DA.1.2 Welcome Home

Session Preface

Ten days have passed since the fall of Elturel. Your travels have taken you along the shores of the River Chionthar, moving ahead of the caravans of refugees also making their way westward. Taking your first steps into the Outer City of Baldur's Gate, you find yourself in the Rivington neighborhood, the only district on the southern bank of the river. Simple wooden homes sit scattered across the riverfront, fishing rods leaned against the walls and crab cages stacked outside the door. Windmills spin lazily in a gentle breeze that carries a scent of sweat and salt air through the streets. Before you, the the crowds meander about their morning business, kicking up clouds of dust. The flow of traffic leads northward, towards Wrym's Crossing. Through the fog hanging over the river, you can make out Wrym's Crossing, the neighborhood-width bridge of stacked shantytowns juxtaposed against the towering stone fortress of the Flaming Fist where visitors and locals alike pay their tolls for entering into the rest of the city.

Session Summary

Wandering throughout the Outer and Lower City, Pax and Aethuriel spend much of the day restocking supplies, purchasing new equipment, and outfitting themselves with new magical items and artifacts in preparation for their efforts to rescue Elturel.
While passing through the city, they witness the violent means of policing conducted by the Flaming Fist, watch a handful of Outer City locals carry horses carrying Sewer Plague into an unmarked warehouse, and hear no shortage of rumors and falsehoods about the fate of Elturel and what it could mean for Baldur's Gate.
Once they've settled on their purchaes across Danthelon's Dancing Axe, Sorcerous Sundries, and Seskergates, Pax reluctantly returns to the Shrine of the Suffering and the Sanctum hidden there beneath. Outside, he briefly chats with Brother Hodges, who continues to operate the shrine with his family and notices that a particularly old man who had been a mainstay is no longer present among the homeless population who gather in the courtyard.
Within the Sanctum, he investigates a sigil hastily carved into the wall, experiencing brief flashes of dark scenes in which Gond priests experimented on, even to the point of considerable pain, Blood Hunters, in exchange for coin. Coming out of this experience, Pax finds himself alone with Jhaielle, the arcanist who has since his depature some ten years ago become Keeper of the Sanctum and head of the Order of Profane Souls.
Jhaielle greets Pax cooly, inquiring about his experiences and learnings in his absence, to which he is not forthcoming in sharing his recent revelations. They discuss Elturel's recent disappearance, Zariel's involvement, and their shared assumptions that the order itself is tied to her through an infernal contract. When Pax reveals that he plans to try and save Elturel by following the city to Hell, Jhaielle cannot stifle her laughter, cackling at the idea. She points out the irony of Pax and Ezra departing Baldur's Gate to go seek out proof of a contract and how to destroy it so as to free themselves from eternal damnation, only for him now to willingly go to hell and certainly get himself killed, sealing his fate. When Pax presses for Jhaielle's aid, she offers that a colleague researcher in Candlekeep by the name of Slyvira Savikas may be able to offer some insights.
Pax also shares the news of Ezra's death, though Jhaielle confirms she already knew of it through Gerron of the Muntant order. She also acknowledges Pax's shared victory in the Champion's League of Everlund and his lack of contributions to the order's coffers. He offers what gold he has on his person, but refuses to hand over Ezra's medallion as well when pressed. Jhaielle challenges him on this, highlight that he is about to throw his life away in hell, so the least he could do is make sure there's a blood hunter who can use the medallion to take his place. Pax agrees, begrudgingly, to consider it, but makes no assurances.
Jhaielle asks once more about Pax's abilities and if he has learned anything of their nature or the order as a result. He shares the document with Ehmar's signature he received from Sir Isteval and the contents of the vision he experienced. Intrigued by this development, Jhaielle retrieves the book Pax was forced to study and experiment with in his youth, to see if his vision is equally more specific and visceral. Unlike his recent experiences, it is just as brief and abstract. The two speak a bit more, but make no further progress in unraveling the source or nature of Pax's abilities, the events of Elturel, or the role Zariel plays in all of it. At this impasse, they part ways.
Pax spends a reflective moment walking through the otherwise empty Sanctum. He sees memories of staying up chatting with Ezra about their future adventures and the excitement of fighting monsters before he understood the true toll of his fate. He relives days training, learning spells, and discovering himself as a capable student and fighter. He reminensces of learning to cook and on rare occasion, putting together meals and sitting down at the table and having a family dinner with his fellow hunters. After this brief moment, Pax returns to find Aethuriel and the two seek a night's rest at the local Elfsong Tavern.
While sitting in the main hall, Pax and Aethuriel catch up on the days events, but are interupted by the tavern's namesake performance. To the surprise of the locals and regulars of the Elfsong, the song itself is different. Still sung by the same disembodied and forlorn elven voice, the lyrics are changed to commemorate Elturel.
That evening, Pax and Aethuriel retire to their rooms and continue their research into the history of their respective orders in Yael's Account and Ehmar's Sigils.

Session Overview

Date Played:
February 11, 2024
Party:

• Aethuriel
• Pax

Time Passed:
Uktar 5, AM 1493 - Uktar 6, AM 1493
NPCs:

• Brother Hodges
• Jhaielle

Loot:

• A lot of loot sold from Bag of Holding
• 10 Wallopping Arrows
• Slippers of Spider-Climbing
• Cloak of Protection
• Scroll of Revivify
• 2 Potions of Speed
• 4 Potions of Greater Healing