The Journal of Sir Khaltorne [spoilers for WK]

QuenGalad · Post by **QuenGalad** » Fri Jul 08, 2011 3:21 am

I guess this belongs here, being about Watcher's Keep.

So, I've been there again, lately. On the third level of Watcher's Keep, in the labyrinth with all the portals, there is a Demon Wraith and his enslaved souls. Quite a memorable fight the first time round, actually, when you don't expect it or it's traps. That's where White Dragon Scales can be found.
And, in that very area, there is a scroll, a journal of one Sir Khaltorne (or something similar). There are armours and stuff lying about, so the message is clear: there was an adventuring party here, and they died, leaving this. It says the journal is at least "half a century old." In it, we find some clues as to the functioning of the labyrinth, and mentions of "Helmites' betrayal."

My question is - what betrayal? From what I understand, those Helmites are real members of the Order, they just want to exploit the Bhaalspawn and all that. We all know that. In what possible way could they have betrayed a party of paladins?

galraen · Post by **galraen** » Fri Jul 08, 2011 5:22 am

In the same way they betray you, by feeding them a pack of lies and sending them to die, or worse.

QuenGalad · Post by **QuenGalad** » Fri Jul 08, 2011 5:59 am

That's what I thought, but it doesn't make sense.

They tell us outright the dungeon is filled with level after level of monsters. We know we'll have to fight our way through. They do lie to us, but not about the dungeon itself - they lie about the ritual scroll which will seal us in. But they do that because we're a Bhaalspawn and so they figure it's all right to sacrifice us.
But even if they were willing to do the same with the previous party, we find the journal in the third level, so Sir Khaltorne never made it low enough to find this out.
I'm not rebuking this theory entirely, it is possible the previous party was treated in exactly the same way, but it's just... strange, the way there's just this few throwaway lines.

galraen · Post by **galraen** » Fri Jul 08, 2011 7:24 am

We could assume that the previous party were more in touch with their deity than the Bhaalspawn, so maybe were given some warning, albeit too late.

However that does beg the question, 'How did they get to the third level in the first place'? They obviously couldn't have followed the same route as we do as the demon on the second level was still in place, as are the items necessary to open the first portal.

QuenGalad · Post by **QuenGalad** » Sat Jul 09, 2011 2:13 am

Exactly. The blasted thing doesn't make any sense no matter which angle you look at it from. Sir Whatshisname could be dragged into the maze by the portals, like the demons and everyone else, but then he'd have no acquaintance of the knights. And he would have to be in the lower planes in the first place. I guess this was meant to give a bit of (very clumsy) foreshadowing, but it just doesn't work.

I realize that ToB as a whole has quite a lot of flaws and it generally looks like it was made in a rush, but this particular point is just... odd. Any Unfinished Business anyone is aware of in this case?