#My personal HC based on nothing is that Gortash's birthday is on Feast of the Moon

[truly-sincerely]

Yeah, that's how I read it.

Fun Fact that you can interpret however you want: Feast of the Moon (the day before the 1st of Nightal) is a Bhaalist holiday.

Durgetash Timeline Post Be Upon Ye

Post-Tadpole Edition

Supposition 1: The Elder Brain was Crowned, and Orin ambushed and tadpoled Durge at the beginning of Nightal (Dec) 1491. Durge has been missing for 9 months (approximately 260 days). Supporting evidence: Experiment on Cruor Timeline Repercussions: Since Durge was the first True Soul (according to Kressa Bonedaughter), this means that all tadpole experimentation had to occur after Durge's disappearance.

Supposition 2: Gortash couldn't have received his Lordship until at least Eleasis (Aug) 19, 1492 DR (the day before the Nautiloid crash). Prior to this his titles were Counsellor (as a member of the Parliament of Peers) and Director (of the Foundry). Supporting Evidence: Narrator dialogue available to any Baldurian character. *You know the name Gortash. A counsellor with considerable influence on Baldurian industry and politics... but he is no Lord.*

Note: Counsellor Florrick is first met at Waukeen's Rest as early as Eleasis 20, but doesn't mention Gortash until Last Light Inn. Presumably she received word of his officially being named Lord from the Flaming Fist reinforcements she met at Last Light Inn, tho she's not surprised by the development because she already knew about the impending rollout of the Steel Watch.

Supposition 3: Gortash has only been living in Wyrm's Rock since after The Fall of Elturel. Supporting Evidence: Grand Duke Ravengard may have had multiple residences in Baldur's Gate but one of them was the Penthouse in Wyrm's Rock, at least part-time. Gortash couldn't have moved in until after the Grand Duke left the city, and most likely would not have been invited to move in until the Grand Duke's disappearance along with Elturel. Note: We don't know when the Descent began or ended other than that it was in 1492, and thus after Durge's disappearance.

Conclusion 1: Obviously he didn't tadpole his parents until after Durge's disappearance. This is already generally accepted.

Conclusion 2: A working prototype Steel Watcher (and thus the Steel Watch at large) couldn't have predated Durge's disappearance since it would require a suspended tadpole in a zombie brain in order to work.

Conclusion 3: The Emperor wasn't captured until after Durge's disappearance. According to the flashback shown to the player by the Emperor, Gortash had a Steel Watcher with him when he captured the Emperor.

See Also: The Knights of the Shield Report and The Stelmane Connection and Shield Steward Interrogation Log can all be found in the Wyrm's Rock Penthouse.