Baldur's Gate
Baldur’s Gate is a bustling center of trade, with goods coming from north and south by wagon along the Trade Way and by ship on the Sea of Swords, and from the east along the River Chionthar and from Cormyr and Sembia.
Baldur’s Gate is situated on a prominent bluff next to the river, overlooking an excellent natural harbor. It is divided into three distinct segments: the Upper City where the richest and most influential citizens live and where the city’s marketplace (the Wide) is located; the Lower City, which surrounds the harbor and where most of the city’s merchants live and conduct their business; and the Outer City, which lies outside the walls and where most of the city’s laborers reside in conditions that vary from crowded but clean to squalid.
Government
The strong peace-keeping force known as the Watch, along with the presence of the powerful Flaming Fists mercenary company, keep the city generally peaceful and safe. This inherent sense of security allows the Gate to keep a tolerant and welcoming attitude towards outsiders, whether they are wealthy merchants, poor refugees or, as it historically attracted, less-scrupulous individuals such as pirates and smugglers.
The Council of Four.
The city itself is run by a political party named The Council of Four. These officials are elected, yet the Clemont family has remained part of this ruling court since its establishment due to their help creating Baldur's Gate.Infrastructure
Baldur’s Gate doesn’t allow wagons, pack animals, horses, or even dogs into the city. The streets are so narrow, steep, and slick from frequent rain that heavy wagons would be a menace. This is actually one of the reasons why Baldur’s Gate is such a bustling commercial hub: for goods to pass through the city from south to north, for example, they must be unloaded in the Outer City east of the wall, carried through the city by porters on foot, and reloaded onto different wagons north of the city for the rest of their journey. No road conveniently bypasses the city — a situation that the gate’s profiteering intermediaries work hard to maintain. Most merchants find it easier to sell their loads to those intermediaries and consignment dealers when they reach Baldur’s Gate, buy a new load of exotic goods from somewhere far away, and turn around and head back home, where they can again sell the new goods at a profit.
Along with wagons, guards seldom make a continuous journey through Baldur’s Gate. Guards for northbound caravans are typically hired in Blackgate where northbound wagons begin their journey.
Districts
Upper City
The Upper City of Baldur's Gate radiates wealth and beauty, serving as home to the city's Patriar class. It has wide, well-lit streets and attractive buildings decorated with hanging plants. The amenity of the Upper City is only matched by its well-kept safety, largely thanks to the regular patrols maintained by the Watch.Lower City
The Lower City is the large, crescent-shaped portion of Baldur's Gate fully contained within the walls. It features tightly-packed streets, lined with tall and slender buildings. even narrower alleyways that are always busy with the comings and goings of city life. Trade, commerce and work of all sorts dominate the sprawling Lower City.Outer City
The Outer City of Baldur's Gate is a sprawling, chaotic shantytown that has grown outside of the city's walls. Day and night blend together throughout the lean-to's, stockyards and other shacks and line the Outer City's muddy streets. While the animal-handlers, merchant-hawkers and other "outsiders" are taxed and technically "ruled" over by the Grand Dukes, city officials do little to truly govern the unregulated Outer City.History
Originally, the harbor-settlement that came to be known as Baldur's Gate was a well-hidden meeting place for pirates, scavengers and "ghost lighters". These naer-do-wells used lights to trick ships sailing through the foggy coast, running them aground before pilfering their goods. After looting what they could, they sailed up the River Chionthar to the small bay, to their secluded haven called Gray Harbor.
The city became the most powerful force in the Western Heartlands and despite its neutrality, joined the Lords' Alliance. The city was only recorded to have been called upon by the Alliance once, in the Year of the Black Horde, 1235 DR, when the eponymous legion of orcs attempted to invade. They sent their top military general, Eldrith, to drive them off. While she achieved victory at first, she eventually betrayed Baldur's Gate and was killed in the Marsh of Chelimber by Baldurian forces.
Type
Large city
Population
~110.000
Inhabitant Demonym
Baldurian
Included Locations
Characters in Location