3. Wyrm's Crossing

A few days’ travel north from the Friendly Arm Inn reveals the city of Baldur’s Gate on the horizon. For those who have never visited such a large center of civilization, it seems impossibly large even from this distance.

First, though, to enter the city, the party must navigate Wyrm’s Crossing. The massive bridge crosses the River Chionthar: first to an island fortress of the Flaming Fist, and then to the river’s far side. Both lengths of the bridge are choked with numerous houses and shops; it’s practically a city unto itself!

And so at mid-morning the party steps onto the cobblestone ‘street’ of Wyrm’s Crossing. The place is a-bustle with crowds of folks moving on and off the bridge, weaving between shops, and drowning out most sounds with their chatter. Hawkers and peddlers shout their wares and prices from mere feet away. The smell of the place is just as present as the people. Truly, civilization at its finest.

As they make their way along the bridge’s first span, something grabs the party’s attention…

Two men, fishers by the look of them, accost a young girl. Even over the din of the crowd the group can hear the threats the two men are shouting:

"I’ll toss you straight off the Crossing, witch!"

"But not before we’ve taken our losses out of your sorry hide!"

They each grab one of the girl’s arms and start hoisting her towards an open section of railing. No one else in the crowd seems to care, and continue on their way as though blind to the scene. For her own part, the girl seems to have gone limp, but the fear in her eyes proves she's all too aware of what's happening.

Aiwë lends her own presence to the weight of the group.

The two men glare down at little Ida, ready to tell her to get lost, when Dieter shows up. The tall, strong young man - obviously an experienced warrior, perhaps even a killer - makes them rethink that idea. Aiwe's presence only strengthens the effect.

One of them lets go of the girl. The other man's face reddens with frustration.
The red-faced man angrily holds up three fingers. "Three days we set out on our fishing ships, and each time we were nearly scuttled! Storms outta nowhere." The girl squirms and he pulls on her arm. "This one did it! She's a sea witch, evil to the bone!"

"Ow!" the girl exclaims when her arm gets pulled. "Stop hurting me!"

The other man holds his hands up defensively. "Don't be deceived by her appearance! She's killed, and will again!" He shakes his head. "And our families starve until we bring home fish to eat."

The girl looks back at the party. Her sea-green eyes show a flicker of desperate hope. "These men are liars! Help me!"

"But she's not a child!" the red-faced man insists. "Not with the things she can do. Children don't conjure storms and murder fishermen!"

Under the party's pressure he finally relents and releases the girl, but there's still plenty of anger in his eyes. "Bah! She's got you under her sway, no doubt. Well, there's nothing more we can do here then."

He turns to the other man. "Come on, Telman."

Telman turns and spits. "Cuz it's in her blood."

His friend pulls him away, and the two take off through the crowd.

The girl looks up at Ida and blinks her dark green eyes, marked by swirls of turbulent gray. "I want to go home..."