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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.
[[File:Knights of the Shield Hideout.jpg|thumb|300px|The [[Knights of the Shield Hideout]] beneath the [[Elfsong Tavern]]]]
The '''Knights of the Shield''' is an organisation based primarily in [[Baldur's Gate]], that operates in information dealing, political manipulation, and smuggling.{{ref|{{SmRarityItem|The Stelmane Connection}} - "The Black Hand of Loyalty"}} 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]''.
The Knights of the Shield previously appeared in {{FRWiki|Baldur's Gate}}.


== History ==
== 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."}}
The Knights of the Shield is a longstanding operation within the city of Baldur's Gate. For some time, operations were run by a mind flayer who would eventually go by the moniker the {{CharLink|The Emperor|Emperor}}, with customer-facing operations run by an enthralled {{CharLink|Belynne Stelmane}}.{{ref|{{CharLink|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 {{CharLink|The Emperor}} in the Astral Realm.}} Between the two of them, the Knights had considerable control over the city.{{ref|{{CharLink|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}}
Early in his career, {{CharLink|Enver Gortash}} began operating as a black market weapons dealer in the city.{{ref|{{SmRarityItem|Inroads by Arms Dealer Gortash}}}} 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.{{ref|{{SmRarityItem|Knights of the Shield Report}} - "The Black Hand of Loyalty"}} However, this proved fruitless, as the prospective clients remained loyal to the Knights, so fiercely that psychic influence was suspected.{{ref|{{SmRarityItem|Knights of the Shield 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, 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]].}}  
Through the bribery of key members, Gortash's operatives uncovered that the Knights were working closely with Duke Belynne Stelmane.{{ref|{{SmRarityItem|The Stelmane Connection}}}} By this time, Stelmane had begun to decline; however, her influence over smuggling operations continued to grow.{{ref|{{SmRarityItem|The Stelmane Connection}}}} Eventually, the truth of the Knight's leadership was discovered, that Stelmane was being psionically controlled by the Emperor.{{ref|Dialogue with {{CharLink|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}}
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.{{ref|{{SmRarityItem|Old Ledger}}}} Eventually, the Knights began collapsing, with their territory and sales in steep decline.{{ref|{{SmRarityItem|Enhanced' Weapons - Sales Ledger}} - Franc Peartree}}{{ref|{{SmRarityItem|Old Ledger}}}} Meanwhile, Gortash's operations continued to grow, eventually supplanting the Knights'.{{ref|{{SmRarityItem|Inroads by Arms Dealer Gortash}} - {{CharLink|Uktar|Bursar Uktar}}}}


== Involvement ==
== 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 Knight of the Shield's abandoned [[Knights of the Shield Hideout]] under the [[Elfsong Tavern]] can be visited while the party is in the [[Lower City]]. While in the hideout, {{CharLink|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.
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 ===
=== 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]].}}
If the player character 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.{{ref|Missive from {{CharLink|The Emperor}}}} During the epilogue, the player character can tell {{CharLink|Astarion}} that it has become a "formidable force". {{ref|Dialogue with {{CharLink|Astarion}} in the [[Epilogue]].}}


== Members ==
== Members ==
* [[The Emperor]]
* {{CharLink|The Emperor}}


=== Deceased members ===
=== Deceased members ===
* [[Belynne Stelmane]]
* {{CharLink|Belynne Stelmane}}
* [[Listelia Dryselis]]
* {{CharLink|Droralias Dryselis}}
* [[Droralias Dryselis]]
* {{CharLink|Listelia Dryselis}}
* Unknown [[Hhune Mausoleum|Hhune]]
* Unknown [[Hhune Mausoleum|Hhune family member]]


== Related literature ==
== Related literature ==
* {{SmItemIcon|Order 251: Tethyr}}
* {{SmItemIcon|Enhanced' Weapons - Sales Ledger}}
* {{SmItemIcon|Inroads by Arms Dealer Gortash}}
* {{SmItemIcon|Inroads by Arms Dealer Gortash}}
* {{SmItemIcon|Note to All Knights of the Shield members}}
* {{SmItemIcon|Old Ledger}}
* {{SmItemIcon|Old Ledger}}
* [[Note to All Knights of the Shield members]]
* {{SmItemIcon|Order 251: Tethyr}}
* [[Record of Operations in Neverwinter]]
* {{SmItemIcon|Record of Operations in Neverwinter}}
* [[Enhanced' Weapons - Sales Ledger]]
 
=== Written by the Black Hand ===
=== Written by the Black Hand ===
* {{SmItemIcon|Knights of the Shield Report}}
* {{SmItemIcon|Knights of the Shield Report}}
* {{SmItemIcon|Shield Steward Interrogation Log}}
* {{SmItemIcon|Shield Steward Interrogation Log}}
* {{SmItemIcon|The Stelmane Connection}}
* {{SmItemIcon|The Stelmane Connection}}
== Related locations ==
* {{Loc|Elfsong Tavern}}
* {{Loc|Knights of the Shield Hideout}}


== References ==
== References ==
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[[Category: Lore]]
[[Category: Lore]]
[[Category: Factions]]

Latest revision as of 15:18, 8 September 2024

The Knights of the Shield Hideout beneath the Elfsong Tavern

The Knights of the Shield is an organisation based primarily in Baldur's Gate, that operates in information dealing, political manipulation, and smuggling.[1] 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 Baldur's Gate.

History[edit | edit source]

The Knights of the Shield is a longstanding operation within the city of Baldur's Gate. For some time, operations were run by a mind flayer who would eventually go by the moniker the The Emperor Emperor, with customer-facing operations run by an enthralled Belynne Stelmane Belynne Stelmane.[2][3] Between the two of them, the Knights had considerable control over the city.[4]

Early in his career, Enver Gortash Enver Gortash began operating as a black market weapons dealer in the city.[5] 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.[6] However, this proved fruitless, as the prospective clients remained loyal to the Knights, so fiercely that psychic influence was suspected.[7]

Through the bribery of key members, Gortash's operatives uncovered that the Knights were working closely with Duke Belynne Stelmane.[8] By this time, Stelmane had begun to decline; however, her influence over smuggling operations continued to grow.[9] Eventually, the truth of the Knight's leadership was discovered, that Stelmane was being psionically controlled by the Emperor.[10]

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.[11] Eventually, the Knights began collapsing, with their territory and sales in steep decline.[12][13] Meanwhile, Gortash's operations continued to grow, eventually supplanting the Knights'.[14]

Involvement[edit | edit source]

The Knight of the Shield's abandoned Knights of the Shield Hideout under the Elfsong Tavern can be visited while the party is in the Lower City. While in the hideout, Jaheira 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[edit | edit source]

If the player character 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.[15] During the epilogue, the player character can tell Astarion Astarion that it has become a "formidable force". [16]

Members[edit | edit source]

Deceased members[edit | edit source]

Related literature[edit | edit source]

Written by the Black Hand[edit | edit source]

Related locations[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ The Stelmane Connection - "The Black Hand of Loyalty"
  2. ↑ The Emperor 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."
  3. ↑ Dialogue with The Emperor The Emperor in the Astral Realm.
  4. ↑ The Emperor The Emperor: "Together, we brought order to chaos. At its height, everything that happened in that city went through the Shield. Through us."
  5. ↑ Inroads by Arms Dealer Gortash
  6. ↑ Knights of the Shield Report - "The Black Hand of Loyalty"
  7. ↑ Knights of the Shield Report
  8. ↑ The Stelmane Connection
  9. ↑ The Stelmane Connection
  10. ↑ Dialogue with The Emperor The Emperor.
  11. ↑ Old Ledger
  12. ↑ Enhanced' Weapons - Sales Ledger - Franc Peartree
  13. ↑ Old Ledger
  14. ↑ Inroads by Arms Dealer Gortash - Uktar Bursar Uktar
  15. ↑ Missive from The Emperor The Emperor
  16. ↑ Dialogue with Astarion Astarion in the Epilogue.

External links[edit | edit source]

Retrieved from "https://dev.bg3.wiki/w/index.php?title=Knights_of_the_Shield&oldid=226948"