DA.1.3 If Darkness Had a Son

Session Preface

The next morning, the dining hall of the Elfsong Tavern is overflowing with customers. Word of the unprecedented new lyrics has drawn a host of customers eager to see what can be learned of Elturel or other events from the namesake performance. Servers wind through the crowds, porridge sloshing on the trays the hoist overhead.
The door bursts open, morning light pouring into the room. Silhoutted in the doorway, a heavily armored figure steps in, the sigildry on his armor identifying him as a ranking member of the Flaming Fist. Some patrons continue on their conversations unperturbed, while others quiet and watch the figure with uncertainty. Others reach for hilts at their waist, anticipating violence.
"Aye! Shut up, the lot of you! I wanna see everyone's papers right now and they better be fuckin' legitimate, or you're gonna wish you'd never stepped foot in Baldur's Gate, ya hear?"

Session Summary

The Lower City

As the Flaming Fist verify everyone's paperwork in the Elfsong Tavern, Pax and Aethuriel learn that a critical mass of refugees arrived over the last several hours, leading Baldur's Gate to essentially go into lockdown, allowing only established residents into the city. As they step outside, they find the streets of the Eastway neighborhood bursting with people, many of whom searching for places to stay or basic necessities.
The Flaming Fist are also out in heavy forces and Aethuriel catches a few of the mercenaries harassing an Elturien who is minding his own business on a grimy stoop. When they try to arrest him for disturbing the peace, he doesn't stand up and is cudgelled in response. Aethuriel steps in, convincing the guards that he will tend to the man's needs and that they will not see him on the streets again. The fists begrudingly move on, muttering about how Elturel's fate was a curse that will follow the survivors to Baldur's Gate. Aethuriel introduces himself to the refugee, Oustin, a cobbler from Elturel, and offers him their room at the Elfsong to freshen up, eat, and rest, before figuring out what to do next.
On their way into the Upper City, Pax and Aethuriel use a hidden sewer network connected to the Sanctum to cross beneath the gates. Along the way, they come across four individuals in dark clothing carrying a series of heavy chests, barrells, and crates. The smugglers initially worry that Aethuriel is a member of the Flaming First or the Watch, but continue on their way once they realize he has no formal jurisdiction.

The Watchful Shield

Upon their arrival in the Upper City, the companions walk in wonder at the opulent luxury and competitive displays of wealth among the beautiful promenades, fountain courtyards, and even orchards they passed on their way to the Watchful Shield.
At the Helmite shrine, they find a Flaming Fist and member of the Watch in a heated dispute over jurisdiction. When an Upper City resident was accused of associating with the Cult of the Dead Three, the Flaming Fist bypassed the Watch and raided the noble's villa. The Watch argue that the Upper City resident is subject to a trial in front of the Parliment of Peers, but the Flaming Fist argue they answer to the a specific order to deal with these matters from the Council of Four, who are superior to the Parliment. The argument descends into blows when the Flaming Fist suggests the Watch are nothing more than party caterers and the Watch retorts that "at least we know where our marshall is." Aethuriel and Pax aid the Helmite priest in breaking up the fight with Aethuriel casting hold person on the Flaming Fist. Once the dust settles, both parties depart.
Aethuriel then has the opportunity to speak to the priest, Helmite Dirston Marshtalon, about his experiences and join him in prayer to commune with Helm. In his communion, Aethuriel is able to see briefly through Helm's ever-vigilant sight and sees Elturel in Avernus. Entire city streets burn in unrelenting hellfire. The city itself is surrounded by a volcanic red horizon, as if the sky itself were enraged. As his vision deepens, Aethuriel sees a central keep, either a cathedral or governmental building, toppled and collapsed. Outside it, a handful of knights fight valiantly against hordes of demons and devils alike. Aethuriel catches just a glance of Avri on the frontlines before his communion concludes. Relieved to know of their survival, Aethuriel feels even more urgency to find their way to Avernus.

The True Temple

Returning to the Temple neighborhood, Pax is escorted through the grand hall of the True Temple and led to the private chambers of Tormtar Haldern, the priest who oversaw Pax in the orphanage. The priest welcomes him, asking of the many years since Pax was sent to join the Order of Profane Souls. Pax ofers the sobering truth of the bleak reality he has lived in such childhood, much of the path set before him by others, including Haldern.
As part of the conversation, Haldern confesses that he has not been entirely forthcoming with Pax regarding his heritage. He reveals that Pax's mother often frequented the Righteous Hand, praying for courage, while she served as a maidhand in the home of the Grand Duke, Abdel Adrian. She visited frequenty, but then did not show up for several months. They had assumed she had befallen a terrible fate like so many in the city, but then she arrived again, this time expecting, and covered in bruises. For the remainder of her pregnancy, the Tormtars hid her in multiple safe houses across the city, ensuring the Duke, Pax's father, would not find her. When she gave birth, she knew she had to escape the city, but couldn't support herself and Pax, so she left him in the care of the orphanage, at least temporarily. The orpanage did not immediately take Pax in, for fear of his father seeking him out, but instead kept a distant, watchful eye on him until it was safe. Halden completes his tale by sharing that given Pax's fathers nature as a Bhaalspawn, the Torm priests felt confident that Pax would be able to survive the process of becoming one of the blood hunters.
With their respective revelations taking the forefront of their thoughts, the companions briefly tend to other matters - buying a tome for entry into Candlekeep and investigating the potential of a Gondar prototype capable of teleportation - before retiring for the evening to the Elfsong Tavern with plans to depart for the great library the next morning.

Session Overview

Date Played:
February 18, 2024
Party:

• Aethuriel
• Pax

Time Passed:
Uktar 6, AM - Uktar 7, AM 1493
NPCs:

• Oustin
• Helmite Dirston Marshtalon
• Tormtar Haldern

Loot:

• Apocalypto