My next run of the Bhaal saga I’ll do something a *little* different. Its been years since I’ve done any sort of reduced party. The reason is pretty simple, I love big parties. Even more so with NPC Project running. Everything just feels so much more alive to me. I love the whole team thing.
But a couple things; a big one is just that its been a while since I ran with anything less than six. Second, is a certain feeling my tactics are better than ever. No doubt some of that is constantly refined meta-knowledge. But we’ll see.
I have won BG1 before with a party of three. I truly don’t care to go any lower than that. This coming from a guy who would run with eight if the engine allowed. Three is as low as I’ll go.
So here’s my plan. I will create two characters as is my usual preference. Then add Imoen, its really not Balder’s Gate without Imoen. And that will be the core through BG1 (and those three will be a balanced party). I may add Jaheira and Khalid, just to run down to Nashkel and the mines. Then remove them until I head off to Cloakwood until we’re done with the Shadow Druids. Then remove them again. Maybe recruit Minsc just long enough to go rescue Dyna, then let them both go. That gives me some history with the core characters going into BG2. But that should do it for the first game?
What about SoD? Maybe recruit Corwin and Safana? Maybe just Safana? We’ll see what Jaynee and Taggert look like before I decide. I haven’t tried whatshisname, the Skald, either…
Then BG2. Pretty sure I’ll go back to six. I’ve been wanting to run with Minsc again (haven’t for a while). Maybe Mazzy too?
Now, let’s meet the new PCs.
*****
Taggert loves learning and exploring. He’s recently finished training with a versatile skill set; fighter/mage/cleric. Taggert doesn’t really have any friends looking for a life of adventure, and is not sure how much adventure he really wants for himself anyway. So he took a job with an older adventurer, a warrior named Gilbert who’s a decade or so past his prime. Gilbert had advertised a position for a secretary who was knowledgeable in both “Arcane and Divine sorts of magic”. You’re not sure if an actual mage/cleric is what he had in mind, but you clearly met his expectations. You’ve been working for the old man for several months now. He travels a lot, and seems known and is respected by an odd assortment of characters. You’ve heard the word “Harper” thrown around a few times; nothing’s been explained to you, but you strongly suspect that is who you’re currently working for. Most of your job has just involved keeping notes on things; meetings, items, persons. And on occasion, translating magical texts and codes. A lot of magical grunt work as it were, but exactly the sort of thing a prestigious Warrior might want help with. Well that, and carrying a lot of his junk…
A few days ago your journeys brought you to the great library at Candlekeep. You’ve heard of the place and dreamed of seeing it someday, but you could never have dreamed of affording the cost of access. Gilbert seems to have just shown his face and you were both admitted immediately. He was there to meet with an old acquaintance, an old adventuring buddy named Gorion. You meet in a private study in the great library, and are privy to a conversation that will shape your life.
Gorion has concerns about his daughter. He describes her as his greatest blessing, and curse. Jaynee is her name, and Gorion gushes over her virtues. She is loving and attentive in all the ways a daughter ought to be, she is a blessing to everyone who meets her. (He went on at some length about how perfect his daughter is). But it seems she can’t even walk out her front door without being the center of attention. Not in the sense of noting any fault, only that Gorion fears she draws attention simply by her presence? (You are unclear about some of the specific issues at play. Jaynee is apparently adopted. Gilbert refers to her once as “one of the children” before quickly telling you not to write that down.)
It is obvious these are two old friends who have not seen each other in many years. Gorion proceeds to tell the story of raising his daughter in this cloistered monastery. It seems she is precious and precocious. Always a fast learner at everything. For several years, Gorion hoped she was a mage in the making! (obviously he hoped for a daughter to take after him). But by the time she was 10 it was clear there was no real passion in most of her studies. She liked learning to please her father, not from a particular love of learning. Next Gorion considered that her passion lay in the created world; she loves flowers, butterflies and bunny rabbits. Girlie stuff, but in sharp detail and focus. Combined with her emerging physical aptitudes Gorion was convinced for a season she would be a Ranger. In some ways this still seems like the obvious fit for her, to Gorion. She has always been graceful, and now she’s proving hardy and strong (Gorion suggests there’s only three men in Candlekeep he thinks are stronger than her, and one of them is a half-ogre). But in her early teens she read a book about “The Order of the Radiant Heart”, and her sole career passion came to be a Paladin overnight. That hasn’t waned in five years. She started serious training as a warrior at 16, and has proven to be a prodigy at this like everything else she’s ever tried. Seriously, she can thrash any of her regular trainers. (Gorion’s face is glowing with pride! But this dissolves quickly into worry).
She’s the talk of the Keep, she has no anonymity here. And its only a matter of time until she becomes known outside these walls. Gorion is contemplating moving elsewhere to escape the attention. But he’s unsure where they could travel that Jaynee would draw any less attention. Even if she never draws a weapon; she’s a stunning beauty, gregarious and utterly charming in every sense of the word. (Taggert suspects the proud father is gushing again. But Gorion and Gilbert discuss seriously the idea of how to keep her hidden. He is uncertain why this is such a big deal to them).
After several hours of discussion they decide to break for the night. Taggert is free to find dinner and lodging for the night. He heads over to Candlekeep Inn, where Gilbert had secured him a private room. As he enters, his attention is drawn to two young women laughing at a table across the common room. One is standing, seems to be a server, is small, slim and cutish with pink streaks in her hair. The seated woman is bigger, at least average size with brown hair… and may be the most perfect beauty you’ve ever seen. She has a big happy smile and infectious laugh, her blue eyes almost glow, her shape is… you’re staring. Stop it. Did you just say “Wow” out loud? Apparently you walked to her table, because she’s shaking your hand and says “Hi, I’m Jaynee. What was your name again?” I wish I knew… “Taggert, Hi I’m Taggert!”
Jaynee is happy to talk, especially with a visitor and she peppers you with questions about where you are from, where all you’ve been and what brought you here. She’s thrilled to hear you came with an old friend of her father. And seems honestly interested in every answer you give. You chat for quite some time, apparently for hours as it has grown dark outside and you are exhausted. You excuse yourself, thankful for your private room. Your mind is buzzing, unsure how to assess what just happened. If anything, Gorion undersold Jaynee.
Over the next few days, you sit in on a few more meetings. It seems clear that Gorion and Gilbert have settled on some sort of move for Jaynee. But details are coming hard. Taggert is able to break free a few times to spend more time with Jaynee too, truly the highlight of this trip. You watch her training a few days, and its clear her physical gifts far exceed most of the Watchers training her. But she’s green, and against more skilled fighters she has to rely on her speed and strength. This doesn’t always end well for her. She is gifted but has much to learn. And she’s so cheerful whether she wins or looses its almost cloying. She never seems sore or tired after either, and has been very happy to spend more time with you.
This morning something has changed. You encounter Jaynee before any of the others, she tells you Gorion has decided to take her away from Candlekeep. She asks if you could go find Imoen and be sure to follow along.
Taggert Half-Elven Male
F/M/C 14 – 18 – 16 – 16 – 18 – 16
Taggert is almost stocky as half-elves go. He’s 5’9”, and is well groomed with a stylish but short beard and mustache. He likes to dress well and has a good quality wardrobe. He’s mostly lived life as an academic, but when he realized his life would involve a lot of travel he got Warrior training too (Short Bow and Quarter Staff specialist).
Jaynee Human Female
Cavalier 18/92 – 19 – 18 – 15 – 16 – 18
Jaynee is about 5’6”, her size and shape are “average” in the most idealized sense of the term. She is also clean and well dressed, but in an understated sort of way. She is relentlessly good natured. Jaynee bristles at being called “Gorion’s Ward” and is always quick to correct that to “Gorion’s Daughter”, a title she’s proud of.
*****
A few comments as this gets going. I wanted to give Jaynee more free agency than the Bhaalspawn normally gets at the start of the story. She grasps that something big is happening, so she actually suggests Imoen and Taggert follow along. I also think Gilbert is coming along on the trip, so Gorion and Gilbert both go down fighting Sarevok. Obviously that’s a little bit of “head canon” that is different from some of what we see in the game.
I normally avoid “super powered” sorts of characters. But no doubt, given the Bhaalspawn’s origin story its not hard to justify such. And since this is a small party run, at least through BG1, a stronger main character seems fitting. So here we go, Jaynee will have a balanced support team with Taggert and Imoen. While she herself is the main damage dealer and tank. I plan on posting new comments any time the team changes from the three of them. I fully intend that Jaynee and Taggert are a very close couple, almost immediately from the start of the game. But I don’t think Taggert will be so completely under her spell… in a month or six.
One final Role Playing note, Jaynee has less Bhaal Taint than most Bhaalspawn. Even considering I usually play Paladins or good-aligned clerics. Jaynee has no lingering anger, temper or violent tendencies. She won’t even cut in line or forget to use her turn signal…
And she has no inkling anything is different or special about herself.
DavesGaming 
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