front as a secret society of merchants and nobles interested in civic matters.

The Knights of the Shield previously appeared in ''[https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/Baldur's_Gate Baldur's Gate]''.

== History ==
The Knights of the Shield is a longstanding operation within the city of Baldur's Gate. For some time, operations were ran by a mind flayer who would eventually go by the moniker [[the Emperor]], with customer-facing operations ran by an enthralled [[Belynne Stelmane]].{{ref|[[The Emperor]]: "I had the good fortune to meet Duke Stelmane. We formed a partnership, and through her I became the governing force behind the Knights of the Shield, the largest mercantile operation in Baldur's Gate."}}{{ref|Dialogue with [[the Emperor]] in the Astral Realm.}} Between the two of them, the Knights had considerable control over the city.{{ref|[[The Emperor]]: "Together, we brought order to chaos. At its height, everything that happened in that city went through the Shield. Through us."}}

Early in his career, [[Enver Gortash]] began operating as a black market weapons dealer in the city.{{cite text|name=inroads}} In competition with the Knights' well established organisation, Gortash worked to try and displace them. His operatives first attempted to offer their smuggling and contraband to clients at a better percentage.{{cite text|Knights of the Shield Report|The Black Hand of Loyalty|name=report}} However, this proved fruitless, as the prospective clients remained loyal to the Knights, so fiercely that psychic influence was suspected.{{cite text|name=report}}

Through the bribery of key members, Gortash's operatives uncovered that the Knights were working closely with Duke Belynne Stelmane.{{cite text|name=stelmaneconnection}} By this time, Stelmane had begun to decline, however, it her influence over smuggling operations continued to grow.{{cite text|name=stelmaneconnection}} Eventually, the truth of the Knight's leadership was discovered, that Stelmane was being psionically controlled by the Emperor.{{ref|Dialogue with [[the Emperor]].}} 

Using his control over the Elder Brain through the Crown of Karsus, Gortash enslaved the Emperor, using him to assist with the Dead Three's plans. Without the Emperor overseeing operations, Gortash began putting pressure on the Knights.{{cite text|Old Ledger|Unknown Knights member|name=oldledger}} Eventually, the Knights began collapsing, with their territory and sales in steep decline.{{cite text|Enhanced' Weapons - Sales Ledger|Franc Peartree|name=weaponledger}}{{cite text|name=oldledger}} Meanwhile, Gortash's operations continued to grow, eventually supplanting the Knights'.{{cite text|Inroads by Arms Dealer Gortash|[[Bursar Uktar]]|name=inroads}}

== Involvement ==
The Knight of the Shield's abandoned [[Knights of the Shield Hideout|hideout]] under the Elfsong tavern can be visited while the party is in the [[Lower City]]. While in the hideout, [[Jaheira]] will comment that she previously had been searching for it: "The Knights of the Shield. How many days did I search in vain for their lair, only to cap the night with a drink above it?"

The party can also discover a hidden room inside the [[Hhune Mausoleum]] with a journal written by a Knights member, detailing their meeting with the Emperor before it took over operations.

=== Epilogue ===
If the player becomes a mind flayer and sides with the Emperor after defeating the Netherbrain, they will have the option to reform the Knights of the Shield with it. The Emperor later makes adjustments to the hideout beneath the Elfsong, to be used as headquarters while they work on rebuilding the Knights.{{cite text|Missive from the Emperor|[[The Emperor]]}} During the epilogue, the player can tell Astarion that it has become a "formidable force". {{ref|Dialogue with [[Astarion]] in the [[epilogue]].}}

== Members ==
* [[The Emperor]]

=== Deceased members ===
* [[Belynne Stelmane]]
* [[Listelia Dryselis]]
* [[Droralias Dryselis]]
* Unknown [[Hhune Mausoleum|Hhune]]

== Related literature ==
* {{SmItemIcon|Order 251: Tethyr}}
* {{SmItemIcon|Inroads by Arms Dealer Gortash}}
* {{SmItemIcon|Old Ledger}}
* [[Note to All Knights of the Shield members]]
* [[Record of Operations in Neverwinter]]
* [[Enhanced' Weapons - Sales Ledger]]

=== Written by the Black Hand ===
* {{SmItemIcon|Knights of the Shield Report}}
* {{SmItemIcon|Shield Steward Interrogation Log}}
* {{SmItemIcon|The Stelmane Connection}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist|text}}

== External links ==
*{{FRWiki|Knights of the Shield|long}}
* [https://baldursgate.fandom.com/wiki/Knights_of_the_Shield Knights of the Shield] on the [https://baldursgate.fandom.com Baldur's Gate Wiki]

[[Category: Lore]]