Each of you finds yourself arriving in the city of Baldur's Gate on the Sword Coast. The first impressions that strike you are the bustling activity at every street corner, the crowds consisting of a multitude of cultures. Humans are the predominant race, but besides that, you see about every civilized race you could recount from memory represented under the city folks: You see elfs haggling at the docks, a gnome playing chess with a confused-looking half-orc and a Drow cutting someones purse and going on the run, before someone can stop him. You could even swear to have seen a goblin wearing a turban the size of his own head in an alleyway. The colorful diversity of its inhabitants stands in stark contrast to the city itself. The entire rocky, sloped harbor near the Chionthar River, which the city overlooks, is plastered over tightly with grey stone buildings, creating labyrinthian contorted alleys everywhere. This grimy lower part of the city, near the docks, seems to be permanently shrouded in mists creeping up from the sea and covered in precipitation of various intensity, sometimes a drizzle, sometimes heavy rain. From their high perches in the segregated Upper City, the local nobles — known as patriars — gaze down with veiled contempt upon the common rabble in the grimy Lower City. Tough the city has long outgrown its walls and the poorest of the region have built settlements outside the walls encapsulating baldurs gate, known as the outer city. As dusk falls, you realize a certain tension building in the air, as people make haste to return to their homes looking nervous in the street corners. You follow their example and visit taverns for your first overnight stay. Upon inquiring what is going on, the regulars tell you wild stories about muggings, murder and the general ceasing of law and order after dusk. If only half of them were true, one can easily fathom why pirates and traders are drawn to this city like flies to a carcass.
You also hear about a lockdown of the city conducted by the Flaming Fist. The patriars pay a mercenary army called the Flaming Fist to protect their interests in Baldur’s Gate, and by extension, the city itself. The Flaming Fist has gained even more power since their charismatic leader, Ulder Ravengard, claimed the title of Grand Duke a few years ago. Apparently, Ravengard is missing. In his absence, the Flaming Fist has sealed the city’s gates. No one is allowed in or out. You don't know what to make of this, but you just arrived and take the rest of the day to acquaint yourself more with the city.
On your third day, at dawn each of you and also Alastar (who was already a citizen of baldurs gate and also knows everything above) are visited by an envoy delivering two scrolls to each of you. The first states:
[Your name], You have been drafted into service under the Flaming Fist. In accordance with article 3, paragraph 4 of the Baldurs Gate Book of Law - maintaining of Law and Order under contingency, you are herby drafted into military service under the Flaming Fist, effective immediately. You will find an excerpt of the law in question in the next paragraph. Your first orders arrive in a separate message. Your pay will be discussed locally with your commanding officer. The city notes that failure to comply is a crime punishable by up to three years of incarceration or a fine of up to 1700 gold pieces.
[It follows a jurisdictional text about 1 foot long. The language is complicated and you can only make out that the city claims any person with military training or listed as an adventurer eligible for draft for a"fair compensation". Under the document you find the seal of the council of four, the city government]
The second one only reads: Meet Captain Zodge at noon of the third in the second tenday of Uktar at the basilisk gate and await further instructions. Followed by a brief description of the basilisk gate's location in the city and a vague description of captain Zodge. The letter is signed with a non-ornate signature that simply reads Zodge. The date described is tomorrow.
Lokat would scoff at the scrolls and scrunch his nose in frustration. Leaving the cartographer's office in a huff, Lokat would use his knowledge as a courtier to march himself over to wherever the Flaming Fist were to be operating and demand answers as to why he, a dwarf who has been in Baldur's Gate for such a short of time were to be drafted randomly into a military operation without any clue what is happening to prompt this specifically. The Grand Duke going missing? The murders? An all-out attack occurring soon?
(Lokat has the Court Functionary feature so he could gain access to the records and inner workings of any noble court or government he encounters)
Leshanna reads the documents through twice, skimming over the legal speak and just letting out a sigh. She stuffs both into the belt at her waist, next to her component pouch. With a sigh she runs a hand through her curly auburn hair as her emerald eyes look thoughtful. She knows she cannot just ignore this, as she needs at least passing aid from groups like the Flaming Fist in her work. She even thinks this might be good for her in the long run, as it will surely get her a few more contacts in that group, if not in those of the upper city as well. Having thought it through she decides she will indeed meet this captain Zodge as requested.
Briar reads the scrolls carefully. She smiles as she reads that she has been drafted. Since she got there, she has noticed that Baldur's gate is filled with crime and corruption, and if she is drafted by the Flaming Fist she can help put a stop to it. This was the sort of opportunity she had hoped to find. She eagerly awaits the next day when she can meet captain Zodge.
(I am waiting for all players to post their initial response before I proceed. In the meantime, you could all send me a link to your character sheets, assuming they are on dndbeyond, or a copy, etc. I want to trust you not to cheat and do not want to have to police correct modifiers, use of player abilities, number of spell slots, etc. That should be the player's task. The game is more fun for everyone if we play fair. But I still want to have a glance over and the possibility to control what you do from time to time.)
Edit: we have a private message chat for non story-related conversations and a campaign now (link in the private message chat).
In her little honey shop, in the Outer city, Clara is surprised by this letter. The last couple of months, she made a point to hide her past as a novice of the Emerald Enclave, but rumours must have reach the Flaming Fist...or is it coincidence? With the city being in lockdown and not having contact with her former faction for a while, she decides that it could be an opportunity to do so. The fee was also outrageous and nowhere near to the amount she had at the moment.
The next day, she packed her bag and secured her elvish longbow on her back. With a gentle whistle she call out "little friends, we are going on a small adventure. Gather here please. and let's go meet this Captain Zodge". A buzzing noise grew, followed by tens of small bees flying around Clara and landing on her shoulders.
Having studied the law, and already being part of the established legal system in Baldur's Gate, Alastar is honored and privileged to have the opportunity to participate. Sure, the Flaming Fist's authority under de jure rule is shaky at best, but under de facto rule they are indeed the authority. If one is to learn the system and reform, one must conform long enough to make a name for themselves.
He says a brief prayer to Torm to guide his actions and he gets himself geared up to go.
He wears a fine blue coat, with a chain shirt underneath. Although some of his profession prefer to wear heavy armor displayed to all the world, Alastar prefers a more medium protection in exchange for better mobility and attracting less attention. Discretion is the better part of valor after all.
The next day, all of you set off for the basilisk gate, the north Eastern gate connecting Lower and outer city. Due to the rare absence of rain it is surprisingly warm and one has a view over the entire city and the sea. The gate takes its name from the various statues that rest in its niches and perch atop its battlements. Unseen beyond the sealed Basilisk Gate, a dirt road stretches through the Outer City slums to the bridge known as Wyrm’s Crossing, then to distant realms beyond.
You arrive one after another from the city to the plaza in front of the Basilisk Gate. In front of the closed portcullis, dozens of flaming fist soldiers stand guard. A mob of commoners is gathering around them. They seem upset and some of them in front seem to argue with the soldiers in front of the gate. From time to time someone in the crowd shouts at the soldiers to let them through. Tension is slowly building. You see a few other people looking around for something or someone. They seem not to be associated with the growing crowd (it's the other player characters!). Maybe they are here for the same assignment as you are?
Clara looks arounds, taking her time. She notices a few persons standing out of the crowd, then heads towards one of the flaming guard that seems the less tense and shows the letter. "Could you please point me to the Captain Zodge please. They are expecting for me."
Briar had been warily watching the crowd. She already felt uncomfortable enough surrounded by swarms of people without them getting hostile. Briar had noticed some people who stood out from the crowd. Now one of them had approached a guard, and was showing that guard a letter. Squeezing her own letter nervously in her hand, Briar walked over to the same guard. "I've got a letter too. I'm here to see Captain Zodge."
Lokat approaches one of the guards, scanning around. He isn't wearing any armor, he looks to be wearing his normal fine clothes which includes slacks and suspenders, fine leather boots, and a shirt with the sleeves rolled high to his elbows. He has 2 axes hanging from his belt, a javelin behind him, and a Warhammer strapped to his back.
Clara, Briar and Lokat approach a guardsman they can easily reach, standing a little aside of the mass of people. As you do, the crowd, which now outnumbers the guards four to one, gets louder and some of the protesters start throwing old vegetables at the soldiers. The guardsman you approach is a very young man of the age of 17. Now that you are standing right in front of him, you notice based on his body language and a slight jolt going through him, when you confront him, that he must be very nervous and maybe stepped aside to take an outtime. "Uhh, yes, the captain should be right over there." And points somewhere into the midst of the guards. You don't see anyone standing where he is pointing and apparently neither does he as he frowns. "No, he just was there, I swear. Shit. Did I miss an order?" And he tries to get back to the other soldiers, seemingly already having forgotten all about you.
From somewhere in the crowd you hear a voice a little louder than the rest. "Comrades, the upper classes in the city have all been looking down on us for a long time. And now, they bar out the ones that need our help most. Helpless refugees from our sister city Elturel. They never cared for us and never will. I say to hell with them!" Alaster, you had to quickly search for a higher position and found a large wooden box to stand on. It took you some time, but now you can see the man in the crowd, who is giving the speech clearly. The people in the crowd around him cheer him on.
At the same time, as all this happens about 7-9 of the soldiers are making their way through the crowd, elbowing aside the angry mob. A tiefling of indistinguishable age demonstratively blocks the way arms wide to the side. The soldier in front of him screams something you can't make out in his face and after the tiefling does not react, the soldier just punches him in the face full force, knocking the tiefling to the ground. A short silence follows, before the volume level grows dramatically and a full on fight breaks out.
"Oh hell." I'll try to weave into the crowd to man giving the speech and I'll approach him with my arms outstretched, in a nonthreatening way.
I'll use minor illusion to feign angel wings extending from my back to hopefully create an aura of authority and peace to me. I'll show him the emblem denoting me as one of the legal system of Baldur's Gate.
"Hey, I need your help. If you clear your people out of here I'll clear my people, and I'll connect anyone who got arrested with the best lawyers in the city. We don't want to have conflict here. Give me your name and I'll see if we can get some mediation for you to hopefully resolve this issue. Please, I'm here to help."
Seeing three individuals move and presenting letters, that Leshanna sees are very much like her own, she decides it is time to join them. She pauses though as a man starts speaking out loudly against the flaming fist. She is just thinking this is not going to end well, when a tiefling is knocked down by someone in a flaming fist uniform.
Leshanna pulls back a bit, still holding her letter, wondering just how she is to find this Zodge person in all of this mess.
Lokat stays low and would attempt to get to the tiefling and grip his hand. He'd lean over to speak loud enough for him over the chaos. "Get out of here, keep your calm!"
He'd then shout over the crowd, "YOU ALL BETTER CALM YOURSELVES! YOU ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER NOW SO YOU NEED TO KEEP YOUR HEADS!"
Briar is about to try to call after the guard when the violence breaks out. Her eyes widen in shock and she grips her shield painted with a rose tightly. The dwarf already went to the tiefling's aid, so she turns to the elf and asks "Should we do something?"
Briar is about to try to call after the guard when the violence breaks out. Her eyes widen in shock and she grips her shield painted with a rose tightly. The dwarf already went to the tiefling's aid, so she turns to the elf and asks "Should we do something?"
(Which elf? There are three elf PCs)
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Briar, Leshanna, Lokat and Clara:
Each of you finds yourself arriving in the city of Baldur's Gate on the Sword Coast. The first impressions that strike you are the bustling activity at every street corner, the crowds consisting of a multitude of cultures. Humans are the predominant race, but besides that, you see about every civilized race you could recount from memory represented under the city folks: You see elfs haggling at the docks, a gnome playing chess with a confused-looking half-orc and a Drow cutting someones purse and going on the run, before someone can stop him. You could even swear to have seen a goblin wearing a turban the size of his own head in an alleyway.
The colorful diversity of its inhabitants stands in stark contrast to the city itself. The entire rocky, sloped harbor near the Chionthar River, which the city overlooks, is plastered over tightly with grey stone buildings, creating labyrinthian contorted alleys everywhere. This grimy lower part of the city, near the docks, seems to be permanently shrouded in mists creeping up from the sea and covered in precipitation of various intensity, sometimes a drizzle, sometimes heavy rain.
From their high perches in the segregated Upper City, the local nobles — known as patriars — gaze down with veiled contempt upon the common rabble in the grimy Lower City. Tough the city has long outgrown its walls and the poorest of the region have built settlements outside the walls encapsulating baldurs gate, known as the outer city.
As dusk falls, you realize a certain tension building in the air, as people make haste to return to their homes looking nervous in the street corners. You follow their example and visit taverns for your first overnight stay. Upon inquiring what is going on, the regulars tell you wild stories about muggings, murder and the general ceasing of law and order after dusk. If only half of them were true, one can easily fathom why pirates and traders are drawn to this city like flies to a carcass.
You also hear about a lockdown of the city conducted by the Flaming Fist. The patriars pay a mercenary army called the Flaming Fist to protect their interests in Baldur’s Gate, and by extension, the city itself. The Flaming Fist has gained even more power since their charismatic leader, Ulder Ravengard, claimed the title of Grand Duke a few years ago. Apparently, Ravengard is missing. In his absence, the Flaming Fist has sealed the city’s gates. No one is allowed in or out.
You don't know what to make of this, but you just arrived and take the rest of the day to acquaint yourself more with the city.
On your third day, at dawn each of you and also Alastar (who was already a citizen of baldurs gate and also knows everything above) are visited by an envoy delivering two scrolls to each of you. The first states:
[Your name],
You have been drafted into service under the Flaming Fist.
In accordance with article 3, paragraph 4 of the Baldurs Gate Book of Law - maintaining of Law and Order under contingency, you are herby drafted into military service under the Flaming Fist, effective immediately. You will find an excerpt of the law in question in the next paragraph. Your first orders arrive in a separate message. Your pay will be discussed locally with your commanding officer. The city notes that failure to comply is a crime punishable by up to three years of incarceration or a fine of up to 1700 gold pieces.
[It follows a jurisdictional text about 1 foot long. The language is complicated and you can only make out that the city claims any person with military training or listed as an adventurer eligible for draft for a"fair compensation". Under the document you find the seal of the council of four, the city government]
The second one only reads:
Meet Captain Zodge at noon of the third in the second tenday of Uktar at the basilisk gate and await further instructions.
Followed by a brief description of the basilisk gate's location in the city and a vague description of captain Zodge. The letter is signed with a non-ornate signature that simply reads Zodge.
The date described is tomorrow.
Do you comply?
Lokat would scoff at the scrolls and scrunch his nose in frustration. Leaving the cartographer's office in a huff, Lokat would use his knowledge as a courtier to march himself over to wherever the Flaming Fist were to be operating and demand answers as to why he, a dwarf who has been in Baldur's Gate for such a short of time were to be drafted randomly into a military operation without any clue what is happening to prompt this specifically. The Grand Duke going missing? The murders? An all-out attack occurring soon?
(Lokat has the Court Functionary feature so he could gain access to the records and inner workings of any noble court or government he encounters)
Leshanna reads the documents through twice, skimming over the legal speak and just letting out a sigh. She stuffs both into the belt at her waist, next to her component pouch. With a sigh she runs a hand through her curly auburn hair as her emerald eyes look thoughtful. She knows she cannot just ignore this, as she needs at least passing aid from groups like the Flaming Fist in her work. She even thinks this might be good for her in the long run, as it will surely get her a few more contacts in that group, if not in those of the upper city as well. Having thought it through she decides she will indeed meet this captain Zodge as requested.
Briar reads the scrolls carefully. She smiles as she reads that she has been drafted. Since she got there, she has noticed that Baldur's gate is filled with crime and corruption, and if she is drafted by the Flaming Fist she can help put a stop to it. This was the sort of opportunity she had hoped to find. She eagerly awaits the next day when she can meet captain Zodge.
(I am waiting for all players to post their initial response before I proceed.
In the meantime, you could all send me a link to your character sheets, assuming they are on dndbeyond, or a copy, etc. I want to trust you not to cheat and do not want to have to police correct modifiers, use of player abilities, number of spell slots, etc. That should be the player's task. The game is more fun for everyone if we play fair. But I still want to have a glance over and the possibility to control what you do from time to time.)Edit: we have a private message chat for non story-related conversations and a campaign now (link in the private message chat).
In her little honey shop, in the Outer city, Clara is surprised by this letter. The last couple of months, she made a point to hide her past as a novice of the Emerald Enclave, but rumours must have reach the Flaming Fist...or is it coincidence? With the city being in lockdown and not having contact with her former faction for a while, she decides that it could be an opportunity to do so. The fee was also outrageous and nowhere near to the amount she had at the moment.
The next day, she packed her bag and secured her elvish longbow on her back. With a gentle whistle she call out "little friends, we are going on a small adventure. Gather here please. and let's go meet this Captain Zodge". A buzzing noise grew, followed by tens of small bees flying around Clara and landing on her shoulders.
Currently Playing: Regdus Ironfist (Greyhawk) Lvl 1 Storm Sorcerer ; Goraseth Drerjoxian (Icespeak) Lvl 3 Paladin Oath of Glory; Lerak (The Wild Beyond the Witchlight) Lvl 3 Barbarian Wild Magic
In Pause: Grimnir " Shadow-Feet", Lv 11 Owner of "The Basilisk & the Monk" (OotA) - Kurma Kappa, Lv 8 Priest of Oghma (ToA)
Currently DM'ing: Princes of Apocalypse >> Tomb of Annihilation
Having studied the law, and already being part of the established legal system in Baldur's Gate, Alastar is honored and privileged to have the opportunity to participate. Sure, the Flaming Fist's authority under de jure rule is shaky at best, but under de facto rule they are indeed the authority. If one is to learn the system and reform, one must conform long enough to make a name for themselves.
He says a brief prayer to Torm to guide his actions and he gets himself geared up to go.
He wears a fine blue coat, with a chain shirt underneath. Although some of his profession prefer to wear heavy armor displayed to all the world, Alastar prefers a more medium protection in exchange for better mobility and attracting less attention. Discretion is the better part of valor after all.
The next day, all of you set off for the basilisk gate, the north Eastern gate connecting Lower and outer city. Due to the rare absence of rain it is surprisingly warm and one has a view over the entire city and the sea. The gate takes its name from the various statues that rest in its niches and perch atop its battlements. Unseen beyond the sealed Basilisk Gate, a dirt road stretches through the Outer City slums to the bridge known as Wyrm’s Crossing, then to distant realms beyond.
You arrive one after another from the city to the plaza in front of the Basilisk Gate. In front of the closed portcullis, dozens of flaming fist soldiers stand guard. A mob of commoners is gathering around them. They seem upset and some of them in front seem to argue with the soldiers in front of the gate. From time to time someone in the crowd shouts at the soldiers to let them through. Tension is slowly building. You see a few other people looking around for something or someone. They seem not to be associated with the growing crowd (it's the other player characters!). Maybe they are here for the same assignment as you are?
Do I observe anyone that seems to be a potential threat or maybe someone that's stirring the crowd up?
Give me a Perception check (use the dice roller)
Clara looks arounds, taking her time. She notices a few persons standing out of the crowd, then heads towards one of the flaming guard that seems the less tense and shows the letter. "Could you please point me to the Captain Zodge please. They are expecting for me."
Currently Playing: Regdus Ironfist (Greyhawk) Lvl 1 Storm Sorcerer ; Goraseth Drerjoxian (Icespeak) Lvl 3 Paladin Oath of Glory; Lerak (The Wild Beyond the Witchlight) Lvl 3 Barbarian Wild Magic
In Pause: Grimnir " Shadow-Feet", Lv 11 Owner of "The Basilisk & the Monk" (OotA) - Kurma Kappa, Lv 8 Priest of Oghma (ToA)
Currently DM'ing: Princes of Apocalypse >> Tomb of Annihilation
Briar had been warily watching the crowd. She already felt uncomfortable enough surrounded by swarms of people without them getting hostile. Briar had noticed some people who stood out from the crowd. Now one of them had approached a guard, and was showing that guard a letter. Squeezing her own letter nervously in her hand, Briar walked over to the same guard. "I've got a letter too. I'm here to see Captain Zodge."
Lokat approaches one of the guards, scanning around. He isn't wearing any armor, he looks to be wearing his normal fine clothes which includes slacks and suspenders, fine leather boots, and a shirt with the sleeves rolled high to his elbows. He has 2 axes hanging from his belt, a javelin behind him, and a Warhammer strapped to his back.
"Captain Zodge?" *He holds up a scroll*
8+3
Clara, Briar and Lokat approach a guardsman they can easily reach, standing a little aside of the mass of people. As you do, the crowd, which now outnumbers the guards four to one, gets louder and some of the protesters start throwing old vegetables at the soldiers. The guardsman you approach is a very young man of the age of 17. Now that you are standing right in front of him, you notice based on his body language and a slight jolt going through him, when you confront him, that he must be very nervous and maybe stepped aside to take an outtime. "Uhh, yes, the captain should be right over there." And points somewhere into the midst of the guards. You don't see anyone standing where he is pointing and apparently neither does he as he frowns. "No, he just was there, I swear. Shit. Did I miss an order?" And he tries to get back to the other soldiers, seemingly already having forgotten all about you.
From somewhere in the crowd you hear a voice a little louder than the rest. "Comrades, the upper classes in the city have all been looking down on us for a long time. And now, they bar out the ones that need our help most. Helpless refugees from our sister city Elturel. They never cared for us and never will. I say to hell with them!"
Alaster, you had to quickly search for a higher position and found a large wooden box to stand on. It took you some time, but now you can see the man in the crowd, who is giving the speech clearly. The people in the crowd around him cheer him on.
At the same time, as all this happens about 7-9 of the soldiers are making their way through the crowd, elbowing aside the angry mob. A tiefling of indistinguishable age demonstratively blocks the way arms wide to the side. The soldier in front of him screams something you can't make out in his face and after the tiefling does not react, the soldier just punches him in the face full force, knocking the tiefling to the ground. A short silence follows, before the volume level grows dramatically and a full on fight breaks out.
"Oh hell." I'll try to weave into the crowd to man giving the speech and I'll approach him with my arms outstretched, in a nonthreatening way.
I'll use minor illusion to feign angel wings extending from my back to hopefully create an aura of authority and peace to me. I'll show him the emblem denoting me as one of the legal system of Baldur's Gate.
"Hey, I need your help. If you clear your people out of here I'll clear my people, and I'll connect anyone who got arrested with the best lawyers in the city. We don't want to have conflict here. Give me your name and I'll see if we can get some mediation for you to hopefully resolve this issue. Please, I'm here to help."
Seeing three individuals move and presenting letters, that Leshanna sees are very much like her own, she decides it is time to join them. She pauses though as a man starts speaking out loudly against the flaming fist. She is just thinking this is not going to end well, when a tiefling is knocked down by someone in a flaming fist uniform.
Leshanna pulls back a bit, still holding her letter, wondering just how she is to find this Zodge person in all of this mess.
Lokat stays low and would attempt to get to the tiefling and grip his hand. He'd lean over to speak loud enough for him over the chaos. "Get out of here, keep your calm!"
He'd then shout over the crowd, "YOU ALL BETTER CALM YOURSELVES! YOU ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER NOW SO YOU NEED TO KEEP YOUR HEADS!"
Briar is about to try to call after the guard when the violence breaks out. Her eyes widen in shock and she grips her shield painted with a rose tightly. The dwarf already went to the tiefling's aid, so she turns to the elf and asks "Should we do something?"
(Which elf? There are three elf PCs)