Descent into Avernus

GUARD REACTIONS

Use the following tables each time the party has a run-in

with the Flaming Fist or the Watch and you're not sure

how the encounter should play out. Such interactions oc-

cur often at the city's gates. Roll on the Gate Interactions

table if you want to randomly determine the experience

characters have as they attempt to pass through a gate.

If someone calls the Flaming Fist or the Watch, refer-

ence the Guard Arrival Times table (page 162) to see

how long it takes for the authorities to show up. Then,

roll on the Flaming Fist Reactions or Watch Reactions

table as appropriate to determine how the guards be-

have when they arrive.

GATE INTERACTIONS

d8 Interaction

The guards thoroughly search packs and vehicles,

questioning everything and everyone.

2 The guards force a line of travelers to wait for 6dl0

minutes for no clear reason.

3 The guards refuse to admit anyone with animals,

unusual weapons, or obvious magic items.

4 The guards don't let anyone through the gate. Those

wishing to enter or leave must wait until the gate re-

opens or try another gate.

S The guards focus their attention on a suspicious

traveler and wave a bunch of other people through

without searching them or their belongings.

6 The guards clear the gate swiftly to let a patriar's

litter pass through.

7 The guards skip the search if a traveler pays l gp for

"express gate" service.

8 The guards wave travelers through without a second

look.

FLAMING FIST REACTIONS

d8 Reaction

The guards demand that everyone drop to the

ground, bludgeoning those who don't comply

immediately. After searching everyone for money,

contraband, or other valuable items, they confiscate

whatever they find before letting everyone go.

2 Exasperated, the guards just want everyone to

disperse immediately.

3 The guards already have l d6 thugs with them from

a prior arrest and don't want to deal with another

problem.

4 The guards make arrests, but are called away mid

process and let everyone go.

S The guards merely walk by, as they're already escort-

ing a patriar (noble).

6 The guards start a bribe bidding war to decide who

gets arrested and who goes free.

7 An officer arrives with the group, insuring that any

arrests are conducted by the book.

8 The guards are spoiling for a fight and attack anyone

who looks like they might be guilty.

WATCH REACTIONS

d8 Reaction

The guards immediately arrest the poorest looking

person involved and lock them in jail for 24 hours

before letting them go.

2 The guards break up the situation, dispersing every·

one without making any arrests.

3 The guards confiscate all weapons but make no

arrests.

4 The guards watch circumstances unfold but take no

action that might endanger themselves.

5 The guards have clearly been bought off by the rich-

est person involved and do whatever it takes to help

that person.

6 Believing themselves to be ill-equipped to handle the

situation, the guards race away to get the Flaming

Fist. (Roll on the Guard Arrival Times table to deter-

mine how long it takes for the Flaming Fist to arrive,

and roll on the Flaming Fist Reactions table to deter-

mine how they behave.)

7 The guards try to bludgeon anyone not wearing

jewelry, but make no arrests.

8 The guards arrest anyone who can't pay a 5 gp bribe.

L AW AND OR D E R

Everyone in Baldur's Gate is expected to hew to com-

mon law. Murder, theft, assault, blackmail, and fraud

all carry severe penalties. Patriars, the wealthy, and

the we!J-connected are given much more leniency than

commoners. A noble heir who steals from a shop might

get away with a fine paid by a parent, whereas a com-

moner committing the same crime may be jailed or

publicly flogged.

Both the Watch and the Flaming Fist have the right

to dispense immediate justice, should they witness a

crime in progress. In unclear situations, or when a per-

son of influence is involved, the accused is jailed until a

trial can be set. Patriars and other powerful individuals

are usually placed under house arrest, except in dire

circumstances. Commoners await their trial in jail. On

occasion, a vigilante or hired mercenar y will break an

accused commoner out of prison in order to ensure the

accused's safety until the trial date.

Minor crimes, such as creating a public disturbance,

petty theft, or vandalism carry commensurate punish-

ments. Time in the stocks, public humiliation, or a fine

are the usual judgments. Some patriar families consider

petty crimes to be worse than major ones-they are a

sign that one can't manage one's baser instincts. Pa-

triars have been known to pay huge bribes or promise

outsized favors to protect a rebellious heir from being

charged with a minor crime.

Lawyers must belong to the Barrister's Guild to

practice, and the associated fees means they prefer to

represent wealthy clients. Poorer citizens often must

throw themselves on the mercy of the courts, or scrape

together what coin they can to hire an adventurer or

mercenary to find evidence to support their plea.

BALDUR'S GATE GAZETTEER