Fort Beluarian is a Flaming Fist mercenary stronghold serving as the primary military and commercial outpost for Baldur’s Gate’s interests in Chult. The wooden stockade sits atop a 10-foot hillock with vertically shaved sides, featuring a main west-facing gate and a tall keep on the east side commanding views of the surrounding wilderness. The flag of Baldur’s Gate flies over the fort.
Command and Garrison
The fort is commanded by Liara Portyr, a lawful evil Flaming Fist blaze (major) who reports directly to Grand Duke Ulder Ravengard of Baldur’s Gate. She has held her post for three years and views it as a test of mettle. The garrison operates in three eight-hour shifts with a total force of:
- Gruta Halsdottir (castellan and second-in-command, responsible for day-to-day operations)
- Three corporals (veterans)
- Fifty-four privates (guards)
Secret Operations
Liara runs a secret operation in league with pirates based at Jahaka Anchorage. She provides them with ship manifests and departure schedules from Port Nyanzaru via a sending stone (matched to pirate captain Zaroum Al-Saryak’s stone). In exchange, pirates never attack Baldur’s Gate ships and Liara receives a cut of profits, which she uses to pay garrison bonuses. She also provides pirates with advance warning of naval patrols from the mainland.
Charters of Exploration
Fort Beluarian is the primary location for purchasing charters of exploration, which Baldur’s Gate requires for expeditions in its claimed territory (east of the Mistcliff and north of Kitcher’s Inlet, extending south toward Refuge Bay). A charter costs 50 gp and grants:
- Permission to explore and plunder Chult’s riches
- Requirement to turn over half of all proceeds and discoveries to the Flaming Fist
- Option to hire up to six Flaming Fist guards at 1 gp per tenday each
Expeditions without charters risk attack and confiscation by Flaming Fist patrols.
Faction Presence
Multiple factions operate within or around Fort Beluarian:
- Lords’ Alliance operatives are sprinkled through the garrison
- Emerald Enclave maintains expert guides here, including the druid Qawasha
- Zhentarim agent Rokah seeks to infiltrate the fort to find proof of pirate alliance for blackmail purposes
- Ytepka Society has spies monitoring activities (Zhanthi’s son Shago, though his actual loyalty is to the Flaming Fist)
Notable Personnel and Services
Guides: Several wilderness guides operate from Fort Beluarian, including:
- Qawasha (druid) and his vegepygmy companion Kupalué
- Shago (gladiator), son of merchant prince Zhanthi, who presents as independent but actually supports the Flaming Fist
Stable Master: Thaeven the Bald maintains seven horses (two riding horses, five warhorses) despite the difficult climate.
Specialized Areas:
- Jousting field for monthly tournaments, featuring unique jungle-themed chivalric pageantry
- Inner bailey serving as a fort-within-a-fort for final defense
- Storerooms with various supplies and magic items (accessed by keys held by Liara and Gruta)
Missions and Rewards
Liara Portyr recruits adventurers for various missions with corresponding rewards:
- Ghoul Hunters: Free charter + 20 gp per severed ghoul head
- Shilku Reconnaissance: Free charter, paid passage, free meals/guest rooms, and choice of potion/scroll upon completion
- Strangers in a Strange Land: Investigate giant footprints (frost giants) for five magic arrows + free charter
Adventurers who refuse Liara’s requests face inflated prices (5x normal) for all goods.
Strategic Concerns
Fort Beluarian patrols have noticed unusual signs in the jungle—tracks from large creatures foreign to Chult (actually frost giant search parties led by Drufi, seeking Artus Cimber and the Ring of Winter). The giants have been avoiding direct contact with Flaming Fist patrols but represent a growing mystery.
Access and Location
The fort is accessed via Beluarian Landing, a beach station 14 miles away along a well-marked (but unpatrolled) trail. Ships anchor a half-mile offshore, with supplies ferried by rowboat. Six guards defend this station.