Helsik

Helsik is a gold dwarf warlock and diabolist who owns the Devil's Fee in the Lower City. She is a trader with a stock of magical equipment, alchemy ingredients, dyes, potions, and scrolls. As a diabolist, Helsik is also capable of opening a portal to the Hells.

“

I welcome thee to the Devil's Fee, where every hellish curio's a rarity! So merry be - and shop with glee.

„

— Helsik greeting the party

Overview

Helsik is a warlock in service to the archdevil Mammon; possibly the richest being in existence and a miser who is loyal only to coin. At her store, the Devil's Fee, she also trades in curios and information, having a large and rare collection of Hellish items that she has accumulated in her occupation as a diabolist.

However, Helsik was not satisfied with the coin that trading curios brought in, and decided to diversify her skills into providing "access".

Involvement

Helsik will initially only offer Alchemy ingredients, Grenades, and Dyes but the party can unlock trading access to her "Curated Selection" by passing multiple DC 5 Perception check to notice the various diabolic curios in her collection and at least one DC 15 Arcana check to identify the items as genuine. The character will say "Must be a diabolist running this shop with so many devilish artifacts" to indicate that the curated selection dialogue is available. These Arcana checks have a DC of 0 for Karlach due to her time spent in the hells.

At first, Helsik will only have dialogue options to trade with the party, but if the party has sufficiently progressed Deal with the Devil, Help Kith'rak Voss, and/or The Githyanki Warrior, and also passed at least one Arcana check then they can reveal her as a diabolist, and can then unlock special dialogue discussing the House of Hope.

Ways to unlock the House of Hope dialogue:

• [PERSUASION] Are you perchance a diabolist? (DC 18) (if only 1 Arcana check was passed)
• Your hoard of genuine infernal items is impressive - show me the really good stuff. (if 2 or more Arcana checks were passed)
• Curios don't interest me. I'm interested in the Hells themselves - a place called the House of Hope in particular. (if 2 or more Arcana checks were passed, or if the party read Scrapbook of Letters or Note from Director Gortash)
• Ever met an orthon? I have - he told me you're a diabolist. (if Yurgir came to camp and was talked to)
• Did you help Lord Gortash retrieve some hellish curios by any chance?
• I know you're a diabolist who worked for Gortash. What did you do for him? (if the party read Note from Helsik)
• I found some interesting reading material downstairs. You're a diabolist, it seems. (if the party read The Enigmatic Art of Hemomancy in the basement)

Helsik will then tell the party they can ask questions for the right amount of coin. The party can then respond with one of the following options:

• Here's 100 gold.
• How about 1000 gold?
• [PERSUASION] It's customary for any salesperson to offer a free sample. (DC 15) (except Rogue/Warlock)
• [ROGUE] [PERSUASION] You know, any saleswoman worth her salt offers a free sample. (DC 10)
• [FIEND] [PERSUASION] I'm also of the pact-bound persuasion - don't suppose I can have a free sample? (DC 10)
• [FIEND] [PERSUASION] I'm something of a diabolist myself - perhaps you could spare a little free knowledge? (DC 10 )

She will finally introduce herself as a diabolist, and the party can then ask her whether she helped Enver Gortash to steal the  Crown of Karsus, and if she opened a portal to Mephistopheles' vaults in the Hells for him to pull off the heist.

Dark Urge

Helsik will recognize the Dark Urge, handing them the Gibus of the Worshipful Servant which Sceleritas Fel left at the Devil's Fee. This completely skips the usual requirements to unlock the House of Hope dialogue. She says she can tell the Urge more about their past for the price of gold, and 100 or 1000 gold convinces her to reveal that she helped the Urge and Gortash steal the Crown of Karsus.

Breaking into the House of Hope

Helsik can help the party break into the Hells, however she will only offer her services in return for 20,000 gold. The party can either pay her the 20,000 gold or convince her to halve the price:

• [FIEND] [WARLOCK] [PERSUASION] I serve a creature not unlike Lord Mammon - surely you can lower the price. (DC 25)
• [WARLOCK] [PERSUASION] Look, we both know your patron doesn't need that much. Lower the price. (DC 25)
• [INTIMIDATION] You'll halve that price or I'll halve you. (DC 25)
• [BARBARIAN] [INTIMIDATION] Cut the price or I cut you into little pieces. CHOOSE. (DC 25 )

Optionally, the party can try and convince her you'll retrieve something for her (Starts Acquire the Gauntlets for Helsik):

• [PERSUASION] Waive the fee and I'll add one of Raphael's artefacts to your collection. (DC 20)
• [ROGUE] [PERSUASION] I'm a skilled thief - give me free passage and I'll bring you back a 'souvenir'. (DC 20 )

Upon convincing her to aid them, Helsik will give the party a Grimoire Bound in Imp Skin, Opening a Hell Gate, and a Ritual Pouch containing the items needed to open the portal. She then directs the party upstairs to a pentagram where they can perform the ritual to open a portal to the House of Hope.

NOTE: If the party previously stole from Helsik before she handles the ritual items, she will angrily kick the party out of the store and seal the door; attempting to return to the store will result in her turning hostile.

After returning from the House of Hope

Once the party returns from the House of Hope, Helsik will demand that they turn over the Gauntlets of Hill Giant Strength or else pay the original proposed fee of 20,000 gold. The party can pass a DC 10 Intimidation check to keep the Gauntlets without Helsik turning hostile.

Helsik will only ask for the gauntlets after the player finishes all the related quests in the House of Hope.

Store

Corresponds to LOW_DevilsFee_Diabolist_Trade_Magic.

Regular items

• Various Alchemy ingredients, Grenades, and Dyes

Curated Selection

• Caitiff Staff
• Cloak of the Weave
• Gemini Gloves
• Hellbeard Halberd
• Shapeshifter Hat
• Spellseeking Gloves

On the desk in front of her

• Gibus of the Worshipful Servant (not for sale to regular characters but is given to The Dark Urge for free)

Combat

If Helsik is attacked, six Gilded Imps and two Gilded Minotaurs will appear in order to support her.

Attacks and abilities

 Eldritch Blast ()

1d10 (1~10) Force

Conjure a beam of crackling energy. Deals 1d10Force damage to a target.

 Range: 18 m / 60 ft

 Mammon's Tax ()

6d6 (6~36) Slashing

Rend the flesh of a greedy creature, dealing 6d6Slashing damage for every 500 gold it has.

DEX Save

 Range: 18 m / 60 ft

Recharge: Per turn

 Promise of Wealth

Mark a target with  Promise of Wealth. Your Allies with  Infectious Greed gain Advantage on Attack rolls against it, convinced it carries great wealth.

 Range: 18 m / 60 ft

 Summon Gilded Hellsboar ()

Summon a boar, its tusks and tapered body agleam with gold, to fight alongside you.

 Range: 18 m / 60 ft

Recharge: Per combat

Tactician only

 Keeper's Fee ()

Magically snatch a weapon from the target's hand.

DEX Save

 Range: 18 m / 60 ft

Speak with Dead

Party member: Who are you?

• Helsik: Portalcrafter... trespasser... warlock...

Party member: How did you die?

• Helsik: Many... wanted... dead...

Party member: What did Gortash pay you to do?

• Helsik: Doorway... to the House...

Party member: What is the book you carry?

• Helsik: Grimoire... ritual... travel far...

Party member: How do I do the grimoire's ritual?

• Helsik: Drawn... circle...

Party member: Do you know what Raphael is guarding in his House?

• Narrator: *The corpse remains silent. It does not know.*

Related quests

•  Acquire the Gauntlets for Helsik
•  Deal with the Devil

Related literature

• Devil's Fee Observer's Report
• File Under Diabolist
• Grimoire Bound in Imp Skin
• Helsik's Diary
• Note from Director Gortash
• Note from Helsik
• Opening a Hell Gate
• Report on Activities of Enver Gortash
• Report for Raphael
• Scrapbook of Letters

Gallery

• 

  Helsik's model.

Notes

• Should a character have high Attitude with Helsik, such as by gifting her enough gold through trade, the character will be bestowed the  Infectious Greed buff in her presence.

External links

Mammon on the Forgotten Realms Wiki