ICTORO ANO AM MALIA CASSA LANTER STRUCK
a deal with Asmodeus, Lord of the Nine
Hells. Three years ago. they traded away the
souls of their children to escape financial
ruin. The soul of their eldest son. Osvaldo,
was taken immediately. What was left behind
was transformed into a chain devil, which
the Cassalanters confined to their attic.
Their two youngest children, Terenzio and Elzerina, are
doomed to lose their souls when they turn nine years
old a mere ten days after Founders' Day, a midsummer
festival that celebrates Waterdeep's founding.
After the deal was struck, the Cassalanters enjoyed a
miraculous comeback. Their banking and money-lend-
ing business thrived while their competition suffered.
The disappearance of their eldest son (and heir appar-
ent) earned them sympathy. Their philanthropic en-
deavors bought them legitimacy and new friends. They
became the envy of Waterdavian nobility in short order.
Seemingly blessed, the Cassalante rs attracted new fol-
lowers to their cult of devil worship, which was Asmode-
us's plan all along.
Reneging on a contract with Asmodeus is a luxury
no mortal can afford, but there is a way for Lord and
Lady Cassalanter to save the souls ofTerenzio and El-
zerina. A clause in the contract allows them to preserve
their remaining (and future) children's lives by instead
paying ·'one shy of a million gold coins, and the sacri-
fice of one shy of one hundred unfortunate souls." The
Cassalanters have most of the coin they need, but they
require the gold from the Vault of Dragons to buy their
children's salvation without bankrupting themselves.
Victoro is in charge of locating the Vault of Dragons
and securing the gold within it. Ammalia, for her part.
plans to sacrifice ninety-nine souls in one fell swoop by
throwing a feast on Founders' Day featuring poisoned
food. Both the souls and the gold must be paid to As-
modeus at the same time. Foiling e ither one of these
schemes spells doom for the Cassalanters' plot and their
youngest children.CULT OF ASMODEUS
Lord a nd Lady Cassalanter are the heads of a secre-
tive c ult of Asmodeus. The cult convenes a t midnight
once every tenday in the temple of Asmodeus beneath
Cassalanter Villa. During rituals of worship. members
of the cult, including Lord and Lady Cassalanter, wear
crimson robes, golde n masks, and golden sacriflcial
daggers. The masks and daggers a re worth^75 gp each
for the gold alone.MEET THE CASSALANTERS
Each me mbe r of the Cassalanter family relaxes in diffe r-
ent parts 6f the house a nd reacts separately to the di s-
covery of characters intruding in their home. Lord and
Lady Cassalanter are often out of the house on business.
especially as Founders· Day d raws near; they re turn
home an hour before dinner.CHAPTER^6 ( lll!LL OF A SUMMl!R