Takkus measured himself before the tall, gilded full-length mirror in Dragonflight Fortress. The noble councilors of Baldur's Gate were already waiting downstairs. This rising aristocrat from Kara-Tur, son of Jue Chang'an, Duke of Blackwater, studied his mixed-race face and signaled for the attendants around him to dress him in his armor.
Baldur's Gate had recently fallen into crisis.
Serious problems had arisen at Nashkel's iron mines. The rat infestations in the wilderness had gradually escalated from the customary Rat Plague that struck every two years into a terrifying natural disaster. More and more Skaven armies had been sighted, and the people of the Sword Coast realized with horror that these rats were no ordinary infestation.
What they faced was an empire of Skaven.
Baldur's Gate lay directly in the Skaven empire's path. There was no doubt that the Skaven would target it. In these dark days, the Flaming Fist did everything it could to maintain order and repel their incursions.
It was through this series of conflicts and battles that Takkus became a hero of Baldur's Gate.
At Beregost, Takkus personally destroyed the Skaven's gigantic, many-headed war beast.
At Nashkel, Takkus single-handedly held off thousands of Skaven, buying the miners time to retreat.
On the banks of the Chionthar River, Takkus unleashed an unparalleled spell, destroying the Skaven Clanrats' battery of warpstone lightning cannons and protecting the merchant ships of Baldur's Gate.
Now, the people of Baldur's Gate took pride in Takkus. Duke Eltan had also appointed him acting commander-in-chief of the Flaming Fist, hoping that this hero could lead Baldur's Gate through its ordeal.
Takkus's armor was more magnificent than ever. Traditional golden dragon motifs from Kara-Tur were inlaid across the surface of his heavy steel plate.
An iron amulet hung around his neck, and the guards on his