DavesGaming

Oh I skipped a little detail last time, at the main gate to the city we were introduced to Scar. He is second in command of the Flaming Fist, the professional military and guard force for Baldur’s Gate.

We told him what all we had learned, and that apparently the Iron Throne was behind the trouble. He was concerned if not surprised by this news. They are a wealthy and multi-national trade consortium. He would do some investigating on his end, and asked if in the meantime, we would look into the smaller (and local) Seven Suns trade group. It was co-owned by a friend of his, but they had made a number of odd business decisions recently.

*****

As I mentioned before, Amyntor and I fulfilled a long ago promise to each other almost first thing in town. After this, we set up a base of operations at the Three Kegs Inn, a nicer and larger sort of establishment near the center of town. We decided we would spend some time relaxing, and exploring the city at our leisure for a few days. We eventually spent three nights at the Inn. That time will always be special to me.

*****

We spent a lot of time sorting through our inventory *and theirs* to figure what we could sell and what we needed to have. I feel like this stop boosted our capabilities by a lot.

Interesting.

We did that and Lothander was good to his word. He then told us how to find Marek, and his half of the antidote.

Crisis averted.

Yeah, we found Ragefast and Abela. It was actually a sad story, the old mage was smitten with the fair nymph. But Abela was wasting away in the city. We persuaded him of the error of his ways. Gently this time! He was heartbroken to see the truth. But he did, and he let Abela go.
We used a more forceful sort of persuasion on Ramazith. He won’t be harvesting Abela or any other nymphs.

We explored the city at a relaxed pace, mostly. There were other brief moments of drama and peril. Only one other event rose to a BIG issue.

Of course we would help!

This led us around town, ultimately into the sewers.

But most importantly, it led into a deeper layer of trouble.

That ancient god of Rot and Decay may be dead in the Realms, but his followers are always looking to bring him back. And destroying books and learning is right up their alley.

This all opened the way to an even darker threat.

We saw the threat, and had some limited defenses against them. A single scroll of “Chaotic Commands” and a Greenstone Amulet. That could protect two of us from the sort of telepathic assault that comes from illithids. Since Amyntor and I were on point, we received the protection.
We found a gathering of three illithids and a few ogre thralls.

But we fought fiercely and slew the monsters before permanent damage was done. This area was being set up as part of some conspiracy involving an Elder Brain. There’s always conspiracies where illithids are concerned. For now we shut it all down. And prevented any more books from being destroyed! I never felt more like a child of Candlekeep.

We needed a quiet night te rest up from all this! In the morning we set out for the Seven Suns.

The building had been over run by dopplegangers. We slew many, and found Scar’s friend in chains in the basement.
We reported this to Scar at the Flaming Fist garrison. He was shocked at such trouble in the city, but was pleased we’d dealt with it. He asked us to look into a couple of high profile citizen disappearences.
This again, led us into the sewers.

Obviously not as big a thing as the illithids! But it could still be trouble for the unwary.

When we reported back to Scar this time, he said he agreed with us that the Iron Throne was up to no good. But he needed proof, and suggested we head over there and look into it.

Exploring into the building things calmed a little, but there was obviously unrest here. Some sort of meeting was taking place upstairs.
We found a group of thugs who attacked us.

Obviously not much of a business approach. But apparently the actual leaders were away for a real meeting… at Candlekeep.

Looks like we’re going home.