Abdel Adrian

Abdel Adrian was an adventurer who traveled extensively across west Faerûn, thrice saving it from ruin during the mid–14 century. As one off the mortal progenies of the dead god Bhaal, he lived for over a hundred years well into the late 15 century DR. He lived most of his long life in Baldur's Gate, where he served as a soldier and general of the Flaming Fist, as well as a beloved statesman of the Council of Four.

""I love you, too, Baldur's Gate.""

- Grand Duke Abdel Adrian, Returning Day 1482 DR

Names and Titles
Due to his many years and storied life, Abdel was known by many other names and held several noteworthy titles; among his nicknames was Gorion's Ward, the Hero of Baldur's Gate, and the Bhaalspawn. His titles included Grand Duke of Baldur's Gate and Marshal of the Flaming Fist.

Description
At almost 7 feet (2.13 m) in height, Abdel was an imposing figure. He had black hair and a severe look to his eyes.

His divine heritage lent to a more youthful look and physique than was had by most 130-year-old humans.

Personality
In his later years as a politician, Abdel often chose to listen rather than speak. His opinions carried significant weight and often suggested a course of moderation. While the Grand Duke was always one to spend time with Baldurian citizens whenever possible, he was prone to infrequent bouts of severe introspection. Despite this, he still managed to maintain his sense of humor.

Like other Bhaalspawn he felt the need for conflict to some degree.

Abilities
As a result of being one of the Bhaalspawn, Abdel gained a number of innate spell-like abilities during his early adventuring years. These were lost to him after some time, on the occasion when his divine soul was wrenched from his body.

Possessions
He preferred to wear rather plain clothing with little decoration or trinkets. He would oblige wearing the uniform of his office when parades were held in the city streets.

Early Life
Abdel was born in either the, or the , to a priestess of Bhaal named Alianna. She and the other Bhaalists sought to fulfill the god's intricate plan; he would circumvent his otherwise unavoidable death a decade later by using the souls of his slain children. Fortunately for them, this plan was thwarted by a group of Harpers, among whom served the mage Gorion. Alianna herself was slain by Gorion, and her baby was entrusted to his care.

Among the other Bhaalspawn were two individuals that would play significant roles in Abdel's life: the babe Imoen and the young child Sarevok. While Imoen was taken in by affable man Winthrop, Sarevok had to be left behind and grew up as an orphan.

From then on, Abdel lived a sheltered life as the foster child of Gorion within the library fortress of Candlekeep. He grew up alongside the lighthearted Imoen, whom he knew as a dear friend rather than a half-sibling.



In Mirtul of the, Gorion got word that the life of his foster son was in mortal danger. The sage sent word to his old contacts among the Harpers, including the wizened Elminster and his two trusted friends, Khalid and Jaheira. Soon after, Gorion and Abdel left hurriedly from Candlekeep in the dead of night but were waylaid by an armored figure and his allies. Seeing no way out, Gorion sacrificed himself to the attackers, to allow time for Abdel to flee.

The Iron Crisis
The next morning, Abdel was greeted by Imoen. She had earlier snuck into Gorion's chambers and read a private note that made her suspect trouble was on its way. Imoen snuck out of Candlekeep in an effort to come to their aid. As Gorion's last words instructed him to find Khalid and Jaheira, he went a ways north to find them at the Friendly Arm Inn.

Abdel sought answers about Gorion's death. He eventually came to learn about the reports of and bandit attacks that plagued the Sword Coast. Abdel traveled south to the Amnian town of Nashkel to investigate. He discovered that the iron mines were being tainted by kobolds led by a Cyricist cleric named Mulahey. Mulahey's correspondence led Abdel to an agent by the name of Tranzig in Beregost, who was himself a subordinate of the bandit leader Tazok. While following the trail, Abdel received some guidance from his father's acquaintance Elminster that pointed him northeast to the Wood of Sharp Teeth.

Traveling through through the forest, Abdel was able to discover a secluded that housed bandits from the Chill and Blacktalons mercenary companies. Abdel made his way into Tazok's personal tent, met Ender Sai and uncovered the truth behind the iron crisis and the rise in bandit activity. They were not caused by the Zhentarim as rumors stated, but were linked to an Iron Throne hideout in the Cloak Wood. He moved from the eastern forest to the western one and discovered the Throne's mining operation. Abdel delved into the mines, interrogated its leader Davaeorn, and flooded its tunnels to prevent the Iron Throne from profiteering further.

Abdel learned that the all of the schemes he had discovered so far pointed to one Rieltar Anchev and his son Sarevok. Abdel traveled north to the city of Baldur's Gate and begin working under the direction of Scar, the master-tactician of the Flaming Fist and none other than Grand Duke Eltan. After investigating local merchant costers and some disappearances that plagued the city, Abdel stormed the Iron Throne headquarters in the city. Within he found further evidence that implicated Sarevok and pointed to an upcoming Iron Throne meeting at his old home of Candlekeep.



Revisiting his old home was bittersweet affair. While Abdel was able to learn more about his beloved foster father he was made aware of his true nature as one of the children of Bhaal. A few moments later he learned about the immediate deaths of the Iron Throne leadership, blamed for the deed and imprisoned within the dungeons of Candlekeep. After receiving assistance from First Reader Tethtoril Abdel learned of Sarevok's ultimate plan: to assume leadership of Baldur's Gate and command the Flaming Fist in a bloodwar against Amn. Abdel confronted Sarevok at his coronation ceremony, revealed his schemes to the city's nobility, and pursued him to the Temple of Bhaal within the Undercity. In a final confrontation, Abdel slew his half-brother Sarevok and spared Baldur's Gate from a grim fate.

Adventures on the Sword Coast
During his travels, Abdel completed several other adventures independent from his involvement with the rescue of Baldur's Gate. He traveled to the village of Ulgoth's Beard and sailed to a small island of werewolves some ways ways off the Sword Coast; he delved through the dungeons of Durlag's Tower and uncovered the secrets of the famous Durlag Trollkiller; and he defeated the cult led by Tracea Carol, who was working to summon the nabassu Aec'Letec to Faerûn.

In the weeks after Sarevok's fall, Abdel and his companions routed the last of his half-brother's followers from Baldur's Gate. He was still traveling alongside Imoen, Jaheira, and Khalid; and was also joined by the Rashemi adventurers Minsc and Dynaheir, as well as the treasure-hunter Safana. As their final action against Sarevok's coterie, they routed the wizard Korlasz from her underground hideout within her family's crypts. Finally the group could take some time off while in the city of Baldur's Gate.

The Shining Crusade
Meanwhile, a dangerous new faction arose to threaten the Sword Coast: a crusade of zealots and mercenaries led a figure known as the Shining Lady. While Abdel's group was staying in the Baldur's Gate, he and Imoen were attacked by the night by individuals bearing the crusade's symbol. While they both survived, Imoen was poisoned and needed quite some time to recover. Abdel gathered his allies in the city and set out with the Flaming Fist as they rallied with the Coalition forces that were gathering to meet the Crusade in battle.

Over the next few months, Abdel and his companions traveled north with the Flaming Fist, as they moved closer to the gathered armies from Waterdeep and Daggerford. Their group was accompanied by the noblewoman Skie Silvershield, daughter of Duke Entar Silvershield. The group encountered the crusade at the Coast Way crossing, but were barred from crossing the Winding Water after the Crusade demolished the bridge. They were forced to march northeast to the Boareskyr Bridge, where they were able to break the Crusade's siege of Bridgefort. When Abdel crossed the bridge, he was struck down and bombarded a vision of Bhaal's death at the hands of Cyric. The event scorched the bridge itself in the shape of Bhaal's symbol.

The Flaming Fist finally united with the rest of the forces and the Coalition's leadership prepared for their final assault against the Crusade at the site of Dragonspear Castle. Abdel led a mission within the underground Nepenthe River to weaken the castle's defenses, just before joining the siege of the castle. The Coalition routed the Crusaders, and Abdel forced the Shining Lady into the castle's dungeon. Ultimately, she was betrayed by her head priest Hephernaan, who opened a portal to Avernus, the realm of his true master Belhifet. With the Coalition forces fighting off what came out of the portal, Abdel ventured into the Nine Hells to bring justice to the Shining Lady, and defeat Belhifet on his home plane.

As the Coalition forces were recuperating overnight at Dragonspear Castle, Abdel was framed for the murder of young Skie Silvershield by a mysterious hooded figure. Skie's soul was trapped within a dagger and Abdel was taken to High Hall in Baldur's Gate once again, to face trial for her death. As a token of appreciation for his service, and to free the city from the perceived taint that accompanied one of the Bhaalspawn, the Council of Four let Abdel free, on the condition that he leave the city. He and his former allies fled Baldur's Gate that night, but were abducted by the Shadow Thieves and smuggled south to the Amnian capital of Athkatla.

Adventures in Amn
Abdel and his companions were imprisoned and tortured by an individual about whom they knew nothing. During their confinement Khalid and Dynaheir were both killed in gruesome manner. After some time, the dungeon complex in which they were held came under attack and the group used the opportunity to break free and escape to the surface, in the open marketplace of Waukeen's Promenade. There they encountered their captor, Jon Irenicus; the same man who framed him for murder. Irenicus and Imoen exchanged offensive spells with one another, drawing the attention of the Cowled Wizards. The arcane enforcers apprehended both of the spellcasters and took them to their asylum prison on the isle of Brynnlaw.

Distraught over the loss of his childhood friend Imoen, Abdel made every effort to get her back. He raised over 15,000 gp to pay off the Shadow Thief Gaelan Bayle and learn of her whereabouts. After Bayle informed him Imoen was being held in Spellhold, Abdel allied himself with one of thieves' guild in the city and finally set sail to Brynnlaw with the traitorous corsair Saemon Havarian. Once he found a way into the asylum, Abdel was ambushed by Irenicus and his vampire companion Bodhi. Irenicus revealed Imoen's true nature as a Bhaalspawn and used his dark magic to strip her and Abdel of their divine souls. The two Bhaalspawn were then thrown into the labyrinthine dungeon beneath the asylum for Bodhi's amusement.

The two fought their way out of Bodhi's maze and reached the asylum once again. Once there, they managed to free the other inmates and confront Irenicus alone. Fighting alongside one another the group managed to best the mage, though they couldn't prevent his and Bodhi's escape into the Underdark. Abdel gave chase but he was waylaid for some time. He encountered a silver dragon by the name of Adalon, who guarded the entrance to the surface near the Forest of Tethir. Adalon tasked Abdel with retrieving her stolen eggs from the nearby drow city of Ust Natha.

Once Abdel reached the surface he met with the elven general Elhan and learned more of the conflict between the elves of the forest and drow who were preparing for a surface invasion. Irenicus and Bodhi stole the relic called the Rhynn Lanthorn and barred entrance to the forest city of Suldanessellar. In order to reach the mage, Abdel was forced to slay Bodhi in her lair beneath Athkatla's Grave District, retrieve the Rhynn Lanthorn, and restore Imoen's soul before going after his own. Abdel made one final journey into the forest, through Suldanessellar to the Tree of Life, where he found Irenicus. The Exile as the elves called him was stealing the power of the tree to supplant Rillifane Rallathil as a member of the Seldarine.

Abdel slew the Irenicus on the branches of the Tree of Like, though both of their bodies died. Immediately after their shared death, Abdel was wretched from the Prime Material plane to the remnant of Bhaal's domain in the Abyss, which was shaped by the soul he shared with Irenicus. While in that domain, Abdel completed five trials and received their corresponding Tears of Bhaal. He encountered Irenicus once again, who had since gained the ability to transform into Bhaal's avatar, the Slayer. Abdel and Irenicus battled over possession of the soul to which they were both linked, and Abdel emerged victorious. The mage was left to languish in the Abyss while Abdel's consciousness returned to his body in Suldanessellar after a matter of days.

Bhaalspawn Saga
Abdel was welcomed to stay in the elven city by the grace of Queen Ellesime. As the armies of the Five ravaged the nation of Tethyr, the elves of Suldanessellar grew fearful of Abdel's presence. By the queen's insistence, Abdel visited the Grove of the Ancients where he encountered the elven Bhaalspawn Illasera the Quick. After learning about the war of the Bhaalspawn, Abdel slew Illasera and was once again dragged down to the fiendish domain that once belonged to Bhaal.

Amelyssan's fall
After this, the ward ended up in Saradush, where they met Melissan, a disguised priestess of Bhaal. Melissan had been gathering all the Bhaalspawn, under the false pretence of protecting them. However, she was merely gathering them so that she could gather their essences and become the new deity of murder. She enticed the fire giant Bhaalspawn, Yaga-Shura, to attack Saradush, which was governed by another Bhaalspawn, Gromnir Il-Khan. After the ward dispatched the two warring Bhaalspawns, they traveled to Amkethran and slew the rest of the Five. It was then that the ward found out about Melissan, actually named Amelyssan, and her evil scheme. By this point, Amelyssan was undergoing the procedure to become the new deity of murder, and had accumulated a huge amount of power. After a long and strenuous battle, the ward stopped the ascension, and killed Amelyssan. The prophecy of the Bhaalspawn was now complete

Appearances

 * Adventures:
 * Murder in Baldur's Gate


 * Novels:
 * Baldur's Gate &bull; Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn &bull; Baldur's Gate II: Throne of Bhaal


 * Video Games:
 * Baldur's Gate &bull; Baldur's Gate: Tales of the Sword Coast &bull; Baldur's Gate: Siege of Dragonspear &bull; Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn &bull; Baldur's Gate II: Throne of Bhaal