Descent into Avernus

(Nancy Kaufman) #1
REYA^1 S TALE

Reya was training a few miles north of Elturel when the


city vanished. She watched in disbelief as the Compan-


ion's light went out, turning black as the city appeared


to crumble and sink below the horizon- a horrific image


that Reya has been unable to get out of her mind. She


returned to Elturel to find a crater where the city once


stood, then took it upon herself to lead a group of fear-


ful refugees west to Baldur's Gate. Before the Flaming


Fist closed the city gates, Reya and a handful of others


managed to sneak inside, but they didn't get far before


a group of Flaming Fist soldiers confronted them. The


refugees scattered, and Reya soon found herself cor-


nered by a Flaming Fist thug. She wounded the soldier


with her longsword, Bed down an alley, and stole a cloak


to better conceal her armor and weapons. She's been a


wanted fugitive ever since.


Reya hasn't been in Baldur's Gate long, but she's


quickly concluded that the city is a cesspool of corrup-


tion with death lurking around every foggy corner. She's


investigating a rumor that Thavius Kreeg, the high


overseer ofElturel, is in the city. Reya hasn't confirmed


whether the rumor is true, but reports say that Kreeg


was seen in the company of four guards employed by the


Vanthampur family. The Vanthampur estate is located


in the Upper City, beyond her reach, but s he has learned


that Amrik Vanthampur runs a business out of the Low


Lantern. She aims to question him about the veracity of


the rumor.


Reya knows nothing of Thavius Kreeg's treachery.


She simply wants ans wers regarding what happened to


Elturel. If it's possible to save the city, the Hellrider is


prepared to do whatever it takes to do so. As for Baldur's


Gate, she could care Jess what happens to it. "I hope the


rats eat it," she says scornfully.


If the characters appear valiant and forthright, Reya


takes a liking to them immediately. Once she realizes


that her quest parallels theirs, s he asks to join them as


they prepare to visit Vanthampur Villa.


lf the characters reveal that they're working for the


Flaming Fist, Reya draws her longsword in a panic,


expecting to have to defend herself. Characters can allay


her fears by saying they have no intention of arresting


her. In the interests of full disclosure, Reya admits that


she's being hunted by the Flaming Fist for an "unfortu-


nate altercation" that wasn't entirely her fault.


IF REYAjOINS THE PART Y


Reya is willing to join the adventuring party if the char-


acters let her. She has no fri ends in Baldur's Gate, and


s he can't reach Vanthampur Villa in the heavily guarded


Upper City without help. She does her best to aid the


party, as long as the characters' actions and decisions


lead her closer to discovering the truth of what hap-


pened to Elturel. Once the city's fate becomes known to


her, Reya leaps at any chance to rescue the city from the


Nine Hells.


As an NPC, Reya falls under the DM's control. But if


running her becomes too much of a burden for you, see


if one of the players wants to run Reya as a secondary


character. You can provide the consenting player with a


copy of the veteran stat block in the Monster Manual.


CHAPTER l I A TALE OF TWO CITIES

VANTHAMPUR VILLA


Vanthampur Villa is located in the Upper City, which is


populated by the wealthiest residents of Baldur's Gate


and heavily patrolled by the Watch. The villa's location


is marked on map 1.1(page13), while map LS shows


its interior. The villa connects with the dungeon and


sewer complex shown on map 1.6 (page 37).


The characters might want to visit Vanthampur Villa


after leaving the Dungeon of the Dead Three or paying


a visit to Amrik Vanthampur at the Low Lantern. If they


take Amrik prisoner, they can count on Reya Maotle-


morn to keep a close eye on him.


GETTING TO THE VILLA


Twenty guards of the Watch vigilantly are posted at


every gate to the Upper City. lf the characters present


the badges given to them by Captain Zodge, the Watch


members let them pass through the gates, even if they


are accompanied by a prisoner or a known fugitive s uch


as Reya Mantlemorn. Any character without a badge is


questioned and required to pay a gate toll of 2 cp.


If the characters have Amrik as their prisoner, he does


nothing to provoke a confrontation with the guards at


the gate, fearing he might be hurt.


THE VANTHAMPUR FAMILY


Thalamra Vanthampur is a cunning, devil-worshiping


beast of a woman in her late sixties who can stare down


a hell hound without flinching. She is barrel-bodied,


with strong hands and forearms that speak to her begin-


nings as a manual laborer. Her youth was spent in the


cellars and sewers of Baldur's Gate, repairing pipes and


clearing out the city's filth. Thalamra rose from such


lowly work to become the minister of the city's sewers


and waterworks. Now s he dresses in the finery that


s uits her station as a duke of Baldur's Gate.


T halamra orchestrated the disappearance of Grand


Duke Ulder Ravengard to fulfill her ultimate goal of


becoming the new grand duke of Baldur's Gate. When


not engaged in political matters, s he conducts her most


secret business in the dungeon complex below her villa.


Thalamra is a widow three times over, and each of her


dead husbands was kind enough to give her a son. Her


oldest boy, Thurstwell, is a pale and sullen recluse in his


forties. A veritable shut-in, he uses imps to spy on his


brothers, Amrik and Mortlock. Thurstwell resents both


of them- Amrik for being their mother's favorite, and


Mortlock for being a monstrous dolt.


Thurstwell's real problem is that his mother doesn't


see him as her successor, and is grooming Amrik to fill


that role. Despite his jealousy, Thurstwell would never


visit harm upon Amrik for fear of incurring his mother's


wrath. Mortlock is a different matter, as it's been made


abundantly clear that Thalamra would disown him had


she not agreed to the dying wish of her third husband to


look after Mortlock despite his countless imperfections.


The last member of the Vanthampur family is Slobber-


chops, a mean-looking tressym (winged cat) with a bob-


tail and numerous battle scars. Characters who encoun-


ter Slobberchops can try to befri end it (see area VS).

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