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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.[text 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
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 Emperor, with customer-facing operations run by an enthralled Belynne Stelmane.[1][2] Between the two of them, the Knights had considerable control over the city.[3]
Early in his career, Enver Gortash began operating as a black market weapons dealer in the city.[text 2] 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.[text 3] However, this proved fruitless, as the prospective clients remained loyal to the Knights, so fiercely that psychic influence was suspected.[text 3]
Through the bribery of key members, Gortash's operatives uncovered that the Knights were working closely with Duke Belynne Stelmane.[text 1] By this time, Stelmane had begun to decline; however, her influence over smuggling operations continued to grow.[text 1] Eventually, the truth of the Knight's leadership was discovered, that Stelmane was being psionically controlled by the Emperor.[4]
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.[text 4] Eventually, the Knights began collapsing, with their territory and sales in steep decline.[text 5][text 4] Meanwhile, Gortash's operations continued to grow, eventually supplanting the Knights'.[text 2]
Involvement
The Knight of the Shield's abandoned 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.[text 6] During the epilogue, the player can tell Astarion that it has become a "formidable force". [5]
Members
Deceased members
Related literature
Order 251: Tethyr
Inroads by Arms Dealer Gortash
Old Ledger
Note to All Knights of the Shield members
Record of Operations in Neverwinter
Enhanced' Weapons - Sales Ledger
Written by the Black Hand
References
- ↑ 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."
- ↑ Dialogue with the Emperor in the Astral Realm.
- ↑ The Emperor: "Together, we brought order to chaos. At its height, everything that happened in that city went through the Shield. Through us."
- ↑ Dialogue with the Emperor.
- ↑ Dialogue with Astarion in the epilogue.
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 The Stelmane Connection – The Black Hand of Loyalty
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Inroads by Arms Dealer Gortash – Bursar Uktar
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Knights of the Shield Report – The Black Hand of Loyalty
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Old Ledger – Unknown Knights member
- ↑ Enhanced' Weapons - Sales Ledger – Franc Peartree
- ↑ Missive from the Emperor – The Emperor
