Ulder Ravengard is the Grand Duke of Baldur’s Gate and the supreme commander of the Flaming Fist mercenary company. Though he never appears in person during the adventure, his authority looms over the Flaming Fist’s operations in Chult.
Role and Authority
Ravengard commands all Flaming Fist operations from Baldur’s Gate. In Chult, his direct subordinate is Liara Portyr, the blaze (major) who commands Fort Beluarian with complete autonomy while answering only to him. A wooden statue of Ravengard in armor stands in the fort’s central courtyard, symbolizing his authority over the garrison.
Political Position
As a key figure in the Lords’ Alliance, Ravengard represents Baldur’s Gate’s interests within the coalition. However, his primary loyalty lies with Baldur’s Gate itself—if conflicts arise, he places the city’s priorities above those of the broader Alliance. This political stance reflects the Alliance’s inherently fractious nature, where member cities pursue their own interests at the expense of weaker partners.
Strategic Interests
Through the Flaming Fist, Ravengard oversees Baldur’s Gate’s territorial claims in Chult, which extend east of the Mistcliff and north of Kitcher’s Inlet, with aspirations to expand south to Refuge Bay. The mercenary company has already plundered the ruins of Mezro and seeks to locate and exploit Omu, believing it lies south of Lake Luo but east of the Peaks of Flame. Fort Beluarian serves as the primary base for these operations, channeling immense wealth back to Baldur’s Gate’s nobles and merchants.
Unknown to Ravengard, his vassal Liara Portyr operates a profitable side arrangement with pirates from Jahaka Anchorage, though she ensures they never attack ships flying Baldur’s Gate’s flag.