Ettvard Needle

Ettvard Needle is the human editor in chief for the Baldur's Mouth Gazette. He is in the main building, the Baldur's Mouth, in the Lower City.

“

Gods, the untold depravity... it is unprintable. I'll be out of syndication if I publish your gore-smut confessional.

„

— Ettvard Needle after the Dark Urge tells him of his exploits

Overview

He claims to be close with  Lord Gortash and abuses his position of power in journalism to print propaganda for him.

Involvement

Talking to Ettvard starts the quest ⁠Stop the Presses if the party has not already started it elsewhere. After conversing with him, Ettvard calls the guards to evict the party from the Baldur's Mouth, which makes the entire building a restricted area, making it harder to complete the quest. The quest also only becomes time sensitive after the party has spoken to Ettvard.

If Gortash is dead, Ettvard loses interest in the party and exclusively publishes articles about Gortash's death, which makes the quest ⁠Stop the Presses unavailable. Ettvard even calls the party "old news" and shoos them away, but this does not make the building a restricted area.

If Ettvard is killed,  Malek Stones is promoted to editor in chief. If Malek Stones is also killed, then a new character called  Syril Valdemar takes their place after a long rest.

According to the Sword Coast Couriers address book, Ettvard has requested a full-time courier for shipping purposes.

Combat

Attacks and actions

 Main Hand Attack ()   –  Mace

Damage: 1~6 + modifiers

1d6 + Strength modifier⁠Bludgeoning

Make a melee attack with your equipped weapon.

 Melee: 1.5 m (5 ft)

Notable loot

• Silver Key
• Ink-Spattered Key

Related literature

• Address Book
• Embrace Modernity
• It's NOT Funny
• KEEP OUT
• Letter from Ettvard
• My Good Friend Ettvard
• Needle's Points: Tips for Top Stories
• News Hawker Float
• Note from Estra
• Note to Self (Baldur's Mouth)
• Notice of Termination
• Pivot to New Target
• Regarding Portrait Production
• Reminder to fire Malek
• Skeletons in Patriar Closets
• To the Puzzle Editor

Idle banter

Ettvard Needle

This is going to absolutely catapult sales.

Ettvard Needle

The people of this city love a hero and villain piece. We have our villain...

Ettvard Needle

And the hero? Journalism.

Ettvard Needle

Profanity's cheap... Putting a name to these miscreants is hard...

Ettvard Needle

'Avaricious Adventurers', maybe? No no no - the alliteration stings.

Ettvard Needle

We could just call them bastards. There's no law against that.

Ettvard Needle

But it does have to be catchy...

Ettvard Needle

Yes, there's no bloody point sending it to print if folk won't remember it!

Ettvard Needle

So perhaps alliteration is the way...

Ettvard Needle

'Avaricious Adventurers Aid Absolute'... Hmm...

Ettvard Needle

We'll need more pieces to support it in the edition afterwards.

Ettvard Needle

Boots-on-the-group interviews with victims of the miscreants. Yes, excellent.

Ettvard Needle

'Local Tavernkeep HATES Adventurers: Here's Why'. Yes, Alan owes me a favour.

External links

•  Ettvard Needle on the Forgotten Realms Wiki