Baldur's Gate : The Sword Coast Chronicles : NWN2 Persistent World

In the past weeks, a notable event came to pass. The Flaming Fist, various adventurers and organisations in the city had come together, after months of planning, to launch an attack at the rumoured site of the demonic breach into the mortal realms. Though reports are varied, it is understood that the rift between dimensions had been, ultimately, closed- bringing an end to the aspirations of the demonic cultists.



It was, however, not followed with a celebration and a sigh of relief. For while a strike group was busy with closing the planar rift, another group was holding ground, side by side, with the Flaming Fist against an incoming horde of fiends from Abyss. The varied adventurers, both the famed one and the new ones, bravely stood their ground in Ulgoth's Beard- a settlement which was fully evacuated tendays prior to this battle. Alas, the Horde of Abyss had overwhelmed the defenders and brought ruination to the once quiet outpost-hamlet. Surprisingly, perhaps, the casualties of the Flaming Fist stationed there were incredibly high, with over 70% soldiers being killed. While some will remark that it was foolish of them to not retreat sooner than that, most in Baldur's Gate will remember it as yet another symbol of bravery and sacrifice that the dedicated defenders of the City had shown.



In the following days, the Gate had been notably more busy with various preparations. Soldiers on the streets became a common sight, the City Watch mostly busying itself with making sure order is kept on the streets. With the history of a recent cases of local rioting due to doomsayers sowing panic amongst the people, public gatherings and speeches on the streets have been effectively outlawed unless made by City magistrates, military officials or other people of equal standing in the Gate.

That is not to say it had gone without its hurdles. The recent string of murders by a hidden individual- or group- in praise of "Cyric-Bhaal" had shaken the Lower City, especially when one of the City Watch Captains had, supposedly, given his men and women free reign in finding any evidence or lead to the one responsible for the cruel killings on the streets. After the Watch had started to wake people up in their homes, in the dead of night, and demand revision of their dwellings under pain of legal punishment, the poorest and the ones who's doors had been brought down by the more zealous watchmen had started to publicly announce their displeasure and distaste with the City Watch and its members.

The Commons, a group of workers not belonging to any of the Guilds that was created as a political front fighting for the rights of the menial workers, had swelled both in numbers and complaints on these deeds. Impassioned by the speeches and talks of their Speaker, half-orc named Rhaeg, they had apparently started to arm themselves and form some sort of a "militia" in hopes to defend themselves from the murderers and anyone who would abuse the people, citing that "The Watch showed they don't care about us, only their results".

The recent discharge, many adding "dishonourable" before the said word, of Captain A.B. Barns, and thepublic assurances on behalf of the City Watch to cease with late-night, district-wide house searches had managed to tame most fires of discontent, and the reminder of the looming fiendish threat that is still in the countryside served as a good refocus of people's priorities once more.

Even so, the Commons appear to stay on their path. Perhaps the rumoured anti-governmental sentiments of their Speaker had finally born fruit.



While there are reports of various persons staking out a road leading to Ulgoth's Beard, the fact is that the Flaming Fist are currently fighting on a wide front around the city. Though it is not readily visible, due to the chaotic nature of demonic warfare and thus the ever-changing battlelines, there appears to be no readily seen end to the warfare. There's no easy telling where and how exactly had the fiends and their evil followers fortified themselves at. Despite none of it reaching the city proper, it already had seasonal merchants of Baldur's Gate and ones dependant on the sea trade had elected to leave the city as quickly as they could, for not only their trade had been ruined for the remainder of this season but their very lives came in danger.

Against that fold come the religious communities. Men and women, inspired by fervent preaching of Vhaan de Luca, the presence of the Archon of Justice known as Terragona, tales of inspiration and victory over the rift, had come together to form an armed force of city defenders. Given recognition and special status for the duration of the conflict, the Templars of Tyr now called "Templars of the Flaming Tears", along with their allies in Ilmater, Torm and Tymora, have marshalled themselves into combat readiness. Many can see their members join on the patrols upon the walls, carry crates of supplies or serve as messengers between the temples and the Flaming Fist.





((Edit: I forgot to add this yesterday. Consider going to Ulgoth's Beard an OOC action, since the place is supposed to be swarming with all manner of fiends and monsters. You can go there IG to witness the beauty of the map, but please refrain from RPing about seeing it ICly. The DM Team will not respect mentions of having been there IC to the NPCs.))