Descent into Avernus

(Nancy Kaufman) #1

160


The Upper City's political intrigues and the Outer


City's violence spills over into the Lower City, the city's


middle ground. Rampant crime, class grudges, foreign


threats, and economic pressures leave many Baldurians


feeling trapped within their own homes. Flaming Fist


patrols react to threats with indiscriminate violence,


doing little to make citizens feel safer. As a result, in re-


cent years many citizens have started banding together


in crews. These counter-gangs align along professional


or neighborhood affiliations, doing their best to protect


their territories. While this has given some of the city's


people a way of feeling more in control of their lives,


it's also increased the number of armed citizens on the


streets. Whether the Lower City is actually safer after


the formation of crews remains an open question.


In the Outer City, all the world washes against the


city's gates. Here crime and poverty are contrasted by


wonders from afar and the riches of cultures across


FaerOn. The mix of wanderers and refugees remains in


constant flux, with communities forming and disband-


ing on a monthly basis. None can possibly keep track of


all the foreign traditions or the dangerous- sometimes


outright evil-religious practices observed in the Outer


City. As a result, Baldur's Gate has widely adopted a


"do no harm" policy when it comes to faiths and orga-


nizations operating in the city. Any group is welcome to


operate openly so long as the city's important citizens


aren't harmed.


Beyond all its dangers, Baidu r's Gate is an adventur-


er's city, a place where a sword-for-hire can find a rich


BALOUR' S CATE GAZETIEER

patron, join a secret guild, stalk killers for a bounty,


or come to the aid of desperate citizens. Good-hearted


champions fight against corruption and bring murderers


to justice, while less moral mercenaries find a good


price for their services. The city offers opportunities


as well as the roost reliable and ruthless market on the


Sword Coast. Information, treasures, secrets, and souls


ca n be bought or sold for the right price.


As a great hero of Baldur's Gate once said, "Watch


your step in the shadows. Watch your back in the light.


Win a prize beyond your wildest dreams or disappear


into forgotten history. Every day your life is on the line.


Every day you could become a legend. Welcome to


Baldur's Gate."


NEIGHBO RS, RIVALS, AND ALLIES


Other cities and nations keep a watchful eye on Baldur's


Gate, which is growing in wealth, power, and influence.


Baldur's Gate trades with the coastal cities of Water-


deep and Neverwinter to the north while contending


with the aggressive mercantile nation of Arnn to the


south. Arnn seeks to dominate trade on the Sea of


Swords and views Baldur's Gate as a growing threat.


Baldur's Gate joined the Lords' Alliance, a coalition of


independent cities that includes Neverwinter and Wa-


terdeep, largely because of disputes with Arnn. Should


Amn decide to attack Baldur's Gate, the city can count


on the other members of the Lords' Alliance to come to


its defense. This arrangement infuriates Arnn, which is


not prepared to test the alliance's resolve.

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