Ulder Ravengard

Grand Duke Ulder Ravengard is the human Supreme Marshall of the Flaming Fist and the father of Wyll. His story stretches through all three acts of Baldur's Gate 3, and he can become a Camp Follower late in the game.

Ulder Ravengard is a recurring character in the Forgotten Realms setting of Dungeons and Dragons, appearing in the 5e adventures: Murder in Baldur's Gate, The Rise of Tiamat, and Baldur's Gate: Descent into Avernus.

Involvement

Act One

Ulder Ravengard is mentioned first during the quest  Rescue the Grand Duke, upon arriving near Waukeen's Rest. He is suspected to be trapped inside the burning inn, but after rescuing Counsellor Florrick, she reveals that the Grand Duke has been kidnapped.

Act Two

Duke Ravengard is infected

It is revealed that he was taken to Moonrise Towers by the followers of the Absolute. In the Mind Flayer Colony underneath the Moonrise Towers there is an encounter with the Chosen Three - Ketheric Thorm, Orin the Red, and Enver Gortash along with Ulder Ravengard. The three infect Ravengard with a mind flayer tadpole and then whisk him away to Baldur's Gate.

Act Three

Wyrm's Rock Fortress

Duke Ravengard swears Gortash in as Archduke of Baldur's Gate.

Once entering Wyrm's Rock Fortress to attend Gortash's coronation, Ravengard is there in the Audience Chamber and officiates Gortash's swearing in as Archduke of Baldur's Gate. Immediately after the ceremony, Ravengard can be spoken with. If stating that Florrick sent the party, he replies that she is a black widow who betrayed the city, and that she was punished. Choosing to connect with Ravengard's parasite for information about Florrick reveals that she is imprisoned in Wyrm's Rock Prison and set to be executed, starting  Free Counselor Florrick. If prodding Ravengard's mind further, reveals his deep uncertainty and fear of an illithid invasion, indicating his mind has not yet been fully subjugated.

Once the coronation is complete, Mizora appears and reveals that Duke Ravengard is already moved to another location to be disposed of. She refuses to elaborate and tells the party to go to camp. After a Long Rest, Mizora appears before Wyll to present a new contract - an eternity of servitude for Zariel in exchange for rescuing the Duke. If Wyll signs the contract, she reveals Duke Ravengard is in Gortash's underwater prison, the Iron Throne and promises to keep him from harm. Otherwise, if Wyll breaks the contract, Mizora states that Duke Ravenguard is as good as dead, and that she plans to stick around to see what happens.

If ignoring the coronation and moving to the Lower City, then Duke Ravengard remains in the Audience Hall with Gortash until the ceremony is completed. If completing the  Disable the Steel Watch without attending the coronation, then the entirety of Wyrm's Rock Fortress becomes hostile, including Duke Ravengard. Clearing the Iron Throne before the coronation causes the coronation attendants to become hostile, even if the Steel Watch is not fully disabled. To ensure the Duke can be rescued, it is advisable to attend the coronation, speak to Mizora, and take a long rest to ensure he can be found in his intended location.

The Iron Throne

After the previous events, Duke Ravengard is moved to the Iron Throne, dead or alive. The party can find the Iron Throne either by exploring the Lower City, or be guided there as part of the quests  Disable the Steel Watch,  Save the Gondians,  Avenge the Ironhands, or  Avenge the Drowned.

Duke Ravengard is in the block of cells directly east from the ladder to the submersible. Normally, he is in the middle cell, alive, and with only 35 HP. He also has the  Fiendish Obeisance status, unless Wyll is not rtecruited to the party. Upon opening the door to Duke Ravengaard's cell, he becomes a controllable character. However, once he leaves the cell, if Wyll has broken his pact with Mizora, she appears and summons multiple Combustion Belly Spiderlings to kill the Duke. She orders him to kneel while the spiderlings explode on their turn. The Duke can be saved by healing him (via  Healing Word, throwing healing potions, or other tactics) or through spells like  Dimension Door or  Arcane Gate.

If Mizora and her witnesses Cirrus and Feena have not been spoken with at camp yet, then the Duke is found dead. After escaping the Iron Throne, the party can make a deal with Mizora to resurrect the duke in exchange for renewing Wyll's pact, or reject the deal in order to break his pact. The availability of this option depends on Wyll's status and earlier choices.

If Duke Ravengard is saved, he stays at camp under the protection of the Astral Prism. If Wyll is recruited to the party, the pair can reconcile, and Ravengard asks the party to seek out Ansur, Baldur's Gate's guardian dragon who sleeps under the city. If the party Wyll is killed, such as playing origin Karlach in their altercation during Act One, this detail is NOT shared with Ravengard when sharing the player character's memory via The Emperor.

Related literature

• A Father's Diary
• Detainee Census
• Flaming Fist History
• Florrick's Demotion Notice
• Hostage Census
• Letter from Ravengard
• Orders from Duke Ravengard
• Patriars Journal
• SPECIAL ORDER
• The Dukes of Baldur's Gate
• U. R. : For the Absolute's Glory
• Urgent Report for Duke Ravengard

Related quests

•  Rescue the Grand Duke
•  The Blade of Frontiers
•  The Grand Duke

Combat

Actions and abilities

 Commander's Strike (+ + )

Direct an ally to strike a foe. The ally uses a reaction on their next turn to make a  weapon attack.

 Range: 9 m / 30 ft

 Fire Shield (+ )

Wreathe your body in flames that shed light in a 3 m / 10 ft radius, provide Resistance to Fire or Cold damage, and retaliate against melee attacks.

 Range: Self

 Lacerate ()

Damage:

Normal weapon damage

Slash at your target's vital points to make it  Bleed.

Undead and Constructs can't Bleed.

CON Save

 Range: Normal weapon range

Recharge: Short rest

 Pommel Strike ()

Damage: 1~4

1d4Bludgeoning

Make a non-lethal attack against an enemy and possibly  Daze them.

CON Save

 Melee: 1.5 m / 5  ft

Recharge: Short rest

 Rush Attack ()

Damage: 6~9

1d4 + 5Piercing

Charge forward and attack the first enemy in your way, possibly pushing them  Off Balance.

STR Save

 Range: 9 m / 30 ft

Recharge: Short rest

Loot

• Duke Ravengard's Longsword
• Emblazoned Plate of the Marshal
• Metal Shield

Gallery

• 

  Ravengard's model.

Related links

Ulder Ravengard on the Forgotten Realms Wiki

[[Category:Members of the Flaming Fist