Gauntlet of Shar

The entrance to the Gauntlet of Shar.

The Gauntlet of Shar is a Location found in the Grand Mausoleum in Chapter Two.

Walk-through

This location plays an important part in Shadowheart's personal quest. There are 4 Umbral Gems in Gauntlet of Shar, you need to collect in order to progress through the dungeon and the quests Daughter of Darkness and The Chosen of Shar. In order to find the four gems you need to solve a number of problems / trials. You can do these trials in any order you want.

Statue and Lanterns Problem

The statue and its (non-takeable) Umbral Gem.

Head North and you will find a statue with an Umbral Gem. Approaching the statue will repel you. In order to be able to solve this puzzle you need to pull levers in nearby side rooms to lower the lanterns. Beware of lots of traps. You then interact with the lanterns to extinguish their light. Once the room is completely dark you'll see a pattern on the floor which is a maze to the statue. This will allow you to interact with the gem and advance in the dungeon. Alternatively, one may bypass the puzzle by teleporting to the gem via Misty Step, Dimension Door, or other means.

Meet Balthazar

After the riddle in the entrance room, you can go either north or west. Both routes will eventually lead you to get into a conversation with some non-hostile undead, after which some enemies will spawn that you can fight against together with the undead.

After the battle, Balthazar can be found in the west / north-western part of the dungeon, at X: -852 Y: -786. He will assume that you're a True Soul and command you to find a powerful artifact, the Nightsong, that's hidden within the dungeon. Depending on dialogue options, he may reveal that this artifact is what gives Ketheric Thorm his immortality. tell you he is looking for the Nightsong.

Umbral Gem 1 - Meet Raphael's Old Enemy

Yurgir is in the North East of the dungeon at (X:-652 Y:-776). You can fight him or help him get out of his contract with Raphael in order to get the Umbral Gem he is guarding. If you choose the latter, you will start the quest Break Yurgir's Contract and will need to find Lyrthindor.

The Trial Hall.

Umbral Gem 2 - Soft-step Trial

In order to reach the Soft-step Trial head north from the waypoint. You are looking for a plaque outside a door that reads "Her Most Vaunted Treasure". This door leads to the Soft-step Trial.

Your goal in this trial is to pass through it without getting spotted by the patrolling Shadows. It is highly recommended that you use a single party member to get through the area rather than try with your whole party. A high level of stealth or use of invisibility is highly recommended. The is a Scroll of Invisibility on a skeleton on a bench nearby. You will also need to be able to pick locks. Astarion is highly recommended for this trial.

To start the trial, give blood at the Sacrificial Bowl.

Take the north door, and follow the wall straight forward. There will be a button on the wall to the right. Push it, and continue forward. Pick the lock on the gate, and then grab the Umbral Gem. When you pick up the gem all the torches will light up and a Umbral Transporter will appear in the location where you grabbed the gem. Clicking on the transporter will take you back to outside the maze.

Umbral Gem 3 - Self-same Trial

Along the corridor to the north from the Soft-step Trial you are looking for a door with a plaque that says "Her Most Hallowed Mercy". This is where you'll find the Self-Same Trial.

In this trial you have to defeat copies of the four members of your party. The challenge is that your shadows will have the same abilities as your characters. You shadows can't be restrained or shoved. If you have one of your characters attack a shadow that isn't their shadow then they will be cursed. Once a character has defeated their own shadow, they can attack the shadows of other characters.

When your shadows are defeated you can loot the Umbral Gem from one of the shadows. The Killer's Sweetheart can be found on the top level.

Umbral Gem 4 - Faith-Leap Trial

Outside of the Self-Same Trial door, head north and down the stairs. At the bottom, you’ll find a door to the Faith-Leap Trial. There is a plaque on the outside of the door that reads "Her Most Sacred Path".

For this trial it is recommended to use a single character. This trial is about following a hidden path.

The hidden path is shown on the floor in front of the altar. You may find Tactical view makes navigating the path easier.

Use a single party member to navigate the path to the Umbral Gem.

The Silent Library and Spear of the Night

The next door to the south is to the Silent Library. Inside this area are a lot of traps.

In the North East of the library on a bookshelf you need to loot a book called Teachings of Loss: The Nightsinger.

Head to the west side of the library and lockpick the door there (DC 21). Inside, you’ll find a pedestal called the Riddle of the Night that asks you to place an item. Place the Teachings of Loss: The Nightsinger book inside to open a secret door.

Go through the door and grab the Spear of Night. In a chest nearby is the Dark Justiciar Helmet. On the ground in found of the altar is the Dark Justiciar Half-Plate.

Find the Nightsong

Go to the pedestal north of the lantern puzzle and place one of the Umbral Gems on the altar. This will unlock a platform that will take you downwards.

At the bottom, you’ll find another altar. Place the remaining three Umbral Gems on the altar, and a door will open. Inside, you’ll find the Verge of the Shadows waypoint and a portal to the Shadowfell. If Shadowheart is in your party she will want to pray.

Enter the portal and jump downwards to the Nightsong.

NOTE: You will get a warning that this action will advance the story and lock you out of quests/areas if you haven't already completed / visited them.

You'll receive the Moonlight Glaive as a reward and complete Shadowheart’s “The Chosen of Shar” companion quest.

Waypoints

This location contains the following  Waypoints:

• Gauntlet of Shar X: -758 Y: -794
• Verge of the Shadows X: -722 Y: -842

Related Locations

• Grand Mausoleum
• Shadowfell

Related Quests

• Lift the Shadow Curse
• Infiltrate Moonrise Towers (sub-quest Find Ketheric Thorm's Relic)
• Find the Nightsong
• Kill Raphael's Old Enemy
• Break Yurgir's Contract
• Daughter of Darkness (sub-quest The Chosen of Shar)

Notable Loot

Notable items obtained in this location, whether looted, purchased, or obtained as a quest reward:

• Boots of Brilliance - North of Yurgir at (X: -632, Y: -723)
• Hellfire Hand Crossbow - Loot Yurgir
• Least Expected - Found NE of the dungeon just before Yurgir at (X: -730, Y: -800)
• Callous Glow Ring - Found in a vault (Lockpick DC30) near Balthazar at (X: -821, Y: -752)
• Justiciar's Scimitar - Looted from Lyrthindor
• Justiciar's Greatshield - Looted from Lyrthindor
• Killer's Sweetheart - In the Self-Same Trial at (X: -833, Y: -729)
• Circle of Bones - Looted from Balthazar
• Dark Justiciar Helmet - In a chest next to the Spear of Night
• Dark Justiciar Half-Plate - At the bottom of the altar with the Spear of Night
• Dark Justiciar Gauntlets - Found laying on a pile of boxes near Yurgir at (X: -660 Y: -760)
• Spear of Night - In the Silent Library

Notable NPCs

• Balthazar
• Yurgir
• Lyrthindor

Notable Monsters

• 

  Justiciar Avenger

• 

  Justiciar Crusader

• 

  Justiciar Soulhunter

• 

  Justiciar Nightweaver