Out of the Abyss

HOLD OF THE DEEPKIN G

The Hold of the Deepking stands south of Laduguer's

Furrow and north ofThemberchaud's lair. When the

characters first lay eyes on it, read the following boxed

text aloud to the players.

The Hold of the Deepking is a dark and foreboding

edifice lodged between two great columns that rise

up into thick clouds of smoke that conceal the cavern

ceiling. Giant basalt braziers filled with molten lava bathe

the palace facade in a hellish glow. and the thick stone

walls bristle with iron turrets and battlements.

There appears to be no one guarding the palace, but

this is an illusion. All of the palace guards are invisible,

and characters who observe the palace for some time

can hear ducrgar guards in heavy armor marching

to and fro.

Two hundred invisible duergar Stone Guards (see

appendix C) protect the palace and its king. Fifty stand

at altention in perfect rows before the palace. ready

to cut down anyone who approaches the palace gates

unescortcd. Another fifty watch from the turrets and

battlements. One hundred more stand guard in the

palace and comprise the Deepking's honor guard.

CJIAPHR ~I GR;\ CKIS IUGIJ

0E£PI<I N G HORGAR

5TE£LS"A00 W V

AUDIENCE WITH THE DEEPKING

Characters who befriend Stonespeakcr Hgraam or

complete quests for Errde Blackskull or Gartokkar

Xundorn can use their newfound influence to gain an

audience with the Deeplting. Characters escorted to the

palace by llgraam. Errde. or Gartokkar arc admined

inside and led past rows of invisible duergar guards w

the Decpking's throne room.

Lava pours down troughs cut into the black basalt walls

of this vast hall. The heat is oppressive, and the air reeks

of sulfur. Thick black columns support the heavy ceiling,

and at the far end of the hall stands an iron throne atop

a polished obsidian dais. A crowned duergar encased

in armor sits on the throne. Next to him stands a royal

consort wearing a gown made of gold coins.

An invisible wall of force stands between the Deepking's

dais and the characters. Whether the Deepking is of a

mind to fight the demon lords is up to you. a lthough like

many other duergar in the city, Horgar Steelshadow V

has been touched by the demon lords' madness. Roll

on the Indefinite Madness table in chapter 8 of the

Dungeon Master's Guide to determine Horgar·s flaw.

If the characters attack the Deepking. use the knight

statistics in the Monster Manual to represent him, with

the following modifications:

• Horgar is lawful evil.
  He speaks Draconic, Giant, and Dwarvish.
  He has AC 20 and wears dwarven place.
  He has advantage on saving throws against poi-
  son, spells. and illusions. as well as to resist being
  charmed or paralyzed.


• While in sunlight, he has disadvantage on artack
  rolls. as well as on Wisdom (Perception) checks that
  rely on sight.


• He has the Enlarge and Invisibility action options of a
  duergar (sec the Monster Manual).


• He wearsg<wntlcts of ogre power, giving him a
  Strength score of 19 (+4).


• He wields a +2 warhammer instead of a greatsword:
  +8 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 10 (ld8 + 6)
  bludgeoning damage, or 11 (ldlO + 6) bludgeoning
  damage if used with two hands. While Horgar is
  enlargerl, the damage increases to IS (2d8 -r 6) or 17
  (2dl0 + 6) bludgeoning damage. respectively.
  The Deepking's royal consort is a succubus in the
  guise of Shal, a female duergar. The succubus is a loyal
  servant of tht" demon lord Graz'zt (see appendix D).
  Her only task is to make sure no one tries to rid Horgar
  of his madness. The gown she wears was a gift from
  Horgar. It weighs 75 pounds and is worth 750 gp.

DEVELOPMENT

If the characters expose the succubus as a fiendish spy

and help restore Horgar's sanity. the Deepking becomes

friendly toward them and tries to set them against the

drow. whom he blames for the spreading madness.