Vellioth

Vellioth "the Martinet" was a vampire lord in Baldur's Gate and the master of Cazador. His skull can be found in the western wing of Cazador's Dungeon.

Overview

Vellioth's skull can be interacted with to learn the three "lessons" that Vellioth "taught" to Cazador. Each of these lessons require a DC 15 Wisdom check to learn. Following the checks, the party receives the Black Mass Scroll, which details the ascension ritual that Cazador hopes to perform and progresses  The Pale Elf

History

Vellioth "the Martinet" was a vampire lord and the master vampire of Baldur's Gate, succeeding Donella Szarr "the Architect" after her death in 1204 DR. He trained Cazador Szarr in the ways of the vampire, distilling this training into three "lessons". In 1276 DR, Cazador slew his master, succeeding him as the master vampire of the city. The new vampire lord preserved his old master's skull in a corner of his dungeon, preserving his lessons through means unknown.

Conjecture

It is implied, but not confirmed, that vampires create spawn, attempt to teach them by various laws they impose, and then make them full vampires once they think those lessons have been learned, as a sort of test. If their laws and lessons are sufficient, the newly turned vampire will still be subservient to their Lord even after they are free, the show of ultimate power. However if the laws and lessons are insufficient, their new equal will then kill them and take their place, and then repeat the same pattern with their own spawn.

Based on Vellioth's laughter as Cazador killed him, making a spawn your equal as a vampire may be a suicide attempt - a vampire will not kill themselves, but they can give that power to another, and end the suffering they feel from either the thirst, or the guilt at their own actions. Reading Cazador's mind also confirms he is full of regret and considers himself a monster - he cannot rest, he cannot die, and he grieves at his own immortality.

Alternatively, after a long enough period, a vampire might use the Black Mass Scroll to 'turn death to their advantage', and simply overplay their hand, and be killed.

Vellioth's Memories

• Vellioth's first lesson is always to dominate. Allow none to be your equal
  • When Cazador tried to speak with an old friend, Vellioth drained the friend dry while he watched as punishment.
• Vellioth's second lesson is that power comes from solitude. To share with others is to be weak, and to be weak is to fail ... and die.
  • When Cazador rebelled against Vellioth, he had him impaled for 11 years - for his failure.
• Vellioth's third lesson is to act not in haste. A near immortal has time to plan, time to act, only when others will pay the price of action
  • When Cazador had learned all his lessons, he killed Vellioth in The Rite of Perfect Slaugher while they both laughed.

Related literature

• Eternal Cruelty
• Black Mass Scroll,

Related quests

•  The Pale Elf