Descent into Avernus

(Jeff_L) #1

50


GETTING TO AVERNUS


Although Sylvira can prepare the plane shift spell,


there's no point, as magical wards placed on Candle-


keep prevent creatures from using such means to go to


or from the library. Instead, she presents an alternative


plan for sending the characters to the Nine Hells:


"A wizard named Traxigor lives in a tower twenty miles
from here. I've loaned him a spellbook or two, so he
owes me a favor. I can have you delivered safely to his
tower, and he can use a plane shift spell to take you
straight to Elturel. Even more importantly, Traxigor is
looking after an old friend of mine-someone with a
history of battling devils in the Nine Hells. I think you'll
enjoy her company very much. Her name is Lulu."

Characters need not leave for Traxigor's tower at once.


lf they wish to remain in Candlekeep for a while, Sylvira


is happy to accommodate them. However, Reya Man-


tlemorn becomes more impatient the longer they stay.


Falaster Fisk parts company with the characters at this


time, choosing to remain at Candlekeep for a few days


before returning to Baldur's Gate.


Characters can use Candlekeep's library to learn more


about the Nine Hells. Chapter 2 of the Dungeon Master's


Guide contains lore on all nine layers, which the charac-


ters can learn once they've spent a day or two research-


ing the plane. Characters can also research devils to


learn everything that's said about them in the "Devils"


entry of the Monster Manual.


Once they're ready to leave for Traxigor's tower, read


or paraphrase the following boxed text to the players:


Sylvira ushers you to a crescent-shaped landing platform
with a stunning view of the sea. Waiting for you atop this
platform are several griffons with saddles, their handlers
standing nearby to help you. "The griffons have instruc-
tions to Ay you to Traxigor's tower," says Sylvira. "Don't
worry, it's safe!"

The handlers standing ready can help the characters


mount the griffoos. Each griffon can carry one rider


plus gear. Once all the characters are mounted, read:


The griffons take Aight and head out to sea, Aying just be-
low the clouds. Candlekeep looks no less majestic from
the air but grows smaller as the griffons soar westward.
Large, rocky islands pass below you, and beyond them
lies the open sea. After a long journey, you see a win-
dowless, doorless stone tower-which somehow floats
in the sky ahead. The griffons pass through jagged holes
riddling the tower's conical peak to land on the top Aoor
below, which has a spiral staircase leading down.

CHAPTF.R l I A TALE OF TWO CITIES

ThAxrcoR's TOWER


Once the griffons land, characters are free to dismount


and descend the stairs into Traxigor's tower. After de-


livering the party safely to the tower, the griffons take a


short rest before Hying back to Candlekeep.


Read or paraphrase the following boxed text to the


players when the characters descend into the tower:


One level down, you see a cluttered chamber illuminated
by various objects upon which continual flame spells
have been cast. Scurrying around the room is an otter
dressed in a tiny red cassock. The otter mumbles to it-
self in Common, mentioning something about a tuning
fork. Suddenly, it takes notice of you and stands upright.
"Lulu! Wake up! Our guests have arrived!"
At the sound of her name, a small elephant with
golden fur appears from under a pile of blankets near a
table strewn with alchemical equipment. The elephant
takes to the air on feathery wings and lets out a pleasing
trumpet sound.

Traxigor was polymorphed into an otter years ago, and


decided he preferred the new form to his original one


{that of a wizened old man). His otter form was made


permanent by a wish spell. He uses the ar chmage


stat block, but is a Tiny beast with a Strength of 3. His


alignment is chaotic good, and he speaks Common,


Draconic, Dwarvish, Gnomish, Halfiing, and Troglodyte.


He has the plane shift spell prepared instead of teleport,


and is searching for the tuning fork he needs to cast


the spell. What little he knows about the characters has


been communicated to him by sending spells, sent by


Sylvira Savikas in advance of their arrival.


Characters can help Traxigor search for his missing


tuning fork, which is keyed lo the Nine Hells. Whoever


rolls the highest on a Wisdom (Perception) check finds


the tuning fork. Whoever rolls the lowest finds a random


trinket, determined by rolling on the Trinkets table in


chapter 5 of the Player's Handbook. Traxigor doesn't


care if the character keeps the trinket or not, and


doesn't remember how or when he acquired it.


LULU THE HOLLYPHANT


Lulu is a hollyphant (see page 237 for her stat block)


who has lost most of her memories, as well as her


Innate Spellcasting trait. (This has no effect on her chal-


lenge rating.) She regains her Innate Spellcasting trait


gradually over the course of the adventure, as follows:


• In chapter 2, Lulu regains the at-will ability to cast


light when she arrives in Elturel for the first time.


• In chapter 4, Lulu regains her 2/day spells (bless, cure


wounds, and protection from evil and good) when she


arrives at the Bleeding Citadel.


• In chapter 5, Lulu regains her I/day spells (banish-


ment, heal, raise dead, shapechange. and teleport)


once she helps reunite Zariel with her sword.

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