Chapter 25 – The City – Day 90
Baldur's Gate!
Jeral stood in the middle of the Great Coastal Way and just stared, taking it all in. Other travelers on the now crowded road grumbled at the obstacle and flowed around him and his traveling companions. Having read about the city for years Jeral almost did not believe that he was finally looking at the city with his own eyes. Even from miles away the city spanned across his entire field of vision. Jeral gazed in wonder at the fortifications around the city. Massive walls of polished black stone rose one hundred feet in the air. The walls were topped with battlements and walkways and patrolled by a well trained guard force known as the Flaming Fist that had reportedly protected Baldur's Gate for generations. Every two hundred feet stood a guard tower that rose a further forty feet above the wall. In the unlikely event that invaders scaled the wall they would find themselves under fire from personnel in the towers on each side of the breach.
Jeral knew from his extensive study back in Candlekeep that in addition to a strong guard force Baldur's Gate was also served by a powerful cadre of wizards who protected the city from any magical enemies. Working with the guard force the wizards ensured that they could work in close coordination with the soldiers to provide for the defense of the city. Jeral could not imagine any army in the land that could succeed in taking the city by force. The city was rumored to be protected by magical wards that prevented anyone from teleporting into or out of the city. Similar charms also were in place to make anyone visible who attempted to enter the city cloaked by magic.
Approaching from the Southeast Jeral knew that they had to cross the Chinother River to enter the city. The river served as an additional level of defense on one side of the city. The Chinother was so broad that even the strongest bowman could not fire across the river. His bowshot would fall harmlessly mid river. From what Jeral had read of the city the river provided fresh water to the city through a warren of cisterns and public fountains. Even more fascinating was the way the city managed their waste. Through a vast network of underground tunnels waste from the city was carried out to the river. Baldur's Gate called the system a sewer and it was an engineering marvel that was studied by engineers and leaders from great cities across the realm.
The group steadily closed on the city. The trip had taken six days of steady travel. Bentley had graciously provided the group horses for five and a hill pony for Yeslick. Additionally, he assigned a dozen guards from the Inn to provide an escort to the city. With the escort the party made excellent time and was afforded some time to relax as the guards set up the camp every evening and cooked for the group.
By mid afternoon on their six day of travel the party stood at the foot of the great bridge. The group dismounted, said their farewells to their escort and watched the guards ride off to the South on their way back to Bentley and the Friendly Arm Inn. A quiet tension hung over the group as they understood that the dangers that lay ahead of them were assuredly greater than those they had faced already.
"Jeral, I know we have to track down the people trying to kill us but we are going to have to make time for some shopping. I have heard that the fashions of Baldur's Gate are renown throughout the lands."
"Well Imoen I will do what I can to ensure that our struggle for survival does not interfere with your shopping."
Jeral shook his head; he could always count on Imoen to focus on the lighter side of things. Smiling slightly he started walking across the Great Bridge of Baldur's Gate.
The bridge was aptly named. Wide enough for a dozen wagons to ride abreast the massive stone structure wended upwards to the midpoint of the river. At the middle of the river stood a great tower that commanded the river in both directions. No ship could pass underneath the bridge without the permission of the Grand Dukes. To receive that permission the ship master was required to pay a fee of five percent of the value of the carried goods. The river toll was one of many ways the Grand Dukes gained wealth and power and provided for the people of Baldur's Gate.
As impressive as the city was Jeral could not help but think that his companions had become quite impressive on their own rights. Jeral looked to his front and eyed the three men who formed a wall of armor and muscle to his front. Striding with purpose down the middle of the bridge was the Paladin squire Ajantis. As much as the man could annoy Jeral the bard had to admit that he was every inch the heroic paladin. His full suit of Ankheg plate mail gleamed in the sun like a giant emerald and his tunic showed the holy eye of Helm as well as the livery of the Order of the Radiant Heart.
To the paladin's right strode an even larger plate clad warrior. Minsc strode forward clad in an ornate suit of full plate mail. The armor was won at the bandit camp months earlier and Minsc wore it like a second skin. The massive sword Spider's Bane was strapped across his back and Boo sat perched happily on the man's shoulder as he enjoyed the fresh air.
To the paladin's left strode the dwarf Yeslick. The newest member of the group strode forward proudly wearing a well made suit of full plate mail that the party purchased for him in Beregost. The dwarf chatted happily with Ajantis as he strode forward with his war hammer casually resting on his shoulder. Despite being rather thin for a dwarf Yeslick still cut an impressive figure in his arms and armor.
Any one of the men by himself was going to gather attention in a crowd. Put the three together and every person who passed by had to stop and stare. The trio were gathering so much attention that people were walking into one another as they were too distracted to look where they were going. The party continued to move forward and the crowd parted as they walked along.
"Make way there! Clear a path! No lingering on the bridge!"
Two score pikemen in the livery of Baldur's Gate jogged out from the central tower and quickly pushed the crowd back. The guardsmen formed up into two long columns leaving Jeral and his five companions as the only souls on the center of the bridge. Jeral and his companions eyed the guards warily but calmed down once the guards did not make any threatening moves.
"Well you lot have to be the ones everyone is talking about. Even in a city such as this you six stand out."
Jeral watched as a short thick set man strode towards them; clearly this was someone of high rank in the Baldur's Gate militia. The man was of middle age and the temples of his hairline were turning his black hair grey. Clad in black chain mail the man held a wicked looking battle axe loosely in his hands as he strode forward. A pair of short swords were strapped to each hip and tied down to allow him to move freely. He carried himself as a man confident in his own abilities and more than prepared to handle any and all threats to him and his men. Despite the slightly menacing appearance he was smiling broadly. The warmth from the man's smile lost something due to the massive scar that angled from his right temple to the bottom of his left cheek.
The man stopped an arms length from Ajantis and placed the butt of his axe on the bridge. Leaning forward on the head of the axe the man nodded his head once. A dozen soldiers quickly set up a table with seven chairs in the middle of the cleared space on the bridge. Six chairs were on one side of the table while the seventh was centered on the other side of the table. Once the chairs were in place the soldiers laid out a set of chipped mugs, pitchers of wine and water, and plates of cheese and dates. Once everything was in place the scarred man propped his battle axe against the table, sat down in the chair and poured himself a glass of wine. He took a deep drink and sighed contentedly.
"The Commander is too generous, this is excellent wine."
Looking up the man smiled and addressed the group.
"Name is Scar, Captain in the Flaming Fist and second in command to Duke Eltan."
Imoen snorted and stifled a giggle.
"Ahhhh, you must be Imoen. I have heard much about your fun loving spirit and sense of humor. I assume that my name amuses you. Well I have another name. But when one gains an affectation such as this one in the defense of the city it becomes part of their reputation. I decided to embrace it and so I now am simply known as Scar or Captain Scar for any times that demand formality. Is that acceptable to you little one? Please sit down, little one. I only wish to talk to you and your companions and I believe that you will find me a useful ally."
Imoen blushed and quickly took a seat at the table. Scar looked at the rest of the companions and motioned to the table.
"Please sit all of you."
Reluctantly everyone took a chair at the table, all save Minsc. He stool directly behind Dynaheir's seat, slowly drew his massive two handed sword and held it at a low guard position, the tip of the blade scoring the stone of the bridge. Traffic slowly resumed on the bridge, all parties moving to the sides of the bridge to avoid the wall of soldiers surrounding the table.
Ajantis frowned and leaned forward at the table. "Sir, you seem to have us at a disadvantage."
"Told you lad, the name is Scar to you, Captain Scar to my men. Not looking to take any advantage, just looking to talk. I may not be a knight of your Order but I am an honest man."
"Is it wise to speak so openly then?"
Scar rocked back in his chair and laughed.
"Boy, you clearly do not understand the attention you and your companions have drawn. Saviors of Nashkel. Liberators of the Cloakwood Mines. Scourge of the bandit menace. Your legend is already spread throughout the realm and likely beyond. And look at you six. Why your bardic friend Jeral there is the only one that could pass unnoticed in a crowd. Look at you, all of you. A mage from a strange land and her near giant size protector. That pair attracts notice anywhere they go even without that animal on his shoulder. An ankheg clad paladin from the Order of the Radiant Heart in the city of coin. Quite the striking figure I might add. I am sure your exploits will earn your great favor in the Order when you return to the city of coin. Then there is the newest member of the group, the warrior priest Yeslick. Greetings to you good dwarf, may Vraccas grant you favor."
Yeslick nodded through a mouth full of cheese and continued eating.
"Imoen, the colorfully attired lass who appears to be transitioning from a life as a rogue to that of an apprentice to the mage Dynaheir. I applaud your choice of a more reputable profession. Besides one who dresses in bright colors like those is clearly ill suited for a life of stealth."
"And then there is you Jeral. The ward of the great mage Gorion of Candlekeep. Somehow you are at the middle of something you yet do not understand. I have heard of the death of your father and of the myriad of bounty hunters that pursue you and your companions."
Jeral frowned and twirled his wine around in his mug."You are very well informed good captain. I fear must ask, are you here to help or hinder us?"
"Ahhhhh, well done lad, you have hit on the key to it all. Personally I am holding judgedment on you six. However my commander Lord Eltan feels you and he are on the same side against a power that threatens the city."
"So what can we do for your Lord Eltan?"
"Well my Lady Dynaheir Lord Eltan needs someone to look into something for him."
"And clearly he wants someone who is not connected with the Flaming Fist to perform a task discretely."
Scar beamed and clapped his hands softly. "Correct my lady, although I would say that discrete is not a word I would use for the six of you. I prefer the term expendable. If you fail or are captured the Commander can claim to know nothing about you."
Jeral could not contain himself. "Well I assure you none of us consider ourselves expendable. By now everyone in the city must know we are meeting with you since this is quite the public location. So how can we possibly perform any discrete task for you?"
" Good point, this is a group that will get noticed anywhere it goes. If it was this easy for me to find you it will be easy for your enemies to find you as well.
Scar smiled and stood up. Spreading his arms wide he slowly spun in a circle and then sat down again. "Sometimes the best way to hide something is to obscure it with something else."
"Minsc does not understand what the scarred man says."
"I will be more direct. Everyone knows we have met. So I require you to complete two tasks for me. One will be public knowledge and one will not."
"We will be honored to support the Flaming Fist in any way we can. After all you are the law in Baldur's Gate and the Fist has a reputation for honesty."
"Ahhh spoken like a paladin. Very well, down to business."
Scar looked around to ensure that all of his men were still in their assigned positions and out of ear shot.
"This is what you need to do for the Commander. I need to have you visit the Seven Suns merchant consortium. Fat fellow named Jhasso runs the place. He is an old friend of the Commander. Something is not right over there."
"Ajantis leaned forward and fixed the mercenary captain with a stern look.
"What exactly do you need from us? If he is a friend of the Commander then a simple question should resolve any issue."
"That is the problem; Jhasso refuses to meet with the Commander. That, according to Eltan, is not something that would ever happen. The Seven Suns are also making horrible trades and slowly losing business to the Iron Throne. Jhasso is a brilliant merchant so one bad trade is possible but this many seems unlikely. The Commander is concerned and wants someone to look into it. And since you lot are already enemies of the Iron Throne this seems like a natural fit for you."
"Very well captain, we will visit the Seven Suns and chat with Jhasso."
"Excellent, now for the other job, the public reason for our conversation today."
Scar clapped twice and a young soldier approached the table. His right arm was held in a sling and blood was visible in spots on the sling. His face was largely obscured by a mass of long red hair. He nervously tucked his hair back behind his ears with his one good arm as he nervously eyed the adventurers.
"I have located mercenaries to investigate the sewers and search for the missing town folks. Please provide them the same report you provided to me."
"Yes Captain, immediately. For the past month people have gone missing. Every night more and more go missing."
Dynaheir straightened and interrupted the soldier's recounting. "In a city such as this people must go missing all the time. I am sure the thieves' guild and various other groups in the city take people all the time."
"Quite right my lady. However, there are far more than normally go missing in a city such as this. Additionally, most of the people gone missing have no connections with anything illegal or dangerous. So the Fist was tasked to investigate the disappearances last week. We started interviewing the families of the missing people and determined that they were all taken from the North West sector of the city. We put the trackers to work with their dogs and all the tracks brought us to the sewers. So my squad was assigned to go down into the sewers. There were ten of us, eight soldiers, one squad leader and our lieutenant. We headed down into the sewers, lit torches and headed to the first tunnel junction and couple hundred paces down the tunnel. Once there they came for us."
The boy shuddered involuntarily, paused and then resumed his tale. "Wave after wave of large yellow green insects with dozens of legs, and tentacles where their teeth should be, attacked us. We were holding our own and tearing into the beasts until one of them touched the lieutenant's arm with a tentacle. He became immobile as if held by magic and was quickly overrun by the beasties. We watched as he was dragged off and devoured right in front of us. With our officer down I am ashamed to say that we lost our courage. Our formation broke down and we were quickly overrun. I dropped my spear and ran for my life. I was the only one who got away."
The soldier hung his head in shame as he completed his tale.
Jeral could not imagine how a handful of carrion crawlers could overcome a squad of trained soldiers. While the creatures were terrifying they were no match for trained armored soldiers.
"So how did you injure your arm?"
"I was struck with an arrow as I fled Sir Jeral."
"No title for me soldier I am no knight or lord. Were any in your party armed with bows?"
"No."
"Have you ever heard of an insect using a bow?"
"No."
"Correct soldier. So that means that someone or something else is down there with those insects. I would also wager that they are the one controlling the creatures. Captain Scar, we will investigate the sewers on behalf of the Flaming Fist. It is our honor to serve the city. Thank you for providing us the opportunity."
Scar stood up and shook hands with each of the six in turn as they rose to their feet.
"Excellent, when you have discovered and removed the threat in the sewers report to me at the Flaming Fist compound to collect you 2,000 gold piece reward. If I am not there you may ask for Commander Eltan. Report to no one else for we are the only two who can pay out that level of bounty. We have also reserved rooms for you at the Elfsong tavern for a week. That should be adequate time to complete your assigned task. You will be comfortable there as it is one of the finest Inn's in the entire city."
Scar pointed to the table and his soldiers quickly cleared the table and removed the chairs and table from the center of the bridge. Without a look back Scar turned on his heel, marched back into the bridge tower and disappeared from site. His soldiers quickly followed leaving six slightly perplexed adventurers standing in the middle of the bridge as the crowds quickly encircled them once again.
Day 91
Ajantis stood next to a metal shield sized disc embossed with the Baldur's Gate seal and embedded in the middle of the cobblestone street. A squad of soldiers from the Flaming Fist quickly set up a perimeter to keep people away from the group.
Jeral looked down at the street and then up at his companions.
"Well this is where the Fist entered the sewer in search of the missing locals. If we follow the tunnel a few hundred paces then we should encounter the same creatures that killed all those soldiers."
Minsc leaned down and grunted once as he pulled the heavy metal lid out of the center of the street. He gently laid it down on the side of the road next to a tavern called the Blushing Mermaid, drew his great sword and descended down into the sewer. Yeslick and Ajantis quickly followed and once they were down in the tunnel the remaining party members followed them down. Imoen was the last one down the ladder and gently dropped down into ankle deep muck. She started screaming and Jeral cringed at the plaintive wailing.
"My boots! My beautiful boots! They are ruined! I cannot clean them after this. Someone is going to buy me new boots!"
"Imoen, quiet." Jeral hissed at Imoen through clenched teeth.
"I will not be quiet. These boots cost me a fortune. And in seconds they were ruined!" Imoen stomped her foot down in anger and the resulting splash covered her in slime almost to the waist. Imoen looked down at her slime covered legs and shuddered as her face turned redder and redder.
"I need a bath and a clean set of clothes and I need them now!"
"Imoen, you need to be quiet, you are placing all of us in danger."
"Jeral, you cannot possibly understand. I love these boots AND THEY ARE RUINED!"
Imoen screamed at the top of her lungs as she stomped her feet in anger, splashing more and more sewage all over her clothes.
"My lady, you must be quiet, there is danger near."
"Stuff it Ajantis! I am not your lady, you have made that clear. I hate this place, I want to be clean and I want new clothes and I want them now, now, now!"
Dynaheir stepped forward and whispered in Imoen's ear and suddenly her body went limp and she fell down into the muck. Jeral picked up her limp form, hefted her onto his shoulder, and climbed up the ladder. Laying her down in the middle of the street he instructed the lieutenant in charge of the patrol to stand guard over her until she woke from the sleep spell. Jeral quickly climbed back down into the sewer and knocked an arrow into his bow.
When he looked up he saw a wall of steel moving down the tunnel killing everything in its path. Imoen's screams had alerted the creatures in the tunnel and dozens of them were attempting to overwhelm Misnc, Ajantis and Yeslick. The three warriors were working in close coordination and steadily mowing down the carrion crawlers. The large insects repeatedly struck the three men with their paralyzing tentacles but they were unable to locate unprotected flesh beneath all of the armor. Jeral and Dynaheir followed behind the three men. Jeral launched arrows into the head of each creature as he passed to ensure they were dead while Dynaheir launched a handful of balls of light down the tunnel to ensure that everyone could see in the gloom.
After destroying dozens of the creatures the three pushed their way to the first tunnel intersection entering from the west. The intersection was a large overflow cistern intersected by six identical tunnels. As the five entered the cistern there was a pause in the attacks as the last of the carrion crawlers laid dead at their feet. Clicking sounds emanated from the tunnels to the east and the north east and the sounds steadily got louder.
Breathing heavily the five looked to one another and back at the tunnels.
"We must tread carefully here, lest we become surrounded."
"The paladin speaks truly. If any of those beasties touch our skin we are done for. And any gap in the line will likely ensure that we all fall."
"Yeslick, you and Ajantis both speak the truth. We need to clear out these creatures else we cannot complete the task assigned to us, yet we must tread carefully."
Dynaheir snapped her fingers to get everyone's attention.
"Leave that to me Jeral. Ajantis, if you, Yeslick and Minsc take the north east tunnel Jeral and I can cover the eastern one until your return." With a curt nod Ajantis and the other two warriors took off down the tunnel. Dynaheir sent a couple glowing balls of light off down the tunnel to illuminate their path.
Jeral watched the three men move out of sight and soon heard the sounds of combat at they engaged the next wave of carrion crawlers.
"Come with me Jeral, stay close and keep your bow ready."
Dynaheir rolled back the sleeves of her robe and strode off down the corridor. As they moved deeper into the tunnel the sounds of more creatures loomed louder and louder. The pair rounded a corner and stopped, mesmerized by the tunnel before them. For hundreds of paces the tunnel was filled with giant eggs, each of them the size of a dog. Jeral estimated that there were over three hundred carrion crawler eggs as well as a half dozen of the full grown creatures tending to the eggs. With a growing next and their need to feed Jeral was not surprised that more and more people were disappearing. He also knew there were no survivors since the insects would devour every person they brought back to their lair.
"Leave this to me Jeral." Dynaheir started muttering words of power and rolling her hands one over another. Jeral watched in awe as a small ball of light appeared in her hands, that ball steadily grew and then burst into flame and the blaze burned hotter and hotter as the mage manipulated it. Finally deciding that it was ready to cast Dynaheir thrust her hands out and then spread her arms as wide apart as they could go. The fireball hurtled out of her hands and immediately grew to engulf the entire size of the tunnel. The sphere quickly moved down the tunnel incinerating everything in its path. The muck at the bottom of the tunnel, the eggs and the few adult insects were quickly incinerated. By the time the spell had swept the tunnel clean it looked as it must have the first day of construction. There was not a speck of sewage or anything else left behind in the tunnel.
"Impressive as always Dynaheir. I am humbled to be in the presence of one with such a gift. We must return to the others."
The mage smiled tiredly as Jeral trotted back in the other direction to rejoin his companions; Dynaheir following close behind. The pair retraced their steps to the central cistern and turned down the north eastern tunnel in search of their companions. Carcasses from dozens of carrion crawlers littered the tunnel as the pair moved forward. The creatures showed signs of massive wounds from a pair of enchanted swords and an enchanted war hammer. Jeral stared in awe as the carnage his three companions had wrought. He could not help but feel inadequate when compared to the other four he was with. His magic was outclassed by Dynaheir while his close combat skills were severely lacking when compared with those of Yeslick, Ajantis and Minsc.
The bard's introspection was interrupted by the site of Minsc and the other two men coming back into view. Minsc held Spider's Bane in his right hand and carried a large sack in his left. The bag looked heavy and Jeral was shocked to see blood leaking from the bag. All three men looked exhausted and were covered in blood and gore.
"Minsc, it pleases me to see you and the others safe." Minsc beamed back at Dynaheir and Boo squeaked from a small pouch on the large ranger's belt.
"You two missed quite the fight. Beasties all around us, the three of us hacking our way through the mass of creatures. They lashed at us time and time again but they could not find a gap in our mail. These two long uns fought like dwarves, it was a site to behold."
Minsc smiled and his voice boomed and echoed throughout the tunnel
"Master dwarf you were a credit to the Smith as well. Your hammer crushed many an enemy on this day. You can fight with Minsc and Boo any time."
"Well I am glad to hear that everyone fought so well but I have to know, what is in the bag?"
The three men smiled and looked to one another. Finally Ajantis replied. "Well your comments at the bridge were absolutely correct Jeral. These mindless creatures were somehow controlled by a rather nasty ogre magi. We were fortunate to resist his spells and despite his best efforts arrows were of little use against heavy plate armor. With no spells and no bow to keep us at a distance he was little trouble after that."
"Ajantis, you have ended the threat to the city, I commend you. But I must ask again, what is in the bag?"
Smiling, Ajantis only said one word, "proof."