We are the Silver Shields! We are adventurers from Baldur's Gate... And we would like everyone we meet to believe that we are good people.
That the decisions we make affect the world around us in a positive manner. That the powers we wield are never used to hurt or abuse the innocent. We help those who cannot help themselves.
The balance of power is teetering towards evil and we are simply a group of people that have the ability to put right what was once put wrong.
We have an entire city to rescue.
We have an angel to redeem.
And we have a war to wage.
Will we crumble underneath the pressure of such heroic endeavors?
Or will we rise above and vanquish those who have torn this city asunder.
We shall see.
Zerk's Lamentations 3:2
Looking over our new map and compass that we wished for...Thank you Djinn...we were able to discover the place where the sword of Zariel is supposed to be. After some exploring...we find the main chamber. We grant mercy to some lowly devils who promptly vacate the place.
The door we must enter through will only allow good beings inside.
We are fortunate indeed.
The room has a nice comfortable feel here...and the sword is in sight. My God what a wonderous blade. Perfect in every way.
This blade has a piece of Zariel's soul inside it.
There is a test that must be passed before the weapon in given.
The biggest challenge yet..... literally!
Zerk's Lamentations 3:3
We are transported to Akari's village only to find a group of hyena type creatures surrounding us.
They attack...we defend...they die.
We thought the battle was over...no...it was just beginning.
A Titan sized demon name Shogar stood before us. This was the test. This was Akari's nightmare.
We readied ourselves and proceeded the barrage.
Reya did her damage...
Rondo cast his spells...
And I..... I attacked his big toe.
But I gave that big toe such a thrashing!
Shogar attacked ...
We defended.
This fight was a war of attrition.
But we won the day.
After the victory the Silver Shields were returned to the wellspring and the sword. An angel instructed us to choose who would weild such a weapon. In the end it was Ravenor...my love. She held the blade and was instantly transformed into an angel herself.
We were in shock...but we couldn't let that linger. We have a job to do.
Zerk's Lamentations 3:4
We are a unique bunch.
Now one of us has become angelic.
Ravenor...the moon elf is now an angel. She is to be a shard of Selune...the moon goddess.
I'm in shock. I'm in awe. She has gained remarkable abilities that dwarf our own. My love blesses me with true sight... I can now see things that are normally hidden from view.
I am having an impossible time with my emotions. When we leave Avernus..... Ravenor must go with the goddess. I will lose her.
Meanwhile...Akari does a ritual and her parents show up in spirit...finally being freed from their wretched past. We all hug Akari. We are proud of our Kosrakiir warrior.
Quickly the Silver Shields steel their resolve.
We have to make a deal with a devil.
Zerk's Lamentations 3:5
Bel.....
His lair is large and we are petrified. There is another creature being tortured in the corner.
Disgusting.
We ask the giant devil if he can help us get to Zariel.
He gives us this irritating diatribe about his place in the hierarchy of devils and the universal balance.
Apparently we need to get something for him first.
Devils are lazy
We need to get several metallic rods that have the unique feature of harming angelic beings.
My God we're screwed!
Zerk's Lamentations 3:6
My girlfriend can fly.
We travel to a specific part of hell...a point that bel gave us.
One of Zariels fortresses.
As we fly together to the damn thing...we see two dragons. They stop us and ask why we're here. We explain and make a barter trade for safe passage.
The inside was dusty and seemed very old and unused. There were a few creatures wandering around muttering to themselves.
But they paid no attention us .
We looked around found the rods and got out unscathed.
This seemed way too easy. We're suspicious.
Zerk's Lamentations 3:7
We return these unholy Steele rods to Bel. I've never seen a devil so happy. This reaction made my stomach churn.
The creature he was torturing kept saying he knew where Zariel was. Not the deal we had...but we had no choice. We were forced to interrogate this demon. He continued to promise the Archangels location in exchange for his freedom. So being the fools we are...we make another deal with a demon.
As soon as we let him go...Bel kills him. Bel explains something about things being out of our control.
But this Archdevil keeps his word. We are shown outside and join a devil army that will escort us to Zariel.
My God what have we done?
Zerk's Lamentations 3:8
The Ninth Legion.
They are 10,000 strong
We are introduced to the Commander. All the demons stare at us... especially Ravenor.
We are shown the siege weapons and what each group of soldier does. We must wage all out war with the demon armies just to get us to Zariel.
I hang out with the group that fires the energy cannons.
This legion is loyal and organized... it's actually quite impressive.
After some preparation had been made...we were on our way.
It's going to take some time to get to our destination...but until then.
The road is our home.
Zerk's Lamentations 3:9
On the road.
We've been drafted under the conditions of our own decisions.
Akari spent the time with the Commander and other leaders. Ravenor spent most of her time in the vehicle with Aoffe and Clank.
I divided my time between learning the shock cannons and Ravenor.
I thought these devils would be different...more evil and vile than expected. I was mistaken. They may be devils...but they're still military. They're soldiers. They are organized and they follow orders. Dare I say...they even seem a tad bit honorable.
Damn...I've been down here too long
At the end of our March we see a glimmer of Steele. We hear the faint cries of demonic hordes.
At the commanders call...and the sound of a horn.
War!
Zerk's Lamentations 3:10
Fire...chaos...death.
At the behest of general devilman...we lay waste to the demonic horde before us.
Arrows fly...energy weapons are launched and the ones who can fly...drop ammo from out of range.
I have seen battles. I have seen war. But this is different. These demons are unknowingly savage.
Instinctual...there is no thought . Just action.
This is where we take advantage. This devil army takes it's time...plans out strategy...and swiftly defeats these drooling bloody beasts.
By the time we set up for our final breach...they run with they're guts intact.
This army suddenly stops and the point to a spot in the distance.
There she is...Zariel.
They bid us farewell...they have fulfilled their duties. Now lies before us our final mission in hell.....turn an Archdevil back into an Archangel.
O Lord we pray.
Zerk's Lamentations 3:11
It must be hell getting to heaven.
Zariel. Archangel. Archdevil. One bad mother!
She sits on her throne with three of her generals by her side. This place has changed her. Her wings are no longer feathered. No alabaster light shines upon her. Her eyes are dead. And she sees us approach.
We blink and she is right there in front of us.
We can't fight her...even with all the magic items and spells at our disposal. She could disintegrate us easy!
So we use compassion instead. We attempt to turn her back.
We beg her to listen.
We try to remind her who she was.
We appeal to her better nature.
We tell her of the coming war and how she was needed in Celestia once more.
With the aid from Lulu and her sword in reach. She stares us down. Hesitation.
The most gut wrenching intense moment of anyone's lifetime.
She sees Lulu.
She sheds a tear.
She grabs the sword.
Light!
An explosion of divine light crashes through the dark sky.
She waves her hand in the simplest of gestures...and every evil being within 5 miles turns to dust.
Zariel is an Archangel once more.
Lulu returns to her true form also...a giant wooly mammoth. She is a divine war mount again.
Zariel thanks us and gives me a golden feather. If we need her help...use it.
After a month in Avernus...we are successful.
Zerk's Lamentations 3:12
With Zariel an Archangel again...she has all her power back.
We ask her to break the Elturel contract that cursed the Hellriders and condemned the city to oblivion.
She effortlessly does so. The black sun over the city cracks and breaks. From inside comes another angel...trapped for a very long time.
Zariel then opens a portal back to the Material Plane.
We are going home.
She hugs us all.
Ravenor. My love.
It is time for her to take her place among the heavens. She is to be a Shard of Selune.
The Right hand of the moon Goddess.
This is hard. This is goodbye
I give her a gentle kiss on her cheek.
I will always love you. No matter where I go...I know that you are there.
We step into the portal and return to a place just outside Elturel.
