Baldur's Gate
The strong trading city on the border of the Western Heartlands. Since its birth, Baldur's Gate has been a merchant city based around imports and exports from its famous docks. Ruled in the upper city by the Council of Dukes and a collective of wealthy patriars. The dukes commission a City Watch that protects all those in the Upper City, while the Lower city is patrolled by the Flaming Fist, an elite force of pseudo-police. It is a bustling metropolis, filled to the brim with all sorts of peoples, wares, shops, services, and, dangers. One must keep their wits about them in Baldur's Gate lest they be robbed, killed, or abducted by the Guild or any other manner of criminal lurking in the lower city. Corruption is no stranger to Baldur's Gate but many believe the current Head Duke: Ulder Ravengard to be an honorable and upstanding man. But with the fall of Elturel and cultists of the Dead Three Terrorizing the city, and Ravengard nowhere to be found. We are left to wonder, what is the fate of Baldur's Gate?
Demographics
Mostly Human but all sorts
Government
Plutocracy
Defences
Historically speaking, Baldur's Gate was naturally well-defended by its location in a natural inlet,[12] and the great wall that was financed by the city's founder, Balduran.[42] However, its security was often attributed to its political neutrality and the world-view of its leadership. While the city remained dedicated to the termination of threats which jeopardized trade and commerce in the Sword Coast, it refused to involve itself with the region's political conflicts.
Defense of the Upper City fell under the responsibility of the Watch, the constables who enforced the laws of the city's patriar noble class. As it has been for over a century before the Second Sundering, the rest of the city was policed by members of the Flaming Fist. Many officers within the Fist were "retired" adventurers and its highest rank of Marshal, was by tradition, one of the Grand Dukes.[12]
MilitaryEdit
While the Fist always kept a strong contingent within the city's walls, they doubled as the city's standing army and were free to hire themselves out in external conflicts as long as they were never aligned against the city.[7][12] At the behest of their leaders, they even embarked upon journeys to the then-newly-discovered continent of Maztica.[43] After a century of serving as defenders of the city, they had become so entwined with the fate of its well-being, they operated as the de facto police force for domestic concerns and its bulwark for threats from abroad.[14]
In addition to the 1,700-plus soldiers of the Flaming Fist, the Grand Dukes commanded a navy of a half dozen ships with crews of at least 40 men each.[14]
Industry & Trade
Baldur's Gate is more than anything a trading city. The Gray Harbor being one of the largest trading ports along the sword coast. The laws surrounding which are relatively lax, that is to say any can trade whatever they wish as long as they do so non-violently. This has turned Baldur's Gate into a trade haven out-competing both Waterdeep and Amn combined.
Beyond this the city is host to almost 90 professional guilds engaging in a myriad of trades.
As one says, if you know where to look, you can find almost anything in Baldur's Gate
Guilds and Factions
Like any great city, Baldur's Gate has a variety of factions.
The government is comprised of the Parliament of Peers, a collection of Patriar and Lower City residents who handle legal and legislative matters of the city, while the whole of Baldur's Gate is ruled by a council of four dukes and one Grand Duke, a post currently held by Ulder Ravengard. Beyond this the city has a criminal organization known simply as: The Guild. The Guild oversees all criminal activity employing all manners of thieves, assassins, crooks, criminals, and the rest of the undesirables. One should be wary committing crime for gain in Baldur's Gate, if you are not under the protection of The Guild, it is assumed you are working against it.
The government is comprised of the Parliament of Peers, a collection of Patriar and Lower City residents who handle legal and legislative matters of the city, while the whole of Baldur's Gate is ruled by a council of four dukes and one Grand Duke, a post currently held by Ulder Ravengard. Beyond this the city has a criminal organization known simply as: The Guild. The Guild oversees all criminal activity employing all manners of thieves, assassins, crooks, criminals, and the rest of the undesirables. One should be wary committing crime for gain in Baldur's Gate, if you are not under the protection of The Guild, it is assumed you are working against it.
History
Centuries past, the great hero Balduran returned home from years adventuring the sea of swords to his home village of gray harbor. With him he brought a great wealth which drastically improved the fortunes of his small village. Expanding the docks, launching businesses, and eventually to ward off bandits, a wall was built. In honour of its founder, one of the passages of the wall was named Baldur's Gate, a name that became synonymous with the settlement. Today the city attracts all kinds of people for trade and fortune. But even the most hardened of adventurers watch their step here, for all know lives hold price in copper; and greed proves deadlier than dragon fire.
Geography
Built into the side of the sword coast around Gray Harbor, the city expanded up into the Upper City.
South of the city lies the mercantile nation of Amn, forever at odds with Baldur's Gate and attempting to dominate trade on the Sea of Swords.
To the north lie the cities of Waterdeep and Neverwinter, very larger trading partners of the city. As part of the Lord's Alliance they are bound to come to the aid of Baldur's Gate if the city is ever threatened by Amn or otherwise.
To the east Baldur's Gate is a close neighbor of the holy capital of the nation of Elturgard: Elturel. Although Elturgard sees Baldur's Gate as a cesspool and frown upon the cities liberal religious tolerances, in recent years the grand duke Ulder Ravengard has been attempting to forge stronger relations.
And just beneath the Cloakwood to the south lies Candlekeep, one of the greatest libraries in Faerun, perhaps Toril. It is a mass of knowledge and magic and is one of the first stops for an adventurer looking for obscure knowledge or aid. They have been known to accept students from Patriar families from time to time, but one thing is inescapable, Candlekeep does not provide service without such in return. The most common form of which is furnishing the libraries with a piece not yet housed within the walls. Although depending on the circumstance that can range from escorting a scholar, to protecting an old tome.
Maps
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Baldur's Gate
Type
City
Population
125,000
Inhabitant Demonym
Baldurian
Included Locations
Owner/Ruler
Characters in Location
Related Reports (Primary)
Related Reports (Secondary)
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