Descent into Avernus

ROAMING ENCOUNTER:

SMILER THE DEFILER

Characters can encounter Smiler the Defiler anywhere

in Avernus. Where and when he appears is up to you.

This eladrin adventurer from the Feywild became

stranded in Avernus after his companions abandoned

him. He has spent the past seventy years roaming

Avernus, making deals with fiends to survive. Smiler
eventually sold his soul to a pit fiend, who gave him the

means to topple a nycaloth warlord named Yarrasto.

Smiler took control of the nycaloth's warband and their

infernal war machines. Smiler's gang came to be known

as Smiler's Defilers, and their ferocity terrified the other

warlords of Avernus for a while.

Three of Smiter's rivals-Bitter Breath, Feonor, and

Princeps Kovik- joined forces to wipe out Smiler's

Defilers. Smiler escaped and tears around Avernus on

a Devil's Ride (see page 94), looking for adventurers
willing to help him get revenge on the warlords who

ganged up on him. Mad Maggie (page 82) remains his

only ally, though he refuses to join her gang.

When the characters first encounter Smiler, read or

paraphrase the following:

You see an two-wheeled infernal war machine parked

next to a large rock. Standing atop the rock, peeing into

the hot wind, is a slender elf-like figure.

Smiler has an unnerving smile- hence his name. When

he sees the characters, his smile widens as he leaps

down to greet them.

A more apt name for this eladrin would be Smiler the

Beguiler, as he's constantly trying to intoxicate others

with his relentless optimism and shocking recklessness.

Smiler thinks he can accomplish anything with a posi-

tive attitude and some death-defying stunt. Although he

admits others might end up getting killed by his actions,

he believes he can bend the multiverse to his whims if

he tries hard enough. He's really quite insane.

One of Smiler's favorite antics is to use a hallucina-

tory terrain spell to create a little bit of the Feywild in

Avernus: a beautiful woodland glade in which to lose

himself for a few hours while he meditates and p lots.

TREASURE

Smiler wears +2 leather armor. He carries seven soul

coins (see page 94) in a bag and a +1 shortsword.

SMILER THE DEFILER

Medium fey (elf), chaotic evil

Armor Class 18 (+2 leather armor)

Hit Points 165 (22d8 + 66)

Speed 30 ft.

STR

14 (+2)

DEX

20 (+5)

CON

16 (+3)

INT

18 (+4)

Skills Deception +7, Persuasion +7

WIS

11 (+O)

CHA

18 (+4)

Damage Resistances bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from

nonmagical attacks

Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 10

Languages Common, Elvish, Sylvan

Challenge 7 (2,900 XP)

Fey Step (Recharge 4-6). As a bonus action, Smiler can teleport

up to 30 feet to an unoccupied space that he can see or to the

empty seat of his infernal war machine.

Innate Spellcasting. Smiler's innate spellcasting ability is Cha-

risma (spell save DC 15). He can innately cast the following

spells, requiring no material components:

At will: charm person, Tasha's hideous laughter

3/day each: confusion, enthrall, suggestion

l/day each: hallucinatory terrain, Otto's irresistible dance

Magic Resistance. Smiler has advantage on saving throws

against spells and other magical effects.

ACTIONS

Multiattack. Smiler makes two weapon attacks. He can cast a

spell in place of one of these at tacks.

+1 Shortsword. Melee Weapon Attack: +9 to hit , reach 5 ft., one

target. Hit: 9 (ld 6 + 6) piercing damage.

CHAPTER 3 I AVERNUS

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