The Lore of Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's Gate
Howdy folks! It's Joe Dyer here, and we're going to be delving as it were into the Legends and Lore of Baldur's Gate from Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's Gate! I've done my best to divide a lot of this up into things like comics, games, etc. so hopefully we can get through all of this because there's a ton to go through! This article is only based on the Legends we have explicit existing lore on, so if you see something I missed let me know! Also, certain characters that had cards in Adventures in the Forgotten Realms (Minsc/Boos, Volo, etc.) will not have entries here.
So, let's get right to it!
Baldur's Gate
If we're going to talk about this set, we should probably also talk about the city it's set in. Baldur's Gate, or as its usually called "The Gate," is a large metropolis alongside the Sword Coast of Faerûn. It is one of the largest cities and one of the most prosperous on the western coast of the continent. The Gate is exceptionally tolerant to outsiders, incredibly welcoming, and a place where anyone can make it or break it. Because of this tolerant attitude however, there is quite a bit of crime in the city as it attracts anyone from pirates to smugglers to even criminal gangs.
The city itself is broken down into several sections from the Outer City all the way to the Upper City, and its rule has been a thing of interest over the years. Currently, the ruling bodies of the city as of 1479 DR are the Council of Four and the Parliament of Peers. The Parliament elects members to the Council as well as acts as a legislative body.
Baldur's Gate is a beautiful city, full of mystery and wonder.
The Sage of Shadowdale
It seems appropriate to devote an entire section to just this individual. Elminster Aumar is a legend of the Realms, known famously as the "Sage of Shadowdale" or as the "Old Mage." Elminster's tale is long and dates back to 212 DR as a Prince of Athalantar (a long since gone province). Elminster's parents were slain by Undarl, a magelord of Athalantar. Elminster, at the young age of 12, swore vengeance and lived life as a brigand and thief for some time.
After living in Hastarl, the capital of Athalantar, and becoming a burglar there, Elminster first came in contact with magic as he met the Magister of that time. Asked if he desired to learn magic, Elminster refused as he hated magic due to the corrupt magelords. However, he would soon come to find a Goddess who had taken interest in him. Mystra visited Elminster, convincing him to learn magic and to revere her, even allowing him to walk the world as a woman so that he would better know magic as well as walk undetected from the magelords' interest. Elminster, known as Elmara at this time, was a priestess of the Goddess until such a time that she felt it time to return and defeat the Magelords. Elmara became Elminster once more, and with the assistance of all those he had made friends with during his adventures, he was able to claim his kingdom's throne.
Realizing he had no desire for kingship however, he abdicated the throne to a friend of his Helm Stoneblade. Afterwards, Mystra proposed that Elminster should become one of her Chosen, a proposal to which he quickly agreed.
As a Chosen of Mystra, Elminster is exceptionally long-lived and has seen many events in the years from the founding of the Harpers to the Time of Troubles. As one of the most powerful wizards of his time, Elminster is widely regarded as one of the more popular characters of the Forgotten Realms setting.
The Gods
The various Gods of Faerûn are an important part of the lore in the setting, and Commander Legends has no shortage of them. Specifically, it has three Gods, now known across Faerûn as "The Dead Three."
Bane, Lord of Darkness
Bane is the God of oppression, terror, and hate across the Realms. Bane was once a mortal human who joined with the future Gods Bhaal and Myrkul, who ascended to Godhood after taking the domains from Jergal, the God of Death. Bane and the others were tricked by Jergal into dividing up his domains amongst the three Gods, with Bane claiming the realm of strife. In doing so however, not only did he need to contend with Myrkul and Bane, but the rest of the Gods as well.
Bane was ambitious and resentful of the other Gods in the pantheon, and most of all he hated Mystra, Goddess of Magic. During what would become known as the Time of Troubles, Bane and Myrkul plotted together to steal the Tablets of Fate from the Overgod Ao. Due to their actions, the Gods were cast out from their domains and forced to walk Toril in an exercise in humility.
Bane's avatar was slain by the God Torm near the city of Tantras in 1358 DR and much of his portfolio fell to the moral Cyric, who claimed the powers temporarily of all of the Dead Three.
Bane would return to Godhood, having a contingency plan in place much like his cohort Bhaal would, by creating a son named Iyatchu Xvim. Xvim's only purpose was to serve as a cocoon to contain the essence of Bane, allowing him to return to life. This event occurred in Midwinter in the Year of Wild Magic, and Xvim was destroyed in allowing Bane to live once more. As is all of the Dead Three, Bane is now a quasi-deity trapped in mortal form.
Bhaal, Lord of Murder
Bhaal was the God of violence and murder, reigning from his Throne of Blood on the outer plane of Gehenna. Bhaal was a wholly evil and sadistic god, who rose to power from a mortal who sought alongside Bane and Myrkul to kill the God of the Dead Jergal. The three traveled to Jergal's realm and the God offered his realm to them, suggesting they split the power between the three of them.
Bhaal was forced to walk the Realms in 1358 DR during the Time of Troubles, at which point he was slain by the mortal Cyric with the sword Godsbane (an avatar of the God Mask). Cyric took over Bhaal's divinity at this time.
However, Bhaal had foreseen his end and created heirs to his throne known as the Bhaalspawn all throughout the Realms, much like how Bane had done with Xvim. The Bhaalspawn were a large focus during the Baldur's Gate series of video games (specifically the first two in the series) and were involved in a number of conflicts along the Sword Coast.
The Bhaalspawn held the divine essence of the Lord of Murder, and eventually, after the last two Bhaalspawn were dead (Abdel Adrian and Viekang), Bhaal was revived and reclaimed the domain of Murder from Cyric. He is now a quasi-deity however, trapped in mortal form.
Myrkul, Lord of Bones
Myrkul was the ruler of the Dead, originally a mortal man who ascended to Godhood alongside his companions Bhaal and Bane. Myrkul was involved heavily in the Time of Troubles, being one of the two catalysts for that event alongside Bane as the two conspired to steal the Tablest of Fate from Ao.
During this time Myrkul attempted to locate the Tablets and also sought to intercept the mortal Midnight, who would eventually become the reborn Goddess Mystra. Myrkul's avatar was destroyed in Waterdeep at this time, much of his power being transferred to the mortal Cyric before finally being taken by Kelemvor, who would go on to become the new God of Death.
Myrkul himself survived as a quasi-deity, restored to a form of godhood during 15th century DR, albeit trapped in mortal form.
The Baldur's Gate Series
One of the best ways to begin to break down much of the Legends and Lore of Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's Gate is to separate out characters based on the video games. The Baldur's Gate series was first released in 1998 by Interplay Entertainment with the entry Baldur's Gate and is widely regarded as one of the most critically acclaimed D&D games ever. Many of the Legends from Commander Legends are direct characters from these game series, all the way up to Baldur's Gate III.
Let's start, as it were, at the beginning.
Baldur's Gate
Abdel Adrian
Abdel Adrian is the canonical protagonist of Baldur's Gate and Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn. While the game itself allows you to make up whoever you want as your character, the novels explicitly used Abdel Adrian as its protagonist.
Abdel was born as a Bhaalspawn, a progeny of the dead God Bhaal, Lord of Murder. Bhaal had foreseen his demise during the Time of Troubles (a period in which the Gods and Goddesses of Faerûn were cast out by Ao) and had prepared for this event, siring children across the Realms in hopes that his offspring would be able to bring him back to life. Abdel was one such of these, born to a priestess named Alianna. Abdel's mother was slain by the Harpers, specifically the mage Gorion, who would be entrusted the care of the baby Abdel. Abdel grew up in the fortress of Candlekeep as Gorion's Ward alongside another of Bhaal's children, the trickster Imoen, who he became fast friends with.
Abdel was thrust into action in 1368 DR when Gorion sought to escape from Candlekeep with Abdel, fearing for his son's life. Gorion was murdered by Sarevok, another Bhaalspawn who sought power. Abdel journeyed from that point on, alongside Imoen and many others, coming to terms with the circumstances of his birth and his father's legacy. Eventually, Abdel would go on to become one of the Grand Dukes of Baldur's Gate as a member of the Council of Four.
During the year 1482 DR, Abdel was confronted by the last remaining Bhaalspawn who sought to kill him. A battle ensued and it is unknown who killed who, as the remaining man underwent a transformation into an avatar of Bhaal. The creature was defeated, and Grand Duke Abdel Adrian was laid to rest.
Gorion
Gorion was a powerful mage and a respected member of the Harpers, an organization created to promote good in the world. During the years 1347-1348 DR, Gorion assisted the Harpers in an attack on the temple of Bhaal in the Forest of Wyrms. There they found Bhaalspawn children being prepared for a mass sacrifice. Gorion took in one of the infants, Abdel Adrian, in as his own and retired to Candlekeep to raise the boy.
Gorion kept the secret of Abdel's birth from him, having only shared such information with Elminster himself. During 1368 DR, Gorion was warned by Elminster of a threat by another Bhaalspawn named Sarevok. He and Abdel fled Candlekeep under cover of night, but were found by Sarevok. Gorion sacrificed himself so that Abdel could flee and was struck dead by Sarevok.
Sarevok
Sarevok Anchev was on the Bhaalspawn children intended to be sacrificed in the same Cult group that Abdel Adrian and Imoen's mothers were a part of. While Adrian and Imoen were adopted and cared for, Sarevok was left as an orphan to die. Sarevok survived on his own, eventually coming to be adopted by Richtar, the Arm of the Iron Throne. Like most Bhaalspawn, Sarevok had dreams of power, murder, and death. In the year 1365 DR, as part of the expansion of the Iron Throne's activities he began researching the prophecy of Alaundo the Seer and discovered the possibility of attaining Bhaal's portfolio via the violent killing of every other Bhaalspawn. Discovering that Abdel Adrian was also a Bhaalspawn, Sarevok delved into his plans, learning power of his divine heritage and using his power within the Iron Throne organization to attain even more control over the region.
Eventually, Sarevok attempted to take his chance to eliminate another Bhaalspawn by attempting to attack Abdel Adrian and the sage Gorion. While Gorion died at his hands, Adrian escaped and began to stop some of Sarevok's schemes within the region. Sarevok tried to thwart Abdel's interferences, but was unsuccessful. In trying to expand the reaches of his power, Sarevok had the Council of Four at the time assassinated along with the head of the Flaming Fist at the time. He attempted to install himself as a new Grand Duke of the Gate, but was confronted during his coronation by Abdel. The two diving siblings fought, and Adrian slew Sarevok inside a Bhaalist temple. Destroyed, his essence dissipated back into Bhaal.
Sarevok would reappear again during Abdel Adrian's pursuit of Jon Irenicus in the form of an essence of Bhaal that was sent to Bhaal's realm upon his death, as did all Bhaalspawn.
Imoen
Imoen was another Bhaalspawn, and a divine sibling to Abdel Adrian, although she never knew this growing up. She was adopted by an innkeeper named Winthrop and lived in Candlekeep alongside Abdel Adrian and his mentor Gorion. Imoen became involved in the events of Baldur's Gate by snooping on Gorion and learning of his plans to leave. Having witnessed Gorion's death, she found Abdel and comforted him, joining alongside him in his quest for answers.
Imoen would grow in her abilities, learning the arcane arts from Liia Jannath, one of the Grand Dukes of Baldur's Gate. At some point, Imoen was captured by the mage Jon Irenicus, who tortured and experimented on Imoen in order to unlock the divine abilities of the Bhaalspawn she didn't even know she had. Imoen's soul was extracted by Irenicus and instilled in his sibling Bodhi.
Eventually Imoen's soul was returned to her upon Bodhi's demise, and Imoen is assumed to have died some time before 1482 DR, as the only two remaining Bhaalspawn at that time were Abdel Adrian and Viekang.
Alora
Alora was a Companion available in Baldur's Gate, and was a halfling thief of some renown. She was originally born in the city of Iraebor, and eventually wound up in Baldur's Gate, performing heists and thievery there.
Baeloth Barrityl
Baeloth was a drow sorcerer and the master of the Black Pits, a fighting pit located in the Underdark. His nickname was Baeloth the Entertainer. During 1368 DR, he fought the Champion of the Pits directly after the Champion had defeated all of his combatants. He perished in battle, but his death triggered a contingent wish spell placed upon him by a djinni named Najim that instead cast him onto the Sword Coast. After this, Baeloth attempted to establish a new arena near the Coast Way crossing.
Dynaheir
Dynaheir was a wychlaran, one of the Rashemi's great witches. The wychlaran are spiritual leaders of Rashemen, communing with the great spirits that roam their lands. Dynaheir was sent on a spiritual quest called dajemma, but as a wychlaran she required a bodyguard. The Rashemi berserker Minsc and his hamster Boo accompanied the witch on her quest, bringing them into contact with Abdel Adrian (the Bhaalspawn). Dynaheir and Minsc became separated briefly as she had become kidnapped by a group of gnolls.
After being reunited with Minsc, the two were part of the group of individuals who came to rescue Abdel Adrian (Gorion's Ward) in 1369 DR from the dungeons of the Flaming Fist headquarters in Baldur's Gate. The group was ambushed and imprisoned by Jon Irenicus, and Dynaheir perished in the dungeons beneath the city of Athkatla.
Faldorn
Faldorn was a druid leader of the Shadow Druids. She actively supported the violent use of nature against the encroachment of mankind, and during 1368 DR fought against the Iron Throne mercantile operations in the Cloak Wood forest. Faldorn was a companion available in Baldur's Gate and was also present during the events of Baldur's Gate II.
Neera
Neera was a character introduced in the Enhanced Edition of Baldur's Gate. She was a half-elf wild mage who was born in the community of Highbough. She learned of her abilities as a wild mage from a very young age, but those abilities frightened her to the point where she fled her home and took up exile in the woods. Eventually, overuse of her magic led her to be exiled from the High Forest for good.
During 1368 DR, Neera was hunted by a group of Red Wizards of Thay who sought to experiment on wild mages to understand their power better. Neera found another wild mage like herself named Adoy, but he was captured by the Red Wizards. Being able to communicate with Neera via telepathy, the mage's voice in her head became too much and she severed the link with a potion.
In 1369 DR, Neera established a refuge for wild mages to keep them safe in the Forest of Tethir.
Rasaad yn Bashir
Rasaad was a monk who worshipped the Goddess Selûne who first appeared in the Enhanced Edition of Baldur's Gate. Growing up as a street urchin and thief alongside his brother Gramaz on the streets of Calimport, the two brothers attempted to rob a man who was actually a monk. The monk offered the two boys a place in the Monastery of the Moon. As monks, the two brothers came in conflict with worshippers of Shar and the Shadow Thieves. During such an altercation, Gramaz apparently died, but later resurfaced having joined the Order of the Dark Moon, a group of monks dedicated to Shar. Ultimately, Rasaad defeated his brother and the Order of the Dark Moon.
At some point Rasaad became companions to Abdel Adrian, the Bhaalspawn.
Safana
Safana was a human Pirate born in the country of Calimshan. At a young age, she ran away and joined up with Pirates along the Sword Coast. During the Year of the Banner, she was involved in searching for the lost treasure of Black Alaric, a famous pirate captain. At some point, she became involved with the Elven adventurer Coran until they split up and Safana became a part of the Flaming Fist.
Eventually she and Coran would reconcile, but only so that she could attempt to draw Abdel Adrian out into the open so that she could slay him to collect the bounty on his head.
Viconia DeVir
Viconia DeVir was a Drow apostate from the family of House DeVir in Menzoberranzen. After refusing to sacrifice an infant in the Spider Queen's name, she fled to the surface, gaining faith in the Goddess Shar along the way. Viconia was a companion available in Baldur's Gate. Viconia was famous for escaping death many times in many different ways, almost as if Shar herself wished to see the priestess survive her encounters with those that hated her.
Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn
Shadows of Amn was released in September 26, 2000. With the events of the game taking place only a few months after the events of Baldur's Gate, many of the characters from that game returned to this one.
Firkraag
Firkraag was a red dragon that lived in the Windspear Hills of Amn around 1368 DR. Having been wounded by Gorion and the Harpers in the past, Firkraag plotted revenge against his adopted child (in canon Abdel Adrian) when they arrived in Amn during the events of Baldurs Gate II. As part of a quest chain in that game, Firkraag utilized his polymorphing magic to pose as a wealthy businessman named Lord Jierdan. In the game, Firkraag is voiced by Jim Cummings.
Jan Jansen
Jan Jansen is a highly eccentric gnome inventor who journeyed with Gorion's Ward (Abdel Adrian) as a Companion in Baldur's Gate II. He partook in many different trades, from illusionist to turnip salesman. He was often fond of tall tales, some of his stories so outlandish that it seemed they had no foundation in reality.
Jon Irenicus
Jon Irenicus was a powerful Elven wizard. His Elven name was Joneleth, but after he was cast out of the city of Suldanessellar, he was given the surname Irenicus which meant "the Shattered One". Jon was cast out of the city after he embarked on a quest to gain power along his "sibling", Bodhi. They attempted to merge life force with the Tree of Life in order to gain power. The Queen Ellesime cursed both of them, stripping of them of their elven heritage and shunning them.
Cut off from his divinity as an Elf, Irenicus began to search for ways to regain his former immortality. While his "sibling" Bodhi turned to vampirism, Irenicus began to investigate the conflict between the Bhaalspawn, Abdel Adrian and Sarevok Anchev. He tracked down Adrian and framed him for the death of a young noble named Skie Silvershield. While Adrian was eventually released and reunited with Imoen, his half-sibling, Irenicus had planned this to gain access to two Bhaalspawn. With Bodhi's help, he had the group abducted and transported to Amn.
Irenicus tortured and experimented on the Bhaalspawn and their allies, but was ultimately assaulted by the Shadow Thieves in his complex. Irenicus and Imoen were imprisoned in the asylum of Spellhold. Irenicus took the opportunity and gained control of the island in order to continue his experiments, finally able to extra Imoen's divine soul to bestow it upon Bodhi.
Abdel eventually arrived to free Imoen, but was drugged by Irenicus and his divine essence was stolen as well. While Abdel Adrian was able to gather the inmates of the asylum into a revolt, Irenicus used his power to coordinate an attack on Suldanessellar with the drow of Ust Natha and other fiendish allies.
Abdel and his allies confronted Irenicus, and in the battle was transported to an aspect of Bhaal's Realm. Transforming himself into one of Bhaal's Avatars, the Slayer, Irenicus was nearly victorious. However the combined effort of Abdel and his friends proved greater and Irenicus was destroyed.
Mazzy Fentan
Mazzy was a halfling paladin of Arvoreen, and one of Abdel Adrian's Companions throughout the course of the Baldur's Gate II storylines. She was a brave warrior, and had much of the typical paladin abilities that paladins devoted to other deities had.
Nalia de'Arnise
Nalia was a young noblewoman who lived with her father and aunt until 1369 DR when her home was attacked by yuan-ti and Rocksmash trolls. Her father was abducted and unknowingly killed at this time, leaving Nalia as the sole heir to her castle. During Baldur's Gate II she sought out Gorion's Ward and their companions for assistance with her plight.
Wilson
Wilson was named after his father, who was believed to have also been a bear.
He was a genteel and sophisticated bear.
Baldur's Gate III
Baldur's Gate III is technically an upcoming video game to be released, but it is currently in Early Access. It's initial release date was on October 3rd, 2020. Many of the Companion characters in the game are characters that have been infected by an illithid tadpole, a tool of the mind flayers to grow more mind flayers by using host bodies.
Astarion
Astarion is a Vampire who was turned sometime during the 13th century DR. In 1492 DR, Astarion was kidnapped by mind flayers, who infected him with an illithid tadpole. This gave him the temporary ability to survive in daylight and enter homes uninvited.
While others sought to rid themselves of the infection, Astarion sought to control it.
Gale
Gale was a powerful wizard and very skilled in the Art. However, he was spurned by Mystra and sought to reunite with the Goddess of Magic by any mean possible. As a result of his attempts to win back the love of a Goddess, his body became host to a Netherese destruction orb. The orb constantly absorbed energy from the Weave, counting down to some form of ultimate destruction.
In 1492 DR, Gale was taken prisoner by the mind flayers and injected with an illithid tadpole. However, instead of becoming a mind flayer, Gale was granted limited pyschic powers.
Gut
Gut was one of the True Soul spiritual leaders of the Cult of the Absolute who worked alongside Dror Ragzlin and the drow Minthara Baenre. Her psychic powers came from an illithid tadpole implanted within her brain, not from her Goddess.
Halsin
Halsin was an archdruid of the Emerald Grove in late 15th century DR. He was an experienced and skilled shapeshifter, capable of transforming into a massive bear. In 1492 DR, the druid encountered a drow who'd been infected by an illithid tadpole. Intrigued by this development, he began traveling to discover what had happened. Unfortunately he was captured by goblinoid members of the Cult of the Absolute.
Kagha
Kagha was one of the archdruids of the Emerald Grove, having taken place after Halsin was captured. Kagha held very little tolerance for the tieflings that sought refuge in their grove, and even had instructed the druids to perform a special rite to protect their home from other outsiders. In truth, she sought to gain control of the grove and rededicate to server the Shadow Druids, to which she had close ties to.
Karlach
Karlach was a tiefling warrior and champion of the archdevil Zariel. During 1492 DR, after witnessing a mind flayer nautiloid pass over the battlefield of Avernus, Karlach sought to escape her station as Zariel's champion and stowed away. However, she was taken prisoner and implanted with an illithid tadpole. After the nautiloid crashed Karlach escaped but soon became the quarry of a band of Zariel's agents, tracking her down to a tollhouse along the River Chionthar before wounding her.
Lae'zel
Lae'zel is a member of the githyanki race. At one point, the Gith were a slave race of the terrible illithids (mind flayers). Even the original name of their race is largely unknown, but they came to be lead by a revolutionary leader known as Gith. Gith lead their people against the mind flayers and fractured their empire, freeing their people.
Lae'zel was part of a group that was taken captive by mind flayers and forced onto a nautiloid ship, gaining an illithid tadpole being injected into her eye. She is a fierce warrior even by githyanki standards.
Minthara Baenre
Minthara Baenre was a True Soul leader within the Cult of the Absolute, an organization devoted to a being called the Absolute. Not much is known about the true nature of the Absolute, but it is known that in the 15th century DR, it had tasked Minthara and others within the cult to locate a githyanki artifact. Minthara was responsible for orchestrating many raids, including the attempted abduction of Grand Duke Ulder Ravengard.
As with all True Souls of the Absolute, Minthara was implanted by an illithid tadpole, gaining psychic abilities from it.
Raphael
Raphael was a devil, known as a cambion, who often engaged with mortals in attempting to get them to sign infernal pacts with him. In late 15th century DR, after the crash of a nautiloid, Raphael attempted to get the survivors of that crash to enter into pacts with him in exchange for removing the illithid tadpoles from them.
Shadowheart
Shadowheart was a devotee of the Goddess Shar. During an extremely dangerous mission in 1492 DR, Shadowheart was sent to acquire a Githyanki artifact and return it to Baldur's Gate. Her memories were completely erased from her mind at this point.
Shadowheart was part of the crew of survivors of the nautilod crash, having had an illithid tadpole injected into her.
Wyll
Wyll was a monster hunter during 15th century DR. In order to achieve the power he desired, he formed a pact with the succubus Mizora, becoming a warlock. While this power gave him the fame and adoration he desired, he began to regret his deal with Mizora. However, just as the two were set to meet, Wyll was captured by mind flayers and forced onto a nautiloid, infected with an illithid tadpole.
Zevlor
Zevlor was a tiefling and a member of the Hellriders of Elturgard. However, after returning home, newfound bigotry against the tieflings found Zevlor being expelled from his home. Zevlor lead the tieflings and eventually were given shelter in the Emerald Grove by Archdruid Halsin.
Descent Into Avernus
The D&D Adventure Descent Into Avernus was released on September 17, 2019, and it took PCs on an adventure through the Nine Hells against the archdevil Zariel, ruler of Avernus.
Commander Liara Portyr
Liara was a Commander in the Flaming Fist and was the niece of one of the Grand Dukes, Dillard Portyr. During the time Grand Duke Ulder Ravengard became trapped in Elturgard in 1492 DR, Liara was summoned to Baldur's Gate to take command of the Flaming Fist.
Ellyn Harbreeze
Ellyn Harbreeze was the proprietor of the Harbreeze Bakery in the Upper City of Baldur's Gate during late 15th century DR. She was a notorious local gossip, to the point where it was said that anything she knew, each and every one of her customers would know by the next morning.
Lulu
Lulu is a hollyphant, a golden furred elephant-like creature from the Upper Planes of existence. She served as the loyal companion and mount to the solar Zariel. During Zariel's fall, Zariel ordered Lulu to hide her sword so it did not fall into enemy hands. After successfully securing the sword alongside Yael (Zariel's general). The rakshasa Mahadi sprinkled water from the River Styx onto the hollyphant, making her lose her abilities and memories before turning her over to Zariel, now an archdevil, as a gift.
Zariel was unwilling to harm her former companion, so she sent Lulu back to the Realms unharmed. Lulu wandered the Realms before settling down in Candlekeep alongside Sylvira Savikas, a tiefling sage.
Mahadi
Mahadi was the Master of the Wandering Emporium, a store that traveled across Avernus within the Nine Hells. He also ran a restaraunt called the Infernal Rapture. Mahadi was also an informant for Asmodeus. As a rakshasa, Mahadi was a master manipulator and extremely charismatic.
Raggadragga
Raggadragga was a wereboar who operated as the warlod of the Goreguts Gang in Avernus, first layer of the Nine Hells.
Rilsa Rael
Rilsa was a young crime lord and a member of the Guild in Baldur's Gate. At a young age, her father was hung by soldiers of the Flaming Fist, and she came to believe that they were callous and uncaring to the citizens of the city. She blamed the nobility of the city for the conditions of the Outer City district.
Ulder Ravengard
Ulder Ravengard was a soldier and Marshal of the Flaming Fist, as well a Grand Duke in service on the Council of Four in Baldur's Gate. He became Marshal of the Fist in 1482 DR after the death of Abdel Adrian on Returning Day. Ravengard is a highly disciplined soldier and very precise in his actions.
During 1492 DR, on a diplomatic visit to the city of Elturel, Ulder became trapped as the entire city had plunged down into the plane of Avenus in the Nine Hells. With Ulder trapped, the hierarchy of the Flaming Fist collapsed and Liara Portyr was appointed as acting Marshal. Ulder later successfully returned to the Gate with the city of Elturel and its citizens.
Miscellaneous Characters
Some characters in Commander Legends don't quite fit into an established book or game property, so we're covering those characters here.
Alaundo the Seer
Alaundo was a powerful seer from Candlekeep. It is said many of the more important prophecies of the Realms have been made by Alaundo, including that of the creation of the Bhaalspawn and the creation of the Seven Scourges. After his death, his skull was apparently a priceless relic venerated by the faithful of Deneir, Oghma, and Savras.
Ambergris
Amber Gristle O'Maul, or Ambergris as she was known, was a Dwarven battle cleric who hailed from Citadel Adbar. After she committed an unknown crime, Amber was sent by Adbar to spy in the Shadowfell, the plane of Shadow. She joined with a mercenary team known as Cavus Dun and spent much time in the Shadowfell before being sent with Cavus Dun to Neverwinter to aid the Netherese there. As a spy she sabotaged the Netherese plots to destroy Drizzt Do'Urden and Bruenor Battlehammer in the halls of Gauntlgrym.
Amber traveled with Drizzt for some time with another member of Cavus Dun who had turned named Afafrenfere. She separated from Drizzt's group for a short time but reunited with them briefly before the group found themselves on the pocket dimension Iruladoon (where Drizzt's Goddess had placed the Companions of the Hall) for a night that lasted eighteen years. Drizzt stayed in Icewind Dale after this, while Amber left with the rest of the group.
After being attacked by a drow company led by Tiago Baenre, Amber was captured and forced to work in the Gauntlgrym mines by the Q'Xolarrin drow house. Eventually she was rescued. Later on she joined up with Jarlaxle and also fell in love with the Dwarven berserker Athrogate.
Captain N'ghathrod
N'ghathrod was formerly a spacefaring elf turned into a mind flayer via the process of ceremorphosis (use of an illithid tadpole). After its transformation, it became a pirate and captain of the Spelljammer ship Scavenger. At some point in late 15th century DR, the Scavenger and her crew were captured by Halaster Blackcloak and transported to one of the sections of Undermountain, Halaster's private dungeons. Halaster also stole the ship's spelljamming helm which left the crew without any way of escaping. After some time, N'gathrod resorted to eating the brains of its crew in order to survive.
Durnan
Durnan was one of the mysterious Lords of Waterdeep and propietor of the Yawning Portal Inn. The Yawning Portal was special in that it sat on top of one of the entrances to Undermountain, a dungeon created by the insane wizard Halaster Blackcloak. During 1302 DR, Durnan and another adventurer named Mirt the Merciless journeyed into Undermountain and returned not only alive, but rich. He used the wealth to build the Yawning Portal and used his place of business to sell equipment to adventurers who dared to venture into Halaster's dungeons. Halaster became one of the Masked Lords due to his hatred of injustice and unfairness, and also at one point led a group of vigilantes known as the Red Sashes.
Miirym, Guardian of Candlekeep
Miirym was a silver dragon who lived near the Sea of Swords. On a hunt near Candlekeep, she accidentally destroyed a score of irreplaceable books after devouring some scholars nearby. As punishment, the archsorcerer Torth bound her to the Keep for twenty years. However, fifteen years later, Torth died. His magic was so powerful that no one could break Miirym's bond to the Keep.
Now functionally a slave to the Keep, Miirym became much more savage, protecting the Keep with no remorse.
In 1182 DR, a band of Calishite wizards attacked the Keep after an unsuccessful attempt in 1181 DR. Miirym died during this battle, but Torth's magic was so powerful that it resurrected her as an undead creature that was not entirely sane. The monks hired wizards to attempt to destroy her, but they were unsuccessful in unbinding Miirym. Only with great sacrifice were the monks able to confine her to the caverns and passages below the Keep where she has remained to this day.
Miirym is a curious creature, always preferring to converse with intruders to learn their intentions before devouring them. If intruders had any books, she would demand the books be given to her as in her mind all books belonged in Candlekeep.
Nine-Fingers Keene
Astele Keene, otherwise known as Nine-Fingers, was the leader of the Guild, a prominent criminal organization within Baldur's Gate in 15th century DR. At a very young age, she was kidnapped for the purposes of extorting her family for money by a one-eyed elf. While her family was able to get the money, Astele lost her left pinky finger as part of the ransom letter. Astele never forgot the face or the action. Early in her career, she found the one-eye elf and gained her revenge, cutting out his remaining eye and all of his fingers except for the pinky on each hand. She then proceeded to purchase the establishment by which he fed his addiction to sable moonflower, so that he would outlive her in pain for years, possibly even centuries. She even arranged for dosages of his moonflower to be spiked so as to induce horrific dreams.
At some point, Astele established herself as the leader of the Guild and became one of the organizations most shrewd and powerful criminal leaders.
Tasha, the Witch Queen
Tasha, or as she is known by her real name Iggwilv, was a powerful archmage from the plane of Oerth. She was a demonologist and also wrote the famed Demonomicon of Iggwilv. Tasha is not from the world of Toril, instead hailing from the world of Oerth, where she was born and adopted by the witch Baba Yaga.
A powerful archmage, Tasha is responsible for many spells that spellcasters use in the modern age. One such famed spell is Tasha's hideous laughter. Currently, Tasha resides in the Feywild, having founded the Domain of Delight known as Prismeer. Over time she has transcended mortal status and has become an archfey.
As one of the foremost masters of demonology, necromantic magic, and even fey magic, Tasha is a force to be reckoned with.
Zellix
Zellix was a mind flayer that ran an asylum of some sorts in the Underdark during late 15th century DR. It found that brains of people infected by demon lord madness were more succulent and tasty than normal brains, so it founded the asylum to keep these people until the right time.
Wrapping Up
Wow, that's a lot of lore and legends! I hope you enjoyed this dive into the various stories of Baldur's Gate, and I look forward to yet another one of these soon!
Until next time!
