As we’ve previously discussed, Amrik has set himself up as a black market for smuggling refugees into Baldur’s Gate. He uses this position to identify and locate refugees who are or are related to Elturian knights and target them for the Dead Three murder squads, but it’s also an extremely profitable operation in its own right. He’s also beginning to branch out, offering assistance to refugees who are already in the city and looking to get passage out via the Docks.
Although Amrik is aware of the whole Vanthampur operation, it should be noted that he has no direct communication with the Poisoned Poseidon or the Dead Three cultists in general. Once he identifies a target, he sends that information to Mortlock at the Dungeon of the Dead Three and it’s Mortlock who coordinates with the Dead Three cult leaders.
SURVEILLANCE
As described in Descent Into Avernus, Amrik holds court at the Low Lantern tavern. If the PCs put his operation under surveillance, this is the type of activity they might observe:
Refugees meeting with Amrik. They’re likely looking to get help for family/friends still located outside the city (Amrik has some odd questions for them regarding family names, ancestors, 
etc.), but they might also be meeting with Amrik about money they still owe him or to make arrangements for their own passage out of Baldur’s Gate. (Having Amrik meeting with a set of refugees when the PCs first show up is probably a good choice.)
Amrik’s agents. Generally reporting or checking in with Amrik. These agents all have official government passes allowing them to pass in and out of Basilisk Gate (reputedly for business with Little Calimshan). If the PCs follow them, they’ll actually head into the refugee camps north of the city, where they circulate looking for those who can either pay Amrik’s fees or have some connection to Elturian knights. There are six of these agents (spy, MM p. 349):
- Botros Cloudfury
- Petra Czismadia
- Neroni
- Theophila
- Apolena Giolla
- Ratnam
Cliffgate runs. Amrik has bribed Gauntlet Fausti, who guards Cliffgate at night. Amrik’s agents lead small groups of refugees along old smugglers’ paths on Dusthawk Hill during Gauntlet Fausti’s shift, pay off Fausti, and lead them into the city.
Design Note: If the PCs are shadowing one of these Cliffgate runs and you want to add a little texture, it may turn out that somebody lays claim to the smugglers’ path that Amrik’s operation has been poaching. A bunch of thugs working for Straightstick (DIA, p. 171) intercept the refugee group and make it clear that their boss expects a cut of the action. And they’re going to make an example of the refugees to make sure their message is heard loud and clear.
Maybe the PCs are actually doing one of these runs for themselves! You could include details in Amrik’s paperwork indicating that a Cliffgate run is already scheduled: By taking out Amrik, they’ve left the refugees waiting for him in the camp high-and-dry.
Messengers, bearing messages from Amrik to the Dungeon of the Dead Three and/or Thurstwell at Vanthampur Manor. These duties could be variably carried out by Amrik’s agents, Dead Three cultists, or Thurstwell’s imps.
AMRIK’S PAPERWORK
Amrik has a variety of papers associated with this work that are usually spread out on the table in front of him at the Low Lantern. In the late evening, when he returns home, he carries them in a valise. Overnight they are kept in the locked chest in his bedroom (Area V15 in Vanthampur Manor).
I recommend shuffling these up into a random order before handing them over to the players.
ARMORIAL ROLLS OF ELTURGARD
This bundle of vellum scrolls proves to be the Armorial Rolls of Elturgard, detailing the name, coat of arms, and date of accolade for every knight in the Order of the Companion and the Riders of Elturel.
GM NOTE: Closer inspection and a DC 14 Intelligence (History) or Intelligence (Perception) check reveals that these do not appear to be merely copies of the Armorial Rolls; they bear the High Observer’s seal and must have been taken directly from the High Hall in Elturel.
A PORTFOLIO OF GILTED RED LEATHER
A portfolio case containing an eclectic collection of genealogical and property records, most of which seem to be focused on or around the city of Elturel. Sheets of parchment are covered in notes relating to these records, tracing patterns of inheritance originating from a seemingly arbitrary selection of progenitors.
In other cases, it appears that the opposite work is being done, with lines of inheritance being traced backwards into the past. Some of these are marked with the small sigil of a sword in the upper left-hand corner; others have black X marked in the same spot.
GM NOTE: The progenitors in this case are all Elturian knights. Those having their lines of inheritance traced backwards are all refugees who have presented themselves to Amrik’s agents. The names on Amrik’s List (see below) are all marked with the sword sigil (indicating they are descended from Elturian knights).
AMRIK’S LIST
For the Poisoned Poseidon:
Remao
Akhila
Aneta D.
Servaos
Silverleaf
Braam
Oshrat
Nuska
Edmao
Tuur S.
Veer
Stien
LETTERS FROM THURSTWELL
Amrik,
I completely concur with your last. I recommend using the imp who brings this letter to you to send word to Vaaz to proceed. He’ll be able to slip into the Frolicking Nymph quietly and invisibly, deliver the missive undetected, and then return to me at the manor with none the wiser.
Thurstwell Vanthampur
Amrik,
On your advice, I have removed the Elturian puzzlebox from the family vault where mother had secured it. I have no idea how angry she might be if she found out, but I am utterly fascinated by it. I am certain that there are secrets of Zariel locked within it that will perhaps unlock power — the sort of power you and I have often dreamed of.Unfortunately, I have had no luck in determining how to open the thrice-damned thing. But I will keep you informed of any progress I make.
Thurstwell Vanthampur
LETTER FROM MORTLOCK
Amrik,
Thank you for the most recent targets. I will pass them along to Flennis immediately so that he can send out his teams and begin surveillance. He did request that, if possible, you include more information on those currently associating with them, as those relationships often make tracking them down easier given the general chaos of their circumstances.
There will be no need for you to send any of your agents to the bathhouse. Not only do I have things well in hand here, but you know as well as I do that mother had good reasons for keeping your operations separate from those of our allies.
Mortlock Vanthampur
Minor nitpick: in “Letter from Mortlock” you describe Flennis as ‘he’, but Flennis is a woman.
In DiA, it says that Amrik is guarded by a spined devil.
For the remix, should this be replaced by a different creature/human as you’ve said Amrik, and the other Vanthampur brothers, do not know about Elturel being sent to Avernus?
And is it too obvious of a clue when you’ve said the players should only discover the truth of what happened when they are in Candlekeep?
The Vanthampurs know that they’re devil worshipers.
I am trying to figure out the actual importance of this encounter in this revised version. I feel like if the players choose to go to the Poisoned Poseidon first, there is not need for them to go to Amrick, not is there much of a connection. What gives? I’d love someone’s insight!
@Max I think the Amrik path is intentionally optional. During the main investigation period at the start, adventurers could find clues that lead them to the Low Lantern. I think they could also choose to go there once they finish the Poisoned Poseidon, too.
Just played out this node in the last two sessions.
My players were asked by Blaze Portyr (Marshall next time they meet her) to wipe out the Vanthampur line. They’d taken a liking to her, so they were happy to help avenge her uncle. Dealing with Amrik was the first part where they saw direct devil involvement. It was also useful to have because the bathhouse letters didn’t make them think of looking for Vanthampurs at the manor, but Amrik’s papers did. It also made them much more certain about the Elturian knight connection they’d been speculating on. They’ve yet to comment on the puzzle box, so I’ll see if I can draw their attention to that next session. (I also used the opportunity to put the Elturian character’s adopted children’s surname on his list – they were orphaned children of Hellriders. Making it personal.)
Critical? Only if you make it so or your players need it to be. I can easily see another group skipping it entirely in the remix if they pick up all the leads they need from the bathhouse. Even if they have though, it offers more background so it didn’t feel like wasted time to us.
Both Thurstwell and Mortlock sign their family name on letters to their own brother? Wouldn’t they just use their given names?
My players were under contract with Thurstwell to deliver Amrik’s head. They tried to do it stealthy, but that fell apart. The fist officer got onboard and confronted Amrik, since it was in the morning it was mostly crew on board, that didn’t stop them from doing a murder hobo on everyone except the cook, bartender, bar manager sorcerer who has scorching rayed one of the players, and two customers. Bodies everywhere. Then Amrik tried to escape and summon his protector but they has cast a silence spell for stealth. I upped it to a barbed devil and the table was turned when Amrik got out of the spell range and used the soul stone to summon Harbiz. It was almost a TPK with half the boat on fire. Finally Amrik fell and the fist officer retrieved the soul stone before the devil could snatch it. Harbiz said he would return when summoned and disappeared into a greasy cloud of black smoke.
The waiting imp took the head back to Thurstwell, and returned later that day with an invitation to the manor for dinner and a new proposal from his master.