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There are plenty of military organizations in theDungeons & Dragonssetting, all with their own goals and ambitions. Yet one of the most recurring ones is the Flaming Fist, a mercenary group based onBaldur’s Gatebut with forces in many nearby (and not so nearby) locations.
While some players dismiss them as simple soldiers for hire, their ties to the great city of Baldur’s Gate go deeper, being crucial to how Baldurian life functions. But how did this band of mercenaries come to be, and what is their link to Baldur’s Gate?
Early History Of The Flaming Fist
The founder of the Flaming Fist was Xeremiah Eltan, an influential man who saw great potential within Baldur’s Gate.The coastal city was a prime center of operationsfor many mercenary groups since it was so well-connected to the rest of the Sword Coast.
Yet none of these groups were mightier than the other, andEltan worked hard to recruit them allunder his own banner, forming one single, cohesive group that was stronger than the sum of its parts.
This was the beginning of the Flaming Fist, a mercenary organization that, while they didn’t do charity work,they did work to maintain the law and orderon the streets of Baldur’s Gate.
The Flaming Fist grew so influential that their leader,Xeremiah Eltan himself, ended up as part of the Council of Four, the ruling body of Baldur’s Gate. With his newfound position as Duke,Eltan hires his own Flaming Fist as the main police force in Baldur’s Gate, using tax money for the expenses.
This consolidated the Flaming Fist’s place in the city, but they still had reach beyond the walls.Many expeditions and alliances were made far beyond Baldur’s Gateto keep order in the outside world and to prevent any threats, be they cults or empires, from gaining strength.
Organization Of The Flaming Fist
The Flaming Fist is a Lawful Neutral organization, aiming to uphold order above all else and keeping a military hierarchy to do so.They are always looking to expand their ranks,and the people who can show prowess in battle, as well as an honorable demeanor, are the ones who ascend the fastest.
Their ranks are understood as:
Current State Of The Flaming Fist
The Flaming Fist always depended on a strong leader to keep their forces together, maintaining order and culling out corruption from their ranks. The role of Marshal was so key to the organization that, in fact, it was often threatened by multiple assassination attempts.
Duke Eltan had a few attempts on his life, the most notable happening during the first Baldur’s Gate video game.The current Marshal, Ulder Ravengard, gained his position after the previous Marshal was assassinated, and the plot of Baldur’s Gate 3 has Ravengard being kidnapped, brainwashed, and likely killed.
The previous Marshal before Ravengard was Abdel Adrian, the canon protagonist of Baldur’s Gate 1 and 2. He also gained his title after his predecessor was murdered.
Now, the Flaming Fist continues to be a force of order, keeping the peace as best as they can all around the Sword Coast. They’ve been blessed with many just leaders, buttheir overreliance on a single individual could end up being their downfall, making the Marshalthe greatest strength and weaknessof the famed mercenary group.
