Dawnbringer Charge: The Burying Ground

Dawnbringer Charge: The Burying Ground — the quest the Dawnbringers owed Baelgrum, brought to Nuts Deep in person by Banneret Tamsin Firstlight during the downtime.

Banneret Firstlight rode up from Elturel with the second supply train on the sixth day and would not come inside. She talked to Baelgrum in the yard with her horse still saddled, broke off twice to check on a carter who had come up with a bad hand, and was gone before the light went. What follows is Baelgrum's account of it, set down that night.

"You're owed a charge from us and I've brought it. I'd have sent it in writing, but I wanted to see the fort, and I wanted to ask you rather than order you, and you can't do that on paper.

Boareskyr Bridge. You're going there — no, Rogar didn't tell me. Your own quartermaster requisitioned four days of feed and I can count.

Here's what's on that crossing. Cyric killed Bhaal on it in 1358 and the water ran black for years after. There are two shrines standing on that bridge, one to each of them, and people leave offerings at both. The old fort's moat is still poison. And the house on the south bank buries its own dead in a plot out behind it, and that ground has never been sanctified, because Elturgard's writ stops at the Winding Water and nobody has ever had cause to argue the point.

We have wanted to do something about that place for eighty years and we have never had anyone there. I'm stretched from Scornubel to the Fields and I've got nobody to send north of the water. I'm not going to dress the reason up as anything better than that.

So. Two things, and I'd rather you did the first even if the second comes to nothing.

Consecrate the burying ground behind the caravanserai. Not the bridge itself. I'm not sending a man to sanctify a river crossing with two god-shrines standing on it; that's above both of us. The plot behind the house. It's small, it's full, and no one has ever spoken a word over it.

Then find out who leaves things at Bhaal's shrine, and what they're asking him for. Somebody carries those offerings up there. I want a name if there is one, and if there isn't I want to be told so plainly, because 'nobody knows' is an answer too and we've never even had that much.

What we can give you. Six flasks of holy water and the oil, both coming up with this train. A letter under my seal, which will mean nothing north of the water but might mean something to a priest. And Rogar was taught the words at his admission and has never once used them — take him through it with you. He'll be better for having done it beside you than for being told about it after.

Last thing. This is Banneret's work and I know exactly where you stand on the ladder. I'm aware of what I'm handing a man at Aster Knight. Do it and I won't have to argue for you at the Dawnspire — the report will do that on its own.

Morninglord keep you. Bring back the flasks you don't use, we're short."

What it asks of the company

• Consecrate the burying ground behind the caravanserai on the south bank at Boareskyr Bridge — a small plot, long full, and never sanctified. Elturgard's writ stops at the Winding Water, so the order has never had the standing or the people to do it.
• Find out who leaves offerings at Bhaal's shrine on the bridge, and what they are asking for. A name if there is one, and a plain answer that there is none if there is not.
• Not the bridge itself. Tamsin is explicit that sanctifying the crossing, with its two god-shrines, is beyond what she would ask.
• Provided with the charge: six flasks of holy water and the oil, a letter under Tamsin's seal, and Squire Rogar, who was taught the words of consecration at his admission and has never used them.
• Tamsin names this Banneret's work, given to a man at Aster Knight.

See also

• The Dawnwatch — the lance that comes with Banneret of the Dawn
• Dawnbringers · Tamsin Firstlight · Baelgrum
• Boareskyr Bridge · Squires of Deez Nuts
• Quests · Renown Tracker