Book 11: Chapter 3: Antonali Syndicate

“Hill, do you see anything?” Qin Lun heard Hill’s quiet question in the Team Channel.

“Hm, I’m at the spot, but this place looks kinda strange.” Qin Lun hid in the shadows at the corner of the tunnel, looking forward carefully. He had used the Stealth skill of his Hunter Profession. This ability allowed him to be hidden when not moving.

After using Telepathy, Hill had searched for over half an hour before finally locating him. It turned out Qin Lun was actually in the sewers right across from the Oak Barrel Tavern on the street. But the drop between there and the docks was almost a hundred meters.

Luckily, Qin Lun hadn’t wandered blindly in the sewers. His spot was in a three-level underground water channel. Finding a service shaft to the surface there would be totally hopeless. It really would be better to go out to the sea through the outlet and return to the Baldur’s Gate docks.

Finally, Hill gave him an idea. They could find buildings on the surface that were bases for gangs in the dock district. Most of those shady characters built hidden storage rooms and secret chambers underground. Qin Lun could use his Staring Aura ability to search that area for hidden paths they might have built, which would lead him back to the surface.

But this needed Hill and Rand to pick carefully, since not every Mafia had the money and people to manage underground tunnels. They had to find a larger dark organization and identify its base in either the docks or the inner city. Only then might they find its underground spot.

Rand had mentioned this could bring trouble for all three, but in the end, he agreed with the others. Usually, when Star Void sent Apostles into a Quest World, it prepared some local money or guidance into a storyline group, to help the Apostle join the Plot Mission quickly.

But this time, the three had entered Toril using a World Token. They had no Gold coins, no Guidance Mission. They needed to find supplies for the mission ahead. Looking for an underworld base wasn’t just about meeting Qin Lun; it was also to get money.

Normally, even though Qin Lun had explained the basics of Baldur’s Gate to them before, two strangers asking about dark groups in an unknown place could stand out too much. Mafia muscle might show up before they found any clues, making it hard for them to stay hidden.

But these two weren’t rule-followers. They used the simplest, toughest way. Starting with street thugs, they worked their way up the chain. After half a day and over a dozen bodies left behind, they finally got useful information.

They found a large smuggling group that occupied the eastern unloading port in the docks of Baldur’s Gate.

The last gang lieutenant Rand took out said this smuggling ring was called “Antonali”. The Antonali Syndicate was powerful. Not only did it control several gangs of Rogues, sailors, and laborers in the docks, but it was also rumored to have ties to a duchess on Baldur’s Gate’s council.

Hearing this even surprised Hill. While Baldur’s Gate and its area wasn’t a full country, the city’s strength matched that of major human capitals like Calimshan. A Syndicate playing both sides here showed real power. They likely had High Rank fighters, even Legendary Profession warriors. Luckily, Hill and Rand were ready for this. Once they met Qin Lun, they planned to leave Baldur’s Gate right away. That’s why they dared act without worry.

Apostles had lots of odd abilities, but against a local power like Antonali? If they caught the higher-ups’ attention, Hill and Rand would have no place to hide soon. Street thugs, workers – everyone could be their eyes, just like city cameras. If officials wanted them found, they’d arrive fast.

Knowing this, Hill and Rand moved faster with greater urgency. Soon, following clues, they found a hidden spot used by Antonali.

This wasn’t the official Antonali Syndicate office in the docks. It was an old carriage house near the Baldur’s Gate outer city wall, at the border between docks and inner city.

This cover impressed all three. A carriage house saw constant traffic. Nobles, commoners, mercenaries – their presence wouldn’t raise questions. It covered a big area with lots of room for animal feed and carriage storage, perfect for hiding smuggled goods. In-and-out traffic was normal, ideal for moving goods.

If their guess was right, a smuggling ring big enough to run such a place could make good use of the underground tunnels. Under this carriage house there might be secret storage rooms or chambers connected to the sewers.

Such a spot would be used for valuable goods or slave trade. The Antonali Syndicate could use small boats to move precious metals or slaves through the underground outlet out of the city, loading them onto waiting ships just outside the port or bringing smuggled goods back into the city. Right now, Hill and Rand were outside the carriage house. Qin Lun below had dismissed his Gargoyle and followed their directions to the underground section below it.

The sewage tunnels finally narrowed here – about three meters high and five meters wide. The wastewater channel deepened to over three meters, forcing Qin Lun along narrow walkways on the sides.

But Qin Lun felt more at ease. He noticed the walkways were less slippery and slimy. There was less moss on the stone walls, meaning this path got regular use. They were in the right place.

Rounding another bend, he found a well-kept iron ladder before him, showing no rust. Climbing it, he began to hear strange voices nearby. He used his Stealth skill to hide and looked ahead.

“Strange? What kind of strange?” Rand asked with great interest.

Ahead of where Qin Lun stood, the passage narrowed again – only wide enough for about three people side-by-side. This was the upper sewer level; there was no wastewater channel. It seemed cleaned often, with none of the horrible smell.

Qin Lun discarded his torn shirt, letting his Apostle gear show. He changed his Phantom Leathers into leather pants. Worn with Earth Dragon Lizard Scale Armor and Indian Feather Boots, he was no longer half-naked. He still smelled pretty bad, but the air here was thick enough already; it shouldn’t give him away.

This passage differed from below. It wasn’t straight; Qin Lun thought the tunnel curved ahead, maybe in a ring. But his view was blocked. He didn’t want to use Staring Aura and alert any strong guards nearby, so the inner ring remained unseen for now.

The voices Qin Lun heard earlier belonged to several patrol guards walking nearby.

“These guards wear animal masks. Their leader has a black cloth hood and wears a black robe like a priest’s robe,” Qin Lun said, his expression odd. “Hill, are you sure this carriage house above belongs to the smuggling ring? Their gear makes them your kind! They seem like some cult’s followers!”

“Nonsense. My faith is pure. How are they my kind? This insults my Lord!” Hill calmly argued. The cannibal priest was used to his friends teasing him.

“If it really is a cult, that’s actually better for us!” Rand said, surprised.

Qin Lun and Hill stayed silent. Rand had a point. If the Antonali Syndicate hid something dark, it worked in their favor.

Baldur’s Gate was a big trading port city full of mixed groups. Its core around the Winding River and River Reaching plains had many honest farmers and small lawful-good merchants.

Plus, positioned on the Golden Route of the Sword Coast connecting Deepwater City, Amn, Tethyr, and Calimshan, it drew many lawful-neutral and lawful-evil groups and big shipping companies.

This included groups like the Seven Suns Trading Coster, the Iron Throne, or Helm’s church among neutrals. But also lawful-evil like the Zhentarim, Red Robe Mages, and Ilmater’s church.

Baldur’s Gate began with pirates. It didn’t shut out neutrals or evil groups, or other races beyond humans. It aimed to include all who followed city laws, which helped its growth, so long as chaos was kept out.

Only one thing got turned away: Chaos-Evil.

Baldur’s Gate needed rules. Even with its accepting spirit, it couldn’t tolerate those causing chaos and harm. No city in Faerûn welcomed chaotic-evil beings. Where they went, cities could not function.

So if Baldur’s Gate accepted everyone, yet this underground church hid away? Odds were high it worshipped chaotic evil gods – a bad cult.

Robbery could cause problems for them either way. But robbing a syndicate linked to Baldur’s Gate leaders meant both sides of the law would hunt them. TROBBING a cult the city would destroy? Well, once the cult base got exposed? Only the cult itself would chase them. Baldur’s Gate officials and most Mafia groups would leave them be – and might even drive the cult into hiding for a time.