So, it's been said that the Cinematic isn't Baldur's Gate, BUT Baldur's Gate was attacked. If I remember correctly, Astarion mentions he was in Baldur's Gate when he got kidnapped? Like his memory is prowling the city or something? Or was it just some random memory? Pretty sure he was talking about being in BG when he got kidnapped.
Gale was taken from Waterdeep. The city in the intro (Yartar) isn't the first place it took passengers, it is the last place it took passengers.
We don't know since when the Githyanki have been chasing the ship, it could have jumped all over Faerun taking people (to replenish its numbers?) and escaping the Giths until it crashed.
