Free Orpheus: Difference between revisions

At the top floor is the Devil's Den, and Raphael. If {{CharLink|Voss|Kith'rak Voss}} is alive, he is inside trying to deal with Raphael, but Raphael sends him away. He does, however, have a proposition for the party. Raphael is in possession of the {{SmRarityItem|Orphic Hammer}} - a tool that can break the cage that holds {{CharLink|Orpheus}}. In return, he wants the {{SmRarityItem|Crown of Karsus}}, which is being used to control the [[Elder Brain]], once the party defeats it.

Raphael's proposal can either be rejected or accepted. If it's rejected, he states that he will remain at Sharess' Caress for some time in case they change their mind. If the deal is accepted, he will create a [[Soul-Sworn Contract]] and the party instantly feels a pang of regret, starting {{Quest|Escape the Deal}}.

Once the party is aware of Helsik, they can find her at the [[Devil's Fee]]. Inquiring about Helsik being a diabolist has her revealing that her true business is not in information or hellish curious. She is Mammon's Picklock, Latchkeeper of the Nine Hells. She breaks people into the Hells, for a cost. The cost is 20,000 gold. With a successful Persuasion check (DC 20), she waives the fee in lieu of the {{SmRarityItem|Gauntlets of Hill Giant Strength}}, starting {{Quest|Acquire the Gauntlets for Helsik}}. Otherwise, she can be persuaded to cut down the fee to 10,000.

Once inside the [[House of Hope]], a strange dwarf will appear to greet the party. She believes the party is in great danger, and she herself is dealing with her jailers, but she can be convinced to stick around. Asking her who she is reveals she is {{CharLink|Hope}}, and she is trapped in the prison. Only the Orphic Hammer can release her from her bonds. She explains that the party has to get past the Debtors and sneak to the Archive to get the Hammer. To aid the party, she gives them a Debtor's Disguise so that they can move about the House undetected. Choosing to save Hope leads to the quest {{Quest|Save Hope}}.

Once inside, the party needs to pass a Deception check (DC 15) to get the Archivist to fully believe in the ruse. Unfortunately, the Archivist cannot give access to the Orphic Hammer, as it is surrounded by an impervious sphere. The sphere requires a magic code that only Raphael has. Instead, he refers the party to wait in the Boudoir until Raphael has returned. The Archivist can also relinquish the pass to the Boudoir by being intimidated (DC 25), or simply by pickpocketing him.

If the Archivist is not successfully deceived or intimidated, information on how to enter the Boudoir can be found in the Outer Portals room (X:-6441, Y:2920).  [[Nubaldin]] is cleaning up the room. Speaking to him, he explains that he once ran the prisons, but was moved to the Outer Portals room after failing to prevent Gortash from escaping. If the party killed Gortash, they can tell him that they killed him, which will delight Nubaldin. As a reward, Nubaldin explains a secret trick to get into the Boudoir - go next door to the balcony (X:-6446, Y:2936) and jump off the stones to enter the balcony of the Boudoir.

Upon entering the Boudoir, the party is accosted by an incubus named {{CharLink|Haarlep}}, who has been polymorphed into a perfect copy of Raphael. Haarlep asks why the party is there, but is already aware that they seek the Orphic Hammer. Haarlep will help the party out if they agree to "play a game" with him. Agreeing to play the "game" will have the party taking off their clothes and Haarlep seducing them to give over their mind and body. The party can insist the just the body be taken, which Haarlep will agree and tells them that they will always know when an orgasm is experienced in their form. Otherwise, giving over both mind and body results in a game over.

Raphael's magic phrase can be pilfered without the need to deal with Haarlep. The party can use {{SAI|Greater Invisibility}}, {{SAI|Supreme Sneak}}, or other skills to move towards the giant painting west of the bed. A successful perception check reveals that the painting is rigged with a trap. The party needs to disarm it (DC 20), then press the button below the painting. Then the party must lockpick the safe (DC 25) and take its content, then sneak off before Haarlep notices anything.

No matter what the party do, the Archivist is instantly aware if the Orphic Hammer is stolen. He states that the dinner bell has rung for Raphael and the party is the main course. Hope appears one last time to state that everything will be on fire once they leave the Archives. She pleads with the party one last time to come to the prison and smash her chains.

If returning to the entrance where the portal is located, {{CharLink|Raphael}}, {{CharLink|Yurgir}}, and {{CharLink|Korrilla}} are there waiting. Raphael, enraged, will state that the deal is over and that none of the party is getting out alive. Yurgir can be convinced to switch sides with a persuasion check (DC 30 if he was killed in Chapter Two), or he automatically switches sides if he helped the party find the House of Hope in the first place.

The party must bide their time until they are ready to undertake {{Quest|Confront the Elder Brain}}. After obtaining all the Netherstones, the party learns that the Elder Brain dwells within the [[Morphic Pool]] underneath the city. The party take a boat north of the Temple of Bhaal waypoint to get there and faces the Brain head on. The brain has evolved into a Netherbrain and the party faces a number of increasing difficult stat checks to fight against it. Regardless of what the party do, the brain is simply too powerful, and the {{CharLink|Emperor}} steps in to save them by bringing everyone inside the Astral Prism.

If the party selects:

* ''I don't believe a word you just said.'#

 

Followed by:

* ''I will never trust you.'#

 

Then the Emperor will become enraged and states that he has no other choice but to reassimilate into the Netherbrain. He leaves the party in the Astral Realm. If the party has the Orphic Hammer, they can equip it and attack the crystals binding Orpheus.