Jack of Smiles

Jack Allard (a.k.a. Jack of Smiles)

Jack of Smiles, born Jack Allard, was an infamous serial killer that operated in Baldur's Gate from the late 1470's until 1482, when he died, and was responsible for possessing Lysara Solloway, turning her into the crime lord Lysara the Grin.

History

Little is known about the early history of Jack of Smiles. It is know he was born in the Outer City of Baldur's Gate in 1446, but his early days and childhood disposition are unknown.
In the late 1470's bodies began popping up in the Outer and Lower Cities of Baldur's Gate bearing a carved smile on the victims chest. In a bid for attention, the Flaming Fist received an anonymous letter claiming to be responsible for the various murders written by "the Jack of Smiles," a name the local media soon picked up on. Though a name was now put to the crimes, the Flaming Fist grew no closer to stopping the killing spree. Unknown to the guard, Jack was growing bored with wanton murder and was thinking bigger, but he was too well known and infamous at this point.
In 1482, Jack of Smiles met his end by happenstance, as he was killed during the rampage of the Bhaalspawn Crisis. However, not even death could stop his hold over Baldur's Gate, as Jack became a ghost open death. The same day he died, Jack found Lysara Solloway, the wife of Watch commander Maxwell Solloway mourning the loss of her son. Sensing an opportunity, Jack convinced Lysara to let him possess her to dull her pain, which the grieving woman agreed to. Controlling her actions, Lysara disappeared and was presumed dead.
Over the next ten years, Jack created a new persona, Lysara the Grin, and used his new body to launch a vicious takeover of Baldur's Gate's crime scene, which he controlled fully by 1491. Jack set up his headquarters underneath the bar The Last Laugh in the city's port district.
Shortly before the Baldur's Gate Uprising, the Order of the Gauntlet had caught wind that Lysara the Grin may be possessed and dispatched Eilidh Stormheart to investigate. Worried about losing his secret, Jack ordered an assassination on Eilidh, which was foiled by the Breadwinners.
On the 12th of Uktar, 1491, The Last Laugh was raided in a joint operation between the Flaming Fist, the Watch, under Oversar Maxwell Solloway, and the Breadwinners, aided by Ulder Ravengard's agent Zephyr. During a fight with the Breadwinners, Lysara's body was badly burned by Zephyr and Jack was forced to abandon it, taking over Malachor Wolfsbane temporarily before finally being destroyed for good.

Species

Human

Age

36 at time of death as a human; 45 at time of death as a ghost

Life

1446 CR 1491 CR 45 years old

Circumstances of Death

Died as a human during the Bhaalspawn Crisis; Died as a ghost at the hands of the Breadwinners

Gender

Male