Session 10: Bring your Horse to the Slaughterhouse! Report

General Summary

*classic movie-style transition* Meanwhile, in the Elfsong Tavern…   As Artana and Patience followed their leads, Fenrir and Airam made some plans of their own. Upon hearing from the town crier that a child was to be executed for riots following a poorly executed delivery of food and water to refugees in Wyrm's Crossing, the paladin saddled up the druid as they made their way to the Outer City neighborhood famed for its long, inhabited bridge across the Chiontar river.
After a few hours’ journey, the pair was met by a foursome of Flaming Fist soldiers, who had the bridge under strict lockdown orders from their Flame. A Manip stepped forward and demanded that Fenrir step down, locking his company’s crossbows and pikes onto him. When Fenrir got off the horse and tried to talk his way out of the situation, at first, the situation escalated. However, with some quick charm and wiles, the paladin managed to defuse the argument enough for him to be allowed onto the bridge.
The entire neighborhood was deserted - a contrast made more apparent by the overwhelming presence of Flaming Fist mercenaries standing guard outside homes, or standing at attention for their commanders. Under escort of a Fist cleric of unknown loyalty to Fenrir and Airam, the Hellrider and his horse were escorted to Wyrm’s Rock - a Flaming Fist garrison and stronghold, and also the largest structure in the whole Outer City. Airam the horse was led to hay and water at a nearby stables, and Fenrir was brought up two flights of stairs, the cleric leaving him in a waiting room while there was a heated argument going on between two people on the other side of the door.
As one of the two speakers exited the room with steam coming out of his ears and curses out of his mouth, a somewhat familiar face welcomed Fenrir in for a chat: Blaze Liara Portyr, who had been summoned by her now assassinated father Duke Dillard Portyr to keep the Flaming Fist under control. She welcomed the paladin and bade him sit across from her. She explained that Blaze Mukar, who was in charge of Wyrm’s Rock until just a moment ago, had ordered both the eviction of all refugees from Wyrm’s Crossing, as well as the capitol punishment of a child for things that they likely had nothing to do with, just to calm the emotions of the citizens of the bridge. Fenrir first listened, then offered his help. He was allowed to speak to the child and was once again escorted through Wyrm’s Rock, down into a lightless dungeon.
The child proved himself to be a bit of a troublemaker, coming up with inconsistent stories about his arrest and displaying trust issues with Fenrir - coming from Elturel, this child probably had many dealings with the Hellriders. In the end, the paladin parted ways with the child, convinced that he had nothing to do with the death of a soldier, even if he was a bit of a handful. Returning to Blaze Portyr, he made a promise that if the child was to be spared, they would be under his responsibility. To that, the Blaze agreed to an exchange by nightfall - still a few hours away.

Returning to Airam, the two decided to spend their spare time investigating Hamhock’s Slaughterhouse, just up the road in Sow's Foot. Truth be told, they could smell the slaughterhouse before they could see it - the entire compound was walled off but a few pig pens could be seen, the hogs snacking on the trimmings of the butcher’s latest products. Under the guise of a pair looking to make something exquisite for their next meal with guests, they met the proprietor - a burly if corpulent half-ogre who immediately took a liking to Fenrir’s good taste in meats - especially the ‘dwarf’ ribs that they both liked so much.
While the paladin was keeping the shopkeeper busy, Airam made a move to sniff out the place for clues. However, the entire neighborhood was drenched in the scent of death, and the druid was too busy trying not to vomit in order to catch a good scent. When the half-ogre was convinced to go look for crocodile meat though, the two had a bit more wiggle-room and they were able to define a certain smell that unfortunately was all too familiar to them - human flesh. The butcher came back before they could get a good read on where it was being kept, however, but at least they could confirm that something shady was going on in Hamhock’s.
As night started to fall, Patience and Artana waited for Fenrir and Airam, and Richard and Reya, to return. They decided that they would revisit the Low Lantern, having had a bit of time to think things over and finding that there were a few strings missing to piece everything together. They disguised themselves well enough not to be recognized should the same Watch soldiers be stationed at the dock, and went on their way.
After ripping down a “Wanted” poster with their (badly drawn) faces on it, they were able to enter the tavern - saying a quick ‘hello’ to the duergar they had met the night before as he stumbled off the main deck. Taken aback by the greeting it seems, the dwarf tripped and fell into the harbor, but was able to find his way back onto the dock off-screen. Artana and Patience ordered some drinks and kept a low profile, waiting for the guards stationed at the stairs to Amrik Vanthampur’s office space to thin out in number. When one was left, Patience deftly convinced him to bring them all the documents that were on and inside Amrik’s desk, and had the guard escort them outside. After going back to the Low Lantern, the two stared in disbelief at the documents they now had access to.
Airam and Fenrir joined them not much later - the paladin having rescued the child, but losing them at the gate into the Lower City. They didn’t have long to discuss their findings, however, as Flame Darmin Zodge walked into the tavern with a retinue of soldiers and a flameskull apparently bound to his service - he demanded an update on the murder investigation. As the party tried to convince him to give them more time as they were tying up loose ends, Zodge took them on a midnight ride to Wyrm’s Rock, to discuss with Blaze Portyr what they had found and what more they needed to complete their research.

Portyr and Zodge met the party in a candle-lit barracks chamber at Wyrm’s Rock, way past midnight. The Blaze was surprised to see Fenrir again so quickly, but listened eagerly at what they had to say. She followed up with a reveal of her own - come the morning, she would ride for the Seatower, having gained enough support to declare herself the new Master Tactician of the Flaming Fist. After that, she would ride to High Hall with a detachment of senior officials - wizards, priests, and loremasters in service of the Fist - and declare herself the new Grand Duke of Baldur's Gate. Any remaining dukes or Watch soldiers are to be outlawed, and their capture would be rewarded in gold.
She then heard of the party’s dinner invitation to Vanthampur manor in the Temples district, and grew curious. Blaze Portyr’s plans, however, were in a state too advanced to call off, so she advised the party to proceed with caution: the walls and gates are likely to become a demilitarized zone as the Flaming Fist and the Watch compete for control of the city…

Rewards Granted

• Collected documents from the Poisoned Poseidon 
• Crocodile fillets

Missions/Quests Completed

• Recover information from the Low Lantern
• Parley with Flaming Fist at Wyrm's Rock

Campaign

Descent into Avernus

Protagonists

Artana Dryl

Fenrir Firecam

Patience

Report Date

22 Dec 2022

Primary Location

Wyrm's Crossing

Secondary Location

Low Lantern