"Then you should of course let your men carry out your orders lieutenant, but I implore you to let your men be considerate when they do. I can not rule out that we have cultists among our flock but I am certain that most are not. They are however in a much weakened state, especially a woman that has just given birth." Damian said as the platoon was about to move forward towards the refugees.

(Another persuasion if needed: 14 Another roll if the fact that he is a patriar should give him advantage on the roll: 7 )

"Grand Duke Ravengard, no, what has happened lieutenant?" Damian asked in worried tone. The Grand Duke Ulder Ravengard was a man to be respected even though he had not come from blood. Allegedly he had been a born into a poor family and joined the Flaming Fist at a young age where he steadily ascended through its ranks by merit of his fighting prowess and intelligence. He was eventually elected as Grand Duke making him the most powerful man in Baldur's Gate. Whatever fate the lieutenant was referring to it would be of great importance to the city, and more importantly, of great importance to Damian and his family.

The man raises an eye brow at Damian, and moves his back, "The Grand Duke was on a diplomatic mission to Elturel. He was invited by Thavius. I believe he was still in Elturel at the time of its disappearance. I fear that he may been lost with the city. I had hoped that you were part of his entourage and would be able to provide me with more information."

The man then turns his head away for a moment, he stares at the ground, deep in thought. Then he turns his attention to the refugee camp before stepping past Damian. He lets out a whistle to his men. After only being able to talk to some of the refugees, the men fall back in line. The lieutenant approaches his men and speaks with them. They then salute each other before the lieutenant returns to Damian.

"Everything seems to be in order. We're still a couple of days journey from Baldur's gate. I think we should try to cover as much ground as possible and get these people safely behind the city's walls."

Damian listened attentively and pondered the ramifications of what he had heard. "I'm afraid I was in Elturel on business for the family, I wasn't even aware that the Grand Duke was there. This is horrifying news." He said, quickly going through in his mind what would happen to the power in Baldur's Gate when the Grand Duke had went missing and how it could affect the position of his own family. "Thank you for escorting us back to Baldur's Gate lieutenant." He said with a slight bow, then returning to his companions. The Grand Duke visiting Elturel just as it had been obliterated could not have been a coincidence, could it?

You continue on your way, travelling with the refugees and now accompanied by a lieutenant of the Flaming Fist. After camping that night, you sit down and talk with your new ally. You learn that the man's name is Faurgar Dyernina. You also talk about the ambush by the bandits in the middle of the night. Faurgar is not happy to see the captured leader of the bandits. Yet, he does not do anything toward the prisoner, fully understanding the law.

The next day, it is noted that the presence of Faurgar has an uplifting and motivating effect on the refugees. As he tells stories of combat and life in Baldur's Gate, the refugees look hopeful. As a result, you cover a few more miles in the day than you had previously whilst travelling along the road.

After a couple of more days of travelling, you finally arrive at the gates of Baldur's gate. However, something is wrong. The gates are shut, and a huge camp of refugees resides outside the walls of the city. The hopefulness that the refugees, in your camp, had built over the last couple of days is squashed.

Harlan frowns at the camp amassed outside the city gates. "I suppose we should have expected something like this. There are far too many people here, for them all to be allowed entry would be a huge strain on the resources of Baldur's gate."

He turns to Damian, "You're of the patriar class here, correct? Surely they wouldn't refuse you entry? And perhaps your... entourage?" He raises one bushy eyebrow, hoping that Damian understands what he is implying.

Damian had felt safer with each day they had gotten closer to Baldurs's Gate. He had spent the evenings talking to Lieutenant Dyernina regarding what impact the disappearance of the Grand Duke would have on the Flaming Fist organization, while also trying to get to know Gilbert, Harlan and Quinn a bit better.

As they reached the closed gates of the city he looked back on the refugees following them. Was this how far he would help them?
"My entourage?" He said, turning to Harlan and then glancing over at Gilbert and Quill. "Yes, of course, my entourage that is here to be my guests at my family's town house." He said with a quick smile at the bearded man, before riding forth to the gate, seeking someone to speak to regarding entrance to the city.

As Damian approaches the gates, he is halted by a tall man with black hair and an eye patch. He is flanked by two people dressed in the armour of the Flaming Fist.

"Halt. No one is to enter these gates without my permission."

Lieutenant Dyernina follows Damian from behind and speaks up.

"Captain, this is Lord Ravenshade."

The captain looks between Damian and the lieutenant, and back to Damian, "Lord Ravenshade, I am sorry, I did not recognise you. You of course may enter into Baldur's Gate. The rest of your 'entourage' can wait out..."

His words trail off for a moment as he looks at the rest of the party. He ignores the refugees but looks Gilbert, Harlan and Quill over.

"Okay, I am willing to make a deal with you. I need more men in the Flaming Fist, right now. If you and those three are willing to enlist I will let you all enter into Baldur's Gate. You of course, Lord Ravenshade, will mostly only be ceremoniously enlisted. You won't have to get your hands dirty."

"No apologies needed captain, these are strange times and you must be under a lot of pressure with the Grand Duke Ravengard missing. I will speak to the others about your offer." Damian said politely, hiding the fact that he was more than a little surprised to be enlisted as a Flaming Fist. It could prove useful though as it would likely strengthen the ties to his companions.

"We have been offered to enter the city in exchange for enlisting with the Flaming Fist. I suppose they are a bit short handed with their commander missing and all the refugees arriving at their gates. Perhaps you should come with me to put any questions you might have directly to the captain." Damian suggested to Harlan, Gilbert and Quill before returning to the captain. 

"I can only speak for myself but considering the dire circumstances I'm prepared to do my duty to the city and to serve the Flaming Fist for the time being." He said to the captain with a firm voice, then turning to his companions for their answers.

"A Flaming Fist?" says Harlan, a little irately. "It isn't enough that we're with Lord Ravenshade? Fine, fine, yes, i will be a Flaming Fist. Anything to get inside..."

Passing through the huge crowd of people had started to press on Harlan's mind, almost physically. A pressure had begun building, an awareness of the thousands of minds just a shadow away. He doubted it would be any better in the city, but at least inside he could continue his research on how to remove this... affliction. He could do nothing stranded on the doorstep.

"Hmmm...Well the Flaming Fist is an honorable organization. However, I must warn you captain, despite the unknown disposition of the Hellriders, I must uphold the Creed. I have made a vow and I cannot break it." says Gilbert.

The captain nods his head, "That shouldn't be a problem. Although, do the Hellriders still exist if Elturel is gone?"

He pauses for a moment after asking the question.

"Look, I'm sorry. It must difficult not knowing what happened to your city."

He then turns his head and gestures at one of the nearby Flaming Fists. The man comes forwards hold a rolled-up piece of parchment. The captain takes it off the soldier, who returns to his duties. The captain unrolls the piece of parchment and holds up against the gates just behind him.

"This is the enlistment papers for the Flaming Fists. Once you've signed this paper you will be officially signed up. I will then give you your badges. You will then be able to enter Baldur's Gate and take the rest of your camp with you."

At the bottom of the piece of parchment you notice a reddish sigil that seems to be some sort of watermark. However, the watermark looks faded and is difficult to make out. 

Damian was content with Gilbert and Harlan agreeing to the rather unorthodox terms for entering the city, glancing back at Quill, hoping she too would join them. He certainly didn't expect to find himself in the service of the de facto city watch but upholding the law was not something he was a stranger to. Also he would feel relieved of his obligation to help the refugees once they were inside the city walls. As the captain presented them with the document to sign Damian carefully studied it with a trained eye, considering the legal consequences of signing it, paying special attention to reddish sigil.

Gilbert noticing Damian's intense scrutiny asks, "Anything that I should be concerned about before I sign Damian?"

Damian studies the parchment and the red sigil. The sigil bears a symbol that he cannot quite make out. However, the parchment reads as follows:

I do hereby acknowledge to have voluntarily enlisted as a soldier in the Flaming Fists of Baldur's Gate for the period of five years unless sooner discharged by proper authority. And do also agree to accept from Baldur's Gate such bounty, pay, rations and clothing as are or may be established by law. And I do solemnly swear, that I am of the age of maturity for my race, and know of no impediment to honestly and faithfully as a soldier for five years under this enlistment contract with Baldur's Gate. And I do solemnly swear, that I will bear true faith and allegiance to Baldur's Gate and that I will observe and obey the orders of Captain Darmin Zodge, and the order of officers appointed over me, according to the Rules and Articles of the Flaming Fists.

"Don't worry about the contents of the papers," the captain informs you.

Damian read the document carefully, two times, and his eyes widened as he kept on reading. "On the contrary Captain, we should all be careful what we sign, and five years of servitude is a very long time, even for somethig as important as this. I am not sure my family would allow me to enlist under these conditions." He said defiantly. "Perhaps we should see them and discuss the terms of our servitude? I belive a servitude of a month would be quite sufficient to solve any problem this incident with Elturel might have caused Baldur's Gate." He added in a firm voice.

Persuasion to significantly decrease the time of servitude: 23 Another roll if help action is given by someone: 18

The captain let's out a sigh, "The papers also say 'unless sooner discharged by proper authority', and as I am Captain Darmin Zodge himself, I can tell you that you will be discharged as soon as this all settled. But if it makes you feel any better..."

Captain Zodge takes hold of the quill and scratches off all mentions of the five year period. Then above each parts his writes one month.

"There is that more to your liking?"

"If it works for Damian it works for me." says Gilbert.

Damian gave the captain a content nod before signing the document. "Out of curiosity, the red sigil, I can't quite make it out, perhaps you could tell me about it." He said, then turning the pen over to Gilbert beside him, glancing over at Harlan and Quinn to see if they too would accept to be in the service of The Flaming Fist. "And if you could tell us more of what we can do for the Flaming Fist." He added, ready to accept his Flaming Fist badge. 

Harlan had no intention of serving in some kind of jumped up town guard for five whole years, but would have happily signed anything simply to gain access to the city and ensure a greater level of saftey. As it was, he smiled as Damian negotiated a far more reasonable term of contract. "Pass it here, I'll sign, that is much to my liking, thank you Captain."

His signature was scratchy, the small, dense writing of someone used to being the only one who needed to read it. As he lifted the quill away from the page a drop of ink fell back onto his signature - the splash as it hit the paper created the impression of tiny, black tendrils growing from the end of his name. He shivered a little, and handed the paper back to the Captain.

Gilbert holds out his hand to collect the contract and read through the it as well himself, just to make sure he didn't miss anything either. "It looks to be in order, with the edits of course." Gilbert signs his name with a flourish.