The Ducal Palace was in the district just next to the Blushing Mermaid/Undercellar. If we had gone upstairs from the Undercellar, we could have just walked across, meeting Husam along the way and get the BIG REVEAL that the Shadow Thieves of Amn were keeping an eye on the situation here in Baldur's gate. THey would have helped
Instead, from the Undercellar, we were taking the surer, safer route through the sewers which I had already mapped out. From the Undercellar, we went to the north western exit to the sewers, trudged through the sewers, and came back up nearby the Ducal Palace.
---
The Ducal Palace guard at the gate was stoic and his face hardly moved, yet I could see the disdain when we told him we were here for the coronation of Sarevok.
To be fair, we were fully armed, and smelled... off. Traveling through the sewers does that.
"Here are the invitations! Could you let us in now? We're in a hurry," I said.
"Don't be so impatient! Let's take a look at these invitations," the guard outside the gate said. He looked long and hard at our invitation letters, trying his best to find fault with it. "Hmmm... yes, they do look authentic. All right then, you can enter."
---
We rushed in while making preparations even as we ran.
What comes next is the arguably the hardest fight in the game.
The coronation hall was going to be packed with people. The three most noteworthy were Sarevok, Grand Duke Liia Jannath, and Grand Duke Belt. There were a number of nobles in the crowd, which included six Greater Doppelgangers which are Hasted.
Six hasted Greater Doppelgangers isn't so hard to defeat per se. The real problem was that these foes were specifically targeting the Grand Dukes. If the Grand Dukes were to fall, it was GAME OVER.
On the positive side, the Flaming Fist soldiers in the room would be rushing to the aid of the Grand Dukes. But since the Greater Doppelgangers were hasted, they would reach both Dukes before the guards could stand in their way. Belt and Liia Jannath were no slouches in combat, but would be easily cut down by the Greater Doppelgangers before they could mount a proper defence.
Battles in which you have to defend people over who you had no control were the worst. Like escort quests, ew.
---
As the last few guests streamed in, Grand Duke Belt announced, "Now that all of our guests have arrived, we can begin with the ceremony that you have all been awaiting."
Liia Jannath continued, "As all of you know, this is a special occasion for the city of Baldur's Gate. It is time for a new person to join the ranks of the Grand Dukes. I do not wish to downplay the tragedy that we suffered with the loss of Entar Silvershield, but this is not the time for us to show grief."
"The votes have been tallied from those submitted by the landowners," Belt said. "The result was nearly unanimous."
But before he could announce the results, there was uproar in the coronation room.
"What of Duke Eltan? Has his condition improved at all? If he dies, who will replace him?" A nobleman cried out.
"What about the rumors of Amn mobilizing for war? Why aren't we preparing for war?" said another.
"With our iron shortage, how are we to defend ourselves, and who will give us the iron we need?"
"What of the Iron Throne? I've heard that they may be somehow involved."
"I believe that Eltan was poisoned by members of the Shadow Thieves. They're obviously trying to kill our leaders."
Grand Duke Belt and Liia Jannath motioned for quiet. Even as they did so, something felt off. The two Grand Dukes had dealt with these nobles many times over the years. Their behavior seemed unusually rowdy today, even for privileged nobles frightened by the prospect of war.
"All of your questions will be answered in due time, you need not worry," Belt said.
"Entar was killed by Shadow Thieves, agents of Amn," a noble insisted on heckling. "If it isn't obvious to the rest of you, it's obvious to me: Amn wants a war."
Liia Jannath cleared her throat. "The evidence we have about Entar's murder does resemble the work of the Shadow Thieves, but-"
"Resembles?!" another noble interrupted. "That's ridiculous! The signature left behind on the body WAS the mark of the Shadow Thieves. Are you blind *and* stupid, woman?!"
Liia Jannath gave the noble a glare that could melt lesser men into a puddle. "If I MAY continue… The signature left behind was very blatant and could have been put there to mislead all of us."
"Who would want to mislead us?!" a noble protested.
Belt cleared his throat. "Perhaps I could interject something before this meeting degenerates into meaningless bickering. We are here to welcome our new Grand Duke, so perhaps we should get on with it. Introducing the new Grand Duke, Sarevo Anchev."
Sarevok Anchev stood in full plate mail. His helmet was of particular design, the long horns and faceplate full of sharp teeth were a fearsome sight indeed.
"I am honored to be here before such a respected assemblage of noblemen. I accept my new position with full awareness to my new responsibilities, and I will have many of them," Sarevok said. "I would first like to address many of the questions that had been asked earlier. The rumors about Amn's mobilization fro war are entirely true, as is the involvement of their Zhentarim cohorts, which unfortunately included the Iron Throne.
As you know, I personally revealed to the Dukes the Iron Throne's machinations to deprive us of the most valuable war resources, iron. But do not worry, are not bereft of a defence. The Iron Throne have a great deal of stockpiled iron, enough for all of our needs. I will give this to the city to do with as you will."
Great cheer erupted in the coronation hall at Sarevok's words. Safety and security for Baldur's Gate against the Amnish invaders!
Sarevok put up his hand, having more to say. "Unfortunately, our greatest military commander lies on his deathbed, a grievous blow to this city. To ensure that the Flaming Fist is well led, I will be assuming control of the mercenary regiment, with permission from its current steward, Angelo."
Grand Duke Belt's eyes widened in shock. The Flaming Fist was the military force of Baldur's gate. The implications of what Sarevok had pronounced was not lost on him. "Wait one moment. That is not in your power to decide!" Belt protested.
"Shut up! Let Sarevok speak," a noble protested.
Belt's eyes narrowed. Was it his imagination or was the same particular nobles who kept stirring up trouble the same ones who kept supporting Sarevok? Belt's eyes nearly moved towards the commanding officer of the Flaming Fist guard, but he caught himself and stuck to the plan.
Sarevok raised a hand. "Instead of waiting for the war to come to us, we will take it to them. With the Flaming Fist, we should be able to easily take the town of Nashkel and then quickly fortify the mountain pass through the Cloud Peaks."
"Let's make an unprovoked attack on Nashkel based on unproven rumors. All hail Sarevok, great war mongerer!"
Sarevok's mouth hung open in shock. "What?! Who dares to interrupt?!"
He looked around, but did not see the accursed halfling, his half-brother, amongst the crowd. But Sarevok did spot a pink-haired lady, one of Sonny's party members, in the gallery.
If they are here, then Slythe and Kyrstin...
Sarevok made a choice. He did a secret motion with his hand to signal the attack.
All at once, the nobles who Sarevok had placed to support his coronation assumed their true forms, and rushed forward to slay the Grand Dukes where they stood. With the remaining Grand Dukes out of the way, Sarevok would have full control over the city and Sonny would be powerless to stop him.
The charge of the Greater Doppelgangers, though lightning fast thanks to the Oils of Speed they had drunk prior, stopped just short of the Grand Dukes. It was as if an invisible barrier were between them and the Dukes. Which there very well was, as it turned out. The first two Greater Doppelganger had ran straight into an invisible blades, giving them grievous wounds. Two invisible warriors blocked the way to the Grand Dukes, slashing at the attackers!
"P-p-please stand behind me, ser!" came a man's voice from where one of the warriors stood, to Duke Belt. "You can't see me but I'm here!"
"Same here," another voice said to Liia Jannath, female this time. "We are here to protect you."
Jaheira and Khalid, with Improved Invisibility, stood in the way of the Greater Doppelgangers. The Flaming Fist
"Much appreciated," Liia Jannath said with a grin, after protecting herself with Mirror Images, "Might I know who are benefactors are?"
A Greater Doppelgangers which was circling around to her, but was fell over from a strike to the back of the head.
A black-haired halfling stepped out from behind it, wielding a quarterstaff. "That would be me, Sonny. Ser, madam, I must insist you step back while we deal with your attackers."
"I must concur," said the commanding officer of the Flaming Fist guard. He had joined Khalid and Jaheira in forming a human barricade against the , quicker than the rest of his men. "Respectfully your graces, Duke Eltan will be most upset if either of you fall here."
Sarevok looked upon his adversary who had revealed himself, and the ongoing battle, in horror. He could not attack Sonny or the Dukes. He did not want to help fend of the Doppelgangers. He could only stand by and watch, hoping the Doppelgangers somehow succeed in bringing down the Grand Dukes.
Right now, it didn't seem very likely.
Meanwhile, there was the sound of incantations coming from all over the coronation hall. Branwen, previously invisible, was casting Chant while helping to stand in the way of Liia Jannath. Imoen, who was sneaking around, was casting Greater Malison. The pink-haired mage delayed her spell, then cast Chaos, timing it so that her own spell completes after the other two completed Chant and Greater Malison.
Greater Doppelgangers have marvelous saving throws against spells of 6. Chant and Greater Malison penalized that to 11. Chaos penalized the save to 15, which means the doppelgangers would need to roll a 15 or higher to save or a 70% chance of being struck with confusion.
That did the trick. Confused, the doppelgangers no longer focused their attacks on the Grand Dukes. The pink haired mage cast Slow to counteract the Haste effect on the doppelgangers, but it wasn't necessary by that point. With the support of the Flaming Fist guards, the difficulty of the battle wasn't in defeating the doppelgangers. It was in defending the Dukes. So taking the focus of the Dukes was all that was needed.
---
In retrospect, I probably should have used my Wands of Monster Summoning to summon monsters to blockade the way to the Dukes even further.
Eh, it's fine. We won, after all.
---
And soon, the bodies of the Greater Doppelgangers lay at our feet. The battle was over.
I looked at the commanding officer of the Flaming Fist. He had his helmet on, so his face was hidden. But I had recognised his voice earlier.
"...Scar, is that you?" I asked.
The officer pulled up the visor, revealing Commander Scar himself. "It is indeed. Rumors of my death have been grossly exaggerated. But we have other matters to settle first."
True enough. We'll have to delay our reunion after talking to the Dukes.
I approached Grand Duke Belt, who was still panting from exertion. In spite of all of our protests, he had personally joined the battle against the Greater Doppelgangers. At least Liia Jannath stood in the back while throwing out the occasional Magic Missile barrage.
Duke Belt nodded to Commander Scar, clearly not the least bit surprised Scar was alive, then to me. "It was lucky that such brave people as yourselves intervened on our behalf. Is there anything that I can do for you in return?"
I presented to him the letter from Sarevok to Slythe. "Take a look at these documents we have. Sarevok is the one who tried to kill you, had Entar killed, and nearly killed Eltan."
As Duke Belt stuck out a hand to receive the letter, Sarevok hollered, "Those people are the ones wanted on multiple counts of murder: KILL them!"
Only now do you act? Everyone saw that you didn't lift a finger to help defend the Dukes, you know.
Grand Duke Belt swept his hand across to make it clear to the guards to belay that order. "These people are not to be touched until I have finished reading these documents."
Sarevok drew his two-handed sword. There was steel in his voice when he then spoke, "You don't need to read that document, but since I know you're too stupid to take my advice, I'll just take your head."
---
The battle that happened with Sarevok after mostly had us running away and Khalid tanking while Sarevok hacked at the large number of Flaming Fist guards surrounding him.
Don't bother trying to defeat Sarevok here. He's literally protected by plot armor at this stage of the game. We're really just waiting for a mage to Dimension Door in, then cast Dimension Door on Sarevok.
Even as he was teleporting away, Sarevok looked at me straight in the eye. "You and I aren't finished yet, Sonny. I'll kill you, just as I killed Gorion. The only way you'll ever live in peace is if you kill me first."
"We're not finished, but you are," I snapped back, giving him a thumbs down. "Go, cower and wait for the final blow."
Sarevok's eyes ignited in rage, and his mouth opened to scream. But he whisked away, the mage who had teleported him out following soon after.
I meant what I said to Sarevok, and he knew it too. Politically, he was finished. He had no more power base to work with. No more influence with the powers in the realms. All his ambitions had been laid waste.
All I had to do now was sweep up the remains.