Descent into Avernus

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).