Recruiting Astarion proved to be an unexpected windfall during their journey.
The cruelty and greed Morgan displayed showed why this former great capitalist, now a greater devil, had so easily caught Mammon's eye: how he had become a fabulously wealthy merchant renowned throughout Greyhawk's sphere, how greed had led to his defeat by Mammon, and how his obsessive fixation on an unpaid shipment had gradually brought back memories of his mortal life, ultimately driving him to escape Hell.
"Let the vampire suffer a little. I'll take responsibility." Morgan casually settled Astarion's fate. "He's the finest gift we could offer Six-Fingers. Six-Fingers will certainly be pleased."
And so Morgan changed his plans on the spot, replacing the intended gift with Astarion. He cheerfully told Astarion that they could take him out of Hell, provided he traveled with them for what came next.
Just as I thought, the Dark Prince hadn't deceived me!
Overjoyed, Astarion readily accepted the proposal and signed a document covered in infernal script. Before signing, the clever vampire repeatedly examined the devil's contract, doing his utmost to find any loopholes. Only when he felt everything was in order did he put his name to it.
Morgan merely smiled at Astarion's behavior without saying a word.
The promise to take him out of Hell was genuine.
The promise to send him back to Baldur's Gate once everything was over was also genuine.
The real problem lay in the clause that required him to "travel with the employers for a period of time and provide services equivalent in value to the ransom paid."
Astarion understood those services to mean serving as a champion of Slaanesh, or in a role similar to his previous work as a bar attendant.
Morgan understood those services to mean serving as a gift presented to