In the epic campaign Baldur’s Gate: Descent into Avernus, Tarina plays a crucial early role that helps set the tone for the rest of the adventure. Found within the city of Baldur’s Gate, Tarina is a former pirate turned informant whose knowledge is instrumental in guiding players toward the infernal conflicts unfolding beneath the surface. Her character combines mystery, grit, and opportunism, making her a memorable NPC and a key figure in the opening chapters of the campaign. Understanding her role, motivations, and how she fits into the overarching story is essential for both Dungeon Masters and players looking to fully engage with this hellish descent.
Who is Tarina?
Tarina is introduced in Chapter 1 of Descent into Avernus, during the early investigation into the growing instability in Baldur’s Gate. She resides at the Elfsong Tavern, a popular and haunting establishment known for its ghostly melodies. Tarina is a human female with a seafaring past, known for her cunning and survival instincts. While she’s no longer an active pirate, her background and connections provide valuable intelligence for those willing to pay the price or do a favor.
Personality and Background
Tarina is witty, guarded, and not easily intimidated. Her pirate days left her with more enemies than friends, which becomes immediately relevant when the players meet her. Despite her rough edges, she isn’t malicious just someone who’s learned to look out for herself in a city full of danger. Her knowledge of criminal elements and past affiliations makes her a valuable source of information about the cult activity threatening Baldur’s Gate.
She doesn’t give information for free. True to her self-serving nature, she asks for help dealing with a crew of pirates who have come to settle a score. This small but engaging side encounter at the Elfsong Tavern introduces players to combat and negotiation mechanics early in the campaign.
Meeting Tarina at the Elfsong Tavern
The Elfsong Tavern is where the adventuring party first meets Tarina. The tavern’s eerie, elven song that drifts through the air gives the setting a haunting beauty. It’s a perfect backdrop for intrigue. Tarina usually sits at one of the upper floor tables, playing dice or cards, watching the room with a calculating eye.
Initial Interaction
When the players first approach her, Tarina is immediately skeptical. She doesn’t trust strangers easily and will test their intentions. A good charisma-based character or someone with a pirate-like backstory may find it easier to win her over. Depending on how the players handle the conversation, they may receive her information quickly or have to prove themselves first.
Her deal is simple: help her deal with a group of pirates looking for revenge, and she’ll give the players the information they seek. This transaction sets the tone for many interactions in Descent into Avernus, where no help comes without a price or complication.
The Pirate Ambush Encounter
Shortly after the party agrees to help, a group of pirates enters the tavern looking for Tarina. This leads to an exciting skirmish that tests the party’s combat readiness. The number and strength of the pirates can be scaled by the Dungeon Master based on party size and level.
Combat or Diplomacy
While most groups resolve the situation with combat, creative players may find alternate methods. Bribing the pirates, pretending to be guards, or using stealth and misdirection are all valid strategies. Tarina doesn’t care how the problem is handled only that it disappears.
Aftermath
Once the pirates are dealt with, Tarina keeps her promise and shares what she knows about the cult of the Dead Three. This leads the party to a bathhouse in the city where cult activity is suspected. It’s a small but meaningful moment of progression that shifts the party from local concerns to a much larger narrative about infernal warfare and the fall of Elturel.
Tarina’s Role in the Campaign
Although Tarina’s role is mostly limited to the first chapter, her influence is lasting. She’s one of the few NPCs early on who hints at the larger conflict. Depending on how the players interact with her, she can be a recurring character later in the campaign. She may offer further information, assistance, or simply appear as a familiar face in a later chapter, especially if the Dungeon Master wishes to personalize the campaign more deeply.
Making Tarina More Dynamic
Dungeon Masters are encouraged to expand Tarina’s role if it fits their story. Possible enhancements include:
- Having her reappear in Avernus, perhaps having ended up there due to unfinished business.
- Giving her deeper connections with the pirate world, possibly introducing a larger pirate faction relevant to the campaign.
- Making her a reluctant informant for another faction like the Harpers or the Zhentarim.
These additions help tie the opening events more tightly to the story’s infernal themes, giving players a sense of consequence for their early choices.
Roleplaying Tips for Tarina
To bring Tarina to life at the table, consider the following traits:
- Voice: Give her a rough, raspy tone that hints at years of shouting across stormy decks.
- Body Language: She’s always looking over her shoulder or sitting with her back to the wall, clearly paranoid.
- Dialogue: Use short, sharp lines with sarcasm. She doesn’t waste words and likes to mock overconfident players.
When portrayed effectively, Tarina can steal the spotlight in her short appearance and become one of the more memorable early NPCs in the campaign.
Impact on the Player Experience
Tarina’s encounter teaches players valuable lessons early in Descent into Avernus:
- Information has a cost.
- The world is morally gray, and allies come in all shades.
- Small favors can lead to large consequences.
These ideas become central to the campaign as it progresses, especially when players face moral dilemmas in Avernus itself. The choices they make whether to honor their word, exploit a situation, or show mercy are echoed in larger ways later in the story. Tarina, in her brief but meaningful role, helps establish this tone from the start.
Tarina in Descent into Avernus serves as more than just a quest giver. She is a symbol of the world’s grittiness and moral ambiguity. As a former pirate turned informant, she offers an intriguing look at how people survive in Baldur’s Gate. Her deal with the players introduces the campaign’s major themes while providing an action-packed and engaging beginning. With the right roleplaying and a bit of improvisation, Tarina can become a memorable part of the players’ journey into hell itself.