Gauntlet of Shar: Difference between revisions

Pulling the lever at {{Coords|-825|-810}} opens the way to the vast antechamber abutting [[Balthazar|Balthazar's]] room.

Alternatively, heading north from the entrance room, the party enters an open hall with a lift overlooking a massive chasm. [[Reconstituted Duellist]]s/[[Reconstituted Marksman|Marksman]], apparently controlled by [[Balthazar]], will attempt to warn the party about the Gauntlet's dark defenders, [[Dark Justiciar|Dark Justiciars]], that will attack the group. Some [[Umbral Tremor]]s in the area will spawn that continuously summon more Dark Justiciars until all of those Tremors are destroyed. The skeletal undead will fight with the party against the Sharran shades.

If the party moves west, they will encounter more skeletons. A second, larger episode of tremors begins, and Justiciars are summoned to attack the party. Several waves appear, including a tremor in the center of the room that summons a [[Justiciar Crusader (Undead)|Justiciar Crusader]] if not destroyed. Following the battle, the door to [[Balthazar|Balthazar's]] outpost at {{Coords|-852|-786}} opens up, revealing the necromancer along with [[Flesh]] and three [[Ghoul Medic]]s. Balthazar assumes the party are [[True Soul]]s and tells the party to go and complete the trials for him, as the Justiciars have been making it impossible for them to move forward. The party can either agree to help him or attack him outright. Balthazar can be convinced to offer help in the form of a bell that summons his brother, Flesh.

In order to reach the [[Nightsong]], the party must find four {{SmRarityItem|Umbral Gem|alias=Umbral Gems}} to access the heart of the Gauntlet.

Each trial must be started by interacting with the sacrificial bowl at the trial's entrance. If [[Shadowheart]] is in the party, she will volunteer each time, gaining {{Approval|Shadowheart|+5}} if she is allowed to give blood, and losing {{Approval|Shadowheart|-1}} if she is not. Whoever gives blood to begin the trial receives a single turn of [[Bleeding (Condition)]].

The Soft-Step Trial is a stealth trial. There are two [[Shadow]]s patrolling a small maze, which must be stealthily navigated to get to the Umbral Gem. Only one character needs to successfully reach the end of the room to complete the trial. If a character is detected, all characters are teleported back to the start of the maze. The entire maze is heavily obscured, requiring the participating character to pass a {{Ability check|Stealth|10}} whenever hiding in the Shadow's sightline to pass undetected, or to use [[Invisibility]] (a [[Scroll of Invisibility]] can be found on a skeleton at {{Coords|-775|-767}}).

To complete this trial, the party must defeat shadowy copies of themselves. These copies have the same abilities and gear as the real thing, and cannot be restrained or shoved. If a character attacks a copy of a different party member while their own copy is still alive, they will receive a stack of {{Cond|Cheater's Folly}}, reducing all [[Ability Score]]s by 1 until [[Remove Curse]] is used or the party takes a long rest. The debuff stacks up to four times. Once a party member's copy is dead, they can freely attack the other copies with no debuff incurred.  

The fourth and final Umbral Gem is in the possession of the orthon [[Yurgir]] in the eastern branch of the Gauntlet at {{coords|-652|-776}}, lying near his bed of corpses. The party can fight him or help him resolve his contract with Raphael, which starts the quest [[Break Yurgir's Contract]]. It is also possible to steal the gem and get out unnoticed with sufficient [[stealth]] or {{SAI|Invisibility}}.

Choosing to side with Yurgir will have the party hunting down the last of the living Dark Justiciars in the Shadow-Cursed Lands, [[Lyrthindor]]. Following cragged rocks opposite from the Silent Library (starting at {{Coords|-736|-753}}) all the way downward into a small grotto, the party will come across a ritual circle at {{Coords|-708|-722}}. Attacking a rat elsewhere in the Gauntlet will cause the surviving rats to eventually swarm all the way downward into the grotto. Following these rats is a simple way to locate the area. Lighting the candles will summon a rat, who offers to reveal a hidden treasure cache ({{Coords|-685|-710}}, unobtainable without accepting the rat's bargain) in exchange for his life. Attacking the rat begins a battle with a swarm of rats who eventually coalesce into Lyrthindor.

Once all four Umbral Gems are in the party's possession, it is possible to complete the Gauntlet of Shar and proceed to the [[Nightsong]]. However, if she is in the party, [[Shadowheart]] will have a request: she wants to find the {{SmRarityItem|Spear of Night}} in the Silent Library so that she can become a Dark Justiciar.

At the bottom is another altar. Place the remaining three Umbral Gems on the altar, opening the final massive doors. This door can also be opened with Knock, allowing parties to bypass the trials if they lose an Umbral Gem or simply do not want to complete them. Inside lies the Verge of the Shadows [[Waypoint]] and a pool of water that serves as a portal to the [[Shadowfell]]. If [[Shadowheart]] is in the party she will want to pray.

Entering the portal will take the party to the [[Nightsong]]'s chamber.

The following sequence within the [[Shadowfell]] completes the quest [[The Chosen of Shar]].