Baldur's Gate
Baldur's Gate, also called simply the Gate, was the largest metropolis and city-state on the Sword Coast, within the greater Western Heartlands. It was a crowded city of commerce and opportunity, perhaps the most prosperous and influential merchant city on the western coast of Faerûn. Despite its long-standing presence as a neutral power, the leaders of Baldur's Gate were members of the Lords' Alliance of powers in the west.
The strong peace-keeping force known as the Watch, along with the presence of the powerful Flaming Fists mercenary company, kept the city generally peaceful and safe. This inherent sense of security allowed the Gate to keep a tolerant and welcoming attitude towards outsiders, whether they were wealthy merchants, poor refugees or, as it historically attracted, less-scrupulous individuals such as pirates and smugglers.
Upper City
The Upper City of Baldur’s Gate is the enclosed haven of the city’s nobility — the patriars.- The Old Wall - Original wall build at Balduran's behest and encircles the Upper City and has six gates providing entrance through
- The Black Dragon Gate - Northern Gate
- Baldur's Gate - Original gate leading to the harbor and the only gate permitting normal traffic and trade between Upper and Lower cities.
- Sea Gate, Manor Gate, Gond Gate, and Heap Gate are patriar only passages through the Old Wall
- The Wide - Only large civic space and serves as a market.
- High Hall - Used for professional guild meetings, civic events, court trials, tax counting, real-estate, and law record-keeping as well as all governance and meetings of the Parliament of Peers and the Council of Four.
- Watch Citadel - The Upper City’s police force uses the Watch Citadel as a barracks and for training, storage, and organizational needs.
- The High House of Wonders - a vast structure thatserves as the official temple and workshops of Gond. The nearby Hall of Wonders is a museum open to the public that displays the clergy’s inventions.
- Silvershield Estate - Occupies district's westernmost edge and is considered the grandest of all the manors.
Lower City
The Lower City, a great crescent of steep slopes descending to the docks, is packed tight with conjoined,slate-roofed buildings that are made of stone and feature window boxes and stout shutters in vibrant hues.- Gray Harbor - One of the largest, busiest harbors on Faerûn’s western coast.
- Water Queen’s House - A solitary structure. It dominates the end of a pier and descends on one side into the harbor.
- Bloomridge - A fashionable Lower City district dotted with cafes, flower shops, and artisan boutiques. The district’s main street runs steeply up from the harbor to the Old Wall.
- Seatower of Balduran - The Seatower serves the Flaming Fist as headquarters, barracks, naval base, prison, and fortress. The marshal and most of the officers responsible for day-today Fist operations typically work from the Seatower.
Outer City
Even though the dukes tax the Outer City and nominally rule the area, they rarely exert control over it. Neither the Watch nor the Flaming Fist patrols these poverty stricken districts.- Wyrm’s Crossing - Bridge connecting to the other bank of the Chionthar. Buildings and merchant stalls, ranging from ramshackle to elaborate, pile atop each other along the entire length of Wyrm’s Crossing, making it impossible to see the water from the narrow, congested roadway that cuts between the structures.
- Wyrm’s Rock - stands between the bridge’s lengths, and land traffic must pass through the Flaming Fist’s fortress to reach the other side.
- Little Calimshan - Little Calimshan is built in the Calishite style, meaning it is organized as a sabban (district), composed of multiple drudachs (neighborhoods). Each drudach is walled off, creating compartmentalized hamlets within the district.
Demographics
Mostly human.
Baldurians take great pride in the inclusiveness of their city. It's seen as a place anyone could call home, or start a new life within, regardless of race, creed or personal history.
Government
Council of Four
- Grand Duke Dillard Portyr
- Duke Abdel Adrian
- Duke Torlin Silvershield
- Duke Belynne Stelmane
Officers of the City
- Harbormaster - Erl Namorran
- High Constable and Master of Walls - Osmurl Havanack
- Master of Drains and Underways - Thalamra Vanthampur
- Master of Cobbles - Esgurl Nurthammas
- Purse Master - Haxilion Trood
Parliament of Peers (Notable Members)
- Coran
- Imbralym Skoond
- Dlusker Family
- Caldwell Family
- Patriars - Upper City's noble families
- Notable Residents
- Shattershields - Dwarven patriars
Industry & Trade
Dyes, fish, imports from Chult, mercenaries, nautical supplies
Guilds and Factions
- The Watch - Official constabulary of the city's elite.
- Flaming Fist - Mercenary company that enforces security and order on the city. Free to fight in external conflicts. By tradition highest officer is a member of the Council of War
- The Guild -
Founding Date
1060 DR
Alternative Name(s)
The Gate
Type
Large city
Population
120,000
Inhabitant Demonym
Baldurian
Location under
Included Locations
Owner/Ruler
Ruling/Owning Rank
Owning Organization
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