Out of the Abyss

guardian currently has a lightning bolt spell stored
within it. A character can gain use of the shield guardian
by winning a game of chess against the Harper wizard.
Zelraun suggests a match after dinner.
A chess match takes 1 hour. and the outcome is
determined by a best-of-three I melligence check contest.
Zelraun's experience gives him a +9 modifier to his
Intelligence checks. Zelraun loans the shield guardian
and its control amulet to the first character to beat him
at the game. If Zelraun proves unbeatable, you can
decide that Zelraun. ever the gracious winner, loans the
shield guardian and amulet to the party on the provision
that the characters vow to redeem themselves with a
rematch upon their return from the Underdark.
If a character obtains Zelraun's shield guardian and
control amulet, photocopy the Shield Guardian stat
card at the end of this chapter and give it to the player
whose character has the amulet. If the amulet changes
hands, so too does the shield guardian and its stat card.
Tf the characters attack Zelraun, use the archmage
statistics in the Monster Manual to represent him.

THE ORDER OF THE GAUNTLET
The Order of the Gauntlet is a
dedicated, tightly knit group of
holy-minded crusaders driven
by a finely honed sense of
justice and honor. Friendship
and camaraderie are important
to members of the order. and
they share a trust normally
reserved for siblings. They
seek to uphold justice as best
they can, and to continually
test their mettle against the
forces of evil. There are few,
if any, lone operatives in this
organization. Working in pairs
and small groups reinforces the bonds of friendship
and helps keep members from straying off the path of
righteousness.
The Underdark has a lways been a proving ground for
candidates of the order, as well as a frequent destination
for veteran paladins, monks, and clerics looking to smite
evil. lt hasn't taken long for reports of new threats rising
in the Underdark to reach the order.
The demon lords embody the kind of evil the Order
of the Gauntlet is sworn to destroy. All members of
the order see the evolving situation as an opportunity
to deal a mighty blow to the forces of the Abyss. They
want to send the demon lords howling back into the pit,
proving the worth of the order as well as testing their
own valor and bravery.

SIR LANNIVER STRAYL

Lawful good human fighter

Ideals: Faith. devotion, justice, dury

Personality: Patient. determined, witty

Potential Resources: Order of the Gauntlet veterans

A devout follower of Tyr and a member of the Order of

the Gauntlet, Sir Lanniver is the most respected figure

among the factions in Caumlgrym. Little surprises

him at this point in his life. and he accepts what comes

with a wry wit and an unshakable faith that things will

always work out- provided those of good intent do what

must be done. If most of the characters in the party are

of good alignment. Sir Lanniver is supportive of their

mission and wants them to succeed. However, a party

of mostly neutral or evil characters will need to work to

gain his support.

If he's of a mind to provide aid, Sir Lanniver pledges

five human veterans of the order to the party's mission.

The veterans' names are Thora abal, Sylrien

Haven nor. Olaf Renghyi, Elias Drako. and Tamryn

Tharke. Sir Lanniver can also offer a member of the

party a +1 warhammer. one of a handfu I of treasures

held in trust by the order. He prefers to bestow this

weapon on a good-or neutral-aligned cleric or paladin.

Feel free to swap this magic weapon with another magic

item more useful to the adventurers.

If the veterans accompany the party, make five

photocopies of the Vetera n of the Gauntlet star card

at the end of this chapter. If you don't want to control

the veterans yourself, you can distribute the stat cards

among the players and let them run the NPCs.

Should Sir Lanniver come under attack. use the

knight statistics in the Monster Manual to represent

him. In addition to the veterans mentioned above. Sir

Lanniver travels with a young but able squire (female

human guard) named Rhiele Vannis.

THE EMERALD ENCLAVE

Members of the Emerald

Enclave are spread far and

wide across the Sword Coast

and the orth. They usually

operate in isolation. relying on

their own abilities and instincts

to survive. Living deep in the

wilderness demands great

fortitude and the mastery of

certain fighting and survival

skills. Down in the Underdark,

far from the wild lands, the

Emerald Enclave must remain

ever vigilant to avoid being

blindsided by unnatural forces.

Some members of the enclave engage with the

people of t he world as protectors, emerging from the

wilderness to help others survive its perils. Some are

charged with defending sacred glades and preserving

the natural balance. At times, however. all members

of the order are called together to combat foes great

enough to disrupt or destroy the natural order. The

demon lords are one such threat.

Druids and scouts of the Emerald Enclave have

recently witnessed the corruption spreading through

of the flora and fauna of the Underdark. In particular.

they have tracked this corruption back to Zuggtmoy and

Juiblex. with the demon lords both infecting different

parts of the subterranean realm.

The Emerald Enclave fights tirelessly against the

corruption of nature. Its members are well aware that

C HAPTER!! I AUI>Il•NCl' I N GAUNTLCRYM

127